Posted on 07/24/2008 10:25:23 AM PDT by Turret Gunner A20
Oh yes .. this is going to be so wonderful. What a thrill. But ... the people demand that the government take care of them, and the politicians are only thrilled to respond if it means they can keep their precious positions of power.
Three stores came our way in just the last two days. The first was of a woman in Britain who was diagnosed with a small melanoma – skin cancer. Just a small spot. Problem was, it took her a few months to see a specialist to get it removed. By then it had spread and now she's going through the chemotherapy thing. May not survive. My own experience in this country – you know, the country with the hideous health care system – was somewhat different.
The lady what cuts my hairs told me she saw a spot on my noggin that she didn't like. Within one hour I was being looked at by a specialist. But then again, we don't have that wonderful national health care scheme they have in the UK.
Then there a story I saw last night on Fox News. This time it is Canada. You know how much liberals love to brag about Canada. Preliminary tests show that this young teenage girl has a budding tumor in her brain. She's now waiting for an MRI. Can't get an appointment for five weeks. Then, after the MRI, it is going to take another four to five months to get an appointment with a specialist to read the MRI an recommend a course of action. In the meantime this girl is suffering blackouts and cannot go to school. We just don't know what we're missing down here without this wonderful Canadian health care system looking over us.
Back to the UK. Another woman diagnosed with cancer. Her problem isn't a wait. Her problem is that she just flat can't get the operation. They're telling her that at 61 she's just too old. The health care services she seeks will be better spent on someone with longer to live.
But you folks pay no attention to these stores. Rationing won't happen here. There will be no months-long waits to have a melanoma removed. You'll be able to get an MRI within hours, or at least by the next day, if needed. After all .. this is the U.S. government we're talking about. A model of efficiency. Our national health care is just going to be paradise on earth. If you don't believe me you just go check out the emergency room of your local charity hospital. Look at all of the people there waiting to be treated for something that a spoonful of cough medicine or a squirt of Neosporin could cure. That ought to convince you.
When it is "free", people will ALWAYS demand more than they need.
Canada and the UK have horrific waits and high cancer mortality, unless you are a socialist politican/bureaucrat vermin, in which case you magically are seen immediately.
You know, like Teddy Kennedy.
Yay, Public Healthcare! From the people who brought you Public Housing, Public Transportation, and the DMV! With that track record, you can bet that people will do all they can to stay away from the public doctor.
Excellent little satire by Neal Boortz. Sad stories like these have been told over and over again in countries plagued by socialized medicine. It’s about time that the ignorant masses in the US woke up to the danger awaiting them.
“It’s about time that the ignorant masses in the US woke up to the danger awaiting them.”
You’ve never worked for a small business that cannot get an affordable health plan for it’s employees. Mind you, I’m on your side of the issue, but insurance costs are so out of control that the “ignorant masses” cannot get affordable coverage.
Latest quote I got was $3000 per month for family coverage, I kid you not.
THAT will ensure that we get socialized medicine quicker than anything I can think of.
“Our national health care is just going to be paradise on earth. If you don’t believe me you just go check out the emergency room of your local charity hospital. Look at all of the people there waiting to be treated for something that a spoonful of cough medicine or a squirt of Neosporin could cure. That ought to convince you.”
I’m not for socialized medicine, but I think all the folks that are against it need to ask themselves if they are willing to pay the full cost of an individual health insurance policy.
I think socialized medicine is inevitable in this country - and when it happens, employers will jettison their plans. If we are lucky we will be allowed to purchase our own private health insurance, which is mostly illegal in Canada.
There is a good chance that freed from having to care for every slob that walks in the emergency room, private health care plans, doctors, and hospitals will actually become affordable.
Today, it simply is not - unless you rely on the government, or your employer to pay it for you.
Have you seen the basics of McCain’s plan - or, more accurately, the plan his advisors have come up with and McCain has seemingly approved? It’s a lot more innovative reform than you’d think he’s capable of. Because of the incentives involved, many employers will be relieved of their burden of providing employee health insurance. Employees will almost surely take home more pay and will get a generous tax credit for purchasing their own insurance with many more options to choose from, since state mandates in health insurance will likely be going the way of the horse and buggy. Much more of a free market scheme than anything I’ve seen out of a powerful politician in ages!
WTH are you smoking?
When “it” happens, employers will be forced to comply with mandated coverages by law.
Almost happened under hillary care. There will be no choice there.
“WTH are you smoking?”
Do you know how the european and canadian plans “work”?
states have tried mandating employers do it that way (MA does, anyway) but there is still a significant portion that get it outside of their employers.
I guarantee you that it will simply be financed by a tax on employers - that way government gets to control it more.
Dream on.
Other than the fact that there are almost no state mandates at all, this is a federal government program and will expand exponentially, just like Medicare did.
and it will cover every person with nothing and I'm not just talking about Americans, either.
Actually, yes. They suck.
I guarantee you that it will simply be financed by a tax on employers
First you cannot “guarantee” anything, and second, a tax on employers is a mandate.
You can call it anything you like, but when employers have to pay, the employess make less and the goods and services cost more.
There is zero way around that.
I’ve seen lots of plans, including McCains. I do agree that insurance paid for by employers is not going to last too much longer - They are increasingly not offering it anyway - so that will take care of itself in time.
A boob job in hollywood (no insurance) costs a lot less than one that is reconstructive in nature due to, say, cancer that is paid for by insurance.
But its lot easier for folks to make the leap to socialized medicine than becoming responsible for their own private insurance.
It’s coming, you better believe it. It doesn’t matter how bad an idea it is.
Not that I think UK medicine is superior...but unless you got big bucks...you have at LEAST a 3 week wait to get a dermatologist to look at your skin. Other drs may be able to diagnose issues...but a complete exam requires at least 3 weeks. I have some issues on my left leg and while not life threatening...It’s a 6 week wait.
Are you trying to convince of something, or do you have a point?
I think we agree on the issue - I simply believe it is inevitable because I am not in a bearhug government or employer group plan - so I know how out-of-touch folks who simply say “I’m against socialized medicine, but I don’t pay for my own insurance” are on the issue.
I’m against it too, but you simply have no idea how inevitable it is, I do. Who pays for your insurance - based on your swagger on the issue, I’m guessing it’s not you.
“this is a federal government program and will expand exponentially, just like Medicare did.”
You’re right, and Medicare will be the model for (if not the actual) plan for socialized medicine.
“It’s a 6 week wait.”
Are you strictly NHS, or do you have a private plan to supplement? I’m just curious.
The last Q & A I read on Obama said that his plan would be for basic health care - that is to say, no such things as joint replacements. Meds for the pain and maybe crutches, but not total joint replacement. I admit I don’t know if those are the most recent thoughts, since no one I know can find a really detailed plan of his.
Here’s how Johns Hopkins had to bail out Japan’s health care system:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/05/business/sxclinic.php
I have a corporate plan that pays really well and when I called to get an appt, I was offered options rolling up into 2009. Seriously.
I just wanted to get my left leg checked out.
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