A laissezfairehealthcare blog comment turns the raging American health care debate on its head by posing the question: what are Americans willing to do without. In a country where food, shelter and entertainment are readily accessible to an overwhelming majority of the population (relative to other countries with our size and immigration levels), most American children are taught they can be anything and have anything.
This is a fantastic framework to create for children — build imaginations that can craft all the possible joys of life to come. But there’s a caveat. Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned once the my rose-colored glasses were removed…when I entered the real world…was the notion of compromise. In this country, happiness, fulfillment and self-actualization aren’t promised and certainly aren’t guaranteed. It’s the opportunity to pursue these things that we value. This is a critical distinction that a surprisingly small number of people have made. If you work hard and create opportunities for yourself to be lucky - you can have it all. But don’t expect anyone to give it to you. But…in order to take a specific path, you have to give up the opportunity to take other paths. You have to make compromises…and without the benefit of hindsight. This is the notion of risk and reward.
The comment on this blog discusses health care as a compromise, where we can’t have all of the following:
(1) quality health care that is affordable
(2) health care that is accessible to all
(3) health care which is unlimited
Read each of these as if they exclude the others. E.g. (1) is basic, non-comprehensive health care for most; (2) is low-quality health care for everyone; and (3) is comprehensive health care which isn’t necessarily accessible or affordable. I would argue that “quality” is a very relative term. We’ll assume for the sake of argument that “quality” means basic, preventative health coverage without resources for catastrophic health events. “Unlimited” means coverage for everything.
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama probably opt for (1) and (2). This is where the “socialized medicine” argument comes into play. Would Americans be willing to choose this path at the exclusion of others? It’s difficult to analyze the argument in a vacuum…that is…a priori, without consideration of empirical data. If we were to engage in the academic exercise…it would seem like a reasonable choice. Everyone gets basic health care, without the bells and whistles. And this is the card politicians play. It’s a brilliant play, really. The notion of “universal health care” sounds fantastic — I’m willing to bet it is great for a presidential candidate’s poll numbers. But if we accept the notion of the exercise…that is…compromise, we need to look at what we would have to give up - and we can only do this with real world data. Providing basic, quality health care to every person that resides within our borders…which is affordable, would take away so many bells and whistles that we could arguably acheive the same patient outcomes by distributing pamphlets about the dangers of smoking and obesity, and spend hundreds of billions less. To make it affordable for everyone and maintain some semblance of quality and accessibility - the economics dictate that you strip it down to such a bare-bones affair - that a flu shot may not be covered. Even with conservative estimates of illegal immigrants and low-wage workers, the endeavour would represent a tremendous transfer of wealth from the productive to the non-productive. There are plenty of legitimate arguments for a “Robin Hood” approach in other scenarios…if it’s economically viable. In this case, I can’t see how it is. With the federal government acting as single payer and health care indemnity monopoly - all possible efficiencies are worked out and resources are wasted. The second act of my economic argument is motivation. It’s the classic confusion of the American Dream - guaranteeing the pursuit of happiness vs. guaranteeing happiness itself. If you allow people to think that the government will always bail them out - they have no motivation to take reasonable, calculated risks. They are working less efficiently. Hillary Clinton is arguing for a 90-day moratorium on home foreclosures — obviously for political reasons. If the government bails out Americans who borrowed more than they could afford to pay, it trains everyone to be wasteful and reckless. If America chooses (1) and (2), resources will be transferred from the responsible to the irresponsible, and those who can truly afford (3), will create a second, private tier of health care anyway. And the irresponsible have no incentive to become responsible. But everyone is paying more of their income for a system that necessarily, empirically, gets less efficient and sustainable over time…until we’ve trained ourselves into a welfare state.
This is why a truly efficient market always wins. As an American and an advocate for some form of consumer-directed health care, I believe picking (1) and (3) at the exclusion of (2), in a real-world, non-academic sense - is the appropriate compromise…because over time the economic incentives are in place to increase efficiencies, rather than reduce them…meaning if people learn to take enough responsiblity, we might get (2) as well. The notion of investing your health care dollars into people with a reasonable chance to recover is unfair. Many people with resources and no reasonable chance to recover will invest in hope…and choose to spend their resources however they see fit. And if everyone in this country is responsible for some of their own health care risk…they will train themselves to either make more money or reduce their cost of care through healthier choices. If Americans had an incentive to be just a bit more disciplined, we wouldn’t see skyrocketing cases of type-II diabetes.
