Sick 'em (or is it stick 'em?)

It's been awhile since I've pontificated. There is much in the news that I choke on routinely but the most topical today: health care "reform". I whole-heartedly agree that a system overhaul is necessary. Health care costs are completely out of control and I think there's myriad reasons why, including bloated bureaucracy. But I reject the notion that our health care system should be taken over by the government in any iteration; single-payer, universal, public option - whatever you want to term it. I feel as though the government does very little very well at all. As I skim through the HR Bill making its way through Congress - all 1018 pages - I aim to have a better understanding of the administration's proposal so I can comment with some intelligence on the matter. For now, I'll share my philosophy.

I believe that quality, affordable health care should be available for all. I also believe that we have an obligation to care for those who legitimately cannot care for themselves. The debate is over who pays for it and how.

I've lived with a nationalized system. Not only do taxpayers forfeit about 50% of their income to subsidize social programs but services are rendered scarce. Bear in mind Canada, one of the countries touted as having a stellar health care system, is home to a population of roughly 30 million versus 300+ million in the US. Simple math tells us that these numbers are unsustainable especially since only roughly 40% (and falling) of the total US population is working, therefore contributing. This not including shortages as a result of fraud and illegal inhabitants.

We have the highest rate of disease and leading killers - diabetes, heart disease are 2 biggies - further compounding the burden. I prefer to keep the government out of our affairs but if I'm footing the bill I want to have a say in how people live their life so as not to saddle me with their cures. I think the lack of focus on wellness and healthy living has been a detriment and will continue to be. There seem to be many more stressers in modern times that contribute to illness. I believe the trade-offs for taking a drug that supposedly cures contributes to making us unwell. These are just a few of the things we need to examine before handing over the one thing we still have a little say in to a body of bungling, power-grubbing politicians. There are so many variables and in various life stages that can't possibly be anticipated or accounted for. I think the time is now to curb the power we have given the government over our lives and tell them to butt out. Just as we have been strangled by insurance administrators deciding our fate the same would be true of government officials. All we have to do is look at the mess of Medicare to have the foresight we need into this new proposal. What happens when the money dries up or when China recalls our debt? What happens when the administration changes and, gasp, it's a Republican White House/H of R and they want to introduce their cockamamy agenda? I also wonder if doctor's offices and hospitals will skimp on staff and latest technology, equipment, and machinery because the allocation of resources is scant or the red tape too cumbersome (a la King Drew). I think we should all be very careful what we wish for. When you give government authority and power good luck getting it back.

A great deal of our health care costs are absorbed by research and I'm sure they lose more than they win in endeavors to find cures but why does health care have to be profitable? I've never understood why some are getting rich on the misfortune of others. Those who assume the risks should be fairly compensated but to gouge, misrepresent or even steal is not only reprehensible it is immoral - as reprehensible and immoral as unaffordable health care. Yes, I am in favor of system retrenchment but not at the expense of having big brother in yet another of my very private affairs. National health care assuredly leads to a national i.d. card or microchipping - both I vehemently oppose. The government already has a lock on our financial welfare why should they own our bodies too?