If You Think Healthcare Is Expensive Now, Wait ‘Til It’s “Free”

Maryland “progressives” – but I repeat myself – are shocked, shocked I tell you, that their proposed single payer healthcare system is going to be ruinously expensive…

…well, no.  That’s too charitable.  If they (or any “progressive” with integrity) would admit to shock, or even concern, I’d be subtly impressed.

No.  Maryland progs just want taxpayers to not think about it too hard:

This morning, the largest newspaper in the state, the Baltimore Sun, reports that Maryland’s Department of Legislative Services calculated that the state would have to levy a 10 percent payroll tax against every business and charge a $2,800 fee for every man, woman, and child in the state to raise the needed $24 billion a year.Kevin Harris, a spokesman for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous says that it’s “premature” to talk about what kind of taxes or fees would be raised to pay for the plan. (When would be a good time, then?)

Don’t read the bill ’til you’ve passed it!

Of course, progressivism is, as always, the triumph of ideology (and vestigial idealism) over experience:

This is pretty much what happened in Vermont. Democrats made the bold promises to voters that they would never have to worry about paying for health care ever again, promised to provide details later, won office, formed their commissions and study groups . . . and then when they actually had to translate their idea into a detailed plan, found themselves stunned by the costs and the tax increases that would be necessary to pay for it all. Maryland’s state government currently spends about $44 billion per year, so they would have to increase the state’s spending by 54 percent to enact Jealous’s plan. Of course, some experts, such as those at the Maryland State Medical Society, think enacting the plan could cost even more.

Of course, single-payer is a key part of the endorsed DFL gubernatorial candidates plans in this election cycle.  Vermont and Maryland’s experiences will be carefully excised in any discussions here in Minnesota.