We caught part of a documentary on PBS last night called "Critical Condition." I really recommend that people watch it--you can see it here: http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2008/criticalcondition/fullfilm.html
If anyone doubts that the US fails miserably in its health care for citizens, then this film will persuade you. Some of the stories and statistics given were just astonishing. For example, 80% of uninsured Americans are part of working families. That dispels the myth a lot of people have that one can receive health insurance by working hard and "earning" it--and that those who don't have health insurance are simply lazy.
It would cost less for the US to insure all its citizens than it currently costs to deal with those who are sick and uninsured.
Those who are diagnosed with cancer and are uninsured are twice as likely to die within 5 years as those with cancer who are insured.
Watching the film was sickening. In my opinion, it is totally unethical that the government and insurance companies allow American citizens to be treated this way, especially in a "developed" country.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Critical Condition
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3 comments:
Do you ever wonder why Americans are more willing to give their money to insurance companies (who are most likely corrupt) than to the government (whose job is to fight for their best interests) in tax dollars? I do.
I wonder the same thing.
The only thing I can conclude is that people are afraid of the unknown--they have no idea how government-run healthcare would work, so they listen to the doomsayers who say really scary (untrue) things about it.
I heard some pretty outrageous comments about government-run healthcare when I listened to the speeches given at the Republican National Convention.
In spite of that, it still boggles my mind that people think they are keeping their "freedom" by giving huge sums of money to insurance companies without even complete assurance that their medical costs will be covered!
That's not freedom! Freedom is being able to live in a country that reassures you that your medical costs will be covered. Freedom is not having to worry that you will go bankrupt if you or a family member gets sick or in an accident.
I agree. I was astonished last night to hear a man say in a post-debate interview on NPR that he was glad to hear McCain say that he thought that health care was a priveledge rather than a right. It boggles my mind.
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