Why Bush's Health Care "Plan" Sucks

I have not seen this mentioned elsewhere on the blogs, but it is just one reason our nationwide health care system, run as it is by profit-driven corporations, is fatally flawed. Some of us cannot purchase our own health insurance due to preexisting conditions. (I have asthma.) I am fortunate to be on a group plan through my employer, but I have tried unsuccessfully to buy my own policy in the past. The President's suggestion of tax breaks for people buying their own health insurance would do fuck-all for someone like me.

The more obvious problem is explained well by Stephen Colbert. If you are already getting all your withholdings refunded because you earn next to nothing, you can't very well get any more money back than what was already withheld.

Despite being the sort of person who gives others the benefit of the doubt, I've always suspected this administration was all about spinning the media coverage while doing very little in the way of actually governing. How could anyone possibly think the State of the Union healthcare proposal (or any GWB proposal ever, for that matter) was good policy? How?! It is my opinion that very little thought went into this proposed "reform." The President needed to pad out his speech and "domestic agenda," so his people spent maybe five minutes coming up with a few (really stupid) ideas. This administration simply does not give a shit about Americans (much less anyone else). The alternative explanation for the administration's suckitude is that the President and his advisers are simply unaware of how pathetically inadequate their policy proposals are. I find that hard to believe, given that these people appear capable of dressing and feeding themselves. My father holds this more charitable view, but I think these people are moderately to highly intelligent and cynical as hell. They know damn well how worthless their policies are.

This country needs to guarantee health care for everyone, no exceptions. Frankly, it is the only civilized thing to do. Deductibles could be determined by income. I would propose that private insurers still be permitted to sell their services to those who feel additional insurance is worth the additional expense. I don't think we need to worry ourselves about ballooning costs, given that our health care expenses are completely out of control already.

It would be wonderful if no one were ever again trapped in a job because she needed the insurance benefits. Economic hardship is a huge limitation on the freedom of many - if not most - Americans. More freedom would be a good thing.