The Progressive Pulse

I have grave concerns about the ability of Americans to have meaningful discourse on virtually any topic. Case in point: the News&Observer “Q” section from May 4 had an evenhanded, informative discussion on the John Edwards health plan. The following week, letter writers were invited to have the “Final Word”on this topic. Coincidentally, Ted Vaden’s column that same day discussed the paper’s policy on anonymous letters, both in print and online.

So, I get it that the N&O does not permit anonymous letters to the newspaper. Still, it seems somehow cruel that the 5 letter writers on Sunday commenting on the Edwards health plan were even allowed to assign their names to their letters, given their manic and misinformed content.

Here is what we “learned” from the letter writers: There are “cash-cow” hospitals with marble corridors where an aspirin costs 8 dollars. Lurking nearby is the “ambulance-chasing, extremely wealthy” John Edwards who is pandering to the left so he can ration our healthcare. Edwards, who wants to be king and disapproves of vaccines, is a liar and hates doctors. Meanwhile, upstairs in the operating rooms, doctors are “gutting” women to avoid lawsuits. Sadly, due to “socialized medicine” (which Edwards plans to force on us), the good people of Canada and England are lucky to be alive. So to for the French, but perhaps not so sadly, since they are partial to surrender.

I did learn one thing from the letter writers. Clearly, not a single one of them had actually read Edwards healthcare plan before they decided to share their hysteria with the 200,000 newspaper subscribers.

Just to be clear. Edwards plan is primarily about figuring out a way to cover the 47 million uninsured Americans, cut costs, and promote better care. At the end of the day, Edwards plan is really about health insurance. Nowhere does his plan restrict people in the amount of care to which they are entitled, or who or where they receive that care. Go here if you don’t believe me. Edwards plan does not endorse “socialized medicine” nor does he envision a government health system like Canada, the United Kingdom, or France.

A more overwrought group of people outside of  the Wake CARES cabal at a school board meeting would be hard to find.

People, before you dismiss the “other” side, get your facts straight.

A final thought:

“We have to stop using words like ‘access to health care’ when we know with certainty those words mean something less than universal health care. Who are you willing to leave behind without the care he needs? Which family? Which child? We need a truly universal solution, and we need it now.”

-John Edwards

2 Comments Add yours »

mad dog 16 May 2007 12:54 am

Perhaps you progressives ought to get YOUR facts straight. Healthcare only becomes more bureaucratic and more expensive when the government steps in. As more and more government controls got placed on healthcare, things continually got worse. Back in the 60’s, before all this nonsense, the American health care system was not only extremely cheap, but also had next to no regulations. People back in those days would pay only a few dollars for a checkup, and not a penny more. Health insurance only covered emergencies. But no, Ted Kennedy thought he knew better. And now look at where we are.

sturner 16 May 2007 8:29 am

Thanks for making my point, mad dog. (By the way, is the “mad” for “mad as a hatter,” or are you just angry.)

“Healthcare only becomes more bureaucratic and more expensive when the government steps in.”
Wrong. Please explain the Medicare administrative expense of 2% as opposed to private insurance administrative expenses of 20-30%.

“Back in the 60’s….people would pay only a few dollars for a checkup, and not a penny more.”
Mad dog…what did an MRI cost in the 60’s? Heart bypass surgery? Care of a 24 week premature infant? A liver transplant? A prescripton for Lipitor? An implantable pacemaker/defibrillator? Oh yeah, I forgot, none of those treatments were available in your glory years of medicine.

I’ll bet if you agreed to abide by 1960’s era medical treatment and technology your costs would be lower. Of course, you risk a sicker and shorter life, but that’s your call.

Finally, which government regulations do you believe have increased the cost of medicine? Most of the cost drivers in healthcare are market driven. People choose access to the latest technologies, choose the latest medicines, choose to see their doctor more frequently and demand specialist care, choose to demand “everything be done” for their dying family member in their last week of life. Which government regulation is forcing consumers to make these expensive decisions?

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