American Health Reform

[mbeezie]

I'm with Polly in that for most of my career, until recently, I have worked with an underserved, uninsured population. Once you see the face of the poor and interact with them and realize how difficult it is for them to get basic medical care, it is very hard to turn your back on them. Of course I am concerned about what all of this means to me personally, but I always go back to this point . . . it's not all about me, never has been and never will be.

Mary Beth

[Bifcus16]

I see some US based people on another forum who are in a really bad way due to chronic health issues. They can't get the (ongoing lifelong) treatment they need. As a result they can't work, get sicker, their families lose their homes, etc. One woman I know got (totally preventable) brain damage from half treated meningitis. In the UK or here, people with the same conditions get treatment, and most will be able to hold down a job and contribute to society.

Our systems aren't perfect by a long shot, and I pay more tax to cover it, but I have to say I am glad we have a system that looks after the chronically ill and low income earners. And I hope you guys end up with something that does that for you.

Lyn

[Stanz]

Well, Gabes, I've been hesitant to tackle this post as when I'm not on a hunt for health information, I am VERY politically involved. Long and short for me on this issue, is that the reality is that if you look at the history of research on just the very issues that we here face DAILY, they have almost ALL been done by countries - and I mean Countries - not drug companies in countries - that have nationalized health coverage. So, why is that???

There is NO incentive under the current situation in the US, for any entity to do REAL research to find answers to disease. There is NO incentive for actually curing disease. IMO, the drug companies have been running this show far too long here in the US. This bill is not perfect by any stretch and I'd have loved to see the drug companies who, IMO, have been poisoning us for decades, be MAJORLY SPANKED by any healthcare legislation and I still hope BO has this up his sleeve. I still hope, as I have children and grandchildren and even if I believe that I am doomed in many ways, I still hope that I didn't give birth to children who have given birth to my grandchildren who will have to live in a country that doesn't care about it's people.

I'm too old to really be affected by this, as I'll be of Medicare age if and when it ever takes over, so I guess at that point I'd be at the mercy of a gov't that really doesn't give a damn, but what else is new? Hey, at least BO tried, and that's more than most have done. If those of us in the US ever want to feel ashamed, just read the history of the SS Act being passed. The same BS. Big business, banks, running the show. Truly one of the most embarrassing chapters in US history and something all us baby boomers need to read if we want to understand how this bill that most of us have been paying into for around 50 years was ever passed. I've never trusted I could survive on SS and have lived frugally all my life, have invested in real estate and CD's and we all know where that's gone. I'll live as long as I can pay my way and then buhbye, I will not drag my husband and daughters into a pit with me.

The shameful behavior since last weekends vote is just beyond belief. No Viagra for sex offenders?? Puhleeeze. Not working past 2 PM? Well, I'd just love it if I could find a rule that I didn't have to work past 2 PM on my job, but that wouldn't get me any future work and as a freelancer, not someone who is elected to office with a sweet retirement package, I'd pretty much be cutting my own throat.