More Homework

Read this too. Then tell everyone you know.

I would gladly trade part of the National (in)Security State for secure health care. It's a far better investment.

Gone Walking

This space will be even quieter in the next few days. Maggie and I are heading to Olympic National Park for a long weekend. In the meantime, read Chalmers Roberts excellent article on dismantling the American empire.

Later...

What's In It For Me?

"Americans are asking what's in it for them, and I don't think the Democrats have responded as directly as we should on that."
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)

Apparently, that is THE question in the health care debate. The sheer volume of the legislation and its multitudinous changes leave me unsure how to answer that question. I ca, however, answer the question of what I would like this legislation to do for me.

• Guarantee access to a reasonable level of health care at a price I can afford.
• Ensure that access will not be terminated.
• Ensure that the vagaries of employment will not limit my access.
• Allow choice of physicians and other providers.
  

Pretty simple, eh?

Since I also want exactly the same for everyone else, the legislation should also create a sustainable financial model for health care.

That's what's in it for me.

postscript

I actually have that level of health care now, through the Department of Veterans Affairs. I don't have much choice about physicians and actual face time is brief but I've been happy with the care. My total cost last year at the VA was under $300.

Everyone should be so lucky.

More Health Care Stuff

Timothy Noah has a good column at Slate today on the health care finance legislation making its agonized way through Congress. He correctly points out that the legislative process is essentially a swamp of gatekeepers who control legislation, always in someone's interest but that someone is not always the public. Usually, the someone is someone with a lot of money and is willing to share it with the members of Congress. Since so few members control so much, it's easy to use large sums of money strategically and effectively.

Which is why I do not have much faith that the Great Health Care Debate and Legislative Medicine Show of 2009 will change much. The large profits will remain for the medical-financial complex and millions of Americans will remain uninsured. We had this debate 16 years ago. I'm pretty sure 2009 will not be the last time. Nor do I think we'll be waiting 16 years.

Back to Timothy Noah, he is writing some of the most informative, intelligent work on the health care debate. You can read them here. Bad Tux, the Snarky Penguin is also writing well on the topic.