Beware the "Political-Industrial" Complex

. Obamacare would be merely an excuse for more influence-peddling by the political-industrial complex. It wouldn’t produce any big savings for the average American or for the government. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office was recently asked to evaluate Obama’s plan to create an independent board that could supposedly hold down prices in a reformed system. Its report makes sobering reading.

At best, the CBO says, the proposal would only save $2 billion over the next 10 years. That’s nothing compared to the $1 trillion-plus price tag of the bills. Further, “In CBO’s judgment, the probability is high that no savings will be realized.” Why not? “Outside influence on the council and the President … might make it politically difficult to recommend and implement reforms that could be viewed as undesirable by interested parties. Medical providers, beneficiaries, and Members of Congress will probably exert considerable pressure.”

Well, of course they will. That’s the political-industrial complex at work. Lobbyists know that the bigger and more intrusive the government is, the more power they’ll have. A government-run health care system would be great for pressure groups, lousy for patients. Finally, it’s worth asking again, “What’s the hurry?”

Obama has vowed his plan would “bend the cost curve,” but even if he had signed legislation before recess, it wouldn’t have any effect for years to come. “In the bills as now written, nothing would actually happen for more than three years,” note James Capretta and Tevi Troy in National Review Online. “Indeed, no uninsured American would get health insurance under the Democratic bills until 2013 at the earliest.”

Surely waiting another month won’t hurt, then.

Lawmakers are trying to hustle through a bill that few (if any) of them will actually read, so they can increase their power and the power of those who make a living off the political-industrial complex. It’s time for cooler heads to prevail, so Americans can start taking back their government from the well-paid influence peddlers.