This article is by Jason Edwards
First let me say that we are finally having this debate. I have seen first hand the shenanigans of are current health care system. Republicans and Democrats both have good ideas when it comes to health care reform, which is why I believe and hope that the Democrats do not go to reconciliation vote. Republicans believe that government run entities (like Medicare) are too costly and inefficient. Majority of Democrats (with the exception of very liberal Barney Frank and others) believe that we should have public and private insurance providers. Which I completely agree with because it will keep private insurances companies in check , keep cost down, and it will also give citizens something to fall back on it hard time (like during this recession when people are losing their job and the one thing they are worried about is losing their health care because they lost their job). I have to say I agree with the Republicans when they talk about all the waste that can be found to be used to reform health care and get cost down. This will lower the need to raise taxes. Remember this is not socialize medicine this is a payment system.In my opinion we should all have a choice in our health care provider (public/government run and private/business pay). What do you think?
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jason, The only way the government should be involved in healthcare is through public hosipitals and clinics. That is the way people who didn't have helthcare got taken care of before you were born. The government has never run anyhting right because of abuse and excess spending. The government produces nothing so there is no incentive to keep cost down. I don't think you can name one program that the government runs successfully.
ReplyDeleteThe poster before me is exactly right, the government does nothing right and should take their hands out of healthcare completely except hospitals. people talk about how bad our healthcare system now, but it's still much better than any other country
ReplyDeleteSome facts:
ReplyDelete1. Half of all bankruptcies are caused by medical bills. Three-quarters of those filings are people with health insurance.
2.U.S. health care spending is approximately $2 trillion per year, or $6,697 per person. The United States continues to spend significantly more on health care than other countries in the world.
3.According to the UN Human Development Report, while the United States leads the world in spending on health care, “countries spending substantially less than the US have healthier populations.… The infant mortality rate for the U.S. is now higher than for many other industrial countries.”
Now these are only some of the horrible facts about US healthcare. Let me just point out that yes me have the most advanced care, yes we have better survival rates for cancers, and yes we have better technology to help chronic patients. That is not the point I am making. I am not trying to say we have the best most advanced care for those who can pay for it. We are the richest country in the world, but we deprive millions of their right to have health care.
As I said in my blog post. I have seen first hand how the healthcare system is a scam. My dad had throat cancer about ten years ago, got treated but has scare tissue on his vocal-chords. He voice was better than expected. Then about five years ago he got in a horrible motorcycle accident. They had to stick a tube down his throat. Now his vocal-chords have even more scare tissue. He can barely speak (and speaking was his lively hood). We had to fight with the insurance company because they said it was a "preexisting condition" before they would eventually cover him 5 months later when it got even worse and not much could be done then.
Is this really how it should be? O and a little side note my dad pays his insurance himself $15,000 dollars a year out of his pocket. He doesn't have some big business paying for him. Now that he can't work it is getting harder and harder to pay that bill.
Jason any study or program done by the UN is suspect at best. Lets see global warming, food for oil scandal and your report on health was absoultly false stats are taken differently in all the countries and The US mortality rates are actually lower when all the stats are taken into account. I don't believe half of all bankruptires are caused by medical bills where did that stat come from. They can't even hold it agaisnt you on credit applications. They will make arrangements with you for very nominal monthly payments. Helthcare and health insurance is not a right nor has it ever been according to our constitution. I know this first hand also and I can tell you I wouldn't be writing this in a socialized health system. I'm sure your father would be in the same situation. you need to goto hospitals in other countries to see what they are like. I have seen them first hand. I just want you yo know I own a small business I pay my health insurance and 4 of my full time employees. The big reason for cost rise is because of government regulation
ReplyDeleted
Just because you don't believe something doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
ReplyDeleteRead this article about a Harvard study ( can this be trusted).
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/bankruptcy_study.html
or
http://www.naturalnews.com/004318.html
or
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/hlthaff.w5.63/DC1
Where does the US rank in health care. 37
http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html
or hey what about this one?
http://allcountries.org/health/usa_health_care_2008_nyt.html
I am an open minded person. Which is why I believe democrats and republicans must work together to reform health care. Hey maybe there is a better way then having a public OPTION and a private OPTION.
