Status Quo is Overrated
I don't get all political on my blog all that often. Mainly because I think all politicians, regardless of political party, are thieving conniving bastards. I am not a Democrat or a Republican, a Liberal or Labor supporter, or {insert political party here}. I am me, and as a rule I don't trust any of them. But I am passionate about some issues, and today I line my toes up on the edge of the springboard and prepare to dive into one of them.
I seriously don't get the whole universal health care "debate" back in the US. Why are you debating it? Why is it okay that so many of our fellow countrymen, women and children are uninsured? Is it okay because it's not you? How many of our fellow Americans are a job loss, illness or accident away from joining that number? Why is that okay? I never got it when I lived there, and I still don't.
Call me a left-wing liberal. Call me a socialist. Call me whatever you like. A simplistic label is probably wrong (see opening paragraph) and I still won't understand why access to basic health care is a privilege and not a right in the richest country on earth.
One of the arguments I hear a lot is people don't want "the government" deciding what sort of health care they can get. Those evil, faceless government bureaucrats... as opposed to the kind and compassionate insurance company bureaucrats you're stuck with now, right? Oh, excuse me I forgot to take my Sarcasma this morning, hang on...
Honestly, people, don't you get it? You have no choice now. Sure you think you do, but 9 times out of 10, assuming you have access to health insurance, you're forced into one company. You can choose your plan, assuming you meet their eligibility requirements, but after that? It's all up to them. Not you, not your doctor, but a paper pusher often with no medical qualifications. And this government plan will be so different... how?
I can't remember how I found Doctor Grumpy, a neurologist with a sarcastic streak a mile wide and the blog to prove it, but I love his post on this issue. Go do yourself a favour and read it - he nails it and does it far better than I ever could. Then read the comments.
I know universal health care has its problems - hello, I live in a country with it! There is no perfect solution, wrapped up in a pretty pink bow just waiting to be discovered hiding behind the Christmas tree. The current solution on offer is not perfect, but for heaven's sake it's a start. All I'm seeing are knee-jerk reactions to it that do nothing to change what is, to me, unacceptable. In 14 years, when this issue was introduced by the Clinton administration, nothing has changed. Who benefits? In my humble opinion - and since I'm still an American citizen I'm entitled to voice it along with Sarah "Death Panels" Palin - maintaining the status quo benefits no one but the insurance companies.
7 Witty Remarks:
I agree. As someone who has read everything by Ayn Rand, and knows who John Galt is, I am truly appalled by the insanity going on right now about health care. Insurance companies do NOT have our best interests at heart, and health care should not be in their hands. They've made a mess of things, and cannot be trusted. The business model of "get as many as we can to pay into the system and deny them as many services as possible" has GOT to go. If we have no alternative, then we are slaves.
No competition makes lazy companies that abuse customers. And I believe life and death health issues should NOT be within the scope of the capitalist model. Does that make me socialist? Should we shut down the post office, close federal highways, fire the cops and firefighters, close the VA and substitute private firms for our military?
One must re-examine dearly held beliefs all the time. Question EVERYTHING.
I couldn't agree with you or Kristen more. Everyone should have the right to decent health care. The idiots that oppose that should be denied the same health care. There is one thing I would love to see. Make Congress fall under whatever plan is passed. I bet that would make a difference in how they would approach it.
Insurance companies, and the politicians they suppport, do not care about the people who can't afford it. And, as is normal, the middle class pays for them now anyway. I like the proposal. Buy your own if you can afford it from whatever company you chose, buy the government plan if you chose. And I like most the clauses that do not allow the insurance companies to deny coverage at their whim.
The whole health care issue really gets me wound up. It should be a right of all people to seek help from medical professionals when they need it....no matter who they are, where they live or what they do or don't earn.
Well said. I wish there was something the health care system could do for how sick I am of right wing nut jobs.
I think if some of the folks who are against universal health care had a relative with a terminal illness, they might change their thinking a bit. Even with insurance, medical costs for, say, cancer add up. And, I can promise you, the insurance company will nickel and dime you to death on each and every treatment and procedure AND then have the balls to jack up your monthly premiums too.
Yes, Moose’s conservative little brother popping in. This should be fun, right?
First, let’s put away this “right or privilege” thing please. Healthcare is neither: it’s goods and services offered by providers (doctors, hospitals, pharmaceuticals, etc…). Everyone has the ability to go to these providers for services and goods; paying for it is another matter entirely. So to say it’s being denied to people is BS; it just has to be paid for unless the goods and services are offered for free. More on that shortly.
“But it’s something everyone needs!” So are food, water, shelter, and clothing. Wanna start giving that away from the federal government? You think your taxes are bad now, just think of how fun they’d be if that one was pushed.
Show me a service run by the federal government that actually works as advertised. They have two healthcare plans already and both are bankrupt and are continually denying people services. Social Security – bankrupt (unless you listen to Barney Frank: “It’s not bankrupt, it just needs more money.” Actual quote, go look it up). Education – tons of stupid kids and it’s getting worse. And oh yeah, it’s always out of money. Post Office – billions in the red. Military – we’re in two pointless wars, soldiers live on meager salaries, and we can’t even provide them adequate armor. Oh hey, that’s right, no money. Nothing like $1000 for a hammer.
The federal government, both left and right (If you think it’s a Republican only thing – trust me, they’re scumbags as well -, I wanna live in your dream world) have put laws and regulations in place to favor certain insurance companies and pharmaceuticals so there’s less competition. Nevermind the lawyers. Why is there no tort reform worth a damn in any of the bills? Between the bias for the super insurance companies and the ridiculous malpractice insurance providers need to carry, as well as the fed denying organizations from offering healthcare goods and services for low costs (or free) unless they conform to thousands of regulations, is it any wonder why it all costs so much?
Want TRUE reform – go read John Mackay’s (CEO of Whole Foods) op-ed for the Wall Street Journal. It’s not everything that should be done, but it’s a step in the right direction.
More government is never the answer; it just exacerbates the problem.
And Jen, your argument doesn’t carry water. I watched firsthand mine and Moose’s father die a painful death from lung cancer over a 7 month period. If he had to rely on a government plan for treatment, he would have been dead in 2 months because there was no point in treating him; he was going to die anyways (it couldn’t have been cured – it was too late), so why prolong it with expensive chemo and radiation. Just drug him up to keep the pain away and let him die. His private insurance let him live long enough to see his daughter one more time, to see his granddaughter one more time, to meet his grandson, and to say goodbye to the people he loved. Sorry, but give me private insurance any day if it gives me that.
There’s more I’d like to say, but I’m long winded enough and it’s basically like peeing up a flagpole – doesn’t get you anywhere but frustrated because it’s a pointless endeavor.
As you can see, as much as my brother and I are alike in sarcasm and humour, this is one area where we seriously disagree. And I think we're just going have to agree to disagee. But since this is my blog I'm gonna answer him on just one point:
Yes, cancer killed our father 14+ years ago. I recall Dad seeming to think if he needed to keep working to keep his insurance. This is, of course, not true and it may not even be the reason he kept working, but it was one reason he gave me. As for the "government" not treating him and "letting him die" if he were in such a system, I call shenanigans. I now work for the public health system in Australia, aka the government, in cancer care and can categorically say we do not stop treatment because the disease is incurable. Palliative care is NOT simply controlling pain and doing nothing else whilst waiting for death to save a few bucks. It. Does. Not. Happen. And I'm kinda insulted to think that you think I would work for a place where that does happen, having my history. You're buying into the scare tactic, IMO.
But I still luvs ya. :-)
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