Top News #3

“Obama team raises pressure on health insurers”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100219/pl_nm/us_usa_healthcare_insurers


Found this article online at yahoo.com in the news section. I think this is definitely an important story because of 1) the effects health care reform would have on the U.S., both positive and negative and 2) how long this discussion seems to be going on because it just seems like the whole debate has turned into less of a debate to reform a flawed system but rather a forum for political hackery and finger pointing on both sides. The fact that healthcare reform talks have gone on this long just goes t show how screwed up our “leaders” in D.C. are. It’s like the Democrats and the Republicans are more concerned with who is seen as the hero or winner of this debate rather than actually reforming the healthcare of this country. I’ll be honest right now and say that despite the fact that I voted for Obama, I have been largely unimpressed with the way he has handled this issue but what has pissed me off even MORE is his detractors. From day 1 of this administration, these conservative morons have been trying to do one thing and one thing only and that is sabotage and naysay Obama as much as possible in whatever he wants to do. It’s like all they care about is just tarnishing the guy’s image instead of actually trying to solve the issues that are facing this country. Even when Obama tries to admit his wrongs or try to negotiate some kind of compromise they just say “no” or say it’s a “socialist, secret-Muslim, Kenyan-born, nazi, reverse racist sub plot” of his and that they want no part of it. I mean at least the President is trying to help and trying to find answers, be it clumsily, but at least he’s putting ideas out there rather than just nay saying like the Republicans are.

Anyways sorry for the mini rant there, just had to get that off my chest but this is an important article because it shows how bad our healthcare system is and how no matter way the conservatives look at it, it needs some touching up. Health insurers are getting richer and richer while more and more Americans can’t get covered because these companies are now jacking up the prices. I did a report last year on healthcare reform and one of the most disturbing numbers I saw when it came to our countries healthcare in comparison to others is that we are ranked 37th worldwide by WHO (World Health Organization) in total efficiency, cost, customer satisfaction, mortality, etc. While we exceed in healthcare technologies, we are among the worst in coverage (47 million people are uncovered in this country) and life expectancy (42nd ranked in the world). I could go on and on about he problems here but my post is already long enough as it is so I’m just going to move on.

So this is important to readers in several ways. In terms of proximity it’s America so every American citizen should be interested because it deals not only with their health but also with their pocket books, as healthcare reform could be good or bad for both. It obviously also has a great impact on our lives because as this debate continues sooner or later one side is going to give and the result will be a new healthcare system that could be potentially better or worse, or things stay the same and we continue to use the current healthcare system. Now depending on what political background your from, your rooting for one of these things to happen and kind of like my sports team metaphor from my last “Top News” post, everybody wants to see their favorite team (Democrats or Republicans) win.

In the end, I hate to sound cynical but I doubt anything will ever get resolved here in the immediate future. The Republicans are too stubborn to make a compromise or even speak with the president, and as always it seems nothing will get done in Washington because neither side is willing to talk civilized to one another without calling the other a “socialist” or “capitalist pig.” Oh well, but that’s politics isn’t it? It’s not really about helping other people anymore; it’s all about the boosting political egos and 1-uping one another.