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Single-payer system best

Under any single payer system, the payer gets to decide what services you will get. In this case, that single payer is the government. If you think that will make things better, you simply live on a different planet than I do.
Just because the current system is bad does not mean that anything different will be better - particularly a system that cannot possibly be better for those of us that already have insurance. I do not want some Washington keyboard jockey deciding whether or not my wife gets cancer treatment. Even Pres. Obama showed that he does not believe that his proposal will provide the best care when he indicated he would not want to rely on a single payer system if it were his family.

Also, do you really think that kids will still want to be doctors when they no longer have any control over treatments, scheduling, pay, staff, etc? For that matter, do you really believe the best docs will stay in practice? If you think so, try explaining why they would do that.

In short, the proposed cure is worse than the disease. You don't kill the patient to cure the disease.

I know what I will say will fall on a lot of deaf ears, but I got to put my two cents worth in. As some one who has experienced government controlled medicine while 3 years in the army I can tell you, you put your life and the life of your family at risk each time. The Military and VA are good models of how our government would run things. “They can’t”. I admit there are problems with the insurance industry when they charge parents here in Utah almost twice as much for child delivery cost then outside the state. Or some of the ways they reject peoples claims. The other end is caused by us when we get sue happy and we no longer see restitution but $ signs and greedy lawyers. That has run up the cost of insurance more then anything I believe. Our own selfishness.
So stop dreaming that socialized medicine is free. It’s not and it has more problems then you want to listen to. Do some honest research. Don’t buy into this “We deserve this and it should be free.” That is all smoke and mirrors.

Move to Canada, you seem to be convinced and I would say its time for you to get out of Utah for 2 years and live the "high" life in a social environment. Good luck!!!

Time to be told what you can eat, because your food choices will make everyone's health-care costs go up. Time to be penalized (read taxed) if you don't exercise. Time to give government control of your life and one-seventh of the national economy, which they will, of course, make ruinous, just as they did with Freddie and Fannie. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it's "free".

Do people actually have any original thoughts anymore? Whenever I read the newspapers or the Internet, it's nothing more than parrot talk.

I defy any Republican hater to speak an entire sentence and not use the words "Limbaugh" "Hannity" "O'Reilly" "Beck" "neocon" or "Fox News" even once.

At the same time, I defy any Democratic hater to speak an entire sentence and not use the words "liberal" "socalist" "exteremist" "wacko" or "tree-hugger" even once.

Not very easy is it?

As for health care in general, you'd have to be pretty stupid to think we don't need some kind of reform in this country. But instead of just looking at England and Canada, EVERYONE needs to also look at countries like Taiwan, Switzerland, New Zealand and Hong Kong. Not only that, why does Congress always insist and biting off more than it can chew?

This whole idea of "No Compromise" or "My way or the highway" will lead to nowhere except "status quo."

I have no doubt the Gov. can give us 'cheap' healthcare. I also have no doubt, it will be more expensive.

Thanks Clark. We do need reform, but lets not jump into a system that we know will fail in the long run. Having choices is a good thing. The government run VA is a crock. I trained in a VA and saw first hand how inefficient the system operated. In our present system a large percentage of the health care dollar goes to sales of insurance plans. This must not continue. Doctors need to police their own without fear of counter suits for claims of restraint of trade and defamation of character. Attorneys should not be able to sue without fear of paying if their suit is lost. These are the changes that will lower costs and continue to provide the best healthcare in the world. Nick, quit spewing quotes that you don;t understand. If the American population were transferred to another nation with "superior healthcare" their ranking would plummet. Obesity is rampant. Too much McDonalds. As other nations adopt our poor food choices among other issues, their health will suffer.

Just so's you know, status quo is what we want. If not compromising assures status quo, that's a win-win.

I don't have to speak to or compromise with liberal, socalist, exteremist, wackos and tree-huggers, AND I get to keep the best health care system in the world intact.

Ah, the smell of victory!

I think a single-payer system is somewhat of a gamble, but the current system is not working either.

If there are perceived problems with a single-payer system, why don't try to we fix them instead of just avoiding the system altogether? I also think we need to realize that universal health care would likely make things much better for the uninsured and poorly insured, even if it might make things somewhat worse for people with "good" insurance. That might be a trade-off that society as a whole is prepared to make, even if it will have some negative effects for some people (and I'm not sure that it would).

Clark, how's this? no meaningful health care reform can be enacted without tort reform. You'll have to tell me whether or not limbag, shammity, beck or oreilly has said it since I don't bother with them.

Nick, you want a single-payer system? I nominate you to be the single payer

Great letter.

US health care costs us more per person than anywhere in the world, yet Americans as a whole a in worse health than most other developed nations.

Look at the stats - infant mortality, life expectancy, number of surgeries, you name it, Americans lag behind. And yet we pay vastly more per person for health care.

We've got to get beyond the knee-jerk reactions and face this issue in a calm and sober manner.

