Reader comments
George F. Will: Arizonans can put brakes on universal health care

Timj | 4:36 a.m. Oct. 26, 2008

The market is not the best way to handle health care. Why? Doctors are paid for each procedure they do. So there's little incentive to prevent problems, and many patients go through unnecessary procedures so doctors can make more money.
I saw much of this during my years working in health care.
The focus needs to be on the individual's health--and doctors need to be paid based on how healthy their patients are. Doctors in England get paid a bonus if their patients give up smoking.
Health care in the US has issues, and it needs a major change. Hopefully we'll see change soon.

Dave | 9:08 a.m. Oct. 26, 2008

The feds get around 'states rights' with money. Basically they say do as we say or you get none of your tax dollars back.

Ultra Bob | 9:18 a.m. Oct. 26, 2008

I agree that a person should be able to seek the best health care available according to their ability and willingness to pay. Private doctors and hospitals should not be banned and any person should be able to partake of their services.

I also believe that there should be a government operated system of health care that would provide complete and competent health care to any and all persons who desire to use it. Even exclusively or in conjunction with private health care.

Public health care can be justified as constitutional under the "general welfare" clause just as much as any other government services that we have.

Only a government health care system where no one is discriminated against could have a national data base of information the could provide for giant leaps forward in medical care.

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rock on | 9:36 a.m. Oct. 26, 2008

Timj- you have no idea what you just wrote. "Doctors get paid a bonus if their patients give up smoking" It's much worse than that. In England Hospitals can refuse treatment to people who smoke or are overweight or live unhealthy lifestyles (of course Homosexuality is not an unsafe lifestyle)
You're asking for complete and utter Goverment control over people's lives. Wake up dude

Timj | 11:52 a.m. Oct. 26, 2008

I'm awake. I've also lived in Europe. I've seen how things work there. I've seen how they work here. Their system is better, no contest.
And I severely doubt that they refuse to give people care. Here in the US, however, the only place some people can get care is the emergency room--which is far more expensive than the doctor's office. So instead of treating them cheaply, we treat them (after their long wait in the emergency room) expensively.
Sounds stupid? It is.

Already been tried | 12:40 p.m. Oct. 26, 2008

The Canadians health system created a black market for medical care. Because of the horrendous unmet needs, the government only haphazardly enforced the law. Eventually, things got so bad that they had to change the law and allow private health care. We don't have to travel the same road to learn the same lesson. I hope that Arizona preserves its access to all health care, and not make it go black market.

For people used to private health care, going to a universal health care system will be a life threatening and unpleasant shock that will not easily be remedied.

MoYo | 1:02 p.m. Oct. 26, 2008

As a teacher, I'm aware of a boy who was born with such severe congenital health issues he was not expected to live to one. Several health crises-- resulting in increasing brain damage--and millions of Medicaid dollars later, he is a bedridden teenager with decreasing capacity and increasing services from school and health care professionals. I don't know the answer to health care for everyone who needs it, but it seems we already have numerous (ie. Utah's CHIP program) agencies and programs in place for those who can't afford their own. What's missing is health care for the uninsured working middle class who are paying for all the rest.

Hurrah for Arizona!! | 1:08 p.m. Oct. 26, 2008

The real health care revolution that needs to take place is one that places responsibility on citizens to maintain their own health. That includes mental health. We all should know BY NOW that prevention is the best cure.
All that has to be done to bring health care costs down is to cut the middleman, the insurance company, deregulate the medical system, and allow competition. If the medical establishment and Big Pharma had their government protected monopoly removed, and all health care professionals were put on "equal grounds" we would see prices going down.
Also, MD's would have to really prove themselves honestly on their own merits, compared to other types of health care professionals, instead just on their government granted authority.

rock on | 3:01 p.m. Oct. 26, 2008

I really resent it when people say "Europe has a great health care system". They really don't but the only reason it was even remotely feasible for them was because the good 'ol USA was footing the bill for their NAtional Defense for 60 plus years. They are not living in reality.
Everyone should ask themselves "is healthcare for all so important that I'm willing to give up another 20% of my income to foot the bill for it?" and "How healthy is it for a Society to develop into one that is completely dependent on Fedzilla to provide a basic human responsibility like providing for the healthcare of one's family?"
Let's not lose faith in ourselves and pass responsibility to the Government

Honesty | 4:20 p.m. Oct. 26, 2008

If there are problem with heathcare in this country it can be blamed on insurance and incorporation of healthcare.

Before that you could go to your doctor anytime, or even get a house call.

More importantly the problems people speak of here can fixed by with small changes or tweaking.

Lets NOT destroy healthcare and replace it with an abomination.

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