Thursday, August 13, 2009

Health Care Reform

Yesterday's Wall St. Journal featured a well-reasoned opinion piece from John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods, on specific reforms that can be implemented to begin the process of fixing what's wrong with our health care system. Let's hope the ideas he has outlined become the framework for discussion rather than the government takeover being proposed by the Democrats in Washington.

It simply cannot be disputed that we have the finest, highest-quality health care system ever created. It also cannot be disputed that the vast majority of Americans like the health insurance coverage they currently have. Finally, it cannot be disputed that our health care delivery system and the federal/state safety net Medicaid provide access to health care for all Americans.

So what's the issue--what are we trying to "fix"? Is it the cost of health INSURANCE? As someone who currently pays over $15,000/year for health insurance premiums for family coverage, I believe that the cost of health insurance is a primary concern. However, any health care historian will confirm that past government action (e.g., wage controls, ERISA, mandated benefits) is the primary cause of this problem.

Do we really want more government and more bureaucracy to further compound the problem of increasing health insurance costs? Democrats apparently answer "YES." Republicans, on the other hand, answer "NO," instead choosing to pursue the alternatives highlighted by Mackey. Let's hope that after they have had a chance to hear from their constitutents that the Democrat members of Congress have a change of heart.

3 comments:

  1. BAM!!!

    Right off the bat you start with the prevarications, Mark!

    You start by saying "It simply cannot be disputed ... " You guys are being disputed every second, every minute, every hour, every day of the week - with facts. What hole have you been living in that you have heard none of it? Do you keep your eyes shut and your ears closed by choice, or has someone rendered you senseless on purpose?

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  2. Question: If you or a loved one is stricken with a life-threatening illness, where are you going to go for diagnosis or treatment?

    Canada? Poland? China? Nigeria? Or the United States?

    Question: If you are ill and need of medical assistance but indigent, can you go to an emergency room or health clinic for treatment without cost to you?

    Question: Have not several polls confirmed that most Americans like their current health insurance? Obviously people would like to pay less, but ask anyone if they can have something cheaper or for "free" (i.e., passing the bill to others, including their children and grandchildren) and the response is obvious.

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  3. Why is it that you Republicans could find the money to drop into a bottomless pit in a war we didn't need, passing the cost of it on to untold generations that follow, but are now in a tizzy because the American people want a public health plan? What is it about average AMERICANS that you guys despise so much? The only ones you seem to listen to are those with the big bucks.

    There is a HUGE difference between emergency room TREATMENT and health CARE and you damned well know it, so why do you expect the rest of us to listen to you say otherwise?

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