A common criticism of government is that its too big and, as such, plays too big a role in our lives.
It makes us soft, some say. Instead of learning personal responsibility, people rely on government programs from cradle to grave.
Because they typically favor funding for programs from early childhood development and paid parental leave to Social Security and Medicare, Democrats are an increasingly easy target for this groupthink.
Republicans have gone so far as to call such supporters socialists.
Name-calling in Washington is nothing new, but it helps to put this criticism in perspective. Consider recent Republican proposals for entitlement reform and health care.
President Donald Trumps proposed replacement for the Affordable Care Act is based on legislation drafted by Senators Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La.
Called the Cassidy-Graham Bill, the legislation would basically return health insurance to its pre-Obamacare days.
The measures would allow private health insurance companies to charge higher rates for those with pre-existing conditions such as heart and lung disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, etc.
With the Affordable Care Act, insurers are required to take all applicants, regardless of their medical history, and all patients pay the same standard premiums.
The Republican legislation would exclude benefits for maternity care, mental health care and that for substance abuse.
Trump has said health care reform is off the table until after the 2020 election, but one wonders why the delay, if indeed his plan is so great.
By repealing the ACA, the Republicans are proposing to cut $1.5 trillion currently used by states to expand Medicaid. Instead, the states would receive block grants to assist a much smaller group of applicants.
If the Cassidy-Graham bill were to come to pass, an estimated 20 million more Americans would be without health insurance, bringing the total to 50 million.
IF THE GOAL is solely to save the government money, Republicans have done it with this legislation.
If the goal is to help Americans obtain quality healthcare, its a bust.
The same goes for the presidents proposed budget cut of $26 billion over the next 10 years for Social Security. On average, Social Security provides an annual income of $17,600 for those 65 and older a critical safety net for many Americans.
