THE CHOICE: Longer life or more stuff
So, whose responsibility is it to pay for health care? Is health care something that an individual should be expected to pay for just like they pay for their car? Or is it something that we are all entitled to, and the cost should be paid for by our taxes. Right now we have a system that tries to say both these things at the same time, and to keep them mutually exclusive.
Higher education makes the same claims, that both the individual and society should bear the costs of higher education because both the individual and society benefit from an educated citizenry. And thus we recognize the need for the costs to be shared.
In the campaigns this Fall I don't hear that when it comes to health care. It's either universal care (meaning society bears the full cost), or let market forces bring down prices (individual responsibility). Isn't there a creative thinking politician (I know, I know, that's an oxymoron), who can speak to our shared responsibility. And acknowledge that health care today costs more in real dollars because it has a much greater value. Check out this op-ed to read about that.
Higher education makes the same claims, that both the individual and society should bear the costs of higher education because both the individual and society benefit from an educated citizenry. And thus we recognize the need for the costs to be shared.
In the campaigns this Fall I don't hear that when it comes to health care. It's either universal care (meaning society bears the full cost), or let market forces bring down prices (individual responsibility). Isn't there a creative thinking politician (I know, I know, that's an oxymoron), who can speak to our shared responsibility. And acknowledge that health care today costs more in real dollars because it has a much greater value. Check out this op-ed to read about that.
posted by Wake of the Flood at 7:52 AM
2 Comments:
Thanks for the pity about the Sox. At least we had last year, so I'm not too mad, just disappointed. I just can't fucking believe Frank Thomas is in the play-offs with the A's. That, I am mad about. Just gotta concentrate on the Bears now.
And I don't know who should pay for healthcare, all I know is I'm covered until I'm 25. Thank you City of Chicago firefighters.
i am in the middle of witnessing this man's points come to life.
5 weeks ago, one of my coworkers had a heart attack. Darryl is 46 years old and was not the usual suspect for it. Slightly overweight, but not obese. But probably a victim to a lifetime of bad diet and lack of excercise. Darryl made it to the hospital early enough that they were able to stabilize him (did that thought even exist 50 years ago?), then he took a helicopter ride to a different facility that is better equipped than his small town hospital. Anyone ever hear of this happening 50 years ago for someone not the President or very wealthy?
A woman in our congregation has suffered a massive heart attack this week. Mrs. Russ is in very critical condition and doctors are not ready or able to deliver a prognosis to the family. Sandy is about 60 years old. 50 years ago she is dead.
Mrs. Innes (another congregant) is about 80. She went to the hospital Monday, complaining of flu-like symptoms. Congenitive heart failure was the diagnosis for her. Yesterday, doctors decided she, too, had suffered a heart attack, probably between 7 to 10 days ago. She had been intubated and sedated since she was brought in, until today when our pastor went by to see her. She was sitting up in bed, eating lunch.
3 lives that would have been over, just a generation ago. No doubt the cost of healthcare is higher than it was because it is a much better product.
Post a Comment
<< Home