A Reply To Questions About Universal Health Care
by James Glaser
July 2, 2009

I wrote about wanting health care for every American, and some people told me how wrong I was on that issue. Of course, many more told me I was right on. So, I am writing this column for the people who disagreed.. Don't get me wrong—I am a Libertarian/Conservative. I do want smaller government, and I want our government to look to our Constitution for guidance. However, I believe that the way we treat American citizens with our health care system to be immoral.

To me, making huge profits on the suffering of others is just wrong, and I don't know how you can make a for-profit health care system seem right.

So, here is what I want to say to all the nice people who wrote me. I'll just address it to this one person—but I'm not using his full name because I didn't have permission.

Dear Jim,

Thanks for your note. I printed it out, put it on my desk, and thought about what you wrote. Here is what I am thinking.

First off, I don't think if we can spend trillions on starting wars we can then also spend trillions on health care. I know that won't work. If fact, we can't keep spending trillions on war.

I don't know if you have ever lived in a third world country, but I have, and they are really horrible for the citizens. That is, except for the small number of really wealthy people in these countries. We have, right here in America, pockets that are every bit as bad as those third world countries. Right here in Tallahassee, behind Railroad Square, where I work, there are people living in third world conditions. You can find houses without windows. I don't know about utilities, but people who work with these people tell me some have none. Yes, of course, there is heavy crime. (This is not an area that I feel safe walking in or driving through) From my studio I can see the daily flow of police cars (they don't respond at night), and it is not uncommon to hear the sound of gun shots. Northern Minnesota has areas that are the same except for the high crime. I am sure every major city has its section. Then there is Appalachia, and we have all seen the unbelievable documentaries about the poverty there.

As far as government health care goes, it isn't the best, but I have seen the best at some VA hospitals, so it can be done. Besides if government medical care were so horrible, wouldn't somebody on Lew Rockwell be writing that we have to shut every Veterans Hospital? I have never heard Lew or Ron Paul say that. If government care is so bad, every VFW, Legion, and DAV would be up in arms saying "Give our Veterans a health card they can use at private hospitals." Yes, there are problems, but they usually come from under funding or lack of peer review.

After Vietnam I had long term care at the VA, and since then have had a number of stays there. The care I got was stellar. Today, that care has gone downhill some, and appointment times are longer apart, but there are millions of young vets from Bush's wars and his dad's war that need help. I am sure that WWII and Korean vets felt that same way when I started going to the VA after returning from Vietnam.

I want you to think about this. American citizens have been brain washed for decades by the medical industry into believing that Government cannot provide good health care. They do that because they don't want to lose their billions in profits.

When the Clinton's tried to put in their brand of universal health care, private industry spent hundreds of millions of dollars on television and radio ads scaring the American public into stopping it. Why would they spend that kind of money? Because their profits are worth that investment.

Here is how the New York Times started a story about health care yesterday.

Health insurance is supposed to offer protection — both medically and financially. But as it turns out, an estimated three-quarters of people who are pushed into personal bankruptcy by medical problems actually had insurance when they got sick or were injured.

Even with insurance, Private hospitals can take everything you have. My wife died in Hospice after years of dealing with our American health care system. From the small town hospital in Northern Minnesota to the famous Mayo Clinic, the first question asked was, "How are you going to pay for this."

Our whole health care system is about profit. Healing is secondary. Hospitals, clinics, drug stores, medical supply stores and drug manufacturers are for-profit companies who make money off the suffering of our citizens.

Maybe, because we are a capitalist country that is OK, but is it moral? If you have the money, America has great health care, but if you don't, well that is what band aids are made for. Try checking out world health care statistics, You will find that we don't rate all that high, and look at how long people live in the United States compared to other countries.

Do you think there is any chance that the added stress in America about health care or the lack of stress about health care in other industrial countries could make a difference? I do.

My parents paid off their mortgage and had a party in out back yard where they burned that piece of paper. My mother always talked about how that reduced their stress level, and I believe her. Today she is 89 and the only worry she has is keeping her health insurance.

It isn't just health care insurance that Americans worry about. It is cancer insurance, long term care insurance, accident insurance, and burial insurance. No wonder the health care industry will shell out millions to stop government health care. We are talking about an industry whose total profits are counted in hundreds of billions if not trillions. All those profits are made on suffering.

You have a sick loved one, and you can't stop and think about cost or which hospital gives you the best bang for your buck. The Medical industry has you, and they take advantage of that love and can and will jack up costs until you can no longer pay.

Some people think the system we have is the best in the world. That is not true, and there really are no facts to back that up. So, what can they do to convince the American people that they don't want Universal health care. They can wave the flag and shout out the word FREEDOM. Freedom to choose the doctor and the hospital you want. That is great until you really need one or you lose your job and its insurance benefits. Then you are thrown into the mix with the 50 million Americans who have no insurance and the millions more who are under insured.

Your next step after that? If you have a loved one who needs real health care? Well, then you are down to that third world sector living here in America. Don't look to the medical industry for help as they are looking for profits.

And for sure don't look to your fellow citizens who have medical insurance, because they are looking for freedom.

Post Script:

Here is the real kicker. Harpers Magazine, reports in their July issue that 83,000,000 Americans have their health care paid for with tax dollars right now.

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