It seems like we are a nation divided. Half of us want “free stuff.” (Group A, if you will). The other half has issues with paying for other people’s “free stuff.” (Group B)

It is somewhat ironic, yet predictable, that the national debate now turns to the affordability of healthcare. We will no doubt discuss affordability within the context of the “Affordable Care Act”. The first obvious question (at least from Group B people) is: If the Affordable Care Act was supposed to make health care more affordable, why are premiums skyrocketing?

The second question is: Since the Affordable Care Act failed to make healthcare more affordable, should we just blindly kick the can down the road by extending expensive subsidies, or should we address the problems created by the Act and fix them so that healthcare actually becomes more affordable?

I grew up in an era when affordability meant prioritizing spending. On rare occasions this required borrowing money, with the important caveat that every penny is paid back with interest. It also meant that affordability was defined by personal choices and not groupthink by central planners.

Can we at least agree to start with those premises?