Interactive Graphic: Swing States on the 2008 Electoral Map

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Posted By: seattle_10 @ 11/03/2008 6:40:01 PM

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  Posted By: starnoble @ 11/03/2008 7:34:43 PM

  Let's also consider that just because americans don't have health insurance does not mean that they cannot receive treatment. Non-profit organizations and government-run hospitals provide services to those without health insurace, also it is illegal for a person to be denied emergency treatment EVEN if that person is an illegal immigrant. While I agree that a lot of individuals will still pursue a career in medicine, I still believe that as time progresses under a universal health care system, these numbers will decrease. Take into consideration that under this system there will not be much flexibility in rewarding physicians who treat their patients in the best way. Government jobs have mandated salaries meaning that physicians who do a poor job will be given wages equal to those who do their job well. With this in mind, don't you agree that physician's don't have an incentive to provide the best health care possible? Not to be cynical, but a job is a job and there are no guarantees that people will not pursue other, more profitable careers in light of a lack of merit-based rewards.
  
  On a slightly different note, take into account surgeries such as breast reduction or augmentation, rhinoplasty, or lasik eye surgery. Under this universal health plan, am I expected to pay for these procedures? Some would say that breast reduction is necessary in preventing back pain others would say not. When switching to this system, who chooses which of these procedures should be covered and which shouldn't?
  
  Finally, I would ask a challenging question: If health care in Canada is so much better than the health care here in America, why is it that many Canadians come to America to receive treatments? Perhaps it is because their health care is substandard for their needs.

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    Posted By: starnoble @ 11/03/2008 7:44:09 PM

    Oh, and considering I was in elementary school 10 years ago, I can say with confidence that I was not yelling for less wall street regulation. Unfortunately, no one was talking politics on the playground.

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      Posted By: BYSUMMERS @ 11/04/2008 3:31:09 AM

      I wish more people like you ( I am 47) would be more involved like you!!
      I remember when in 1982 to 1989 the Nikkei (Japan Market ) went from 1982 at 7000pts to 1989 to 39000 pts.
      Then in Jan 1990 it went from 39000 to 20000 by Oct 1990.
      THINK- That is almost half in 10 months!!!!
      It lost more--But not as fast--- TODAY AFTER A 500+ POINT GAIN--- IT ONLY IS AT 9100++
      
      OUR market has dropped from 14000 down to 8100---- BUT OVER A MUCH MORE GRADUAL DECLINE---
      MY GOODNESS-- It dropped from 10k to 8100---AND YOU WOULD THINK THE SKY WAS FALLING!!!!
      This is after the BIG HOUSING/BANKING problem---??? SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER 30-40%
      that was lost QUIETLY/SLOWLY before the last 19%????
      
      You are young AND involved in following politic's--GREAT!!! If you follow the stock market as well/or with as much curiosity--you will see things and make money--be happy with the decisions you make on both EQUALLY---!!!---MOST ARE GOOD<SOUND>THOUGHT OUT DECISIONS--THAT BENIFIT YOU/YOUR FAMILLY---
      SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT BAD DECISIONS UNTIL TIME PASS's and WE SEE THEM!!!
      
      Follow the full political spectrum of ALL candidates allways,and make YOUR CHOICE according to YOUR belief's----NOT THE PARTY OF THE PERSON RUNNING!!!\
      
      BLESS THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THE RIGHTS THAT ALL OUR (and MY oldest) BROTHERS AND OTHER FAMILLY MEMBERS HAVE DIED FOR-------
      
      THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR WHO YOU WANT TO!!!
      Sometimes even if you only like one 1/2 way--but the other only 1/4 way
      
      ONE DAY WE WILL LIKE ALL OF WHAT WE HEAR!

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    Posted By: albertagirl @ 11/03/2008 11:58:19 PM

    As a Canadian I would like to address some of your above comments. No system is perfect. Ask any Canadian and we give you a list of things that could be better in our health care system. I'm sure there are some issues in the European systems as well. I do not however remember hearing of anyone dying in the ER while waiting for care except in the US in the recent past. Sure we have some issues with wait times for elective surgeries. My neighbor has major health issues and not once has she been denied a new test or a referral to a specialist. Without a doubt the best hospitals are in the larger urban centers but then so are the universites and medical schools. We have no bans on any kinds of behavior. We still ride our quads and dirtbikes. We still go snowboarding and wakeboarding and water skiing. We don't deny care to the idiot that got hurt because he wasn't wearing a helmet. People hear didn't suddenly stop smoking or drinking or any other number of sometimes questionable behaviors when our healthcare system was introduced. We don't need to use the ER as a primary care facility. In all of the communities in Canada that I or a member of VERY large extended family have lived in there are always walk in clinics. You may have to wait for a little bit in the office but we aren't clogging our ER's. Having worked for a company that required me to travel to the US quite frequently for a couple of years there was one thing I never left home without.... my extra health insurance when out of country. Too many aquaintances have had bad experiences with your hospitals while visiting even for a couple of days.
    As I said our system has some problems but I would not trade it for yours.

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    Posted By: seattle_10 @ 11/03/2008 8:32:11 PM

    So what is your system to provide health care to 41 million Americans that cannot afford it? Emergency treatment is not cost effective and too little too late. The difference between providing screening and preventative health and the cost of emergency room visits is astronomical. Part of the reason why our medical insurance is so high is that we have to pay for those uncovered emergency visits and treatment. Additionally, we have to pay for the outrageous liability insurance doctors have to pay which also results in tons of unnecessary tests (and additional strains on a strained system). Education for doctors should also be paid to anyone who can keep moving forward in school, not just those who can find funding. This way, we reduce the cost of becoming a doctor and reduce the liability for being a doctor to make their lower pay much more equitable. Kinda like how they do it in the rest of the civilized world... All I know is that our system is pretty lame when compared to the results of the rest of the first (and some of the second) world. You can scream about great our system is, but you can only say that it is the best for a select group of people. The whole arguement about people streaming in from Canada is simply not true. Some people do come here for elective surgery or to find a specific doctor, but we don't see hoards storming the border like is often insinuated.
    
    To respond to your arguement about what procedures will be covered (lasik etc), you have a valid arguement. That is where the people need to stand in and make those choices.