The Best of John Terry

Open Letter to John Cornyn and Congress

Ah, yes, John!

"I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows

I believe that somewhere in the darkest night a candle

I think for everyone who goes astray, someone will come to lead the way

I believe above a storm the smallest prayer can be heard

I believe that someone share in prime time each word

I believe, I believe. "

However, beliefs such as yours are, are more often wrong that right.

You write,

"I think our priority should be to reduce the cost of health care without reducing the quality or access to care. "

No, John, priority should be to reduce the cost of health care and improve quality and increase access. Maintain what we have will not help.

You write,

"I think we can reduce the cost of health care without giving Washington more control over the decisions of doctors and patients. "

But John, this control was in Washington on the decisions of doctors and patients? Private insurers are known to exert such control, not the government. All the government had control of the repayment to claimants, and the reimbursement is not a medical decision.

You criticize the Bill Kennedy, perhaps rightly, but your points do not.

You write,

"First, Senator Bill Kennedy will cost at least $ 1 billion over the next ten years – and it is only the beginning. . . . Taxpayers $ 1 trillion does not the cost of increasing Medicaid eligibility for people up to 50 percent above the poverty line. "

But John, what are the assumptions of CBO? We know that now, Americans pay more than twice as much per capita on health than other populations industrialized countries are not only fewer people covered, but the quality of care is lower. If other countries can provide universal coverage for half as much as we go, why can not we simply turn what is currently spent in one fund and cover everyone? This would cost not an extra cent. Certainly we should be able to provide universal care money two times more than other nations spend to provide it. If can do it, why not us?

You write,

"Second, the bill of Senator Kennedy has a plan managed Government health care will force at least 15 million people to lose their private health insurance currently. The Congressional Budget Office acknowledges that no current provider can not long compete with a government that calls balls and strikes while he takes the field. According to independent Lewin Group, a government plan could possibly obtain benefits from current health of 119 million Americans, and the force of 130 million Americans in a Washington-term plan for health care. "

So what, John, they would still have coverage, would they?

You write,

"Third, a new term in Washington plan will increase the cost of private insurance." Cost-shifting "occurs when a health care provider agrees to lower reimbursement rates from government, but only if it can in addition to those with private insurance. This acts cost shifting as a hidden tax on millions of American families and small businesses. A respected actuary estimates that the cost to offset the increase premiums for the average American family health care more than 10 percent, more than $ 1,500. Adding another plan new government health care on top of Medicare and Medicaid will only increase these costs. "

But John, having private insurance is the image of "transfer costs "impossible.

You write,

"Fourth, a new term plan in Washington would lead to rationing of care Government health. Just look at the results in Canada. Thousands of our northern friends come to the United States each year for life-saving surgery after their government told them they'll just have to wait. Various studies indicate that Canadians, especially the poor are less healthy in medicine socialized than those of our own country. More and more Canadians want to reduce the role of government and expand the options for private health care, even though the Washington elites want to go to America in the opposite direction. "

Oh, John, is pure propaganda! First, You are misusing the word "rationing". Look up it! When things are rationed, those who need it receives a share, no one will happen. Second, "thousands. . . come to the United States. . . life-saving surgery after their government told them they'll just have to wait. "Well, John, is a blatant lie face. Canadians do not often have to wait for elective surgeries, but not fatal ones. But you fail to mention the thousands of Americans who go to Latin America and even Asia for procedures that are unaffordable in America. And third, the use of "various studies" is nothing but a Dodge or maybe an Edsel. People who cite studies are scoundrels. The studies are not created equal. Some are good, some bad, and we can choose only those that support his / her beliefs, while ignoring others.

