Gordon Brown has apparently sent a New Year message to NHS staff warning that we may have to change our life styles in order to qualify for health care entitlement. The new requirements to be laid on us will, it seems, be included in a a formal NHS "constitution".
The principle of free universal health care has already been eroded by doctors stipulating conditions on patients who wish to have treatment, and N.I.C.E. has emphasised "self-induced" illnesses. His proposal seems to be an attempt to formalise this and extend it.
Leicester City Primary Care Trust was given permission last year to require smokers to give up smoking before elective surgery for hip replacement and heart conditions. Doctor's have pointed out that obesity complicates and adds risk in various procedures. Where will the list extend, - dangerous sports, rejection of dairy products, sun bathing, misuse of dangerous tools, etc.?
We assume that such conditions would not apply to emergency treatment, that our G.P.s and A & E would strive to save our lives, whatever our lifestyle choice.
The motive for Gordon Brown's initiative may be one of social engineering, to lead us to better health and longer lives, despite our own preferences. Alternatively, it may be simply to save money for the still inadequately financed NHS, which seems to be the intention of the N.I.C.E, as it helps to create postcode lottery for patients by withholding permission for some drugs, or making the decision one for the local PCT.
It has to said that our payments for welfare are in a mess. National Insurance was designed originally as regular contributions towards our retirement pensions and health care. It soon became a candidate for tax raising, and could now be added to the standard rate of tax to simplify tax calculations. It is a tax, despite its name, and a redistributive tax.
In any other situation involving a provider and a payer a contract would stipulate conditions to be met by both sides. Why should that not apply here? Why do we stump up with no choice, but have different benefits according to life style? Should there not be some reduction in premium if we are to be denied certain benefits? If the system were privatised, then private life and health and insurance would be tailored. (For many better-off folk opting out would be a vast improvement, but ideologically this would not suit others, but we are straying here.)
If we are to have a health service "free at the point of delivery", (socialised medicine), then post-code lottery (especially over borders with Scotland and Wales), and refusal to supply are breaking the principle. If I, through my life style, prejudice a good outcome from treatment, is this not my choice? For a bureaucrat or medical practitioner to send me away in my pain or discomfort, by imposing conditions is a new kind of waiting list.
(I hasten to add that I am a non-smoker and non-drinker. I probably don't take enough exercise
of the right kind, and thereby add risk to my health. Will this count against me, or is it only the easily viewed manifestations of a lack of self-discipline that will count?)
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The #1 cause of injury, disability, and DEATH in America is, Health Care. More people die now from contact with the American Medical Health Care system than from any other cause of death. More than from Cancer, Heart disease, or Stroke. More than any other country in the world. Many times more than any other people in the world. Contact with the American medical health care system is the #1 risk factor now for injury, disability, and premature DEATH in America. This fact is a catastrophic indictment of the entire US Health Care System.
Driven by greed. And a rush to profit. Thousands of Americans are killed, and injured daily in America. By compromised health care. Cutting corners. Over, and under treatments. And poisonings with all manor of toxic, poisonous pharmaceuticals. Especially the children. America only makes up 2-4% of the world population. But Americans buy, and consume 50% of all pharmaceuticals world wide.
This is an emergency. America is in a crisis. And more Americans have died from this health care crisis than have died in all the wars in US history.
But the tide has turned. And the message is getting out. And taking hold about the fact that we have a very serious, and major health care crisis going on in America. Hurting everyone. Especially our precious little children. Rich, and poor alike. And most all Americans seem to understand now that "HR 676 Not For Profit Single Payer Universal National Health Care For All (Medicare For All)" is the way to go. Like all the other developed countries have done. Americans want government managed, tax payer supported health care Now. Medicare for all. Like other developed countries have. And like older Americans have now. Accept no substitute.
I am sick and tired of hearing how the candidates, and politicians health care plans are going to protect, and preserve the private for profit health insurance companies that have been killing, and ripping off the American people. And now the politicians want to mandate (require) that every American has to support the private for profit insurance company's that have been killing, and ripping you off. Or you will be fined, and PENALIZED. Thats right. PENALIZED. Ridiculous! The politicians really think you are all detached idiots. CASH COWS! To lead to the slaughter. Don't put up with that.
