Universal healthcare. Obamacare. Tea Party. Ron Paul. Rick Perry. Ugh.
As the mom of a 6 week old and 2 year old, I'll keep this short. Healthcare is a complicated issue. As a citizen of the richest country in the world, I don't think anyone should die because they can't afford expensive treatment that will save their life or greatly increase their quality of life. However, I also don't think American citizens can be required to purchase a product by the federal government.
Understanding these basics about me, here is my response to Ron Paul's ridiculous "Let them die" moment during the last GOP debate when asked what should happen to a healthy 30 year old man who doesn't purchase health insurance but finds himself in a coma:
Make them pay after you save their life. We garnish people's wages for child support, etc., why couldn't we do something like that after the state fronts the bill to save a person's life? If someone requires treatment and they don't have insurance, take 10% (or whatever) out of their pay check until the bills have been paid. Having your wages garnished would totally suck, but there's the accountability...and you get to live.
People should not be required to purchase health insurance. However if they make the choice not to buy insurance and find themselves in a serious/life/death situation, they should absolutely be treated. What would happen if someone got into a car accident and they come into the ER bleeding all over the place in need of a blood transfusion, but they don't have insurance? Just let them die on the table? Who will pay for the clean up? Not that guy because he doesn't have insurance and now you let him die.
While Ron Paul is correct in that there needs to be accountability for those who don't do their part and buy insurance, the price should not be their life. But we are a compassionate people, and there is room for compassion and accountability. That's my plan, do you have any ideas?
So it sounds like you think the already messed up American healthcare system should stay as it is... that's not very smart and doesn't indicate a "thinking" woman. If we really want to be among the top countries in the world, we need the political parties to support a move towards a system like what is in place in Scandinavian countries. Access to healthcare should not be managed my private countries. All people should be taxed at a rate based on their income and have medical services at any medical facility. Your perspective does not show compassion or forward thinking.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking time to comment on my blog! But before you get all snotty with your cynical "thinking" and "compassion" comments, my point with this post was that while I consider myself moderate-conservative, I do not side with Ron Paul's philosophy of just letting people die because they do not have insurance (seems more on the compassionate side to me). As the richest country in the world, we should not be turning people away because they cannot afford treatment up front. Everyone should be treated. To me that seems pretty compassionate. However, I do not believe the federal government can force Americans to purchase anything. If the only solution is for a mandate for people to buy insurance, then it should be left to state governments; the federal government is too large and inept to manage it competently (not that state governments are much better). I also don't think health insurance should be tied to employment.
DeleteYou mentioned Scandinavian countries twice in comments and while there is much to be admired about them, I refuse (and I believe most Americans would) to pay upwards of 40% of my income to taxes as their citizens do. No way. No how. I believe changes can be made to the current system that do not violate our American values (or our Constitution) but that will allow everyone to get treatment. The state government could to mandate and regulate purchase of health insurance from private companies that is affordable (hopefully, competition will further lead to that).
And please feel free to have the courage to make your comments un-anonymously.