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Per Karl Rove, in the Wall Street Journal:
...Mr. Obama is trying to overhaul health care without being able to tap into widespread public unhappiness. Nearly nine out of 10 Americans say they have coverage—and large majorities of them are happy with it. Of the 46 million uninsured, 9.7 million are not U.S. citizens; 17.6 million have annual incomes of more than $50,000; and 14 million already qualify for Medicaid or other programs. That leaves less than five million people truly uncovered out of a population of 307 million. Americans don't believe this problem—serious but correctable—justifies the radical shift Mr. Obama offers.
Let's see what that looks like in a pie chart:
It's just 2% of the population.
#2Everybody with a brain (who follows this) knew this already. Forty Seven Million to 2% is the size of the lie the dems have been telling. However, I am sure that the 47 million number will still be used to push this boondoggly.
#3As one of the 2%, I think you are missing some major points. First, those who ARE covered are suffering decreases every year in their overall coverage, as cost of that coverage for their employers increases every year.
Being "covered" may mean a variety of things: it may mean you are covered if you are severely injured in an accident, and under no other condition. It may mean you pay $50 deductables for routine office visits, or it may mean that under your coverage you may pay all of the visit, and you know you can't afford it so you don't go. It may mean you pick and choose which medications you can do without - or how much chance you can take with your overall health - because you just can't afford all medication, given your coverage. you need. It may mean that you are covered for everything except the cancer you had, fought and survived, before you were at your current job.
Don't get me wrong: I don't want to see universal government- sponsored health care in the US. I've lived in Europe, and it doesn't work. Quality inevitably goes down, incentive for research goes down, and it moves us closer to government interference in every piece of our private lives. I consider it an evil.
However, to use Rove's pie chart to imply that our health care system as it is, is not all that bad - is just misleading and inaccurate. And for me, as one of the 2% you cite (I don't earn more than $50,000; I don't qualify for Medicare; I am a US citizen born and bred; I have pre-existing conditions that are a fact of life...) it is infuriating - - because people all around me who are one of the 84% according to the chart, are underinsured, partly insured, or simply can't afford the copays for the insurance they have, to be considered as having adequate or reasonable health care.
The system is inadequate. It is broken. That is fact. Obama's characteristically underinformed rosy utopian vision is ridiculous; but to pretend there really isn't a real issue for millions of Americans is equally ridiculous. And your average working American knows it.
#4Mac, thanks for this great post. Health care reform is needed.
As you point out:
I don't want to see universal government- sponsored health care in the US. I've lived in Europe, and it doesn't work. Quality inevitably goes down, incentive for research goes down, and it moves us closer to government interference in every piece of our private lives. I consider it an evil.
Two great proposals Conservatives are putting forward for health care reform are, tort reform, and permission for people to buy insurance across state lines. An excellent article on this, from Krauthammer, is here.
Amazingly, all federal employees are already permitted to buy health insurance across state lines - but not the rest of the American people - per this interview with Rep. Mike Pence. Why should our government officials grant themselves rights that they deny to the rest of us?
#5ooh this is good stuff. if this chart is accurate then this is very very good.
2 percent. interesting. Mac, your comment was brilliant, thanks for posting!
i have to agree with you! obamacare is part fo the evil, but healthcare could be much better.
thanks for the link to the article Vik!!
Wow-- don't hear this from the President.