Finally, Trumpcare should respect the freedom of the individual states to add to the bare-bones coverage as they see fit, with an expected two-thirds federal and one-third state balance (as in Australia).

The proposal would be incredibly simple, with almost no administrative overhead. It would provide a true safety net for all Americans, thereby preempting any Democratic campaign toward socialized medicine. By using the new bargaining power of the government as dominant consumer, Republicans can finally bring health-care costs under control, from 16 percent of GDP to something like 10 percent, ending the long-term Medicare-Medicaid fiscal crisis.

Trump can use his proposal to divide the Democrats in Congress, forcing them to choose between one of their highest and longest-held goals (namely, guaranteed health care for all) and their allegiance to the “transgressive” agenda of abortionists, transsexualists, and zero-population-growth fanatics.

Even if the proposal fails, it will give Trumpian reformists a positive and popular platform to run on in 2018, in both the Republican primaries and the general election for House and Senate seats.

Trumpcare would be the greatest pro-life victory in our history, marginalizing forever the unconscionable slaughter of innocent unborn children under the false flag of “women’s health.” It would also marginalize the libertarian wing of the GOP, including Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, and the Freedom Caucus, giving Trump the advantage of governing from a broad center instead of a razor-thin, fractious coalition on the right.

Robert C. Koons is a professor of philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. Email robkoons@yahoo.com

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