A ticking time bomb is how President Obama described the nation's healthcare. He also reported to the group, that he was the man to fix it. He can't fix it until he deals with Tort Reform. The President remained adamant that Tort Reform was not in the healthcare agenda. I wonder what is? The President made no mention of abortion funded by the taxpayers and universally available.
On a personal note, the way to reform healthcare is to emphasize personal responsibility and accountability. In other words, one must participate in one's healthcare. That being said, I am opposed to Universal Healthcare, which leads me to ask this question, fundamental to the issue. Is healthcare a right or a privilege? I believe, since I pay for it, it is a privilege. In all actuality, we have universal healthcare. Anyone entering an emergency room is treated. Whether they can pay for it or not, or whether they're legal or not, they still receive healthcare. As a matter of fact, sometimes better healthcare than people who live in this country and have worked all their lives, receive. Why? If you pay for your own insurance, as many Americans do, your doctor can only treat you according to what that insurance allows. While the non-insured, or non-legal patient recieves full medical coverage, with no insurance to screening what they'll cover and what they won't.
If we're really concerned about healthcare costs, let's put some limits on Medicaid and Medicare. These limits are not imposed, or even on the table for discussion, because politicians want their vote. In fact, most Medicaid patients use emergency rooms for minor problems, and every other medical reason that could be treated, for less money at a doctor's office. Those of us who have insurance know, that we will not be reimbursed, if we use an emergency room, when a physician's office can treat the same ailment. This abuse of emergency rooms, not only impacts emergency care, it places an undue burden on healthcare providers. I don't believe this is on the discussion block either. In fact, I think if healthcare reform is really on the National agenda, we should have real healthcare providers testifying on the problems, rather than politicians.
I think the debate on healthcare is healthy for the healthcare industry. Just as I think honest debate on all issues is healthy for society. People come from different perspectives. A good debate encourages people to think. That's the problem. People don't think. People today especially respond to emotions. You see a starving baby's picture and immediately you donate money. Many times, you don't know where your money is going. You simply responded on emotion.
A good debate depends on the truth. The truth on healthcare has to be out on the table, and it's not. The American public needs to hear the facts, not made up. The media, which hasn't told the truth in a long time, will not be starting with this debate. There's a hidden agenda here. Americans are smart people, and need to participate in this healthcare debate. But, I don't think President Obama will allow that.
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