Monday, January 17, 2011

on the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act (that's really what they're calling it!)

Mollis, Switzerland




And it's not about the money. As I tried to explain in my last column, the modern G.O.P. has been taken over by an ideology in which the suffering of the unfortunate isn't a proper concern of government, and alleviating that suffering at taxpayer expense is immoral, never mind how little it costs.


Paul Krugman, from today's Op-Ed column in The New York Times





Yet Rappaz looks puzzled when asked about people in the United States who say that it would be intrusive to mandate health insurance.
"I'm not sure that I get you," she says, cocking her head.
When the question is put another way, she laughs. "Oh, I see. That's really an American question. You are so used to having this individualistic way of thinking, and that's why you don't have these social [safety] nets. You still have this pioneer mentality where everyone has to take care of themselves."
That's not how people in Switzerland think about it, she says. That pioneer mentality, "is good for people who have no problems, but there are a bunch of people who ... need a social net.
"I'm really happy to give part of my salary to a solidarity system," she says.


Cecile Crettol-Rappaz, a Swiss citizen, speaking in response to questions regarding the cost of helping those in need.



The way the Swiss government approaches this is that every person who is a Swiss citizen has the right to be able to live decently.


Ellen Wallace, a Swiss citizen speaking about the insurance program that guarantees her disabled child will be covered for life.

Both of these quotes were taken from two interviews a couple of years ago when the United States was in the beginning throes of healthcare reform. You can read more  HERE and HERE.

The idea that we have to go through all of this again, especially given the title of the new bill (Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act) is offensive to me and has nothing to do with democracy. If not immoral, it's plain stupid. I just don't understand why we can't expend energy on making the bill more fair, more equitable, etc. and not on repeal.

Did I mention that The Husband is Swiss?

4 comments:

  1. Nice Elizabeth!

    what they don't label it, which it may or may not be, but just maybe more accurately could be called: The Bill that does not cost very much, ensures treatment for people who not only can't afford to be diagnosed, but after which can't afford the medicine if needed, but we'll label it whatever we want and spend however much it takes to defeat it because "universal health care" translates to US as skimming our profits (and we are making a killing so skimming of a killing is a hell-of-a-lot of money)
    -signed Big Pharma and Chemical sales team of the reagents of diagnostic companies backed by health insurance companies who have spent countless hours to formulate a Vegas gambling system to help you pay for treatment when you get sick

    when the actual people that put their blood sweat and tears to work with their own compassion, doctors and nurses and other actual health care providers are overworked, underpaid, and frivolously sued to represent the cherry on top to act as the kiss of added stress.

    now it may be a twist, but calling a spade a spade is just crazy talk
    :)

    I hope you know I think you Rock Eliza Beth!

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  2. Everybody will need help at some time in their life. We all need help when we're babies and children, when we're sick and when we're old. But there are also people who need help along the way as well, our children/adults, who through no fault of their own are unable to care for themselves. It is the human thing to do and if I remember my bible rightly, it is the Christian thing to do.

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  3. There is so much wrong with the sort of thinking that bill represents that I can't even begin to go into it.

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  4. not to mention the the view of the hill once owned by the last president to wear a powered wig and coolots, but it's like maybe they won't be able to repeal it after all.

    "I remember, I remember from memories I remember"

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