Comments on Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America

Keren commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Keren — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:06:46 -0700

I disagree. I'm a Kiwi living in the UK, and after arriving in this country went on the waiting list to get an operation for a non-lifethreatening condition. I got the operation within six months of waiting in the UK; in New Zealand, I was kicked off the waiting list after two years because it was considered unnecessary. The fact is, the more people you have in a country, the larger the healthcare pot will be, and (for the few who need them) expensive procedures are absorbed far more easily. So really you should be looking at New Zealand and saying, "If they can do it, what the heck are we worried about?'.

50% taxes?? Not sure where you got that figure from, but it's wildly incorrect. If you don't believe me, Google is your friend. If that were true, trust me, I wouldn't be living here.

Tada commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Tada — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:39:25 -0700

America is not the most giving nation in the world.. In case you were under a rock for the past 8 years ill fill you in.. The world hates us. Barack Obama is a great speaker that is winning the minds and hearts of the world and thats how you win a war of terror. now as for universal health care.. If i get sick you pay for me.. if you get sick i pay for you.. dont understand the problems that are arising because of this.. seems fair enough to me. If we can't take care of the people in OUR OWN COUNTRY THEN WHO THE HELL ARE WE TO TELL OTHER COUNTRIES HOW TO TREAT THEIR PEOPLE? think about it.. oh and im a proud tennessean democrat.. to hell with Bob Corker, Lamar ALexander and Bill Frist.. they do NOT vote for tennesseans.

Harley Holt commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Harley Holt — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:51:41 -0700

" inherent and inalienable rights; [...] life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness "

Harley Holt commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Harley Holt — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:49:23 -0700

Man doesn't want to pay for the misfortune of others has his bills paid for by somebody else and takes the lesson that socialized medicine is bad. Irony.

Rollo O'Halloran commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Rollo O'Halloran — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:18:56 -0700

where do the entitlements end if we do grant socialized medicine? There are plenty of jobs in this country that offer health insurance. Get one. If you lack the skill set to acquire a job that has a health plan, go out and get them. If it is too difficult to make ends meet and still pay for health care, then apply for EXISTING assistance plans already available to low income families. They are out there.

Rollo O'Halloran commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Rollo O'Halloran — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:14:35 -0700

the religious right was in favor of DE-segregation, at least the true Christians in the South. The bible says that we should love our neighbor as ourselves, and people of color fit into the neighbor category. As for your grammar error, misspelled diatribe of lies and distortions, you simply have no idea about true conservatism and self-determination. The attitude that people are entitled to anything other than the right to pursue happiness and well-being is founded in the misguided liberal ideologies of people like FDR, Barack Obama and other big government politicians who only succeed in enslaving people to the govt teet rather than empowering them to be better people. So, to this idiot who made this post (Preye) I say this. Get a dictionary and a real education before you unleash another error filled comment like this one ever again.

Preye commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Preye — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:13:16 -0700

In my many year of being in the states i have let one things, conservatives and the religious right have always seen the world from their position and dam the others, thankful to God he could pay his medical bills, what if his bill was over a 100k what then, will have to loose his house, stocks or other assets pay his medical bill, one thing the conservatives don't understand is health care is not a commodity that is being prices, if one needs a specific treatment that is what you need,so stop this idea of socialised medicine. conservation alway hide behind religious to hold to a selfish idea, i bet back in the day, they had a very good reason to have slavery even used the bible to hold their position. but let me stay focus on this health care. the main reason conservative are so opposed to health for all is that they think minorities will have access to the same health care they have,just like the conservative and religious right fought against desegredation of schools. like it or not that is the better truth and for some reason conservative think they losing the country to who i don't know.

Crystal commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Crystal — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:39:34 -0700

To say that socialized medicine is FREE is misleading...where do you think the government gets it's money? Also, you should check your stats...the upper class pays the vast majority of the taxes that are paid.

Sarah commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Sarah — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:05:36 -0700

Jillian, I agree with everything you wrote. However, I have one question: Isn't socialized medicine a form of charity, implying that the government is superior to the citizens?

