Text 1243, 83 rader
Skriven 2004-08-11 22:33:00 av LEE LOFASO (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av STEVE ASHER
Ärende: President John Kerry !!
===============================
Hello Steve,

>VH>And in single-payer systems, like that in England, the government
>VH>tells doctors what they can and cannot do.  Again using England for
>VH>an example, people over 55 can't get kidney dialysis.

>SA>That is an interesting claim. An estimated 21,150 new adult
>SA>patients in the UK were accepted for kidney dialysis between 1995
>SA>and 1999, and about 67% of these were aged 55 and above, as recorded
>SA>by Hansard.

>LL>John and Vern prefer the HMO system, which tell doctors what they
>LL>can and cannot do, what doctors can treat and get paid for, and
>LL>tell patients what said HMO plan will and won't cover.  Patients
>LL>also have no choice of doctors, given that HMO's dictate to
>LL>patients what doctors to go to.

SA>There are no "perfect" health systems, whether in the USA, UK, or Australia;
SA>all suffer from deficiencies, cost pressures, horror stories of misdiagnosis
SA>and death etc. Health is a perennial issue here at the state and federal
SA>level, with oppositions pointing out the deficiencies, then being elected
SA>to government & the former party now in opposition points out the deficienci
SA>etc etc.

John and Vern are indirectly referring to Proposition 186 in California.
However, the USA is the *only* nation in the civilized world which does
not have a universal health care system.  It may have the best medical
care in the world, but it is not accessible to everyone.

Australia used to have a system similar to the USA.  But it faced the
same problems, and had to change its system.  Then, Australia went to a
total government-run system, which led to even greater problems being
that folks had a difficult time scheduling visits or getting medical
care when they needed it.  Today, Australia has a mixed system, but one
that guarantees access to quality medical care for everyone.

SA>Personally, I find Australia's health system, while not perfect, to be very
SA>good - I don't have any personal "horror stories", but things do go wrong,
SA>& people do die as a result.

There are between 40 and 44 million Americans who lack health insurance,
or lack access to quality health care.  And it is getting worse, not
better.  Within a few short years, that figure is estimated to reach 56
million uninsured Americans.  Perhaps higher.

SA>Vern does post that claim about kidney dialysis not being available to those
SA>over 55 in the UK, but it does not appear to be borne out by the facts, unle
SA>there is widespread lying & misrepresentation by the health service and the
SA>hospitals.

Like many conservatives, Vern makes stuff up.  ;)

SA>The Guys and St Thomas Hospitals in London provide kidney dialysis for about
SA>480 patients, including those starting dialysis over the age of 60.

Access to quality health care is the first of all human rights.
But conservatives do not believe in human rights.  Only the creation
of more wealth for the wealthy.  Which usually comes at the expense
of the poor.

SA>Vern is a politician, and as such is likely to be economical with the truth
SA>when it comes to things like dialysis - it would do his electors well to
SA>check out his claims against the facts, should he be elected, and especially
SA>before casting their votes.

Most voters in this country are uninformed about issues, and not really
interested in learning what those issues are and how those issues affect
them.  Elections here are more like personality contests rather than
debates about issues.

Years ago, Edwin Edwards won the governorship of Louisiana not
because of his views on the issues, but because he had a pretty face.
Little old ladies would see him on television and say "Oh!  He's so
cute! I'm gonna vote for him!"  Edwards wound up serving four terms.
And then carted off to prison, thus proving that Louisiana has the
best politicians that money can buy.

--Lee


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