Health Care Reform

January 23, 2010

Health Care Reform: Be Careful What You Ask For
By UAW Local 2195-Region 8 Webmaster John Davis

Conservative media has spent the week heralding their victory with the election of former nude model Republican Scott Brown in the Massachusetts Senate race. Brown ran on the platform that his election would end health care reform in this country. The conservatives have trumpeted their glee in taking control of the seat that belonged to Senator Ted Kennedy for 46 year prior to his death last year.

Even the President conceded this week the people had spoken. The health care lobby and the National Chamber of Commerce have spent untold millions to confuse the issue on health care reform and used their own private news outlet Fox News to promote their agenda. However, I agree with the President and think it is time we give the American people what they want – totally and completely. The general public – with the urging of such experts as Sara Palin and Rush Limbaugh think the United States government should stay out of health care. If this is what people want – I think the President should give it to them. But as they say, you must be careful of what you ask for.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 20% of the federal budget is spent on Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). If the government is going to stay out of health care – then all of these programs should go. Republicans would love this because they opposed each and every one of these programs and fought against them. Again according to the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities, $391 billion went to Medicare in 2008 to provide health care assistance to 45 million people over the age of 65. So the first thing to go needs to be Medicare so the general public’s tax dollars can be saved. After all, health care companies are so fair they would never discriminate against senior citizens and would welcome them with open arms. With those over 65 having a disproportion of preexisting conditions, insurance companies would never discriminate against them. They don’t do that- just ask anyone in the conservative media. Plus, we currently have 50 million Americans with no health care – and this isn’t a problem again according to conservative media so what is another 45 million? No big deal. After all, many of them have worked all their lives to purchase a home. The hospitals and doctors will gladly take their life savings in exchange for giving them medical treatments their tax dollars developed.

This brings us to the next point. The government shouldn’t meddle with medical research. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities states that 3% of the federal budget is spent on scientific and medical research. Surely this interferes with free market principals of medical research! You may say – “big deal it is only 3%.” However, education only assumes 2% of the federal budget. So for every dollar we spend on education – we spend two on medical research. Prior to World War II, virtually all medical research was funded privately. During that war, the government decided disease could threaten the ability of the armed forces to fight a global war. As a result, the federal government began to fund medical research. The result of this decision was the formation of the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.  In 1980 the federal government created a uniform patent policy that allowed corporate interest to work with federally funded medical research, essentially giving corporations the financial reward of procedures and pharmaceuticals developed with federal funds. As a result, today 90% of all life science companies have a relationship with academic institutions allowing them to use tax dollars to fund the research for medical treatments they profit from. If the federal government is going to stay out of medical business, then all federal funds being used for medical advancements should cease. This money could then be diverted to education and would solve all of education budget owes, because it would mean a 150% increase in federal education budgets.

Insulin, blood pressure medications, advanced surgery, antibiotics, and polio and measles vaccines are all examples of medical advancements that have been made as a result of federal dollars used in medical research. The 2009 Federal Budget included over 30 billion dollars for the National Institute of Health which in turn was presenting over 10,000 grants this year for medical research. These dollars will provide research that will be turned into profit engines for medical firms.  So, end this research gifts to the big medical companies.

Benefits for federal employees and veterans account for another 6% of the federal budget. Using the same arguments of free market theories, the government is infringing on insurance companies by providing health care for federal employees and veterans. Why should the general public’s tax dollars be used to fund health care for veterans and federal employees? Using the same principals used by opponents of health care reform – it could be said this is a waste of tax dollars.

Finally, the Food and Drug Administration cost the American tax payer 3.2 billion dollars in 2009.  These tax dollars were wasted on testing drugs for public use. If we are to trust insurance companies and medical companies to act on their own in the public interest, then why should we spend 3.2 needless federal dollars to insure public safety when it comes to pharmaceutical drugs? That is even more money that could be saved by removing the federal government’s meddling.

The general public has spoken (don’t take my word for it just as Rush Limbaugh – that is if he is back from getting his Lorcet, Norco and hydrocodone prescriptions filled) and they don’t want health care reform. By eliminating Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, benefits for federal employees and veterans, and medical research the federal budget could be reduced by 30%. Just think of all the tax cuts this could provide for the wealthiest one percent!

Is the elimination of these programs a ridiculous thought? Of course it is. But most of those 50 million Americans who don’t have health insurance pay taxes that are used to provide Medicare for everyone over 65, used to provide health care for federal employees and veterans and their tax dollars are used to develop medical procedures and pharmaceuticals they are denied because they don’t have health care. It all comes down to the general public being misinformed and uneducated on the issues we face. However, much of the blame lies at the feet of the general public for allowing the conservative media to do their thinking for them. So before you post on blogs or place signs in your yard screaming about the federal government staying out of health care – be careful what you wish for. Federal involvement in health care goes far beyond the current reforms – as well it should. Ending these programs would impact virtually everyone you know in one way or the other.

The sentiments included in this editorial are the sentiments of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of UAW Region 8 or the International Union.