Edwards Treads on Liberties

John Edwards is NOT pro-choice when it comes to his proposed health care plan.

He wants the government to dictate when people seek medical care.

TIPTON, Iowa -- Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said on Sunday that his universal health care proposal would require that Americans go to the doctor for preventive care.

"It requires that everybody be covered. It requires that everybody get preventive care," he told a crowd sitting in lawn chairs in front of the Cedar County Courthouse. "If you are going to be in the system, you can't choose not to go to the doctor for 20 years. You have to go in and be checked and make sure that you are OK."

"If you are going to be in the system, you can't CHOOSE not to go to the doctor."

Really?

Edwards not only wants the government to take over health care for all Americans, he wants to force check-ups on them.

Of course, it's a good idea to have regular medical check-ups; but this notion of forced doctor visits is creepy. It's way too controlling.

How would it work?

Would people be penalized or denied care if government records showed they didn't keep their government mandated doctor appointments?

Would people be warned that they must see a doctor or face consequences?

Would their universal health care card expire and leave them without access to doctors?

I don't want health care to become a version of the IRS or the Department of Motor Vehicles.

This all speaks to Edwards' attitude about the government's role in the lives of Americans. It's a truly frightening concept.

He wants Americans to forfeit their liberty. He wants them to subject themselves to government control.

...Edwards said his mandatory health care plan would cover preventive, chronic and long-term health care. The plan would include mental health care as well as dental and vision coverage for all Americans.

"The whole idea is a continuum of care, basically from birth to death," he said.

The whole idea is to take choice out of the hands of Americans when it comes to health care and let the government determine what's best, what's available, and what the timetable of care will be.

Edwards' vision eliminates freedom and treads on privacy.

The thought of health care being run by the government with all its required "take a number," bureaucratic crap makes me sick.

I don't trust "Dr. Government" to provide proper care or quality care. I don't want "Dr. Government" to be responsible for the health of me and my family.

I want to make choices, not have my health care mandated by bureaucrats.

Simply put, a "one size fits all" approach to medicine isn't a good approach.

In addition to explaining his batty universal health care scheme, Edwards tried to explain why he drives SUVs yet he expects Americans to sacrifice and give up their SUVs.

Edwards, who has been criticized by some for calling on Americans to be willing to give up their SUVs while driving one, acknowledged Sunday that he owns a Ford Escape hybrid SUV, purchased within the year, and a Chrysler Pacificia, which he said he has had for years.

"I think all of us have to move, have to make progress," he said. "I'm not holyier-than-thou about this. ... I'm like a lot of Americans, I see how serious this issue is and I want to address it myself and I want to help lead the nation in the right direction."

He said he would not buy another SUV in the future.

The Ford Escape, the first hybrid SUV on the market, gets an estimated 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

That's not a good answer. It's an unbelievably bad answer. We "have to move, have to make progress."

Good grief. Edwards says, "I'm not holyier-than-thou about this."

BS.

What's particularly noteworthy is that Edwards had plenty of time to prepare a response to his SUV hypocrisy. That's the best he can do?

Not too smooth for a trial lawyer that should be able to talk his way out of anything.

He's literally saying that he wants to lead Americans but Americans can't expect him to live out his own expectations for citizens.

In other words, "Do as I say, not as I do."

Bottom line: I don't like Edwards' intention to strengthen government at the expense of the individual.

Thanks, but no thanks.

Don't tread on me, or my beloved free country.