On March 27th, Psychology Today ran an article blasting Americans that weren't fully supportive, claiming they were "biting the hand that could heal them". Political commentators were quick to point out the hypocrisy (and in some cases stupidity) of such protesters."
I wonder what it will take for politicians to grasp the real issues. Both former first lady Hillary Clinton and President Obama made it their endeavor to use public office to create a nationwide health care system. Clinton couldn't get it done, Obama did only because of the overwhelming support from his political party. If he would have cared about the American people, he would have listened when they opposed it. Some polls reported as high as 75% opposed, while others in the 50% range. Either way, that was a high percentage of disapproval.
Our current system needs a face lift but all this new reform did was further complicate a government program that creates long waits for the patient, a bigger burden in administrative duties for clinics and hospitals, and doesn't address the real issue. To place an enormous debt on future generations by creating another program when the one in existence (Medicaid/Medicare) is failing, was too risky.
The American people opposed because more taxes, enormous debt and invasion into the financial privacy of our lives is asking much to give in return very little. In the end, the strapped, over worked, over stressed employee would see even less of his wages to assist 3% of the population.
How does this affect the health care industry? On May 18th, Fiercehealthcare reported "71 percent of emergency physicians believe ER visits will continue to rise and that crowding will intensify. Further, 54 percent of the 1,800 physicians surveyed predict that the number of specialists such as neurosurgeons and cardiologists who will be willing to respond to ER calls, will drop. In addition, 61 percent of the respondents don't believe the new law will effectively address uncompensated care, which has closed hundreds of emergency departments in America, most recently St. Vincent's in New York City. "If the Times Square bomber had actually blown up his car, injured victims able to walk would have found the doors of nearby St. Vincent's closed and locked," Gardner said."
CMDA reports (concerning the health care reform) "It's going to damage right of conscience for faith-based health care professionals. We actually surveyed 2,800 faith-based doctors, nurses and other health care professionals, and 95 percent of them said they will leave health care if it came down to violating their conscience on abortion, human cloning, physician-assisted suicide, and other issues," Stevens reports. "And this bill provides absolutely no protection, even though it's guaranteed to us in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights."
If the new reform was such a positive move in the right health care direction, the medical community would be backing it 100%. To have full backing from your political party and not from the citizens it is intended to serve, or the doctors and nurses that will provide such care, says a lot. This reform is not about health care reform at all. It is another political move that does little in satisfying the cause.
It's time to go back to the drawing board, and this time, we need a leader strong enough to listen to the American people and the health care community and give this nation what it needs. We need a leader that will listen, understand and then implement. We can't afford to lose gifted, moral, knowledgable experts in the medical field and my concern is that eventually, under the new plan, some of our countrys best will walk.
Unfortunately, many still do not understand the much needed healthcare reform-and I'm not talking about the "stupid" protesters either.
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