America's Healthcare

As stated in an article on CNN.com, Republican Senator Richard Shelby was quoted saying:

"We have the best health care system in the world, We need to expand it. We do not need to destroy it."

Really? We do? I was completely unaware of this.

Myth: The U.S. has the best health care system in the world.

Fact: The U.S. has among the worst health statistics of all rich nations.

The U.S. does not have the best health care system in the world - it has the best emergency care system in the world. Advanced U.S. medical technology has not translated into better health statistics for its citizens; indeed, the U.S. ranks near the bottom in list after list of international comparisons. Part of the problem is that there is more profit in a pound of cure than an ounce of prevention. Another part of the problem is that America has the highest level of poverty and income inequality among all rich nations, and poverty affects one's health much more than the limited ministrations of a formal health care system.

This is the problem: "profit." Everyone in America is so dead set on making a buck that they will do anything at any cost. Now I'm all for making money, we need it survive. Though we do not need to be doing it in such ways that harm others. Denying someone's treatment so that they may live a better more happier life is no way to go about making money. This same person who is seeking treatment has already paid for this is so-called "insurance," by an amount being taken out of there paychecks and another amount being paid by enforcing deductibles.

This and the following are absolutely ridiculous:

Percent of population covered by public health care:  

ALL NATIONS (except below)    100%

France, Austria                99

Switzerland, Spain, Belgium    98

Germany                        92

Netherlands                    77

United States                  40

Life Expectancy (years):

  Men    Women

Japan           76.2   82.5

France          72.9   81.3

Switzerland     74.1   81.3

Netherlands     73.7   80.5

Sweden          74.2   80.4

Canada          73.4   80.3

Norway          73.1   79.7

Germany         72.6   79.2

Finland         70.7   78.8

United States   71.6   78.6

United Kingdom  72.7   78.2

Denmark         72.2   77.9

If you have not already seen it, please rent the movie "Sicko" by Michael Moore. It puts a lot of insight into this and more.

Citations:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/16/us.healthcare/index.html

http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-healthcare.htm