Universal Healthcare Now

[JB31]

And all the people with genetic/congenital diseases that require a lot of care. No more heart surgery for infants, just let them die - or kill them. And of course, the mentally ill & retarded.

You assume that if public funding doesn't exist for any of these people, that private funding won't exist either. I think that's a flawed assumption.

[Texas74]

I probably wasn't clear. My point was intended to be that if governmental influence is reduced and taxes are cut, people grow both more self reliant and more generous and as such, charity would increase and close the gap.

There are people who truly deserve compassion, who have circumstances that are difficult and painful and as a society, we should do what we can to help them. The government does a poor job of this and essentially gives them handouts on which they become dependant. If government was more in line with its original purpose, I *think* we'd have communities more disposed to help. As it is now, we chop a chunk off our income, mail it to the IRS and assume its being spent wisely (haha-hahaha)

[JB31]

Exactly, Texas74, exactly. Just because we live in a self interest driven, individualist society DOES NOT MEAN private sources of charity will not be created. There are lots of people who personally want to use private money to help people in need.

[Ictoanius]

I am already seeing a fight brewing here in VA. A story I need to find the full details of was talking about how some doctors are cutting off medicare patients and especially new medicare patients because of the government's failure to pay claims. The dept. to oversee doctors seems like it will also be a way to try and force doctors in line further.

I have heard there is a trend in places with socialized medicine where it becomes more and more difficult to find doctors or people willing to go through the time and expense to become doctors. With all of this happening I can see why.

[peapod]

I am already seeing a fight brewing here in VA. A story I need to find the full details of was talking about how some doctors are cutting off medicare patients and especially new medicare patients because of the government's failure to pay claims. The dept. to oversee doctors seems like it will also be a way to try and force doctors in line further.

I have heard there is a trend in places with socialized medicine where it becomes more and more difficult to find doctors or people willing to go through the time and expense to become doctors. With all of this happening I can see why.

"try" and force doctors is right. A big problem is that there was a lull of people entering the medical field in the 80's so we have tons of older docs getting ready to retire and tons of new docs that all want to specialize, and very, very few in between. So the old docs, if they get "forced" with something, can just say screw you, government, I retire! And the young docs can say screw you government, I'm young enough to pick up and move to a place where I can have less restrictions, have a nice income, and help the people (which is why I got into the job in the first place!).

So, the government can try all they want to "regulate" but it WILL end up biting them in the butt.

And yes, more and more docs are not taking medicaid/care anymore because the reimbursement is a joke. People tend to think the money they get paid goes right in their pocket, but noooo.... businesses have expenses, and it's expensive to run a medical practice. Part of the problem is that medicare/caid doesn't allow a physician to collect a co-pay or the "difference paid". A doc gets what the gov't decides to pay with no obligation from the patient. Literally, 30 dollars for an office visit doesn't get very far.

But, yet, you'll see folks have no problem plonking down how much to buy cigarettes, alcohol, household toys/gadgets, and other unnecessaries, but complain about something as important as their health. Damn ridiculous, IMO.

[Fantasy Chaser]

You assume that if public funding doesn't exist for any of these people, that private funding won't exist either. I think that's a flawed assumption.

I may have missed a lap on this thread, but I can tell you that Mom (Susanna) does not favor government health care and does favor private charity.

[JB31]

I may have missed a lap on this thread, but I can tell you that Mom (Susanna) does not favor government health care and does favor private charity.

Well, that's good. It seemed that everyone thought I just wanted a lot of old people to die. That's not the case. I just don't want to see them subsidized by the government any longer.

[Risen]

I heard these new universal healthcare implements may be requiring companies to negotiate with the government over what kind of healthcare YOU need. In other words, the government will be having a say in what kind of health coverage you get/ what THEY think you need. Needless to say (since you're conservatives), this is scary.

[Emperor Dragon ARX]

We'll just have to get rid of old people..........right ???

.

Yup...

I probably wasn't clear. My point was intended to be that if governmental influence is reduced and taxes are cut, people grow both more self reliant and more generous and as such, charity would increase and close the gap.

There are people who truly deserve compassion, who have circumstances that are difficult and painful and as a society, we should do what we can to help them. The government does a poor job of this and essentially gives them handouts on which they become dependant. If government was more in line with its original purpose, I *think* we'd have communities more disposed to help. As it is now, we chop a chunk off our income, mail it to the IRS and assume its being spent wisely (haha-hahaha)

Exactly, Texas74, exactly. Just because we live in a self interest driven, individualist society DOES NOT MEAN private sources of charity will not be created. There are lots of people who personally want to use private money to help people in need.

I was going to say something but it's already been said.

[Painterguy]

I have only one question...
If We, the United States of America, initiates Universal Health Care, then where will Canadians go? Think about it.