The Danger of 'Fast Fixes'

Unintended Consequences of Rushing

In the 1970's an earthquake levelled Managua, the Capital of Nicaragua. Humanitarian aid efforts were quickly initiated to help the victims. Agencies determined that they should send food to the ruined city as soon as possible. Too bad no one actually took the time to look at the situation a bit more carefully. Yes, Managua lay in ruins, but the surrounding countryside was relatively unscathed and the donated food only served to wipe out the agricultural economy.

Had the well-meaning bureaucrats simply concentrated on restoring infrastructure, Nicaragua's farmers would have happily fed the country themselves.

There is a lesson here for those who would push massive unread bills through Congress to deal with healthcare 'reform' and 'Cap and Trade.' What are the consequences of these proposals?

When President Kennedy wanted to send a man to the Moon, a ten year program was proposed. There HAD to be time to scope out the problem and desgn creative solutions. Likewise the redesign of American healthcare is complex and the components of any solution need to be sufficiently analyzed before they become the law of the land. Bad fixes are almost always more trouble to repair than a more reasoned process of getting it right the first time.

Indeed it would be a great time to open up the discussion of real solutions. Solutions that include tort reform and settlement caps that would lower the cost of care. Insurance competition and a regulatory structure that allows people to shop across state lines and form more viable groups for independent contractors should be part of this discourse.

The Carbon Tax should be openly discussed as to its true impact on the American economy. Certainly we should continue to develop better, cleaner and more local sources of power and we need to develop our energy resources at home. Energy independence is a necessary goal and should be pursued with the same determination that took us to the Moon.