Audacity of Power

Barack Obama was finally able to use the power of the Democrats' large majority in Congress to get his healthcare legislation passed. For months, many complained of Republican opposition to the legislation as the reason for it stalling, which ignored that the Democrats had it solely within their power to get it passed.

And they used that power, despite deep unhappiness in the country over the legislation, as manifested in devastating election losses for the Democrats such as Scott Brown's stunning Senate victory in Massachusetts.

For years, the Democrats scored PR points from the fact that many people do not have healthcare insurance, even though the lack of insurance has often been by choice due to a preference to spend one's income elsewhere and that the lack of insurance is not the same thing as being unable to receive healthcare services due to charity care.

Moreover, the Democrats for a long time fought genuine reforms that would have been very helpful, such as expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and malpractice reform.

Instead, the Democrats wanted their socialized medicine and used their likely temporary large Congressional majority to achieve it.

There is no other way to say it, but many people will die in the coming decades who otherwise could have lived longer because of this law and its consequences.

Fewer new drugs and medical devices will be developed, as denial of coverage by government panels will reduce the willingness of companies and investors to spend the enormous sums of money necessary to bring new medical products to market.

The standard of care will evolve to less aggressive treatment to save money; the decision last fall by panel to recommend delays in getting mammograms will become more common and, in some cases, be driven by the government's desire to spend less on healthcare.

The law includes new taxes and will lead to further new taxes to pay for all the new spending it will entail. These taxes will reduce economic growth, as individuals and businesses will have less capital and incentives to work and invest.

As economic growth is reduced, America will experience permanently higher unemployment. Young adults, fresh from school and eager to begin their careers, will find diminished opportunities. The economic performance of western Europe the past 30 years, with higher unemployment in general and in particular for younger workers, demonstrates where America will head.

Last, but not least, the law is an affront to the founding principles of America. The Declaration of Independence speaks of the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, held equally by all. This means that for something to be a right, it cannot infringe the rights of another person - otherwise there is no equality of rights. The taxes needed to finance, and the government coercion to force people to live by its healthcare dictates, demonstrate why there is no right to healthcare - since some persons' "right to pursue happiness" are denied so others can get their subsidized healthcare.

For all of this, it may very well be the worst piece of legislation in American history.