Those who decry government health programs refuse to acknowledge that providing adequate health care to all is foundational to a vibrant and well-functioning society.
If they acknowledged this fact, “socialized medicine” would make as much sense as “socialized police,” “socialized drinking water,” “socialized education,” “socialized military,” etc.
We already pay for a long list of services essential to modern life through public taxation. Yet we don’t refer to any popular government service or program as “socialized.”
It is only trotted out to stir up negative and reflexive emotional reactions to government programs.
Veterans Affairs hospitals and Medicare are only two of many great examples of successful government-run health care.
An article in the Washington Monthly suggested that VA hospitals are an example of what a quality government health care system looks like.
If progressives talked about the excellent care now being provided in VA hospitals or about the popularity of Medicare (which differs from the VA because Medicare pays for, but does not provide health care), we would start to erode the ballistics the term “socialized medicine” activates.
Nations with so-called “socialized medicine” have better outcomes in terms of infant mortality and longevity. No one is ruined or bankrupt because of medical expenses. Excellent long term end of life facilities regardless of ability to pay is assured.
Death from cancer is less in England than the U.S. Those with life threatening conditions go to the front of the line. In the U.S. a sick person must raise $350,000 before a life-saving bone marrow transplant needed immediately is possible.
Our for-profit system will let you die while it asks, “What have you got in your wallet?”
Ballistic opposition to national health care by conservatives is a tragic fact of life. Yet it is inevitable that the U.S. will follow the lead of Canada and all other industrialized nations. All mandate the same standard of care for everyone regardless of ability to pay. But our conservatives have the power to delay its birth for another 40 years.
The intrenched myth that Canada’s health care system is “socialized medicine” is false. In socialized medical systems, doctors work directly for the state.
In Canada (and other countries with universal health care), doctors run their own practices, just like in the US. The difference is that every doctor deals with one insurer, instead of 150.
That insurer is the provincial government, which is accountable to the legislature and the voters if the quality of coverage declines.
A savings of 25 percent in paperwork alone would result were a single payer system adopted in the US.
Doctors would send their bills directly to a “single payer,” namely the office of their respective state departments of health.
As in other nations Americans would never again see or receive another medical bill. Poor health, the hidden consequence of the stress and anxiety of a “for profit” system, would be replaced by “peace of mind” and the leading cause of bankruptcy in the US would no longer exist.
Let your legislators know you support a national health care that covers everyone regardless of ability to pay just like other nations.
Vote for presidential candidates who support a system paid for through public taxation.
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Dear Ron,
I enjoyed reading your article on the advantages of Universal Healthcare. What you neglected to mention was those nations that do provide Universal care don’t have lawyers to contend with. One of the reasons fees are so high here is that most doctors (if not all) practice defensive medicine. They do this to protect themselves from frivilous lawsuits and greedy attorneys looking for a quick payouts while feeding off the compassion and pity of jury’s. Doctors in the U.S. pay anywhere from 15 - 30% of their gross earnings on Malpractice Insurance. You don’t find this in Great Britian, Canada, France etc… They have committees that take into account the age of the defendant, his ecomonic value, age and earnings. Attorneys are left completely out of the equation. Now you know as well as I, that most if not all congressman and senators down in Washington were attorneys prior to getting elected. All of them still have an aliegance to the BAR association. For a single payer health system to work you must offer the doctor a financial carrot of “hook” in order to have him sign up. I know of no doctor that’s going to accept 60 cents on the dollar and still be exposed to lawsuits. If you know of any let me know. I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I’m looking to move quickly…