AlterNet: Corporate Media Have Ruined the Health Care Debate

[marmar]

Corporate Media Have Ruined the Health Care Debate

By Isabel Macdonald, AlterNet. Posted July 27, 2009.

TV networks have shut out coverage of single-payer as an option for health reform. We must work to get it back in public debate.




The debate about health reform is clearly in critical condition, with the prospects for President Barack Obama's proposed "public option" looking increasingly uncertain. The U.S. is the only industrialized nation where insurance for primary healthcare is largely in the hands of private corporations, but despite overwhelming public support for a greater government role in health insurance, pundits are now advising us that even Obama’s modest proposal of making private insurance corporations compete with a public insurance fund may have to be scrapped.

Sen. Max Baucus (D.-Mont.) -- the politician who played one of the most powerful roles in shaping this debate -- would seem at first blush an unlikely man to diagnose the ailments afflicting our health reform debate.

After all, many people will recall that when several doctors asked at a recent Senate hearing why "Medicare-for-all" -- a reform option that many citizens and healthcare professionals see as the best tool for fixing healthcare -- was not on the table, Baucus responded by asking for more police.

Yet as the NYT reported, Baucus has since:

Conceded that it was a mistake to rule out a fully government-run health system, or a ‘single-payer plan,’ not because he supports it but because doing so alienated a large, vocal constituency and left Mr. Obama’s proposal of a public health plan to compete with private insurers as the most liberal position.

After all, what better way to diffuse the fearmongering about Obama’s plan being a "Trojan horse" for the right’s favorite boogeyman -- "socialized" medicine -- than provide the public with accurate information on Medicare-for-all and its benefits? After all, a single public fund that would provide all Americans with healthcare coverage, much like Medicare currently provides for seniors, is seen by many experts as the most effective way of achieving the goals of healthcare reform: reducing costs while expanding coverage. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/141580/corporate_media_have_ruined_the_health_care_debate/

[Vinca]

1. The corporate media is bought and paid for.

[Epiphany4z]

2. I can barley watch the coverage

I am so terrified the blue dogs and rw idiots will water the bill down so bad it will actually be worse for us than what we have now.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. So, what's Alternet done to raise the standards? Just...

whining about single payer, which ain't gonna happen in anyone's lifetime, isn't exactly informing the public.

[RufusTFirefly]

4. Bullshit

Tautological excuses and self-fulfilling prophecies are far worse than any Alternet whining.

Why isn't single-payer going to happen in anyone's lifetime?

Are you an insurance company executive?

[TreasonousBastard]

5. #1-- there is nothing worse than whining...

#2-- single payer won't happen because not one person or organization anywhere close to the halls of power that is actually discussing how to reform healthcare has any interest in it. And they don't have any interest in it because whether or not it is a good idea (and about half of them don't think it is) no one can imagine dealing with the changes necessary to convert 2-3 trillion dollars of the GDP to something untested here.

#3-- what difference would that make? Insurance handles the administrative ends of Medicare and Tricare already, so get used to it even if single payer ever happens.

#4-- just for good measure... Learn something about the subject besides leftwing talking points. They're not always any better than rightwing talking points, and often sound sillier even if they are better.

[RufusTFirefly]

6. #1 -- Dying needlessly. Even worse

As for "left-wing talking points," mere mention of the phrase is usually a tip-off.

My best friend's family was bankrupted by his mother's illness.

My sister lives in a civilized country that has national health. They love their medical care and can't understand why we don't have something similar here. She's raised two beautiful children under the medical system and has addressed various health challenges throughout her life without ever having to worry about whether she can afford to pay for care.

My insurance premiums are now equal to more than 50 percent of my monthly rent. With the money that remains, I can't really afford to go to the doctor except in the case of an emergency.

So spare me your crap. I think the person who needs to actually learn something and to avoid spouting talking points is you. You are a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Now run along before you miss your Heritage Foundation meeting.