Bill Moyers: "We Should Be Treating Health As A Condition, Not A Commodity"

On Friday's episode of Bill Moyers Journal, Moyers succinctly described the current state of the health care debate: "here we are, wallowing in our dysfunction."

After some words about the armed protesters at Town Hall events, Moyers turned to Obama's role in the debate:

Poor Obama. He came to town preaching the religion of nice. But every time he bows politely, the harder the Republicans kick him.

No one's ever conquered Washington politics by constantly saying "pretty please" to the guys trying to cut your throat.

"Let's get on with it, Mr. President," Moyers said, and added a few moments later: "I mean this is topsy-turvy -- we should be treating health as a condition, not a commodity."

See more clips from Friday's show here.

Comments

[BCLance]

I love you Bill Moyers. If we could get married in Indiana I would propose.

[lmvd3]

Sigh. Sanity is so refreshing. Thank you, Bill Moyers.

[charon]

Unfortunately, too rare these days.

[StellaRay]

Mr Moyers is absolutely correct. Health care is not a widget or even just a service. It is a matter of life and death. The profit motive does not belong anywhere near matters of life and death.

Imagine if that big old "socialist," government run group we call the military was run by corporations. Imagine if the profit motive hung over the the discussions of every battle fought, of every life and death decision in war. How much war would we have to wage to make as many CEOs millionaires as we have in the health care industry?

Why people want a for profit organization between them and their health care is one of the greatest testimonies to the ignorance and myths that rule this country---and just how strong both are. Even after Wall Street darn near ran us into the ground, people still trust the market to do the right thing.

It's really so pathetic.

[Arrecho]

Show up!

September 13th, across the nation... March for a public option. If you live in DC - you *MUST* go!

http://www.marchforhealthcare.com/

http://www.marchforhealthcare.com/events

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118144661546#/group.php?gid=118144661546&ref=mf

Spread the word....

[vgirl1]

As far as Republicans are concerned, people are commodities.

As such everything about them and that affects them can be bargained, bought and stolen just like everything else the Republicans touch.

[GenXer]

Exactly, "why should someone in a wheelchair have special treatment." I am flabergasted at some of the selfishness.

[Tim303]

Fantastic.

[OlongapoEd]

Those on the right will treat anything they can as a commodity.

[SageFire]

If someone wants to make their next fortune on a great song or a pet rock, more power to them! That is the free market in its shining glory. Making a profit by denying medical coverage for people who paid for it, if there is such a thing as evil in the world, that surely is.

[IRONMADONNA]

the moral compass in DC has yet to be repaired or even functional..Health care CO-OPS using billions in Govt subsidized start up revenue to compete w/private sector insurance? anyone forget about pharmaceut­icals?capi­tal equipment suppliers? health care supply vendors? they have to buy in to this co-op compromise..From what well will these 'co-op owners' spring? Corporate insurance,­pharmaceut­ical labs, AMA lobbyists and shareholders with fists so full of cash they cannot pull their hands from each others pockets, or the pockets of D.C.'s elite..Here's an idea or 2: Stop the hemorrhaging of billions of tax dollars overseas to fund 'military actions' profiting only the few wealth corps, stop dumping corporate welfare with my tax dollars into predatory lenders pockets, stop bailing the auto industry-nothing has changed whatsoever in theory or practice with any of these destructive forces..Cut the losses and move on!...Do away with the 'non profit' tax exempt status which all non private hospitals, health care facilities and providers enjoy while they turn profits with positive revenues-that ought to boost the coffers a little bit for a start...

[opprobrious]

My country has offered unversal coverage since I was 4 (I'm 50 today). We take it for granted. I've always had the doctor of my own choosing offering timely care and I've never been presented with a bill after any hospital stay (including one 16-day stint). I currently pay a little over $CDN57 every three months for it. I must admit my premium is subsidized due to the fact that I happen to own a corporation and I don't pay myself well because it's just coming out of startup. If it weren't subsidized, I'd pay less than $1000/year! What does the average family pay for comparable insurance in the US - no co-pay, no deductable, everything covered without concern for pre-existing condition? $20K, $25K?

Single-payer is great and worth fighting for. It's not perfect but I'll never lose my house and everything I own due to medical bills AND my business will be able to employ more people at higher pay and offer better benefits than a comparable US company.

[LiberalForever]

After seeing their constant lying and refusal to accept the hand of friendship and reform from Obama, I will spend the rest of my life in my quest to totally destroy and bury the republican party and the lying bast^rd talking heads who support it. the civil war still going on in their feeble little minds.

[Tim303]

Wow. Let's Go!

[vgirl1]

AMEN.

We're with you every step of the way.

[GenXer]

Never interfere with an enemy that is destroying itself.

[Timma]

Universal coverage NOW!!

[imsweetleaf]

i must add my love for bill moyer.

[TRex86]

It's a miracle. The AMA has endorsed HR 3200. That's how bad things have gotten. Taking a long look at my profession we have been a success story for 2500 years. For millennia we have fit in the economy as bourgeois shop-keepers, bound by ethical imperitives to serve our patients' best interest. In the middle ages we organized like the craft guilds to serve ourselves as well as our patients.
We have always been at the upper end of the bourgeoisie, but the 20th century delivered more shocks. First, treatments with proven efficacy. Secondly, we became in integral part of public policy. Thirdly, the end of the 20th century saw an epidemic of aging--wholly unexpected and NOT due to medical care. In America, the chimerical system shoved doctors into the same leaky boat as the rest of the middle class, falling inflation adjusted income for 35 years. (We're stll doing ok however).
We are nothing if not resourceful. We can find many ways to "do well by doing good." I think we should rightly be compensated for the opportunity cost of our long training and short careers. Most physicians having aligned with the plutocracy remain in shock and awe by the way we're mistreated. We're cost centers in white coats! I believe physicians have reached our Gethesmane. Either we align with our patients' needs (universal care) or we shall become powerless commodities, swapped like so many hog bellies.

[charon]

I agree, and I wish many other MDs would back single-payer. But the main problem isn't the MDs, it's the pharmaceutical and insurance companies. With more MDs on our side, though, we would have a more powerful voice.

[peacebro]

Beautifully done Mr. Moyers. You are of the very best our country has to offer.