Romney's 2012 Health Reform Problem

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What was on the horizon in MA when MA healthcare plan was first concocted?

The idea came to Romney first by the owner of Staples. At the time, Hillarycare with the public option was the leading liberal threat. Obamacare is just another name of the same liberal ilk. MA healthcare was run through the brains of Reagan's baby--The Heritage Institute (very conservative think tank). Romney worked closely with the brainards there as the anti-liberal healthcare plan unfolded.

Its purpose was to show the viability of a private sector healthcare plan that would preserve the free enterprize medical healthcare system BECAUSE IT WAS 20% OF OUR ECONOMY! One of the real reasons healthcare is expensive in our free enterprize system is because we know we do not have all the answers to perfect health. SO, WE USE R & D TO SEEK OUT ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS!! R & D isn't cheap!! But year by year our survival rates and percentages INCREASE!! Perhaps one day when we can cure just about everything R & D won't be all that necessary....thus the great expense for GREAT SOLUTIONS won't be such an issue.

How do you kill R & D before we find all the major solutions? Answer is government control at a "well enough" stage in our technological developement. What's "well enough" for you when you have a terrible disease? That's why social medicine governed countries have wealthy citizens coming to America for treatments here. "WELL ENOUGH" there isn't really good enough!!

Of course the other reason to keep FEDERAL Healthcare away is to keep FEDERAL BIG BROTHER away. Keep listening to the conservative talk show hosts.....they'll explain HOW federal HC is mainly just a POWER GRAB!!

GET IT YET? It is easier to remove a state run program off of the backs of the citizens (less of a power grab) than a FEDERAL BIG BROTHER POWER GRAB!! Study federalism and states rights and learn. At the federal level tyranical control destroys much more broadly and is harder to stop--by darn!

JonH of CA 2:18PM March 12, 2010

Romney faces the dilemma of reconciling his role (which may well have been as a moderating influence in what he saw as politically inevitable)as Governor of Massachusetts, one of the most liberal of states, in adopting a very unusual approach to health care, to his generally right-of-center views as a prospective presidential candidate. To some extent, all politicians negotiate this transition from their past to their present. The question may be how many independent voters find this transition sincere.

Candadai Tirumalai of VA 9:37AM March 12, 2010

Your on the left coast, and would likely know better than I Romney's role. So you very well may be right, but I would guess that the writing was on the wall with the Mass state legislature and it's predominate democrat/progressive constituents to the extent that he may not have had much choice and decided to make lemonade.

David of ID 10:06AM March 10, 2010

Romney is in favor of government run healthcare and the individual mandate. Exactly what me as a conservative/libertartian find offensive intrusion into personal decisions. If this socialist is the republican candidate it means those that believe in personal freedom must go to a 3rd party.

tony of MD 6:39AM March 10, 2010

Who exactly will pay the taxes to pay the multi trillions dollar Obama'scare plan if no one is working?

Two things have to happen for the nation to be solvent: Reduce big government and eliminate non essential wastefull programs and restore economic vitality i.e. jobs.

Hopefully America can dodge the first bullet with Obama care.

Predjudice aside, I think most believe based on the track record of all potential candidates, that Mitt Romney has the background, business sense, and ability to return the nation toward solvency. The question is will we elect a supporting caste to assist him?

A rhetorical question is why didn't we all vote for him to begin with? I mean he, of all, the annointed one included, offered the best and real prospect of hope and change than the rest combined.

My only concern with him is you don't become a Republican Gov. of a dyed in the wool Democrat state like the bay state without getting your hands dirty.

david of ID 5:27AM March 10, 2010

One thing for sure polls show obama is a one term loser as of now. People hate obamacare.

Bill Hedges of MO 3:20AM March 10, 2010

Tea partiers with a brain will be just fine with Mitt Romney. He is smart, articulate, experienced and charming. He has the perfect track record to get us out of the mess we are in.... Conservatives and independents alike appreciate competence and Romney is the competent conservative.

Erica of CA 12:42AM March 10, 2010

The Tea Party folks really need a we-don't-give-a-darn-about-your-healthcare-problems candidate. That'll be their ticket to relevance with voters for sure.

Muser of NM 11:09PM March 09, 2010

Taxed Enough Already party members dont like dum-dum Romney either. He is kinda like Gore in that he is all dressed up to go to the party but nobody likes him or truly will invite him. If his offering for health care is any indication of what is to come from RINOs, we are in for more of the same trouble and debt that the Dems want. Have you looked at what is happening in the state of MA? Debt, debt and more debt. Government control is not the answer neither are mandates. Let the morons in DC run a miniature of it in their own district without the rest of the country paying for it (taxes) to see if it works. When it doesn't, put this dog down and bury it. Screw Socialism!

Jeff of WI 7:45PM March 09, 2010

Well. Maybe. Not set in stone. Just a idea. Date keeps getting later.

Don't have the votes yet...

Bill Hedges of MO 6:09PM March 09, 2010

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Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger is managing editor for opinion at U.S. News and World Report, overseeing all opinion editorial content. He is the author of White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters. E-mail him at rschlesinger@usnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @rschles.

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