Universal Health Care - Presidential Candidates

Posted by Marshall on September 16, 2007 | Link It

Universal Health Care is going to be in the news again when Hillary Clinton proposes Universal Health Care on Monday, September 17th, according to the New York Times in Clinton to Propose Universal Health Care

According to WikiPedia Universal Health Care is:

"…..Universal health care is a state in which all residents of a geographic or political region have access to most types of health care."

Universal health care is provided in most developed countries, and many developing countries across the globe. In the 1880s, most Germans became covered under the mandatory health care system championed by Bismarck. National Health Service in the United Kingdom was the world's first universal health care system provided by government. It was established in 1948. The most comprehensive today is in France, and the second most is in Italy[citation needed]. Other examples are Medicare in Australia, established in the 1970s, and by the same name Medicare in Canada, established between 1966 and 1984. Universal health care contrasts to the systems like health care in the United States or South Africa, though South Africa is one of the many countries attempting health care reform.[1]"

Is the WikiPedia entry saying the German's are more than 100 years ahead of the archaic American Medical Insurance System?  Sure looks that way.  Also the Connecticut Coalition for Universal Health Care has a fact sheet showing the longer the United States stays on a Private Insurance or no insurance plan, the lower life expectancy and higher Infant Mortality rates go.

Myth One: The United States has the best health care system in the world.

  1. Fact One: The United States ranks 23rd in infant mortality, down from 12th in 1960 and 21st in 1990
  • Fact Two: The United States ranks 20th in life expectancy for women down from 1st in 1945 and 13th in 1960
  • Fact Three: The United States ranks 21st in life expectancy for men down from 1st in 1945 and 17th in 1960.

Interestingly, the Associated Press just put out an article that outlines each Presidential Candidate position on Universal Health Care in Presidential Candidates on Health Care

However, I think it's much more interesting to look at the Blogosphere to see which candidates are dominating an issue, and Hillary Clinton is dominating Universal Health Care as shown by BlogPulse:

Hillary%20Clinton%20and%20Universal%20Health%20Care.JPG

 

Comparing the buzz on Universal Health Care (The Mayo Clinic jumped into the national debate on improving health care yesterday, calling for every individual to have basic universal insurance as a step toward gradually replacing the current employer-based system) with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama shows, in it's spikes and dips, that Hillary Clinton is shaping, or in line with the debate more than Barack Obama.

On the other hand, political candidates trailing Hillary Clinton are often dominating their messaging on the issues rather than dominating the issues; at least, that's the way it looks to me.

Joe%20Biden%20and%20Universal%20Health%20Care.JPG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh well, it's a quiet Sunday, after all, though the debate about Universal Health Care is going to heat up again, on Monday when  Clinton Proposes Universal Health Care.



3 Responses

These are the current comments for "Universal Health Care - Presidential Candidates"

09/16/07 @ 8:23 pm

Is Hillary Clinton trying to shift talk from Iraq to health care? She’s certainly not doing a very good job at pleasing the rabid wing of the Democratic party right now. Her ideas on health care were a disaster in



09/22/07 @ 9:36 am

These “facts” deserve some further study:

” 1. Fact One: The United States ranks 23rd in infant mortality, down from 12th in 1960 and 21st in 1990″

This “fact” does not take in to account the many, many micro-preemies who we here in the US attempt to save with a high risk of being unsuccessful. In most other countries, a baby born at 25 weeks gestation would be ‘allowed’ to die within minutes of birth. This would NOT be an infant mortality in the statistics, it would be a still-birth. Contrasted to here, the same baby would be rushed to a Neonatal ICU where we would expend all our technology to try to save the baby. In a high percentage of cases, our efforts would eventually fail, but only after keeping the baby alive artificially for days to weeks. Here, this would now be counted as an infant mortality. This so-called “fact” is not comparing apples to apples.

” * Fact Two: The United States ranks 20th in life expectancy for women down from 1st in 1945 and 13th in 1960
* Fact Three: The United States ranks 21st in life expectancy for men down from 1st in 1945 and 17th in 1960.”

Once again, these so-called “facts” do not compare apples to apples. If you remove the victims of violent crime from the numbers, the US then ranks FIRST in life expectancy for women, and all other groups. The US has the highest violent crime rate in the world. Perhaps the problem is our penchant for violent crime, NOT health care.

