Health Care

It appears that Mr. Obama's push for health care is in a shambles, who knows now what will emerge. Let me say at the beginning that I agree with Jim Wallis, in the world's wealthiest nation; a land prodigal in expenditure and supportive of multi millionaire entertainemnt stars, it is immoral that there are people in this nation without adequate health care benefits. I suspect that is where our agreement ends.

Let me share what I think has brought us to this current impasse, one which may result in no bill passage at all.

1. One is the cost or perceived cost. The numbers being bandied about will make us a welfare nation among the nations. I have not been convinced that somehow this proposal will pay for itself.

2. There is a concept that some folks are completely without health care. And yet as I go into hospitals I constantly read that no one can be denied treatment. If there is abuse of that system by the hospitals or by potential patients, let's fix the abuse.

3. If a person is in this country "Illegally" neither they nor their children are entitled to health care beyond the mandated hospital care that is already available for everyone.

4. Finally, when it is "Washington as usual," and a president who was elected to bring change and openness falls back on political trickery and bribes; I become automatically opposed to what he or she is proposing. I affirm that we need to fix Washington before we try to fix health care or social security or even the banks.

Well those are my complaints. What about a solution? I don't pretend to be Solomon, but how about something like this? Tie universal or government funded health care to the salary of the person or family; much like food stamps. Determine an amount of income below which the person will be covered with health care and above which they will be increasingly responsible for picking up the cost themselves. For the rest of us, including medicare seniors, add a progressive value tax so that we begin to suport our brothers and sisters as well as add to our own coverage.

Secondly, lets have tort reform.

Third, while we don't need "czars" of any kind; let's develop an oversight committe, with authority, made up of Insurance providers, Congressional leaders; Doctors, Clergy and others who will keep the system lean and clean.

I'm sure much more is needed, and I laud our president for taking the lead; I regret the process has become so convoluted and frightening. If health care is to be an entitlement, let's do it the right way.