The Voice

I have been trying to make sense out of the on-going health care ruckus (it would be great if there were a debate).  It seems to me that there needs to be some core principles out of which the reform proposals develop.  At the top of the list for me is that profit needs to be removed as a motivator in the health industry and that coverage needs to be made available to all.  It just seems wrong for insurance companies to have their profits go from $2.4M in 2000 to $12.7M in 2007 in the face of the 14,000 people who are losing their coverage every day.  It just seems wrong for that 70% of the bankruptcies in this country are precipitated by the cost of health care.  It just seems wrong that the biggest proponents for keeping the status quo are those who will profit the most from the continued suffering of others.

There is a great post on Talking Points Memo that helps put some of this in perspective.  Jane B. is describing her experience with the health industry in France: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/jane_blevins/2009/08/getting-cancer-in-a-hell-hole.php?ref=fpd

It just seems more civilized.

A recent FactCheck article has some disturbing news about the bill passed in the House to require the Government to negotiate drug prices.  Check it out: http://www.factcheck.org/article474.html