Stephen Hawking Enters U.S. Health Care Debate

In an editorial on July 31, Investor's Business Daily warned of end-of-life counseling in health care reform by saying people like Stephen Hawking "wouldn't have a chance" in the such a system.

People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.

In fact, Professor Hawking lives in England, where he has been treated by their National Health Service. And by his own account, it saved his life.

"I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS," he told The Guardian. "I have received a large amount of high-quality treatment without which I would not have survived."

The Hawking reference in the IBD editorial has since been removed, with this correction added: "This version corrects the original editorial which implied that physicist Stephen Hawking, a professor at the University of Cambridge, did not live in the UK." They don't acknowledge that the NHS has kept Hawking alive there.

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Comments

[Oortcloud]

Stephen Hawking is the smartest man alive; and alive largely due to Socialized medicine. How many theories have been developed and discoveries facilitated by this man's intelligence over the past twenty years when he should have been (would have been) a victim of the private health care system "death panels" had he not been a US resident rather than a UK resident?

ALS is not even researched much in the US due to its scarcity (thank goodness for its rarity); there isn't enough money in developing a cure, in other words; should profit be the sole motivation for health care and research? Of course not; but it is in the USA.

[PhilipTaylor]

WHEN PEOPLE ARE ASKED IF THEY WANT THE "PUBLIC OPTION" 43% SAY YES

WHEN PEOPLE ARE ASKED IF THEY WANT THE "PUBLIC CHOICE" 77% SAY YES

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY WERE ASKED IF THEY WANT A "MEDICARE CHOICE?"

[dartagnan]

But when people are asked if they support "the Obama health care plan," a majority say no.

But in reality THERE IS NO OBAMA HEALTH CARE PLAN. There is a mish-mash of proposed plans drifting around in Congress.

If there is no "Obama health care plan," why are a majority against it? Because they against what the right-wing screamers have TOLD THEM is the "Obama health care plan," complete with "death panels" and other imaginary horrors.

Obama has made a serious, probably fatal, strategic mistake: Instead of putting together his own plan, explaining it clearly to the public and using his still-considerable personal popularity and prestige to rally support for it before taking it to Congress, he uttered vague platitudes about "reform" and left it to Congress to work out the details. This allowed the Republicans to define "the Obama plan" and put him on the defensive before the game even began.

[PhilipTaylor]

37 Trillion Reasons 0BAMA/AXELROD /GIBBS/ EMANUEL ARE WRONG!

WE NEED STRONGEST PUBLIC OPTION = Medicare for ALL WHO want it and OPT OUT for those who DON’T!

HEALTH CARE COSTS = $37 TRILLION / 10 YEARS

Calculations (see table): ($5+$2.4)/2*10 = $37 Trillion

HEALTH CARE COSTS = THE #1 THREAT TO OUR FUTURE!

$2.4Trillion spent in 2008, 17% of OUR GDP
$3.1Trillion by 2012
$4.3Trillion by 2016
$5.0Trillion by 2018

And we are worried about $600 Billion, less than 2% or 1.6%! GIVE ME A BREAK!

The $1.3 Trillion in savings from non-emergency use of the ER will be saved by the States and Cities and therefore reduce funding from the Federal Government!
__________________
[CURRENT 2008 Costs for 47 million uninsured= $87Billion =10 yr cost $870 Billion
2007 Medical uninsured bad debt=$25.4Billion, increased 9.5%/yr=10yr cost $433Billn

Adding $870 Billion+$443 Billion=$1.3 Trillion]
__________________

100,000,000 people to ??? people in Medicare can negotiate "FAIR PRICING" for Health Care Services! Stops the FOR-PROFIT GOUGING!

Make #1 MAY0 C1inic the N0RM instead of the Exception! #37 USA Cuba Care!

Create Incentive for ER Doctors to convert to Family Practice Doctors!

