Saturday, October 24, 2009

Universal Health Care Will Make The World Better

I have a very close friend from my attempt at a college education, who is now a PhD in Psychiatry and is an avid proponent of Universal Health Care. I'm agin it and he's fer it, so we don't discuss it in detail often, because we both just piss off the other guy, and our friendship is deeper than this one issue.

He did send me an unsolicited mass Email:
Responding to lies about health care reform

By the way, there is nowhere in the legislation that outlaws private insurance. It just makes another option available. Gee, for people who are supposedly so much into free enterprise, you would think they would appreciate the value of a little competition, especially from a competitor that is as lame (so they say) as the government.


I did respond:

First off, let me make clear that though I am registered Republican, I'm really not. I am a Conservative and Federalist. You may say I'm a Libertarian, but some group took over that title and I don't agree with all they espouse.

We know you and I have different views on reforms for Health Care, so I just want to point out some things. (and I won't hate you if you still disagree...you effing commie, statist, socialist, fascist, nazi bastard!!!!!)

The common point I believe we have is Health Care needs to be reformed.

Like all things the government gets involved in, they start making rules about something that they have little or no knowledge. Their concern is how it plays with enough of the people back home to get reelected.

The problem I have with this bill is that IT ISN'T EVEN WRITTEN YET!

They cranked out something as fast as they could with huge holes in it (to be filled later), and expect us to take their word that it'll all work out right. I don't trust them, they won't give up their health care program to join this miracle of legislation (and the Unions and Federal employees are exempt also).

Everywhere this has been tried, it doesn't work.

MEDICINE AND HEALTH:
Here’s a Second Opinion


I don't see where the country with the highest approval and survivor rates has to go down to a lesser system. How about we bring them up to ours?

It will be different this time? Give me a break. Look at Oregon's state run medi-care.

(Funny video, and it makes the point)

I'm going to close this out with the words of the man that wants us all to enjoy this utopia of medical miracles that awaits us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XTi-WdOu2s

I know reform is needed, but details would be nice and Obambi is still in campaign mode and the Dems won't give details and won't let the Repubs even suggest ideas... and 52% is not a mandate.


This exchange took place back in August, and I haven't heard from him since.

Today while bored out of my mind, I was goofing with the internet and ran a search on my friend to see if I could get a hit...I did, and this is what I found on his web site:

Why do you charge so much?

Because our fees look high, people often think we make extravagant amounts of money. In reality, we know skilled tradespeople who earn more than we do. By the time we pay our office overhead, absorb unpaid bills, and cover the costs associated with being a psychologist (licenses, insurance, mandatory continuing education, etc.), there is not as much slack as you might think.

In addition to being clinicians, we also are in a business where our livelihood depends on getting paid for our time and expertise. Since we dedicate large blocks of time to each individual client, the amount of time we have is limited. Furthermore, the expertise comes to us at a high price, with many years of study, sacrifice, and poverty. We also face the constant need to keep up to date and further our training, and we carry a large amount of responsibility as health care providers.

Nonetheless, our fees are much lower than other professionals who also sell their expertise. Lawyers, for example, often charge two to two-and-a-half times as much as we do. Physicians often charge less than we do per contact, but you only get a few minutes of their time. If you look at the hourly rate, theirs is much greater than ours.

Frankly, we value what we do, and we hope our clients do, too. If you are going to pursue psychotherapy, you need to think of it as an investment -- an investment in your life. For less than what you might pay to put new carpet in your home, you can improve the quality of your life, have better relationships, and feel more at ease with yourself.

[emphasis mine]

I know this man, and I know he cares about his patients and wants them to be better, but I also know he has a nice house, and a business that he'd like to keep. I just wonder what his opinion is going to be when Psych care is included under health care and the government sets the price..."your fees are $X per hour, but as a cost saving measure, we'll pay 3/4$X per hour this year until we're over budget next year and then...we'll see how much we have to reduce it then.

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