The Basic Right to Health Care

This topic makes me so mad! I'm trying hard not to sound off on my soapbox, but I care about this so much! We truly have a democracy of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich.

Facts: (1) We spend as much per capita on healthcare as any other industrialized nation but are the only one without at least single-payer; (2) insurance companies waste 15% of the money as the doctor says; (3) if we need more money for single-payer, there's a ton of it in our bloated military budget. It's about power and corruption, as George says.

Why is our politics so stupid? Partly because of the corporate media propaganda, and partly because of white 'racism'. Not against blacks, but the kind that makes many ordinary Americans vote Republican against their interests, simply because it is the 'white' party. A kind of idiotic tribalism, often reinforced by religion and other trivial, symbolic issues. And the Dems are cowards for a similar reason (in addition to being as corrupt as the Repubs). I didn't used to like this kind of reasoning, but I now feel it must be part of the explanation.

Your guest has a coalition of physicians for single-payer, but where is the coalition (read lobby) that a citizen like me can join? Why haven't the doctors organized one and publicized it? I'm certainly willing to pay a hundred bucks a year or something like that to support it. I think that what our democracy most lacks is dedicated citizen lobbying groups. We just have progressive thinktanks and thinkers. That's not enough.

Finally, I know a doctor who thinks he'll make MORE with single-payer, as well as reduce his paperwork. He's all in favor of it. And he lives very well already and treats ordinary people, not the rich.

Our democracy is so corrupt and the people are so ignorant! It makes me so depressed! What is the matter with us? This is a life or death issue! We get the democracy we deserve. Oh, and a great podcast! But let's get some guerilla citizen action please!

Actually you are paying twice as much as a percentage of GNP as we do here in Canada. At least that was the case a few years ago when I was closely involved with this, and I don't see any reason for it to have changed.

George,

I have not looked into Canada's socialized health care since debating it in college. It was great to hear Dr. Steffie Woolhandler.

Great job George

We like our system very much here, despite what you may hear in your media. We are able to do the things Dr. Woolhandler talked about, which does make the system more efficient. Actually, though, there are systems in the world that deliver better mortality and morbidity rates for less cost than ours does. Our doctors look south and get jealous, both of the money they make and the tools they have. (Astonishing how many of the medical advances of the past several years have been tremendous money spinners for the docs as well...)

Don't let the politicians set the agenda. Health-care should not even be an issue in such dark times.

Our freedom is at it's lowest point in our country's history.

We are currently waging illegal wars.

Corruption appears to be at an all-time high.

Who do you think would be in charge of a billion dollar health-care program?

Why in the name of all that is good would any of us be interested in giving these people more of our money — let alone take charge of what would be available to treat our health needs?

How have they done with public education?

Government's only tool is force. It is all they have. They will not be good doctors.

What a world it would be if health care was a basic right. Unfortunately, it costs money because somebody will be doing the work; and they will accept nothing but fair compensation for their efforts. The government provides fair compensation for nothing.

To be for a national health care system would be in direct conflict with the theory of a free market.

Robin Hood has always been a fun story. But he STOLE from the rich to give to the poor. In a free society that's illegal. Robin was a HOODLUM.

Don't put the Hoodlums in charge of our health-care. It will not work out well.

Fix the private market by eliminating government intervention which has prevented our former free market from flourishing. The government is the problem.

It does not make sense to go to the source of a problem and ask the problem to fix the problem.

I am very sorry to see so much despair about the the potential for government to be a force for good. I understand you have good reason for it, given your current situation, and that you have a long history of anti government prejudice in your country, but there are governments in the world that work reasonably well.

Perhaps your government would work better if your people hated it less.

The founders of my country, my ancestors among them, were so convinced that your revolutionaries were wrong that they fought them, and suffered for the consequences.

I think we have now amply shown that a country founded on their collective ideals of "peace, order, and good government" works better than one founded on the selfish "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

I think the only way to provide "peace, order, and good government" is by providing your people with "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

What has been sad to see is the idea of liberty, selfishness, & the free market being trampled upon by those who equate these ideas with our current & past administrations. We have been far from "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" for a long time now.

One cannot look at the United States and state, "The free market has failed"....simply because we are not an example of a free market.

At this point in time the average American hands over 40% of their life's income straight to the government through an assortment of taxes or fees.

This has placed our government in the 'business' of gasoline, education, agriculture, real estate, drugs; etc X 1000. As if you are a regulator or investor within a trade; you are certainly part of that 'business'. That is why our current form of government should be described as 'Corporate Fascism'.

A market is not free if it is regulated. It is in fact the opposite. A regulated market is the definition of a non-free market.

Education is the best example. Private schools provide for the best education at the moment. This is because they must sell students on their abilities. "Look at our campus, look at our teachers, look at our food, look at our books. We want you to learn here. Pay us and we will deliver. Leave if you are not satisfied." If they don't back up their claims they go away quickly.

This simple process is what made our country the most powerful in the world. We no longer apply it in full towards education, food, drugs, highway management, real estate, etc X 1000.

A government becomes more corrupt each time it is given more keys to the mansion. There are simply more rooms to sell. Eliminate government from all of the above, and what value would there be in bribing a senator? Take away their keys and then we can move into the mansions.

It may sound as if I'm asking for 'anarchy'. That is not the case. I expect a government to prevent 'force' of any kind placed upon citizens. That is why they are given the keys to use 'force' — which is their only tool. But that is where I draw the line. They should not be allowed to use their 'force' when I'm selecting my school, doctor, car insurance, highway, tobacco, or soy beans.