Why health care reform is a must
21. Mar, 2010 
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The country seems more divided on health care these days than war. That’s disturbing.
Let’s take a look at the two opposing sides, right and left, in our government and politics.
One side, the right, feels that we should pay less in taxes and have less services from the government. This is reasonable. Pay less and get less. Ok.
The other side opts for more social services, even if it means higher taxes. That’s reasonable, too. Pay more, but get more.
Since our country is fairly balanced with people on the left and people on the right, it is only logical that we should pay a moderate amount of taxes and have a moderate amount of services — somewhere close to center, right?
Our problem in the US is that we pay far too much in taxes for very little in the way of social services. So neither side wins. The right is rightfully upset that we are taxed so heavily while the left is dissatisfied with our meager social services.
When we look across the Atlantic to our developmental peers in Europe, we drool at their incredible social services — many can attend university for free, many receive 2 years of paid maternity leave, no one is without food or home, and most have universal health care.
But what price do they pay? Not much more than we do, it turns out. So we should be angry. We pay high taxes, but we graduate from college in deep debt, we cannot afford our medical bills, our unemployed fear losing their homes, and even some of us that are employed are so deep in debt that we struggle to afford basic necessities.
National Geographic had a page in their January issue that highlighted the true nature of US healthcare — namely, we spend more on healthcare than any other country, yet we have one of the shortest life expectancies in the developed world (and shorter than in many developing countries), and we visit the doctor less frequently than in many countries (most notably Japan, with the world’s highest life expectancy).
We stand alone in the developed world as the only country without universal health care. That would be fine if our system was cheaper or more effective, but it is neither. We are not living as long as our peers. And we are spending much more for less. Why should we stand for that? Would you pay $50 for a dirty, unhealthy meal? No. So why do you stand for the same from our health care?
So, if you oppose public health care in this country and you do not work for an insurance company that profits from our ridiculous system, you may need to visit a specialist.
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I believe you are ignoring some of the most important aspects of how we arrive a poor health. I believe the countries you have quoted also eat significantly better than the average American. I don't believe nutritional based problems can be traced to a lack of healthcare. If you want to fix problems in American why don't you talk about giving some money back to the producers of our raw goods and food so that we have a healthy economy. People that can produce good food will lead to people affording to buy good food. Both will lead to a healthier population.
Robert, part of health care *is* healthy eating. If we visit the doctor more, and the doctors tell us to eat healthier, we could improve our life expectancy. The biggest issue is the insurance companies and how deep their pockets are.
Robert, part of health care *is* healthy eating. If we visit the doctor more, and the doctors tell us to eat healthier, we could improve our life expectancy. The biggest issue is the insurance companies and how deep their pockets are.
Also, Robert, there are provisions in the bill to help with this. For example, some restaurants, especially fast-food restaurants in California, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, New York City and Philadelphia will have to provide calorie counts on their menus, even on their drive-in menues, to help raise awareness on the relation between health and food.
See: http://www.independentmail.com/news/2010/mar/26...
“Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine thy food.” — Hippocrates
Also, Robert, there are provisions in the bill to help with this. For example, some restaurants, especially fast-food restaurants in California, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, New York City and Philadelphia will have to provide calorie counts on their menus, even on their drive-in menues, to help raise awareness on the relation between health and food.
See: http://www.independentmail.com/news/2010/mar/26...
“Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine thy food.” — Hippocrates