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It’s time to fix nation’s health care problems

Friday, July 3, 2009
(Updated 3:00 am)

The debate over health care insurance has been heating up. There is certainly ample evidence that the current health care environment is unhealthy: 46 million Americans are uninsured, health care costs are becoming unaffordable, and even the insured cannot see “their doctor” promptly.

Some people say they don’t want to pay for others’ medical expenses. Unfortunately, they already are. Millions without coverage go to the emergency room where routine care is most expensive and the bill eventually goes to the taxpayer.

Some people say they don’t want the government dictating which doctor they see. When is the last time you called your doctor and he saw you the same day you called?

One can make the case for “being my brother’s keeper.” One can also make the case for stopping contagious and worsening disease before it spreads and becomes more expensive. One can also make the case that necessary medical care will be delivered and paid for, one way or another.

Isn’t it time that we as a society plan for the illnesses that we all ultimately share and pay for? Isn’t it time we look at the big picture, and see that our lives depend on one another?

Kurt Lauenstein
Greensboro

Comments

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neocon

July 3, 2009 - 8:22 am EDT

BTW, the government "fix" is 99.9% of the time, worse than the problem, but that doesn't faze the nanny staters in their quest to create equality and not quality.

J D R

July 3, 2009 - 9:59 am EDT

next time you see a Vet with a prosthetic .. tell him you think the Government "fix" is almost always worse then the problem. Make sure you have a baggie to carry home your teeth that may be knocked out.

neocon

July 3, 2009 - 1:45 pm EDT

Actually I don't have to tell vets this, I know two personally that rely on the VA and another who was a disabled vet that died several years back. They all told me what a fiasco it was dealing with the red tape, delays, and how treatment in general left a lot to be desired. When I agreed with them, they never knocked my teeth out. Quite the contrary, they don't want to see the system they have crammed down the throat of the rest of the country. (and one of them, I'd describe as liberal...not a flaming uncle ted fan...but liberal nonetheless)

So, once again, you're inventing scenarios that you WANT to be true, but the reality is very different.

J D R

July 3, 2009 - 4:36 pm EDT

I'm sure the "red tape, delays, and how treatment in general" ... "left a lot to be desired".

No argument. The question was WHY?

The answer is the VA is underfunded (and admittedly over paperwork / procedured but that too is only a money issue.)

Opposite BCBS .. which is never underfunded (because it can always raise rates) .. but it too is over paperwork / procedured - ask those that have been denied because of xyz.

As for knocking teeth out - you missed the point (or Ignored it); prove it's not the latter.

J D R

July 3, 2009 - 10:04 am EDT

I thought you told me you were not sure if your kids had coverage or not .. did you find out?

==

".. their impact on government run health care."

Earlier I stated a major difference was, e.g., BCBS which has unlimited funding opposite the VA which is budgeted by Congress. Flaming Pansies (like me) were concerned about the real cost of the Iraq folly .. Bush did increase VA spending, but not nearly as much as requested by the Career Military the Secretary of Veterans Affairs .. Military Needs once again shorted by Politics.

Career Military run VA .. and funding is limited by Congress which in turn is limited by available revenues. Available revenues are limited by folks crying "They're Stealing MY Money" just as much as limited by folks crying "Let the g-men take care of me." and even more limited by folks crying, "Hey, Mr. Senator .. if you could just insert a couple paragraphs in that bill .. I'll give you the wording, and will remember you the next election cycle .. as I did last time."

Regardless: Career Military run VA .. and 2004 would have been a good time to show your support. Properly funded, the VA COULD indeed be a shining example of Government Run Health Care .. but no .. short the VA, short the men and women that gave all (or body parts) to provide Exxon access to Iraqi Oil ... do some "Thank You For Your Service, Sir"-ing, then claim the VA is merely a shining example of crappy Government Run Health Care.

zeus80

July 3, 2009 - 12:24 pm EDT

JDR, I believe you may be wasting your time conversing with danagain and neocon. You seem to be a bit too bright and alert for them to understand very much of what your're saying. Just a thought! And have a happy and safe 4th of July!

J D R

July 3, 2009 - 12:30 pm EDT

... naaa .. we're old buddies .. and they offer valid points ...

zeus80

July 3, 2009 - 1:01 pm EDT

So your alertness trumps mine, JDR! Because I haven't been able to recognize any of their "valid points" during the past two days! Maybe if I wait a little longer.

danagain

July 3, 2009 - 10:28 pm EDT

Welcome back truman. I've read the writing style over several posts and it's the same. It's too much of a coincidence that you magically appeared as zeus in spades immediately after truman was banned. And now the "light" insults are appearing.

neocon

July 3, 2009 - 1:56 pm EDT

And of course when uncle teddy's and the big O's plan is the law of the land, there will be no more crying "hey Mr. Senator", or people shouting "they're stealing my money", or shortages of any kind, right?

Yes, the VA COULD be a shining example of government health care...but the reality is, it's not, and instead, it's a good warning of what to expect when it's implemented on a national level.

