Last night, Obama called for massive government controls on medicine and health insurance — just stopping short of single payer. Yet single payer — meaning total government control over health care — would be the inevitable result of his plan. He would drive up the cost of insurance by preventing insurance companies from limiting their coverage in any way. He would destroy the insurance industry by creating a “public exchange.” And he would demand that everyone buy insurance, whether they can afford it or not. If Obama’s plan is passed, Americans will be forced into the government’s health plans over the next decade — and we’ll pay dearly for that with our time, our money, and our health.

Paul is already busy writing on that, but since Obama’s proposals so closely mirror the three-year-old Massachusetts plan, I’d recommend that you read (or re-read) his article Mandatory Insurance: Wrong For Massachusetts, Wrong For America and the relevant FIRM blog posts.

Now, in face of this dangerous socialist onslaught, we can expect the Republicans to take a clear and principled stance for free markets, right? Uh, no.

Ari Armstrong alerted me to this telling portion of the oh-so-predictable GOP response to Obama’s speech, given by Rep. Charles Boustany of Louisana, a physician. He said:

Here are four important areas where we can agree, right now:

One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.

Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do.

Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor.

And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention — something particularly important to me. I operated on too many people who could have avoided surgery if they’d simply made healthier choices earlier in life.

As Ari said, “Obama teed up the ball, and the Republicans smacked themselves in the face with the club.”

If the Republicans are such enthusiastic socialists as the opposition — where they usually do much better — just imagine how awful they’d be if they were in power! As frightening as he is, I don’t regret the election of Obama. The Republicans have yet to show themselves fit to govern America.