Guest Commentary: Del. Neil Parrott on the consequences of Obamacare

Del. Neil Parrott

By Neil Parrott

For MarylandReporter.com

People are hurting all across the country.  Recently, as I was leaving Sam’s Club, I spoke to a retired couple whose health insurance had just been canceled due to Obamacare.  Now they are having major troubles trying to get new coverage.

Elections have consequences, and every day people are starting to feel the consequences in a very personal way.

Our own newly elected congressman, John Delaney, says that Obamacare has been, “A terrible failure so far.”  Why then won’t he vote to repeal it?  Why did he not support legislation one month ago that fully funded the government, while delaying the implementation of Obamacare for regular people for one year?

People shut out from health care coverage

It is not the failure of the Obamacare implementation that is so disturbing;  it’s that people who had good health insurance just two months ago have had it taken from them.  There are many who want to enroll in Obamacare, but are currently shut out of health care coverage because of government-run systems that do not work.

Our elected officials have been supporting this new nightmare for many Marylander families.   Obamacare was not ready to hit the streets, and now individuals and families all across the country are hurting.  Jobs are at risk, insurance companies are being forced to close, many of our best doctors are leaving the medical profession.  Because of the Obamacare implementation, more Americans than ever live with the uncertainty of how they will pay for medical expenses.  Elections have consequences.

I am thankful for U.S. Senators Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Rand Paul who used common sense to try to fight this disaster and warn of the danger to everyday citizens.  I am thankful for those in Congress who were willing to risk ridicule from the press and the White House for their stance against the imposition of Obamacare on only certain people who weren’t shielded by unions, big companies or government jobs.  They stood up to many “establishment” voices, finding a way to fully fund the government while delaying the implementation of Obamacare for regular people for one year.  Just one year.

The government shut down because our president refused to even discuss the idea of a compromise with Congress.  Did the president know that his website wasn’t ready?  Did he even care?  Was he so worried about “winning” the implementation battle that he was willing to force a furlough onto federal workers, not to mention kicking veterans out of national war memorials,  just to make a point?

Elections have consequences

Elections have consequences.  I am thankful for elected leaders who tenaciously fought in prior years to defeat previous versions of Obamacare. I am thankful for people who work for common-sense values, despite the loud jeers of those who feel they know better.  I am thankful for people who work to understand our constitutional rights, not simply resting on any political party’s stance, and then get involved to defend our freedoms.  I am thankful for people who take the time to educate themselves about our constitution and how the framers of the Constitution intended for our government to work.

Thomas Jefferson said, “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government … whenever things get so far wrong … they may be relied on to set them to rights.”

Elections have consequences.  Next November, Marylanders will vote on who will represent us.  Will we be well-informed?  Will we remember that Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown was Maryland’s architect for the implementation of Obamacare in Maryland?  Will we remember that Congressman Delaney voted against the common-sense delay of Obamacare for regular people in Maryland?  Will we remember that those hurting in Maryland right now because of their loss of health insurance would not have suffered if we had heeded the warning of a few, brave  elected officials?

Our country and our families deserve strong, elected leaders who will not simply bow to any political party’s wishes nor cave under the ridicule of a loud media.  Educate yourself, learn the character of the people we elect to represent us, and be thankful for those who have been working so hard for common sense to protect our families, our constitutional rights and our freedoms.