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Social Secuity a crisis? Liberal verses Conservative? Nonsense. Medical care is the real crisis
Submitted by Jim Pierceall on Monday, May 2, 2005 - 18:02
I have voted Democrat and republican. I do not consider myself so myopic that I only see one point of view but I believe that any thinking person could see that private accounts that replace social security is a stupid idea. Social Security is not the most important issue now anyway. Health care is. Millions of people are losing their insurance. Hospitals are not allowed to turn away anyone who needs help so they must collect the the cost of those with out insurance from the insurance of those who have it. Therefore insurance rates go up. More companies or individuals cannot afford these rates. It is a vicious circle. I do not believe that our government can take on the task of covering these costs from current taxes. I believe that government should develope a fund that will provide health care for everyone that does not have insurance or the means to pay. This fund should be funded by a windfall tax on every firm that is in the health care business. Anyone who tells you that this could not be done is probably one of the people who are pocketing enormous profits from drugs, hospitals, insurance or some other related business. I believe guide lines could be established that would allow growth, expansion and developement equal to what is happening now because the limits would be based on past history. Drug companies like to say that any control of their operation would stifle research. I would like to point out that the huge majority of research is done at universities or by foundations funded by grants. The drug company then purchases the rights to a promising new drug for a relative small amount and pockets the windfall. The capitalistic system that works so well when dealing in general goods and services does not work in health care. I have never heard anyone say I won't have that operation because it is to expensive. Since insurance rates are based on actuary tables, there is little difference in their rates so shopping around doesn't get one a very lower price. If government was to take over health care it could also be a disaster. If you were to die in 6 months with out a paticular operation, they would schedule that operation a year from now. I believe that government has to do something to even out how health care is provided for all Americans before only a handfull will be able to afford it. Guidlines can be placed on what an average American should pay as a percentage of their total income for health care. Those that cannot meet the basic health care would receive help from the windfall fund. Health maintenance should be the number one concern.
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