Great, great, great article titled "How many people die from lack of insurance" in The Atlantic. The comments thread is worth a look as well. It comes with the requisite Canadian comparisons.
At the same time, a report concluded wait times in emergencies are rising with more deaths in Quebec. I heard it on the news and can't find the appropriate story. Sorry.
Obama has bet his political balls that it's the insurance companies solely at fault for the mess. Clearly, there's room for debate. For a "complex" problem as he describes, he really does come off as simplistic (and emotional) by employing a specific narrative: Democrats = compassion, GOP = evil. No rational discussion in between.
It's the same nonsense up here with liberals and conservatives.
While according to polls over 85% of Americans say they're happy with their current health plans (and that number gets fortified with the prospect of government interference), many Americans agree something has to be done to fix major problems confronting it. But what the GOP wants (e.g. Tort reform), the Dems won't give for political reasons. What the Dems want (e.g. public option), the GOP won't give for ideological and political reasons. Obama says he wants to hammer out a bipartisan plan but I can't see how this is possible. Bipartisanship is a new buzz word that's increasingly being thrown around these days.
Here's a link to the WHO's ranking of health care systems back in 2000. Canada ranked 30th; these United States 37th. France and Italy were first and second respectively.Three to five is interesting: San Marino, Andorra and Malta.
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The way I see the Americans are getting ready to make a trade in attempting to move their system towards ours.
Rick Ankiel for Steve Sax.
Inside baseball reference.
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