The amount of uninsured Americans is rising every year, as premiums continue to skyrocket and wages sit stagnate. For example from 2004 to 2005 the number of uninsured rose over 1.3 million, and rose up nearly 6 million from 2001-2005. This is extremely dangerous, and will only get worse as time goes on.
According to the Institute of Medicine, "The lack of health insurance causes roughly 18,000 unnecessary deaths every year in the United States". Yet, at the same time America leads the world in spending on health care, it is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not ensure that all its citizens have coverage. America is also the only country in the western world without Universal Health care.
On February 17, 1971, Richard Nixon met with John Ehrlichman to discuss the Vice President's position on health maintenance organizations, As heard in a hidden audio recording Ehrlichman is heard telling then President Nixon that The less people are attended to, The more money will be made. The next day, Nixon called for a "new national health strategy" that had four points for expanding the proliferation on health maintenance organizations, or HMOs.
As most of us already know (2008 Presidential Candidate) Sen. Hillary Clinton fought for many years to get Universal health care in the United States. What she didn't know at the time, was that a large coalition was being formed to fight what they called "ClintonCare". This powerful coalition spent over $100 million to defeat Hillary's health care plan. This coalition was made up of - Congressional Republicans, The insurance industry, The pharmaceutical industry, The National Federation of Independent Businesses, The Business Roundtable, and The Christian coalition. All this happened before the debate began in congress.
The United States is ranked #37 out 191 countries according to its performance. HCA Inc. (formerly known as Columbia/HCA and HCA-The Healthcare Company) has agreed to pay the United States $631 million in civil penalties and damages arising from false claims. Other companies are guilty of similar claims.
-Bluecross/Blue shield: Paid the U.S. $117 million.
-Cigna agreed to pay $85 million.
Executive Compensation -
- Michael B. McAllister earned $3.33 million in compensation as CEO of Humana.
- John W. Rowe earned $22.2 million in compensation as CEO of Aetna. Rowe has since left Aetna.
- Bill McGuire has stock options worth 1.6 billion at the end 2005, as CEO of UnitedHealth Group.
In 2005 there were 2,085 health care lobbyists registered with the federal government. With 535 members of Congress, That's 3.895 lobbyists per member.
The health industry gave $14 million total to eleven elected officials largely credited with negotiating the bill. Sen. Hillary Clinton became the second largest recipient of the health care industry contributions (Second only to President Bush). As she runs for Presidential election in 2008. Mrs. Clinton is receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars that help aid her campaign.
Fourteen Congressional aides went to work for the industry. Retired Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., Stepped down as chairman of the Hose Committee, to become the new President and CEO of the drug industry's top lobbying group...Public Citizen. For a $2 million annual salary.
Canadians live three years longer than Americans. The United Nations Human Development Reports the life expectancy in the United States is 77.5 and the life expectancy in Canada is 80.2. Like Canadians British and French citizens live longer than Americans. The "Wait-times" in these countries is not nearly as long as some try to allege. Although I don't understand why it wouldn't be, The waits are longer because everyone can go to the doctor, Insured with a successful visit. Canadians voted Tommy Douglas the Greatest Canadian of all time (Yes, Greater than Wayne Gretzky and Celine Dion). Tommy Douglas is the man who proposed Universal Health care in Canada.
Random Facts-
- In a study of older Americans and Brits, The Brits had less of almost every major disease. Even the poorest Brit can expect to live longer than the richest American.
- A baby born in El Salvador has a better chance of surviving than a baby born in Detroit.
- Even the detainees at Guantanamo Bay have Universal health care. This prison holds 3 of the 15 hijackers from 9/11, and numerous other Al Queda and Taliban members.
This cannot continue! To help change this, vote for leaders who pledge to have Universal health care in America!
We can make a change!
With Liberty and Justice FOR ALL!
Thanks for reading,
-Zak
*Also - I have received e-mails from different people questioning some of the facts on my blog. All I can say is there is nothing ficticious on or about my blog. If you have question concerning false facts please send the "real" facts and the source in which you researched them from, if it is true then it was an honest mistake and I apoligize and I will switch it immediatly. Thanks again for reading! -Zak
