According to Dick Morris:

Obama has said, proudly and often, "I am going to give health insurance to 47 million Americans who are now without coverage." But are they "Americans?" That 47 million statistic includes illegal immigrants, who virtually all lack insurance. In fact, about one in four of those lacking insurance is here illegally. And they are, by far, the group most in need of health insurance.

I'd like to give them health insurance too. In fact, I'd like to give everyone in the world health insurance. The problem is that we'd go bankrupt doing it.

I don't know much about economics but it seems reasonably clear to me that when we can't even fund our own social security and medicaid programs, and not even all American citizens have health insurance, a program to give health insurance to everyone in the world who can manage to get into this country illegally, is a recipe for economic disaster.

It seems to me that Barack Obama will promise anything to anyone in order to get elected.

Obama’s public housing

We’ve all heard of the hard work Barack Obama did for the poor in Chicago. The Boston Globe describes the scene today:

The squat brick buildings of Grove Parc Plaza, in a dense neighborhood that Barack Obama represented for eight years as a state senator, hold 504 apartment subsidized by the federal government for people who can’t afford to live anywhere else.

But it’s not safe to live here.

About 99 of the units are vacant, many rendered uninhabitable by unfixed problems, such as collapsed roofs and fire damage. Mice scamper through the halls. Battered mailboxes hang open. Sewage backs up into kitchen sinks. In 2006, federal inspectors graded the condition of the complex and 11 on a 100 point scale—a score so bad the buildings now face demolition.

This is not Barack Obama’s fault, of course. But it does illustrate what happens with various government projects, whether we’re talking about Social Security, Medicaid, VA hospitals or public housing.

It is hard to understand why Barack Obama would think that it would be a good thing to give government more control over health care or other social programs.

Canadian health care

In Hot Air today Ed Morrissey writes,

Ever hear of Claude Castonguay? Maybe not, but those who follow the health-care debate have certainly heard of his creation. Castonguay fathered the single-payer system in Quebec that locked out private insurance, the one which advocates of nationalized health care in the US love to cite as a success story.

Morrissey goes on to report that

Castonguay has realized — a little late — that socializing medicine creates a shortage-management system. It limits the resources available, which drives down the level and the quality of service. Without free-market competition and under a burdensome regulatory scheme, there are no incentives for investment, and not even “massive” amounts of government spending can solve those core problems.

We're all concerned about health care and we all care about the poor, but Government is not the solution! Obama supporters, are you paying attention? Please don't do to America what Castonguay did to Canada!

Government-run health care

Read "Canada deports cancer patient to save costs" by Ed Morrissey.

Morrissey's conclusion: "Government-run health care rations treatment. It sets limits and conditions on access to health care, and generates irrational solutions such as this. And only the power of the government could have resulted in the deportation of a low-wage recruit into that system because she needed the very services she supported."

Women's health, radical feminists and James Dobson

I remember, probably more than 20 years ago, when radical feminists were venting their venom on Dr. James Dobson for his teaching that men and women were fundamentally different. The radical feminists publically berated Dr. Dobson, insisting that apart from the obvious differences in sex organs, men and women were biologically identical. This, of course, was not biology, but political ideology, and fortunately for women, the radical feminist view has finally been recognized to be laughably absurd.

The irony is that the radical feminists actually hurt women! This morning CNN had a special report on health issues facing women, especially when it comes to heart disease.
We can only wonder how much farther the field of women’s medicine might have advanced by now if not for the radical feminists’ insistence that men and women were the same, since anyone who dared to challenge their nonsense could expect the same pubic character assassination they committed against Dr. Dobson (I think they owe him—and women—an apology).

Muslim hospitals

I wonder if anyone can help me with some information. Can anyone think of any cases in which Muslims established hospitals or clinics in non-Muslim countries specifically for the purpose of helping non-Muslims in the name of Islam? I could be wrong, but I don’t think there is—or if there is, my guess is that such cases would be very, very limited.

While many Muslims are known for their hospitality, throughout history Islam as a religion was spread at the point of the sword. Christians and Jews—people of the book— were viewed as people to be subjugated and humiliated, and almost everyone else was either forced to convert to Islam or die. In such a religious system, you don’t go into all the world to build hospitals and clinics, or to educate the “infidels.” You go to bring them into subjection to Allah, peacefully if possible, forcefully if necessary.

For hundreds and hundreds of years Christians have literally risked life and limb to go into all the world, not only to tell the good news about Jesus, but to build hospitals, clinics, orphanages, schools, and homeless shelters for non-Christians. I don’t think any other religion can make such a claim.

People who assume that all religions are basically the same are very, very misinformed.

