Follow the Money
If you want to know why something is the way it is in this country, don't be fooled by rhetoric, the answer can usually be found in money.Did you know that medical profits and income make up one-sixth of our economy? Any time there is that big of a racket, the motives for keeping things status quo will be wrapped in distortions about how their only goal is to benefit _you_. After all, _you_ are the most important reason for why things are the way they are. (Your money, that is.)
Thus the fear-mongering about socialized medicine and how bad it sucks in places like Canada. (BTW, I'm on a board with lots and lots of Canadians, and they are amazed and amused how easily Americans swallow propaganda which totally misrepresents Canadian health-care and satisfaction, just so we won't consider it a viable alternative. Ends justify the means I suppose)
A Dr. Shadid in Oklahoma had an interesting model in 1929, his case is informative.
And a pretty good argument why the free market cannot be the answer for health-care, and why.
Ex US Cigna Exec's story. In the UK news, of course.
I've lived in a country with socialized medicine. I'll pass. Kthxbi
ReplyDeleteSo did I, they loved it! YMMV :-) I don't know the answer, I just know what we have now sucks. Big time. And maybe the whole "for profit" thing might have some influence on why.
ReplyDeleteWhat's scary though is that since Bush, Americans seems more and more adverse to constructive dialog; anytime our system starts being compared with anyone else we get all defensive and polarized.
I bet we could dig out as many ugly stories with our own experiences here as the picture being painted abroad. I know I certainly could ;-)
As one who is un-insurable because of "existing" conditions, I don't know the answer but know something must be done. Especially with all the families losing their jobs and not able to afford insurance.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that and most of the middle class is just one serious illness away from bankruptcy or crippling debt.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it's become such a political game that republicans only seem to care about tearing down obama and obama is too arrogant to consider input from physicians or other countries that may be already doing it better.