08-28-2009, 03:25 PM
I agree with CR, except I'd say we ARE having a health care crisis.How many people are turned away from basic care, die of preventable diseases, do not receive education or follow up on medications and eat crappy food in the land of plenty?We are already paying twice as much as England (for instance) ($7,000 per person per year v. $3,600 pp/py) and yet we are ranked well below many countries one would not expect - we are 37th in the world in indicators for health. Comparitively:We have higher infant death ratesHigher rates of diabetes, heart problems and conditions that result from chronic hunger.We have low vaccination ratesHigh teen pregnancy rates, and the list goes on.How do we address these things? By excluding from coverage (=access to) many of the treatments and basic medications for these conditions.The VA, bless their little souls, and the Medicare system, have been good, and President Johnson was right - if Congress had known how much it would cost, they would never have passed the bill in the first place.Too late for this Congress, but CR is right, we have to change it now. I'd rather have a proven system that is adequately funded and regulated than a proven system that leaves me to the wolves.
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.