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Dorian Ryan of Berthoud writes:

In Sen. Andy McElhany, Colorado Springs letter Thursday, August 30 he refers to a “single payer” coverage as resulting in “rationing by government functionaries.” Perhaps the Senator has been tainted by the powerful insurance and pharmaceutical lobbies that spend more than anyone protecting their windfall profits at the expense of the health of the American people.
Of the 250 million Americans with insurance 80 million of them receive it from “government functionaries” now. Over one-third of Americans enjoying government sponsored so-called “rationed care” include: government employees, military, Medicaid, Medicare and Native Americans.
This week the number of uninsured just rose to over 47 million. The highest increase was among the middle class-Americans earning over $50,000 per year.
If every other industrialized country in the world has as found a way to protect its citizens from bankruptcy due to sickness or worse death due to untreated illnesses, why can’t we? Instead of paying huge insurance premiums and out of pocket co-pays I would love to pay a 4.63 state income tax increase and see every citizen of Colorado enjoying access to health care.
The Senator calls a viable alternative to our current broken system a “fool’s bargain” the Senator fails to offer his own solution. Over 15,000 medical professionals have joined Physician for a National Health Program who support a single-payer national health insurance. It’s time to put health care back into the hands of doctors and health care providers not insurance companies who profit from denying care. What does the Senator propose for the family whose insurance company has denied paying claims for a variety of reasons including preexisting conditions? What does the Senator propose for the hardworking family who has lost their employer sponsored insurance coverage?
Its time to demand that our politicians offer plans to solve the health care crises. If the Senator found a way to fund a war in Iraq that according to the Congressional Budget Office has already been allocated over 500 billion dollars as of June 2007 (and is estimated to cost over one trillion dollars) surely he can find a way to spend the 7.4 billion in his letter to insure the citizens of Colorado.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

single payer- Goverment Pays (cuz we put in taxes for it)

and Doc's and hospitals run it...izzat so hard?

(possibly a bit simplistc...but the government doesn't have to run health care...it can just shovel out the cash)!

as long as there is no possible way for illegal mexicans to get the care, i dont care how we get it done.

Dorian Ryan wrote:

"would love to pay a 4.63 state income tax increase and see every citizen of Colorado enjoying access to health care."

Well Dorian Ryan, that would increase my out of pocket for "free health care" by 25%. Without a plan to assure that the funds for this program will not be "raided" by other budgetary items, or assurance to produce quality care at or above current levels, or a way to assure this system will be for LEGAL RESIDENTS ONLY, I don't see how this is a "good deal." With the estimated increase of Federal income tax to be AT LEAST 12% higher than current ACROSS THE BOARD (from the GAO), I don't even know how 4.63% would cover infrastructure costs.

Thanks, but I'll be happy to stick with my insurance as is.

1) "government doesn't have to run health care...it can just shovel out the cash)!"

Does it not worry you that the government will be in charge of shoveling as much as it wants out of your pockets in order to pay for our maladies?!

2) There will be no way of ensuring that illegals won't be treated, just as there is no guarantee of that in our hospitals today. I already pay for criminals and their health care...the ones in prison...and I intend to keep it that way.

3) Where did this 4.63% tax number come from? Because I'll tell you what is going to happen. Colorado will gladly accept this system, pat themselves on the back, and adopt government health-care for the paltry sum of a 4.63% increase in taxes. Everything will be fine for 2,3, maybe even 5 years. Then, once every remnant of capitalism has left the medical industry, guess who's asking for a tax increase? And guess who's going to have to bend over and accept it because we no longer have any other system in place? That's right. Colorado (or any other state that adopts such a plan, re: the severely under-funded New Hampshire). It's a never ending merry-go-round of tax increases, and you won't be able to stop it.

I agree wit Fresh 4:34,

Seniority system: American Citizens First
Second: Legal Immigrants
Calderon can take care of ALL his illegals!
In their own country.!

I agree wit Fresh 4:34,

Seniority system: American Citizens First
Second: Legal Immigrants
Calderon can take care of ALL his illegals!
In their own country.!

hey dorian you can pay my part of the tax increase since you are all for it. if a single payer, socialized med, is such a good thing why are there so many private hospitals in england? why is the governement run health care over there passing out I PODs to addicts who go to rehab, but are not passing out the meds to the sick and needy?

you want socialized health care go get it in a country that has it and leave ours alone.
can we fix the cost of our health care? yes we can stop lawyers like john edwards from sueing every doc or hospital there is to make himself rich. oh wait he is a dumocrate and can it really be he is rich? yep he is and he wants more of your money to make him even richer with out doing a thing.
maybe in colorado we could go to the department of revenue and get plates for our cars and see a doc all in one week. how sweet would that be?

One queston......

Who will pay for the translator so we can understand the doctor from Bangledash, because there will no longer be any American doctors after they are not able to make any money

Overnight shipping free pills prescription pharmacy, http://myrxpill.com

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