5 things Bernie said in CNN Obamacare debate that prove he's nuts

During Tuesday night’s CNN debate on “The Future of Obamacare” between Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the socialist from Vermont proved, repeatedly, that his ideas are out of touch with reality. Here are five of the craziest things America’s cranky socialist uncle said (and why he's wrong):

1. “Let me get right to the point. Senator Cruz, like most Republicans, has said that he wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or so-called Obamacare. Let me tell you what that will mean to the American people. It means that if you are one of 20 million Americans who finally has received health insurance, forget about it, you're gone … And that means when you get sick, you ain't going to be able to go to the doctor. And when you end up in the hospital, you'll be paying those bills for the rest of your life, or maybe you'll go bankrupt.”

In his opening remarks, Sanders warned that repealing the Affordable Care Act will kick people off their health insurance plans and remove their ability to go to the doctor. In reality Obamacare is already doing the very things Sanders is worried about.

The fact is it has driven up the cost of health insurance plans, canceled the insurance plans of millions of Americans, reduced choice by forcing insurers out of the market, and created a death-spiral scenario that is destroying the health insurance marketplace, preventing people from getting insurance to afford the health care they need.

2. “This country has more rationing than any other industrialized country on Earth, except the rationing is done by income. And working-class people and poor people today are suffering as a result of that rationing.”

The socialist Sanders believes that the capitalist system “rations” health care because people who can’t afford to purchase health care services (or insurance to afford those services) don’t buy insurance.

Firstly, that’s not rationing, that’s how a market works – people without money can’t buy goods or services. Secondly, Sanders' solution is to have the government dictate the kind of health care individuals receive (real rationing), not to drive down insurance costs through market reforms to make health insurance and health care more affordable for poor people.

3. “Government deciding? No, government doesn't decide in Canada or anyplace else.”

Sen. Sanders suggested that in countries with socialized medicine, the government does not make health care decisions for individuals. He is very wrong.

4. “I think that for businesses that employ 50 people or more, given the nature of our dysfunctional health care system right now, where most people do get their health insurance through the places that they work, I'm sorry, I think that in America today, everybody should have health care. And if you have more than 50 people, you know what, I think – I'm afraid to tell you – I think you will have to provide health insurance.”

Bernie Sanders straight up told a small business owner that she should be forced to provide health insurance to her employees even if she can’t afford it. Even Bill Clinton acknowledged small businesses are getting killed by Obamacare’s mandates. That’s not a problem for Sanders.

5. “The United States is the only major country on Earth not to guarantee health care to all people as a right. I believe we should move in that direction. The ACA has been a step forward. We have got to go further and join every other major country on Earth and say that if you are an American, you are guaranteed health care as a right, not a privilege.”

Two things. First:  

When Bernie Sanders says "rights" he means govt-enforced obligations on others.Govt uses force to create Bernie's "rights." #CNNDebateNight

— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) February 8, 2017

Second:

VIDEO: Sanders asks Cruz if healthcare is a right. Don't miss this response. #CNNDebateNight pic.twitter.com/vEpqvUfeXH

— MRCTV.org (@mrctv) February 8, 2017

Health care is not a right to be guaranteed by the government; it is a service provided by doctors in a marketplace. The proper role of government is ensuring that barriers to trade are removed so entrepreneurial innovation lowers the price of health care over time and competition ensures health insurance is affordable for the people who need it most.

Obamacare, Bernie Sanders’ first “step forward” toward government provision of health care, has been such a disaster that Republican delay of repeal is indefensible. It is time to try liberty.