I remember a very common sound bite from Obama while he was on the campaign trail. It went something like this. "I want to extend the coverage I receive as a Senator to the nation." Seems simple enough. Needless to say the current health care reform bill is not extending the Senate plan to the Nation... and I have yet to hear of one Senator saying they would swap their coverage for the new system if it passes. So.... I think a lot of folks are bitching about the proposed health care reform bill for good reason. However, that does not mean we shouldn't be trying to overhaul the current health care nightmare in the US.
Universal health care is neither the commie plot horror tale some make it out to be... nor is it the wonderful health system nirvana others tout. You need only look to other countries employing ‘universal’ systems for examples to prove either. All the systems have problems... all pretty much do a better job insuring their masses than the current US system (or lack there of). Many think we should just leave well enough alone. Me personally? I find it impossible to defend a status quo that unequivocally leaves millions with no care system at all... not to mention millions more with inadequate coverage. It is shameful, it is not something that can be ignored. It is quite simply inexcusable. I offer no silver bullet. I offer no certain solution. I simply contend that where we are is indefensible and we should find a better solution... in the mean time I offer only the following advice to our elected officials currently attempting to solve this gargantuan problem we all face.
If you want to institute a universal healthcare system then I suggest the plan devised be one that congress would unanimously choose for the care of themselves and their families. Because if you are going to devise a plan you yourself would not use... why on earth would you expect anyone else to want it?
