Oh, Please
July 25th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
In Dave Mann’s post yesterday President Bush, attempting to explain his obstinate stand against expanding the successful CHIP program, let fly this doozy: “I believe government cannot provide affordable health care,” Bush told the Washington Post. “I believe it would cause the quality of care to diminish. I believe there would be lines and rationing over time.”
You’ve got to be kidding. Against all evidence that CHIP is working, all Bush can conjure up in opposition are the same tired bogeymen invoked by those who oppose something resembling national health care?
Seriously, check out this current ad campaign by Health Care America, a health care industry group whose goal is to convince you that government-run health care is some kind of nightmare, because — the horror — sometimes you have to wait. Surely it’s just a coincidence that Bush is invoking the same demons.
As Matthew Yglesias says, “And, of course, it’s true — in systems with government-run health care systems you sometimes need to wait to see a doctor. Much as in the United States you need to wait on line to see a movie. Or how in the United states you need to . . . wait to see a doctor.”
If you look at the website of Health Care America, you can “Hear the horrors of a government-run health care system.” They gladly provide you with terrifying anecdotes about when the Canadian health care system, in some circumstances, didn’t work well for some sick people.
Just as if you do a little Googling, you can find horrific anecdotes about the American health care system, when insurance delays nearly killed a professor, or when waiting and waiting for an appointment wasted the time of an assistant professor.
Beware, one might surmise from all this that neither health care system is perfect — imagine! And yet, because Bush fears the quality of care might diminish — as opposed to, say, no health care at all? — or that kids might have to wait to see a doctor, that’s reason enough to veto a bipartisan bill expanding their coverage. C’mon.
July 26th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Waiting is a horror? Are they kidding? We’ve always waited to see doctors–they get emergencies and get behind in their appointments. Waiting a couple hours is normal. Also, appointments far away are also common–try and get a mammogram appointment without an emergency. These people don’t live in the real world of America. I know W never has, but you’d think these healthcare marketers would know better. No sale. Enough insurance company scams. I want national healthcare–it’s overdue.
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:53 pm
[…] Predictably, the debate in Washington over the future of the Children’s Health Insurance Program has sunk to sloganeering. The Democratic proposals to expand the program are said to protect poor kids; while Republican claim their efforts to limit CHIP will save the country from specter of socialized medicine. […]
August 8th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
I got it! Lets elect another Former Pharmaceutical Exec into high office….I’m sure that will fix things…..(sarcasm).
Universal Health Care is the only way. If we allow private companies to have any influence they will have us spending significant $ on their meds and will in turn spend lots of $ on political lobbyists to continue a private system for their benefit.
I’m tired of seeing commercials on TV that say things like “Tell your Doctor this”. It’s a sad day in the “Free market” when pharmaceutical companies are openly using their budgets to sell you a disease just so they can sell you the cure.
Hmmm I wonder if access to adequate, nonfinancially debilitating, health care relates in any way to the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness……Isn’t the Government supposed to ensure that??
….Man this is depressing….and there was the commercial about Zaniex….I think it’s time to tell my doctor…
February 21st, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Yeah I wait in a waiting room for hours before I see my doctor every visit. Then they misdiagnose me - and that’s private medicine. So I don’t see the big deal. Any health care is better than no health care.