Valerie commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Valerie — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:13:40 -0700

There really are two choices here. The taxpayers can continue to foot the bill for Wal-Mart's employees who must go on Medicaid because of a lack of health care provided by their employer, or we can pressure Wal-Mart to provide decent health care to its employees. This is the main reason I steadfastly refuse to shop at Wal-Mart. The bad press has already caused Wal-Mart to increase its benefits program to reach more employees and to reach them sooner. Continued bad press will force them to do even more. Thus far, Wal-Mart employees have not seen a decrease in wages as a result.

And there really is no reason why Wal-Mart's employees should lose wages in favor of health benefits anyway. Wal-Mart makes money hand over fist. There is no reason why the Walton clan can't give up some of its billions in order to provide decent health insurance. Take a look into Costco. Costco does this willingly and is quite profitable.

I whole heartedly agree that universal health insurance is a bad idea, but that doesn't mean we should let big corporations off the hook. I am not talking about mom and pop stores, that is something entirely different. But if you would rather continue to foot the bill for Wal-Mart so that the Walton clan can make more money at taxpayer expense......

Scott commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Scott — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:26:57 -0700

Providing health care would result in lower wages for employees. Nothing is free. Most Walmart employees would rather have the income in their paychecks. Either way, it's the employers choice along with the employee. Nobody makes anyone sign up to work there.

Valerie commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Valerie — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:43:38 -0700

Far too many Americans have a ridiculous sense of entitlement. Everything is a right to them rather than a privilege or responsibility. Health care is not a right it is a privilege, and as you found out it is also a responsibility.

That said, I do think that pressure should be put on big corporations who can well afford to provide decent health care coverage to their employees to actually do so. Wal-Mart is a prime example. Those scumbags make money hand over fist and refuse to provide decent medical benefits to their employees. To make matters worse, many of their employees end up on Medicaid. So basically the taxpayer foots the bill so that the Walton clan can continue to make huge sums of money.

Conservative Thinker commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Conservative Thinker — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:20:04 -0700

Beverly:
You cannot compare NZ with the US. Maybe if the US had the same percentage of people paying taxes at NZ -not to mention the population is tiny, then socialized medicine wouldn't be crap.

My sister moved from London to NZ and in the former she had to wait 5 months for a letter saying she had to wait another 5 month for a much needed operation. In NZ she had the operation a hell of a lot sooner.

In the US, like Europe, nationalized healthcare would be a disaster. In the US the majority of people don't pay their fair share of taxes. Instead, a little over half paying taxes for everyone. If everyone worked and paid taxes, national healthcare would not increase income taxes alone to almost 50% in england. The quality of healthcare would not be crap.

Right now, I don't think it's fair for my husband's sister to get healthcare when she has hardly worked a day in her life, but she is more than capable to.

I wonder how you would feel if a sudden influx of people, who had no intention of working, decided to move to NZ for this wonderful healthcare. How wonderful would it be then? Of course NZ would never allow that influx of losers that the US welcomes with open arms.

Beverly Claridge commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Beverly Claridge — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:57:41 -0700

As an American living in one of those countries "strapped" with God-awful socialized medicine, I respectfully disagree with your sentiments.

As an erstwhile conservative having listened to such opinion before hand, I was quite apprehensive about moving to a country with government-provided care. My fears have been unfounded. My family here have presented with some pretty catastrophic illnesses. All taken care of by the government. They've recovered and we've all gone on with life, all without the gut-wrenching stress of medical bills.

I only wish my aging folks and my brother, who is a victim of stroke, back in the US had access to healthcare of the calibre experienced here in New Zealand.

guitarherohero commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

guitarherohero — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:54:19 -0700

The patriotism in this article is honorable, but unfortunately it ignores the reality of the American health care industry.

Private health care would be great if it actually worked. America is the only industrialized nation on the planet to not have universal health care, and coincidentally we rank nowhere near the top of the list of healthiest countries. It may sound like blasphemy, but Americans don't live as long, we aren't born as healthy and we live worse lives than people in other countries who enjoy the benefits of socialized medicine every day.

People in Europe, who drink wine all day, smoke cigarettes by the carton and eat cheese by the wheel are significantly more healthy than Americans. They live longer and are less prone to disease. Coincidentally, they have governmental health care programs. Seeing anything yet? Whether or not you like the idea of helping your fellow man, you can not deny the immense, proven benefits of socialized health care.

