Instead of the +1 he got here, this is a -20 for a bad attempt at doing what Liberals do – redefining language for merely scoring political points. The Hill has a quote from Mitt Romney that I’ve been hearing for a while now, and I frankly think it’s a crock:
“I’m happy to stand by the things that I believe. I’m not going to change my positions by virtue of being in a presidential campaign,” Romney said. “What we did was right for the people of Massachusetts, the plan is still favored there by 3 to 1 and it is fundamentally a conservative principle to insist that people take personal responsibility as opposed to turning to government for giving out free care.”
Such a silver tongue. He’s been hit so hard on RomneyCare being the progenesis of ObamaCare he’s punch drunk. No one believes him when he said that just because he created an individual mandate at the State level, it doesn’t matter as it is different than the one in ObamaCare since the Constitution covers ObamaCare (a Federal action) but not Obamneycare (at the State level). Rubbish! While indeed Obamacare will (or should) be judged unconstitutional, philosophically, there is not a whit of difference with what Obama signed into law vs what Mitt signed into law. Philosophically, we have the State (be it at the Federal or State level) forcing people to buy something they otherwise would not. If these stand, we no longer have the limited government that the Founders wanted. And Mitt’s answer is a dodge, and a lame one at that.
Trying to hide behind a conservative phrase “personal responsibility”? Yo, Mittens! The phrase is commonly known to be internal governance – in other words, I will do the right thing without being coerced by the State. Deconstructing it more, it is conservative. And yes, I as a Conservative want people to be more personally responsible, but that means “on their own” being responsible. It does not mean that personal responsibility comes simply because a law has been passed. Personal responsibility comes from within versus being externally imposed a la Obamneycare.
In fact, by passing a law mandating that some will pay for others, Mitt is not establishing personal responsibility but ensure that “personal responsibility” is no longer a factor at all. In fact, he mandated that those that can pay WILL pay more for those that either cannot or will not (by scamming the system). How is that being “personally responsible”, Mitt? People who are “personally responsible” will pay their bills…period. They are self actualized and do not need the force of law to do so.
Let’s flip the situation – those that could pay but refuse or skip out. To get to the nitty-gritty, the Political Class already made that determination by passing the EMTLA law back in 1986 that no one could be turned away from a hospital and therefore removed personal responsibility from the equation and sanctioned freeloading. Cutting to the chase, even as they forced healthcare professionals to be more charity oriented and giving, they gave a green light to ‘get healed and dash’ to those with insufficient morals to do the right thing. It encouraged those that could pay to not pay.
Thus, the Political Class set up the problem that costs money, and over time, keeps costing more and more. After all, if folks sees that someone else will pay for their needs, they will given into that moral hazard, especially if they are on the edge. And given the environment that has been tilted more and more, more and more have taken advantage of the largess of others mandated by the State. And now we see that entitlement morphing more and more into “I demand”.
So, Mitt, if you really want to say that personal responsibility is a Conservative philosophy, at least be honest enough to admit that legally demanded personal responsibility, like with Romneycare, is no different than the increasing governmental charity that is the Liberal’s welfare state. Both are coerced, both have legal ramifications if not followed, and therefore, not really personal responsibility. Simply a law that will be followed or time in the hoosegow follows.