I am tired of seeing these numbers spouted as a reason for needing universal health care without looking deeper in to the numbers. All statistics can be “spun” to say whatever you wish them to say. These numbers are the worst case of this I have ever seen. Before I am flamed out, let me say I do support universal health care, just not government run, single payer.



jacksmith
12/06/07 @ 7:03 pm

The #1 cause of injury, disability, and DEATH in America is, Health Care. More people die now from contact with the American Medical Health Care system than from any other cause of death. More than from Cancer, Heart disease, or Stroke. More than any other country in the world. Many times more than any other people in the world. This fact is a catastrophic indictment of the entire US Health Care System.

Driven by greed. And a rush to profit. Thousands of Americans are killed, and injured daily in America. By compromised health care. Cutting corners. Over, and under treatments. And poisonings with all manor of toxic, poisonous pharmaceuticals. Especially the children. America only makes up 2-4% of the world population. But Americans buy, and consume 50% of all pharmaceuticals world wide.

But the tide has turned. I can see it. Hear it. And feel it. The message is getting out. And taking hold about the fact that we have a very serious, and major health care crisis going on in America. Hurting everyone. Especially our precious little children. Rich, and poor alike. And most all Americans seem to understand now that “HR 676 Not For Profit Single Payer Universal National Health Care For All (Medicare For All)” is the way to go. Like all the other developed countries have done. I have seen numbers as high as 90% of Americans want government managed health care Now. Medicare for all. Like other developed countries have. And like older Americans have now.

BRAVO!!! America. YOU GET IT! YOU REALLY GET IT! See sickocure.org.

It’s NOW TIME to bring out the BIG GUNS!! The BIG GUNS!! are you. The American people. And anyone else that wants to help. From now until HR 676 is passed into law. I want every person to reach out and touch their fellow Americans every day if you can. I want you to take a phone book. And call at least one of your fellow Americans every day. And ask them to pickup the sword of HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care For All (Medicare For All).

Call more than one each day if you can. And ask them to do the same as you are doing if they can. And also to put maximum pressure on their politicians to get HR 676 done. And to make sure their politicians support HR 676. Accept no substitute. HR 676 is a no-brainer. It’s the best way to go on health care. It’s the only moral, and ethical way to go. That is why every other developed country has done it. Most did it years ago.

I know that many of you have been doing a fabulous job of spreading the word by talking it up with family, friends, and co-workers. And putting pressure on the politicians to get HR 676 done ASAP. The phone calls to your fellow Americans will increase the pressure. And grow the movement at an astonishing, and exponential rate. And I know many of you have been wanting to do something more to help. The phone calls to your fellow Americans is something you can do every day to help.

Trust me. It will be something to see. But you have to keep the focus, and pressure on getting HR 676 passed pronto. They will try to distract you. With all manor of other crises, and catastrophes. And other plans. Don’t be distracted. HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care is the #1 concern of the American people. Thousands of Americans are dieing daily now. And you or your loved ones could be next.

There is no good reason HR 676 cannot be passed into law well before the coming elections. Do not tolerate delays. If it is not passed before the coming elections. All America will know which politicians are on the side of the American people. And which are not when they vote. Well before the elections.

Everyone can do this. Most of you are well informed about HR 676. This truly is one of those no-brainers. Be considerate of your fellow Americans when you call. But be comfortable about calling. These are your fellow Americans. Some will be receptive. And some will not be. Some maybe rude, and mean. Just thank them, and move on to the next. Most will be with you. And if you get a call from one of your fellow Americans about HR 676. Let them know you are already on board. And thank them for calling. Build them up. And keep them strong. They are fighting for all of us.

I will try to make a second post with just a few of the reasons everyone with 2 working brain cells agrees HR 676 is the best way to go. But you can also look them up for your-self. And read some of the positive informed post on many of the message boards too.

Lastly, I am sick and tired of hearing how the candidates, and politicians health care plans are going to protect, and preserve the private for profit health insurance companies that have been killing, and ripping off the American people. And now the politicians want to mandate (require) that every American has to support the private for profit insurance company’s that have been killing, and ripping you off. Or you will be fined, and PENALIZED. Thats right. PENALIZED. Ridiculous! The politicians really think you are all detached idiots. CASH COWS! To lead to the slaughter. Don’t put up with that.

