With all the opinions swirling around on health care reform, I thought it would be interesting to assemble some prominent quotes with just a bit of commentary.  Readers of the free ZachStocks Newsletter have seen some of this material but it seemed appropriate to discuss on a broader level.  Since the situation is developing, please check back for updated content and additional health care reform quotes.  Also, please leave your comments with quotes you have found or opinion on specific health care reform initiatives.  So without further adeu, here are the talking points from both sides of the Isle.

Barack Obama:

We will pass reform that lowers cost, promotes choice, and provides coverage that every American can count on. And we will do it this year.

It sounds noble, but health care is in many ways a commodity that cannot be made more available, at a lower cost without someone picking up the tab.  This is why so many are worried about the ultimate cost of this measure as it relates to the working taxpayer.

Rep. Tom Price (R, GA)

Thursday, the Republican Study Committee has introduced legislation to positively reform our health system. The Empower Patients First Act relies on the principle that, by increasing patients’ control over their health decisions, we will make coverage more affordable, accessible and responsive, while offering more choices and the highest-quality care.

The Key point for conservatives is offering a market based approach that keeps the government from seizing control over how health care decisions are made.  Both sides claim they offer consumers choice and control.  One side has a bit more credibility.

Nancy Pelosi

I think it is pretty clear that we want a strong public option in the legislation. Insurance companies full force carpet-bombing and shock and awe against the public option — so much so that the American people doubt the plan or are uncertain about it, until you tell them what is in it.

It’s a bit disturbing how anti-business some on the far-left can be.  While insurance companies may need to make some changes, trusting a government institution to efficiently dole out health care is even more disturbing.  In my opinion the American people doubt the plan much more after they are told what is in it!

Clifford S. Asness, Ph.D.

There are large groups of people in this country who want socialized medicine and they sense that the stars are aligning, and now is their time to succeed.  They rarely call it socialized medicine, but instead “single payer health care” or “universal coverage” or something that their public relations people have told them sounds better.  Whatever they call it, they believe (or pretend to believe) a lot of wrong?headed things, and they must be stopped.

Readers of the ZachStocks Newsletter received a link to the most recent essay from Dr. Asness this morning which dispels many of the myths surrounding Nationalized health care.  While it may seem to the untrained eye that experiments in such a system have been successful in a few countries, the natural economic laws require some free market country to make innovative discoveries – otherwise the quality of care will quickly deteriorate.

John Oxendine

Their proposal would virtually devastate the private healthcare sector in this country along with competition and patient choice, by replacing it with bureaucratic planning and government control. The result of this plan and its one trillion dollar price tag will bring harm to those the president and Congress are ostensibly trying to help.

It’s amazing to see the law of unintended consequences at work.  You would think that a governing body like Congress would have enough foresight to be able to understand the long-term ramifications of such a plan.  At the same time, the American public is speaking out loudly in opposition to this bill.  What would drive politicians to continue to push for something that could cause irreparable damage and is not wanted by the people?

As a reminder, there will be more health care reform quotes posted in the coming weeks so please continue to check the link and feel free to discuss or point out additional quotes of interest.

Enjoy this article? Sign up for the ZachStocks Newsletter,
Your source for Sound Market Commentary, Growth Stock Analysis and Successful Investment Strategies