Obamacare: There are some givens that should go along with new law

Perhaps you have heard the chorus of complaints from around government -- and around union halls -- about the impending introduction of the new Affordable Care Act.

It seems there are a bunch of federal workers who do not want to be a part of the new legislation they pushed Americans to support.

Why? Well, it is not hard to understand, really. They have great benefits, and they do not want to lose them or to change doctors.

Too bad about the rest of us.

There is much to talk about regarding the president's new health care law. And we will address it again as its Oct. 1 debut approaches.

But before we do, there are some suggestions we have regarding the law and the aforementioned hubbub.

First law of Obamacare should be: What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Federal employees and members of Congress should be required to be part of the health care exchanges.

If these policies are so good for Joe America, they should be good for the federal work force and our elected representatives, too.

And that means no exemptions -- for anyone. No unions, no corporations, no Democratic Party donors or bigshots -- no one. And all those exemptions that have already been granted should be rescinded.

That is only fair.

One of the big preaches these days -- used to defend everything from high taxes to expanded social programs at the expense of taxpayers -- is that Americans should sacrifice for the future of their nation, for those who are not as fortunate as themselves.

So, following that logic, federal employees, Congress members and union leaders and employees should be glad to sacrifice their cadillac benefits so that the rest of us can have better and cheaper health care.

Without healthy bodies to fill up the rolls in the health care exchanges, and to pay the bills, the entire system will be bankrupt.

That is the reason healthy young people who might otherwise choose to skip the expense of health insurance are about to be pressured to "do the right thing" and to sign up for coverage they do not need or want.

Shouldn't federal employees be asked to make the same sacrifice? If they gave up a little of their benefits, others could have more.

And even if we can't convince them of their civic duty to back the plan they crammed down our throats, perhaps we should look at another interesting fact.

If federal employees have cadillac insurance they do not have to pay much for, why shouldn't we cut back on the benefits, increase the deductibles and boost the premiums?

Isn't that the responsible -- and community-spirited -- thing to do?

If you are now feeling like perhaps we are piling on the poor federal workers, pause to consider this. One of the few areas where the recession has not hit hard -- and where employees have not seen the stagnant salaries and the lack of employment -- has been the metro Washington, D.C., area.

Why, you might ask? It is where bureaucracy lives, breathes and sucks down your tax dollars.

Don't believe us? Look it up.

It is high time that bureaucrats and politicians are held accountable.

They created this mess. They should have to live with it, too -- no exceptions.

Published in Editorials on August 17, 2013 11:53 PM