The Republicans have been doing all they can to scare the living shit out of the American people over universal health care, telling them that the big evil government can’t be trusted with covering health care and it should be left to the private sector…ignoring the fact that they are part of the big evil government that they’re referring to. So even though his campaign is long over, John McCain has been going through those unfounded talking points again, fighting against what every other industrialized, wealthy nation takes for granted every day – a health care system that guarantees treatment for everyone. Granted, it’s not a perfect system, but I’m not aware of one that is, and what he’s saying here are just outright lies…
Let me just quote this to be sure that you caught it:
Over time you’ll drive them all out, and the idea that somehow the government can administer health care in a more efficient fashion than the private sector I think flies in the face of examples of other countries that have done so.
Where’s the “O RLY?” owl when you need him? According to this comprehensive study released just a few days ago by the Commonwealth Fund, the United States health care system continues to underperform those of Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, despite being the most costly of all the health care systems in the world. In fact, it ranks dead last. Here’s a brief summary from the report…
As in the earlier editions, the U.S. ranks last on indicators of patient safety, efficiency, and equity. New Zealand, Australia, and the U.K. continue to demonstrate superior performance, with Germany joining their ranks of top performers. The U.S. is first on preventive care, and second only to Germany on waiting times for specialist care and non-emergency surgical care, but weak on access to needed services and ability to obtain prompt attention from physicians.
So not only are millions of us going without the care we need because of outrageous financial costs, but when we can afford it, the care we receive is absolute shit, with the exception of preventative care, apparently. (Not that anyone listens to their damn doctor about the health risks of having a poor diet or smoking anyway.) Politicians like McCain don’t have to worry about things like health care, though, because our tax dollars provide him with some of the best health benefits in the country…what a nice feeling that must be. I just wish he’d schedule an appointment with Dr. Kevorkian – that I’d gladly pay for. You didn’t get elected for a reason, Johnny Boy, and it isn’t just because of Palin – it’s because you’re happy with the status quo, while the rest of us, coughing and sneezing and reusing the tissues to save money, are sick of it. (Apologies all around for that awful pun, but using “fed up with it” just felt like a missed opportunity…much like McCain’s entire presidential campaign.)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
No. You’re an idiot.
Public health care in the UK is in many many ways worse than in the US, and in no ways better. Coming from the UK, I can say that both my wife (US Citizen) and I have received horrible health ‘care’ including having a painful knee injury mis-diagnosis as a child (its just a sprain, he can go back to school tomorrow) which has bothered me for almost a decade and often renders my leg unusable for several hours at a time.
Complete Lack of Dental care, If you aren’t a child or pregnant, you will have to pay for private dental care as well as the tax you pay for public dental care.
Massive wait times, my pregnant wife and I had to wait in an emergency room for over 4 hours while she was complaining of abdominal pain. That was fun. I think the wait time when I hurt my knee was around 3 hours to see a doc.
Surgery wait times. You’ve all heard the stories, 3-6 month waits for surgery (happened to my brother and my grand-mother).
There are a few other examples of the inadequate treatment we have received as well as examples from my family that I wont get into, but sufficed to say, I work and I pay for my US Insurance, and I prefer it in every way.
Yet the UK ranks higher than the US in safety, efficiency, and equity. The post does state that the US topped them in wait times – so I’m not sure why you felt the need to say they have worse wait times again. Also, we’ve all waited plenty long in US emergency rooms as well – so I wouldn’t try and slant that as a public health care issue.
Also – the nice thing is you’ll be able to keep that insurance you’re so happy with. The millions of people who can’t afford it would have a public provided option instead of the no coverage they’re currently enjoying.
I’m thrilled you like your insurance. Please keep it.
Also – way to go on not even having the stones to leave an actual name or email address. Stay classy, random guy from Missouri.