Learn Speak Act Mike-E Video | Arthritis Information

 

 

 

 

I'm going to send that link to all my friends - sick and non.

 

Pip

 

Here's a cold truth: Despite much media hand-wringing on the subject, most of us give about as much thought to those who lack health coverage as we do to soybean subsidies.The major obstacle to change? Those of us with insurance simply don't care very much about those without it. It's only when health care costs spike sharply, the economy totters or private employers begin to cut back on benefits that the lack of universal health care comes into focus. Noticing the steadily growing ranks of the uninsured, the broad American public -- "us" -- begins to worry that we'll soon be joining the ranks of "them."

 

And this -

 

Over the years, our society has gradually provided a medical safety net for the elderly and disabled (Medicare), the poor (Medicaid) and veterans. At one time, these commitments were controversial, and there's no doubt that they're expensive. Yet Americans from all walks of life understand that the true value of these programs must be weighed on a moral scale as well as a financial one. It's our willingness to be our brothers' keepers that in part defines who we are as Americans.

 

Pip

I think another obstacle to "considering" change is that those w/insurance are afraid change may mean less for them.  What sometimes gets overlooked though is that it isn't just a matter of concern for the uninsured, those of us with insurance have seen higher premiums, restrictive or less coverage, higher prescription prices.  Babyboomers and perhaps some with RA that become disabled, will go onto Medicare, and that program in July 2008 will seen a 10.6% reduction in physician reimbursement rates and additional cuts in 2009.

 

The writer makes the point that it is a moral issue, but for those who don't respond to that argument they must consider the economic cost of doing nothing.  Health care costs are  going up, our population is getting older, we spend more than any other country, with poorer outcomes and leave out over  47 million.

 

Well, gotta go, there's a fire nearby, and besides the spotter planes, just had a helicopter fly over my house -- so much for a quiet Sunday in the country.  Joy, hope the fire stayed out of your way!

More from the article, takes on the media and both parties:

"News stories about the uninsured typically offer poignant profiles of people with whom the public can easily identify. As an award-winning article in Redbook last year informed its readers, "Increasingly, this is a problem for the middle class." Similarly, the Cover the Uninsured Web site, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, highlights personal stories of seven appealing uninsured individuals. Several are current or former small-business owners. Six are white, and one is an African-American woman. There are no identifiable Hispanics.

The reality, however, is that only a minority of the uninsured are either the typical Redbook reader or that nice shopkeeper down the street. Two-thirds of those without health insurance are poor or near poor, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. And there are clear disparities in how different racial and ethnic groups are affected. Only 13 percent of non-Hispanic white Americans is uninsured, compared with 36 percent of Hispanics, 33 percent of Native Americans, 22 percent of blacks and 17 percent of Asians/Pacific Islanders.

Politicians understand what this means in practical terms. If a lack of health insurance were truly a white middle-class crisis, then conservatives and liberals would long ago have joined together, carved out a compromise and done something. Instead, we're served a constantly recycled set of excuses for legislative stalemate.

The unofficial Republican attitude toward universal health care can be boiled down to the three "nots": not our voters, not our kind of solution and not our priority. None of the Republican presidential candidates even pretended to present a serious plan for universal coverage, nor did Republican primary voters demand one. The only candidate who had actually worked successfully toward universal health care -- former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney -- apologetically disowned his own groundbreaking achievement. Presumptive nominee John McCain's recent health care proposal doesn't make anything more than a start toward covering all the uninsured.

Meanwhile, Democrats play their own "us vs. them" games. Although high-profile party leaders are loudly calling for universal coverage -- recall the Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton slugfest over their respective plans -- they reassure the middle class that the cost of compassion will be covered by repealing tax cuts for the wealthy. This "free lunch" approach may tax credulity, but it does avoid the need for discussing other taxes."

Yeah, firefighters!  They put out the fire in an hour and a half, but until then a lot of smoke, had to shut all my doors and windows.  Only a 5 acre fire, with some out buildings destroyed, but we made the news.  Ha.  Slow news day.   Was a little concerned as its breezy today and sparks can fly and we are very dry in Californee, we are officially per our Governah in a drought.
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