CapitalistMarks

The Dems are flatlining on healthcare!

Posted on 07. Sep, 2009 by scott in Social commentary, economic daydreaming, political munglings

This whole issue of a public option is getting out of control.  Too many people are too strident in their arguments against any consideration of the options from the ‘other side.’  It seems to me that they have been watching too much FOX NEWS and such (come on Glen Beck . . . give us real arguments and real alternatives and not just pernicious and far out rhetoric that appeals to the fringe right — and while you are at it apologize for calling OUR PRESIDENT a ‘racist’).

The fact is that we need health care for every citizen in our country and we need it now.  To fail is to relinquish our position as global leader in many respects (human rights comes to mind).  We are the ONLY developed nation that fails in this respect.

We have heard that a public option could bring down costs and increase competition with insurers.  Both of these statements are true on the face of the arguments.  Competition will bring down costs,and put pressure on insurers to match pricing structure.  That is the way our capitalist system works . . . time and time again.  Let the companies that are not competitive and viable fail.  Let those that can grow.

A public option will provide insurance access to a much broader population and those that opt out should be hit with penalties so that they are no longer a drag on the health care economy (i.e yours and my tax dollars).

As an added incentive the laws should be changed so that there is true insurance competition throughout the nation.

My insurer for example can only insure people in Utah.  What if they have a good and efficient plan and could offer it nation-wide?  What if we allowed every insurer to offer plans nation wide?

Sure there would be consolidation in the industry and that would be good as long as it was controlled.  The fact of the matter is that we treat health care as if it were a regional or individual state issue, but the reality is that it should be treated as if it were a nation-wide public ‘utility.’  With proper controls and regulatory standards this would really work well.

To accomplish this we have to force our legislators to stop paying attention to the health care lobbyists who are lining their pockets with perks and outright $$.  And to accomplish that we need to have term limits that deny any elected official more than two terms.

A further option for the truly poor or economically disadvantaged would be Public Health Clinics and a real Public Health Service (maybe tied into the Veterans Administration or at least similar in structure).  These would be located throughout the nation so that anyone that needs them could have access.  The infrastructure would be paid for by the government and would probably cost less than the current cost of treating those  without insurance in emergency rooms now.

These Public Health Clinics would be staffed by medical personnel whose education is paid for by the government and in return they serve for between 5 and 10 years at reasonable wages and benefits (depending on the cost of their education and other factors).

Anyone could use the clinics but everyone would have to pay something based on their capacity to pay.  The more disposable income the more they pay.  If they are truly poor they would have to either pay a small amount over time or work their way out of the payment by doing menial (or skilled if they possess the capacity) labor in the clinic or in some related facility.

Now, I admit that I haven’t thought all of this completely through, but the principle I am trying to convey is that THERE ARE SOLUTIONS OUT THERE!  We just have to put our minds to finding them and refining them until they are effective for everyone and fair to all.

This means that President Obama should not put artificial time-lines on any bill(s) to be passed and that the Democratic majority MUST listen to ALL proposals.  Further this means that the Republican minority must stop whining and complaining and come up with some viable alternatives.

Everyone must work together to get this done.  Our future depends on it because it is obvious that we can’t continue as we are now.  In the last couple of years my insurance costs have more than doubled!  If this continues for the next decade or so then our nation and our enterprises will be able to afford ONLY health care and NOTHING else (yeah, forget national defense, forget education, forget highways and bridges etc. etc.).

Get the picture.  It is serious.

Call, email and snail-mail.  Let your congressmen know that you won’t stand for inaction.   And, while you are at it send them a copy of this so that they can start considering some serious and viable options.  Give them your thoughts too.  In fact send them to me as well.  Maybe together, we the people, can show our leaders how to do this.

God Bless America!

thanks to flickr’s brykmantra for the photo

Tags: Democratic majority, foxnews, glen beck, health care, public health clinics, public option