Aug 14 2009
Socialized Healthcare
For you consideration…
All Americans are well aware that President Obama is trying to pass a bill that will provide universal healthcare. Those who oppose such a bill are concerned that our private health insurance will be replaced by a “socialist” healthcare. They believe that “socialized” medicine might have flaws such as: the inability to choose a personal physician, extended waits for appointments, higher prescription drug costs, less diagnostic testing, more expensive copays, ect. For those who are concerned about “socialized” healthcare, I have to wonder what they think of other government sponsered programs, such as medicaid and medicare. Somehow, our government has managed to provide the country with these programs and still maintain our private health care sector. Many would charictarize medicaid and medicare as “socialist” since it is government provided. However, these “socialist” programs seem to be able to coexist with private health insurance providers. Right now, government provided health coverage, medicaid and medicare, are only available to Americans who are disabled or collect social security. Why is it assumed that when we take government health care to the next level, providing coverage to all Americans, it all of the sudden turns into “evil socialism.” Perhaps Americans have a deeply embedded negative perception of the word “socialism.” If we replaced the phrase “socialized healthcare” for “equal healthcare,” would Americans still be on the rampage, determined to kill this bill? Can government sponsered universal healthcare coexist with private health insurance? If the two cannot coexist, would it be better leave things as they are, or should America ditch the private sector all together in order to provide equal universal coverage to everyone?
