Skip navigation.
The Texas Blue
Advancing Progressive Ideas

American Health Care is On Life Support

The ‘compassionate conservative’ strikes again, this time against children.

President Bush is refusing to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program by 10 million additional enrollees. Many parents make too much money to qualify for Medicaid enrollment. But, growing numbers of American children cannot secure private health care coverage for a combination of cost and/or their preexisting health conditions.

Bush’s reaction to today’s non-partisan issue should make any human being sick to their stomach. He wants American families paying out-of-pocket for their necessary health care services. Protecting potential life is a hollow promise when born life is getting deprived of adequate resources.

Concerned voices from within his own party such as Senator Susan Collins of Maine got ignored. Blocking American children from health care coverage certainly won’t do much to repair his low polling. Any ensuing political fallout also could very well trickle down to her and other GOP office holders. Being the party that demands families scramble to keep their children healthy can't look hot on the campaign trail, no matter where the Republicans campaign.

Democratic Presidential candidates unanimously concede the squandered surplus could have fixed health care. America would have at long last received an adequate system. The last time national health care was seriously proposed, Harry and Louise arrived, convincing many "regular" Americans that Uncle Sam would bury us in paperwork while limiting medical choices. Insurance industry-produced political commercials very effectively pushed the panic levels — and spin. Many Americans did not realize we would end up without affordable health care choices today.

True fiscal conservatives realize that visits to hospital emergency rooms for regular health care are incredibly expensive. When the person is indigent, the fee gets shouldered by the taxpayers. It also prevents facilities from being available when there really is an emergency.

Private insurance companies presently milk America’s health care systems for everything possible. The numerous restrictions everyday and ordinary Americans now face were Harry and Louise’s concern. Those difficulties, however, are certainly the province of our presidential contenders.

Bill Richardson proposes investing more in preventative health care measures, that health care in and of itself is not expensive. Also, he argues that preventative health care would improve some people's health. For instance, the reduction of obesity correspondingly does reduce a risk of diabetes.

But, Richardson does not explain how an individual state-based health care coverage plan departs from today’s haphazard patchwork. Health care coverage depends on the state you live in. He's also forgotten that Hillary Clinton is no stranger to effective state politics. Previous experiences girded her own desire to run for public office, and to try and provide substantially better health care choices for all Americans. Hillary’s already seen the accomplishments and limitations of what an adviser could do merely when working alongside elected officials who are directly accountable to the taxpayers and our mandates.

Other westernized nations already have the security of knowing they cannot lose their house for need of seeing a doctor. America needs this homeland security — STAT!

Syndicate content