Health Care. Schmelth Care.

Watching the health care debate play out both on the floor of congress and amongst the left and the right is a bit like watching a group of toddlers attempt to build a bridge (minus the cute factor).  They think they know what they're doing, but in reality, they don't. 

Congress of course is going to remain on their course of human health destruction with their unwaivering support for corporate insurance companies.  Gotta keep capitalism alive and well.  Gotta keep those lobbying dollars flowing into their greedy little pockets by the insurance companies.  There's really nothing more to add to the behavior of these folks as none is (nor should be) surprising.  Same goes for the current administration.

Those on the left, the well-meaning folks that they are, are continuing their pansy-ass type behavior.  They pushed and pushed for a single payer option, wanting the insurance companies out of the health care industry altogether (which is the most common sense, fair, just, ethical and moral thing TO do) and yet, when Obama and the Democratic Congress refused to stand by their "supposed" support of including a single payer option, there was no public outcry.  Last I heard, Michael Moore was still holding onto his delusional little "CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN" ballon while chanting the "Please Mr. Obama, don't tell me you are drinking the same kool-aid as your predecessor."  Oh well.  At least those radical righties, albeit a scary bunch of folks in some ways, know how to make a point and aren't afraid to show their rage. 

Those on the right wish to keep capitalism alive and well and want nothing to do with single payer.  Keep government out of their health care choices.  (Medicare, anybody?)  These folks don't understand the idea of freedom of choice.  What's so scary about allowing those who want a single payer option that freedom to do so?  All these folks seem to care about is ending welfare and social programs (while screaming "DO NOT TOUCH MY SOCIAL SECURITY/MEDICARE!") and while turning a blind eye to the realities of unnecessary suffering around them.  I especially love those who chant the tune of Jesus Christ while showing such disdain towards the needy. 

That being said however, I will give these righties one more bonus point.  While they may not understand freedom of choice nor do they see their own hypocrisy, they do indeed understand the Constitution and are justifiably upset over the idea of mandated insurance, which is clearly unconstitutional and, as of today, 19 attorney general's are challenging this mandate.  (Why this same outcry and challenge isn't happening over mandated auto and homeowner insurance is perplexing.) 

I will end this little missive with my own thoughts on health care.

1) Health insurance companies have no business nor reason (aside from making people rich off of people's suffering) to be involved at all when it comes to health care.  Health Care needs to involve the doctor and the patient only.  Period.  All other intrusion ends right there.

2) Government is only to be involved to provide proper regulatory measures to ensure the safety of the patients and to provide the financial means for those who cannot afford to provide for health care practices on their own. 

3) Doctors need to provide sliding scale fees.  The more you make, the more you pay and vice versa. 

4) The area of malpractice suits and insurance is a bit foreign to me.  However, I was recently told that it is common practice amongst malpractice attorney's to only take cases whereby the outcome is $100,000 or greater in potential winnings.  I believe if such attorney's were less "greedy" in terms of their hourly rate and/or the chunk they receive in the end if they win (anything more than 20-25% is indeed, overall, greedy and unnecessary), perhaps this could help put an end to the more extreme cases.  And, on the flip side, if doctor's were much better (i.e. properly) trained in such areas as patient communication, compassion, empathy and in the area of pharmaceutical medications and alternative health care practices (and had schedules that were more suitable to their own physical needs), there would be fewer lawsuits.  Certainly if the health insurance companies were removed from the scene, doctors would deal with far fewer hassles, paperwork and pressure.  In short - they could be themselves - the doctor's they were trained to be instead of some corporate pinhead's puppet (said puppet having received no medical training).