Health Care Mythology – Best Argument Yet
@ stumblingontruth.com H/T – comments @ HotAir and Real Clear Politics
I’m not even going to try to sum this up – just highlights. Read the whole and pass it on.
Myth #1 Health Care Costs are Soaring
No, they are not. The amount we spend on health care has indeed risen, in absolute terms, after inflation, and as a percentage of our incomes and GDP. That does not mean costs are soaring.
Myth #2 The Canadian Drug Story
The general story is how you can buy many drugs in Canada cheaper than you can buy them in the US. This story is often, without specifically tying the logic together, taken as an obvious indictment of the US’s (relatively) free market system. This is grossly misguided.
Myth #3 Socialized Medicine Works In Some Places
This is a corollary to the “Canada as parasite” parable above. The funny part is socialized medicine has never been truly tested. Those touting socialism’s success have never seen a world without a relatively (for now) free US to make or pay for their new drugs, surgical techniques, and other medical advancements for them.
Myth #4 Socialized Medicine Is Better Because Their Cost/GDP For Health Care is Lower
The favorite statistic of fans of socialized medicine is that in the US we spend more as a percentage of GDP on health care than in many countries with “universal coverage.” I do not argue with their statistics, but their logic is, as usual, way off.
Myth #5 A Public Option Can Co-Exist with a Private Option
This one has been the subject of some hot debate. Let’s first define it. Part of the current administration’s plan is to add a “public option” for health insurance.
Myth #6 We Can Have Health Care Without Rationing
Rationing has to occur. This sounds cold and cruel, but it is reality. A=A. If you have a material good or service, like health care, that is ever increasing in quality, and therefore cost, there is no way everyone on Earth can have the best at all times…
Myth #7 Health Care is A Right
Nope, it’s not. But we are at the nuclear bomb of the discussion. The one guaranteed to get me yelled at or perhaps picketed by a mob waving signs printed up with George Soros’s money. Those advocating socialized medicine love to scream “health care is a right.”
To put it simply, right now the US’s free system massively intellectually and financially subsidizes the world’s unfree (socialized) ones. That sucks. The only thing that would suck worse is joining them without anyone to subsidize us all.
That an array of crony capitalists are lining up from Wal-Mart to hospitals to medical insurers (bringing back Harry and Louise – this time for socialism) hoping to cut the best deals for themselves before the iron curtain falls is sad. That they are being lauded by the administration as a sign its health care position is right is simply propaganda. Yep, when someone agrees to pay Al Capone protection, it’s a clear sign Al Capone was right to begin with….
Finally, if the above is not enough, the rush to pass a huge expansion of government now, and limit debate and discussion, is indicative of a group that knows it is wrong, and if people have time to think they will refuse to go along, but is attempting an exercise of naked power, to impose dictatorship before the people wake up. Paraphrasing Mark Twain, a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. They are counting on this, and they don’t want to give the truth time to be shod.
Never could have said it a well. Please pass it on.
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Dear GOP Mom,
I have read through your ‘myth’s’ and thy are, I am afraid to say, simply conjecture, wrong or exaggerated. Your using no evidence to support your arguments.
I am an American living in the UK. I have recently finished my PhD at the University of Oxford. One area I research is the history of health insurance. If I may, I would like to suggest a book by a respected, unbiased historian that can give you some perspective and context: Dead on Arrival: The Politics of Health Care in Twentieth-Century America (Politics and Society in Twentieth Century America)
. However, in terms of ethics and morality, and simple humanity, your going to have to cultivate those on your own.
Have you ever lived in any of these countries that have ’socialised’ medicine? I have, and its wonderful. I grew up with a family of nurses and physicians and watched two grandparents die of cancer. One grandparent was a medical director for a major insurance company and he described the horrific process of having to deny legitimate claims. While in the UK, for 6 years, I have been to the hospital three times, and every time I have received quick, prompt and professional care. And it was free. You seem to miss the basic point about a health care system managed by profit: Its goal is NOT to give medical care, because medical care = loss of profit. This is ridiculous; and the rest of the Western industrialized world agrees. As well, the USA has been a parasite of technology and resources, not the other way around. In terms of medical advances, Germany, France and Great Britain have contributed much more than the US, much more. I urge you, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Stop listening to the ‘talking heads’ on Fox and stop reading biased internet websites.
