A few of you have touched upon it, but we all need to understand the complex health care debate. My hope and assumption is that all of you have been tuning in to NPR - where there is almost a daily piece on the issue. Please add links to articles or websites that you think will assist all of us understand this incredibly hot topic. Below are a few articles which can start us off ...
You may be wondering if the health care legislation has any relevance to you or your family. The piece below focuses on what the health care overhaul means to you and even has a nifty chart where you can click on your own category.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111499109
The stakes are high, the players are powerful, debate is heated, and "untruths" are rampant. The piece below claims it is a "truth-o-meter." What do you think?
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/aug/13/health-care-reform-simple-explanation/
If you receive the Seattle Times, on Friday August 14th on page A3 there is an interesting table that is easy to understand and focuses on the higlights of the legislatoin. Enlarge the "What's on the table" piece of this article:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009659458_healthcare14.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/zoom/html/2009659459.html
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Look at the chart "The Path to Overhaul" (link below) - it is a great visual which explains the complicated route health care legislation is taking ... and what it will take to make it to President Obama's desk.
ReplyDeletehttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/
With all of the information available online right now about the state of health care, you are bound to come across lies. The website below addresses some of the main lies that are being spread around right now.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/114453
This is a response to Matt C's second post on the links page. He gave a link and asked whether the health care process will truly be as complicated as the chart makes it out to be, and I have to say absolutely yes!
ReplyDeleteAny aspect of spending money or arranging money with the government is always complicated. There are various different inputs and outputs to every system and even the more humorous website design seems to be a part of the system. Think about it, we the citizens are always wanting to know what exactly the government is doing on plans and that web design would be one of the ways they'd spread the word of the new healthcare process. It seems to me that this map was created in order to make people think that the new healthcare system is terrible because there are so many different steps to it, but if you truly look at it you can see that some of them are just normal basic jobs that people would do any way like nurse education and training. It's a nightmare yes, but it's government! From my experience everything to do with legislation is a nightmare, not nearly as easy as Elle Woods from Legally Blonde 2 makes it seem. This map portrays a false message that is trying to make the healthcare system look overly complicated when truly it isn't (keyword overly).
I would also like to point out that this kind of system should help the economy because it's going to cause lots of money to change hands fast and create a bigger market.
I recently heard an article on NPR discussing the similarities between health care and a tax bill that was passed in 1986. In both cases, the Republicans and Democrats had separate yet related goals. The Republicans wanted to lower tax rates, and the Democrats wanted to close off any loopholes the rich might be using to avoid payments altogether. At first, it seemed impossible to pass—but it did. James Baker, former secretary of the treasury, said that Ronald Reagan was the reason Congress could pull this off. His strong guidance led to a bill that both sides could be happy with that fixed a serious problem. The question stands: can Congress and Obama do it again.
ReplyDeletePersonally I have my doubts. First off, the Republicans do not have as huge of an incentive as they did regarding taxes, so they will be less willing to negotiate with our liberal President. Secondly, and probably most importantly, the political tension in ’86 (though I wasn’t there and couldn’t be positive) was nowhere near what it is now between Republicans and Democrats. The hatred between the two groups currently, after two terms of George W. Bush, is immense. Democrats blame Republicans for the problems our country is currently suffering, and Republicans lash back out of defense. The whole thing is a mess, and nobody wants to side with the enemy. Therefore, the deliberation that would need to occur in the House and the Senate, plus the reconciliation between whatever bills they respectively pass, is unlikely to be civil. I predict this bill will be less about health care and more about party loyalty, and therefore headed toward failure.
The current issue of health care is one of the most complex issues modern American government has had to face. Some people believe that Obama's plan will lead to socialistic health care that makes more people unable to get help and bigger cemeteries, other people feel that the plan will lead to more people getting health care and having the opportunity to be cared for and supported, and still more people are left in a gray area of knowing that there are aspects of the plan that won't work and other aspects that might. I suspect that this decision will be debated for a long time, even after a final conclusion has been made.
ReplyDeleteQuite frankly, this whole health care issue is a scary thing. As one anonymous person put it, "All the poor families and senior citizens will have one foot in the grave, at the rate things are going." Our nation has yet to be given a full-proof plan about this issue, and it's questionable if that will ever happen.
