|
 |
It is now time to change health care:
|
| By: Dee Taylor, Rice Lake |
July 22, 2009 |
|
|
When you read about how long our government officials have been stating that they are trying to do something about health care, it is mind-boggling. It started with Harry Truman! Then Nixon gave it a try. Then the Clintons. We still do not have affordable, quality health care for all in our country. We should be ashamed.
|
The only way costs will be contained is to have a public option in addition to private plans. Individuals would then have a choice. Insurance companies will have to compete. Seventy-two percent of our country wants the public option offered in any reform plan. Insurance costs have doubled in nine years while wages have flat-lined for most Americans.
Presently, there is a massive lobbying effort by insurance companies and drug companies. They are spending $1.4 million/day lobbying against the public option. Many legislators get campaign money from them. There needs to be a grassroots lobbying effort to make it known that the time is now for major health care reform-we have waited long enough.
Some of our leaders in Washington are hypocrites. They are enjoying quality care, but they will not allow us to have the same benefits. Are they that much more worthy as human beings? I have watched health care forums where congressmen have been put on the spot and were asked why we can't have what they do. They ignore that question.
One of the arguments against the public option is that government would be making decisions for us. Can that be worse than it is now, where health insurance and drug company CEOs decide who can and cannot be insured and what treatments they receive? Private insurers' focus is on creating maximum profit for themselves and shareholders and minimum coverage to the buyers. Their greed is incomprehensible.
Another argument is that we cannot afford it. Those in Congress who make that argument always voted for the war and huge military budgets.
Medicare was put in place without a single Republican vote. They voted against Social Security, one of the most successful social programs ever created, and recently against the SCHIPs plan for insuring children. But they voted for the Medicare D plan, which gave insurance and drug companies more profits.
There are ways to pay for this. Taxing health care benefits for those earning less than $250,000 is not the way. Many individuals received health care benefits in lieu of wage increases. Reform and making the system more efficient will pay for some. Taking away the unfair tax cuts Bush gave the wealthy will pay for part; taxing health benefits on the wealthy should be considered; and capital gains taxes should be progressive.
It can be done. We can help make change, if we bring our message to representatives. This is about the will of the people, not lawmakers fearful of the insurance industry and drug companies controlling the quality of our health. It is now time!
|
|
©The Chetek Alert 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Jennifer partington |
Jul, 30 2009 |
| |
I've had a pre existing condition since I was 5. I am now 40. I can no longer work, there for I can no longer have healthcare, because of the way this country is. No health care for its people. I've been on Medicare for 12 years, but have been denied medicaid. I've had 2 brain surgeries and am waiting for the deep brain stimulator to pass through the FDA to get that surgery. I have epilepsy.
With My life experience this country has had a bad health care system run by private insurance companies tight fit with government taxes that effects everyone including doctors and its only gotten worse in price. It was just recently released last week that within the next decade there are going to be less doctors, because of this big mess!! This Nixon system does no longer work!! It only has become worse for all! Something needs to change and I hope its a full change in the system, because if Congress continues to allow privates due business for profit and tax for the floor its not paying for my medicine. Where is all this money going, because this country is pretty broke right now and no one even realizes it!!
|
|
|
|
hsr0160 hsr0601 |
Jul, 23 2009 |
| |
Aside from the savings created by the prevention and wellness program, medical IT, foreseeable potential stem cell effect, and massive job creation, ending subsidies for the private insurers and payment reform and so on could be enough to meet the goal of deficit-neutral.
Public school, public insurance policy, and public clean energy act are the natural parts of life in the free nations.
Thank You !
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