Bottom line. Your somewhat wealthy. Although not very wealthy or else you would not feel the need to blog as you do. In this case, reinforcing your ‘GOP’ conservative identity in order to fit some idealized wealthy republican image. In this way you seem awfully naive about problems that affect good, honest people who should not be forced into bankruptcy or denied life saving medical care. Tables can turn very quickly in the US health care system, and one day you just might be staring into the face of a life threatening problem and be one of those who are deemed ‘worthy’ enough to receive care.
I know my words will have zero affect on you. It is usually the case with conservative zealots. But someday you will have gained life experience, or simply a life experience, that will open your eyes to the rest of the world outside of your sleepy dream like America suburbia, Fox news and your precious internet.
best,
Ronald
I’m sure you will bring up your year in ‘Prague’; and that this is your big life experience outside the USA. Oh, and that your married to a Brit. I’m sure he has told you all sorts of horror stories about the NHS, right? SO, who am I to question your knowledge and deep understanding of ‘life’. Well, I’m sorry. But this is what you project up on these blog pages. Pure ignorance and biased ramblings about structural problems that have deep historical roots, and which you demonstrate having attempted zero genuine research on. Only that which reinforces your agenda. An agenda which completely boggles my mind.
Universal health care could boost economy
All very interesting but the question that stands out most in my mind is how does someone get a PhD when they can’t figure out the difference between “your” and “you’re”.
You’re in good company.
Ha, typical. Very typical. You have TRY and resort to minor grammatical mistakes. Such a joke, your a joke. You have many mistakes on your website sweetheart. And mainly its because I don’t have feel the need to be a perfectionist, like, you, because I do not have an intense insecurity problem, soccer, I mean GOP mom…
Blah, blah, blah. OMG – you didn’t actually graduate did you? You’re the basement troll, right?
I have accomplished more in one day than you will in your entire life. The closest you could come to Oxford, is Oxford, Ohio sweetheart.
I wonder if your views of the NHS would be different if you lived in Reading or Scunthorpe?
Oxford has a large medical school that sends medical practitioners to be trained at the local hospitals. The Oxford Hospital system is well funded through the NHS Trust, the Medical School and the USAF!. The JR2 used to have an entire wing reserved for the exclusive use of the USAF.
Other city hospital systems are not as fortunate and are not as well resourced as those in Oxford. You are living in a protective bubble in your flat on Banbury road. But, please do not tell me you live in Jerhico – that would just be too funny.
Saying you support the NHS is like someone living in Fort Bragg saying “I Feel Safe”.
I am sure you can discuss the stupidity of this site with the bar keep at the turf. They always listen to, and agree with, their clientele – especially American tourists.
Do they still serve Mead?
Actually, I’ve accomplished a lot in my life. Maybe not according to your standards but I don’t measure my success or self-worth based on other peoples’ ideas or values. And until you adopt the same, you will continue to be miserable and angry, challenging those who do not subscribe to what pop culture has told them is cool and will get them dates and party invites. If my only accomplishments at the end of my life are a good marriage, good friends and a happy child, I will have accomplished more than most. So sad that what you assume to be your most scathing accusation is actually a window into the black, sticky goo that is your psyche.
So, I’m just curious. After all your time in the UK, have you officially adopted the accent? You know, American girls find it oh so sexy. Just biding your time until you HS reunion, when you can wow them with your euro-trash shark skin jacket, tight black jeans and oh-so-sophisticated BBC delivery? Geez, you’re never been laid, have you?
And I have been to Oxford, Ohio – rockin’ Halloween location is Miami U.
I actually live in Summertown, scary. How am I a tourist though when I have a work visa and am married to an EU national? Also, I have several friends scattered throughout the UK, and indeed Radcliffe is wonderful compared to most. Nonetheless, residents of Reading have something. My friend Hugh, from Reading, is in ironically in my office at the moment, and is laughing his ass (arse?) off at your conjecture and comparison of apples to oranges example…I prefer the Kings Arms actually…my local however is the Rose and Crown, ever been there? If so I can say hi to andrew for you.
I did not peg you for Headington or Iffley.
