SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : View from the Center and Left
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Katelew who wrote (134392)3/23/2010 4:01:10 PM
From: Mary Cluney  Read Replies (1) of 543056
 
<<<The bill's basic theory is to try pretty much everything in the hopes that some of it works out

This doesn't cut it with a lot of people.....shades of that old 'leap of faith' thingie :) >>>

There are a lot of short comings and you would be right going on and on about it but the basic rationale is this:

Something has to be done. If nothing is done, the current system will stay in place for at least another generation or so. Republican administrations, from Ronald Reagen on thru George W Bush, have made it clear they are not going to address reforming the system in any rational manner - incrementally or otherwise.

The current system is not sustainable. Moreover, the current system is immoral. The current system is expensive largely because it is an immoral hodge podge.

Every government capable of governing and who have the means to provide universal health care to all their people have done so. That is clearly the trend. It is inevitable that even China and India will also have to address this problem real soon.

The alternative to providing universal health care is to allow people to literally die in the street.

You can parse it any way you want, but there are nearly 50 million people in the US without health care insurance at any one time. You can make up any number you want about how many of these people can really afford it but choose not to be insured. But even if you make up excuses and just for arguments sake you can rationalize away 40 million people or so and can come up with a number that is less than one million people that fall into this category - you are still, in effect, saying that you are willing to let these people die in the street.

I understand your position about charity, means testing and other gimmicks to remedy this situation - but whatever - there has to be a plan of some sort - but I just don't see this gimmicky type of plan ever being realistic and avoiding letting people die in the streets.

You can only put off what we have to do for so long by piling on gimmick after gimmick to delay the inevitable. That is why we are in the mess we are in. That is why our health care system, even though it is the best system in the world for a lot of people, costs so much and still not serve a whole bunch of people.

We are putting off doing what has to be done with all kinds of gimmicks. But I understand the motivation for putting off universal health care. Reasons are different for different people. But at the end of the day - the delay is immoral.

Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2026 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News