Single Payer

I have spent much of today reading people's Tweets about Single Payer (or however else they choose to word it).

In essence, some people agree with the idea that the US Government should adopt a universal healthcare policy in which everyone contributes, and everyone benefits. Others believe sensationalist claims by certain media outlets and individuals that understand approximately 50% of what they believe they do, about universal healthcare.

Now, it's not (that) many people who can lay claim to having lived in both healthcare environments (thanks to the UK's NHS) and the US' only-if-you-can-afford-it approach to medicine; and so let me be the first (on here at least) to admit, I received fine, prompt medical attention on both services.

I have no interest in criticizing the health care professionals in the US (or in the UK..or anywhere else), but what I will take exception at, is the idea that any of us should be satisfied that there are people who can't afford health insurance (and no, I don't care about their circumstances, it's all for one, and one for all...if it's good enough for d'Artagnan, it's good enough for me), that people go without medical help, when it is there to be had, were it not for bureaucratic idiocy that extends the offer of help, to only those that can pay.

And, before anyone jumps on the "no hospital can turn you away" bandwagon, let me assure you that I've heard it all before. I'm not talking about the fact that poor John's leg has fallen off while carelessly climbing the old oak on the green, I'm talking about preventative medicine, ongoing support, additional therapies (the list, frankly goes on).

So, before you start Tweeting, Blogging, Facebooking, or whatever else it is you Interwebers do, please forget everything you've heard from The Enquirer or Fox News; in fact, forget everything you've heard from me. Get off your ass, read about it yourself, actually bother to find out what it means, what it means for the future and whether you THEN can get behind it or not.

Until you have, running through the same argument of "but I get taxed enough as it is!" is getting thin, and starting to sound a bit ignorant.

@jamesdotlane
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