Gresham Barrett
He also didn’t falter in using the “socialism” word during an Easley Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Taste of Distinction on Thursday, a meeting that brought about 90 business men and women.
“The things that come out of Washington, D.C. concern me. There’s a belief in Washington and some folks in Columbia that government knows best,” said the Republican congressman, who represents South Carolina’s third congressional district. “That government should be able to handle your problems and our problems, to tell you who you can be and what you can be and how much money you can make, and who’s going to fail, and who’s going to succeed. Now they’re going to give you your health care. In my book, that’s not the definition of freedom. That’s socialism in my book.”
President Barack Obama has asserted that Americans who like their doctor and health care coverage will not be required to change their options, arguing that he hopes to reduce health care costs. The president also says that it shouldn’t add to the national deficit, but will be paid by cutting waste in the health care system and by reducing the amount of tax deductions rich people can claim.
Barrett said he doesn’t feel as though congressmen in Washington have been listening to him lately — but he does believe Americans have begun to let their voices be heard.
“All of a sudden, a person in Easley, South Carolina, one person in Columbia, South Carolina, talked to their neighbors and said, ‘You know, maybe we need to go express our voices and let out feelings be heard.’ And all of a sudden America is waking up, and people in Washington are going: ‘Holy crap, what have we done now?’”
Barrett defended those Americans, referring to them as people who are concerned about the future of their country.
“These are not radicals, they’re not right-wing extremists, they’re not instigators, they are men and women, boys and girls, old, young, black, white, disabled, healthy, concerned citizens who are afraid of what’s happening to their lives,” he said.
Barrett has proposed an amendment that would require congressmen and senators to use the same health care options that private citizens would use if the Democrats’ health care proposal passes.
During Thursday’s chamber luncheon, Barrett criticized some of the government’s choice of projects, emphasizing that the federal government does not have the funds for programs such as the current “Cash for Clunkers.” The program allowed some vehicle owners to trade in their old cars and purchase a new car with the help of a $4,500 tax credit. Cash for Clunkers ran out of $1 billion within days, and Congress approved of an additional $2 billion immediately afterward.
“We want to take a $3 billion program, and turn over a $2 trillion program called health care? I don’t think so,” he said.
Barrett is also ardently opposed the cap and trade bill, which would require reductions in carbon emissions. Barrett said the new law could make residents’ energy bills more than double.
“I’m not saying that we don’t need to be better stewards of our environment, because I don’t think anyone in here would say that,” Barrett said. “But you can’t cut your nose off to spite your face.”
At the end of the meeting, Barrett answered a few questions — all of them from someone who agreed with him and opposed adding a public health care option.
Cuba native Magda Aquila said she had moved to the United States from Cuba in 1963, adding that the health care debate in America seemed like “déjà vu.”
“I am sitting here, watching what is happening in this country, and it’s déjà vu,” Aquila said. “I think of the sacrifices that we made so that I could be free, and my grandchildren are not going to be free if we’re going in the direction that we’re going. You go back to Washington, you stick to your guns. Don’t let them take the freedom … away from us.”
Barrett, who is now working in his fourth term as congressman, is a candidate for governor.
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