| 1) The government can't run anything. I
| |
| | delivery system, the delays would not be
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| don't trust the government.
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| | a significant limiting factor in the U.S.
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| The current gang in Washington may be a
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| | 5) Americans do not want "Socialized
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| good reason not to trust the government
| |
| | Medicine."
|
| to do ANYTHING right.
| |
| | Socialized medicine is a system in which
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| However, Medicare and Social Security are
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| | the government owns the facilities, and
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| good examples of systems that run well
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| | the providers of care are government
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| and on time. People receive their checks
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| | employees.
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| the same time every month and health care
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| | In sharp contrast, a single payer system
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| is provided: on time.
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| | uses the existing private and public
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| 2) I'm a free market person and don't
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| | sector health care delivery systems,
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| want any part of "socialized medicine."
| |
| | preserving private ownership and
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| Single Payer Insurance is defined as a
| |
| | employment. The unique feature of a
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| single government fund with each state
| |
| | single payer system is that all health
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| which pays hospitals, physicians and
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| | care risks are placed in a universal risk
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| other health care providers, thus
| |
| | pool, covering everyone. The pool is
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| replacing the current multi-payer system
| |
| | funded in a fair and equitable manner so
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| of private insurance companies.
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| | that everyone pays their fair share in
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| It would provide coverage for the fifty
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| | taxes, unlike our current defective
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| million people who are uninsured.
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| | system in which some pay far too much
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| It would eliminate the financial threat
| |
| | while others are not paying their share.
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| and impaired access to care for tens of
| |
| | The funds are allocated through a
|
| millions who do not have coverage and are
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| | publicly administered program resulting
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| unable to afford the out-of-pocket
| |
| | in optimum use of our health care
|
| expenses because of deficiencies in their
| |
| | dollars.
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| insurance plans.
| |
| | A single payer system has no more in
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| It would return to the patient free
| |
| | common with socialized medicine than our
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| choice of health care provider and
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| | current Medicare program.
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| hospitals, not the choice that only the
| |
| | Socialism is a dirty word in this
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| restrictive health plans allow.
| |
| | country. Universal health care for all
|
| It would relieve businesses of the
| |
| | has been equated with socialism, and much
|
| administrative hassle and expense of
| |
| | propaganda has been communicated by the
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| maintaining a health benefits program.
| |
| | press, by right wing politicians, by
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| It would remove from the health care
| |
| | medical groups such as the AMA or anyone
|
| equation the middleman-the managed care
| |
| | else who has an agenda to keep the 1500
|
| industry-that has broken the traditional
| |
| | plus health insurance companies a
|
| doctor-patient relationship, while
| |
| | thriving market with profits that
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| diverting outrageous amounts of patient
| |
| | undoubtedly help to pay for their
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| care dollars to their own coffers.
| |
| | agendas.
|
| It would control health care inflation
| |
| | 6) A Universal Single-Payer would lower
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| through constructive mechanisms of cost
| |
| | the standard of care to a level of
|
| containment that improve allocation of
| |
| | mediocrity for everyone, preventing the
|
| our health care resources, rather than
| |
| | affluent from exercising his or her
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| controlling costs through an impersonal
| |
| | option to obtain the highest level of
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| business ethic that robs patients of care
| |
| | care.
|
| so as to increase profits for the
| |
| | Our current system is characterized by
|
| privileged few. Single Payer Universal
| |
| | essentially two alternatives: either no
|
| Health Care would provide access to high
| |
| | insurance with severely impaired access
|
| quality care for everyone at affordable
| |
| | to even a mediocre level of care, or
|
| prices.
| |
| | being insured by a managed care industry
|
| 3) Canadians have long waiting periods
| |
| | that has whittled down what is available
|
| and come to the U.S. for their health
| |
| | until mediocrity has become the standard
|
| care needs. Therefore, such a plan would
| |
| | of care. Only the relatively affluent
|
| make for waiting periods in the U.S.
| |
| | have access to unlimited care.
|
| First of all, ask almost any Canadian if
| |
| | The generous level of funds that we have
|
| they would trade our system for theirs.
| |
| | already dedicated to health care,
|
| The answer is a resounding "NO."
| |
| | adding to this a more efficient
|
| They may have to wait for elective
| |
| | administration with an exclusive mission
|
| surgeries, for instance, but we have to
| |
| | of optimum patient care well above the
|
| wait for these kinds of surgeries, as
| |
| | mediocrity that we now have, lays the
|
| well.
| |
| | foundation for a universal health care
|
| Canadians have the option to buy extra
| |
| | system in America.
|
| coverage to get heroic measures covered,
| |
| | A single payer system does not preclude
|
| say in the case of Cancer treatment.
| |
| | the affluent from paying, outside the
|
| At 9% of their GDP, they are spending
| |
| | system, for a penthouse suite in the
|
| much less than we are as a nation. We,
| |
| | hospital, or for cosmetic surgery or for
|
| the wealthiest nation on earth, spend 14
| |
| | any other service that would not be part
|
| % of our GDP.
| |
| | of a publicly funded program.
|
| 4) Our country cannot afford to insure
| |
| | But if Americans knew the truth, and
|
| everyone.
| |
| | would turn off their TVs and use that
|
| Our country already has enough funds
| |
| | time instead to change this country,
|
| dedicated to health care to provide the
| |
| | using the power of grassroots politics,
|
| highest quality of care for everyone.
| |
| | to make a single payer universal system a
|
| Studies have shown that under a single
| |
| | reality for all, then we would finally
|
| payer system, comprehensive care can be
| |
| | have the best health care system in the
|
| provided for everyone without spending
| |
| | world.
|
| any more funds than are now being spent.
| |
| | Any group with the passion to change the
|
| Not only do we have more than sufficient
| |
| | world, one issue at a time, with a loving
|
| funds, we are also a nation that is
| |
| | intent, can do it.
|
| infamous for our excess health care
| |
| | -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
| capacity. Typical of these excesses is
| |
| | =-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
| the fact that there are more MRI scanners
| |
| | Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer,
|
| in Orange County, CA than in all of
| |
| | musician and the creator of the e-book
|
| Canada.
| |
| | called "Transform Your Nursing Career and
|
| With our generous funding and the
| |
| | Discover Your Calling and Destiny.
|
| tremendous capacity of our health care
| |
| |
|