Single Payer Universal
Healthcare
Lindsey Graham says as to single
payer healthcare, “you have a choice between Federalism or Socialism”. I say to
you, “Hogwash! Absolute Hogwash!” I mean no offense to anyone; but, I daresay,
if you asked all the American people to write a short essay defining Socialism,
the vast majority of us couldn’t do it. We wouldn’t know where to begin. What I’m
telling you right now is that single payer universal healthcare with access for
all is not Socialism.
Before going any further, let me
let me first attempt to put an end to one other piece of misinformation I hear repeatedly
from people. Generally, it goes this way or means this: “the government will
give it to me”, or “the government will pay for it”. Again, Hogwash! In the
end, our government doesn’t pay for anything. You do through your allegedly fair
share of the taxes or your share of government borrowing for which, ultimately,
you the people are responsible. Nothing is free. Somebody pays—if not you, your
neighbor.
There are, also, those who define
Socialism as that which we do in common with one another in governance,
economic associations, etc, to which please answer (just to yourself) a couple
questions. Every year or so, in our representative democracy, we go to the
polls together and vote for our representatives in government. Is that
Socialism? We do it in common. Whether you realize it or not, in the business world today, most
notably in banking and investments, we capitalize profits and socialize losses.
One immediate and more obvious example of this you will recall was the bailout
of General Motors during the financial crisis in 2008—another, the bailout of
the financial markets. A less obvious example is home financing wherein you
borrow money (your mortgage) and pay interest (profit) to the lender. Yet our
government (you the taxpayer) guarantees the loan. Is that Socialism? When the Multi Trillion Dollar
derivative markets of the world collapses down the road for which we will all
pay in one way or the other (they did in 2008 [you will recall that derivatives are mortgage backed securities]), ask yourself if that, too, is Socialism. I could
go on, but….
I tell you this, single payer
universal healthcare with access for all is not Socialism, what Congressman
Lindsey Graham says notwithstanding (I know, Lindsey Graham is a Senator; but
it is just as correct to call him a Congressman as it is to call a Representative
a Congressman—but I digress). When it is adopted, and I believe it will be
because it is the only sensible way, single payer universal healthcare, i.e.
Medicare for all, will be “paid for” by all, and it will be billions of dollars cheaper. Take note, however. You will be
the payer through your taxes. Private enterprise will participate in providing the service, i.e.
hospitals, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, drug stores, etc. THIS IS NOT
SOCIALISM!
Let me tell you THE REAL ISSUE.
The real issue is MONEY (investments, income sources, campaign contributions,
etc), and then Politics, and Pride. The interests of the American people and our
nation, which should be on the table in the forefront, are constantly being subordinated
and shoved aside. I’ll also remind you of this. The purpose—the only purpose—of any business
is to provide a quality product or service to the people. People were on this
earth long before business. Business exists to serve the people—not to dominate
and rule over them. It is wrong to continually support a business which is no
longer needed whether that business is insurance, or whatever.
We continue to ridiculously argue
and bicker, wasting billions of dollars in the process, adding to our national
deficit and, accordingly, national debt while simultaneously neglecting to deal
with other economical, political, and social issues critical to the welfare and
security of our nation and our people. Right now, our government is a mockery
to the institution of representative democracy here and abroad. It’s past time
for them to do their job.
If you agree with me, please
share this in the public venue, Facebook and otherwise. In the meantime, this
is Ronald Miller.
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