And why you think socialized medicine will lead to a socialist invincible government is beyond me, especially when the GOP supports NATIONALIZING THE BANKS. When it comes to banks, taxpayer money should be given...but when people are dying on the streets of preventable diseases only because they are poor, all of a sudden socialism is a concern? Such hypocrisy.

Dunn Eggink commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Dunn Eggink — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 04:01:25 -0700

We don't need socialized medicine. We need a common sense approach to drug policy. Restore the peoples inalienable right to self-medicate with the treatment of their choice. Cannabis medicine can be grown at home and is an effective treatment and cure for most common diseases. The government is not responsible for the policing of the substance use of adults who are not harming anyone. What someone grows in the privacy of their own home is no ones business, even if its a medicinal herb. The current drug laws only exist to favor the pharmaceutical companies and hospitals, and universal healthcare will be even worse. Cannabis never posed any real threat to public safety, public health or public morality. It was a perfectly acceptable medicine for safe home use until it was made illegal in 1937 in order to support the newly developing cancer treatment industry and their slew of new drugs for treating the suffering caused by cancer and the radiation and chemo treatments. The real issue was that cannabis could not be patented and therefore could not be monopolized. With the help of Andrew Mellon, Treasury Secretary and banker to the Dupont brothers who also had an interest in promoting their nylon and wood pulp paper businesses which competed with hemp, the congress was deceived and tricked into outlawing the valuable hemp plant because of supposed dangerous threat to society that never existed. We had the most widely useful medicine robbed from us by a corrupt government fraud. Restore the people's right to grow hemp, and you bring back good old fashioned homegrown medicine that has always worked better than most of the concocted legal drugs out there.

nycamp/cancercure.org

Matt commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Matt — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:56:37 -0700

Scott, your story is inspiring. I may be an atheist, but I highly respect a hard working and honest man like you, regardless of religion.

Having said that, I would like to point out that Jillian obviously doesn't know the difference between "private charity" (the Church that paid for the bill) and "tax(payer's) money." (Socialized health-care)

"Lord knows, the government does such a good job running the DMVs, I think they should run the hospitals, too." -MadTV

Agree with Scott commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Agree with Scott — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:58:37 -0700

Nobody is entitled to anything

David Hinz commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

David Hinz — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:16:38 -0700

Strangely enough, every one of those countries that has decided to 'cover everyone' has ended up with shortages and subpar medical care. Strangely enough, in almost every one of those countries, when someone really NEEDS medical care, and they can afford it, they come HERE to get it, rather wait until it is too late to get help in their own countries. Isn't that a strange coincidence?

Billo commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Billo — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:06:49 -0700

I think there are problems with "health care for all", like medicare and military care that we now have for selected groups. In order to keep costs down you end up having to negotiate prices for different providers (doctors, hospitals, labs, etc) and that can lead to problems.

Still, I come back to same place I always do. Every industrialized country that has ever looked at this problem has opted for covering everyone. Not a single country looks at America and says "Oh yeah, we should do it the way they do. That's a good model". So we have maybe 100 million of our 300 million citizens who want to continue not covering people and we have the other billions of people on the planet who think that makes no sense. Look, I know America is a great country but honestly are we really so arrogant to think that we are the only ones who know what to do about this problem?

Zac Hickman commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Zac Hickman — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:32:04 -0700

I totally agree. I do think that for those that have absolutely NO WAY of paying for health insurance should be ignored, but many people are uninsured out of their own free will, and I definitely do not want to pay taxes for those who want to get a free ride. It may be rare that a case like this happens, but with today's world, many people would use socialized medicine as a crutch. Not to mention all of the other consequences that would follow, including lines, government control, loss of jobs for doctors, etc.