[motoGpifupleez]

Once again, the power of the "Liberal Media" is on full display! Try as I might, I can not find the suppressed footage of all the rioting in the streets of London, Paris, Berlin, etc. where the people are demanding the end of their particular health care systems and the immediate adoption of the American "private" system.
Who is silencing Beck and Hannity on this?

[Dimitra Ekmektsis]

You've probably never been to Europe! The difference between Americans and Europeans is that Europeans usually get what they want from their governments. It's because they demand change, and once every 100 years, but everyday. Most Americans are too lazy to act on their convictions. I understand how those riots would impress you. But you have no knowledge of the European healthcare system.

[Dimitra Ekmektsis]

I MEANT "NOT ONLY ONCE EVERY 100 YEARS"... SORRY

[dartagnan]

I believe moto was being sarcastic.

It's very telling, I think, that NOT ONE country that has adopted "socialized medicine" has decided to scrap it in favor of a system like ours. If their systems are as horrible as the right wing makes them out to be, how do you explain that?

I've asked this question a dozen times and have NEVER gotten a serious answer from a conservative.

[ezsayiz24k]

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis THIS YEAR. My injections cost over $2000 MONTHLY. Now that I have a PRE-EXISTING CONDITION, - will you, the PROTESTERS, PAY for the medicine I will NEED for the REST OF MY LIFE if I want to further my career at a different company?!!
Private insurance penalizes those with chronic health conditions!!! I pay taxes. Why should I not be able to get health insurance?!? If YOU will not help me pay for my lifelong medical condition, then you should keep your insurance as Obama has said SEVERAL TIMES, and I should be able to get help through the reform Obama is pushing.
YOU PROTESTERS are basically saying that anyone with a chronic condition has to stay at the job they currently are with. I shouldn't be punished into staying at my current job just because IF I LEAVE IT I WONT BE ABLE TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE BECAUSE NOW I HAVE A PRE-EXISTING CONDTION.
YOU PROTESTERS ARE SELFISH!!!

[Krisgi]

I am a US citizen and have lived in a European country with nationalized health care for the past two decades. I have been grateful every day for this and, of late, even more so given the precarious situation that so many Americans are living right now.

Call me silly, but I actually love the fact that my payments into the system help people conditions similar to yours. It makes me feel like I´m doing something productive for others -- something that we don´t often get to do in the hectic day-to-day.

"Selfish" is too lenient an adjective for those who turn their backs on their fellow citizens. But, then again, "disgusting" and "inhumane" are as well.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. Good luck.

[Liz Evans]

I'm also a US citizen and have lived in the UK for the last 10 years. I completely agree with you! Not having a national health system is barbaric. Nothing less.

[dartagnan]

I am just infuriated by the goddamn senior citizens (columnist Fruma Harrop called them "greedy geezers") who denounce "socialized medicine" for anybody else but wouldn't give up one dime's worth of their own socialized medicine, aka Medicare.

BTW I'm only two years away from collecting Medicare myself, so not all us geezers are greedy.

[MJinCanada]

"Call me silly, but I actually love the fact that my payments into the system help people conditions similar to yours."

Not silly at all. I'm a long way from the highest tax level here in Canada, so I go in every couple of months to donate blood, and top up my contribution to the system, as it were. All blood used for transfusions here is donated, by the way.

[kevtech]

I will confess that I have not been to a doctor in years. However, I do understand the position you have been put in (along with the rest of us).

It seems to me that the regulation of the insurance industry in the mid to late 40s or early 50s (my research can not provide a precise date) has led all of us into our current dilemma. Restricting coverage to a persons work (can't take it with you) and limiting it to an individual state has severely limited the commercial market. The solution seems to be to get the current regulation out of the way and allow insurance companies to provide plans nation wide that are "transportable". This may allow large groups in which to spread the costs of individuals like you and me.

The thought of government sponsored anything scares me. I would like to give one example of the results of a somewhat recent government department to support my view, and that is the Department of Energy. Brought to life in the energy crises of the 1970s, its mission "was" to free the united states from the dependency of foreign oil and other foreign resources. However, with a budget of $24B (my unverified estimate) it has totally failed in this mission.

