Health/Taxation Failed General Election
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PEAPAC Recommends: NO

Radical step away from biblical free market; State’s job is punishment, not healthcare; massive tax increases.

Summary

Creates a single-payer, universal health care system funded by massive new taxes.

Biblical Reasoning

We oppose it because it is a giant step away from the Biblical free market system and from the personal freedom that is linked to it.

The civil government’s basic responsibility, according to the Bible (Romans 13) is the punishment of those that commit crimes. This Measure would expand the civil state’s involvement in the marketplace.

Romans 13 — “The civil government’s basic responsibility, according to the Bible (Romans 13) is the punishment of those that commit crimes.”

Election Results

21%
79%
YesNo

Voters overwhelmingly rejected the single-payer healthcare system (79% No).

Full PEAPAC Analysis

PEAPAC Explanation: Measure 23 would have the practical effect of eliminating private health care insurance in Oregon. It would result in massive new taxes and bureaucracy. This Measure is not aimed at low-income citizens, but at all of us.

PEAPAC Recommendation: This is, by far, the most radical and dangerous Measure on this year’s ballot. We oppose it because it is a giant step away from the Biblical free market system and from the personal freedom that is linked to it. We don’t want massive new taxes on families, nor do we wish the State to be in charge of health care decisions. We strongly urge a No vote on Measure 23.

PEAPAC Commentary: This Measure creates a state-run health care system. It would pay for this by HUGE tax increase. If your household income is $50,000, the new taxes authorized by this Measure would be about $10,000! ($4,000 paid for by you, the rest paid for by your employer.) But, don’t worry. The most any single taxpayer’s taxes would go up is limited to $25,000 per year! The tax increases are shocking. But consider having a state-run health care system. The same state government that brought you the ridiculous Public Employee Retirement System (PERS), the budget-balancing debacle of the past few months, and the horrible botching of the Ashley Pond abuse reports would now be in charge of your health care.

The civil government’s basic responsibility, according to the Bible (Romans 13) is the punishment of those that commit crimes. This Measure would expand the civil state’s involvement in the marketplace. Because it would tax everybody, it would have the practical effect of eliminating private health care insurance. This Measure is bad in principle, and it would be disastrous in its application. A huge state bureaucracy, paid for by your tax dollars, would result, with massive centralization and a consequent loss of freedom over very personal medical decisions. The state bureaucracy has given us public schools that spend three times as much per student as private ones, and yet can’t match the academic performance of home and private schools. This is NOT the group we want to entrust our health care to. We urge a NO vote on Measure 23.

← PreviousMeasure 22 (2002)