Shocking Sensibility!

Today's letters section includes a true rarity for the Oklahoman. Jon Womastek's letter, "Gov. Mary Fallin pandering with health care decision," actually makes a sensible and impassioned critique of one of the far-right's major anti-'Obamacare' ploys: rejecting federal aid for Medicare and refusing to participate in insurance exchanges.

Rejecting Medicare funding is done because, according to the Governor's spokesperson,

no matter how much money the federal government contributed for an expansion the state ultimately would not be able to afford its share of a larger Medicaid program without cutting funding for other essential services, such as education and highways.

Because, of course, trying to raise revenue is out of the question. And it's better to have a swath of uninsured poor at the mercy of fate rather than have a healthy and productive (and tax-paying) workforce.

As for refusing to participate in insurance exchanges, this is less about financial implications and more based in ideology. The governor argues that:

It does not benefit Oklahoma taxpayers to actively support or fund a new government program that will ultimately be under the control of the federal government, that is opposed by a clear majority of Oklahomans, and that will further the implementation of a law that threatens to erode both the quality of the American health care system and the fiscal stability of the nation.

Note the "control of the federal government" line, nothing but a dog whistle to the AM talk radio-listening crowd. And why do "a clear majority of Oklahomans" reject 'Obamacare'? Mostly because they live in a right-wing media bubble that has told them that the Affordable Care Act is akin to socialism. (The editors of the Oklahoman can take a bow for their role in that!) And finally, it is clear that the quality of the American healthcare system at present is horrible, and that 'Obamacare' will only improve the fiscal stability of the nation. That she is allowed to make such statements unchallenged is a telling indicator of how bad our press corps is.

In any case, back to Mr. Womastek's letter. In it, he argues-- correctly-- that

[f]ar from being the conservative she claims, Fallin wants to score points with the party's right wing rather than doing the right thing for all her constituents. How is it conservative to turn down federal money for health care exchanges and instead continue to shove the cost of caring for the poor and indigent onto hospitals and insurance companies?

Indeed. But in general, this has been the mantra of the right for decades. Providing superior healthcare options for citizens of the United States is nothing but a march towards socialism, and helping the poor (while fine if provided by a church), is just facilitating their own laziness. All so we can make sure some billionaire is able to purchase a ninth Malibu home.

It's curious that the Oklahoman would publish Mr. Womastek's letter, and one wonders if this is a classic Point/Counterpoint set-up by the editors.