The Great Hillary-Health-Care Swindle

Last night I posted a diary about Dennis Kucinich rightfully blasting the Democratic frontrunners and their health care proposals, in what he reffered to as a "phony debate":

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/9/20/1175

6/7123#readmore

I consider this CNN article from Tuesday to be an example of the larger picture and the way that these candidates can get away with their Debord-esque-spectacular form of "argumentation". This whole thing really is a spectacle of cheap comedians playing the roles in a high tragedy:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/18/h

ealth.care/index.html?eref=rss_politics

The article does it's best to make this out like Hillary's doing something that is challenging the industry, or initiating some big reform:

"I'm here today because I believe it is long past time that this nation had an answer," Clinton said. "I believe America is ready for change.

  They cited another player:

Edwards, speaking Monday to the Laborers' International Union of North America in Chicago, Illinois, echoed Obama.

"I'm glad that, today, the architect of the 1993 plan has another care proposal -- and if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then I'm flattered," said Edwards, a former U.S. senator from North Carolina. "The lesson Senator Clinton seems to have learned from her experience with health care is, 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.' I learned a very different lesson from decades of fighting powerful interests -- you can never join 'em, you just have to beat 'em."

And of course they brought out the villain:

"If you liked Michael Moore's 'Sicko,' you're going to love HillaryCare 2.0," said the Giuliani statement. "Senator Clinton's latest health scheme includes more government mandates, expensive federal subsidies and more big bureaucracy -- in short, a prescription for an increase in wait times, a decrease in patient care and tax hikes to pay for it all."

Hillary knew the script beforehand, however. She warned of the coming attacks from the Republicans, which immediately informs the audience that she's the "good guy", "girl", doesn't matter it's spectacle.

But, let's be clear. The Clinton plan has nothing to do with Michael Moore, with change, enacting reform, or improving health care. But, it does have to do with large companies, keeping the current system and problems, posturing reform, and creating a larger customer base for the private insurance industry.

Her plan will not help anyone when they get sick and find out that they are underinsured. That half of the bankruptcies in this country are medically related and that, amazingly, 3/4 of these people are insured, should be a wake up call to realizing that giving everyone an insurance policy isn't the issue. The issue is creating better health care. And the simplest, most reasonable way to do this is single payer.

One has to wonder what good reason there is not to convert to a single payer, not for-profit healthcare system. We spend 2.2 trillion dollars a year on healthcare, twice as much as any other country, and yet we do not get better care. Study after study finds us lacking here. There are 45 million+ Americans who are without any coverage and 50 million+ who are underinsured: half of all bankruptcies being related to healthcare and 3 out of every 4 of these bankruptcies had health insurance! They were underinsured, many not even knowing so until the time of need came. And yet we spend 2.2 trillion? That's because of the 30% waste. Take 30% of 2.2 trillion dollars and put it towards healthcare and you solve the problem.

This is the system that Dennis Kucinich has proposed, the only Democratic Candidate to do so. His co-sponsored bill, HR676, has already been introduced to Congress and gained the support of over 60 Reps., various Unions and healthcare professionals. The plan extends the non-profit Medicare system to all, using only 3% for administration. The Dean study found that 95% of families would save money by switching to this system. The average family premium is currently about $3,000, under HR676 it is only around $1,900. No more co-pays, no more not denial of coverage, free choice of provider for comprehensive medical coverage; including dental, vision and psychiatric. This is not socialized medicine, only government single payer insurance. The doctors are still private.

And what about costs? The current healthcare system is clearly unable to control costs. The rise in health costs has been astronomical in the last ten years. Only a single payer system can accomplish this by cutting out the overhead, setting rates fairly and according a national budget, and by being the only healthcare insurer, having enough clout to actually control the costs of pharmaceuticals. Really, the reason that single payer makes the most sense is because it makes the most financial sense. Not only are we spending less as a country, not only are 95% of families saving money, but businesses also save by not having to pay for employees, which has taken its toll on American companies unable to compete with foreign companies who have single payer systems. GM reports that the cost of healthcare adds an extra $1,500 to the price of each car.

When people tell me this can't pass they are only playing into this mad spectacle of reasoning. If a candidate like Hillary with so much media clout and exposure were to champion single payer and actually educate the people, they would demand it. Take a look at the latest CA Field Poll. There is an awareness campaign in the state by groups like the CA Nurses and Once Care California, which has succesfully turned the public opinion in favor of single payer. In fact, the turnaround in the public opinion these last nine months, since Sicko premiered and the campaign kicked into high gear, has been one of the most dramatic in the polls long history.

Single Payer is the most simple and rational explanation. The whole idea is utilizing administration to prevent waste and eliminatiing bureaucratic organization. Hillary should keep that in mind as the large bureaucracy and confusing construction of her plan in the 90's was instrumental in it's defeat. She should sign on to H.R. 676.