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EDITORIAL COMMENTARY
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
In My Opinion...Not That You Asked
By: Scot P. Bauer
Socialized Medicine
By: Scot P. Bauer
This recent Thanksgiving had the entire family down to visit. Five adults, one child, two infants, and three full sized dogs all stuck inside the house while it rained nonstop for days. Somebody kill me.
Actually, we all had a great time, and we've decided to get together in another fifteen years, just like clockwork.
My brother (whom I will refer to as 'Butt Face') is a firefighter out on the West Coast. He occasionally works hard at this very dangerous occupation. The rest of the time, he eats, sleeps, washes his truck, and plays with his Xbox while getting paid. I feel a natural inclination to note the obvious fact that Butt Face is a certifiable bum, scamming his employers since he spends most of his time on the clock goofing off. It truly is a shame that people can get away with this type of behavior. I'm only allowing him off the hook because he's my brother. And I'm the forgiving type. And he's had a ruff life. Maybe a little understanding, since my job involves plenty of goofing off, also, but mainly because he's my brother.
Anyway, Butt Face and I somehow came around to the topic of healthcare. Since he worked as a paramedic for years before becoming an Xbox Commando (a.k.a. 'Firefighter'), he has first hand knowledge of the disaster that is the healthcare system of this country. Unfortunately, he likes the idea of government-controlled healthcare better know as socialized medicine.
Using the United States government's extensive history of cost overruns and mismanagement when they take control of...everything, I begged to differ. I agree that the healthcare system in this country needs work, but turning it over to the hands of people who just love nothing more than to blow money that isn't theirs like it grows on trees, isn't the answer. Simply put, don't elect a fat guy to run your company's fitness program; Don't put a drug addict in charge of the pharmacy, and for the love of God, don't let a politician get his self-serving finger on this nation's healthcare.
Butt Face likes to use Canada as an example, stating that Americans flock over the border to buy their discounted prescription drugs. This is true, since Canadians pay taxes at a rate that would make even the most hardcore Liberals pause. Socialized medicine is like having one giant, nationwide health insurance plan, used by all, but paid for by a select group. Take a good look at Social Security, and you'll see what I mean. For one example, millions of illegal aliens get checks, but don't actually pay into the fund. This costs taxpayers billions of dollars a year. Now Butt Face thinks this is an idea that needs to spread into the trillions of dollars that government controlled healthcare will run. Thanks, but I'll pass.
Butt Face also mentioned that the U.S. is one of only five nations that don't have socialized medicine. He's probably right. I really don't know the statistics. But I don't see Kings and rulers from around the world flocking to the Ivory Coast or Finland for lifesaving surgery. Do you?
Becoming involved in the healthcare system of this country is a risk/reward proposition. Sending yourself through medical or nursing school is a long and expensive process, but the rewards can be great. Take away the rewards by having the job they seek controlled by the government, where doctors and airport screeners are considered as being the same, and those people will find another field to seek their fortune.
Under a socialized medicine plan, personalized service will suffer. Efficiency will disappear. Costs will skyrocket. Lines will form around the corner. Accountability will be hard to pinpoint. Waste will take on a whole new meaning. The only incentive that this type of program will provide is for more people to sneak into the country and take advantage of it...free of charge, or course. Got a medical problem? Get a student visa and let the stupid Americans pay for it!
I love Butt Face, and he's a great guy. I just don't think he can see the big picture. Socialized Medicine is just one more aspect of our lives that we don't need the government to get involved in. If the Feds really, really want to help, maybe they can find a way to shut down the trial lawyers (like, ah, John Edwards) who run the cost of healthcare up by billions of dollars per year using junk science.
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