Healthcare, Massachusetts and the 10th Amendment

It has been used so often by the Bamster that it has been elevated to meme status, one of those cliche soundbites which apparently justifies the abuse of Obamacare.

'This is sort of similar to the bill that Mitt Romney, the Republican governor and now Presidential candidate, passed in Massachusetts,"

There are two problems with that. Recognition of either one will clearly show that it is a poor rationale for federal action.

First, it ignores the very clearly crafted language of the 10th Amendment which says that any power which is not expressly delegated to the federal government by the Constitution or denied by that document to the states, IS RETAINED BY THE STATES.

Since there is no enumeration of a responsiblity for provision of healthcare to the masses, then it is a retained state power in our federal system.

There are pros and cons to a federal system. One of the regularly cited positives is the crafting of localized solutions to problems. A state can serve the people of our diverse nation better than a one-size-fits-all national program. Additionally, the states provide a proving ground for innovation and evaluation of policy solutions.

That last part leads us to the second problem with the meme.

Massachusetts program is drowning in debt and dragging the state down with it. Worse than that is it shows us today where Obamacare will take us tomorrow:

MA Governor Patrick Cuts Prices for Insurers and Providers

Isn't that the standard fourth down play of a Democrat administration? Price fixing of free market providers to drive them out of business and tax cuts to supplement the balance by taxing the successful.

Next time you hear Massachusetts healthcare and Mitt Romney dragged into the discussion, mention the 10th Amendment and Federalism and watch the eyes glaze over. Then talk of profit and business and check the shift to personal attacks and ad hominems to quell the debate.