That's the question that John
McClaughry of the Ethan Allen Institute has posed to five Progressive House members about their choice of a name for the single-payer health care system they have proposed in H. 491.
McClaughry wrote in a letter that he wasn't shocked to see their bill calling for a "single-payer government health care scheme."
"But I am shocked to learn that you have entitled this monstrosity "Ethan Allen Health. Apparently you are so bereft of historical knowledge that you believe that your legislative creation would somehow find favor with Vermont's 18
th century hero, Col. Ethan Allen."
Describing Allen as a "brawling, boozing, blaspheming giant" and an "outspoken champion of liberty and property,"
McClaughry question how anyone could think he would endorse a bill "to impose upon free Vermonters a government-run, taxpayer-financed health care system?"
"If you must label this legislative travesty in the name of an Allen, consider choosing Levi, the Tory. Levi died in a Burlington debtor's prison in 1801, which is what will likely happen to the whole state of Vermont if the General Assembly should, God
forfend, enact your $2 billion health care legislation."
OK, anyone have names to suggest to the Progressives?
-- Nancy
RemsenLabels: health care, vermont politcs
