No Intelligent Response? Just Laugh.
Lasts night’s presidential debates on ABC, though the most fairly moderated debate yet, was still full of frustration as Ron Paul was laughed at by the other candidates for no other reason than their lack of an intelligent response. The following clip, where health care was discussed was one of the most blatant examples.
The candidates talk vaguely about the tweaking they would do to our dismal health care system that is dominated by powerful insurance and drug companies in collusion with the federal government. Then when Ron Paul gets a chance to respond, he attempt to address the roots of the problem with not nearly enough time. But he makes two points very clear: There is no way the government could possibly afford to pay for our extravagant foreign policy and quality health care at the same time; and inflation* caused by the excessive borrowing and printing of money is to blame for sky-rocketing health care costs.
Thompson was next to respond, and started with a sarcastic gesture toward Ron Paul’s statement. He had to do something to segway back into the buffoonery that he and the other candidates had to offer. They all laughed at Thompson’s ignorant remarks, attempting to marginalize the only man making any real sense. When Ron Paul addresses economic issues, it goes way over their heads, and they have to resort to these childish tactics. They don’t even try to make an opposing argument because they cant.
Fred’s question to Ron Paul was: “So if we stopped printing so much money, we could get out of the war and provide health care for everybody?”
To interpret what Paul said as such means that Fred was either not listening or he is unable to follow simple logic. Unfortunately for Fred, I think it’s the latter. If Dr. Paul had the time to continue, he would have discussed the other major factor involved in the health care issue, and that is the government involvement. He would, as he has so many times, addressed the specific problems and how we need to return to truly a free market based system where insurance companies and drug companies cannot run the show behind the scenes through the government.
*McCain brought up inflation first, but unlike Dr. Paul, he has a very poor understanding of economics and monetary policy, and would never attempt to address the cause or solution to the problems associated with inflation.