The system is irretrievably broken now

[Warpy]

If you want an example of something that's emblematic of what's broken in America, try health care.

Sure, our Republican colleagues will mouth the exact same tired language about "the excellence of our hospitals" and those dreaded "trial lawyers." Truth is, however, for twenty five years the United States, under Republican leadership and the hand of big business, has indulged in an experiment with allowing "market forces" to drive our health care system.

That experiment has failed.


http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/11/27/134811/62

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Wow that is great stuff!

From your link:

Over the last few decades, American health care has radically changed. A system that was largely not-for-profit has become a field where the profit motive and market forces affect every decision.

Much of the turmoil is a direct result of a national policy to run health care like a business, a misguided notion promoted by Washington over the last two decades that the free market and for-profit health care would restrain costs and bring high-quality care to all. On both counts, the experiment has failed miserably. In the meantime, tens of billions of dollars--money that could have gone into patient care--has been drained from consumers and corporate subscribers and transferred to investors, executives, and others who have a stake in perpetuating this myth.

The result is a chaotic system that has shifted its focus from saving lives to saving dollars, one that discourages preventive medicine and rewards overtesting and overmedicating; a system that allows insurers to reject those most likely to require medical attention and keep only the healthiest; a system where six times as many people die from medical mistakes as from HIV/AIDS; a system that forces doctors to spend as much time negotiating with insurers over referrals and fees as they do treating patients.

[FormerRepublican]

2. Ain't it the truth.

[cornermouse]

3. You forgot "communism" and "would you rather be in Canada

where the government dictates what healthcare you get" while ignoring the fact that the federal and state governments or the insurance companies dictate what healthcare you get here.

[FormerRepublican]

4. And what they usually dictate here is that you don't get any.

Which is worse - less health care, or none?

[cornermouse]

6. Having once been in the position of none in this land of plenty

for someone, my vote is some rather than none.

[Denver Dave]

12. At least Canada has health care

The bottom line is some health care is better than no health care. Community models work for roads, schools and is appropriate for health care.

Our system is rigged to exclude you from health care when you most need it - .... unless you are a legislator and then you have health care for life paid for by taxpayer dollars whether you are re-elected or not.

Have an opinion on acccess to health care? Please join in at: www.HCTalk.com

[MadisonProgressive]

5. Health care issues have contributed greatly to our demise.

If we had nationalized health care, would there be such a great incentive to send jobs overseas? If we had national health care AND eliminated all the tax loopholes and incentives that favor corporations and the rich - it would make a great difference. That's just my humble opinion.

[BobBoudelangFan69]

7. Ever Notice Those Who Say Free Health Care Is Not Good...

for the people, all have it?

Every member of Congress, Executive Branch and Judicial Branch have full free medical coverage. The people can't afford to have free medical coverage.

[msongs]

8. let's all have the same health care as congress members nt

[philb]

9. But good health depends very little on the system anyway

the important things are avoiding toxic exposures
avoid toxic dental materials and root-canals
good nutrition, including supplements as needed(many good ones out there but know your source)
exercise
support system

If one does these, you are unlikely to have much chronic health problems


and if you have chronic problems, they can be significantly improved usually doing the same things

prescriptions rarely needed or useful

[OneBlueSky]

10. please join me in recommending . . . everyone should read this . . . n/t

.

[Odin2005]

11. I get annoyed when...

...The Repukes scream about Cannada rationing thier healthcare. EXCUSE ME! We "ration" our healthcare just as much as Canada does, except we ration based on abillity to pay. If you can't pay, you die. How Social Darwinistic, no wonder the repukes like it the way it is.

[philb]

13. But people don't have to go there; we have lots of knowledge available

these days on how the body works, how the metabolism works, what causes chronic health conditions, how to prevent chronic
health conditions, tests to determine toxic exposures and causes of chronic conditions, nutritional measures/supplements/treatments that improve chronic conditions. And the information is readily available to anyone- doctors, nurses, practitioners, or the public.

National library of medicine medline http://www.nlm.nih.gov
Medical Lab sites like http://www.gsdl.com (chronic conditions cause and treatment info)
or www.melisa.org (immune reactivity)
or other medical lab and clinic web sites

and medical health letters written by MDs or others

and health forums by condition like yahoogroups or St John's Univ.

and nutrition journal sites like the free journal from www.vrp.com
or science sites like www.glycoscience.com
or many more such

organizations like DAMS(800-311-6265) and Autism Research Institute and other such that compile info and provide free information/clinic contacts for test and treatment.

So there is no good reason for most to live with chronic conditions. For most there is readily available information on
measures or treatments to improve the condition.