CONTACT US

Reader comment on:
Vulnerable Here

Submitted by Reyne, Jul 10, 2007 01:05

It's time people stopped thinking that government and their employers owe them everythingl For centuries most employers did not pay for healthcare. You paid for it out of your income.

You have a choice. you can get super expensive treatments or stay sick or die.l It takes 10 to 20 years to develop new drugs---and NOTE the vast majority of new drugs are developed in the US, with US drug companies bearing ALL the costs of research and development and testing---and navigating the government bureaucracy. Very few drugs are developed in other countires. They simply wait until we've done all the work and then go for the generics.

Most of the jobs that are going overseas are lower skilled, lower paing jobs---the biggest of these are clothing manufacturers.

Goverment involvement has already increased the cost of health care by over 50%.l A friend of mine was a patient in a California hospital. When they found out he was on Medicare, they doubled the cost of everything.l And when they found out he was on Medical too, and therefore 100% covered by government (read, taxpayer money), they doubled it again. Yet he and his family actually had enough money to have paid for everything themselves.

The more government gets involved in health care the more good doctors leave, and the fewer talented people go into the profession.l Some areas of the country already have shortages, because the low fees paid just aren't worth the tens of thousands of dollars invested in medical school---and later on, malpractice insurance (so people l like John Edwards can get rich for a stage show). With government control, doctors are not frfee to use their best judgment, they have to account to bureaucrats, not medical boardsl

We have a health care system that is the envy of the world. The Cubans are risking their lives to come here--they may all have government health care, but it stinks---unless you are a high official, then you get real doctors and decent treatment. It's difficult to buy most things, even an aspirin, that we can pick up easily at 34/7 CVS or Walgreens or Duade Reed or Rite AId. Like the old Soviet bloc and the USSrR, you can only get the good stuff if you have foreign money.l

People who have all the money they need come here for health care, they don't try to get it in their countries.l

Be responsible. have some consideration for your neighbors.l Instead of buying a 72 HDTV, put the money in a health savings account and go out for a walk. Who really needs to see every pore or whisker on an actor's face anyway?


Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.

Other reader comments on this article

Comment By Date

I have worked the past 20 years at a university.. with full benefits (dental, medical, vision). In April 2007 my... [MORE]

Monica Moshenko 

Jul 14, 2007 10:47

It's time people stopped thinking that government and their employers owe them everythingl For centuries most employers did not pay...

Reyne 

Jul 10, 2007 01:05

Healthcare is and should be one of the top issues for the 2008 Election. However, while you point out most... [MORE]

RightWingDog 

Jul 8, 2007 00:01

I am simply amazed at the number of people who still buy the flawed argument peddled by the health care... [MORE]

A Clear Thinking Conservative 

Jul 9, 2007 15:57

I don't think you are either "clear thinking" or a "Conservative". How you can say that programs like national security,Education, infrastructure... [MORE]

RightWingDog 

Jul 9, 2007 22:27

History shows us time and again that government is at best, ineffecient, and usually dangerous. These days, it takes forever... [MORE]

Javan 

Jul 10, 2007 00:48

I have to ask what kind of conservative are YOU, that you don't believe that our national security rests rightfully... [MORE]

A Clear Thinking Conservative 

Jul 12, 2007 18:24

Health Care now takes on two significant caveats: Its cost and homeland security. Perhaps we will all get infected by... [MORE]

James Stewart 

Jul 7, 2007 08:44

I'm onen of that 99.9999% of Americans who are gravely concerned about our health care systerm. It is pretty much... [MORE]

jim patton 

Jul 6, 2007 19:21

Why in the world would reasonably intelligent people want to degrade our first class medical system? [MORE]

Roland Kurtz 

Jul 6, 2007 16:05

Good article! Food for thought about securing the borders in all ways and going after the 'deep pockets' that fund... [MORE]

Ann Schmidt 

Jul 6, 2007 15:21

Since when is Ken Blackwell an expert on health systems, whether they be the U.S. system or any other country's?... [MORE]

Paul 

Jul 6, 2007 13:48

We need to keep socialized medicine out of our country. It is best as it is said to have competition among... [MORE]

Marjorie Kennell 

Jul 6, 2007 11:07

Because St. Petersburg has the Winter Palace doesn't mean Russia is the best place to live. Yes, if you possess stupendous... [MORE]

Obs Erver 

Jul 5, 2007 20:38

A short reply to Obs Erver. Not in my office. If a patient does not have insurance I treat him... [MORE]

R W Hamm 

Jul 8, 2007 21:22

Comment on Vulnerable Here

    Before submitting your comment, please provide a valid email address to complete the verification process.

    NEW YORK ›

    September 11 Health Bill Stalls; One Backer Blames City Hall

    Low-Price Laptops Tested at City Schools

    New Policy Is Sought in Albany After Report on Silver's Travel

    Bed Bug Boom Is a Boost To One Sector

    Solons Busy Outside Office, New Income Report Shows

    Atlantic Yard Project Suffers a Setback

    NATIONAL ›

    Feingold Bill Would Limit Searches of Travelers' Laptops

    Palin, McCain Decry 'Gotcha' Journalism

    Gates Calls for a Balanced Military

    Dispute Over Witness Disrupts Stevens Trial

    Heart Patients Need Screening For Depression

    Little Progress Made in Effort To Restore Everglades

    ARTS+ ›

    New York Film Festival Goes Around the World and Back

    A British Artist Plumbs the Politics of Hunger

    Barbet Schroeder Can't Be Killed

    'Choke': Hard To Swallow

    'Eagle Eye': Let It Go to Voicemail

    'The Lucky Ones': Nothing Salves the Soul Like a Road Trip