Again, you're not dealing in reality, you're stating what you WANT government run health care to be...but the VA offers us a great example of what it IS.

J D R

July 3, 2009 - 4:37 pm EDT

Give the VA the same rules as BCBS .. and see what happens.

chickenlittle02

July 3, 2009 - 8:09 am EDT

Interesting that you should bring that up. The LTE-writer himself is an MD...a monicker he failed to leave off.

danagain

July 3, 2009 - 8:58 am EDT

You are correct chicklittle, he is an MD. As I mentioned a year or so ago he performed one of my annual physicals. Knowing he is a die hard lib I made sure not to mention that I was a conservative before he did my prostate check.

bubba

July 3, 2009 - 2:08 pm EDT

"Some people say they don’t want to pay for others’ medical expenses. Unfortunately, they already are. Millions without coverage go to the emergency room where routine care is most expensive and the bill eventually goes to the taxpayer."

Our government can't manage and fund the government health care (VA, Medicare) we already have in place, let alone the disaster that is Obamacare in all things. Based on our experience, how can we reasonably expect a federal government program to "fix health care"?

Why will we not first fix what we already are committed to provide?

As far as "not paying for others' health care", what do you propose we do when those who bear the brunt of the costs now, the middle class, are unable to do so?

First, regarding the vaunted "public option", let's consider the extended direct costs, the indirect costs, and the cost overruns historically present from any government program. where is it going to come from?

Next, ask yourself this: Do you think the inflation caused by the Obamanation's stimulus, and other lessor drunken sailpor spending programs is not going to happen?

And then, do you think the Cap 'n Trade nonsense "will only cost taxpayers a few hundred dollars a year"?

Dream on......

Where's you're magic wand, Kurt?

Can you actually raise the dead?

J D R

July 3, 2009 - 4:38 pm EDT

BubbaHead is one to ignore

bubba

July 3, 2009 - 8:51 pm EDT

"BubbaHead is one to ignore."

Good advice for people who have no facts with which to support a valid contrary viewpoint, as always evidenced by our resident Rocket Scientist, the one and only (thank God) JDR.

You will notice that JDR doesn't even practice the nonsense he preaches.

zeus80

July 3, 2009 - 12:50 pm EDT

Dr. Laurenstein, you may want to search the medical records "on file" (re "annual physicals") just to discover the name of a "conservative patient" who doesn't trust your medical opinions because of your progressive political opinions. Good luck with the search. And may you be in a very "political mood" the next time he shows up for treatment. (Ahem!)

danagain

July 3, 2009 - 10:51 pm EDT

Dr. L has moved on to a different clinic since my physical exam with him years ago truman...er...zeus. To my knowledge, I don't know about your doctor, but political affiliation wasn't part of the annual exam questionnaire. Just keep being nice, we'll see how long you can hold out.

pavlovscat

July 3, 2009 - 1:39 pm EDT

I saw some interesting facts just this AM:

1: British women are 88% more likely than Americans to die from breast cancer. Brithish men 604% more likely than americans to die from prostate cancer.

2: 8 of 10 most recent major medical discoveries came from U.S.

3: Americans have access to 3 times as many CT scans as Canadians; 4 times the Brits.

4: In a ruling to eliminate the national health care monopoly in Canada, their Supreme Court wrote: "The evidence shows that in the case of certain surgical procedures, the delays that are the necessary result of waithing lists increase the patient's risk of mortality or the risk that his or her injuries will become irreparable."

And the one , (and probably the most important), question no one is asking is "Where is the Constitutional authority for the federal government to be involved in health care at all?

J D R

July 3, 2009 - 4:50 pm EDT

I had to laugh today .. Mr. Rush OxyContin talked avout "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" ... calling then the "seven words most important words".

He should know..

rbennet

July 3, 2009 - 1:46 pm EDT

He's an M.D.?

I call Global Warming rules. No one related to the business can provide input without "who works for Big _____" added to their name and all future mentions and used in hopes of damaging the reputation of dissenters while avoiding any valid discussions their data might prompt.

neocon

July 3, 2009 - 2:29 pm EDT

Some are trying to get the word out, but the nanny staters just cover their ears, shake their heads, scream, and stamp their feet:

http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/06/29/canada-private-clinic-cont...

"The critics of the private clinics in Canada are angry because it means some people are getting better care outside the government system on their own dime"

Liberalism defined...

J D R

July 3, 2009 - 4:42 pm EDT

Canada dis-allows "Private for-profit clinics" ... but Obama's plan apparently does not .. ... neither does Germany's plan.

I for one am pulling for a copy of Germany's plan.

zeus80

July 3, 2009 - 2:51 pm EDT

Dr. Kurt, N&R reported at 12:53 p.m. today that: "Hagan supports plan for for public health care." And reportedly she believes that this "public option" plan is the type that will get through the Senate! So I believe many of Kay's constituents (like me) contacted her office recently to say that we didn't donate to her campaign last November expecting she would oppose meaningful health care reform, including a public option. Apparently, she got the message! Establish "public option?" Yes We Can!

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