Thursday, November 5, 2009

How Many American Have to Die Because They Have No Health Care?

Next year, if we do nothing, almost 45,000 people will die because they have no health care. Representative Alan Grayson took to the floor of the House of Representatives and read every Republican Congress person's district and how many people will die in their district next year because they have no health care. Sounds like premeditated murder to me.

If this many people died as a result of a terrorist attack, it would be all our war. Why are Republicans sitting on their hands as their fellow Americans die?

8 comments:

vomamike said...

I do not understand why people cannot see the handwriting on the wall. During the Bush years, the Republicans spent money like the preverbial "druken sailor" and cut taxes for the wealthy - just to bankrupt our treasury. Now they can declare "fiscal responsibility" as a response to efforts to lift our economy and provide universal health care. Couple that with a ideological stand that business is superior to government and there should be no controls or responsibility by corporations for the common good.

JohnLloydScharf said...

USPS/IRS Health Care
If health care is the problem, insurance is not the cause and government is not the answer.
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Of those "50 million," that lack insurance there were 45,000 who died without health care.
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WITH health care, 98,000 died FROM health care because of malpractice.
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The question is do we want to trust that largest corporation in the world, the U.S. Government. Do not expect house calls anytime soon.
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We have seen how well the government delivers on its promises and its bureaucracies pursue the money without giving us benefits on so many levels.
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Imagine another 111 bureacracies that only ultimately must listen to the Secretary of the Treasury - another "service" of which is the IRS.
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http://theprogressivecapitalist.blogspot.com/2009/10/affordable-health-care-for-america-act.html
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That blog of mine above has several .pdf connections (HR. 3962 and two summaries, a few videos, and page references for new taxes and other mandates).
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If you cannot use the link, google "Progressive Capitalist H.R. 3962."
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If you believe the promises of this bill, you have to deal with the lie that it fosters competition with a government option called the "Public Option" and establishes the government as a monopoly making its own rules. Don't worry. You'll run out of "rich" soon enough.
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We have at least a $12 trillion economy of which at least $1.8 trillion is spent on health care.
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If you read the bill, there are plenty of opportunities to soak the middle class, if you do not mind the 1.6 million made jobless.
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REPUBLICAN Affordable Health Care For America Act
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MAKING HEALTH Care Affordable For EVERY AmeriCAN
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http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_hr3962_boehner_sub.pdf
http://pnhp.org/excessdeaths/health-insurance-and-mortality-in-US-adults.pdf

Chris said...

Very well said John.

Bruce Fealk said...

John, how man lives will the Republican "health care plan" save?

It will only cover 3 million at the most, while the House plan covers 96% of Americans.

DJ said...

Bruce, you really should quit entertaining the retards.

vomamike said...

Mr. Scharf - I noticed your claim that 98,000 will die because of malpractice. I do not know how accurate those figures are, but taking them at face value, it would certainly support arguments that TORT reform as pushed by the Right, would do nothing but immunize those guilty of malpractice from culpability and responsibility. Further, I would be compelled to examine the nature of those malpractice cases. What specifically caused them? Was it screwed up paperwork - malfeasance by a practitioner - poor sepsis? Also your two stats are misleading. If you take the 45,000 who die because of lack of health care, then you must ADD the 98,000 who die from malpractice - not substitute. So it would follow that if those without health care were to get it, some would still die because of malpractice statistically speaking, but certainly not all. Your trite statement that "if health care is the problem, insurance is not the cause, etc" - is inaccurate. Having GOOD health care insurance from cradle to grave would save lives. Private insurance under our present system IS an impediment to quality health care delivery. And it is the avarice, greed and indifference of insurance companies and the "for profit" system in place that is at the root of our failed system. And to protect we citizens - government MUST be the answer. But what seems to be at the center of our controversy is the ideology we differ strongly on - the roll government must play in securing those blessing of liberty.

I would hardly classify our government as "the largest corporation in the world." But perhaps that is the prism by which you think of everything - that is "a corporation". I submit that may be the very problem. You are mixing apples and oranges. I do not view government's roll from the "profit & loss" mentality it would appear you do. That is not the roll of government. And to the extent our system of government is failing us as you imply, has more to do with years of neglect and deliberate malevolence by you on the Right - not the system itself. The word "bureaucracies" which you on the Right have instilled a negative tone to it; are simply the mechanism by which our laws and rules are administered. If you want a business counterpart - how about the term "management"! No different!!


I must concede that the proposed health care reform bills in both houses of Congress fall short of doing a great job of reform. If it was up to me, I'd adopt a single payer system yesterday. But politics being what they are, we accept the less then perfect system. I disagree with your conclusion that a "public option" is worthless. I have read the pro & con, and like I said, not the ideal, but better than doing nothing. Will it bring real competition to the insurance industry - guess we will find out. For certain, it should be better than doing nothing.

As for cost - I have seen figures all over the scale. I am skeptical of your figures - but then lets face it - I'm skeptical of all that the Right stand for. But you see, you view all this from a private enterprise standpoint, while I see it as a moral issue. Guess we will never reconcile our differences there.

Chris said...

Wow djteabag. Talk about retarded. The Republican plan doesn't cost anything either. We can actually aford the Republican plan. How retarded are you that you want to spend almost $2 trillion when we are in a resession? When you loose your job go out and buy a new car and a new house and lets see what happens. I want to see you liberal dumbocrats spend your money like you want the gov't to spend our money. I want to see you spend money till no one will give you any more money. Put your money where your mouth is. And I will cut my spending to match my income and we will see who comes out smelling like a rose.

DJ said...

Chris, once again I'd emphasize that when you choose to insult the intelligence of another person that you take the time to use proper spelling.

Get lost, troll.