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Politics : A US National Health Care System? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (3862)	1/14/2008 10:01:13 AM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

I remain against the idea of enrolling all newborns into some governmental health coverage program. If it is funded by government then it is that much more objectionable. I think the notion has a certain superficial appeal. I'd like to see everyone carry catastrophic coverage. If it is really set at the catastrophic level, it needn't be expensive. We're already paying indirectly for much catastrophic coverage for the uninsured. Emergency rooms don't turn life threatened patients away. So even if we taxpayers had to pay for it, it would replace current expenditures. From a purely pragmatic perspective, IMO it's among the least worst options proffered. I was intrigued by the notion of the "birthright" catastrophic coverage when it was first mentioned. Having thought about it a bit, though, I find all sorts of problems. One is the part about awarding it to babies. If we were going to do it, I'd rather see it either for everyone or for all kids ending at adulthood. The transition of Kate's plan would be difficult. If you're a parent with two kids and you have another, that kid would either be covered under the family policy that you already hold or only one of your kids would be covered. What are you going to do? Put the kid with the coverage in the front seat of the car and the other ones in the back? That's just too weird. I'm also concerned about what I think you have in mind by your use of "birthright." It seems to create the notion that all Americans have a right to paid health care, which I don't accept and which I think is a terribly slippery-slope notion. Unlike you, I'm not all that bothered by taxes. Nor do I worry about being spied on. My life is an open book. But I would like my tax money to be spent wisely. Entitlements are pernicious. I think all "free" health care systems bring problems long term.