Showing posts with label socialized medicine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label socialized medicine. Show all posts
Sunday, December 20, 2009
THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama's goal of health care reform received a key boost when Senate Democrat leaders said they had secured the key 60th vote needed to pass legislation.
The Senate bill is now expected to be put to a vote before Christmas, despite Republican delaying tactics.
Democrats from the Senate and the House of Representatives will then still have to hammer out major differences between their two versions of health reform before a final bill can be delivered to Mr Obama.
The president has made health reform his domestic policy priority and White House aides welcomed reports that there were now 60 supporters for a compromise deal in the Senate.
Mr Obama devoted his weekend radio and Internet address to the issue he campaigned on in 2008.
"Now - for the first time - there is a clear majority in the Senate that's willing to stand up to the insurance lobby and embrace lasting health insurance reforms that have eluded us for generations," he said.
The breakthrough came when Sen Ben Nelson, a socially conservative Democrat, told his party colleagues that he was willing to accept new wording that restricted federal funding for abortion.
It also emerged that he had secured extra federal funding for health programmes in his home state of Nebraska after days of negotiations.
His support appeared to give Senate leader Harry Reid the 60 votes required in the 100-seat chamber to overcome the threat of a Republican filibuster. >>> Philip Sherwell in New York | Saturday, December 19, 2009
THE TELEGRAPH: Barack Obama’s Top Ten Foreign Policy Follies: This has hardly been a stellar year for the projection of American global power. Weakness, rather than strength, has been the hallmark of US foreign policy under Barack Obama, from the Iranian nuclear crisis to dithering over the war in Afghanistan. Instead of strong American leadership, the White House has all too often offered humiliating apologies for America’s past and embarrassing gaffes.
Here is a list of the ten biggest foreign policy follies of Barack Obama’s first year in office. I’ve tried to make the list inclusive of all corners of the world, ranging from Tehran to Tokyo to Khartoum, and frankly could easily have expanded it to a top 20 or even top 30 list. There are plenty to choose from, including some of the most cringe worthy moments in modern American history. >>> Nile Gardiner | Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
THE SPECTATOR: If the NHS is ‘fair’, give me unfairness any day
Did I ever tell you about the time the National Health Service relieved me of my piles? It’s a painful story — and for many of you, no doubt, already far, far more information than you want. But I do think it goes a long way towards explaining our ongoing Eloi-like subservience to the great, slobbering, brutish NHS Morlock which we so rose-tintedly delude ourselves is still the ‘Envy of the World’.
Look, if you don’t want to read about piles (‘’roids’ if you’re American), I should skip on a few pars. The key thing to recognise is that from tiny beginnings, they mutate into an all-consuming misery. Enjoying a night in front of the TV? Yeah, but the piles! Having a relaxing bath? Yeah, but the piles! Fancy going riding? Eek! You can see why Napoleon — a fellow sufferer — felt compelled to conquer half the world. Anything to distract yourself from what’s going on down below.
So naturally when a surgeon relieves you of the buggers, you feel exceedingly grateful. I remember coming round after my op in my overstretched local hospital — King’s in south London — two or three years back, and thinking the thought that occurs to all British citizens at some time or another: ‘Gawd bless you NHS! You have saved my sorry arse!’
One reason for my gratitude was that the treatment was free. Gosh, I love being given expensive things for free, don’t you? I like it so much I think I’d almost rather be poor and get lots of free stuff than I would be rich and be able to afford anything I wanted. Free stuff — thanks, lovely Dan from Mongoose cricket bats — feels like a gift from God; proof that life isn’t quite as sucky and thankless and horribly unfair as you imagine. >>> James Delingpole | Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
LOS ANGELES TIMES: Obama and officials say it is not 'essential' to the overhaul. Insurance exchanges or cooperatives would be likely to replace it.
Reporting from Washington - The Obama administration signaled Sunday that it was on the verge of abandoning a government-run insurance option in its healthcare overhaul -- a bow to political reality and a big win for insurers.
But some experts said that may not completely relieve pressure on insurers to deliver cost savings.
Both Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said on Sunday talk shows that a government insurance option was not essential -- one day after President Obama himself said as much.
Private-sector options, such as insurance exchanges or cooperatives, would be likely to replace it. Obama already has proposed forming exchanges -- virtual marketplaces where private insurers would compete for consumers' business. And co-ops would allow consumers to band together to negotiate coverage.
Sebelius told CNN's "State of the Union" that a public option is "not the essential element" of healthcare overhaul, but that lowering insurance costs and preventing insurers from dumping customers for preexisting conditions or for exceeding coverage caps are must-haves.
"I think there will be a competitor to private insurers," she said. "That's really the essential part, is you don't turn over the whole new marketplace to private insurance companies and trust them to do the right thing."
Gibbs agreed, describing the "bottom line" for the president: "What we have to have is choice and competition in the insurance market."
Obama continues to believe that "the option of a government plan is the best way to provide choice and competition," Gibbs said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
But if there are other means to achieve that, Gibbs said, "the president will be satisfied." >>> Andrew Zajac | Monday, August 17, 2009
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
CANADA FREE PRESS: The great debate on medical care is taking place in this year’s presidential campaign. Much is made of the fact that care costs too much and that government isn’t doing enough to provide coverage for the poor and elderly. Be careful - you may regret ever-encouraging government - controlled medicine.
Case in point, this report from England (Don’t treat the old and unhealthy, say doctors) where full government health care is “provided” free to every citizen. For years, free market advocates like myself have had to endure lectures from our little socialist friends about the glories of “free” health care. We keep pointing out that nothing is free - and now the folks in England may be paying for that health care with their lives - literally.
When government gets overburdened and revenues don’t keep up with all the grand plans of a horde of politicians, someone has to feel the pain. Today, England’s treasury can’t keep up with the massive costs of health care. So the bureaucrats, such fiscally responsible folks - just serving the people, you understand - have decided the best way to cut costs is to stop providing health care to those who are too old or those who leave “unhealthy lives.” Of course, government gets to decide who they are.
It’s important to note here that the reason health care cost so much today is because government got involved in health care in the first place. It mostly started for the United States back in the 1960’s under Lyndon Johnson’s “compassionate” policy of universal health care. From that time a visit to the doctor went from costing a few dollars to hundreds, affordable only through insurance payments. It’s no coincidence that the quality of health care also started to go down as the costs soared. Socialized medicine does not work. Period. Beware: “Free” medical care will kill you - on purpose! >>> By Tom Deweese
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