Socialism Not in America's DNA

"Look at Obama's behavior as president, beginning with his first address to Congress. Unbidden, unforced and unpushed by the congressional leadership, Obama gave his most deeply felt vision of America, delivering the boldest social democratic manifesto ever issued by a U.S. president. In American politics, you can't get more left than that speech and still be on the playing field."

Charles Krauthammer, “Obama as Mortal,” Washington Post, September 4

President Obama’s biggest problem with health reform is his misunderstanding of American culture.

Socialism isn’t in our DNA. We’re a bottom-up society. We believe in rugged individualism springing from the grassroots, not in bailouts devolving from the eclectic top of the heap.

From our founding 233 years ago, we have distrusted big government as a form of “soft tyranny, ” and as something from which to flee. We believe government that governs best governs least. We believe in equal opportunity, not equal results. We believe in innovation and entrepreneurship, We’re optimistic and see a bright future just over the horizon. Flawed though our health system may be, it fosters an innovative market-driven approach, as opposed to government coverage for all.

These characteristics explain why Americans.

• Prefer a multipayer to a single-payer system.

• Reject federally mandated universal coverage.

• Want to make their own health care decisions.


• Seek immediate access to new medical technologies.

• Trust doctors more than government bureaucrats.

Our culture explains why America continues to be a magnet for immigrants. Our climate of freedom and opportunities are why we attract 80% of the world’s immigrants. It’s why 20% of our 307 million citizens are recent immigrants or close relatives of these immigrants. The chance for freedom and the bottom-up opportunities to become rich is why people originally came to America. That’s why they still come. It’s why the Obama policy of “soaking the rich” will not sell well.

It’s why we lead the world in medical innovation. in Nobel Prize winners in medicine, and in the development of new drugs. It’s why the Bill Gates and Steve Jobs come from American. It’s why, as the Kauffman Entrepreneurial Resource Center in Kansas City puts it. that E=R (Entrepreneurship equals Recovery). It’s why from 1980 to 2005 in America, entrepreneurs accounted for all the net growth rate in jobs. It why 70% of registered voters think of capitalism rather than socialism as the best road to a healthy economy – and a healthy health system.

So raise your half-full glasses high. Shout bottoms up to a bottom-up society, and thumbs down to top-down government.

I’m telling you this now because you’re not likely to hear it in President Obama’s health-care turnaround speech on Wednesdayt, September 8, before a joint session of Congress.