29. September 2010 by student.

      According to cthealth.server101.com, the United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a right of citizenship. Twenty eight industrialized nations have single payer universal health care systems, while only
Germany has a multi-payer universal health care system, which President Clinton had once projected for this country. Opposingviews.com also reveals that there are nearly 50 million Americans currently without health insurance who are struggling to pay their medical bills. Cthealth.server101.com states that repeated national and state polls have shown that between 60% to 75% of Americans would like a universal health care system. The US Census Bureau also states that the percentage of people in the
United States without health insurance was 15.8% in 2006, and the number of uninsured was 47 million.  

       Administrative costs for private health insurance are in the range of 11-14% of total premiums, while a shift to a single-payer system would yield net savings of about $99.6 billion (as of 2006) annually in reported administrative costs, or about $2100 in potential health-care benefits for each of the 47 million individuals currently uninsured. According to cnn.com, Republican leaders and some conservative Democrats specifically oppose the government-funded plan, fearing it would lead to eventual elimination of private health insurance. However, the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, states that a national healthcare plan is on track to pass Congress by end of August.      

            President Obama acknowledged he supports what is called “the national option”, saying it would increase competition for private plans. At the same time, the president insisted a national plan would be one of many choices as part of reforms intended to strengthen the U.S. system. “If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor,’” he said to applause. If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan’”. He also stated that none of the plans would be able to deny coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions and that Congress is expected to take up at least three healthcare proposals in coming months.  

      Research has revealed that the United States is indeed the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to healthcare as a right of citizenship. While some may say universal healthcare would be too expensive, the facts prove differently. According to cthealth.server101.com, federal studies by the Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting Office show that single payer universal healthcare would save $100 to $200 Billion per year, despite covering all the uninsured and increasing healthcare benefits. The amount of money this country and its citizens would be saving, from the benefits of a universal healthcare system would be colossal.  

      The United States denies healthcare based on the inability to pay. If everyone had access to a universal healthcare system, there would be less people worrying about how they were going to afford keeping their family happy and healthy. Also, in this country, access to quality healthcare is directly dependent on income and race. If there were universal healthcare, many minority and economically disadvantaged groups would have access to it. This would allow all citizens equal access to easy and quality healthcare. 

      Some believe that healthcare would most likely result in more government control, intrusion, and the loss of freedom of choice. However, this is not true. Once again, according to cthealth.server101.com, single payer universal healthcare administered by a state public health system would be much more democratic and less intrusive than the current system. Consumers and providers would have a voice in determining benefits, rates, and taxes. Problems with free choice, confidentiality, and medical decision making would be resolved.  

      I believe that healthcare is a need, not a right, and that every legal US citizen should be eligible for good, affordable healthcare. Also affirmed from opposingviews.com, many healthcare experts believe that in the end, the cost of a universal coverage system would be less than we currently pay. This should be a huge wakeup call and credible argument as to why universal healthcare is needed in this country. Just because we are one of the wealthiest nations, this does not mean everyone is able to afford or have health insurance. With a universal healthcare plan, this number would be greatly reduced, and our country would most likely be stronger as a whole.  

     I believe that being a US citizen guarantees you the right to an easy, affordable healthcare plan. Whether you are working or not, you should have access to quality healthcare. As is well-known, many Americans are losing their jobs today. Many working families, who were struggling to pay for healthcare before, are under pressure more now due to job loss. Just imagine how many more
US citizens are stressing about their healthcare now.  

     Just as stated in the United States Declaration of Independence, all Americans have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. People cannot pursue happiness if they are not healthy. Some will argue that it’s the government’s job to protect its citizens from harm. The same argument can be made for healthcare, since people are “harmed” when they get sick and cannot get help. It shouldn’t be argued, or even questioned, that a US American Citizen be guaranteed the right to a good healthcare plan; it should be provided.  

Posted in Mr. Andoscia, Social Problems | 1 Comment »

29. September 2010 by student.

                 According to walletpop.com, the National Bureau of Economic Research proclaims the recession ended in June 2009, however is it really over? Some signs that the recession isn’t exactly completely over yet include:

                 1) When your boss actually replaces an employee who retires or quits instead of adding their workload to yours. “This recession taught corporations that they could just dump more work on remaining staff when they axed people. With employees terrified that they might be let go next, everyone just sucks it up.”

                2) When people who have been laid off start getting jobs or jobs with perhaps benefits. “Businesses would rather control their costs this way. They hire who they need, when they need them. If illness or misfortune should somehow befall the poor serf, there is no health coverage, paid time off, or disability insurance to kick in. And the business will just move on to the next serf.”

               3) When you don’t live at home with their parents anymore. “According to Dr Phil, there are close to 14 million adult children living at home. Where else should your recent college graduate go when he can’t find a job?”

              4) When it becomes financially feasible to get a divorce again. “Divorce rates have plummeted in this recession. According to W. Bradford Wilcox, director of the National Marriage Project, divorce rates fell from 17.5 per 1,000 married women in 2007 to 16.9 per 1,000 married women in 2008. Divorce rates peaked in 2005-06 when housing prices and the stock market were at their peak”

             5) When a vacation involves airplane travel and you sleep in an actual hotel bed and not your sister-in-law’s house. “Tourism has been down throughout the country”.

            6) When Starbucks isn’t full on a weekday afternoon. “Starbucks, and other places like it with free Wi-Fi, have become the official office for the unemployed and under-employed. It’s a splurge that’s relatively affordable that gets you out of the house for a few hours.”

             7) When you no longer necessarily have a need for coupons. “Imagine a time when if you forgot your grocery coupons that you didn’t turn around and go back home to get them? Or going out to dinner to a restaurant without a coupon? It seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it? Our need for a deal has spurred the growth of sites like Groupon or DealNews.com”.

              8 ) When you can list your house for sale and reasonably expect it to sell within three months at a price higher than what you paid for it. “Interest rates are at all-time lows and still nobody is buying. Home prices in some places have been cut in half and yet inventory grows. Federal tax incentives gave a short shot of adrenaline to the home sales market but once they expired, so did the patient. Many experts believe that the housing market is the key to the rest of the economy”.

              9) When trying to get a bargain becomes a sport instead of a necessity.

              10) When you can afford a new car, your 401k has been restored, you’ve reset your emergency fund with 6 months of living expenses and the term “99ers” is erased from your memory”.

Posted in Mr. Andoscia, Social Problems | 1 Comment »