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Tuesday, 30 January 2007 14:26 |
| | Bill Walz |
"Arnold-Care" has center stage in the growing debate about the health care crisis in the country.
The governor of California is proposing a method to extend health care through a system of universal health insurance. "My solution is that everyone in California must have insurance," he stated. "If you canët afford it, the state will help you buy it, but you must be insured."
This is very much like the program passed in Massachusetts, another liberal state with a Republican governor. President Bush has even thrown his hat, full of tax credits for health insurance, into the ring.
I applaud any attempt to remedy the shame of 47 million Americans without health insurance, but health insurance does not equate to good health care. Being missed entirely is that there are many, many more millions who have pathetically inadequate health insurance and that many who have it are being financially drained by premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.
America
spends considerably more per capita on health care than any other
country in the world and yet we lag far behind all advanced countries
in the delivery of health services. Health-care costs are bankrupting
individuals and businesses and costing American businesses competitive
equity with foreign businesses that do not have to pay health costs for
their workers. Access to insurance isnët the issue, comprehensive
health care that isnët an unnecessary financial drain on this countryës
citizens and businesses is.
When are we
going to stop playing games with this issue? The problem with health
care in America is that the profits of insurance, pharmaceutical and
hospital corporations and the personal wealth of physicians and
malpractice attorneys are valued above the well-being of the citizenry.
Sure, we may get a patchwork of state-run programs dictating that, like
auto insurance, every person must have health insurance, but that is a
band-aid over a gaping wound.
Once again, the
real issue is money in politics. The current debate is being driven by
the real money players looking to protect their interests, not the
American people. The wealthy corporations and professionals that fund
campaigns are dictating health-care reform for their benefit and not
the citizensë needs, and so, politicians sensing the people want
something done, are coming up with plans written by these powerful
special interests. Itës called more money to the insurance and health
care corporations and the shifting of business costs to the government.
There is one
plan free of such duplicity that really addresses the problem. Sen.
Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts has proposed national universal
coverage based in the expansion of Medicare to everyone. It is a
single-payer system, cutting out the insurance middle-men taking their
exorbitant cut. It would allow for real cost management and actually
expand provider choice over the current managed-care system since every
medical provider would be paid through the same system.
The opponents
drag out their tax boogey-man, screaming that this will require tax
increases.
Americans have to understand that insurance premiums and
exorbitant costs by providers are taxes levied by the capitalist market
system. I guarantee the government single-payer system will not cost
nearly as much in taxes as everyone is paying in insurance premiums and
out-of-pocket costs. And it will be immensely fairer.
It is about time
America joined the rest of the civilized world and realized that
amongst a societyës responsibilities to its citizens is health care,
every bit as much as policing the streets, picking up the garbage and
defending the borders. Can we get over this mindless allegiance to
capitalism even when it harms us? Can we recognize that health care is
a right, and protecting the profits of corporations and wealthy
professionals is not the duty of the government?
If you agree,
contact Kennedy and your representatives telling them that you support
the Kennedy expansion of Medicare plan, a real national health plan,
not a plan to push more money to insurance and health care
corporations. Do it for your own good and the health of the country.
ï
Bill Walz is a
UNC Asheville adjunct faculty member and a private practice teacher of
mindfulness, personal growth and consciousness. Contact at
bill.walz-at-worldnet.att.net or 258-3241.
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