To your statement that it is not in the constitution is ridiculous. TImes are different we don't live in 1776, we live in 2008. The laws don't need to change but the interpretation needs to.
We have a constitution and should follow it and there are provisions for changing it. I just wanted to let you know the constitution was written 1787.i think you should read it first and realize we are the greatest country in the world when we follow it and have problems when we don't follow it The studies you reference still do not take the stats that are actual because each country uses there own criteria.
ReplyDeletejust because you read something doesn't make it true. I appreciate your idealism but let's try some rhetorical questions if you want the government to get involved. Your father's health care cost are high?
1)How old are you
2) If you are over 18 do you attend college and who pays for it.
3)Do you work fulltime
4) What do you contribute financially to your family's health care.
5) What size house do you live in and is it considered above average.
6) If you go to college can you work full time and go to school at night.
7)Can you serve in the military and send money to your parents. ( You can use the GI bill to go to school after you get out of the service)
After you answer these questions and if you tried these solutions. We can talk about options that other people can help. I think self evaluations and self sacrifice should be tried first. Our fore fathers thought enough of self- sacrifice to fight for their independence and give us the greatest document for governing that was ever written. Any document the gives your freedom to pursue life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness is never ridiculous. It is never out of date and should not be taken lightly. The biggest problem our country has right now is they want to interpret instead of follow it. It would be nice idea if you look at other sites than .org and or biased/ governemnt web sites. I don't want the democrats or republicans to work on any problems they can't fix or understand that is why we are in this situation. This isn't a poloiticla issue. How about opening up medical schools to admit more people if they pass the admissions requirements. Do you know the medical schools are only allowed to accept a cetain number of students to their medical programs. If you allowed more people it could create competition and that would bring down the cost
I am 21 years old. I am a junior in college, and my parents help pay for it. My school only cost 6 thousand a year, so they decided it would be better since I am attending law school to not take loans out, and we couldn't get financial aid because we had some savings. I work part-time at school and in the summer I work full-time. I don't contribute anything to my families health-care. I don't know what your background is, but no child should have the stress of that. My parents would never stick me with my burden. I live in a 4 bedroom 2 and 1/2 bath house in Montgomery County, PA. No I can't serve in the military I have no motivation to do that. I don't owe my parents any money. I owe my parents the respect and love they deserve. I will pay them back by doing well academically and being successful in my career .
ReplyDeleteI don't know about you or your background or your family. My family has a different value system. I have the best parents in the world and I do everything in my power to help out any way I can. Do not assume I am some lazy kid, that is just complaining and wants a hand out. My parents built their business from the ground up and are hard working individuals. They have done everything correct. They instill in their kids hard work, integrity, and respect. They believe that I child should not have the burdens of families finance. I have worked since I was 15, I bought my own car, I pay for half my car insurance, I pay all my bill, I buy all my found. I do not receive any hand outs. I take what you have said as very offensive. I would appreciate if you did not put judgement on someone you know nothing about.
First off I asked the question to make you think rhetorical means answer your self not to me. I'm sorry if you were offended that was not my intention. I'm sure you have a great family but you were the one that bought personnal experiences into the debate. You don't know owe me any answers. I just have to tell you 21 is not a child. If you want people to help with public issues and pay for things you have to deal with tough questions. I never thought that you received any hand outs but if you want any public money from the government that is me and it is a handout. I am trying to open a dialogue and discuss issues that everybody cares about. I am sure your parents are extremely hardworking and so are your anscestors. I can tell you when they came to this country it had nothing to do with healtcare and everything to do wih their dreams. I think you shuld stop blogging or get a tougher skin. This is the problem with people they get offended.If you are going to voice your opinion, you might not like what people have to say. I could be offended by the fact that you are questioning my value system based on the way on you stated " My family has a different value system". I feel bad that you couldn't answer the questions that I wanted you to answer about the constitution and the issues; Instead you took my response as a personal attack. I think it would be a good idea to read my last response again and maybe you will get a different perspective. I just want to let you know that I am 1 of 7 children and I have a father who didn't even graduate from high school.
