The national healthcare system has always been a part of a culture and a political and economic order. This order represents our view of a basic social commitment to the care of the sick, the weak and the helpless, including justice, equity and human rights. A national healthcare system expresses our belief in the power of science and our attitude toward physicians.

Every “developed country” on this planet has some kind of universal healthcare system available to their citizens. The United States of America happens to be the only country without a universal healthcare system for their citizens. Of course, this is not to say that we don’t have a “quality” healthcare system because we do. We just don’t have the kind that most citizens could afford to buy.

In this country we have over 300,000 licensed physicians. Yet, we’re spending over 16 trillion dollars a year on “privatized healthcare,” while 45 million poverty-stricken Americans are without medical/health insurance and the benefit of seeking medical attention when necessary. However, citizens who are able to afford health insurance spend far more than is necessary through our present healthcare system, and at the same time, receive a slight decrease in benefits. Other countries spend far less on their health insurance plans and receive quality benefits.

The United Kingdom operates the kind of healthcare system, which is extended to all eligible residents of a governmental region. These programs vary widely in their structure and funding methods, particularly the degree to which they are publicly financed for everyone.

As well, Canada has a far more sophisticated and less expensive healthcare system for their citizens. Elaine Bernard, President of the New Democratic Party Healthcare system in Canada (and former President of the British Columbia New Democratic Party) had stated that, “barely anyone (Canadian citizens) waits, especially people with life threatening diseases or health problems.” Canada’s Federal government works to make certain that 95% of the citizens are insured with the national Health Plan, and that 50% of the doctors “are not specialists.” This is compared to the system in the United States, where we have 25% uninsured citizens and 75% of doctors who are titled specialists.

Our ancestors were on their own when it came to their health. Then came medicine, doctors and hospitals. Our ancestors had expert partners assisting them and if they didn’t like their doctor or local hospital, they had the option to choose another doctor and/or hospital for their healthcare needs.

Then came modern managed care. Now, ironically, we’re back on our own again, because your doctor and hospital are forced to take orders from the insurance industry, and that industry is primarily concerned with making a profit on your health.

In order for insurance companies to profit, they must limit citizens’ options on the number and kind of doctor’s visits, tests and treatments that might be costly to them, but were designed to “cure you first and worry about the cost later.”

Once upon a time, and not so long ago, French Utopian Socialist, Charles Fourier stated that, “the physician desires sickness. The undertaker wants burials and forestallers want famine to double or triple the price of grain.” If we take Fourier’s statement to heart then it is fair to say that to a certain degree Capitalism makes people desire bad things to happen to other people so that they can make money.

Is Capitalism, in part, responsible for our healthcare crisis? Is our economical system somewhat at fault for the poor healthcare system we have in this country? Is this country more preoccupied with the defense budget, corporate welfare more than the suffering of humans?

According to the American Student Medical Association (www.amsa.org) the cost to cover all medical expenses for Americans is approximately 69 billion dollars. The government however, chooses to spend 623 billion dollars on our defense budget, which is 123+ billion dollars more than any other country’s defense budget. (www.globalsecurity.org) The government also rewards over 85 billion dollars a year to the people who don’t need it as much, and the people who very much need it for medical care are denied.

Profit making conglomerates own chains of hospitals, nursing homes, kidney dialysis centers, diagnostic laboratories, pharmacies, medical office buildings, ambulatory surgical centers and shopping mall emergency centers. Are physicians andhospitals for profit one of the reasons for the healthcare crisis in this country? Healthcare insurance companies deny claims. Physicians perform expensive operations, often when the patient (the ones who can afford the insurance) doesn’t need the surgery, while the older citizens, poor and weak ones end up suffering the most.

If the American people were to receive the same universal healthcare system as other countries, we’d all live a healthier life. After all, we work as hard as other countries, and supposedly we have more money, a greater number of physicians than other countries. Yet, we seem to spend twice as much (this country has a really bad habit of over spending) and most people still do not receive the benefits from a universal healthcare system. What most hard working Americans do get are those profiteering from human suffering.

Meanwhile, those people who will unfortunately become ill will discover fast just how limited treatment options are. Under managed care you put yourself completely in the hands of an industry that sees you as a cost, to be treated as cheaply and discharged as quickly as possible.

References
www.acadermon.com/lib/essay
www.medicalnewstoday.com/youropinion - (Profit from Human Suffering)
www.thenation.com - (Global Agenda)
www.naturalnews.com - (June 30, 2007 - "It's time to end the quackery of modern medicine and the profiteering from human suffering)
www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news - (July 9, 2008 - National Non-Profit) www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26438376 - (April 28, 2008 - "Live to 43 or 86? Depends on where you live." Healthcare-msnbc.com)
http://www.redtape.msnbc.com/2008/01/the-doctor - (“Your doctor will see your credit now, “ the Red Tape Chronicles.)