Paul W. Smith: Commentary

Obama goes too far with health care plan

My "day" job has afforded me many wonderful, unique opportunities.

I've traveled to places I've never even dreamed of and met people I wouldn't otherwise have. I can't help but remember what Grampa Harry said, sometime before he left us at 100: "The harder I work, the luckier I get."

I have been fortunate enough to have one-on-one moments with every sitting president since Michigan's own Gerald Ford -- many times in the White House. And I have observed that every president has his convictions.

When I spoke to President George W. Bush about Iraq, there was no question in my mind that Bush was convinced that he was right on the course of action he had led our country. Few were quite as sure, and the historians will give future generations their opinions about the war and the setup of a fledgling Iraqi government.

Likewise, President Barack Obama seems absolutely certain that he is right about everything he says or does; we'd better just get in line and go along with it because he knows what's best.

All my life, I've been big on giving our presidents the benefit of the doubt, much to the chagrin of my strongly conservative and liberal friends.

Finally, one or both of those sets of extremists, as well as many in the middle, might finally be happy with me. I'm taking a strong, absolute position on something.

Our president is wrong with his health care reform proposals. The clause in the House bill that mandates end of life counseling for Medicare recipients on such matters as resuscitation and life extending treatment is an assault on the elderly.

Just because most agree something has to be done to correct problems doesn't mean anything is better than what we have.

Doing nothing is better than what Obama and Democratic lawmakers are trying to force on us. We must not let them succeed.

Paul W. Smith is host of "The Paul W. Smith Show" on WJR (760 AM) from 5:30-9 a.m. Monday-Friday. E-mail: letters@detnews.com. His column runs on Saturdays.