Why not just do universal healthcare now? I know this is going sound simplistic, but play along...

[originalpckelly]

Why is it that we are sitting around decades waiting for these assholes in Congress to finally come through?

Why can't we just do it?

I mean if we solicit donations on a national scale, then we set up non-profits to buy up hospitals and health supply companies, couldn't we effectively get non-profit universal healthcare?

If every working American gave just $2 each, we'd have 300 million. If it was $20 bucks per working person we'd have $3 billion.

If it was $100 we'd have $15 billion. If we could manage an average donation per head of $1000 we'd have $150 billion. If you up that amount to $1200, then that'd be $100 per month and a total of $180 billion.

We could hold quarterly telethons to raise a certain projected amount of money that would be necessary to run the health system for the next quarter.

There could be a universal insurance policy.

And non-profit healthcare system that costs about $1200 a year per head would easily compete for-profit healthcare systems out of business.

Why not just do it and get it over with? Why wait around for the government to help when we can just take the bull by the horns and just do it now?

Hell, you could invest that money in other sectors of the economy and create some sort of trust that makes money and helps pay for healthcare.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Because the Nazi Monkey in the White House will veto such bill on orders from Dick nt

[originalpckelly]

3. No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying just independently people come together...

and start a universal healthcare system, do it kind of like the Jerry Lewis telethons.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. that wouldn't be universal health care. That would be charity and charity doesn't work. nt

[seriousstan]

2. You think there are 150 million working Americans? Where did you get that number?

According to the 2000 US cencus there are only about 170 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 65. How many of these are unemployed, underemployed, handicapped or will not contribute?

[originalpckelly]

5. The Bureau of Labor Statistics:

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t01.htm

The values are in thousands, so 150,000 is really 150,000,000.

I used 150 million, but in reality those seeking work bump it down to around 140,000,000.

[Yael]

4. You have millionaires that have paid good money to buy congress

They aren't going to get off the gravy train that quickly. Why Edward's plan intrigues me so much -- it forces them out as people leave them in droves.

[originalpckelly]

6. Was I not clear enough? I don't think we should wait for the government...

we the people can do this.

[Yael]

7. I did miss your point

My bad.

:hi:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

12. Look here....

I pay damned good money every day to something called taxes. Taxes are supposed to benefit us all. Instead, they're landing in the pockets of Halliburton and in the size OP (for obese pig) jobkstrap of Dick Cheney. My tax money needs to be put to work into universal health care. I'm sick and tired of it being used as welfare for the rich. Why should we have to do telethons to have some charity-like health coupons, when I'm giving damned good money as taxes? So I'm supposed to pay TWICE? THREE TIMES? I don't think so.

[iamahaingttta]

13. You pay taxes?

Sucker...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. Yes, I pay taxes. So do you. Time to use that money for universal health care. nt

[iamahaingttta]

15. "So do you..."

You sure about that?
Don't be so sure about that!
Maybe I'll start paying taxes again when we have universal health care.
Our war economy? I'm not paying for it!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

19. I don't consider my taxes going to a war....

Iraq isn't "a war" to the Repukes It's a way for Repukes to channel my tax money into the pockets of American corporations and the rich.

[iamahaingttta]

20. That's why I don't participate in their little racket.

They don't get to play their nasty death games with my money.

[seriousstan]

8. In 2005, health care spending in the United States reached $2 trillion

In 2005, health care spending in the United States reached $2 trillion, and was projected to reach $2.9 trillion in 2009 (2). Health care spending is projected to reach $4 trillion by 2015 (2).

http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml

That's $6700 per person, NOT working adult. using your numbers, which I could contest but will not, that is 13,000 per working person. $26,000 per household. Not counting those who do not wish to contribute.

Holding a telethon hardly helps, does it?

[thecrow]

9. .....and who will hold all the money?

you?

Heheh.

Sounds like a great idea, I wish we could actually make it happen.

While you're at it, why dont we make a new Congress and impeach the pResident?

[originalpckelly]

16. I think it's kind of mean for you to say something so stupid.

Maybe I've got a bad idea, but that's just mean.

[thecrow]

24. Well, any constructive ideas on this?

I'm not mean. I just wonder who or what entity will be in charge of say...the $150 bilion dollars?

[ComerPerro]

10. one problem with free clinincs, for example, is that people abuse them

as in, people who can afford FFS medical care and have insurance will go to them even just to get out of the $15 copay. My fiancee completely chewed out one of her friends when she found out she was going to a service like this to get free birth control, told her that she knew she had the money to pay for her pill because she goes out drinking three or four times a week. At least, to this girl's credit, she admitted she had never thought about how she was draining the resources used to help people who can't afford it, and quit going. But not all people are that well-intentioned.

