Will Senator Kennedy's death help to pass the health plan?

No

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by Helena Whyte

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Kennedy's death will not help to pass the health plan. Even though Kennedy was the most visible supporter of the health plan, everyone knew that he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. The time to pass the health plan in his honor was before the current congressional recess. The Republican Party is opposed to a national health plan and they are opposed to a plan supported only by the Democrats.

Some Democrats are fearful of increasing the federal deficit even more and are not convinced that there is a plan to pay for health care reform. Kennedy leaves a large legacy. It is not necessary to pass health care reform in his memory.

The unruly town hall meetings that have taken place regarding the health care plan, indicate that the nation is divided on this issue. Those who have health care see no need for a national plan and are fearful of losing the private benefits they currently have. Those who do not have health care see a need for a national plan or co-op.

Unfortunately, more citizens will need to declare bankruptcy because they cannot pay their excessive medical bills and lose their home to foreclosure before the majority of Americans and congress will see that a significant amount of Americans are not covered. Congress has an excellent health care plan so they cannot empathize with the low income employee or the unemployed.

The Clinton health care reform bill failed because they clearly outlined its benefits and costs. The Obama health care reform bill will fail because they have not stated the benefits and the costs. Health care lobbyists have spread rumors and used emotional arguments to make the public fearful of change. Fear of change will leave the health care bill dead on arrival.

Health care reform will fail because the uninsured use the emergency room for medical care rather than medical clinics. There are not enough family practitioners to staff an adequate amount of medical clinics. Too many doctors turn down Medicare patients now because they are not paid adequately by the government. There are too many specialists.

A plethora of medical specialists results in too many expensive, unnecessary tests being administered to relatively healthy patients. Too many patients are prescribed multiple drugs. Many prescriptions are for side effects of drugs that the drug companies insist are safe. The list of side effects listed on prescription advertisements often sound far worse than the original medical condition.

Education about healthy nutrition and lifestyles will do far more in the long run than a national health care system that over-medicates the population.

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