A suggestion for single-payer advocates

[ccr1138.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who is a pediatrician and a strong advocate for government-run, single-payer health insurance. To her and all her friends who have formed an organization to fight for socialized medicine, I say this:

If you truly believe in single payer, why not set up your practice now so you ONLY take Medicaid patients? This is a serious suggestion; I’m not trying to be snide. Medicaid patients have an extremely difficult time finding doctors because the government doesn’t pay very much for those services. But if we went to single-payer, EVERYBODY would be like a Medicaid patient. If you truly think that’s best, and you’re willing to take lower compensation for your work for the public good, why not start now? You could significantly reduce your paperwork and staff requirements because you wouldn’t have to hassle with all the different providers. It would be a win/win, and it would be ethically consistent with your stance against private insurance.

My doctor in Canada said he received $8 for a patient visit. That’s Canadian dollars, mind you. Do you think that would work for you?

Comments

[ccr1138.livejournal.com]

I don't dispute that, but AT THE TIME, 58% supported the invasion, including a majority of both political parties and most of the world's leaders.

It's one thing to ask me to suck it up and pay through the nose for something that the majority of my countrymen want, even if I don't, especially when the expense is going to be finite. It's another thing to use arm-twisting and corruption to ram through a massively unpopular, rushed, flawed bill with absolutely zero bipartisan support that adds unsupportable debt and entitlements which will burden our children forever -- or at least until we go bankrupt and descend into anarchy -- and tell me I have no right to complain.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

because it's better to be lied to than not.

That's essentially what you're saying.

You have every right to complain. Complain away. Heat the frakking house with your hot air.

[ccr1138.livejournal.com]

Whatever. I've tried hard to give thoughtful replies to a lot of your little one-line zingers, so it would be nice if you'd contribute something substantive to the discussion rather than continue telling me what I think or insulting me. I joined this community because I was told people here were interested in discussing politics in an intelligent matter, using fact and reason rather than ad hominem attacks. You seem not to have got the memo.

[ccr1138.livejournal.com]

s/b "intelligent manner" - darn fingers

[dwer.livejournal.com]

"substantive" is a matter of opinion, apparently. When you can't be bothered to peel away the FUD from your statements, you're not going to get a lot of leeway.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

most of the world leaders refused to join the Coalition of the Willing. What you had was Britain and Australia joining USA in the invasion.

Trouble is you live in a democracy where majority of your elected representatives voted for and passed the bill. Seems all of these representatives won their positions through democratic means.

[ccr1138.livejournal.com]

And yet, I can't help but be disgusted by the special deals, arm-twisting, etc. that was necessary to secure those votes. Nor will I stop hoping it can somehow be repealed or nullified.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

Well, hope is important. But I gotta warn you, I suspect you will be disappointed.

But then, when it turns out this won't kill grandma or make doctors leave or bankrupt us (ya know, beyond the massive debt Reagan/Bush I/Bush II racked up) or any of the other fear tactics that FOX has been pushing, hopefully you'll snap out of it and be OK with it.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

It's a rushed bill???!

How long would you like them to have done nothing?
One year of debate isn't enough? How long is enough?