Pregnant Pizza Hut worker

For five weeks Hillary Clinton has been telling a tragic story of a poor Pizza Hut worker, making minimum wage, who encounterd complications with her pregnancy. The woman went to the hospital but because she was uninsured and didn't have $100, she was turned away.

Ms. Clinton told this story over and over again saying, “It hurts me that in our country, as rich and good of a country as we are, this young woman and her baby died because she couldn’t come up with $100 to see the doctor” (New York Times).

It would hurt me too. The only problem is, the story is not true! The woman was not turned away and in fact, she even had insurance! So I wonder how many people Hillary convinced to buy into her socialist health care scheme all based on an emotional story which is just not true.

Hillary health care

"Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday she might be willing to garnish the wages of workers who refuse to buy health insurance to achieve coverage for all Americans" (AP).

In other words, if you have to choose between feeding your family, buying gas to get to work, heating your home--or buying health insurance, Hillary's government won't let you make that choice. You'll either buy her health insurance or the government will take even more of your money from you! How you pay for food, heat or gas is your problem.

This kind of nanny govbenment sounds more and more like the former Soviet Union to me. Is this really the kind of government you want?

The FBI and phone company

According to Reuters, "A telephone company cut off an FBI international wiretap after the agency failed to pay its bill on time, according to a U.S. government audit released on Thursday."

This, of course, is just the latest in an endless string of government incompetencies. Why on earth would anyone want to put the government in charge of their healthcare?

GET ON THE FLOOR!

Have you seen the bank commercial in which the bank manager says to his customers something like, “I am your bank manager. This is a holdup. Get on the floor.” One customer turns to another and asks, “What did he say?” The bank manager then yells, “GET ON THE FLOOR!” The point is about how your bank robs you with all their fees.

This commercial came to mind this evening as I was watching the Democratic candidates discussing their plan for robbing Americans to pay for universal health care (well, OK, I guess they didn’t exactly put it that way).

It made me think about social security. For decades the government has robbed me of literally hundreds of dollars every single month for social security that I may never receive. If I could have put all that money into a retirement program or life insurance policy I’m quite sure I would have had enough by now to retire early. Yet, thanks to our government I may never be able to retire.

When the government still hasn’t figured out how to keep the social security system solvent, why on earth would we trust them to take even more of our money for universal health care? If they’re going to take more of our money anyway shouldn’t they first fix the entitlement programs they now have before they start new programs? And what makes us think that they would do any better with government health care than Britain or Canada whose citizens often wait for months for health care?

If you think the government has spent your money well on social security, public housing, VA hospitals, Hurricane Katrina, needle exchange programs, pork barrel projects, etc. then vote Democrat in 2008.

Hospitals in Africa

Recently a well known atheist published a book on "how religion poisons everything." On the other hand, according to a recent article:

The world’s largest medical missions conference opened Thursday, welcoming
an estimated 3,000 people interested in ministering through
medicine.

Christians from throughout the world converged in Louisville, Ky., for the 12th Global Missions Health Conference to network, train and strategise on how to better carry out the Great Commission and recruit the next generation of healthcare missionaries.

“Considering that 40 percent of hospital beds in Africa are located in mission facilities, there is a tremendous need for medical missionaries to provide care in that HIV and war ravaged continent,” said Dr. David Stevens, CEO of Christian Medical & Dental Associations. (emphasis mine).

Think about that for a minute. If all Christians suddenly decided that this atheist author was right, and abandoned their faith and their ministries, rougnly 40% of the hospitals on an entire continent would shut down!

Socialized health care

Sometimes the Left makes it sound like our choices are between the horribly injust health care system of Capitalism and the wonderful utopian healthcare system of socialized medicine. Our system may need some fixing, but before you vote for more socialized health care, read today's post from Michelle Malkin.

Criminally Insane

Yesterday CNN aired a program called, “Criminally Insane.” The program lamented the state of mental health care in America pointing out that at one time there were 900,000 people in mental hospitals, but there are now only about 50,000 due to the fact that states have shut down their mental hospitals (Of course, CNN didn’t bother to mention that shutting down these mental facilities was another one of the Left’s bright ideas back in the 70’s. Being on the Left means never having to say you’re sorry).

I agree with the CNN program: America does have a serious mental health crisis. While hospitals generally provide medical care to people without insurance, people with serious mental health issues are often just out of luck, and sometimes literally out on the streets.

I wish someone would make this a campaign issue. I for one would be willing to pay higher taxes to provide long term mental health care for those who need it.

Unprotected

UCLA psychiatrist, Dr. Miriam Grossman says she is seeing a significant increase in depression and suicidal thoughts among students, usually related in some way to our "hook-up" culture. Campus health centers give students all the instruction, supplies and encouragement to have "safe," attachment-free, casual sex, but according to Dr. Grossman, it is messing people up emotionally.