Please, let us reform health care in our great country, but let us not go head long in lock step with the one story from the government, without consideration of other (and potentially better) options.

Thanks,

kev

[Antifascist-08]

How old are you?

I suppose you will not need medicare when you are older either.

Name one proposal from the right that will work. And don't bother with the talking points about getting insurance from other states. That will not make any difference and will just open up the possibilities of more scams.

[dartagnan]

You can get a credit card issued by a bank in any state. Has this lowered interest rates on credit cards? Not that I've noticed.

Insurance companies, like all companies, are not philanthropic organizations. They are interested in maximizing their profits ... period. (Indeed, if they are publicly held corporations they are legally obligated to do this.) Maximizing profits means charging their customers as much as they can get and paying out as little as possible in return. Your supposed "reform" would not change that behavior.

[goodnews7]

Silver Buzz Cafe took a look at nine factors related to healthcare and have a table comparing the socialized and American systems. Guess which system wins!

Proof That Socialized Healthcare Works Better Than Our System

[Krisgi]

Tragic that most Americans just can´t get beyond the "S" word.

[Antifascist-08]

MOst "Americans" Have gotten by the S word,at least as far as health care goes.

Look at the polls.

[Willow207]

The comments of Hawkings ring true for people in Canada too, such as myself, who would never receive health care in the US and would be dead if we lived there. If "pre existing conditions" didn't disqualify Hawkings and myself the cost of preiums would be prohibitive. Good for Professor Hawkings for placing his opinions, based upon personal experience, in the public domain for consideration by voters.

[CJWebber]

It is funny how people didn't think Hawking was British because he had an 'American-made' voice synthesizer. The ignorance is stunning.

Hawking was knighted by the Queen and voice synthesizers were invented in Japan.

[FredJam23]

Many who have done well come here to retire. Good for them. I did the same. What you notice on the golf resorts and tennis courts is that many have made money in small businesses and did well but not overly educated. Their primary interest is keeping their money in investments and lower taxes and believe that the Retards provide better for them.

Teeth Whitening

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[amaycatbaker]

http://tomekeeper.com/funnies/funny13.html New funny drawn by me, it is about this.

[montypython]

Private health insurers are terrified of public health care, which is why they are scrambling to find the 'hot buttons' to stir up opposition among those who could end up being among its greatest beneficiaries. Dr. Hawking is a survivor of Lou Gehrig's disease--one of only a handful--and a testament not only to the National Health System, but to his will to live.

[Antifascist-08]

Yes. They will fight to the death for their billions of dollars earned at the expense of the sick and dying.

[AlteSoldier]

It just shocks me how anyone can think private insurance health care can provide better health care.

[artistinresidence]

Me too. I was in an HMO from HELL...they denied me the care I needed and now I have this friggin' disability....could their foot dragging have contributed to it...?
This particular HMO DESERVES to die on the vine....

[stella87]

It just shocks me that any one thinks that more government is th way to go!!!

[patyak]

OOOO, Government, bad. For profit health insurance companies, good?
Some things in the public arena are not meant to have profit made from them and health care is one of them. My tax dollars should go for the public welfare of the citizens of our country. Our capitalist system has gotten so out of whack with heavy profits at the top, that wages of hard working Americans, you know, the one's who actually PRODUCE something?, wages are not keep pace with the cost of living and that includes food, shelter, healthcare, education and transporation so people can get to work. Governments are formed to provide for the health, welfare and safety of it's citizens. It makes no logical sense that we would pay billions in profits to health care insurance providers, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies. I am talking PROFITS here, not research and development, or any other expenses. In our capitalistic system, businesses and corporations are meant to make profits that is why they should not be in the business of providing health insurance for profit. Taxpayers cannot afford them.
Oh, by the way, this is not a government take over of health care of a 'destroying of America' as those who stand to lose their profits would have you believe and will spend billions trying to convince yo of it, including buy off your elected officials, like that Grassly fellow.

