Health Care

my Response

by: Steve Davis

Erik wanted to write about health care policy after finding out our friends were going to have to cope with ALS.  If you want to read his article it is in previous columns. 

Erik like many others first pays attention to public policy when it hits home.  I remember a high school friend in 1968 or 69; it was a long time ago.  Stating we would do something about the environment when people began dying in the streets from air pollution.  We have made progress on air pollution without waiting for a complete disaster.  We will likely make progress on health care before the system completely explodes.

To address some of Erik’s questions: Canada does have universal health care, but opponents to government provided health care will say it does not work very well, prescriptions are cheaper because of enforced price limits, but we pay for the cost of research and development which is necessary.  I’ve never been to Canada, so I don’t know if the health system works or not.  I think comparing our system to other countries is irrelevant.  We need to look pragmatically at our system.  As soon as you mention universal health care someone is bound to ask if you want health care run like the post office.  Actually the post office works pretty well.  They deliver mail to nearly every address in the United States nearly every day of the year.  The postal service began with the creation of the nation promoted by people like Ben Franklin.  After over 200 years one would expect it to need some renovation. 

We could fix the postal system, if we wanted to give it our attention.  I believe the same is true for health care in the United States.

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Erik also wrote that it is not your fault if you get sick.  Sometimes it is not your fault, but sometimes it is.  Some people are in the hospital because they crashed while driving drunk, they overdosed on drugs, they have lung cancer from smoking, they have diabetes from eating too much, maybe Erik should read his own Buzz.  We currently pay for the bad health care habits of each other in higher premiums.  The principle of universal coverage is that everyone pays something so no small group pays an extraordinary amount.  Health care insurers will often argue against universal coverage, but it is the principle behind all insurance.  The details of making it work are the catch.  The only thing I hear the President speak about to improve health care is tort reform. The tort reform in California often sited by the administration didn’t slow health inflation until coupled with insurance reform a few years, later.

It will take a combination of looking at both sides before we can solve anything. Erik also stated that he didn’t enjoy going to doctors and he only paid for things he enjoyed.  Erik, now that you are eighteen, you are just beginning to learn you have to pay for many things in life you don’t enjoy.

I have a few health care reforms to suggest:

Ban television advertisements for prescription drugs

Mandate insurance for everyone to cover preventive care

Provide catastrophic coverage through a universal policy

Earmark a percent of the employer’s contribution for employee withholding to fund it.

Make every one pay something for each health care visit, graduated by income

All immunization prices should be negotiated by one Federal agency distributed to every child

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Erik, one last thing what’s humane has little to do with health care. The millions of dollars poured into the political system by the health care and pharmaceuticals industries will have, and there will continue to be more demagoguery than pragmatic solution finding by politicians.

Illinois Republicans have a Senate Candidate

by: Steve Davis

Alan Keyes from Maryland, or is it Calumet City, Illinois, is the Illinois Republican Senate Candidate. He twice lost a senate bid in Maryland, but will give it a shot here. He also ran for the Presidential nomination in 1996 and 2000. He was the 2000 Republican version of Dennis Kucinich. You remember the Bush-McCain-Keyes South Carolina primary debate.

Alan Keyes is 54, a talk show host, and prominent lecturer. He is very popular with right to life audiences. He earned a PHD from Harvard University. He is married and has three children. He was Ambassador to the UN Economic and Social Council.

He has this statement on his keyesforsenate.org web site.

"I make to the voters of Illinois, and all those watching this race in the coming months, just one promise: I will conduct a campaign worthy of your support. All those with whom I share core convictions regarding life and liberty, faith, family and freedom; all those who are committed to American renewal and the revitalization of responsible self-government - we all, in the extraordinary circumstances of this contest, are confronted with a great challenge. Yet, we are also thereby presented with a great opportunity."

Calumet City notorious in the gangster and bootleg days is where Ambassador Keyes has rented a two room flat. I doubt any of his kids are registered at Thorton Fractional North.

I may write controversial things, but I'm not petty.

I never intend to be controversial; so I am always amazed when I write something that raises people's ire.

In these columns I will try to stay thoughtful and seek to evaluate life as it unfolds not through any lens.

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So if I arouse your ire or just your thoughts, you can interact with me just --- email me.