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Politics : Welcome to Slider's Dugout -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Crimson Ghost who wrote (18675)	8/18/2009 11:59:56 AM
From: Little Joe	6 Recommendations Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50411

As to the claim that US citizens die earlier than citizens of other countries, I do not think you can attribute that to the health care system. Someone posted an article that claimed that US citizens of Japanese descent actually live longer than the Average Japanese citizen. Similar results for other nationalities. Genes do count a lot. African Americans on average die sooner than other ethnic groups. This might be due to a number of factors. Genetic, as it is well known that they suffer more than most from High Blood Pressure. Also a high percentage of them die from violence and of course they are probably a high percentage of the uninsured. As to lack of coverage I would like to see some good statistics. for example there is a large medicaid eligible population that is not covered. However you cannot draw the conclusion that health care is unavailable to them. Many do not apply until they come into contact with the system, so it is not true that they don't get care. It is more accurate to say that they are uninsured until they need care. We then have illegals and people whocan afford insurance but choose not to pay it. So the issue is not as simple as it appears. for example if you can afford to buy health insurnce but choose to drive a mercedes and live in very expensive home, and are forced into bankruptcy by health care expenses. I don't have a lot of sympathy for you. On the other hand if your income is small that is a different matter. It seems to me that those who need help and can't afford it, could be given vouchers and be part of the existing system. As to the cost issue, I think we need to debate this. The reason it costs less in other countries is because they don't treat the lsame wayl. I had a friend who was in Norway when he discovered he had a brain tumor. They told him he would be dead in six months and he should get his affairs in order and prepare to die. When he returned to America, he was treated at great expense and indeed he did die within 6 months. I believe this attitude is what drives up health costs in America. So What would your choice be, the American system or the norwegian system. Hard to say, but if you are not paying the bills most would say I want whatever chance, no matter how small, to live and damn the cost. lj