And can someone tell me where, oh where, are the facts when folks state where they stand on the issue?
“Death panels”? While the existence of such panels is an absolute falsehood — an outright lie — a new poll today shows that almost half of all Americans believe death panels are proposed in various draft bills. That is just downright sad — a manufactured side issue taking up time from real discussion and much-needed debate.
“This country has the best medical care available in the world”? No, Sen. Ted Kennedy did not say that, as one Tracy Press contributor recently asserted (“Health care reform is scary stuff,” Aug. 19 Press).
Kennedy said, “When it comes to advanced, highly specialized treatments, America can boast the best health care in the world — at least for those who can afford it.” U.S. health care is a “system that doesn’t always provide the basics.”
I think Sen. Kennedy was being too generous in his remarks about our health care system. Here are some facts:
• The U.S. spends more money per capita on health care than any nation on Earth, yet we rank well below 36 other nations in timely and effective care, according to the World Health Organization. National health spending is expected to reach $2.5 trillion in 2009, accounting for 17.6 percent of the gross domestic product. By 2018, national health care expenditures are expected to reach $4.4 trillion — more than double the 2007 spending level.
• This ballooning cost negatively affects the economic health of individuals and small businesses, resulting in an ever-growing list of uninsured Americans because neither individuals nor small business can afford it. Consider that a recent study found that 62 percent of all bankruptcies filed in 2007 were linked to medical expenses. Of those who filed for bankruptcy, nearly 80 percent had health insurance. According to another published article, about 1.5 million families lose their homes to foreclosure every year due to unaffordable medical costs.
• One would hope for all that money, we get the best care in the world. We don’t. Far from it. In 2000, the U.S. ranked 37th (in between Costa Rica and Slovenia) in terms of overall quality of health care. On every measure in every study since then, the U.S. health care system falls short on delivering even average care. Last year, 38 percent of U.S. patients did not receive recommended treatment. Even among Americans with insurance, 43 percent of adults with chronic conditions nevertheless had access problems because of cost.
Our below-average health care system is bankrupting this nation, so doing nothing is not a prudent option.
This affects all of us, whether you’re insured or not. And you’re paying dearly for it now, whether you want to or not.
If you have health insurance, just hope you stay healthy, because the real “death panels” are already in full operation at your health insurance company. Remember them? They are the true bean-counting bureaucrats, who find more ways every day to deny more coverage to more sick people.
In our profit-driven system of “care,” it’s profit before people. And that’s a fact.
• Randy Yates is a business-to-government proposal specialist, securing federal grants and contracts for a wide range of industries. He has lived in Tracy since 2004.
Do other countries allow mothers to leave them at the local Fired Department?
US does more R&D for medical than other countries.
Free healthcare for incarcerated.
Free healthcare for illegals.
Low pool of doctors.
No tort reform.
Gov. takeover
Thanks for the link. In the blog's opinion of the five factors included in the WHO's rating of healthcare, nothing was written about cost. This is what I found:
Current estimates put U.S. health care spending at approximately 15.3% of GDP, second only to East Timor (Timor-Leste) among all United Nations member nations. The health share of GDP is expected to continue its historical upward trend, reaching 19.5 percent of GDP by 2017. Of each dollar spent on health care in the United States 31% goes to hospital care, 21% goes to physician services, 10% to pharmaceuticals, 8% to nursing homes, 7% to administrative costs, and 23% to all other categories (diagnostic laboratory services, pharmacies, medical device manufacturers, etc. Reports on the percentage of costs that go to profits varies from 25-30%.
The Office of the Actuary (OACT) of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services publishes data on total health care spending in the United States, including both historical levels and future projections. In 2007, the U.S. spent $2.26 trillion on health care, or $7,439 per person, up from $2.1 trillion, or $7,026 per capita, the previous year. Spending in 2006 represented 16% of GDP, an increase of 6.7% over 2004 spending. Growth in spending is projected to average 6.7% annually over the period 2007 through 2017.
Health insurance costs are rising faster than wages or inflation, and medical causes were cited by about half of bankruptcy filers in the United States in 2001.
US pays twice as much yet lags other wealthy nations in such measures as infant mortality and life expectancy, which are among the most widely collected, hence useful, international comparative statistics. For 2006-2010, the USA's life expectancy will lag 38th in the world, after most rich nations, lagging last of the G5 (Japan, France, Germany, UK, USA) and just after Chile (35th) and Cuba (37th).
Fact; There is nothing in the bill that says people will have to give up their current coverage. However,
Fact; At the start of what is called Y1 (2013) All health insurance in this country must be purchased through the Health Insurance Exchange.
Fact; The exchange will be controlled by the government and run by a commissioner appointed by Obama.
Fact; Only private insurers who participate in the Heatlth Insurance Exchange can sell health plans.
Fact; Your current insurance will be grand fathered in, but if you lose your coverage for any reason, your next plan must be purchased through the exchange.
Fact; The government will control the rules of the game. It's the equivalent of two football teams playing and one teams defense telling the other teams offense what plays to run. This will not be fair competiton. The insurance industry is already regulated but this takes regulation to a whole new level.
Maybe that last one is a bit of an opinion but it's there for the reading in the bill, and it's pretty obvious.
I'd like to laugh it off, but it's actually quite sad!!
Giving cash to foreign automakers instead of our own automotive companies?
Loss of words...
This fact leads to my opinion that it will recover just like it always has before. The only problem this time is, we have probably the most under qualified person I can remember in my 48 years, sitting in the White House screwing things up.
Here are some facts.
1.) We can't keep printing money.
2.) Liberal policies are NOT a solution.
3.) We are living in the worst economy ever.
