I'm no socialist, but...

[Droogan_Leader]

I really don't like to talk about politics, but this one has been bothering me lately. I saw John Q a few weeks ago, and, at about the same time, I found out I had asthma and my health insurance from college ran out.

As a result, I have been trying as hard as I can to pay down about 3 doctor's visits. It's your typical nightmare--I need a doctor's note for light duty, and the office won't give one unless I schedule yet another appointment, which amounts to about 115 bucks a pop.

My question to all you is, what is so bad about health care for everybody? I mean, everyone gets sick, but not everyone can go to the doctor. That sucks!

The way I see it, it's not much of a stretch from having Medicare and Social Security. And don't get me wrong, I'm no socialist. I just think many HMO's are nothing less than murderers.

What are all your informed opinions on the matter?

[EternalStrife]

I'm only 18.

[psychofiend]

I don't worry about anything.

[matthew_almeida]

In Canada we have free health care! go us!!

[ILovePapaSmurf]

<font color="purple">I get free health insurance through my mom via Aetna because I am a full time student and I get it until I am 25 or if I am going to school. I think Aetna has some great programs and affordable ways to get health care service for under $100 bucks. If ya want, I can speak to her and give you more information. If not, you might want to try your local health offices to see if they offer health insurance for city residents cheap. </font color>

[Razorback]

I was once operated on and the state paid for it. There IS FREE healthcare, but most people don't want to deal with it because it offers you very little choice.

RB

[Dr3vil]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
My question to all you is, what is so bad about health care for everybody? I mean, everyone gets sick, but not everyone can go to the doctor. That sucks!

[/ QUOTE ]

Free health care costs money. If someone can already afford their own health care and they suddenly have to take a large chunk out of their paycheck to heal your ass, it's not worth it to them. The largest chunks are cut from the people with the largest paychecks. The people with the largest paychecks send tons of money to politicians, because it's cheaper than having to pay out for every social wellfare program dejour. The politicians then tell you national health care is a bad idea because it's less efficient without competition, or have their financial and political support pulled.

Sadly it's true, prices overall are lower with private ownership and competition, and depending on who talk true, those lower costs easily worth the death and suffering of people like you.

[Threadkiller]

The answer is not socialized medicine. The answer is to solve the corruption in the FDA and the way in which the government regulates the private medical industry. With so much power over what gets approved and what becomes standardized for treatment, medical research companies (pharmaceuticals, equipment, treatment methodolists) need to support a very expensive lobby in addition to the staggering costs of their research. Those costs are passed on. Then there's the extreme cost of tuition for medical proffesionals because everybody needs to see a doctor for every genital wart they have when a P.A. or an LPN would be able to effectively recommend treatment Then there is the cost of malpractice insurance. Then there's the insurance industry and it's top-heavy over-regulated costs and they need a huge lobby too. The list goes on.

Rather than pointing to the obvious cop-out answer of socializing it (which isn't fair even in Canada) take a look at reforming the totally corrupt industry in order to make it more private and less government regulated and dependent. There are good solutions to each of the above costs to the medical industry that don't involve socialized medicine.

Dang, and I wanted to keep this post short.

[EternalStrife]

No no, it's no problem really. The longer the post, the less people will actually read through it thoroughly. You could insert 'fuck bush' in the middle and no one will notice.

[JIM]

This is the reason why...
http://www.simplicityhosting.com/images/money.jpg
Sucks, don't it? /forums/images/icons/mad.gif

[EternalStrife]

Hey! How did you crack into my safe!

[Droogan_Leader]

Actually, some threads call for long replies. I didn't post the question to be sociable, or affable, or to get more posts. I really wanted to know what everybody thought (who had a valid, well thought-out opinion). And that's what I got.

[brycejmcewen]

You're crazy if you think Canada's health care system is free. Sure, you don't have to pay a bill at the hospital, but you're definately paying. In the form of taxes. This is why we pay such high taxes.

[EternalStrife]

In my country, there's no such thing as a health care system.

[Razorback]

In what fantasy country to you live?

RB

[EternalStrife]

The fantasy country where a certain majority of the people are selfish, racist and prejudiced, but say that they're only looking out for themselves because they're unlucky and incapable of taking care of themselves even when everyone else who are not them are worse of then they are.. And the minority are actually the people that are keeping the country afloat.

[Threadkiller]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
The fantasy country where a certain majority of the people are selfish, racist and prejudiced,

[/ QUOTE ]
That country is called "Earth". If you think things are better in another country besides the U.S. you are not only able, but encouraged to go somewhere else. Canda's system is unique in that it has a way of making the financially successful Canadian's take their money out of the country. That's impressive when you can alienate only the most affluent members of your society.

[EternalStrife]

That may be in Canada. And I wasn't talking about America.

[Razorback]

You live in Venezuela?

RB

[Omaru]

have I give my two cents on this topic yet? nio? well no is still no exception. yoink!

[EternalStrife]

Venezuela? Why would I be from Venezuela????

[Razorback]

I misread what you said... I substituted "majority" with "minority" and vice versa. I guess I just wanted to see that. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

RB

[EternalStrife]

I still don't see how venezeuela came up.

[Razorback]

Then you don't know your modern history.

RB

[EternalStrife]

Well, I was never much of a history student back in high school. Besides, history taught when I was young was very limited.