Universal/National Healthcare

Universal health care for Americas has been a heated debate topic for many years now. Opponents claim that the nationalization of health care will create a system where a minority will be footing the bill for the majority and that this will lead to long waits to see physicians, get medications, surgery, diagnostic lab/procedures etc. and in the end the quality of care will be less than is currently received in the private sector. Supporters argue that we should be able to come up with a system that allows people to have private insurance if they so choose, or a national/universal policy thereby insuring that all citizens get equal access to the appropriate level of care at an affordable cost

A recent commentary post in USA Today discusses exactly this. This article is aimed at everyone. If you have ever needed medical care or think you ever will, then you need to pay attention. The commentary consists of opinions from several different posters each with a valid point. Paul McDowell makes a valid claim that current opponents to universal health care advocate that the current system allows the US to provide the best health care in the world. However, how can this be so when infant mortality is high here compared to other industrialized countries. I agree that one can get fantastic care in the US under the current system. However, as a nurse who works in a hospital I see the real stories of real Americans each and every day who have been left behind to suffer. The private system of health care in the US today is profit based. The insurance companies could care less if they help people heal, or prevent disease, they only care about the bottom dollar. They can deny any claim, and they often do. The problem is that we have too many uninsured and underinsured.

I truly believe, this being the greatest nation in the world, that we can come up with a solution to the health care crisis. I agree with Dr. Heyman that we need health care reform that consists of a public-private mix. The problem is that the large health care companies have paid off our members of congress via lobbying because they stand to lose a significant amount of profit if a public policy was more easily accessible, affordable and provided the same level of care.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/02/americans-deser.html#more

Seriously, give them a vote already!

In the New York Times I read an article stating that a bill has been passed by a senate committee giving Washington,D.C. a voting member in the House of Representatives. Per the article, similar bills have been submitted in the past and voted down, and cites the reason being that some members of congress believe it to be unconstitutional. Republican opponents fear that allowing DC to have a voting member in the House will lead to having 2 senators which they believe would be Democrats. I believe that it is unconscionable that the people of Washington DC have had to endure taxation without representation for so long. Is that not one of the main reasons the founders of this country were willing to put everything on the line and start a new nation. They believed this to be tyranny-an arbitrary and unrestrained exercise of power. The reason given for not passing a bill of this type is even more outrageous, simply put, one party doesn't want the other to have more votes than them, most likely because they then wont be able to put forth legislation that allows them to line their pockets and fatten their bank accounts. Modern day factions.. and worse yet, "we the people" just sit back and let them do it! We need to stand up as a people and demand that this changes. I think they are in need of an attitude adjustment, a reminder that we sign their paychecks with our tax dollars, and they are there to represent what we need. If DC residents don't get the chance to let their voices be heard via a representative, and we just sit back and let it go, then we too are guilty of being tyrants. People from around the country need to contact their representatives and senators and demand that they pass a bill allowing DC to have a voting representative, if not...they can always find a new job at election time!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/washington/12district.html?scp=1&sq=senate%20panel%20oks%20bill%20to%20give%20washington%20a%20voting%20representative&st=cse