Melissa commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Melissa — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:30:15 -0700

It's November 5th; I am hanging around on the internet looking for conservative opinions to see what the "opposing side" might be thinking. I found this story quite interesting. Shouldn't, some might say, a $32,000 hospital bill for gall bladder surgery be the sort of experience that would persuade one of the importance of having some sort of safety net? Freedom does not come from worrying about how to pay for gall bladder surgery. These are not lessons that need to be learned. Freedom comes from being able to spend one's time as happily and productively as possible. I am so puzzled by this American antipathy towards socialized medicine. I am living abroad, in Europe, and while I mostly prefer America I am really glad that if I get sick I will not have to add worries as to how to pay for my treatment to everything else that goes along with being sick. America is a great country, but is it great because it has absolutely no safety net at all, leaving its citizens to rot in times of trouble, demanding thousands of dollars a month out of pocket for health insurance for a family, etcetera? I am a freelancer and work on a contract basis. It's just the way my work life goes (when I am lucky enough to have one). I don't want to take your money, random American walking in the street and working hard to get by. I don't even expect free healthcare. Here in Britain, it is paid for by takes. In America, I hope we can reform the healthcare system so that either the monthly premiums are affordable even to those who do not make much money, as is the case for many people, or so the costs are reined in.

Scott Martin commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Scott Martin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:57:19 -0700

You people are lost. This country was not founded on people unwillingly paying for things that others can't/choose not to purchase for themselves.

I would like a new house. I would not like government to guarantee me a new house. We've seen how that works, and if you have your way, we will see how it works with health care.

AgreeWithJillian commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

AgreeWithJillian — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:32:22 -0700

Bravo Jillian, I could not have summed it up better than you did. You certainly hit the nail right on the head. My only hope is for Scott to read your post with an open mind because, in my opinion, it should teach him a thing or two.

Gopalan commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Gopalan — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:04:52 -0700

A gallbladder surgery should not cost 32 grand. And that is the problem with non-socialized medicine. Why did the writer not shop for a better deal. Was'nt there a GB surgery sale going on ? A different hospital would have given him a 50% discount upfront based on his negotiating skills. Had it been socialized medicine, the writer would not have to be writing this crap.

Jillian commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Jillian — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:58:57 -0700

I wanted to bring up a couple of points that came to mind as I was reading this.

The writer of this blog is a middle-class, conservative, Christian American who had an experience with uninsured American health care. After manipulating the system to cut his $32,000 medical bill by more than half and applying for financial aid, a church bailed him out so he didn't have to pay a dime. He previously neglected to apply for medical insurance after he lost coverage from his job not because he could not afford it, but simply because he didn't think it was pertinent. He concludes that his experience showed him that letting government provide health care to those who can't afford it would make our country weak, uncharitable, and unfaithful to God.

Your logic seems horribly flawed, and I will explain why.

You asked why a taxpayer should pay for your stupidity, yet you did not pay for your own stupidity, even though you could have. You did not pay your bills, and when you struck financial hardship, someone bailed you out. Your personal policies strike a sickening resemblance to our conservative government's policies that had the freedom to act irresponsibly with other people's money.

You say that it was God that bailed you out, but it was the earnings of other people that payed for your gallbladder. It was money that could have gone to someone who truly could not afford to pay their bills, instead of someone who "had no reason to despair" about a "minor setback." Even though the churchgoers gave their money voluntarily, why were you worthy of asking for it? You should not have gotten that money, which shows that even the charity system in America is flawed.

Socialized health care will not stop people from being charitable, even though that would be wonderful. Charity implies a caste system, it implies that the giver is superior to the receiver. Charity is only an option when there is inequality. Our country was not founded on the idea of charity, it was founded on the idea that everyone was created equal.

Our wasteful and expensive health care system that excludes the lower class inhibits freedom, contrary to what you said. You said yourself that only a fraction of the hospital bill goes to the hospital, which is an indicator of an inefficient system. If you had ideas about a better healthcare system that is not socialized, you should have suggested it.

I would have hoped that your panic over your huge bill as a middle-class American would have made you feel for the millions of people who are worse off than you, but apparently it did not. You might be knowledgeable enough to work the system, you may have a spouse to support you financially, you may come from a community that is well-off enough to dole out thousands of dollars for people who could have paid for their bills anyway. However there are millions of people who don't know how the system works, who cannot support their families and pay a $32,000 medical bill, and it is not because they are not faithful enough to God or because they do not work hard enough. It is because they were not born as middle-class Americans.

Those people are not free. They are trapped in America's financial cage for the lower class. If our country was founded on the idea that anybody can make a good life for themselves, our conservative health care system slaughters it.

Freedom is not obstinately rejecting the government until you can manipulate it to get what you want. Freedom is being healthy enough to make decisions about your life and better yourself.

