40. Just the Beginning

40.  Just the Beginning

 

On one of my trips to Washington, DC to meet with other doctors that opposed Obamacare, I met a young physician who had grown up in Chile.  I’ll call him Francisco.  He told a sobering story of his family’s experience during the Presidency of Salvador Allende in the 1970’s. 

 

Allende was a Socialist who believed in nationalization of industries, re-distribution of wealth and government control of virtually every aspect of Chilean life.  One of the first things he did was nationalize the healthcare system.  He set price controls on goods and services and set up a distribution network of government agencies to ensure that his new rules were followed.  Sounds a little like Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board and the state healthcare exchanges, doesn’t it?

 

Francisco’s family lands were taken by the government and re-distributed to poorer families.  Funny thing though—those poorer families didn’t know how to manage their new lands.  They ended up hiring Francisco’s parents to do it.

 

Allende massively increased spending, especially on social programs.  Within 2 years, the inflation rate in Chile was 140% and Chilean GDP was actually in the negative.  There were numerous strikes by workers and the country defaulted on foreign debt.  Allende was accused by the Chilean congress and the Chilean Supreme Court of abusing his Executive powers “ruling by decree, thwarting the normal legislative system”.  His response to these accusations was to complain that “Parliament has made itself a bastion against the transformations . . . and has done everything it can to perturb the functioning of the finances and of the institutions, sterilizing all creative initiatives.” 

 

In a speech in Las Vegas in October, 2011, President Obama said “We can’t wait for an increasingly dysfunctional Congress to do its job”. “Where they won’t act, I will.”  Sound familiar?

Francisco came to Washington, DC to oppose Obamacare because he didn’t want the United States of America to end up like Chile.  He said the similarities were frightening. After researching Allende’s Presidency I have to agree.  That’s why I’m talking to you every day.  We can learn from these other countries.  We have one more chance to stop Obama and the Democrats and their socialist agenda this election.  Our Constitution can’t save us if no one pays attention to it.

(Note: This commentary is by Dr. Jill Vecchio.)