Thanks to the Obama administration’s new Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), known as Cash-for-Clunkers, American taxpayers are now subsidizing car owners to do what they would have done eventually-scrap their old cars and buy new ones.

CARS is perversely profligate in numerous ways, among them the fact that car dealers must waste time filling out onerous paperwork to get reimbursed by the government and adding legal riders to contracts with car buyers regarding liability for rebates.  Mechanics must squander effort draining each car’s oil, then donning protective suits and carrying out a dangerous procedure involving pouring sodium silicate on the engines to make them “seize up” and cease to function.

This government-mandated engine genocide is a huge problem for auto parts sellers, who earn the bulk of their income reselling engines, motors, and transmissions-all of which must be intentionally damaged and made unsalable to comply with program rules.  Government inspectors will go around making sure engines have been properly desiccated, a precondition for dealers and car buyers to claim refunds.

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Providing health care for every American does sound like a panacea, doesn’t it?

Well, while it might seem like a noble thing to do, the truth is, the government is still trying to agree on how to come up with the trillion to pay for the new plan. Even with the latest round of meetings this week, no agreement could be made.

Let’s review the three chief proposals that support this new plan-one from the White House, the Senate Finance Committee, and the House.

The House wants to slash Medicare reimbursements and limit deductions on charitable contributions. The Senate Finance Committee wants to tax the health benefits by employers and cut Medicare payments to teaching hospitals. The House wants to tax sugar-laden beverages, which contribute to national obesity. Add VAT – value-added tax on consumer goods and remove tax deductions for prescription drug advertising.

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The United States is engaged again in a debate on health care and the best system to provide and receive health care. Other nations across the planet have similar debates and there are different approaches to care in different countries. I add my opinions as a provider and consumer of health care to have some more fun muddying the waters.

First, it is my opinion that health care, like housing, clothing, and transportation is not a right, but a privilege. I will continue to scour the US Constitution for the right on health care, but to date I have not found it. With housing, clothing, and transportation citizens choose to purchase products based on ability to afford. There is no single car, house, or pair of pants that folks use; we are diverse based on our ability to afford. Health care really is no different.

As a provider the most frustrating thing is that I need to get permission from a complete stranger to examine and treat a patient, I am told how much I can charge, and I am further told how much I will get paid.

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