Walter Reed A Metaphor For Government Health Care

[Terri]

By Doug Patton
March 12, 2007

"Government-run health care will combine the efficiency of the Post Office with the frugality of the Pentagon and the compassion of the IRS."-- 1994 rallying cry against Hillary-Care

I was writing fiery speeches for a long-shot Republican congressional candidate when Hillary Clinton attempted to engineer a takeover of America's health care system. In fact, it was Bill and Hillary's arrogant overreaching for power that helped that young conservative topple an entrenched Democrat in November of that year, one more victory in a landslide election night that would became known as the "Republican Revolution."

While the GOP revolution may have stalled, the liberal Democrat juggernaut for what used to be called "socialized medicine" rolls on. Those who want their government to provide cradle-to-the-grave safety nets continue to clamor for ever more radical candidates promising ever more radical solutions for our health care "crisis."

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[poppi]

AMEN!!!! Government interference in our lives has done nothing but create a nation filled with millions of citizens with entitlement mentalities. The average taxpayer will bear the burden of funding "government health care", most likely costing more than they are paying now for health insurance, which will probably then make them eligible for for free care themselves.
ENOUGH already!!! This is a free thinking nation. Let's not let the government do our thinking FOR us!!!!

[Confused]

There is a lot to be said for military medical facilities;however, there is also a lot to be feared. A lot of times physicians (not all but enough) use their military service and the benefits it offers to gain the knowledge needed to be a doctor and then to be able to move on to a highly lucrative private practice once they leave the military. Some of this number is only "in it" for that knowledge and experience with no regard for the people they tend to. But in all fairness, this also happens with a lot of private practitioners as well. The scarey thing about the Government taking over all health care is that it will become a huge, slow moving HMO-type business, where the bottomline is money versus the actual caring of human beings. The untimeliness of the treatments may cause some patients to lanquish and die before they could get the necessary treatment. The only positives from this action that I can see is that possibly more people will have access to some sort of medical care, and HOPEFULLY the costs would be regulated, but at what expense to the taxpayers? In effect the taxpayers would be paying twice - one while actually paying their taxes, and the other when it comes time for them to have medical treatment they'd have to pay then too. This is just one person's opinion.

[steveh]

Doug hit this right on the head. This was the very first thing I thought of. If the government can't take care of a few thousand of our bravest men and women, why would anyone believe they could take care of 300,000,000 of us?

This entire issue cuts me to my soul. The media has been paying attention to the issue itself, which needs attention, but not the underlying issue of government health care in general.

In a way, this is a good thing. Voters will not forget this as future administrations attempt to federalize our health care.

[RealDeal]

and HOPEFULLY the costs would be regulated, but at what expense to the taxpayers?

Surely you jest.... govt "costs regulated"?

The costs could skyrocket, and would UNDOUBTEDLY!! Take a look at any other govt program. Most of the costs btw? Admin/paperwork/bureaucracy.

Hillary Clinton, of course, has never abandoned her dream of establishing a federal bureaucracy that would take control of one-seventh of the nation's economy;

-emphasis mine-

A "dream" shared by many of her socialist buddies, I'm sure... like Mr. Two America's etc... they literally salivate over the thought of that kind of control... not just the money but our very lives. SALIVATE!

And remember? Her nightmare, uh "dream", included the little dealy about "making it illegal to use your OWN money to buy private care ANYWHERE ELSE AT ANY COST." So, much for "freedom".... UGH!

Pick a federal agency. Do any of them fit your model of how health care should be run?

EXACTLY!!

NO SOCIALIZED MEDICINE; NO WAY, NO HOW!!

[steveh]

Confused...

Can you please tell me one thing, one single thing that government does right? Do you honestly believe the government can do anything better than private business?

Private business entities must work within guidelines and laws setforth by the government. If they screw up, they can be held accountable by our governments, as well as, our court system.

Who would the Fed govt be accountable too? Who would be our watchdog when a faceless bureaucrat refuses treatment for your illness? Do you honestly believe you will have any recourse?

In the current system, your doctor still has a major say in your care. Do you really want uneducated bureaucrats making decisions about your treatments?

The problem now with the healthcare system is government intervention. Why do Canadians come here for serious ailments?

If the government wants to help reduce costs, they should provide means to streamline the industry such as standardization of form, so that doctors can get back to being doctors, not paper pushers.

BTW- no one is refused care in an emergency room that receives any source of government funds.

[phillyfanatic]

What is amazing is that with all the so called Congressional oversight, the Congress could not even keep clean the govt. hospitals that serviced our vets. If anything, every VA hospital should be pristine and up to date with every med-tech that can help our military rehab.

[Charie]

The only positives from this action that I can see is that possibly more people will have access to some sort of medical care,

It's a Democrat myth that there are people in this country who can't get medical care. All you have to do is go into an emergency room and they will take care of you. As witness the influx of illegal aliens in our AZ, NM and TX hospitals. My friend, who is a nurse in AZ said their hospital is just about overwhelmed treating illegals.

Did I not read not too long ago that 3 hospitals in the NW have had to close because they don't have enough paying patients to stay open. They had practically nothing but non-paying illegals.

[commodore]

I can see is that possibly more people will have access to some sort of medical care, and HOPEFULLY the costs would be regulated, but at what expense to the taxpayers? In

Let's think about the words access to some sort of medical care. Is that the real situation in America? I suggest access is not the problem but financing is the problem. And the solution to the problem is not to send the money to Washington.
One of the reasons private health insurance is so expensive is the Government involvment throught Medicare and other programs. There is a hidden cost shifting to the private insurance program.

[Mary Asatruar]

It is SHAMFUL that our battle wounded soldiers are being treated like this. If we stop takeing care of other countrys people we can take care of our own people and I am SICK and TIRED of giveing welfare money to Alians and THIS CRIME of POOR care of our Troops MUST STOP. Stop giveing Health care to ILLEGAL ALIANS for FREE, BILL the Alians country Ministry of Health and DEPORT THEM when thay are stable.