You write,

"Fifth, the new government plan would be to replicate the model of Medicare and Medicaid, which illustrate all that can go wrong with health care in Washington run. Costs for both plans have exploded. Low reimbursement rates force many providers out of the system, and many patients in long queues. Taxpayers pay up to $ 90 billion a year in fraud and waste of medical bills, about two-thirds of the Medicare program alone. "

Well, John, maybe true, maybe not. But Congress wrote the Medicare plans and Medicaid. If they work well, it's your fault. Yes, costs "exploded." So the cost of private plans. And if these plans private were abolished, suppliers are unable to leave the system unless they stopped practicing altogether. And if there fraud and waste in the system, it may be because Congress has created programs with many gaps and implementation failure. Still Once, John, this is not the programs that are at fault, it is the Congress that created them without adequate safeguards. It is you, John!

You write,

"Bill Kennedy has other provisions that would increase the control of Washington for our health care system – including including new punitive tax increases. If a family does not plan Regulated Health Washington, they would pay a new tax. If a small business owner does not plan a Washington-regulated for each employee, then it would pay a new tax. These taxes increases are designed not to raise revenue to pay for health care, but to punish the families and businesses out of the line. "

Oh, John! Your request that the increases are designed to punish the presumption is pure. What evidence can you cite? Anyway, Jean, someone should be punished for the creation of this abominable system.

You write,

"There are alternatives to a takeover of Washington health care system, and the best of them will give patients greater control over their care. Innovators in the government and the private sector learned that the empowerment of patients as consumers can reduce costs. They learned that the right incentives can encourage patients to make healthy choices, and providers compete for their business. It is ideas that can lead a successful reform of our health care system. "

Pure bull, John. What patient has never had control of his / her own health care? The doctor, he / she is in control. When a doctor diagnoses the problem of a patient, the patient is not given a menu of options. The doctor did not say, "I can sell you the treatment for x dollars, or dollars for this treatment to, or treatment for z dollars. "office of a doctor is not a retail store. And what are the empowerment practices were derived that can reduce costs? If they have learned and can reduce costs, why did not they? And how can health care providers compete for patients the company? How the model used by cosmetic surgeons be adapted to real medical problems? A patient suffering from a heart attack does not have the luxury of being able to shop around.

You write,

"The reform of health care can be effective if we take the time to do things…. When Congress acted too quickly, it has often bad policy. . . . The elites of Washington to the American people want to dictate the future of health care, but I think the best solutions come when Washington is beginning to listen. "

Well, John, finally you got something good. Congress, which you belong, consists of a bunch of Keystone Kops legislators who did not get anything right for decades. And even if you think (we go again) and Washington (deceased) needs to listen, the question is who? And the "Washington elites" who are they? Are you one of them?

The bill of Senator Kennedy is not a solution because the problem with the health system America is a private insurance. She sucks a huge amount of money out of the system without providing the amount of one hundred unnecessary health. What procedure do not provide medical insurance company for the money it takes? Not even an aspirin! All private insurance does raise money, part skim on top, and pay providers what is left. The insurance industry is a man in the middle of no value, getting paid for nothing. And that, John, is the industry whose services you seek to preserve.

If private insurance companies have an interest or desire to provide Americans with a high quality health system, they had half a century to do it and do not have. The private sector has no interest in solving social problems. Never, ever have. It's only interest is profit. Profit and not buy drugs, John, no. So John, if you really want to reform health care to succeed, get up, and for once in your life, do the right thing. Your only task is to provide the American people with quality care, not to preserve the profits of an industry. Are you a representative of the people, John, not the company, that is, unless you're just a rascal.

© 2009 John Kozy

About the Author

Retired professor of philosophy and logic who blogs on social, political, and economic issues. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he spent 20 years as a university professor and another 20 years working as a writer for various private companies. He’s an active blogger. His pieces can be found on http://www.jkozy.com/.

What are the best John Butler Trio albums and Xavi Rudd?

Have listened a lot to Sunrise Over Sea (John Butler Trio) and Food in the stomach (Xavier). I love these albums, they are the best albums of these other guys? Really would like more here is great stuff:)

I too love Sunrise Over Sea, as far as Xavier Rudd, like "Solstice". He GBA and No Woman, No Cry. Not sure if its best but I like it.