Democrats should learn from King Cnut

According to legend, the 11th century King of England once rebuked his fawning courtiers by ordering the tide to stop in its course and not wet his robe and feet. Of course the sea didn’t stop, and the royal tootsies were soaked. By this, the King reminded his nobles there was a power greater than his, against which all the royal authority at his command was impotent.

Democrats and progressives (and lawmakers in general) could stand to learn the same lesson. ObamaCare promises to provide care to more people for less money, all while dictating prices and levels of coverage. Just as with King Cnut when he tried to repeal the laws of physics, the Democrats have tried to command the laws of economics, only to find that reality is far stronger. John Stossel explains:

When Obamacare was debated, we free-market advocates insisted that no matter what the president promised, the laws of economics cannot be repealed. Our opponents in effect answered, “Yes, we can.”

Well, Obamacare has barely started taking effect, and the evidence is already rolling in. I hate to say we told them so, but … we told them so. The laws of economics have struck back.

Health insurers Wellpoint, Cigna, Aetna, Humana, and CoventryOne will stop writing policies for all children. Why? Because Obamacare requires that they insure already sick children for the same price as well children.

That sounds compassionate, butβ€”in case Obamacare fanatics haven’t noticedβ€”sick children need more medical care. Insurance is about risk, and already sick children are 100 percent certain to be sick when their coverage begins. So if the government mandates that insurance companies cover sick children at the lower well-children price, insurers will quit the market rather than sandbag their shareholders. This is not callousnessβ€”it’s fiduciary responsibility. Insurance companies are not charities. So, thanks to the compassionate Congress and president, parents of sick children will be saved from expensive insuranceβ€”by being unable to obtain any insurance! That’s how government compassion works.

In 2014, the same rule will kick in for adults. You now know what to expect.

In the King’s case, only his feet got wet. Under ObamaCare, thanks to the Democrats’ hubris, the whole nation is set to take a bath, unless we first de-fund and then repeal it at the earliest opportunities. Fingers crossed that the 2010 and 2012 elections will give them to us.

(Crossposted at Public Secrets)

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