The Conservative View: Who's Got The Crystal Ball?

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner.

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Who's Got The Crystal Ball?

Most of us have watched old movies about individuals that prey upon people who want to know what their departed loved ones from beyond the grave would tell them. The fortune tellers would often use a variety of means to accomplish their task of communication. Some would use some type of cards to convey the message while others would gaze into a crystal ball. Far too often the mediums are someone who has the ability to size up their clients and tell them what they want to hear. It seems to me that the fortune tellers and many of our politicians have a lot in common.

In the next few days there will be bills before the US congress concerning the health care debate in this country. It seems like the politicians have read many of the American people and are merely telling them what they want to hear. In America we have some of the most advanced medical treatment in the world but it can be very expensive. Many people want the advanced care but they want someone else to be responsible to provide and pay for it. The responsible people in our country understand that you don’t get anything for nothing. I can remember that there were campaign promises to post new legislation on the internet for the Americans to review and voice their opinions on the issues. We understand that these proposed laws will have costs and someone will have to pay for them. Recently there was a request for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) version of Obamacare to be posted for the American people to view his proposal. Government should be open and transparent, after all our system is supposed to be a government of the people and by the people. 40 Senators signed a letter asking Reid to make all materials he sent to the Congressional Budget Office public. Senator Reid responded, but not with transparency. Sadly he refused to make public any of the proposals that were sent to the Congressional Budget Office.

Some estimates project that the cost of the healthcare reforms to the American taxpayer will be as much as $1.4 trillion over the next 10 years. I have also noticed that very seldom will the cost projections cover the actual costs. Since Mr. Reid doesn’t believe in transparency, we can always go back to the fortune tellers and look into the crystal ball and get more information.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.