Hillary is the only candidate with a comprehensive plan for Health Care. You need to check your facts.
Vote For Hillary Online
The #1 cause of injury, disability, and DEATH in America is, Health Care. More people die now from contact with the American Medical Health Care system than from any other cause of death. More than from Cancer, Heart disease, or Stroke. More than any other country in the world. Many times more than any other people in the world. This fact is a catastrophic indictment of the entire US Health Care System.
Driven by greed. And a rush to profit. Thousands of Americans are killed, and injured daily in America. By compromised health care. Cutting corners. Over, and under treatments. And poisonings with all manor of toxic, poisonous pharmaceuticals. Especially the children. America only makes up 2-4% of the world population. But Americans buy, and consume 50% of all pharmaceuticals world wide.
But the tide has turned. I can see it. Hear it. And feel it. The message is getting out. And taking hold about the fact that we have a very serious, and major health care crisis going on in America. Hurting everyone. Especially our precious little children. Rich, and poor alike. And most all Americans seem to understand now that “HR 676 Not For Profit Single Payer Universal National Health Care For All (Medicare For All)” is the way to go. Like all the other developed countries have done. I have seen numbers as high as 90% of Americans want government managed health care Now. Medicare for all. Like other developed countries have. And like older Americans have now.
BRAVO!!! America. YOU GET IT! YOU REALLY GET IT! See sickocure.org.
It’s NOW TIME to bring out the BIG GUNS!! The BIG GUNS!! are you. The American people. And anyone else that wants to help. From now until HR 676 is passed into law. I want every person to reach out and touch their fellow Americans every day if you can. I want you to take a phone book. And call at least one of your fellow Americans every day. And ask them to pickup the sword of HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care For All (Medicare For All).
Call more than one each day if you can. And ask them to do the same as you are doing if they can. And also to put maximum pressure on their politicians to get HR 676 done. And to make sure their politicians support HR 676. Accept no substitute. HR 676 is a no-brainer. It’s the best way to go on health care. It’s the only moral, and ethical way to go. That is why every other developed country has done it. Most did it years ago.
I know that many of you have been doing a fabulous job of spreading the word by talking it up with family, friends, and co-workers. And putting pressure on the politicians to get HR 676 done ASAP. The phone calls to your fellow Americans will increase the pressure. And grow the movement at an astonishing, and exponential rate. And I know many of you have been wanting to do something more to help. The phone calls to your fellow Americans is something you can do every day to help.
Trust me. It will be something to see. But you have to keep the focus, and pressure on getting HR 676 passed pronto. They will try to distract you. With all manor of other crises, and catastrophes. And other plans. Don’t be distracted. HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care is the #1 concern of the American people. Thousands of Americans are dieing daily now. And you or your loved ones could be next.
There is no good reason HR 676 cannot be passed into law well before the coming elections. Do not tolerate delays. If it is not passed before the coming elections. All America will know which politicians are on the side of the American people. And which are not when they vote. Well before the elections.
Everyone can do this. Most of you are well informed about HR 676. This truly is one of those no-brainers. Be considerate of your fellow Americans when you call. But be comfortable about calling. These are your fellow Americans. Some will be receptive. And some will not be. Some maybe rude, and mean. Just thank them, and move on to the next. Most will be with you. And if you get a call from one of your fellow Americans about HR 676. Let them know you are already on board. And thank them for calling. Build them up. And keep them strong. They are fighting for all of us.
I will try to make a second post with just a few of the reasons everyone with 2 working brain cells agrees HR 676 is the best way to go. But you can also look them up for your-self. And read some of the positive informed post on many of the message boards too.
Lastly, I am sick and tired of hearing how the candidates, and politicians health care plans are going to protect, and preserve the private for profit health insurance companies that have been killing, and ripping off the American people. And now the politicians want to mandate (require) that every American has to support the private for profit insurance company’s that have been killing, and ripping you off. Or you will be fined, and PENALIZED. Thats right. PENALIZED. Ridiculous! The politicians really think you are all detached idiots. CASH COWS! To lead to the slaughter. Don’t put up with that.
So get on it America. Get those phones going. Chat it up! Save some lives. You want all of America talking about HR 676 becoming law, Now! Before more die needlessly. Make it happen. And to my fellow cyber warriors. You have been doing great! I see it! Keep it up. 1 of 2 post…
Below are a few reasons why “HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care For All (Medicare For All) is a no-brainer. And some reasons why private for profit health insurance is a stupid idea, and injuring, and killing you and your loved ones.
