"Single Payer Healthcare"

[legion]

"Single Payer Healthcare."

Seems like a straightforward term, right?

But it isn't.

It's another euphemism intentionally designed to obscure and make more palatable a thoroughly un-American idea--and the press is all too happy to play along (yet again).

In this misnomer, the "single payer" is the U.S. Government. But the term intentionally refuses to go a layer further--it should be called "taxpayer funded healthcare". More accurately, it is another government program to take more money from productive citizens and give it to those who are not productive. Its purpose is to give an elite few in government control over yet another aspect of our lives--and we will get taxed heavily for the privilege.

It will start innocent enough. "We want everyone to have healthcare--it is a basic human right", they will say. Sorry, but my definition of a basic human right is something that predates government--not something that depends on it to exist. Universal (taxpayer-funded) Healthcare clearly fails that test.

But its what comes next that scares me the most. You know all of those things you do to spice up your dull life? Have a drink with friends, jump out of a perfectly-good airplane with a parachute, maybe spar with some friends at the local dojo? Guess what? They are all dangerous and they raise the cost of healthcare that the government has to pay (by confiscating ever more income). I anticipate laws banning even more activities on the grounds that they can result in expensive medical bills. Even worse, the new "healthcare administration", like the EPA, BATFE, and other self-serving, run-away federal agencies will be given the power to unilaterally pass rules banning any behavior it deems to be too "risky"--completely bypassing the legislative process altogether.

Ignorance is strength. Welcome to the new world order.

[BGCarrera32]

I totally agree and its total crap.

[sammyg2]

At work the union is putting up posters that say "health care is a right, not a privilege".
BS, if it costs money then you have to pay for it.
Unions are communistic and have contributed to the weakening of the minds in the US.

Nothing is free. Someone has to pay for it, those who don't should do without or should be taken care of with private charity, not government handouts.

[phoenix_iii]

Watch the 'documentary' Sicko.

Obviously you are all smart enough to decipher the fluff from the better stuff, but it is definitely worth a shot.


And I am a conservative, productive member of society, go figure.

[john70t]

Then let's get rid of police, fire, roadworkers, and auto insurance as well.

It seems everything mechanical is protected by socialist government programs except the "productive workers" body.

[304065]

I wrote the book on this a few years back. . . enjoy.

Welcome to 1984: Implied Consent and Socialized Medicine (LONG!)

[onewhippedpuppy]

The single payer is you.....sorry.

[Nathans_Dad]

Originally Posted by phoenix_iii

Watch the 'mockumentary' Sicko.

Fixed it for you.

[looneybin]

Originally Posted by legion

"Single Payer Healthcare."

I anticipate laws banning even more activities on the grounds that they can result in expensive medical bills. self-serving, run-away federal agencies will be given the power to unilaterally pass rules banning any behavior it deems to be too "risky"--completely bypassing the legislative process altogether.

Ignorance is strength. Welcome to the new world order.

I think that was one of the major arguements that California used to force the helmet law on motorcycle riders.

[Nathans_Dad]

Gubmint run healthcare will be a disaster. That is not to say, of course, that the current system is a success, it certainly isn't. We do need some sort of coverage for the uninsured, whether that be expansion of existing programs like Medicaid or making some sort of private plan more affordable.

As an aside, I do think there should be some sort of waiver you have to sign before engaging in certain behaviors. If you want to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, fine, just don't expect us to all pick up your million dollar ICU bill if you crack your skull open. Same deal with smoking or being morbidly obese.

If I have learned one thing in my 9 years in medicine, it is that a pretty small percentage of people suck up all the healthcare resources. Often, those people have illnesses that they brought on themselves, either by eating too much, drinking too much, smoking too much, etc.

I'm not saying you can't engage in these activities, just be prepared to check out when the inevitable happens and don't expect society to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars so you can be a vegetable in a nursing home somewhere for the next 20 years.

[Hugh R]

Someone told me that in Canada when you hit a certain age, like 65, you can't get things like heart/lung transplants. Too much $$ out of the system.

[widebody911]

Question: how do countries with universal health care handle the 'risky behavior' issue?

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Someone told me that in Canada when you hit a certain age, like 65, you can't get things like heart/lung transplants. Too much $$ out of the system.

Can you substantiate that with anything other than 'someone told me?'

[old man neri]

Originally Posted by widebody911

Question: how do countries with universal health care handle the 'risky behavior' issue?

As far as I can tell they let you do it.

Yes, helmets are usually mandatory. As for the smoking it is essentially banned in public places (bars, restaurants,...etc) to keep other people healthy. Drinking is fine up here as long as you are 18 or 19. Sky dive all you want and do all the judo you want. The only thing I noticed different is there are no ambulance chasing lawyers and less insurance drama.

[looneybin]

no ambulance chasing lawyers???
I'm booking the moving van right now

[phoenix_iii]

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

Fixed it for you.

Typically true, yes, and there are a number of 'Can you just get off this weak point to begin with' moments. Still worth a watch, unfortunately.

I agree with Nathan's Dad, except for the first sentence. NHS (Britain) seems to do alright for the most part, as do a number of other countries.

[Nathans_Dad]

Yes, but do you think that the US Congress (and the US public for that matter) are as reasonable as the British parliament and the British people?

I can't say as I have never been to Europe, but the US culture with its "give it to me now" and litigious nature seems highly ill equipped to make a rational decision when it comes to healthcare. If I thought people could be reasonable about understanding rationing of services (which MUST occur in a universal program) I would be more optimistic about the chances of such a program working over here. Unfortunately I've seen the exact opposite in my experience with US citizens and their healthcare.

[RPKESQ]

Originally Posted by widebody911

Question: how do countries with universal health care handle the 'risky behavior' issue?

In France risky behavior does not raise your preminums per say. Of course as a taxpayer funded program if every body did X Games stuff the cost overall would rise. Care is not rationed in France. It is easily obtained by any citizen, it is a right garanteed by the government. It is a system that is run pretty efficiently and at a much loer cost than the US and the French healthcare is rated as best in the World by the World Heath Organization (multiple times).

Yes they have anti-smoking laws for all public places now and helment laws for public roads, but no restrictions on flying, sking, whitewatersports, X Games stuff, mountaineering, etc.

[legion]

Originally Posted by old man neri

The only thing I noticed different is there are no ambulance chasing lawyers and less insurance drama.

Do you really think it would be implemented the same way in this country? No way the ABA is going to just roll over and give up such a huge source of income. Remember, "no fault" auto insurance was supposed to end protracted lawsuits, but the various state bars are the ones that actually wrote much of the "no fault" legislation that was enacted--they all but guaranteed every accident would lead to a lawsuit.

[old man neri]

Originally Posted by legion

Do you really think it would be implemented the same way in this country?

I never said either way. I just pointed out some differences I have noticed over my travels.

-matt