Oh, here they go again with an oft-used argument against liberal policies they don’t like: said policies create “uncertainty” that stifles business growth and entrepreneurship. Now appearing on Vermont Digger, a tale of woe entitled “New federal, state rules for health care rattle business,” about a Wednesday briefing for business leaders about the impact of health care reform.

At the federal and state level, businesses have lobbied to ensure new health care laws don’t force them to bear more than their fair share of the burden for expanded insurance coverage to more Americans.

But as new federal rules are implemented for the Affordable Care Act, and the state embarks on plans for a single-payer health care system that would provide universal coverage for all Vermonters, businesses worry about restrictions that could drive up their costs for medical benefits for workers.

Businesses, don’t ya know, are precious little blossoms that must be protected from the vagaries of the real world. (Especially if they are forced to pay “more than their fair share,” which presumably means not a dime more than they’re paying now, and preferably less.)

Now, this isn’t as heinous as the use of “uncertainty” in last year’s battle over the Bush tax cuts: Republicans argued, with a straight face, that our most affluent citizens would be paralyzed by the “uncertainty” over whether their income above $250,000 would be taxed at 36% or 39%. This latest whine isn’t up to that standard, but it’s still damn annoying. Viz:

Several prominent business people who attended were apprehensive about the changes. George Malek, executive vice president of the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, said companies would like to be able to reasonably predict what their costs will be for the next five years. Uncertainty about health care expenditures make that impossible, he said.

I feel ya, George. I’d like that kind of certainty myself. I’d love to know what the price of gas will be next year, let alone five years from now. Hell, I’d love to know the price of propane next month so I know whether to fill my tanks now or wait. Yeah, I’d love to know how much the cost of my health insurance will be in five years, and how high the deductibles will be.

For that matter, I’d love to know if I or my wife will be downsized in the next five years. Or whether I can continue to count on Medicare and Social Security, or if I have to ponder emigration to Canada.

In other words, good businessfolk, suck it up. It’s a big, bad, uncertain world out there. You can’t predict anything with certainty. Health care reform is a relatively small item compared to, say, oil shocks or real estate bubbles or stock market collapses.

Embrace the uncertainty! Step out boldly into the void! Hey, you might just find that health care reform will actually enhance your certainty. You’ll be less vulnerable to the current health-care marketplace. You won’t have to worry about employee turnover when you have to cancel or reduce health insurance due to cost.

Addendum. One more question for George: Are you actually arguing that the potential “uncertainty” of health care reform is worse than the unfortunate certainties of the current system? Exponential rate hikes, canceled coverages, crappier and crappier policy offerings every year? If that’s the prize package in Monty Hall’s hand, I think I’d gladly go for Door Number Three.