Medicare cost 2-3% to administer. Private insurance cost 30% to administer.
Under HR 676 everyone would be covered from birth to death. No co-pays. No-deductible. No out of pocket cost. Plus Dental. And Vision. For less cost than we pay now under private health insurance.
With private insurance. You have 47 million Americans with no insurance.
And 89 million Americans that had no insurance part of the time from 2006-2007.
And over a 100 million that are under insured.
18-30 thousand Americans that die each year from lack of health care.
Health Care bills as the #1 cause of personal bankruptcy. And loss of homes.
Under HR 676 health care is moral, and ethical.
Private for profit insurance is immoral. And unethical.
Profit is the primary motive of the private insurance companies.
They make profit by charging needy, vulnerable, sick Americans as much as they can charge them.
Then they make more profit by denying them care when they most need it. And are most vulnerable and unable to fight back. When they are sick. Or trying to recover from major illness.
Yep! I know you are getting angry. I’m sorry. But I have to continue.
Under HR 676: we will save 300 billion dollars in administrative cost each year.
With private insurance: we spent more per capita on health care than any other country in the world. Over twice as much as most other developed country’s. Yet we have 47 million with no health care.
We rank at the bottom in quality of health care #37.
Americans have a shorter life expectancy than people from all other developed countries. We rank # 42 in life expectancy. Down from #1.
For the first time in American history. The life expectancy of American children is less than that of their parents. American children are dieing at a record rate. And are in terrible health generally.
People from other country’s enjoy a much higher level of general health than the best privately insured Americans.
Americans are also shrinking. We used to be the tallest people in the world. Now we are down to # 10.
People from other country’s never have to worry about going bankrupt, or loosing their homes over medical bills if they get sick.
Maybe you should go take a break for a while before I go on. I know this must be upsetting. But this is just a small part of the sad truth about private health insurance that HR 676 can fix.
Under HR 676: Health care will be based on need. Not on profit. And high standards, and quality will be enforced, and patients protected by the Government through a dedicated civil service. With the power, and resources to rain in abuses of patient care. Like they do with Medicare now.
With private insurance: Medical care is base on ability to pay. And profit. Tens of thousands of patient are killed, and millions are injure, crippled, and mutilated each year under private for profit health care, and insurance.
By insurance companies denying needed care to increase their profits.
By hospitals cutting corners. And using the cheapest least experienced personnel, equipment, and standards they can get away with.
By doctors that over treat, and under treat. Who injure, mutilate, and kill patients with unnecessary test, procedures, surgery, and invasive diagnostic test for profit. Who poison, kill, and injure millions of Americans with all manor of unnecessary pharmaceuticals for profit. Men, Women, Children, and babies.
Americans makeup 2-4 % of the world population. But Americans buy, and consume 50% of all pharmaceuticals world wide. This is a monstrous evil. And immorality.
And lastly, by politicians that take blood money from all these despicable groups and turn blind eye’s to this slaughter of the American people. And the slaughter of their own loved ones. And them-self.
Well I could go on. And on. But I think this is enough to get you started making your daily phone calls to your fellow Americans to support HR 676. And to help them understand how important it is that each of them join the fight. And bring the MAXIMUM pressure to bear on all individuals, parties, and especially your politicians, and Representatives. To get HR 676 passed into law immediately.
This is an emergency. America is in a crisis. More Americans have died from this health care crisis than have died in all the wars in US history. Do your best. Millions of Americans lives are counting on each of you. Including your own life. Remember, you are Americans. You know how to fight for your country when you have too. The whole world is in your blood. I’m with you.
All the best… 2 of 2
With regard to “Vote for Hillary,” I was positing on what some Democratic presidential candidates would choose given the confines of the academic exercise presented in the post. If you disagree, please support your position. The only fact about Hillary in the post was that she pushed for a 90-day moratoriam on home forclosures — which is true: http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/05/real_estate/Clinton_foreclosure_prevention/index.htm
This a comment for the Jacksmith comment…
“The #1 cause of injury, disability, and DEATH in America is, Health Care. More people die now from contact with the American Medical Health Care system than from any other cause of death. More than from Cancer, Heart disease, or Stroke. More than any other country in the world. Many times more than any other people in the world. This fact is a catastrophic indictment of the entire US Health Care System.”
Classic rhetoric of a Fascist Propagandist…