4.) Nobody wants you to raise our taxes like the liberals do.
It is roughly the same as the rating of George W. Bush in early July of his first year, although well above that of Bill Clinton in July 1993 (Clinton had by far the worst ratings in the summer of his first year of all presidents elected to their first terms since Eisenhower). Other presidents from 1952 on enjoyed higher ratings in July of their initial years in office than has been the case for the last three presidents, the one exception being Richard Nixon, whose 58% reading in mid-July 1969 is identical to where Obama is now. Thus, Obama's current approval rating is above-average only in comparison to Clinton at the same point in time. It is essentially on par with where Bush and Nixon were, but at least slightly worse than all other presidents (with the exception of Clinton). In particular, Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and George H.W. Bush all had significantly higher ratings in the summer of their first year than does Obama at this point.
The World Health Statistics that the letter (above) mis-used are 20 years old. They only ranked 190 countries. And admitted that "because of the complexity of the task" that it was impossible to validate the data. Essentially it could have ammounted to whoever paid for the WHO's bills.
Meaning it's invalid data. That becomes even more obvious when you look at the countries on the list. Of course, if you sampled illegal immmigrants in this country they would say healthcare is not so good, until the Liberals turn over FREE healthcare to all illegals, of course.
"The World Health Organization's ranking of the world's health systems was last produced in 2000, and the WHO no longer produces such a ranking table, because of the complexity of the task."
No matter. Liberals will obviously keep pushing the misinformation anyway.
Here:
http://smartgirlnation.com/2009/06/01/popular-ranking-unfairly-misrepresents-the-us-health-care-system/
2nd Give it time. But I'm calling it now. In a year or two all the work that Obama does will start to show and everything will be getting better then after his 4 (or 8) years in office the economy will be well. Then for some reason another Republican gets into office and a few months in they will take credit for everything and say "Oh, we are in office now and things are the greatest ever, blah blah blah."
3rd If McCain were in office what would he have done???
4th Go Independent!!!:)
Rasmussen Repots has been constantly slanted right. And your proof is?
You obviously don't read real well. Rasmussen worked for Bush and the GOP. Lokk at ANY polling averages and razbo is way off right.
Who is uhbama? Is it that reading difficulty again?
Cliffmal, what lies? Is it a lie that jerry hides behind his phone and refuses to meet with voters. The voters are angry because we can’t get the truth.
Healthcare lies in general. BTW you on the right are the angry ones it shows and looks real bad. I guess its all part of your feelings of helplessness being irrelevant and all. Remember that one? El Flushbo's message to the left after 2000.
You keep quoting Rasmussen but I'm still waiting for your proof of 86% happy with their health care.
ps cliffmal please don't report me to the obama snitch line.
Now I know you are just a lunatic keyboard commando LOL.
Rasmussen Repots has been constantly slanted right. And your proof is?
I see the uhbama approval rating is a new low at 50%. This was reported by Rasmussen Report and the Gallup pole. So I guess the Gallup pole is to the right also. LOL
I’m sure to you any pole that you do not agree with is to the right.
Try reading something else beside moveon.org and the huffeftion report.
cliffmal writes
The only way to have a discussion is to stop the lies
Cliffmal, what lies? Is it a lie that jerry hides behind his phone and refuses to meet with voters. The voters are angry because we can’t get the truth.
A new Rasmussen reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of voters rate their understanding of the health care plan as good or excellent. By contrast, just 22% say Congress has a good or excellent understanding of the plan.
cliffmal writes, stop the intimidation as seen by right wing extremists.
The only intimidation and violence I have heard about was from acorn and the seiu union.
Remember when the seiu union member attacked a elderly black man.
Shame on this elderly black man for using his free speech rights.
ps cliffmal please don't report me to the obama snitch line.
I'd like to see a link to proof that 86% are happy with their health care.
The only way to have a discussion is to stop the lies, stop the shouting down of opposing viewpoints and stop the intimidation as seen by right wing extremists carry guns outside of town hall meetings. I'd say the next step is up to the right.
As of 2009, Scott Rasmussen is the President of Rasmussen Reports. He describes himself as having "been an independent pollster for more than a decade" who " like the company he started, maintains his independence and has never been a campaign pollster or consultant for candidates seeking office". However, his firm was paid by the Republican National Committee and the George W. Bush presidential campaign in 2003-4. Rasmussen Repots has been consitantly slanted right since.
And why should McNerney hold a town hall only to listen to old stale hate radio talking points when all he really has to do is tune in to Limbaugh or Hannity while he is washing his car.
I am sure mcnerney doesn’t listen to the number one and two radio shows while he is washing nancys car. She would get mad and not let jerry ride in her new jet. I do know he should be listening to the 86% of the Americans that are very happy with their health care. Oh sorry should have said un-Americans according to the liberals‘. How dare we use our free speech rights.
So please tell us how we can have a discussion, when all jerry does is hide behind his phone.
New from Rasmussen 44% of voters strongly oppose the health care reform effort versus 26% who strongly favor it.
I also believe it would do no good to have a real meeting.
mcnerney only does what the very liberal nancy tells him to do.<<<<<<<
There's your answer you don't want a meeting you want a shutdown of all discussion.
And why should McNerney hold a town hall only to listen to old stale hate radio talking points when all he really has to do is tune in to Limbaugh or Hannity while he is washing his car.
Please tell us how we can have a real discussion?
Our representative mcnerney is to much of a coward to meet with the people who elected him. Instead we have these fake telephone meetings.
I also believe it would do no good to have a real meeting.
mcnerney only does what the very liberal nancy tells him to do.
Can’t you see why people are getting angry?