David is right about there being great doubt in the Republicans and Democrats coming to an agreeable decision. It's possible, yes, but they are on an even greater opposing spectrum than they were a score or two of years ago. What they have to realize is that they're united on at least one common ground: They are Americans, and they want the best for their people. The question is what is the best? The issue has left my head spinning. We are the future of America, so we have to keep in mind that the plans being made today will affect us in ten years.
Other countries like England or Canada have emulated the United States' health care program for years. In fact, America has had the best health care in the world while millions of Canadians are waiting for a surgical procedure, or are on a certain waiting list to just get diagnosed from their doctors.
ReplyDeleteHowever, with an immense recession and the democratic party in full effect, our health care is becoming more and more government controlled. As people have already mentioned, it has become nearly impossible for both the Democrats and Republicans to work together or see eye-to-eye due to widespread hatred and bitterness of the two-term Bush Administration (as the blame for this). The whole "Robin Hood" idea of taking from the rich to give to the poor is unbelievable.
Democrats go about trying to repair this "loop hole" that prevents the wealthier from escaping lower taxes. Why should the wealthier feel obligated to help insure those less fortunate or poor? People say that our democracy would never let a government control such fundamental and core necessities for all Americans....but what is stopping them? Some of the ideas incorporated within the bill appear very socialistic and have many questioning.
Even if someone is content with their coverage and doctor, a government medical plan will lure different businesses to put their employees on the gov't plan, since the private plan insurance will cost about double. Or even Cobra, which is a program that continues an individual's coverage after they have lost their job, seems amazing, however, it is VERY expensive and forces most people to go to the gov't plan.
Therefore, the government or Obama administration claims that there are many options, however, all of these options are suceptible to failure and leave that one option.
The government cannot tell doctors how to treat their patients, especially under certain circumstances. After reading the Seattle Times article about "death panels", I was shocked. It's really sad that the government can/will make the elderly feel guilty for taking too much government money and persuade them to "pull the plug". ESPECIALLY when a large percent of these patients are war veterans already. They risked/sacrificed their lives once, why should they have to do it again?
The government got us into this mess, they should get us out. I don't see this bill being anything but controversy and failure.
Below is a NY Times article about the latest 10-year deficit and the money we don't have to overhaul the health care system.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/business/economy/26deficit.html?_r=1&hp
The idea of a universal health care system is lovely, but sadly there is no way that the United States which is currently 11.7 trillion dollars in dept can afford to do fund the socialist idea. I also must ask one question, is this nationally funded health care system going to provide care for only U.S. citizens or is it going to be extended to the mass of illegal immigrants currently destroying our social security system? America was built on capitalistic ideals and should stay that way. However there were good points made in the article “Health care reform: A Simple Explanation.” The idea of imposing taxes on large business that are dropping health care business is a good idea. The idea of passing laws to limit the cost of healthcare in general is a good idea, but to completely fund millions of uninsured is crazy. This plan for health care reform will do one thing if passed; drastically reduce the number of practicing medical doctors in the United States. Medical School prices are growing every year and the number of people in the United States is constantly growing. The new health care plan states that doctors will be paid on good patient out comes and not on a pay-for-service method. Would any other profession agree to this type of socialist change? If you were to higher a plumber to unclog a drain and he couldn’t do it, guess what you still have to pay the plumber for his time! This new plan is just too pricey to support.
ReplyDeleteMckenna you are my hero, i support your ideas 100%
Below is a link to CNN story that outlines the future costs of health care reform
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/print/52306
As many people have probably noticed...it seems that senior citzens have been a prime target for the "scare tactics" that are launched in many political campaigns. Older Americans vote more than any other age group, which makes them a target/influential group.
ReplyDeleteIn front of the state GOP Head Quarters (Raleigh, NC), a small group of senior citizens are angered by a recent column that was published by Michael Steele. Steele stated that health care reform would lead to rationing for the elderly and send deep cuts to Medicare.
