Wednesday, I was in Atlanta and spoke with some of the people that were protesting outside of the Atlanta Federal Court of Appeals building. Their signs stated "Hands Off My Health Care."

I asked some there to explain why they were protesting and the typical answer was that it is not about health care but about our freedoms, or "who decides on your health care, you and your doctor, or a government bureaucrat?"

The freedom our Constitution grants us is to be an individual and to choose for ourselves the amount and type of health care we need. When questioned about the right of health care for everyone, the most common phrase was "that the Constitution does not provide a "right" to health care." That instead the Constitution speaks of "inalienable rights." These are rights granted to every human on this planet by the Creator and are self-evident and universal. Our rights are gradually being eroded by our presidents, our Congress and our Judiciary.

There has been a move in this country for a number of years to take us into socialism. The crowning achievement of this move is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka "Obamacare." In its final form, it will place bureaucrats between you and your doctor and with that, the loss of the freedom you have to choose what service and doctor you prefer. It will simply disappear.

For those fighting for government-run health care, I would pose some questions. Has creating a Federal Department of Education improved education since 1979, or has the education of our children declined? Has the "War on Poverty" in our country pulled people out of poverty or has it simply decreased incentives so that people tend to remain in poverty?

Has the Department of Energy done anything to actually improve our energy situation? Remember this department's inception was during the energy crises during the late 1970s when gas prices rose dramatically.

Consider carefully the potential dangers and unintended consequences of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Our current administration has offered no revelations about how we are going to pay for the services already offered, or what can be done to decrease the national debt.

Yes, our president has proposed raising taxes, but please do your research and look at the numbers to see what is actually required in tax increases to accomplish reducing debt and paying for entitlements. It will become apparent to anyone who looks at the numbers that increasing taxes is not the answer. From where is the money to come that will keep this newest entitlement program viable?

Don't listen to the politicians on either side; both sides distort the truth. A person who will go to the polls and vote while not being fully aware of the issues and their ramifications is no better to his country than is a traitor. As Thomas Jefferson said, "an informed citizenry is the bulwark of a democracy."

Mike Scupin
Gainesville