Also with universal health care, what is included and how much?  Just with RA do we give biologics to everyone who wants them or is there some criterion for determining need for them?  What about a lifestyle that causes the need for medical care, how much is supported by the government and how much is individual responsibility? 

I can see a lot of cases where I think people deserve better health care and I can also see or imagine cases where people have their hands out to get something they don't really deserve.  That certainly is true with government-run welfare.  We all know people (at least some on this board) who deserve government help but are not getting it.  Most of us also know people who are getting government help who should be providing for themselves.  How do we control things so that we help those who truly need help while still requiring people to help themselves as much as they can.  I hope others will also join in on this discussion.  God bless.

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter.  Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.

Business bailouts.  I agree that they are bad ideas in any form.  It will be bad if most of the banks in the country fail like they did to cause the great depression and most companies will fail to make massive unemployment.  This will be bad but so are the bailouts that so far have not solved any problems that I can see other than giving golden parachutes to some of the people who caused the problems.  I'm not an economist so I don't see why bailouts are supposed to work

War in Iraq.  This is now the focal point for anti-American zealots and if we leave there I'm afraid the new focal point will be in the US.  I think that's why most countries don't support the Iraq war because they would like to see America destroyed.  I'd rather fight there than here.

Tax breaks to the wealthy.  I don't know what you mean by that because there is a graduated income tax and I do agree that the upper brackets could be a lot higher.  However, if they get to be too high many more people will change their citizenship to Switzerland or somewhere like that to keep their money.  I don't know how high we can make taxes and increase our revenues.

There are other tax breaks to encourage private money being used in certain ways.  If we don't allow these tax breaks we either do without the things we are encouraging or we change to government funding to accomplish these things.  I don't know why we do this but ethanol production, wind energy, solar energy, and things like that are given tax breaks.

Businesses will stay here only if they cannot make more profit by moving.  High wages means lower profits and causes business to leave the country.  Increasing wages beyond a certain point results in loss of jobs and lower employment.  Cheap labor keeps businesses here.  There is a certain level at which people earn the highest wage possible without causing the jobs to go elsewhere.  I don't know where that point is but from the number of businesses going elsewhere I can tell that many industries are paying wages that are too high.  I think we can have businesses that pay low wages or drive businesses away by demanding high wages.  Which is better for America?

We Americans are proud and think we know best, so how could other countries deliver better health care to ALL their citizens and spend less than the US that leaves 45 million without insurance?  Shouldn't we be curious, before dismissing their systems as inferior?

The following link is to a NPR website that discusses health care in the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands.  It has an interactive graph that allows you to compare our health care system with these countries.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91972152

This link is to a PBS Frontline website about health care in the UK, Japan, Taiwan, Germany and Switzerland.  This site includes a video that can be watched online.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/

All these democratic, capitalist countries have universal health care -- affordable health care for all their citizens and no one in these countries ever goes bankrupt because of medical expenses. 

 

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Lift up your hand, oh God. Do not forget the helpless. Psalm 10:12

http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/

I'm still debating on whether I should post my opinions or not.  If I do end up posting this, promise me that you won't get mad.

I do not believe that we should have universal health care.  I don't believe that I should be forced to pay for the health care of others.  Neither do I believe that others should have to pay for my care.

Part of the problem in this country is PRIORITIES.  Many people in my generation have no idea how to set good priorities.  Growing up, my family was not very well off (although we were better off than many), but I learned good spending habits from my parents.  My husband grew up in a similar situation.

I just read a news article today that 1/8 of Americans do not have enough FOOD!  I believe that this is a direct result of poor planning.  People buy expensive shoes, TVs, games, etc., and meanwhile they don't have enough money to pay for groceries.  I know that this is a generalization, but I fear that for many families this is a reality.

Should I really have to pay for someone else's medication because they chose to spend their money on cable TV?   Should someone else have to pay for me to give birth in a hospital?   Should my friends have to pay extra money to the government so that I can take Enbrel?  In my opinion, no.

My husband works hard and has good insurance through his employer.  I know that not everyone has this opportunity; however, I don't believe that I should be penalized because of it.

I believe that the system that we have now -- "shopping" for insurance is the most fair.  I believe that people should have the choice of picking which insurance is best for their family.  Universal health care would treat everyone the same.

For instance, the insurance that we have covers 100 percent of pregnancy and childbirth costs.  This is good for my family, in that we have had five children in the last 9 years.  However, eye and dental coverage on this insurance plan is poor.  I have a friend whose 6 year old daughter has already had several eye surgeries and will probably go blind.  Three of their four children have worn glasses since before they could crawl.  Would this be good insurance for them?  Probably not.

While univeral health care would help some, it would penalize many more.

I do, however, believe that health care should be more affordable.  I think that this is where the focus should be.

Take care,

Shu-Shu

On the other hand, there are those who are doing what they can to support themselves and for whatever reason are having trouble doing it.  If it is truly beyond their control and has in the past been beyond their control they deserve help.  I can think of some on this board that I feel need more assistance than they are given.  There are some I know in person who are receiving assistance that I do not think they deserve., but I'm not aware of any on this board who are like that.

We also have people in this country who would like more to eat or to eat better things.  I think that is a similar situation.  We need in some way to provide basic food, clothing, and shelter.  In my opinion this is now provided pretty well by charitable giving with some support from the government.  I do not favor guaranteeing everyone the kinds of meals they choose to have in the quantities they want.  I see health care in the same way.  People need access to some basic level of health care but they may have to give up some lifestyle choices to get it.  They need to find out how to accept what is achievable rather than expect the best care without making personal sacrifices.  God bless.

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter.  Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.

If they have chosen not to have health insurance then I don't see why I should help them out when they need it.  They can sell their house, car, TV, cable, etc. and get down to where they qualify for assistance by having insufficient income and assets.  Until they get in this situation I don't think I should pay for their bad decisions in the past.

On the other hand, there are those who are doing what they can to support themselves and for whatever reason are having trouble doing it.  If it is truly beyond their control and has in the past been beyond their control they deserve help.  I can think of some on this board that I feel need more assistance than they are given.  There are some I know in person who are receiving assistance that I do not think they deserve., but I'm not aware of any on this board who are like that.

I do not favor guaranteeing everyone the kinds of meals they choose to have in the quantities they want.  I see health care in the same way.  People need access to some basic level of health care but they may have to give up some lifestyle choices to get it.  They need to find out how to accept what is achievable rather than expect the best care without making personal sacrifices.[/quote]

Grandpavan,

Very well said!!

I know that there are some people that should be getting more assistance.  It is too bad that the people who are "milking" the system are ruining it for those who truly deserve help.

Take care,

Shu-Shu