The senior citizens believe that Steele, a republican, is trying to frighten the captive senior audience. Both parties have been known for stretching the truth in regards to health care. ALthough the republican party itself did not come up with death panels, it has been spreading misinformation. It is up to the seniors in whether or not they will try to spread the word of misleading information and clear things up for the rest of American citizens.
**I just found this slightly interesting because it is fairly true...that generation is the target audience because they are retired and during a recession like this, their money within stock exchange & investments are at stake and they are the most informed and educated.
I found this info @ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112384526
The spread of misinformation among the American public imposes serious complications regarding the health care reform. It is important that citizens are properly informed so that they can address legitimate concerns and influence the bill as it develops.
ReplyDeleteThis article examines the recent polls regarding the health care reform. Although the numbers show that the majority disagrees with the plan, a large percentage does not necessarily know what they are disagreeing with—this demonstrates the misconceptions regarding the health care reform:
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE57I01T20090819
Make sure not to miss the “Greatest Hits List”—it’s a link in the PolitiFact article. For those of you who cannot find it, it is here: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/aug/13/heath-care-fact-checks-greatest-hits-vol-1/
“If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.” --Barack Obama
The health care reform will not directly mandate private providers. However, a government controlled public option will most likely be less expensive than private competitor options. Most citizens will choose the cheaper alternative. Employers will also drop their coverage and send employees to the public option. Indirectly, the private option will be eliminated.
Also, don’t miss this video segment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqUmuZnmf7A
If UPS and FedEx represent private providers, and the post office represents a provider that is owned and controlled by the government, then doesn’t Obama imply that the health care reform is going to be unsuccessful?
On another note: basic medical training should be mandated as a requirement for high school graduation. If everyone grew up with a fundamental knowledge of medicine, they would be better suited to treat their own illnesses and injuries. Less doctor visits would be required except in cases of extreme severity. Overall, this practice would facilitate the improved health of the community as a whole.
I am inclined to reserve further judgment regarding the health care reform until I can reach a more informed decision.
I think David hit it right on the head with what he said. The sad thing about the Health Care debate is that it has turned into more of a debate over party than health. People are sticking so much to their party that they won't even look at the other side. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteI have such a hard time chosing a side on the Health care debate. I was able to listen to my mom (a conservative) and my half brother (a liberal) argue the issue. Both made valid points. My brother's main arguement was the most other countries have free health care for their citizens. But, then that brings up a point to show how horribly Canada is doing with their health care.
What I learned is that both sides are so stuck to them that they refuse to move or change their points or even listen to the other side with an open mind. The government has divided the nation and put us in this mess that hopefully they'll be able to safely bring us out of it.
People need to stop being so stubborn over this healthcare issue and try to compromise. They need to put aside their party differences and focus on what the people in America really need and what will work best with budgeting instead of their little party tiffs. Universal healthcare is a wee bit far-fetched in a democratic republic society, as it is a socialist idea. However, lack of healthcare is a major problem in our society, and universal may not be the way to go, but there are such programs as medicare that maybe the government could piggyback off of or expand to include low income families. This could help keep private practices in business, but then other doctors would be paid less and they wouldn't be happy with it; not to mention to higher income paying people would probably be upset being made to pay for their healthcare. Maybe my idea is horrible, but it'd work if people weren't so selfish. Just saying, the two parties just need to try to get along
ReplyDeleteI was looking up on Obama’s health care plan and I came across an article claiming that we will lose five key freedoms in health care reform. These freedoms are;
ReplyDelete1. Freedom to choose what's in your plan
2. Freedom to be rewarded for healthy living, or pay your real costs
3. Freedom to choose high-deductible coverage
4. Freedom to keep your existing plan
5. Freedom to choose your doctors
To be honest, I have never been concerned about my health care due to my dad’s great health care coverage from being in the military (now retiree) plus health insurance form Boeing. I understand that this might affect many Americans. So, I’m wondering who is going to benefit from this?
“The Obama platform would mandate extremely full, expensive, and highly subsidized coverage -- including a lot of benefits people would never pay for with their own money -- but deliver it through a highly restrictive, HMO-style plan that will determine what care and tests you can and can't have. It's a revolution, all right, but in the wrong direction.” -Shawn Tully