I am impressed with the Obama Transitions Team to engage citizens in meaningful conversations. To join in on the healthcare debate, go to: http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/join_the_discussion_daschles_healthcare_response/
Here is my two-cents:
Trying to "fix" a broken system by tweaking it will not work. It's as crazy as putting a new heart into a person whose other organs have also failed. A whole new system is required and, as many have written, based on a new set of values regarding people, not policies and profits. Fact is, we don't even have a system. We have an industry and, like the U.S. auto industry, it is cumbersome, archaic and unresponsive to the needs and wants of nearly all the people involved.
I suggest we start with our education, making tuition free for doctors, nurses, EMTs, etc. in exchange for, say, a couple of year's of community service at a base-rate of pay. That way, doctors don't graduate med school with hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt. Liability needs to be capped.
Free preventative health care, from pre-natal to adulthood, including dentistry, (as in New Zealand), will avoid much of the adult onset of chronic disease and raise awareness. And, on the other end of the life cycle, we need to address aging and dying as a society, as our existing options are pitiful and only the very wealthy can have any peace about end-of-life care and dignity. We must create safety nets for our citizenry to overcome the fears rampant on every level in the U.S. Why are 50% of bankruptcies over medical bills?
But all this means re-prioritizing our values...for people, not profits. And too, citizens must be willing and empowered to take responsibility for their health and well-being. This is a huge issue that speaks to the core of our values as a nation, but I believe 'yes we can' make the necessary changes. Thanks for engaging us in the conversation.
