Agreed.rwg3 wrote: To put it simply, if hospitals are required to provide care to all who show up in their emergency rooms regardless of ability to pay, then there should be a payment source to reimburse for this service.
I'm not a huge fan of overlooking Constitutionally based objections. It is supposed to be the Supreme law of the land. If it is not constitutional, it shouldn't be a law. If we don't like how its written, we have a neat little process we can use to introduce amendments.if we look to whose ox was gored, and eliminate for the moment the pure objection on a Constitutional basis, I believe you will find that the private insurors are funding most of the protest publicity.
The problem is you cannot legislate personal responsibility. People are either responsible...or they aren't. It is a complex system, and we should work to find solutions. However, I feel that this bill was written specifically by the democrats to cripple private insurance companies. Then, when they begin to jack up rates to cover the extra costs they are expected to shoulder, the President and democrats can step in and say "See? We told you that you can't trust those greedy private companies, we have to institute universal, govt paid for and controlled healthcare", which is what they've wanted to do since the 90s.The reality is we are all currently paying for the uninsured's healthcare. This at least asks those who recieve the benefits to participate in paying for them. If I believe in personal responsibility then, then I believe it should apply to all.
This is a hugely complex public policy issue that has ramifications which touch many aspects of American life. I wish it could be explored in a non-partisan method with the goal of improving the country for all. While I am at it I, also wish I was 6'5" tall, looked like Clark Gable and had Bill Gates' money.
The problem of course, is they are creating the situations in which private companies aren't able to compete, then blaming capitalism instead of their bureaucratic mess thats really causing problems.
I think any realistic and honest approach to healthcare reform must include some discussion of tort reform. But, considering how much money lawyers funnel to our politicians (though they favor donating to democrats) that may not happen.
My. 02 on the matter anyway.
As my wife is in school to become a doctor, I am VERY concerned with what the govt is going to do to healthcare in this country. I just hope she's able to do the job she's dreamed of without too much govt hassle.