ReplyDeleteI also want to let you know he got married at 16 years old ( I believe this really doesn't qualify as a kid in my book). He had 2 children and was working 2 full time jobs to support his family. My parents are still married and are coming up on there 60th anniversary. If you would like more details I can go on and on about me but that is not what we were discussing I would think we were taught many of the same things I was taught you take care of your family and friend work hard and don't depend on the government for any help. It sounds like are value systems are the same. If you are still upset I think we should end the dialogue if you want to continue that is great. The last thing I want to leave you with i did serve in the military and I hope when you become a lawyer you will defend our constitution not interpret it to suit what is an end to your means. I will wait for your response and if you don't I understand
Well first off I brought personal experience into it so you would understand where I was coming from. That this is a personal thing to me and not just so liberal idea. I don't want any handouts, but I believe that when people are suffering (9 million children without health care or the poor that don't have, or the 56 million that are not covered, or what about the people that are underinsured) that the government should not just stand by. They have to do something. Maybe universal health care is a bad option. I am an opened minded person so I am going to ask the question. What other options are there?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you for the reason why they came to this country. My grandfather was a box boy for GE and worked his way up to VP. If that is not the American dream I don't know what is then.
To your statement that I need to get a tougher skin. I have a very tough skin and I enjoy a good debate which is why I am not going to stop blogging.
I believe we do have the same value system. Work hard, care for your family, friends, follow the laws, and love your country.
I thank you for serving your country. I just don't have the balls to serve it in that capacity.
O and thank you for reading our blog.
I hope that you and others continue to read and debate the issues. That is what this country needs.
If I left something out let me know.
Just because people don't have healthcare doesn't mean that they are suffering. The 56 million i believe that it is actually 45 million and between young people who choose not pay peoplon cobra and those who maybe between jobs the number i hear is 11 million. It is agaisnt the law to deny anyone any services at a hospital so don't even try to tell me they aren't being given healthcare. Now if you can agree to that which I'm sure you can check I have a few answers
ReplyDelete1) if you are not here leagally no healthcare
2) open up universities to accept more doctors to increase competition
3) if the government is providing any kind of financial assistence to the student they must work at clinics and hospitals during their residencies in poor areas for 6 years
4) no government money or financial assistance for abortions
5) tort reform on all medical malpractice so insurance premiums to doctors can come down. I believe your state of PA has the highest malpractice insurance in the country.
6) do away with medicare and prescription programs and cut the taxes to everyone so they can afford there own healthcare. If the ederly still have a problem they can still go to the same clinics and hospitals as above. ( the government is setting the pricing so the doctor will charge the max that is allowed) Dentist right now charge according to if the patient has dantal insurance. .they inflate the number when you have dental insurance differntly than if you don't doctors do the same.
I think this maybe a start
First off my bad on the number uninsured it was a wrong hit of the key.
ReplyDeleteNow I agree that you must be here legally to receive healthcare. I agree somewhat that they should open up universities to accept more doctors. I don't understand what making a student work in a poor area will really help ( I mean in the long wrong obviously it will help the poor)? They already don't provided medical money for abortions (even though everyone has a right to choose abortion, if I am correct it is a federal law). I agree that malpractice torts need to be reform which would lower the cost for a doctor. I disagree with getting rid of medicare, senior citizen live on a fixed income and can't afford to pay for health care ( don't really see how that will help). I believe that cutting taxes will give people enough money to pay for health care. Unless you extremely cut them but then how will the government fund any program ? We need preventative care it is not just about when people actually get sick. Emergency rooms are for just that emergency they do not provide preventive care. Countries that focus on preventative care are healthy. That is a major issue this country needs to work on. Everyone just waits until they are sick, or hurt. They need annual checkups and so on.