Medicare for All is the solution

Written by: LaForest Sherman on Jul 4, 2009 10:32 PM EDT

Declared an international human right in 1948; enacted in a majority of nations; Universal Health Care is held hostage in the United States by greed and a lack of courage.  Recent polls show public support at 59% and support of a majority of doctors (also 59%) and other health care providers, who support universal health care paid for by federal tax dollars.  When will Congress and the Senate begin to listen to the will of the people?

The debate becomes more twisted and surreal by the day.  The proposed ‘public option’ will not solve the problem of cost or access.  No other country provides basic health care on a for-profit basis.  400 billion dollars per year would be gained, if the for-profit health insurance companies were by-passed.  Adding a non-profit public option along side the current health insurance plans is no more sustainable than the current system.

Neither party, Democrat nor Republican, currently has the courage to speak the truth and do the right thing.  The party that does will be rewarded in coming elections.  This is not a partisan issue.  It is about the survival of the American way of life, liberty and happiness.  

Currently Medicare, Medicaid and various public programs paid by the States pay for 40% of health care costs.  Covering the uninsured is quoted at $160 billion dollars per year.  The transfer of costs from individuals and companies to a tax supported system would yield an overall saving of the $240 billion per year.  More than enough to correct the distortions in the current systems of underfunded primary care physicians, hospitals and preventative care.

Additional savings would be realized in the 62% of bankruptcies and foreclosures that wouldn’t happen because of catastrophic health events.  Enhancements to life, liberty and happiness of universal health care would be very real to thousands of families each year.

There would also be the economic benefit to the economy of making US business and industry competitive again in the world market.

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Location: Grinnell, IA 50112