So get on it America. Get those phones going. Chat it up! Save some lives. You want all of America talking about HR 676 becoming law, Now! Before more die needlessly. Make it happen. And to my fellow cyber warriors. You have been doing great! I see it! Keep it up. 1 of 2 post…

Below are a few reasons why “HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care For All (Medicare For All) is a no-brainer. And some reasons why private for profit health insurance is a stupid idea, and injuring, and killing you and your loved ones.

Medicare cost 2-3% to administer. Private insurance cost 30% to administer.

Under HR 676 everyone would be covered from birth to death. No co-pays. No-deductible. No out of pocket cost. Plus Dental. And Vision. For less cost than we pay now under private health insurance.

With private insurance. You have 47 million Americans with no insurance.

And 89 million Americans that had no insurance part of the time from 2006-2007.

And over a 100 million that are under insured.

18-30 thousand Americans that die each year from lack of health care.

Health Care bills as the #1 cause of personal bankruptcy. And loss of homes.

Under HR 676 health care is moral, and ethical.

Private for profit insurance is immoral. And unethical.

Profit is the primary motive of the private insurance companies.

They make profit by charging needy, vulnerable, sick Americans as much as they can charge them.

Then they make more profit by denying them care when they most need it. And are most vulnerable and unable to fight back. When they are sick. Or trying to recover from major illness.

Yep! I know you are getting angry. I’m sorry. But I have to continue.

Under HR 676: we will save 300 billion dollars in administrative cost each year.

With private insurance: we spent more per capita on health care than any other country in the world. Over twice as much as most other developed country’s. Yet we have 47 million with no health care.

We rank at the bottom in quality of health care #37.

Americans have a shorter life expectancy than people from all other developed countries. We rank # 42 in life expectancy. Down from #1.

For the first time in American history. The life expectancy of American children is less than that of their parents. American children are dieing at a record rate. And are in terrible health generally.

People from other country’s enjoy a much higher level of general health than the best privately insured Americans.

Americans are also shrinking. We used to be the tallest people in the world. Now we are down to # 10.

People from other country’s never have to worry about going bankrupt, or loosing their homes over medical bills if they get sick.

Maybe you should go take a break for a while before I go on. I know this must be upsetting. But this is just a small part of the sad truth about private health insurance that HR 676 can fix.

Under HR 676: Health care will be based on need. Not on profit. And high standards, and quality will be enforced, and patients protected by the Government through a dedicated civil service. With the power, and resources to rain in abuses of patient care. Like they do with Medicare now.

With private insurance: Medical care is base on ability to pay. And profit. Tens of thousands of patient are killed, and millions are injure, crippled, and mutilated each year under private for profit health care, and insurance.

By insurance companies denying needed care to increase their profits.

By hospitals cutting corners. And using the cheapest least experienced personnel, equipment, and standards they can get away with.

By doctors that over treat, and under treat. Who injure, mutilate, and kill patients with unnecessary test, procedures, surgery, and invasive diagnostic test for profit. Who poison, kill, and injure millions of Americans with all manor of unnecessary pharmaceuticals for profit. Men, Women, Children, and babies.

Americans makeup 2-4 % of the world population. But Americans buy, and consume 50% of all pharmaceuticals world wide. This is a monstrous evil. And immorality.

And lastly, by politicians that take blood money from all these despicable groups and turn blind eye’s to this slaughter of the American people. And the slaughter of their own loved ones. And them-self.

Well I could go on. And on. But I think this is enough to get you started making your daily phone calls to your fellow Americans to support HR 676. And to help them understand how important it is that each of them join the fight. And bring the MAXIMUM pressure to bear on all individuals, parties, and especially your politicians, and Representatives. To get HR 676 passed into law immediately.

This is an emergency. America is in a crisis. More Americans have died from this health care crisis than have died in all the wars in US history. Do your best. Millions of Americans lives are counting on each of you. Including your own life. Remember, you are Americans. You know how to fight for your country when you have too. The whole world is in your blood. I’m with you.

All the best… 2 of 2



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