FixHealthCarePolicy

How Big of a Government Do We Want?

That’s what a Washington Post editorial says we should all be asking ourselves in the current health care reform debate. Congress is considering a new federal health program on top of others (along with Social Security) that could have long-term implications on our nation’s budget. “This expansion may not be good for us, but we are not contemplating the adverse consequences or how we might minimize them,” the editorial says.

The article notes “in 2000, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — the main programs providing income and health care for those 65 and over — totaled nearly 8 percent of GDP. In 2020, the Congressional Budget Office projects that will reach almost 12 percent of GDP.”

“Obama would make matters worse. He talks about controlling ‘entitlement’ spending (mainly Social Security and Medicare) but hasn’t done so. He’s proposing just the opposite. His health-care proposal would increase federal spending,” the op-ed notes.

Tags: entitlement, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security