While many opponents of the Democratic health care takeover bill gathered together in protest over the weekend, Craig DeLuz took a different approach. Rather than preaching to choir, He chose to take on the proponents of the bill head on.
Zeta Phi Beta hosted a Town Hall Meeting on Health Care at Sacramento State University in which Craig was a participant last Saturday. This “Bi-partisan” panel consisted of five liberal/progressive supporters of the President’s health care proposal and Craig, the only opponent to the measure. "I guess it takes five liberals to keep up with one conservative." joked Craig. "But I really enjoyed the opportunity to sshare the facts of the health care bill with an audience not probably has never heard them before."
Although, even having Craig there was a big step for them; as most of the time, folks on the left do not engage in true debate on issues. Rather, they usually promote only one side of the issue- theirs. And the audience , as well as the panelists clearly appreciated having another perspective.
Craig outlined the true cost of the President's proposal and pointed out a number of significant flaws with the bill. He even went as far as to point out the areas where Republicans & Democrats agreed on reforms,"Republicans have proposed legislation to protect people with pre-existing conditions, who have lost their coverage through no fault of their own; to go after those insurance companies who maliciously terminate coverage when some one gets sick; and even extend the length of time children can stay on their parent's insurance to age 25." shared Craig.
But Craig also made clear the differences between the Republic proposals that have been ignored by the Democrats in favor of the President's bill, which he calls in the Sacramento Bee, "a wholesale big-government takeover of our health care system."
He went on to point out how market-based solutions should be at the center of health care reform. Specifically he mentioned allowing insurance to be purchased across state lines, expanding the availability of Health Savings Accounts, allowing individuals to have the same tax breaks when purchasing insurance as do businesses and allowing insurance companies to reward policy holders who make positive lifestyle choices when it comes to their health. "I work out five days a week, eat relatively healthy and don't smoke. Why should I have to pay the same as someone who doesn't workout, drinks a twelve pack a day, smokes a cartoon a day and is morbidly obese?" asked Craig.
