Texas Red: a cratered landscape of prisons, deplorable public education, lack of healthcare and politicians and majority population intent on keeping it that way
On the topic of healthcare and healthcare insurance reform the two top Texas Red elected representatives stated the following:
“Senator JOHN CORNYN (Republican, Texas): And I would urge my colleagues not to take the bait on this so called public option, whether it has an opt out or not, because it is just another disguised way to try to end up with a single-payer government-run health care system here out of Washington D.C."
[Senator Kay Bailey] “Hutchison (Republican, Texas) said on Dallas-Fort Worth radio station WBAP that she's not sure whether she will resign from the Senate before the end of the year or even before the GOP primary in March, when she faces Perry, who is seeking a third full term. She said she wants to remain there long enough to fight President Barack Obama's health care proposal."
It doesn’t sound to me as if either of this state’s U.S. senators is interested in reforming healthcare or healthcare reform. This is interesting because in San Antonio and in fact most of Texas healthcare is sorely lacking.
The city experiences a number of health care related issues such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Though San Antonio is the seventh largest city in the nation it lags behind many much smaller, more progressive cities in providing even the most basic health care. The Alamo City also routinely places in the top ten fattest cities in the country. In 2009 it ranks as the third fattest city.
Not coincidentally of the 50 states Texas ranks second worst in health care coverage behind number one New Mexico. Additionally six of the 10 counties providing the lowest health coverage for “all age groups” in the entire nation are also located in Texas. Bexar County — where about one in five people go without health insurance — is doing somewhat better, but still rates 231st in uninsured children and 433rd overall out of 3,140 U.S. counties.
Given the dismal state of health care in Texas it is interesting that both its U.S. senators (Cornyn and Hutchinson) are on record as opposing the Obama Administration’s efforts to provide affordable health care especially in the form of the public option. Then again you have to consider that the insurance industry has been pouring over a million dollars a day to defeat the public option. There are also six insurance industry lobbyists for every member of congress in D.C. right now working the will of the industry. That's telling.
Interestingly both Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Senator John Cornyn qualify for one of the best insurance plans around---the FEHBP. So what they deny to their constituents in particular and Americans in general they enjoy--- a quality health care system known as the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan.
It is also telling that these two senators know that their constituencies are comprised of a majority of folk whose core beliefs are just like theirs. In a state of 24 million people that is a scary thing. It’s worth mentioning, again, that this is yet another reason the Founders did not stand-up a democracy which they defined as tyranny by majority.
There are few independent voices on the issue of health care. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) part of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is one of those. Bill Moyers Journal is always an excellent source.
For more information: Corporate profits before patients?
Corporate profits before patients? (part two)
What does the "public' in public option really mean?
Health Insurance Reform Reality Check
Comments
The long standing belief for all business, corporations, as well as non-profit organizations is the maximize profit while increasing shareholder wealth.
I'm almost certain that you, yourself, has been on the business side of the spectrum before and understand that money talks and everything else walks.
The two things that make the world go round is money and government.
Why not keep the things the wasy they are? Is it really that bad. People in this world have become sheeps. They follow where they are directed to go.
People complain about healthcare but nobody said anything about the financial institution bail outs. Morons. What's even worse is people think that the United States of America has all this money lying around. Basic economic principle, inflation = too many dollars chasing too few goods. the US currency is fiat money. The US can only make interest payments on loans provided by foreign countries to keep the US afloat. This is why the dollar is under attack.
First, the Founders did not set up a democracy. They founded a REPUBLIC, look up the difference.
Second, please show me in the Constitution where Congress has the right to mandate, monitor or run a health care system? People that are obese, diabetic or hypertensive need to become responsible for themselves. It is not the financial responsibility of the tax payer or the government to suckle them. All three of these conditions are preventable and reversible with self-discipline.
We live in a run-away society. Everything is exaggerated and inflated. Until this bubble pops and everyone hits ground zero, no health care plan or other controlling legislation will heal the wound. At best it will provide a Band Aide that quickly looses its glue. But they will have their data base.
MG I completely agree with you 100%.
I'm still waiting to read Mr. Robert Ruiz's response. He'd better come up with a plausible, reasonable explanation for both your and my rebuttals.
In my opinion, this has to be the worse opinion on public policy ever! I can just as easily write a column filled with quotes and paraphrased with other peoples work and not give them credit.
Let's go Ruiz, the ball is in your court.
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