[lm945]

So you're against "death panels" in the government program (which don't actually exist), but you're for "death panels" at the health insurance companies (which DO exist, and have for years).

[artistinresidence]

Face it: private "health care" organizations deny health care and..........
people die. OR, people go into debt. OR, they go bankrupt and lose
their houses.
This is so abominable.
A public option would act as a watchdog for the THUGS who are running
the "healthcare" for profit businesses.

[Krisgi]

Terrorism, Socialism, Sleeping with your leg hanging out so the Boogie Man can grab it and now Death Panels... the latest entry in the American Encyclopedia of Things that Keep People Awake at Night and make them Vote Republican.

I´m all for an oligarchy based on intelligence. The vast majority of people in the US are not smart enough to make a decision for themselves and yet they get to do it for others. Go figure.

[witz]

. . . stella, if you're listening to that rationale, you're either living in the South or your denial hasn't created any life damaging consequences yet.

[Krisgi]

LOL

[dartagnan]

Yes ... or both.

I'd lay 100 to 1 that this woman has never experienced a serious medical problem herself or in her family.

[dector]

Insurance Company run US Health care is better than the rest of the Industrialized world? Funny.
Facts:
- Canadian Health Care is roughly 1/2 the cost per capita of the US
- When comparing “death from all causes" to "death from preventable causes by health care" Canada rates 4th from the top while US rates 4th from the bottom. (19 of the most industrialized countries were considered in this study).
- Everyone is covered by Canadian Single Payer System (a clever George Orwell Newspeak statement meaning SOCIALISM).
- Canadians live several years longer that those in the US (Canada is number 5 in longevity compared to other nations - US is closer to 50) . Must be something in the water. And to top it off my youngest daughter says she cannot get health insurance in the US due to a minor medical condition - slight spine curvature. Surely she is misinformed.
My best to you lucky people who live under the FREE MARKET system.

[pmag88]

Good points, but I'll bet that this one statement is wrong. --

- Canadian Health Care is roughly 1/2 the cost per capita of the US ---

Take into consideration the cost of bankruptcy and other costs attributable to loss of, or inability to afford health care, and we're probably paying 3 or 4 times as much per capita.

[Willow207]

I have lived in Canada for 27 years, which has universal health care, and I have raised a family here. You know nothing about this type of system. As my Scottish doctor and I have discussed my pre existing condition would make me ineligible for health care in the states, and even if there was a company who would insure me the cost of premiums, deductibles, tests and treatment would be prohibitive.

My youngest child, a premie, required 5 years of special assesments and therapies to give him a good strart in life. None of this would have been affordable or privided if we lived in the US--but all costs were covered here in Canada without any costs to our family.

I have lived in both systems and know from experience and facts.

Tell me you have it better.... You can't and if you try, you are a liar!

[Antifascist-08]

Thank you.

[bija]

It is pretty funny that they tried to use Stephen Hawking as an example of someone who would not have lived with a national health care system and it turns out he survived because of it!

[Fremon]

If the person did not know Hawkings was a Brit then he is too dumb to make this comment. Of course he doesn't read the NYT best seller lists or watches PBS. He he, he would have known something about Hawkings. Too dumb to put any credence in this type of comment. Then of course, he would be a Repbulican that also voted for McCain/Palin, believes in creationism, is from the south, and doesn't want healthcare reform. Everything is hunky dorey with our system. And the "all went to live by the seashore". What a bunch of dunces.

[AtheistUS]

In our present American 'culture' (mass media), a 'celeb' like an actor or an athlete or simply a very rich dude/chick is more public and more 'important' than a scientist.

[lm945]

He probably thought Hawking was an American because his American-made speech synthesizer doesn't have a British accent.

[CJWebber]

His speech synthesizer isn't American-made. The one Hawking has is most likely came from Japan where it was invented.