Just look at what is already happening with Massachusetts insurance mandates. It's a catastrophe. Financially, and medically for all the people of Massachusetts. And the private insurance companies just raised their rates by as much as 16%. And everyone has to pay now. It's a slaughter.
It's NOW TIME to bring out the BIG GUNS!! The BIG GUNS!! are you. The American people. And anyone else that wants to help. From now until HR 676 is passed into law. I want every person to reach out and touch their fellow Americans every day if you can. I want you to take a phone book. And call at least one of your fellow Americans every day. And ask them to pickup the sword of HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care For All (Medicare For All).
Call more than one each day if you can. And ask them to do the same as you are doing if they can. And also to put maximum pressure on their politicians to get HR 676 done. And to make sure their politicians support HR 676. Accept no substitute. HR 676 is a no-brainer. It's the best way to go on health care. It's the only moral, and ethical way to go. That is why every other developed country has done it. Most did it years ago. See sickocure.org, and http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676.htm
I know that many of you have been doing a fabulous job of spreading the word by talking it up with family, friends, and co-workers. And putting pressure on the politicians to get HR 676 done ASAP. The phone calls to your fellow Americans will increase the pressure. And increase momentum for HR 676 at an astonishing, and exponential rate. And I know many of you have been wanting to do something more to help. The phone calls to your fellow Americans is something you can do every day to help.
Trust me. It will be something to see. But you have to keep the focus, and pressure on getting HR 676 passed pronto. They will try to distract you. With all manor of other crises, and catastrophes. And other plans. Don't be distracted. HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care is the #1 concern of the American people. Thousands of Americans are dieing daily now. And you or your loved ones could be next.
There is no good reason HR 676 cannot be passed into law well before the coming elections. And SCHIP should have been passed by now. Even if it was for 3x the 35 billion congress ask for. Do not tolerate delays. If it is not passed before the coming elections. All America will know which politicians are on the side of the American people. And which are not when they vote. Well before the elections. This is supposed to be a democracy. And well over the majority of Americans want tax payer supported single payer government managed health care for free for all Americans as a right. Many of the politicians will be soliciting your financial, and political support for the coming elections. Make sure you send a note telling them that you expect them to support HR 676 if they expect you to support them.
Everyone can do this. Most of you are well informed about HR 676. This truly is one of those no-brainers. Be considerate of your fellow Americans when you call. But be comfortable about calling. These are your fellow Americans. Some will be receptive. And some will not be. Some maybe rude, and mean. Just thank them, and move on to the next. Most will be with you. And if you get a call from one of your fellow Americans about HR 676. Let them know you are already on board. And thank them for calling. Build them up. And keep them strong. They are fighting for all of us.
Keep fighting. Pickup that phone, and call your fellow Americans. It's the right thing to do. It's time to start swinging your political sledge hammers. Until your government gets the message you want HR 676 NOW! And nothing else. No more insurance mandate bait, and switch. Or hokey tax deduction lunacy, and lies. Start using all your power Now. There are at least 250-300 million of you that want HR 676. The insurance, and medical industry want to keep our disgraceful system as it is. And force you through mandates to pay them to rip you off, RAPE! You, and KILL you, and your loved ones.
Everyone knows the true story now. If we continue to let them get away with this through our politicians, and our corrupted political system. The American people will be known as the worlds biggest bunch of lazy chumps, and dummy's. Don't let that happen. Start swinging your political sledge hammers with all your might until HR 676 is law. So we can have the best Universal Health Care system in the world. Bless you all... KEEP FIGHTING!!!!! Be creative. Your doing great!
The health service has always beenfar too produce-orientated, and we are supplicants before the gods. It was supposed to a health SERVICE.
Granted they are the experts, and granted that there may be some cases where they cannot treat because of our self-induced condition. Education should be the preferred option here, rather than the whim of the doctor.
If our condition reduces the prospect of a successful outcome, let us be informed of the possible risk, but to be debarred from a service for which we have contributed all our lives, seems a grave injustice. In any other situation non-compliance with a contract would produce penalties!
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