I was born and raised in America, but I've lived in Europe for the last twenty years. I''m thinking it might be time to come home, but whether I can or not depends on the answer to this question:
Does America take care of its children?
Our son has juvenile diabetes. He's had it for seven years, since he was two years old. During that time we've lived in three countries -- Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Italy -- and he has had excellent treatment in each country. And when I say excellent, I mean superb. We visit a specialist once a month for a check-up, and once a year he has a full physical evaluation, including blood labs. We are provided all the tools we need to control his condition: insulin, blood glucose monitoring devices, needles, injection pens, etc. And every couple of months the hospital organizes a day of physical activity for all the kids they treat.
I've calculated the cost of all that over seven years, and here's what it comes to: zero.
Naturally, all this doesn't come at no cost. Somebody is paying. No, that's not exactly true. In fact, everybody is paying. I guess you could call that "socialism." Or you could call it "family values." But what difference does it make what you call it? It's good, efficient health care, for children and others, subsidized by the government. No one is excluded or has to pay through the nose because they or someone in their family has a pre-existing condition.
I've seen the European system up close and I''m here to tell you, it works.
It's discouraging to watch America "debate" the future of its health care system. I don't know if all the nonsense is a result of ignorance or greed, but it's probably both. I only hope cooler, smarter heads prevail.
Then maybe I can come home.
What do you think her chances would have been in this country? She would most likely have been denied insurance and how much do you think a liver transplant costs? It doesn't bear thinking about.
Name me one government official against socialized healthcare, that is ON socialized healthcare that complained how bad it is and wants private instead. They certainly earn enough to buy their own.
Because my children and I were "uninsured" while overseas, and were diagnosed with one or two minor conditions, such as allergies, asthma, irritable bowel... we are now "home" and find ourselves to be literally uninsurable.
We simply live in the hopes that nothing terrible strikes us. Because if it does, bankruptcy will likely be our only option. That or re-emigrating back to a country that will take care of us.
The irony is that our family "breadwinner" is a medical device research scientist, and makes *just* enough money that we qualify for no assistance, and yet not so much that we can afford to pay the insane private insurance rates!
It breaks my heart to see so many Americans *lying* to each other, and so many more who are too ignorant and gullible to know they're being lied to as they protest and ague and even vote against their own best interests. It's a national tragedy, and I only hope it can be overcome, and soon.
That needs to be posted as a completely separate article. Beautifully and accurately said.
"the results of a survey published in 2008 by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, an independent federal panel that advises Congress. The panel found that 29 percent of beneficiaries who were looking for a new primary care physician had problems finding one who accepted Medicare."
So it's not that there is a tiny percentage of physicians who will take it, but the numbers still indicate that the system needs some kind of reform.
They have done very little to advance the consciousness of their nation, let alone the care of their people.
Europeans understand the value of the collective. We in America shout our freedoms from the rooftops forgetting that 1)we are not in this thing alone and 2) were it not for the Grace of God, we too might be without food, shelter, clothing, education, and medical care.
A young and immature nation without conscience.
Individualists do not lack conscience, we merely would like to see entities other than the government lead the way to reform, such as the insurance companies themselves. The government could even play a role in facilitating the reform, but it is not necessary to create a universal system run by the government.
This is the kind of thinking that has gotten us to where we are today. You don't have to regulate business, the market will. Except it doesn't.
I grew up in Australia, went to a public high school (academically selective but still public), went to a public university, got a good education, came out and got a good job with one of the Big 5 (in those days....now, big 3) accounting firms and commuted every day on the bus to work, which came on time 98% of the time! My parents paid their taxes, I paid my taxes and my sister paid her taxes and we ALL enjoyed decent public infrastructure. Is it perfect? No, of course not, we can all improve but it's not the DISASTER that Americans seem to be so fearful of. The country did not descend into the seventh level of socialist hell, cats and dogs didn't live together (....much) and the apocalypse didn't ensue!
I hope the hysteria dies down, we all get a grip and act like adults even if we do disagree.
I just want to be free, to not be burdened with the "social responsibility" that I am told I must have. I would like to give freely out of my own heart and not be forced to by the government who will waste a lot of my money anyway.
Waste of money is not a prerogative of government. The american "non-profit", charity system creates enormous waste. Just think about the big charitable organizations that get donations from millions like you - how much do you think the CEO of United Way for example gets paid per year (well deep in the 6 figures)? They are run totally ineffectively - I know this because I was working in that system. There is a misconception that you as a single donor can choose the best and most effective bang for your money. And if on the other hand the government is involved, money will be wasted. Charity gives some moral satisfaction (which I believe is totally selfish paradocically), but it can't solve the big macro social problems like poverty, health care, access to decent education.
Nancy's contact info..http://speaker.house.gov/contact/
Send our speaker an e-mail of encouragement.
This is why people in these other countries are not demanding the repeal of their universal health coverage to go to our Rube Goldberg system. And this is why we have to have a public option as part of health care reform. Without some form of public option, there is no real reform. Perhaps at some point we can move to a true single payer system--as far as I'm concerned the sooner the better.
Say it like it is. We want single payer now.
Anything for a profit, even if it leaves people to die. That's their #1 priority.
option A, die young with a coffin
option B, die young and get cremated
option C, die young and get eaten
The GOP is working very hard behind the scenes to legalize cannibalism to make this plan viable.
I have the cheapest insurance thru a large hospital - it's all I can afford. It's not much every month. I suppose it depends on how much my taxes go up would determine if I'm for universal health care. I am not greedy and volunteer as well. I'm just an average joe that needs my money to survive. I don't wish anyone to be denied healthcare. I don't know what the solution is.