La Jeune Fille

... Obama's Socialized Medicine... aka America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009

Although I'm not quite sure where I stand on this Act, I don't believe that universal health care for all is the way to go.

BUT before I carve out my beliefs in stone, I like to do my research which includes reading what BOTH sides have to say on the topic of discussion!

Because really, how are we supposed to not get an objective picture of the situation??? We can't really, everyone has an agenda and even though the media tries to be fair and factual and all that good stuff, even the good writers sometimes push their own/or their companies own agenda out through their writing.

I read an article on socialized medicine this morning that I really liked because the writer states his own view point but challenges others who don't agree with it to do their research and argue it intelligently. Below is the article. I hope you enjoy.

Socialized medicine, evil, and death to old people by Yobie Benjamin of the San Francisco Chronicle

I got a thoughtful and important question on my quip that health care should be provided as a service provided by government like education, roads and a robust military.

I really did not want to get into this health care debate but the emailed question was provocative so I feel it deserved a a thoughtful answer albeit many would disagree with me.

Also Gov. Sarah Palin just issued a statement last Friday calling Obama's health plan "downright evil" saying in a Facebook posting that he would create a "death panel" that would deny care to the neediest Americans. Holy guacamole!!! - get ready for the battle with Mephistopheles! Such hyperbolic and vile language deserves a thoughtful comeback.

Personally I believe that we should have a single-payer system but am also realistic enough to know that such change is impossible under the prevailing political atmosphere.

Well, socialized health care is already provided by government:
Public option supporters

Public option supporters

1) Medicare is comprehensive health care for all people over 65. Young people meaning all people who work and are under 65 pay for this socialized medicine.

If you happen to be old and are against socialized medicine, you should send a letter to Medicare and state specifically that you want to be dropped from the rolls though an easy way would just be to pay everything yourself. If you're old and not on Medicare, you're not insurable anyway as you're too risky so just pay in cash or credit.

2) Veterans' Administration health care system is 100% socialized medicine. We all pay for the health care of ALL eligible veterans and their immediate families.

Same thing if you're a vet and don't like socialized medicine. Don't go to the VA, simple end of story. Get private insurance or pay cash or credit.

3) Medicaid is 100% socialized medicine for the very poor.

Who cares about the poor? Right? Let's take a Queen Marie Antoinette attitude.

4) SCHIP is deeply subsidized insurance for children ages up to 18. This covers children whose families are not impoverished (otherwise they go on Medicaid) but don't make enough to be able to afford health insurance.

5) The Federal health care program that covers all senators, congresspersons and all their respective staff IS socialized medicine taxpayers pay for and is currently part of a health insurance exchange - in fact a federal employee gets to pick from 14 insurance options.

So if you truly do not support the notion of socialized medicine, please call call your senator and congressperson and ask them to rescind and take away all Medicare, VA Hospital System, SCHIP and Medicaid. If you've ever benefited from these programs, return the money. We do have a big deficit. It would be the fair thing to do, right?

If not, shouldn't government provide for the the health of the commons fairly - not just the old, children who are not poor nor rich, the very poor and veterans?

Under HR 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (which I DID READ and then some more!) from Congress, Americans who are not old, veterans, not rich/not dirt poor kids, or the really poor will continue to buy health insurance from private companies, continue to get their health care from doctors in private practice and continue to be treated at privately owned hospitals. PERIOD END-OF-STORY

There will be a health insurance exchange set up by the government where individual and businesses will be able to purchase insurance from private insurers at lower rates than are now generally available under rules that require insurers to offer coverage to anyone regardless of health condition. Low-income workers buying insurance through the exchange along with their employers - would be eligible for government subsidies.

Realistically, a public insurance option will not survive in the Senate. Again if you read the bill there is NO extending Medicare beyond old people though there is a Republican proposal to open Medicare to people aged 55 and above and the provision might get in the bill markup process. So if the Republicans succeed in getting their proposal in, we will have a new "donut hole" - if you're between 19 - 55 years old, you're out of luck in getting socialized medicine.

The public-run insurance plan will not drive every private insurer out of business because there will be NO public option (Thanks to "bipartisanship". For the record, I firmly support a public option but I am not in congress so all I can do is blog) so insurance companies will not go bust.

There is no provision for the Department of Motor Vehicles to be in charge of your stent replacement, knee surgery or cancer treatment. There is also no provision to euthanize old people. There is a proposal that Medicare pay for counseling on end-of-life care but it is hardly an old person mass murder plot.

There is also no provision to allow government to negotiate drug prices nor to allow medicines from Canada (hardly a third world country flooded with counterfeit drugs) so your 30-day supply of Lipitor is guaranteed to be still over $100 if you have no insurance or are caught in the Medicare donut hole.

And how do we pay for it? Stop the Bush tax cuts in 2010 instead of expiring in 2011 and do not extend them. That saves $1.5 trillion (for 10 years) and we'll have $1/2 trillion left. Health care reform is projected at $1 trillion for 10 years so there - it's paid with no tax increases for the middle class. Also the federal government MUST STOP taking money from the Medicare and Social Security Trust Fund (which is the reason why the funds are headed to insolvency in the first place) to use for general fund expenses. If we just left Social Security and Medicare funds alone, there would be NO Medicare crisis. I will happily pay my share knowing that everyone will have their health taken care of. Is that socialist? So be it. I'll start another company to make up for the additional taxes I have to pay.

If you do not agree with any of the points above, argue your position, thoughtfully, factually and with conviction. Quit shouting, whining, screaming or intimidating others you do not agree with. Mob action makes you no different from crazy zealots in Iran. Read the bill and argue your points. You can't just say "X" is evil with no logical reasoning and hope to win your argument - Nice try though!

You'll have a chance in 2010 to vote the people you do not like out of office.

As for me... socialized medicine for all? Cool!

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ybenjamin/detail?entry_id=45149#ixzz0NhXIIlPn