Good Morning Bloggers! Simply put, the Republicans are out there lying through their yellow teeth right now about the supposed success of American health care. They are trying to convince Americans that we shouldn't fix what's not broken, and that is a bold-faced lie.US health care costs have long been out of line with costs in other countries. We Americans spend $2.5 trillion or $8,100 per head on health care, which represents 17.6% of our annual GDP. That is half as much as the 11% of GDP spent in France and Germany and almost double the 9% in Britain and the OECD (representing dozens of countries globally) as a whole. The world's next highest spender is Switzerland at 12%, and they have incredibly high taxes compared to us in the US. (Source: NIH)
The worst part is that for all that money America's medical success rate is mediocre or dismal in comparison. Cancer, cardiac survival rates, and almost every other leading indicator demonstrates that we get very little to no bang for our bucks - survival rates are generally no better than the OECD average, and substantially worse than in France, Switzerland and Japan. (Source: NIH)
The data shows that most of America's health care investment goes into the pockets of industry bureaucrats and profiteers. The American people are getting very little for their investment. Something must be done to stop it!
Like leading Democrats, leading Republicans know full well that economic recovery and success is impossible without health care reform. As President Obama says, it is the key to reducing costs within the American economy. As he told the greedy American Medical Association (which represents about 20% of our - least altruistic - doctors), America cannot afford their undisciplined and greedy ways much longer without us all going bankrupt - including the nation.
So, if all this is true, and as Democrats say it's imperative to put some checks and balances into the system [whatever the final plan outcome/plan], then why are Republicans so opposed to tackling the issue? That one stumps me. I have a few guesses, and none of them are very good. No matter what, the GOP is flailing, even to the point of releasing an alternative plan this week that most analysts are now calling a complete and utter joke.
My best guesses are 1) their extreme reluctance to kill the goose that laid the most profitable egg in the American economy (GOP loyalty to lobbyists), and 2) perhaps they just don't want Democrats to be the ones to provide Americans with the thing they want most - not to mention need.
The latter is being whispered about in Washington circles as the "party killer." In other words, if the Democrats succeed, and the plan works, the Republicans may never recover. What's your best guess? Any ideas?
Facts are facts! Numbers do not lie! Health care costs - as a percent of GDP - must be lowered in this country if we plan to compete with the rest of the world, and pay off the massive debt the Republicans have created. The only path to success is health care reform. No matter what the despicable, self-serving Republicans are saying out there right now, we must encourage Washington to pass substantial health care reform - with a public option.
If you wish to follow the primary candidate legislation, I recommend keeping your eye on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. It will be fascinating to watch.
Thursday's Political Rant - Michael
PS - As I often do here, I ask you to please take action. Take a moment to contact your representatives in Washington and ask for health care reform WITH a public option. All Washington Contact information can now be found in the margin here at Our Rants & Raves. Thanks!
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13 comments:
"Like leading Democrats, leading Republicans know full well that economic recovery and success is impossible without health care reform."
Let's see here we had economic success through out most of the 80's and 90's and most of Bush's two terms and now you liberals are spreading this bull-shit agenda and telling people this is the only way...nice story.
Hello Again GR - it'll be interesting to see how long you can remain within the new rules.
As to your point, you fail to incorporate the big picture into your conclusion. Economic success is one thing, but skyrocketing health care cost that undermine that success and impede competition is important too.
Those costs were skyrocketing during the time you mention - even during the period of greatest success with the Democrats. This is a long-simmering problem that isn't going away. Figure it out for yourself! Do the math! To ignore it would be foolish and potentially destructive. Your conclusion ignores the data.
This is not a Democratic or Republican issue. It's an American issue. We're trying to help, not hurt. Nobody wants another give-away program. This is about creating a more effective health care economy within the larger economy.
I would hope you could see that and - for once - join forces to solve a very serious problem. Finally, your post did nothing to support your position of maintaining the status quo (it said very little, as usual).
PS - I will not debate this for ever. I set out very clear NIH data that shows how the US will be undermined economically. Unless you show me good data to prove we will not suffer from cost/competition erosion, then your points will most likely be designed to distract (Rule #5) and I will refuse your posts and disengage.
PSS - I will also refuse to post any comments with false or disreputable data (Rule #4). Try the NIH!
Why not put the truth out Boh and tell people how this bull-shit Obama medical is really going to work.
I bet if you ask Obammy and all of the other Demon-rats if they would go on this government provided medical plan they will tell you where you can go.
