by Scot Cerullo

The kind of health care reform being discussed in the House and Senate has drawn a decisive line in the sand among voters, between those who want reform and trust what is being written, and those who want reform but strongly disagree with what is being written.

Is that about right? So the common ground is that an overwhelming majority want reform, but the problem is in the morphology of the final bill.

To this end, I have some questions which I believe to be fair, valid and virtually absent in the media. Since few are asking these questions, I will.

1. Why is Obama not fullfilling his campaign promise to provide public debate on C-Span for all major legislation? Had Obama gotten his way, health care reform would have passed two months ago. There has been no C-Span debate for the public to view and comment on. Why?

2. Why aren’t the various health care reform bills currently being written conveniently posted on the internet so the public can read them? Again, this was a campaign promise Obama made and has subsequently broken.

3. Why is Obama in such a hurry? The bills being written and discussed in conference will not go into effect for three years. Isn’t it more important to get it right rather than get it fast, especially in light of the magnitude of the legislation being discussed?

4. Why does Obama continue to say that over 45 million are uninsured? This number is simply inaccurate, and despite many efforts to correct the number of uninsured, Obama continues to repeat it.

5. How is it possible to add 46 million uninsured to a system without adding a corresponding number of new doctors, facilities and infrastructure? Even now one has to make an appointment to see his/her doctor. Wouldn’t adding millions more customers create a dramatic strain on the current system, resulting in longer waits and shorter times spent with your doctor? Just asking.

6. How can you keep your current insurance plan? Anyone with a passing interest in free enterprise knows that many employers would rather pay a fine than continue offering health care to their employees, if given the chance.

7. Why is tort reform not on the table as a way to decrease costs?

8. Why is Obama not discussing free market solutions to the problems in health care?

9. Why can’t I purchase health insurance out of state? Wouldn’t that create competition that would lead to competitive pricing?

10. How can you cut $500 billion from Medicare without sacrificing service?

In my view President Obama is a true Statist who believes that government is the solution to most any problem facing our country. While he may pay passing tribute to small business and the innovation of the free market, in reality he about control and centralization. That is one reason why in 8 months Obama has not sought the help of the free market to solve a single problem.

Americans look at the Canadian health care system, Britan’s health care system, and they hear one horror story after another. They simply do not believe that the our government will provide something better than we currently have, let alone cheaper.

Neither do I.