Whenever the idea of single payer health care is bought up, everybody in Washington, especially the right wing, start screaming "socialism"! Funny how they never scream "socialism" when it comes to who is paying their wages and perks. Then they go on to make two points that just don't hold any water. Point #1...They are quick to say that they do not want to see a bureaucrat making decisions concerning our health care to which I say....I don't either. Why can't we have government run health care with doctors making the decisions concerning our health care? Is it better to have insurance companies making those decisions? Point #2....They say that the government does not run things very well, therefore they should not be involved in the business of running our health care to which I say....Wait a minute, isn't it you guys who are running the government? Are you saying that you are inefficient? If you are admitting that the government does not work well, shouldn't you be fixing that? Don't we pay you folks to fix what breaks down in government? Isn't that part of your job? The richest government on earth should work well. If it doesn't then why do we have a government? Why are we paying taxes? Didn't we establish our government to serve it's own people?
Capitalism has always been the driving force, the motivator, that helped to make America the biggest and richest economy in the world. But somewhere along the line the large industrial corporations took the idea of capitalism and puked all over it. They became bullies. They bastardized the American dream. They figured out how to make the government work for them instead of the "people". Money + greed + lobbyist's= control. If we somehow could have kept "corporatism" from replacing true capitalism, we might be able to allow the private sector to competitively handle something like health care. In fact, if we had true capitalism, the private sector could probably efficiently handle running the post office, our prison system, collecting and distributing social security, and a host of other "socialist" programs, maybe even the military.
But now that big money and politics are one, the insurance industry gets to keep managing our health care. If the government was doing it's job, if we had proper regulation and oversight as to keep corporations from getting so damn big and powerfull that they no longer have to go by the same rules as small business does (like competing for example), they just might do a decent job of running our health care system. But they can't, they don't, and they won't. Therefore we need to seriously look at socializing the health care industry because the insurance industry has been doing a lousy job. Health care, like so many government run programs, should not be a profit industry. It's really damned if we do and damned if we don't because the government hasn't proven itself to be very good at running anything either. But here's the thing....our taxes do not pay the salaries of insurance people and we do not vote them in or out. Therefore we can't do a thing about fixing the insurance industry. On the other hand....
About Me: I am a baby boomer and a true product of the sixties. Although a lot of great ideals came out of that era, my generation made a lot of mistakes as well. I have tried to take the best of those ideals, as well as the lessons learned from my life experiences along the way, and hone them into a philosophy that gives me direction and purpose. This philosophy of mine is a witless blend of one part liberal, two parts practical, and three parts spiritual, mixed with just enough dry humor....to make you want to puke. This wouldn't be such a terrible thing if it weren't for the fact that I like to write. But I do. I hope you enjoy.
Joe - have a look at the Australian health care system -works like a charm. Can't understand why the U.S. government hasn't modeled their insurance after one of their supposedly strongest allies. Instead, they have suggested that Canada's and the U.K.'s system are inefficient. Is that right? Well, New Zealand has socialized medicine too and they also have a pretty good system, but when they can't handle or don't have facilities for a major/complex case - what do they do? Put the patient on the airplane, at the government's expense and send the patient to Australia. No, not everything is free, user pays a small percentage of outpatient prescription costs, capped at: $33.00. A patient must present to a general practitioner first for assessment in order to move forward to specialist, or in cases of emergency, obviously the hospital. How is is this excellent system paid for? Through income tax revenue. And, if you don't like it, you can go out an purchase private health care insurance - your income tax levy will be reduced as a result. Again, it is not 'free'.
On top of excellent health care, roads are spectacular and well maintained. Even in this poor economy, gardeners are kept busy and employed, working on them every day to keep them well planted and beautiful. Schools are beautiful too. Furthermore, you can pay your car registration, and utility bills at the post office while shopping for greeting cars and cell phones! Very handy.
Why wouldn't this Utopian example work in America? No doubt, taxes would be raised, management would have to be scrutinized; automatic weapons and hand guns would not be available to the general public, and shopping at Costco would have to be curtailed. Money saved by the taxpayer by not shopping (so often) and paying for the costs associated with violent crime could be applied toward healthcare and schools. Ah, but I've forgotten one thing - those cheap and greasy meals at Costco. Can't do without them!. So, must somehow come up with a better health care plan, otherwise, will be considered a Socialist! (regards from an ex-pat in Oz)
Joe's reply....Why don't we copy the Australian health care system? Good question. Does Australia have high powered lobbyist working for their insurance industry? Probably not.....Welcome to my blog Sharon. I'll look forward to more comments