Forget health care, we’re going to Mars [gag]

Pulse ^ | 1.27.04 | Jim Hightower

[ambrose]

Pulse of the Twin Cities

Forget health care, we’re going to Mars
By webmaster - Date: 2004-01-27 20:39:08

by Jim Hightower

Why is it that our national policy makers are so robustly optimistic and filled with such can-do enthusiasm when it comes to shoveling billions of our tax dollars into big federal projects favored by wealthy campaign donors—but fall into dismal depths of negativity and dispirited cries of no-can-do pessimism when it comes to paying for the things the majority of us Americans want and desperately need?

Take health care, a glaring national need not only for the 43 million people without any coverage, but also for the many millions more who have insurance policies that are so inadequate, expensive and riddled with insurance company loopholes that their “coverage” is next to useless. The prestigious Institute of Medicine has just issued a report saying that our country has a swelling health care crisis and that policy makers should respond with a universal program to provide affordable, high-quality health care to all.

How did policy makers respond? With a big “No Way!” Tommy Thompson, secretary of the Health and Human Services department, led the nay saying: “I just don’t think it’s in the cards,” he shrugged, “I don’t think that, administratively or legislatively, it’s feasible.” This guy is America’s top health care official faced with a crucial issue that personally affects the majority of Americans—yet he whimpers that good health care for everyone is simply beyond America’s ability, so he won’t even try for it.

Ironically, the Institute’s report and plea for action came the same day that Bush announced that he wanted to spend unlimited billions of our tax dollars to build a space station on the moon and send astronauts to Mars. His political aides said the futuristic Mars shot was a reflection of Bush’s optimistic nature.

Fine, but how about we bring some of that optimism down to earth where we all live. They should at least try to meet the real needs of real people in the here and now. If they’re not up to the job, let’s find someone who is.

Jim Hightower is the best-selling author of “Thieves In High Places: They’ve Stolen Our Country And It’s Time To Take It Back,” on sale now from Viking Press. For more information, visit www.jimhightower.com.

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[ambrose]

They should at least try to meet the real needs of real people in the here and now.

Yup... ME ME ME ME ME ME ME. NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW... These idiots have the mentality of a three year-old... pathetic....

[ambrose]

ping

[GeronL]

Government is supposed to take care of people's needs??

where in the Constitution is that??

[ambrose]

Money spent on cheap pills for geezers and health care for illegals is money down the poop shoot. We never see a dime of it back.

Space exploration is an investment for the future.

[dfwgator]

I'm ashamed that Jim Hightower is from Texas.

[cyborg]

His radioshow sucked another true member of tragedy liberal radio...awful awful awful

[GeronL]

I think thats spelled chute...

I got the point though..

this column should have the footnote

Jim Hightower is a failed talk radio show host

[GeronL]

yup

[Aracelis]

Space exploration is an investment for the future

Not to mention how manned spaceflight can improve healthcare for everyone in a short period of time...

[cyborg]

1800 AGITATE... gag me with a spoon (okay time for me to go to sleep)

[Major_Risktaker]

Government is supposed to take care of people's needs?? where in the Constitution is that??

Where does it say you must pay Federal Income Tax in the Constitution. The Rockefeller's, duPont's and Getty never paid.

However, this is the system we have today. You want free Health Care you better invest in Boeing cuz were going to Mars Boys!

[CzarNicky]

At least if we go to Mars we might get a rock back. What do we get with socialist health care?

[Calvin Locke]

His radioshow sucked...

Oh, last time I tuned in to a weekly FAIR ("Fairness and...") broadcast, he still had a minute or so to whine, lie, blow
out of proporation, extrapolate one ridiculous act in to a blanket condemation...

[cyborg]

You mean unFairness and Inaccuracy in Reporting? His show was a snore and from what you say, he isn't going quietly.

[Fishing-guy]

You don't think health care is important?

If we allow people to get sick without treatment, then we will have real severe public health problem.