Point is, if 100 million Americans paid in, nothing would stop the other 200 million from going. And I am not just talking about people who can't afford to contribute. I am talking about people who can but would choose not to, because they know someone else will. FReepers, who supposedly hate State Sponsored Services and Government Handouts, but are happy to consume any and every benifit they get.

It is a noble idea, granted.

But it is the very reason that nationalized medical care would have to be mandatory. All must pay through taxes at all times, there is no "opt out". Otherwise, people would only pay into the system when they needed treatment, and the system would collapse.

[bobbolink]

18. gawddesss, will all this reaganite stuff never END???

[sandnsea]

25. If insurance covered birth control

Like it covers Viagra, then this wouldn't be a problem. And if we're all in one system together, then I guess everybody gets to go to the doctor and get birth control - even the freepers thank god.

[Quantess]

26. If "she goes out drinking three or four times a week"....

She should definitely get free birth control, for fetal alcohol baby's sake.

[Quantess]

27. Hi, ComerPerro. I still can't tell.....

Which part of your post is satire and which part of your post is serious.

[cynatnite]

17. Why not expand medicaid and medicare to cover everyone in the US...

That's how I see it. Cut into the pentagon budget and rather using the money to take lives, use it to save and invest more in those programs. They are already in place. Anyone can go into a clinic, flash some ID, get cared for without having to worry about the cost.

Tell health insurance companies to stick it up their asses and seize their assets for the part they played in the taking of American lives because of their greed. Invest that money into those programs.

With no American having to pay for health insurance, apply another tax that is only for paying for health care. Regulate the drug companies and tell them they cannot charge over a certain amount for medications. We need them so we can't completely do away with them. Increase funds for research, too.

Make hospitals and medical supply semi-profit. They can charge for meals, phones, TV or whatever as long as they're not also charging for aspirin, bandaids or whatever. Give them grants and subsidies so they don't go under and can function.

And last, but not least...

A national campaign to educate the public on the benefits of preventative health care. Regular physicals, mammograms, birth control, good diets and so on. Good leadership and a great campaign for the benefits of prevention can go a long way in helping draw down the costs of universal health care. A lot of people who can't afford to be sick wait until they are very sick before going in to be seen.

Want to know why those countries with universal health care have a healthier public? Preventative health care.

Anyway, these are just a few thoughts off the top of my head. I do think if I sat and thought about it a while I could come up with a good universal health care plan and I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination.

IMO, it is very possible and realistic, but only national will and good leadership will make it happen even if the Rush Limpballs of the world called it socialist or terraist supporting.

[Lint Head]

21. This would be a great beginning.

Micheal Moore is correct in saying that Medicare is run efficiently. I know someone that works for Medicare. When a Doctor complains to Medicare and says they will stop seeing Medicare patients they are sometimes told to go ahead that it is their right. They never if ever do because Medicare is 40% of a Doctors income. The only ones that will complain will be the ones in the pockets of the drug industry or the ones that charge exorbitant rates to their patients to keep up their mansion payments. That's fine with me. I only a physician that in in a practice to help people not to get rich. :dem:

[phillysuse]

22. Sounds great but there are not enough docs

You can have universal health insurance and no one to deliver health care.

Wall Street Journal article today
Story about how the Massachusetts Universal insurance is working out

...."But it takes a lot more than an insurance card to see a doctor in this
state.

On the day Ms. Lewis signed up, she said she called more than two dozen
primary-care doctors approved by her insurer looking for a checkup. All
of them turned her away.

Her experience stands to be common among the 550,000 people whom
Massachusetts hopes to rescue from the ranks of the uninsured. They
will be seeking care in a state with a "critical shortage" of primary-care
physicians, according to a study by the Massachusetts Medical Society
released yesterday, which found that 49% of internists aren't accepting
new patients. Boston's top three teaching hospitals say that 95% of
their 270 doctors in general practice have halted enrollment.

...The dearth of primary-care providers threatens to undermine the
Massachusetts health-care initiative, which passed amid much fanfare
last year. Newly insured patients are expected to avail themselves of
primary care because the insurance covers it. And with the primary-care
system already straining, some providers say they have no idea how they
will accommodate an additional half-million patients seeking checkups
and other routine care.

...State officials have acknowledged the problem. "Health-care coverage
without access is meaningless," Gov. Deval Patrick said in March.

As it happens, primary-care doctors, including internists, family
physicians, and pediatricians, are in short supply across the country.
Their numbers dropped 6% relative to the general population from 2001
to 2005, according to the Center for Studying Health System Change in
Washington. The proportion of third-year internal medicine residents
choosing to practice primary care fell to 20% in 2005, from 54% in
1998.

[cynatnite]

23. A lot of reasons for the drop...

malpractice insurance, fear of being sued and the high costs of medical school...all of which can be handled with a little common sense and a helping hand from a smart government.

In Cuba, several US medical students recently graduated from medical school. They did not have to get massive students loan and did not owe any money when they finished.