Sunday, April 01, 2007

Time out...to see doctors

I haven't posted on this blog lately, so I have not done my usual pontificating on the major issues of the day, nor have I been dredging up personal memories of the past to publish here. My wife and I have been too busy visiting doctors. During the past week and in the upcoming week, one of us has seen or is scheduled to see a cardiologist, orthopedic surgeon, plastic surgeon, dermatologist, an ENT specialist, an eye doctor, gastroentrologist, and an internist.

Fortunately, we are receiving our medical care at a minimal cost. Medicare and the secondary medical insurance provided as part of my generous retirement package from the McGraw-Hill Companies, publishers of Business Week, will take care of the bulk of our expenses.

Most of the world's industrial powers provide such medical care to all its citizens, not only retirees. But in the U.S., the richest of the industrial powers, universal medical care is unavailable. One reason is opposition to what the opponents call "socialized" medicine. That's the same kind of nonsense used decades ago to argue against the enactment of Medicare itself.

But the major argument seems to be that the nation cannot afford to pay for medical care for all its citizens. It can afford, however, to waste up to a trillion dollars fighting an unnecessary war in Iraq, billions to rebuild that country's infrastructure, and hundreds of billions more to build and maintain an anti-ICBM weapon system that does not work and is designed to protect us from a non-existent enemy. And who knows about the countless other costly boondoggles in which the Bush Administration is engaged?

Meanwhile, the Administration can afford to reduce taxes for the wealthy even while we fight a war and to continue paying huge subsidies to major corporations and giant farming enterprises.

The bottom line is that there is no reason why all Americans should not have access to the same benefits of medical care that my wife and I enjoy.

10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Exactly...one of my concerns is: we, as a population, are so gullible; we swallow what we're told, hook, line, and sinker; we think and behave as lemmings. Is it some sort of cosmic guilt, and/or fear, and/or ignorance that inhibit our thinking process? Seems that guilt is applied to the masses each time a reasonable objection to policy and/or procedure is made. We are spiralling downward, sadly. mp

Sunday, April 01, 2007 3:18:00 PM  
Blogger Chancy said...

Wiahing you and your wife good health and less "quality" time with doctors.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007 11:47:00 PM  
Blogger Henry said...

Actually, the hospitals in our nation rarely turn anyone away. If they cannot pay, they are patched up (emergency room)and sent on their way, for things no more severe than a skinned knee. Anything more serious is placed in the appropriate care ward, and no one is sent away untreated, even if they cannot pay. That is why hospital costs for the rest of us are so high! Many hospitals have opted for the non-profit status, for tax purposes, but, of course, once they establish that you can pay, you will be billed.

Thursday, April 05, 2007 11:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Isn't that the truth! It's mind boggling and disgusting that our country is spending all that money in Iraq. Moreover, the thousands of people that have been injured or died as a result makes me sick to my stomach!

Good health to you and your wife!

Thursday, April 05, 2007 11:38:00 PM  
Blogger Ginnie said...

Once again you are right on target. I think it is criminal that we are throwing away all this money on a war that should never have happened.
This administration has taken us to the low point of our nation's existence and I dread how long it will be for us to struggle back...if we ever do.

Friday, April 06, 2007 6:57:00 PM  
Blogger Observer said...

"Socialized" medicine? Baah,humbug.
Up here in Canada we may have a horrible climate but at least we have decent medical care.
Morton, I wish it all turns out well for both of you during those visits to the doctors.
A side issue,re our climate. The current well below freezing temperatures are driving me away from the Global Warming crowd.

Friday, April 06, 2007 7:46:00 PM  
Blogger twilite said...

Hi. I'd been enjoying your blog. Wishing you good health...and peace at easter.

Friday, April 06, 2007 9:38:00 PM  
Blogger joared said...

I certainly wish you and your wife well as you make the rounds of the various medical specialities.

You've certainly succintly made the case for all Americans having access to the benefits of medical care many of us are fortunate to have. I couldn't agree more.

Saturday, April 07, 2007 4:41:00 AM  
Blogger Treifalicious said...

It's funny you should mention the health care system. In my blog (in part inspired by a recebnt NYT article), I brought up a post I wrote some 3 years ago on the financial benefits to business of a national health care system, with some supporting links from a group "Physicians for a National Health System".

I think that with more and more people not having health insurance there is more momentum in the direction of a national health system.

The post is here at: http://treifalicious.blogspot.com/2007/04/by-george-i-think-theyve-got-it.html

Saturday, April 07, 2007 10:40:00 PM  
Blogger Katness said...

Gastroentrolegist. I went to see one last week. When you're young and you pay for the best insurance, visits like that are surprisingly free.

Monday, April 16, 2007 1:51:00 AM  

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