We need to get away from the third-party-payer system; I think all of us are in agreement on that. And we need to get away from the bureaucracy and towards competition; I think we all agree on that.
The question is how to get there.
One way would be to just end Medicare. The problem with this is we simply don't have the votes, and most conservatives understand that shocks to a system rarely are constructive. You move carefully.
Another way is what this bill provides, namely short term costs for long term gains. Introducing competition. Cracking the third-party-payer vice-grip. And as a bonus, helping to bring seniors over to our side, so maybe we will have the votes in the future for more serious reform, especially after our trial ideas in this bill have proven to be successes.
Gingrich is right.