Health care is _not_ a "free market" and never can or will be. We already have "single payer" health care for many Americans - it's called medicare/medicaid, and it works well for them.

Our current system of health care is bankrupting us and making us sicker. We need a nationwide single-payer health care system NOW.

Why do people think the government is the be all and end all? They are not. Why would you trust govt. when they have bankrupted SS, Medicare, etc...
they are not efficicent at all, and more, they are not compassionate at all.
There used to be a sign by the side of the road which read, "The government is our enemy." I thought it was some crazy fool who put the sign up, but now I think he was ahead of his time.

The devil you know...everyone would rather take that choice than any other. BUT...

1. We finally have met the issue which makes us make a choice for a change. We can't afford to go on the current track for more than about 5 years and then:

A. The government goes broke. That means no medicare, medicaid, or veterans insurance.

B. Employers drop health plans to stay in business and be competitive with countries that pay less for healthcare (that would be EVERY country).

C. The current 50 million uninsured becomes 100 million or 150 million at which time the game really changes.

Now I don't know what the answer is but I do know that the majority of businesses, insurers and Americans know that we will have change. The only question is what kind of change? Stop posting what will happen and start posting solutions.

I don't know why some people think Government is the "be all end all"... why do others think it is the Scourge of the earth????

The only thing I understand is that something has to be done about health care in this country... And I do *kinda-sorta* trust the Government more than I do Multi-billion dollar conglomerate companies.

To "uncannygunman | 7:49 a.m." there are ways to improve our system without destroying the quality.

We can enact tort reform similar to Canada. They have judges that also understand science, so they can understand the cases being presented. It is quite difficult to sue for malpractice there. Tort reform would lower malpractice insurance costs for Doctors and healthcare providers, which would lower their prices.

Next, you could take all of the Medicare/Medicaid/VA medical money, pool that together, and set up a government healthcare system. Those that choose not to buy insurance will have to fend for themselves and find Doctors who will work out payment plans. This could lower insurance premiums by up to $1000 per year. This would also get more Doctors into specialties, further lowering medical costs.

Follow that up with eliminating some of the feelgood state mandated coverages, and allow insurance policies to tailor coverage to the individual or the age group.

There you go, 3 things that could lower costs, without lowering quality. Or, you can buy yourself a game console when you are older and break your hip so you have something to do for 3 months while waiting for surgery.

To "Grover | 8:26 a.m." I hate to tell you, but according to the US Census, 38% of uninsured could afford insurance.

Next, the Kaiser Commission, did a study that says that 58% of uninsured make less than $41000/year. It just happens, that if a family makes less than $41000/year they qualify for Medicaid or Medicare, and SCHIP plans.

So, if you take the 50 million uninsured, and remove the 38% that can afford insurance. Then, remove the families that make less than $41,000/year you probably have taken care of nearly all uninsured.

The problem isn't really that people are not covered. The problem is that people either don't want insurance or else don't want to fill out the Medicare/Medicaid/SCHIP forms. How do you propose to fix that?

There isnt a 'free market' when your life is on the line. Never has been. You cant shop around when you are sick. You end up battling corporate stooges who want to NOT pay for your care. The people who complain about freedom of choice are fooling themselves, they have no choice. They get what their employer offers and what treatment their insurance company is willing to pay for. Why do people insist on going against their best interest?
Single payer is the future.

The ystem here is broke. We are told we have the best health care and the insurance companies tell us that and equate it with words like freedom and choice. Upon further review I found that the Chech Republic has a much longer life expectancy than does a US citizen.

The lies that are foisted upon us by large insurance companies would have us believe we are being looked after and have the best care. After checking I found out 36 countries have longer life expectancies
so we are getting far from the best care.

It is sad but nobody but the government is big enough to break the insurance companies hold on the industry.

I went and lived in Canada for 5 years, and there are many rumors promoted here that are simply not true. My family members visited the emergency room 3 times and each time were handled immediately and professionally.

American hospitals were up there recruiting, and doctors chose stay there.

I am fortunate to have insurance here but in no way shape or form does it meet the needs of the people. Change is needed, there are better options.

To "sutton | 8:28 a.m." here is a possible anser to your questions.

Those that are in favor of it usually say that it will give coverage to everybody, and that it is fair. Some claim that it lowers costs, but I don't believe that.

Those against universal care usually talk about the lower quality, and long waits for procedures.

As for trusting the government, have you looked at their track record for running businesses? AMTrack receives money from the government to pay for operating costs. It was originally meant to be self sufficient, and not require tax money, that was in the 1960's.

Next, the senate cafeteria in Washington DC ran million dollar deficits when it was run by the government. They finally turned it over to private contractors.

Look at your local garbage collection, who's logo is on the side of the truck? Most likely it is a private company, if not, you live in one of few cities around that still has city employees collecting garbage.

One final piece to think about is this. How can the government be trustworthy, if it is filled with untrustworthy politicians?

KM. Are you saying that a large corporation is more compassionate than the government?