That’s where the Replace part comes in. Now, I won’t whine and complain about how things seem to take a long time to get done in Washington, but the replacement for ObamaCare should be on the assembly line, waiting to be packaged and sent to stores near all of us. We know the talking points that make good common sense: purchase health insurance across state lines, own our health insurance policies so they are portable, tort reform, free-market principles, etc. Of course, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), the reliable person that he is, has thought through a great deal of this, and has based his conservative answer to health care reform on his Medicare reform proposal.

But, where are the details and how do we plug ObamaCare’s replacement into our lives if the law is declared unconstitutional?

Health care legislation is not like other aspects of our lives. If the Supreme Court nixes ObamaCare, all those 26 year-olds who are currently on their parents’ plans could suddenly be without health insurance. What about pre-existing conditions? How exactly will this feature, that most people find favorable, be translated into a conservative health care reform plan? How will free-market principles become part of health care reform? And what’s the timeline?

Republicans need a single, detailed plan that all Americans can understand easily. That means Republicans will need to work together, using Congressman Ryan’s plan as a foundation. Delay, or failure to comprehend that Americans- both individuals and businesses- are anxious about health insurance and health care costs, as they have been since ObamaCare was passed, will only create more of an image of incompetence and invite further ridicule from liberal Democrats and their cronies, the formerly mainstream media.

Currently, Republicans have the American people on their side. Most Americans continue to want ObamaCare repealed. However, if a Supreme Court decision comes before full congressional repeal, Republicans would be wise to have a reform plan ready with an easy-to-read instruction manual. True, Senate Democrats may not give it the time of day, but let Americans see, once again, the Senate Democrats as the true obstructionists they are, just prior to the election.

While both Parties have their internal battles, Republicans who are wondering why their numbers are waning need look no farther than the current health care debate for clues.  When Democrats roll out a Federal takeover of private health insurance, the Republican response should not be less of a government takeover, it should be a total federal government withdrawl from regulating private health insurance.  The point is simple, although lost on many.

When we think about insurance in our lives, from life, home, auto, professional liability and health, which one is the biggest source on consternation?  Guess what?  Health insurance is the only one in which the federal government has significantly intruded.  Even that is currently regulated at the State level.  However, the many Federal government restrictions that complicate the health insurance marketplace are the primary reason competition cannot thrive.

The biggest perversion of the healthcare marketplace dates back to the forties when only businesses and not individuals were allowed a tax  deduction for health insurance premiums.  While we are now dependent upon our employers to provide for this need, we would never expect them to provide for our home insurance.  Most of the additional federal intrusions that perverted the market came in the federal acts including ERISA, COBRA and HIPPA including the provision barring insurance purchasing across state lines.

So now that we have Democrats and Republicans tossing out a variety of federal solutions, it is only fair to acnowledge that the Republican plan under the architecture of Congressman Roy Blunt, at least leans more toward market-based solutions.   It offers some creative strategies but nevertheless leaves in tact most of the previous federal intrusions.  The Democrat proposal on the other hand, is a vile package of power grabs and payoffs, primarily to big labor and Senator Louisiana Landrieu.  Still the leftist American oligarchy of Obama, Reid and Pelosi continues to push this menacing bill forward against plummeting poll numbers for both the bill and themselves.  It seems passing any bill at all is more important than what kind of bill they pass.

As the debate rages on, it is clear that the American public does not trust the Congress, period.  The army of lobbyists and special interests negotiating various carve outs, mandates and other special privileges into the 2000 page nightmare has Americans justifiably in nearly full rebellion.   While both Parties argue over which bill ought to be on the table they are trying the patience of an American public that wants no bill at all.