Health Care Showdown: Ryan vs. Everyone Else

While both articles do talk about health care, they are comparing two completely different things. The conservative article supports Ryan and completely opposes Obama's health care plan, while the progressive article barely mentions Obama at all. Here is my rundown and opinions on each of the two pieces:

Conservative Stanley Kurtz-
Wow, someone REALLY hates Obama. But all joking aside, Kurtz presents a very strong view on the health care reform plans of Obama and articulates his argument extremely well. He is completely against "Obamacare" as he calls it, and supports Ryan. However, this article is mainly about why Obama's plan is terrible. Obama apparently desires to creat IPAB (Independent Payment Advisory Board) and THIS is what Kurtz is getting so riled up about. The board will get "limitless power over federal Medicare spending... the power to effectively ration health care through price controls.. and override congressional sovereignty." Kurtz continues to argue why the IPAB is a bad idea, pulling information up that no one was really aware of. His piece is effective because his writing is persuasive and interesting. The piece continues to entice the reader to continue reading and wanting to know more about the piece. I believe it is also effective due to the fact that it brings to light the American people and the constitution- the document we have been studying since the third grade. Kurtz's argument is incredibly believable and I would have agreed, if I had not read John Nicols article.

Progressive John Nicols-
While this piece was not as elaborate and "flowery" as that of Kurtz's it definitely presented legitimate reasons and arguments against Ryan's plan. However, it doesn't support Obama's plan either. Instead Nicols supports a third plan, one proposed by the Vermont senator, Bernie Sanders. Nicols is to the point and voices his opinions well. While he does have bias and opinion in his piece, his includes many facts and information.

So, what do I believe in? I'm going to vote for the random third health care plan. Kurtz has persuaded me that Obama's plan is not good for the American people and I believe him. The fact that it is SO unconstitutional lacking checks and balances is the thing that swayed me towards Ryan's plan at first. However, Nicols deterred me from Ryan's plan, leaving only Sander's plan. Bernie Sanders, you've got yourself another fan.