Why does America need a Single Payer Healthcare option?

America and American industry, its entrepreneurship and ingenuity, needs a Single Payer Healthcare option for the same reason America’s military service members -and- their families have 100% all-expenses paid healthcare.

Why is that?

Because a sick military service member can neither train, nor fight, nor perform their mission (work/do their job), neither can they work/train if they’re worrying about their family – who’ll care for them, how they’ll get well, if they can pay for the care/treatment, etc.

Furthermore, it’s also a matter of National Security to provide 100% of all healthcare services at no cost to them because if they’re wondering how they’ll pay for healthcare, they might think of looking elsewhere for money, and thereby could become tempted to compromise security by divulging secrets, or working for an enemy.

Already, America is NOT the “healthiest” nation in the world, neither do we have the best healthcare nor healthcare system in the world. In fact, the overall performance or level of Americans’ national level of health, according to the latest research published in 2000 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States of America is ranked 72 out of 194 member nations, while the overall efficiency of our system (health system performance) is ranked 37/194.

And, that’s even though we Americans spend MORE per capita on healthcare than any other nation in the world. In fact, we’re ranked Number 1 in that regard. In other words, Americans PAY MORE for healthcare than ANY other nation in the world, and get LESS THAN the quality of care of 71 other nations… which rank HIGHER and BETTER in healthcare quality than America.

Americans SPEND MORE on healthcare than ANY nation in the world – bar none – and we do NOT have the best system in the world. In fact, we’re FAR from it. In addition, the overall efficiency of our system (health system performance) is ranked 37/194. That’s like pouring salt in the wound.

Often times, people gripe, moan, groan, and complain about “waiting times” in the Emergency Department. That’s why some hospitals have undertaken advertising efforts to “boast” of their “ER Wait Times,” as if that’s some significant measure of performance. In actuality, it is… about as much as shoe size is to football linebackers and running backs. In the overall scheme of things, it matters so very little that it’s insignificant as a determining factor in any measure of quality.

People who now complain about “the Canadian system, because people have to wait to be treated,” should also realize that VERY SAME THING NOW HAPPENS in the United States of America.

The reason why, is that people (patients) are seen in priority of the needs of their case, and in relation to the number of others whose needs are greater, or lower. That is to say, that virtually NO ONE EVER sees a physician IMMEDIATELY unless they’re having a heart attack (or showing symptoms of one), or were involved in a major traumatic event, like a severe multi-car crash involving prolonged extrications where potential loss of life is imminent. Naturally, NO ONE would expect someone with a stubbed toe, or uncomplicated broken arm, or belly ache to be seen AHEAD of such GENUINE IMMEDIATELY LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES.

That practice is called “triage,” and for many years, has been, and continues to be, a practice – as you might suppose – of determining who needs to be seen IMMEDIATELY (first), and who can wait a little longer. The same thing goes for surgeries, no matter what kind of procedures they are.

The word “triage” itself is of French origin, and the etymology of the word (it’s origin and derivation) dates from 1727 and refers to an “action of assorting according to quality,” from [the] French [word] triage [meaning] “a picking out, sorting” (14c.), from [the] Old French [word] trier [meaning] “to pick, cull” (see try (v.)). There seems to be some influence from or convergence with Latin tria “three” (as in triage for “coffee beans of the third or lowest quality”). In World War I, [it was] adopted for the [practice of] sorting of wounded soldiers into groups according to the severity of their injuries, [and is] from French use.”

One thing our nation TRULY needs MORE of is physicians and NURSES!

In fact, that need has been well-known for MANY years – at LEAST a DECADE or more.

Researchers like Dr. Peter Buerhaus, RN, PhD, formerly of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, now with Montana State University in Boseman, whom is considered the nation’s preeminent researcher on the Nursing profession, has – at least since 1993 – been discovering with increasing, and only slightly varying intensity, that Registered Nurses have been, and continue to be not only in IMMENSELY GREAT demand, but continue to be in “shortage mode,” meaning that the need or demand for Nurses has been, continues to be, and is projected to be, exceeding the supply of Nurses.

What has Congress done?

…(the sound of crickets)

Nothing.

Congress has done what they, in the last several years (TRANSLATION: Under the Republicans’ domination of the House, Senate, and Oval Office), have done.

Nothing.

Remember the “less government” and “smaller government” mantras they often talk about?

Now you’re enjoying the fruits of that labor – reduced overall quality and level of healthcare.

But, it’s “SOCIALISM!” some cry.

Socialism is when the government controls and owns the MEANS and the METHOD of production. So… please, someone show me the “government factory” in our United States.

No one can.

Again, the sound of crickets.

Why is that?

There is none.

Never has been, never will be.

In fact, EVERY SINGLE CENT the United States government has ever spent on ANYTHING has GONE DIRECTLY INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

Yup. Every single, solitary cent has been, and continues to be, put DIRECTLY INTO the PRIVATE SECTOR.

Why is that?

Because EVERY THING – every sheet of paper, every pencil, pen, computer, software program, manpower, or raw or finished material – comes from the PRIVATE SECTOR.

Always has, always will.

And THAT is PRECISELY WHY a watchdog over corruption is so VITALLY IMPORTANT!