Can any of these US Healthcare haters name one drug in the last 20 years that was not developed in the United States? Also there are very large differences in how countries tally their life expectancy and infant mortality. In the US if a child is delivered and takes a single breath and then dies they count against both. In most of those countries ahead of us that child must survive 24 hrs. Considering the age of death, that skews the data quite dramatically.
Speaking of skewed data, did you guys know that of those 46 million uninsured in America: 12 million are illegal immigrants and 9 million are under 35, can afford health insurance and simply choose not to carry it. That really leaves only 25 million without it. There is not an exact number for those that qualify for public assistance but have not taken the time to do so. Even at that number, it is about 9 percent of the population. Personally, I do not understand why we are willing the screw up healthcare for 90% of Americans to cover the very few.
I agree with removal of pre-existing condition exclusions and a windfall profits tax on the insurers, but a public healthcare option is the 1st step to Socialized Medicine, and this is why the Florida Medical Association and 18 other State Medical Associations oppose HB 3200 and are urging its members to speak to their patients in efforts to abort this legislation. If the President and Congress was serious about health reform, they would include medical malpractice reform which increases the cost of every medical visit. Unfortunately, they are owned by the Trial Lawyers Association and will not even consider it.
What is the problem with Socialized Medicine? The rationing of healthcare. After age 75, most medical procedures improve quality of life, but don't on average extend life. Heart valves, bypass surgery, cancer treatment, joint replacement are quite the drag on healthcare costs. Without a doubt costs are going to soar initially and when the central planners look where to cut costs it will be with the elderly. I am advising all of my older patients who think they might need joint replacement soon, to go ahead with it because there is a good chance in 2 years they will not be allowed to do so without paying for it themselves.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/magazine/19healthcare-t.html By PETER SINGER
Published: July 15, 2009
You have advanced kidney cancer. It will kill you, probably in the next year or two. A drug called Sutent slows the spread of the cancer and may give you an extra six months, but at a cost of $54,000. Is a few more months worth that much?
The costs of the current health care system are becoming increasingly clear, and public sentiment for a more systematic approach may be growing. We?d like to know what you think about the prospect of rationing.
* Why We Must Ration Health Care (August 2, 2009)
If you can afford it, you probably would pay that much, or more, to live longer, even if your quality of life wasn?t going to be good. But suppose it?s not you with the cancer but a stranger covered by your health-insurance fund. If the insurer provides this man ? and everyone else like him ? with Sutent, your premiums will increase. Do you still think the drug is a good value? Suppose the treatment cost a million dollars. Would it be worth it then? Ten million? Is there any limit to how much you would want your insurer to pay for a drug that adds six months to someone?s life? If there is any point at which you say, ?No, an extra six months isn?t worth that much,? then you think that health care should be rationed.
?!? We have all argued the under the table devilish details of the plan. But I think this completely misses the point of why his reform has failed us all. When I hear the "pundits" argue about proposed healthcare reform-very few mention Obama's slight of hand obvious lies as a reason for the massive public backlash. For me, the following links show why I have written this President completely off. I now unfortunately have zero faith in anything he says. Please review the following quick links before commenting 
You are good!! I never would have thought of that and you're right! :funn:
I broke my front tooth two weeks ago because I gritted my teeth in anger over Mom's rejection by Medicare. Good news today is that since she is improving, Medicare is paying for more rehab until 9/5. Our alternative was $12,900 a month for private pay.
Now we need to figure out what to do after 9/5.