The debate around a public health care plan is heating up. President Obama is set to speak to the American Medical Association today; he will try to convince the powerful group who represents the nation’s Doctors, the benefits and the need for health care reform. The American Medical Association has been critical of the President’s plans to overhaul the system. Though few minds will be changed with this outing, the President does have the opportunity to publically express his ideas directly to health care providers. Democrats and republicans alike are balking at the enormous cost of the program, along with where the funding will be coming from.

The current spending by the White House will require $9 trillion in borrowing over the next decade. There was a $1.9 trillion budget deficient left over from the Bush administration. Unless spending is brought under control quickly, disaster is on the horizon.

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said, “The second five years is where we’re on a completely unsustainable course.”

The President is planning to pay for his new health care program without borrowing. He is planning to cut $600 billion from Medicaid and Medicare. The rest of the money would have to come from taxes; either new taxes or raising the current tax rates. Pushing more taxes onto the American people, especially during the current economical situation, is not very wise. Any factors that would lift us out of this recession would be hampered by any new taxes. Many democrats favor raising the taxes on the wealthy, which is strong opposed by Republicans. Without some conservative votes, the health care plans will not succeed. A new option being discussed is to tax existing health care plans that Americans currently have.

Taxing existing health care plans is absurd. Currently Americans are not taxed on their plans they get through their employer. A tax on this system would effectively hurt the people that the government is trying to help. Not only are these Americans paying federal taxes, they are paying their co-pays, and health premiums. A tax would effectively be asking these Americans to pay twice for their health care. Not only that, but many companies negotiate lower salaries for better health benefits. These companies and their employees would be affected even worse. Not only that but this sort of tax would greatly affect any upcoming political elections.

With no solution in sight, we can only expect the debate to get increasingly heated. Americans do not prioritize their health as they should, and refuse to adopt simple health saving habits. The Federal government is bloated and inefficient and would not be able to provide adequate and timely health care. Maybe the solution is not about changing how the government does business, but changing the lifestyle of America.