This past Saturday, our dear-leader of the Arizona GOP opined in the state’s largest daily paper, concerning the reckless speed with which the liberal majority; ie., the Democratic Party has sought to implement a National Health Plan. Least we forget, the top two primary candidates for the Democratic nomination for President slapped each other around claiming he or she had the best notion for overhauling our ever more costly for-profit, private health system. Then in November of last year, Democrats stomped Republicans decidedly and decisively — voters allowing Democratic majority for both the legislative and executive branches. Can you say mandate?
Yet red state Randy cries,
“While we all agree that something must be done to control health-care’s rising costs, we cannot accept a proposal that puts federal bureaucrats in charge of health-care decisions and not our families or our doctors.”
Anyone who as ever read health coverage statements from their insurance provider (if you are fortunate enough to be employed and covered), understand that it’s not the doctors or the patients who set price for medical procedures. And who says that our national health insurance companies are not bureaucracies?
So first Randy admits a public proscribed health plan is about limiting cost, then he spins about the “staggering” price of a public option for health care. Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? Wasn’t his first admission that health care — as it stands — is a cost overrun? And what of the claim, that proposed changes to health care insurance and administration (not medical procedure), is “too much, too fast, way too soon”. Are you kidding? The United States is the last of the industrialized nations to refuse mandated health care as a civilized right. Since when does losing the race, imply moving too fast?
As usual, Republicans — they who create their own reality — find common sense a touch too logical, a tad too boring, and not nearly profitable enough. Let other countries promote the general welfare of its citizenry at a lesser overall cost with as good or better health care provision. Here in America we have something better, good old-fashioned capitalism. And states Randy, Republicans believe (now that they are in the minority) that “we must do more to streamline our health-care system and reduce the number of uninsured Americans.” Isn’t that an oxymoron — cut back, yet include more? In fact, even though countries with guaranteed health coverage have lower general costs, Randy knows with certainty that it is “burdensome bureaucratic red tape” (oh no, not the red tape) which has escalated health care costs. No supporting figures, just all-abiding faith. Is that just nonsense slogan, designed to dull the attention-deficit prone Republican base — followers who prefer drama over change, as they willingly suffer by the efforts of their jingoist leaders.
And though he earlier states that “our families” should be “in charge of health care decisions”, he also believes that a patient’s redress for medical malpractice must fall victim before “restraining frivolous lawsuits”. This non-sequitur expresses the wish to have your cake and eat it too. As always, the Republican rhyme for a broken system — remove regulation. That canard allowed the financial sector to thoroughly fleece us recently, as you recall.
While the doddering American health insurance industry wheezes across the finish line in dead last among nations, isn’t it time we recognize private health plans for their self-serving nature? With an increasing number of Americans left with little or no coverage for themselves or their families, and the rest of us paying dearly, we must certainly do better than this.
Tags: health care reform, insurance industry, mandated health care, medical malpractice, nonsense slogan