I'm for Socialized Medicine and elimination of private insurance and HMOs.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I've come to realize that the newer buzzword seems to be "Universal Coverage" instead of "Socialized Medicine". The plans that I read about seem to want to construct a government mandated system that incorporates all the HMOs and insurance companies.

I think this is wrong. One of the problems with our system is that it's got too many fingers in the pie. I'm in favor of a single payer, British style system or else keeping the present free for all we have now. I think the Democrats, who are the most likely to be in favor of a big government program like this, are too afraid to take on the powerful lobbies of HMOs and Insurance companies.

If we come up with a hybrid system like is being proposed, we are in for even more regulatory confusion and mess than we are even seeing now.

I think a single payer, government run socialized system is the best option. I also think that there must be strict tort reform that goes along with it to protect healthcare providers from frivilous lawsuits.

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I think single payer with government insurance like improved and expanded Medicare would be best.

I am not in favor of the government running the providers such as hospitals, clinics, and such.

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Most anti universal health care folks already call any form of government run health care proposals, "Socialized Medicine", whether it be a true single payer system or not. This is an increasingly used buzzword for denegrating the democratic/liberal point of view, but most Americans are too sophisticated to buy that rubbish.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
I am not in favor of the government running the providers such as hospitals, clinics, and such.

How would you prevent that from happening? Even if the government doesn't "take ownership" of healthcare facilities, or directly employ health care providers, by becoming the only source of payment in the healthcare industry, the government will most definitely be in control of these facilities and personnel.

If for no other reason than that, it would be disastrous to turn the delivery and payment of our healthcare over solely to the government. The public needs to retain some degree of control over the system to promote quality, competition (for wages and business) and accountability of the administration.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
Most anti universal health care folks already call any form of government run health care proposals, "Socialized Medicine", whether it be a true single payer system or not. This is an increasingly used buzzword for denegrating the democratic point of view, but most Americans are too sophisticated to buy that rubbish.

I disagree. I tend to think that many Americans are easily influenced by advertising soundbites, and aren't well informed on details.

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I disagree. I tend to think that many Americans are easily influenced by advertising sound bites, and aren't well informed on details.
I see your point about the sound bites and I hear them ALOT on the right wing radio BLAB shows, it seems that some of the formerly conservative/republicans have come around to a less extreme point of view though, evidenced by the success of McCain, and independent voters flocking to the democratic side, in many of the caucases and primaries. Even some formerly republican folks are saying they will vote for Hillary or Obama.
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Specializes in ICU.

I thought this might be interesting for everyone to view concerning a single payer government run socialized system?

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
I thought this might be interesting for everyone to view concerning a single payer government run socialized system?

Interesting. Of course, you have just as many horror stories from the American system you realize.

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Specializes in ICU.

Touche'.... I absolutley agree.

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How would you prevent that from happening? Even if the government doesn't "take ownership" of healthcare facilities, or directly employ health care providers, by becoming the only source of payment in the healthcare industry, the government will most definitely be in control of these facilities and personnel.

If for no other reason than that, it would be disastrous to turn the delivery and payment of our healthcare over solely to the government. The public needs to retain some degree of control over the system to promote quality, competition (for wages and business) and accountability of the administration.

Now the insurance industry , big pharma, consultants, and others control the lack of a system.

With the government WE can have our say.

Both with our votes and with a local citizens committee (led by direct care nurses- I would lobby for that).

I am very glad for the government regulations that exist regarding health facilities and safety. They need to be improved.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
Now the insurance industry , big pharma, consultants, and others control the lack of a system.

With the government WE can have our say.

Both with our votes and with a local citizens committee (led by direct care nurses- I would lobby for that).

I am very glad for the government regulations that exist regarding health facilities and safety. They need to be improved.

I agree that we currently have a number of entities with competing interests that influence our system, including government (in terms of regulation and payment), insurance companies, manufacturers, etc. None of which have the patient's best interest at heart, including the government.

I fear a system where only the government exerts influence, because I believe that the oversight we currently have (flawed and inadequate as it may be) will be completely lost.

But I ask: what good are government regulations when the government will only be regulating itself? Is that not the fox guarding the henhouse?

Far better, IMO to put individuals in charge of their own healthcare by enabling them to purchase services for themselves and by making providers acountable to them, not the government or insurance company.

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The government regulates law enforcement.

From murder to jaywalking.

I am so very glad our government is charged with water safety and the other public protection laws.

If not government who should make the laws?

Who should make the arrests? Or enforce the laws?

Who should run the courts.

I sure don't trust a for profit corporation to do that.

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