A void of trust

A few months back, I penned a column that talked about trust in our government and specifically trust in this administration.

The theme then -- as it remains today -- is that absent trust, virtually any act or proposal coming from government officials will be viewed with some level of skepticism.

That skepticism is not a product of government; it's a product of distrust.

So now this week, one of many essential deadlines of the Affordable Care Act has come and gone.

And with that latest deadline, comes a conglomeration of sign-up numbers that will be held in distrust by a large and growing segment of the population.

There's no mystery to this confusion. The administration has clearly put their eggs in the Obamacare basket and understandably they want to cast the most favorable light possible.

And by the same token, the opponents of Obamacare have an equal passion and stake in pointing out the shortfalls and snafus that have plagued the massive health care industry overhaul.

But I suspect the truth is somewhere between the rosy forecasts and the dire predictions.

I just wish there was some source other than the usual suspects who could explain honestly how this drama will eventually unfold.

The various delays and postponements to Obamacare have only fueled the flame of distrust from the opponents.

You certainly don't have to be a conservative nor a liberal to question why this overhaul has run into a buzz saw of start-up calamities.

It's not partisan to wonder why our federal government cannot get right something this important.

If our federal government built a bridge with the same precision that they have Obamacare, traffic would be delayed, flow in the wrong direction and eventually the bridge would buckle under its own weight.

But health care reform is not like building a bridge. Not everyone is mandated to cross that bridge but everyone is indeed mandated to join in this federal health care experiment.

As distasteful as it may be, I accept that for now, Obamacare is the law of the land and it is shaping the face of health care for today and tomorrow.

But the personal problem for me -- and it should be for you -- is that enrollment and participation will eventually dictate what my health care costs are.

And since these all-important sign-up numbers impact my pocketbook, I don't think it's asking too much of someone to be honest and accurate with the first phase of this makeover.

Sadly, at this point, I am less than secure with accepting the true numbers from our federal government given its stake in this issue.

And human nature dictates that if I can't trust you on one item, I may well not trust you on anything.

Michael Jensen is the publisher of the Sikeston Standard Democrat.