You will always be viewed as a Tourist by some, regardless of your actual resident status. It’s an English thing.
As for Reading, I have been to the Royal Berks – yes….it is definitely something!
I did not make it to Summertown that often but I do know the Rose and Crown and probably popped in at some point.
I guessed Summertown…
Lets try another one…. Within 6 months of commencing at Oxford, you purchased a college wrap and you wear it all the time.
Nope. Not a ‘cool’ enough college. Although I did have a bike with a basket. But it took me a year to succumb to both, and two years to break down and buy any sort of scarf period. I keep my accent, but often indulge in cheers and consecutive ever increasing in pitch ‘buy buys’. Rose n’ Crown is on North Parade, so technically not Summertown…but a lovely place. You would remember it, with the outdoor space and the twisty vines on the capopies. Indeed it is English…I will always be an outsider, no matter how much Balck Adder I watch darling. However, I lived in Swansea for a year and was treated like I had lived there for years. Ahhhh if only the South English could take a lesson from the Welsh, or at least the North for that matter…However, the best saying I have heard, which must be rubbing off on me, is that “An essential part of being English is that you inherently hate everybody”.
There’s loverly then.
I suppose I should say D.Phil…perhaps that will not scare and intimidate GOP Mom so much so she doesn’t feel the need to attack my grammar or question my degree to make herself feel better.
Your grammar, spelling, English in general are atrocious and no degree will ever make up for that. There is no excuse for such laziness. Maybe you should have a research assistant review these posts – you do have one, don’t you?
And I’m not intimidated by the degree you misrepresented from the college you misrepresented (intentionally and you know it). I wasn’t when I was in college. Actually, it was there that I discovered how truly worthless those little letters are. They mean nothing. I’ve always been much more admiring of those who don’t feel the need to overeducate themselves and then hide behind glorious ivy covered walls, darling, but rather use their brains to go out in the world and produce something.
You are such a cliche, you could be a BBC show – bike with a basket, pints down at the local. Have you applied, darling?
But thanks for the giggles. It was very hot and tiring standing out in the sun today, discussing how best to protect the future of our nation. I’m a bit disappointed that Obama chose to go through the backdoor and missed our welcoming party, but since most of his entrances are through backdoors, how could I expect differently?
Good bye, Ronald. (Geez, only a wanker would refer to himself as Ronald. Ron is way cooler.)
I was at University of Oxford, not Oxford Brookes if that is what your going on about soccer mom. Do you understand the Oxford college system? I don’t think so. I went to a medium popular college, St Hughs, which is part of the University of Oxford. All those who go to the Uni. of Oxford belong to a college. I completed my D.Phil, which means Doctor of Philosophy, or, as other places have subsequently termed it Ph.D (the term simply backwards). In fact, yes, I generally use the copy edit and proofing stage of publishing to weed out passive voice, minor spelling and punctuation. Soccer mom, this is a blog site. I’m not writing for an academic journal. However, I love it. You are so mad aren’t you? That little American conservative brain is just all heated up!
Again, I’m not angry Ronald. This is sport for me. Wrench explained the whole St Hugh’s/wrap thing so I totally “get it”. No notches, eh?
What is still interesting is that with all your responses so vehemently defending your accomplishments and brilliance, you still have not put forth a viable argument for why I should support the healthcare reform package Obammy is selling, which he got from Congress, which they got from K Street lobbyists.
This blog is not “Ronald conquers the UK”. Find a point to make about the issue at hand – massive unnecessary and unsustainable bureaucratic takeover of 1/6 of the US economy that will not provide better or even equal healthcare, in quantity or quality, to any American.
Your the one who resorted to attacking my credibility and degree; although I wasn’t exactly polite in the way I went about arguing for national health care. Nonetheless, this whole mess was precipitated my you veering down the path of questioning my education…That said, please stop relying on conjecture and apples to oranges examples. Also, you should know I am rather conservative and actually a registered Republican. Also, I am a steadfast advocate of a democratic society driven my capitalism; however, on the issue of healthcare, the evidence is overwhelmingly in favour of universal health care. I urge you once again to at least attempt to read this book. Check it out at your socialist libary
. http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Arrival-Politics-Twentieth-Century-America/dp/B001BIOQPA