Frankly, your response to socialized health care was narrow minded and insulting. I think you should look outside your own experience before you decide what is best for America.

Hopefully you can read this without hurting yourself.

Scott Martin commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Scott Martin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:54:18 -0700

That made my head hurt Jillian. Learn how to separate your post into paragraphs and then feel free to re-post your exercise in circular logic.

Scott Martin commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Scott Martin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:14:44 -0700

First off, Americans tend to off themselves at pretty high rates in their teens and 20s through violence. Americans who make it past age 30 live to reach the same ages as almost any other country in the world, including Canada. Your waiting line charge is utter BS - link it or shut the hell up.

The guy who invented the Canadian health care system called it a disaster and said it was time to blow the whole thing up.

And, no, even if our system were inferior, it isn't a "good tradeoff with the added bonus of never having to worry about going bankrupt because of an injury or disease." Life isn't about never having to worry about having problems. Life is about overcoming problems and learning to rely on yourself and/or God to help you do so.

I could be bankrupt 10 minutes from now, and I would be back where I am today within a couple months. And I don't need government to help me do it.

Isn't maintaining our self-respect by being somewhat free people and limiting government control in our lives worth almost any tradeoff imaginable? It is for me.

kurt commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

kurt — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:25 -0700

Sigh... dont even know where to start with a post like that. With all you just said acknowledged Canadians have shorter waits in hospitals and emergency rooms then we do, with an average of 5 years more lifespan. "health outcomes may be superior in patients cared for in Canada versus the United States, but differences are not consistent. A systematic review of studies comparing health outcomes in Canada and the United States. Open Medicine, Vol 1, No 1.

Meaning that because of the massive spending in the united states on healthcare, (arguably more then would be nessesary to pay for coverage completely with taxes), we are better at certain types of medicine but overall patient care in Canada is better. Isnt that a good tradeoff with the added bonus of never having to worry about going bankrupt because of an injury or disease?

Scott Martin commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Scott Martin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:09:08 -0700

Vera -

Pretty sure I am, since I never met a Canadian who would trade his coverage for mine.

VeraCT commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

VeraCT — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:44:51 -0700

You are already paying for Universal health care. You are simply not receiving it. The United States government already spends 140% more per capita on health care than the Canadian government, and also spends more per capita than any other industrialized nation. Yet they all have universal health care and we don't. The question to ask yourself is who is benefiting from that money since obviously you are not.

Scott Martin commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Scott Martin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:37:29 -0700

Life, liberty and the pursuit of universal health care?

No, you aren't entitled to health care, simply by virtue of breathing. Like all things in life, if you value something enough, you buy it. I thought we were pro choice in America?

Jim commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Jim — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:27:49 -0700

I know plenty of people who believe in God & have prayed for relief to no avail. Are you saying they should not be entitled to free medical care just because God didn't answer them??

What about all the hard working single parents who can't afford insurance & barely make any money after they pay for child care or other necessary expenses??
They need some form of help & EVERYONE in the US should be entitled to FREE medical care. We are the only modern country in the world that does not take care of our own.

If you want better medical care or don't want to wait in big lines if we have socialized medicine, then fine, you should have the right to pay!! But to deny the hardworking person who is trying to earn a decent living the right to free medical care is an absolute disgrace and America should be ashamed of anyone who has that attitude.

The middle class is squeezed at both ends thanks to our lawmakers constantly making tax writeoffs to the rich!!

The time for socialized medicine is here & now!!!

Jim

Scott Martin commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Scott Martin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:20:19 -0700

Dana -

For some reason I have to approve them before they go up on the site. I don't see anywhere in my setup on how to change that.

Dana commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Dana — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:06:42 -0700

Well, for once one of my trackbacks worked! :)

Skeptic commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Skeptic — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:44:56 -0700

The true American spirit lives. Americans are the most giving people on the planet and they take care of their own.

London Locke commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

London Locke — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:13:51 -0700

Great Post!, I posted it on my site, it is very useful because everyone has an encounter with liberalism one way or another and it is probably with socialized medicine.

Van Helsing commented on 'Why Socialized Medicine is Wrong for America'

Van Helsing — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:44:25 -0700

If only everyone learned from their mistakes, instead of demanding that others be forced to pay for them.