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Monday, March 2. 2009

Why pols lie

From VDH, in The Triumph of Banality, one quote:



If we wish to get health-care costs under control, then we should at least be honest with the American people and admit that we are all paying a collective fortune largely for three reasons: (1) to keep functioning into their 60s those who drank, smoked, and ate too much and in a past era would have passed on at 60; (2) to give us all an extra three to five years of mobility and functionality after we reach 75; (3) to fit us up with IVs, feeding tubes, and respirators so that in our last six months of life we can die in a rest home or among machines and specialists in a hospital rather than in our own home with a few morphine tablets for pain and a bowl of soup with a straw on the nightstand.



He is wrong about the medicine: your longevity is in your genes more than in your behavior. However, the only solution to the costs of medical care is rationing and I, for one, do not want the government in charge of that.

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 16:06 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0)

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Oh, Bird Dog, I so agree. My husband has his 84th birthday this month, and I my 81st in June. I dread universal health care as imposed by the Obama administration because I see how badly it has worked in Canada and the UK. Both governments have figured out how to ration health care by denying prompt doctor's appointments for severe health problems. ["Oh? You just had a heart attack? We can fit you in for Dr. Blank in a month and a half."] These delayed appointments, delayed diagnostic surveys and so on almost guarantee that the patient will die before very long. And because they didn't actually deny care, their consciences are clear. And having a clear conscience is a first consideration for the liberal.

Canadians have been able to cross down into the United States when they are badly treated by their own health system, and get excellent treatment which they pay for themselves. Up until now. I'm sure they are viewing the advent of Obama-care with as much dread as we are.

Marianne
#1 Marianne Matthews on 2009-03-02 16:51 (Reply)
A friend from England had a daughter who was an excellent student. When she got a stomach ailment, after finally seeing the Doctor, was told a special test was needed. Okay let's get it done ...'well not so fast, will take three weeks to get in'... In the meantime the daughter isn't in school & is falling behind in her studies. Okay then, go and pay out of pocket for the test tomorrow. My friend was paying twice for Health Care.

A small thing to look fwd. to in the process of lowering everything down to it's lowest common denominator.
#2 DucSup on 2009-03-02 17:17 (Reply)
I'll split the difference: Genes & behavior play a roll in everything.

VDH does makes valid points on the major medical - especially 'fear of lawsuits' from all the ambulance chasing parasites. It's HUGE hidden cost in virtually every avenue of modern life, particularly medicine.

And, surprisingly, insured consumers add to the sky high costs with an 'insurance will cover it' state of mind so pervasive that few even bother to ask - let alone- haggle with their health providers over costs.

Gub'mint is not the solution. If you've ever dealt with the V.A.; the IRS; or Fannie or Freddie Mac, you should run screaming from the Obamacornucopia of solve everyone's problem!
#3 locomotivebreath1901 (Link) on 2009-03-02 17:29 (Reply)
DucSup ... We'll all be paying twice for health care under "universal health insurance;" once for the pitifully inadequate 'universal' kind, to enable all the Lotos Eaters to continue to lie around in the vineyards and eat grapes, and a second time to obtain real and effective health care for which we'll pay again ourselves full price. What chaps me is that holier-than-thou Democrats are contemplating hampering or preventing those of us who are willing, even if reluctant, to pay the whole bill in order to get competent health care. Because it's "not fair."

Goddam busybodies.

Marianne
#4 Marianne Matthews on 2009-03-02 18:11 (Reply)

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