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So Greenville, being that you're in medical school and whatever's done will directly affect your livelihood, what do you suggest? I hear lots of protests about what's being proposed (the public option) in this national healthcare debate, but very few viable alternatives being put forwarded.
It does not matter how many people have insurance if there are not enough doctors to take care of them. And there are not enough doctors to take care of the people who currently have insurance.
First, opponents of healthcare reform are usually quick to point out that a large percentage of the uninsured are young, healthy people who are not going to be big users of doctor services beyond occasional checkups. So insuring 40-something million of them isn't going to add quite that many to the doctor's waiting lists.
Second, we always hear about how uninsured people who do get sick can go to the emergency room and get treatment regardless of whether they can pay - so they're using doctors anyway, and insuring them wouldn't increase the patient load.
I think the biggest thing missing in all of the numbers on healthcare is the topic of immigration. There are not 46 million uninsured AMERICANS, there are more like 22 million AMERICANS (Green cards, passports etc...).
FACT: We have an open border with a third world country.
Giving the superior standard of care that we enjoy in the US to anyone who can run, jump or swim to the open border would bankrupt us in a NY minute. If we pass some type of socialized medicine prior to fixing the border issue, we will see an even bigger migration to our borders and the 1.7 trillion pricetag that they are talking about will be double! That is not racist, discriminatory or meant to be mean - it's just the way it is. In order to immigrate into Canada, you must have at least $15k in your pocket and a marketable skill. France doesn't have an immigration proplem like the numbers we see. Those systems may be adequate for their countries, but not for the USA. Don't believe me - go get a new Driver's License today or try to register your car and get back to me.
I think the biggest thing missing in all of the numbers on healthcare is the topic of immigration. There are not 46 million uninsured AMERICANS, there are more like 22 million AMERICANS (Green cards, passports etc...).
FACT: We have an open border with a third world country.
Giving the superior standard of care that we enjoy in the US to anyone who can run, jump or swim to the open border would bankrupt us in a NY minute. If we pass some type of socialized medicine prior to fixing the border issue, we will see an even bigger migration to our borders and the 1.7 trillion pricetag that they are talking about will be double! That is not racist, discriminatory or meant to be mean - it's just the way it is. In order to immigrate into Canada, you must have at least $15k in your pocket and a marketable skill. France doesn't have an immigration proplem like the numbers we see. Those systems may be adequate for their countries, but not for the USA. Don't believe me - go get a new Driver's License today or try to register your car and get back to me.
Personally, I'm a full-time college student, and my husband is self-employed. Neither we, nor my 14 year old step-son, have health insurance.
I'm a 26 year old cancer survivor, and have had arthritis for over 10 years. Obviously, I need occasional medical care. The Greenville Hospital System has a program for uninsured people with a lower income to help them get medical care, and that's what I do. I get stuck with long waits, less experienced doctors, and even medical students who aren't doctors yet, but I'm thankful I can get that.
There are clinics for people like me who don't have health insurance and can't afford it, and I think that's just fine. It gets frustrating sometimes, but oh well, that's just the way it is.
So, for a Greenville resident, it's already possible to get the help you need... if you get resourceful about it.
Mrs. Sonrise, baby Sonrise and myself attended our town hall meeting hosted by representative Bob Ingliss here in Greenville. We are a pretty conservative area, but the left was well represented at this meeting; about 15-20% seemed to support Obamacare. It was really a lot of fun, and it did get heated at times; but hey, that's democracy at it's finest.
The biggest highlight of the evening was an 85 year old man, identifying himself as Helmut. He said that he came from East Germany, then West Germany and then emigrated to the "greatest country in the world", as he put it. Helmut said that he's terrified that Obama is taking this country to the socialist past that he left. This was received with a standing ovation and cheers. Someone commented that Europe is seeing the error of their healthcare and enacting reforms and I yelled out "and Obama is trying to be more like Europe" and got a lot of laughs and nods of agreement. A resounding theme was that businesses would stop insuring their employees if their was a government option, which would skyrocket the costs.
I was able to make a comment and I said that government couldn't get DMV, the post office, cash for clunkers, etc. right, how on earth are we to trust our health with them. I also pointed out that Hawaii tried to have universal healthcare for all children, and had to shut down the program after only 7 months because almost every parent that had health insurance for their kids canceled their policy when they realized that they could get it for "free" from the state; and they were hemorrhaging money. I said, now imagine that on a nationwide scale.
Al in all, it was a pretty cool experience, there were two really kooky women; one on the left and one on the right, no party has a monopoly on kooks. Like the tea party I attended in April, I experienced democracy first hand and really felt proud.
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot; Congressman Ingliss asked for a show of hands of how many people in the audience said that healthcate reform was needed and it appeared that 100%of the audience raised their hands; which dispelled the lie that we on the right don't want reform, we want it, just not government run reform. He also asked how many people felt that we nned insurance to get rid of the "pre-existing condition" issue, and about 90% raised their hands, myself included.
Very well said sonrise, if I didnt hve to spread the reputation, like Obama spreads our money, than i would give u repute. Very good sir.
First, opponents of healthcare reform are usually quick to point out that a large percentage of the uninsured are young, healthy people who are not going to be big users of doctor services beyond occasional checkups. So insuring 40-something million of them isn't going to add quite that many to the doctor's waiting lists.
Second, we always hear about how uninsured people who do get sick can go to the emergency room and get treatment regardless of whether they can pay - so they're using doctors anyway, and insuring them wouldn't increase the patient load.
No such thing. This is a lie promoted by Obama and the left. As I said in my op; congressman Ingliss asked the audience to raise their hands if they wanted healthcare reform; 100% of the audience raised their hands. We do want reform, just not government run reform. The system does need to be fixed.
I just wanted to mention I am proud of how this thread thus far has been on topic and informative. My two cents is that i'm glad someone is attempting to make a healthcare change. Do I think it is the best plan? No. Do I think anyone has a better idea? probably not.
I just wanted to mention I am proud of how this thread thus far has been on topic and informative. My two cents is that i'm glad someone is attempting to make a healthcare change. Do I think it is the best plan? No. Do I think anyone has a better idea? probably not.
Did you know that SC Senator Jim DeMint put forth a health care proposal? Did you know that two other GOP Senators did the same? The total # of pages of all three SEPARATE proposals was 400 pages. The Obamacare plan is over 1,000 pages and was actually written by the Apollo group? To answer your question of "Do I think anyone has a better idea?" ABSOFRICKINLUTELY!
I do agree that this thread has stayed on topic. It's a little political for the Gville forum, but it does affect us all.
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