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.