.jpg)
Rushed to the hospital not far from where his arch nemesis, President Barack Obama was vacationing, conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh proclaimed everything was okay, nothing was wrong and he got the best health care in the United States. At the news conference held at The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Limbaugh added he got the best health care anywhere right here in the United States. What Limbaugh, a powerful and outspoken opponent of the Obama Health Care Plan, failed to mention is the medical system in Hawaii is as close to socialized medicine as there is in the United States, and, much of the Democrats reform bill is based in the Hawaii system.
"It must seem a little bizarre to many that our small state, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, would play such a prominent role in the debate over how we should reform our health care system," writes Dr. Phillip D. Hellreich, for the Heritage Foundation. "The reasons are that Dr. John Lewin, our state director of health, has had considerable input into crafting of the Clinton health care proposals and that many of the ingredients of the Hawaii plan have been incorporated into the President's health care reform package."
Hellreich gave his comments in 1994 and Hawaii's pre paid health care act went into effect in 1975 or 34 years ago! While the Clinton Plan failed to pass, many of the same themes from that plan run through the current plan which just passed congress and goes up for conference after the first of the year. Still Limbaugh, who can afford his own health care, must have liked something he saw.
"The treatment I received here was the best that the world has to offer," Limbaugh said. "Based on what happened here to me, I don't think there's one thing wrong with the American health care system. It is working just fine, just dandy."
If Limbaugh, a staunch opponent of the president and the health care package pushed by the Democrats, loved the health care he got, then he must love the Democrats plan or at least the basics of it. Maybe he didn't realize this and just chose to make his comments in the same news cycle the president is using since both were in Hawaii on vacation. Mr. Obama's home state is Hawaii despite spending his political life in Illinois. Wonder if the President sent him a get well card?
Comments
It seems to me that the care Rush received at Queens has little to do with the House/Senate Hog trough mess touted as "Obama care". Four years ago I received excellent care at Brook Army Medical Center(triple bypass. Perhaps the health care system should be run by the Army.
Conservatives like Limbaugh claim that government involvement in health care - the "socialization" of health care - must destroy the quality of health care. But by Limbaugh's own words, Hawaiian government involvement in health care - the Hawaiian "socialization" of health care - has not destroyed the quality of health care in Hawaii. (There has been a close to universal mandate for employer-provided health insurance for more than 30 years in Hawaii.) By his own words, what has been destroyed is this claim of conservatives like himself.
There are many other great articles on this: For an example, Google "Limbaugh Lauds (Socialist) Medical Care in Hawaii".
Rush has PRIVATE health insurance, thats what PAID for his treatment. Just because HI has semi-socialized medicine doesn't mean that Rush was saying that a Hawaiian semi-social program is great, he was saying that American medicine is great, and it was paid for by his insurance. The skill of the doctors and medical professionals has little to do with who, what and how it is paid. And the quality of care has NEVER BEEN the issue, the issue is: pays for it?
Here is what UPI said Limbaugh said: "The treatment I received here was the best that the world has to offer," Limbaugh said Friday. "Based on what happened here to me, I don't think there's one thing wrong with the American healthcare SYSTEM. It is working just fine, just dandy."
Unless one has had one's head in the sand, one knows that the main claim of conservatism with respect to health care and government is that (1) government involvement in health care is bad and (2) the main reason it's bad is because it lowers the QUALITY of health care.
But Limbaugh received care in Hawaii, the American state that has perhaps the most government involvement in health care - it's the only state with a mandate on employers to buy health insurance, where one could argue that putting a mandate on employers entails a SYSTEM of more government involvement in health care than putting a mandate on individuals.
Therefore, Limbaugh's statement contradicts this main claim of conservatism.
Socialization of healthcare signed by Reagan is what is practised in hospitals today; no one is refused care in an emergency dept. The government is already footing the bill somehow. The reason why conservatives do not want to change is precisely the fact that it is already socialized-free of charge if you are not the Limbaugh type. Indeed I should hope that he has not abused the system by not paying for the service.
My friend Robert Brill the "good democrat".
People really need to get educated on the law about emergency rooms - there is massive ignorance of the law here. Emergency rooms are not required to treat non-emergencies for free. All they must do is determine whether the condition is an emergency at that time. If it is an emergency, then they have to treat it but only until it is no longer an emergency - at which time they show you the door. If it is not an emergency, they show you the door - whether it's diabetes, heart disease, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, you name it, it doesn't matter. They may give you a referral as you leave, which is useless if you have no money or insurance.
But the vast majority of health care needed to prevent or avoid premature death from lack of health care isn't an emergency at the time it is needed. If you have to wait until it finally becomes an emergency, it's almost certainly too late to help you avoid a premature death caused by lack of health care.
Your observations, and the resultant comments by others, help me understand the different perceptions and arguements on each side of an issue better. Thank you.
I wonder how many people read the Heritage Foundation article cited.
"As I stated earlier, our Hawaii state health director claims that only 2 percent of Hawaii's population is uninsured, compared to the national average of 14 percent. But this claim is untrue, A 1992 report by the American Public Health Association found that Hawaii's uninsured rate is 11 percent and that Hawaii ranked 15th in the nation in the percentage of its population being uninsured"
"A recent Newsday article reported that because of Hawaii's healthcare system, 51 percent of companies restrict wage increases and raised prices to cover health costs and 38 percent have had to reduce the number of employees because of the effects of this employer mandate. Newsday has also found that Hawaii's insurance premium rates are going up an average of 12 percent per year, even though physician fees and hospital rates are significantly lower than in comparable cities on the mainland U.S."
Read the resource and learn.
Yes, Will, we learn:
What you pointed out is yet more proof that generally speaking for the whole country, if we really want to save as many lives as possible, only our federal government directly providing coverage through a Medicare-like public option can save ALL of those increasing numbers of people, many tens of millions and counting, that are thrown out into the streets and left to rot to death by private enterprise.
Just like all those tens of people saved by Medicare. Need some scientific proof? Here's a very small sample of the science (Google the titles to find the links):
Does Medicare Save Lives?
"Medicare eligibility reduces the death rate...by 20%."
Health Insurance Coverage And Mortality Among The Near-Elderly
"Lacking health insurance was associated with substantially higher adjusted mortality."
@truck
Finally somebody that has it right!
"Rush has PRIVATE health insurance, thats what PAID for his treatment. Just because HI has semi-socialized medicine doesn't mean that Rush was saying that a Hawaiian semi-social program is great, he was saying that American medicine is great, and it was paid for by his insurance. The skill of the doctors and medical professionals has little to do with who, what and how it is paid. And the quality of care has NEVER BEEN the issue, the issue is: pays for it?"
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!