Just got back from a week in New Hampshire with Debbie and Mark's crew. It took all four adults to supervise three children five and under. Lots of sun; time in the lake; beautiful sunrises and sunsets; close encounters with loons; spending time with grand kids. Awesome.
Also awesome is New Hampshire's state motto: Live Free of Die. You see it on every license tag. It is undoubtedly the most famous state motto of all fifty. I challenge you--can you name another?
Here is another challenge--do you know the context of its origin? You might think it comes in the throes of some emotional debate in the Continental Congress or on the eve of some great battle of the Revolutionary War. You might think that, but you would be wrong.
The quote does come from a Revolutionary War hero, General John Stark of New Hampshire. But he offered these words long after the war was won and the fruits of liberty were being enjoyed. Unable due to poor health to attend a reunion in 1809 marking the winning of the Battle of Bennington, General Starks sent this toast by letter for that gathering: 'Live free of die. Death is not the worst of evils.'
I love the fact that this call to guard liberty by living free was issued at a dinner celebration and not prior to battle. Others have won liberty for us by their sacrifice and blood--the very least we can do is resolve to live free!!
I am convinced that this very issue is at stake in the current crisis facing our nation. The current Congress and Administration are offering us a soft totalitarianism in the guise of government benefits. I have detailed some of the excesses of the proposed health care legislation being considered by the House as they relate to empowering government bureaucrats to make end-of-life decisions for our elderly, opening the door to euthanasia.
Let me tell you about something else that is contained in the proposed bill. On pages 58 and 59 of the proposed House bill (yes--I have read this portion of the bill), there are provisions made that allow the government 'real-time access' to the individual patient's financial information and access to individual citizens' financial accounts to enable electronic funds transfers, 'in order to allow automated reconciliation with the related health care payment and remittance advice.'
This bill opens the door for government access to your financial information and direct transfer of your funds to pay for health care services the government deems you able to pay for. This is what I mean by 'soft totalitarianism.' Under the guise of helping the uninsured, the government is demanding that you surrender your basic liberties won by prior generations at great sacrifice.
I say 'Live Free or Die,' but don't let the government direct access to my bank account. I say 'Live Free of Die,' but don't let the government stand between me and my doctor. I say 'Live Free or Die. There are worse evils than death.' I would rather die 'uninsured' breathing the breath of liberty than be eased into a surrender of my heritage as an American by false promises.
Health care is not nor has it ever been a guaranteed right under the Constitution. Good people may argue that it is the duty and responsibility of an enlightened society to provide basic health care for its citizens. That is a debate worthy of good minds and hearts. But this proposed bill is nothing short of a power grab and soft totalitarianism in the guise of false promises.
And that's not all I'm going to say about that.
RM
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