An old friend of mine (Army trauma surgeon) had the following to say about healthcare in the U.S. …

Here is my obnoxious spiel on why universal healthcare is the wrong answer….
 
HEALTHCARE (Keith’s perception): I see universal care as an ideal that if implemented, in reality will create grave disappointment among Americans. I find it odd that despite universal healthcare plans in other nations, these same people from such nations still come to the U.S.seeking the world’s best healthcare…what about their countries’ great healthcare?

 
Universal healthcare does NOT mean good healthcare…..the govt will control healthcare forcing mandates; ie. smokers, obese people, alcoholics will be forced to the back of the line, if not outright disqualified for certain benefits (I agree these folks may be less deserved but it still isn’t moral and it is not UNIVERSAL)…..universal care gets you to your family doc…after that be prepared to wait a very long time for MRIs, CTs, consults, surgeries, etc……how is this being paid for? You think healthcare is expensive now…..try tens of billions, actually hundreds of billions of dollars in cost (esp. from taxpayers)…how then can we also bailout AIG, etc., pay for better education, pay for all the other wonderful social programs that are being promised to Americans…WHERE IS THE MONEY???….and if they take it from my taxes and other hard-working Americans, we get to pay for the health insurance for those who just opt not to work or are in this country illegally. . .WHO DON’T PAY TAXES….I’ll choose my own charities, thank you. And lawyers will continue to chase ambulances. Tort Reform is NOT part of the Obama plan. What appears to be an option for adults under the Obama plan will ultimately be mandated and forced on everyone (this has happened under a very similar plan in Vermont)…trust me …it’s the govt… it eventually will be mandated..because some Americans who don’t choose the option will continue to be without healthcare and bitch about it…and the govt will have NO CHOICE  and force people into the supposed optional plan…the presence of stupid people (and there are many) requires mandated/forced healthcare…it’s just the political reality…so why even go there in the first place!!
   The majority of citizens who work FULL-TIME have health insurance…plain and simple. There are of course, exceptions. The issue isn’t so much health insurance (which does need significant reform but that is a different issue) but people getting jobs so they can get coverage for themselves and their families. There are mechanisms in place already…where hospitals/clinics that receive state or federal funds have to see everybody who walks through their doors..it’s law! Children in this country ALMOST already have universal coverage under various state legislation in the form of Medicaid or it’s variants.
   No time in our country’s history has the standard of living been so high. It is ironic that the same people who complain about healthcare wouldn’t dream of giving up their satellite TV, X-boxes, nice cars, expensive tennis shoes, or how about that big house they cannot afford.. but don’t consider healthcare a priority for themselves or their families. You cannot legislate or enforce personal responsibility unless you prefer socialism. Socialized medicine may sound great but it is LOUSY… I guarantee it!!. Be careful what you ask for because you may get it!! Then the bitching will have only just begun.
 
Whew….I’m done with that
 
K