Bad news for the Democrats. According to the latest Gallup polls, more Americans now say that it is not the federal government's responsibility to make sure that all Americans have healthcare coverage. Wow. What took 'em so long to figure this out? Maybe they started noticing reports like this ....

The Democrats, throughout this entire healthcare debate, have told you that they want to pass healthcare reform in order to reduce skyrocketing healthcare costs. Too bad that their healthcare bills won't actually accomplish that goal. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the House healthcare bill would RAISE healthcare costs by $289 billion over the next 10 years. The report says, "With the exception of the proposed reduction in Medicare... the provisions of H.R. 3962 would not have a significant impact on future healthcare cost growth rates."

Speaking of Medicare reduction ... "the CBO noted that Medicare spending per beneficiary would have to grow at roughly half the rate it has over the past two decades to meet the measure's savings targets, a dramatic reduction that many budget and health policy experts consider unrealistic."

So what is going to happen? Rationing. The House Democrat plan would end up sharply reducing benefits for senior citizens and jeopardize access to care for millions. Why is this? The Medicare cuts contained in the House healthcare bill will be so costly that hospitals and nursing homes will just stop taking Medicare altogether.

What's the number we hear tossed around? Let's settle on 47 million. OK, a few questions:

How many of the uninsured are illegal aliens. Answer ... about 25% of them. They came here illegally, they stay here illegally, they work here illegally ... and we're supposed to be upset that they can't afford health insurance? If they get hurt patch them up and send them home.

How many of the uninsured are young and just not buying health insurance because they think they're pretty much bulletproof right now? I've seen estimates as high as 20 million .. almost one-half of the uninsured. Hey, they made their choice ... let them suffer the consequences. Why do I have to sacrifice my health care freedom because some nimrods decide it is more important to pay for that new BMW and the flat screen TV than it is to take care of their health needs.

How many of the uninsured are eligible for Medicaid or Medicare and just haven't signed up for it? Millions. So ... sign them up? Instead of taking over our health care, get these people signed up and take care of them under the programs we already have.

And how many of the uninsured are in a transitional state ... moving from one job to another and waiting for the new policy to kick in. Millions more. We're going to turn out health care system over the government because of people changing jobs? How about just passing some laws that make health care insurance more portable?

Remember .. there are solutions out there. The only solution acceptable to the Democrats is one that makes government more powerful.

For months, Barack Obama has pushed the issue of healthcare reform on the Congress. Yesterday he cranked up the rhetoric a bit. He sent a letter to Max Baucus and others involved in the creation of this behemoth of a government growth bill. Here are a few things that he wants to see done.

First, he wants at least $200 billion cut from Medicare and Medicaid spending in order to pay for the changes in the healthcare system. Ok, that is definitely a lot of money. However, is it going to cover the costs of creating a government healthcare system? Absolutely not. Economists believe that the true tab for Obama's healthcare scheme is over $1 trillion. But I guess it is the thought that counts.

Obama also said that if ... and that is a big if ... Congress ends up "requiring individuals to purchase health insurance," Obama would make sure to exempt "people who can't afford it." This "hardship waiver" would be a new government entitlement program. Also exempt would be small businesses. He says that small businesses should be exempt from any mandate that employers offer health benefits or pay a tax to finance government subsidies. Oh, so now we are talking about the government MANDATING that private businesses offer employees medical benefits. Can someone please point out the clause in our Constitution that gives the imperial federal government the authority to compel businesses of any size to cover the health care costs of their employees? I've looked ... and I can't find it.

That leads to the next point - tax increases. Obama did not address the issue of taxing healthcare benefits to pay for the poor, poor pitiful poor to have health insurance. He did, however, remind Congress of his tax proposal to "limit itemized deductions for upper-income earners." That's another way of saying that he wants to increase taxes on the rich. But the point is ...... he's gonna spend the money somehow, and cutting Medicare spending isn't going to do it. Your children are going to pay for this folly, and your grandchildren.

Note, please, that there is nothing in Obama's letter, or in his rhetoric, that speaks to any enhanced role for the private sector in our health care future. The goal here has long been to put government in complete control of each and every American's health care. It's about power. In Washington it is always about power. Legislation and ideas that enhance the power of Washington over the people of this country are celebrated, while legislation and idea that transfer power from Washington to the people are denigrated and fought. The FairTax comes to mind. Washington is having a rather easy time taking full control over our health care system because Americans welcome it. One month from today is July 4th, America's most hypocritical holiday. Americans who today are clamoring for the government to take responsibility for their healthcare will, in one month, be singing the praises of freedom. Give me a break.

The Democrats are getting straight to work on passing their agendas for Obama to approve once sworn in. And as soon as next week, the Congress will be debating a children's healthcare bill. Otherwise known as SCHIP. You'll remember that SCHIP passed the Congress twice in 2007 and it was vetoed twice. Now, we are playing a different ball game.

Next Tuesday or Wednesday, expect a vote for the program, which is described by democrat lawmakers as "providing health insurance for children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford coverage." Why can't they just call it what it is, folks? It's welfare. And many of these people who cannot afford coverage .. how many of you want to bet that they have big flat-screen televisions, cell phones and a brand new car with huge payments ... plus other assorted luxury items. Remember that our definition of "poverty" in this country is becoming synonymous with the size of your flat screen TV, not your ability to obtain food and shelter.

I've said this before and I will say it again, this SCHIP nonsense is just a Trojan Horse .. what these politicians are really after is establishing universal healthcare in this country. And this isn't just me being all "glass half empty." This is straight from the mouth of Henry Waxman. He says that passing the SCHIP bill next week is a "down payment on national health insurance."

Did you get that? This is just the beginning. I hope you are ready to get back into the thick of things. These politicians have a goal .. and that goal is to make you dependent on the government for health care. Once they have control of your health care, they have control of you.