If Ted Kennedy was on a government plan the man would be dead today, me and you know that, but all of these other idiots what can you say about them other than they are stupid and will buy into anything.
My guess is even though you are pushing this bull-shit medical plan put out by the government you will have nothing to do with it.
GR - 1) I do "put the truth out." 2) We are fellow Americans, not Demon-rats (don't get too rude dude). 3) Ted Kennedy does have government FUNDED health care, which is all the new system would be (THINK Medicare, not UK NHS). 4) I would be happy to trade in my Blue Cross for a plan overseen by the government. It would be good for me, our society, our government (for critical mass/bargaining power) and mostly our economy. No matter how you spin it GR, the facts clearly show it would be better health care for the majority of Americans. It will also save money overall. Figure it out!
"GR - 1) I do "put the truth out." 2) We are fellow Americans, not Demon-rats (don't get too rude dude). 3) Ted Kennedy does have government FUNDED health care, which is all the new system would be (THINK Medicare, not UK NHS). 4) I would be happy to trade in my Blue Cross for a plan overseen by the government. It would be good for me, our society, our government (for critical mass/bargaining power) and mostly our economy. No matter how you spin it GR, the facts clearly show it would be better health care for the majority of Americans. It will also save money overall. Figure it out!"
Boh the only reason Ted Kennedy is alive is because he is getting health care that the average person will never see..so take your dog some where else because it will not hunt.
You know as well as I that the people on capitol hill have some of the best health care in the world which will never be offered to the ordinary person.
"Ted Kennedy does have government FUNDED health care,"
Dude but not the Government Health care that will be offered to you.
One thing about you Boh and I will give you credit, you put a nice spin on everything that you believe.
Now you are spinning the only way out of the recession is health care reform, I thought the stimulus package and the shoring up of the financial system and buying up all of the toxic assets was to take care of it.
We have Obammy pulling in ABC to the White House to report the news and lie to the American people about his health care plan and will not allow any rebuttal against it and the idiots in this country will buy into it because of their stupidity.
GR, let's just say we disagree on this one too - like all the rest. I'm beginning to wonder if we'll ever agree on anything.
Btw, I didn't post your first comment because it included discredited talking point factoids - it broke Rule #4. I've decided I'm not going to debate those kinds of "facts" anymore. Have a good day GR!
You know you can't debate the facts and we the people have seen one lie after another from this regime.
Go back a few moths we had Obammy and Joe Biden both telling the American people if the stimulus package wasn't past we would go to 8% unemployment, here it is June and we are now at 9.4% and these idiots keep telling the American people the only way out is through medical system reform and spending appox 1.6 trillion dollars for what? to only cover a percentage of the uninsured.
A good post, Michael.
I am blessed with good health. In the last few months I’ve had a couple of minor surgical procedures, and the charges were INSANELY high.
Listening to the local news at 6 a.m. Monday, I heard my South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey O. Graham saying (in a soundbite) that with national healthcare reform, “Americans will have to WAIT to receive medical attention.” Doesn’t the twit realize that Americans who don’t have health insurance and cannot afford health care have to WAIT for it? Sometimes with fatal results.
One can only imagine how much the American taxpayer would save if every American had “preventive” health care instead of major medical after a health problem occurs.
BJ
Hello Michael. Yes, this is an American problem. I had emergency surgery several years ago after suffering a renal aneurysm. The final bill when all was said and done was approximately $100,000. My husband's insurance covered all but $10,000. If we were unfortunate enough to not have health insurance through his employment, we would have lost our home. There are thousands of people who have no insurance at all. Do we let those people suffer and possibly die because republicans don't want what they call "government-run" health care? Our situation is precisely the kind of financial medical problem that Obama is trying to take care of - among other health care issues. Everyone should have the availability of quality health care. This is nothing more than a political straw-man for republicans. If Obama were not proposing to repair our current health care system, they would be demanding that he do something. No matter what he does or proposes, they are going to take the complete opposite stance even at their own peril.
Thanks for the great feedback BJ and Nancy. I believe we all have similar experiences. The polls show the vast majority of Americans agree with us, yet the Congress (especially the GOP) seems to be siding with the money interests.
I don't know what the outcome will be, but I think there will be HELL to pay if Congress doesn't give the people what they want - an affordable, effective public option. They better be careful, because something tells me they may be underestimating the mood/anger of the American people today.
I think Ghostrider is a complete moron.
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