U.S. Rep. John Dingell: 'Do whatever it takes' to repair broken system

[babylonsister]

http://detnews.com/article/20100304/OPINION01/3040350/Dingell---Do-whatever-it-takes--to-repair-broken-system

Dingell: 'Do whatever it takes' to repair broken system


The newest incarnation of federal health insurance reform will be bipartisan in terms of ideas, but it unfortunately looks doubtful we will have bipartisan support.

That said, there is little debate about the course of our current health insurance system -- we can't afford the status quo. Warren Buffett has said that, as have the chief executive officers of the Business Roundtable.

Companies can't cover health care expenses -- which is why we see downsizing, stagnation and shrinking benefits.

Families can't handle the costs -- and as a result we are seeing more personal bankruptcies and foreclosures.

According to a Business Roundtable report, employers will pay three times the cost they now pay to insure workers in just the next decade if we do not act.

Reform will not be easy, but it is infinitely better than the status quo, which is costing us untold billions of dollars. Americans spend almost 18 percent of our gross domestic product or total economic output on health care.

Now consider this: The Commonwealth Fund estimates that if we had passed the reform proposed by President Richard Nixon, health spending would be 10.7 percent of GDP. If we passed President Jimmy Carter's initiative, it would be 11.5 percent. Passage of President Bill Clinton's plan would have it at 14.2 percent.

But partisan bickering torpedoed those efforts. We must stop making the same mistake over again and do whatever it takes to reform the broken system.

snip//

Casting the health care reform debate as a victory for one party or a defeat for another misses the bigger picture. Going without health reform is a catastrophic defeat for all Americans, regardless of party registration. We may not all agree on the issues, but certainly we can all agree that the outstanding medical care Americans enjoy isn't any good to us if we can't afford it.


U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, is the chairman emeritus of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and has a lead role in crafting health reform legislation.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100304/OPINION01/3040350/Dingell---Do-whatever-it-takes--to-repair-broken-system#ixzz0hFmjChwY

[lib2DaBone]

1. Insurance Companies are killing the economy... but we dare not make any changes...?

Insurance costs up 52%.. yet Republicans say, "I want my medical Bankruptcy".

If Republicans want to pay 52% increases in Health Insurance.. I say give them their own policies... and give working people a reasonable alternative.

[babylonsister]

2. And what would you give unemployed people, or people who

can't afford their premiums who are working, or companies who can't afford to help their employees with their insurance, or people with pre-existing conditions?

Do tell.

Edit to add: don't bother. I see it's all about you.

[RedCloud]

3. Just job out our health care to Canada! They throw jobs to other places anyhow!