Read the article at OneNewsNow. Then buy Dr. Grossman's book, Unprotected: A Campus Psychiatrist Reveals How Political Correctness in Her Profession Endangers Every Student.

Hooray for universal heath care!

Universal health care sounds like a great idea, doesn't it? After all, who could be so heartless that they don’t want people to have health care? Why can’t we just be more like Britain or Canada?

We must be careful what we ask for:

The British National Heath Service recently promised “to reduce wait times for hospital care to four months.”

“The wait to see dentists is so long that some Brits pull their own teeth.”

“One hospital tried to save money by not changing bed sheets every day.”

When Canadian Karen Jepp “was about to give birth to quadruplets last month, she was told that all the neonatal units she could go to in Canada were too crowded. She flew to Montana to have the babies.”

Canadian doctor David Gratzer says, “The more time I spent in the Canadian system, the more I came across people waiting. You want to see your neurologist because of your stress headache? No problem! You just have to wait six months. You want an MRI? No problem! Free as the air! You just gotta wait six months."

Want universal health care? Evaluate what the candidates are selling very carefully and watch what you ask for. You may just get it.

Please read the rest in John Stossel’s short, but outstanding article on Townhall.

Ebola outbreak in the Congo

Over 150 people in the Congo are dead after an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta to deal with the crisis; the extent and severity of which have yet to be determined.

In case you've never heard of Mission Aviation Fellowship:

"Founded in 1945, MAF serves more than 600 Christian and humanitarian
agencies worldwide. It stations some 200 missionary families in the remotest
regions of 26 countries on five continents. MAF pilots fly approximately 40,000
flights a year, transporting missionaries, medical personnel, medicines and
relief supplies, as well as conducting thousands of emergency medical
evacuations." (Christian Today)

National health care

Fred Thompson on national health care:

Nearest home, it was the Canadian Health Care system that lost its luster.
Despite paying nearly half their incomes in taxes, and as much as 40 percent of
each tax dollar on health care, many Canadian experts have recognized that their
health care system’s in a state of crisis. The problem has been, simply, not
enough health care facilities to serve the population -- leading to long and
sometimes fatal delays while waiting for treatments. Many Canadians have started
coming to the US for treatments that they just can't get at home.

This is apparently what Hillary has in mind for us. Read the rest at Townhall.

Universal heath care

Star Parker has written an excellent article on Michael Moore and his promotion of governemnt health care. Please take time to read the entire article. An excerpt appears below:

I shot an e-mail to a friend, an American, now a long-time resident of
Great Britain, and asked about their National Health Service. Here's the
response:

"If you end up with an exotic disease that requires a lot of care,
you're screwed. For example, the waiting list for any kind of major surgery is
long, and for things like knee replacements you can wait for three years.
Alzheimer's drugs aren't available on the National Health Service because
they're too expensive. More and more people are paying for private health
insurance cover, and more and more companies are making it part of the perks
package. So, Britain will end up with a two-tier system before too long where
the 'rich' get good private coverage and the poor or uninsured have no
alternative to the NHS."

Moore and his rich left-wing Hollywood buddies won't have to worry about the inevitable shortages and distortions of socialized medicine. They'll simply be living in their own private-care universe.

Universal health care

A few days ago a reader posted a link in response to my post on Universal Healthcare. It was so good I wanted to make it available here to readers who may not read past posts. Hat tip to Softwarenerd.

Universal health care

As candidates like Hillary Clinton travel around the country promoting universal health care (who doesn’t want everyone to have health care?) there are some “Dirty little secrets” about universal healthcare you might want to consider:

As they tack left and right state by state, the Democratic presidential contenders can't agree on much. But one cause they all support — along with Republicans such as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and California's own Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger — is universal health coverage. And all of them are wrong.

What these politicians and many other Americans fail to understand is that there's a big difference between universal coverage and actual access to medical care.
Simply saying that people have health insurance is meaningless.

Many countries provide universal insurance but deny critical procedures to
patients who need them. Britain's Department of Health reported in 2006 that at
any given time, nearly 900,000 Britons are waiting for admission to National
Health Service hospitals, and shortages force the cancellation of more than
50,000 operations each year. In Sweden, the wait for heart surgery can be as
long as 25 weeks, and the average wait for hip replacement surgery is more than
a year. Many of these individuals suffer chronic pain, and judging by the
numbers, some will probably die awaiting treatment. In a 2005 ruling of the
Canadian Supreme Court, Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin wrote that "access to a
waiting list is not access to healthcare."

Read the rest at Cato Institute.