45 Million Americans Without Health Insurance?

When Obama and his minions make the case for a government takeover of the health care system, they toss around the figure that 45 million or more Americans are uninsured.

Larry Elder takes a look at the numbers. He asks, "Who are these people?"

Good question. Elder declares that the 45 million number is "bogus."

Elder writes:

Start with the math. We have 300 million Americans. Subtract the 45 million -- 15 percent of us -- with no health insurance. That leaves 255 million Americans, or 85 percent, with it.

And the insurance is lousy, right? Not according to a 2006 ABC News/Kaiser Family Foundation/USA Today survey. It found that 89 percent of Americans were satisfied with the quality of their own health care.

Nearly half of the 45 million fall in the category of my 26-year-old nephew. He smokes cigarettes, dates, eats out, goes to movies and, like all young people, lives through his cell phone.

...With a change in priorities, these young folks -- far more representative of those without insurance than the forlorn husband and wife sitting on a porch swing -- could both afford and qualify for health insurance. They simply consider it a low priority.

Several million other Americans who want insurance do, indeed, go without it -- for a time. Many are, however, between jobs, and most -- at some point -- will find employment that either offers health insurance or pays enough so that they can buy it. Millions more work at companies that offer health insurance, and for a few dollars out of every paycheck, they could add family members. They choose not to.

What about criminals without insurance? More than 2 million Americans -- with access to health care, by the way -- use jail, prison or penitentiary mailing addresses.

...So now we're down to the Americans without health insurance on a persistent, long-term basis. This is approximately 10-15 million, a big number to be sure. But does this warrant a government takeover of the entire health care system?

Lacking health care insurance is not the same as lacking health care. By law, most emergency rooms must provide health care -- to both legals and illegals. Yes, they stand in line, but no health insurance does not equal no health care.

Interesting, isn't it?

Elder cuts to the chase:

Do we allow a complete government takeover of the section of health care it doesn't already run, for 10-15 million or so without health insurance on a persistent basis? Again, 255 million Americans already have it. Many millions more could get it if they wanted to. And 89 percent of Americans are satisfied with the care they now receive.

We would have to be crazy to allow a complete government takeover of health care.

Elder writes that we can provide "universal" care at a "low cost."

How?

Rationing.

That means long lines, lower quality and less innovation for services that Americans currently take for granted.

Economists call it T.A.N.S.T.A.A.F.L. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

When ABC runs its ObamaCare informercial, keep Elder's breakdown of the numbers in mind.

Since ABC won't allow any opposition to be voiced during its Obama infomercial, it will take a bit of an effort to cut through the propaganda and find reality.

It's a sweet deal for Obama to have ABC's complete cooperation, offering up the network to the administration to air government-run health care campaign ads.

I wonder if Charlie Gibson will wear his glasses down on his nose and peer over them as he condescendingly grills Obama, the way he did when he interviewed Sarah Palin last September.

There is NO chance of that happening. Zero.

I mean, is the Pope Catholic?

Does socialized medicine kill people?