What We Need vs What We Want

Wants vs. Needs.

It's the great debate being waged over many a kitchen table these days.  An entire generation of Americans has come face-to-face with the reality of prioritizing their needs over their wants, some for the very first time in their middle-aged lives.

Many of their children cannot fathom a difference between the two; if you want something, then you need it.  Right?

And, really, why should they think otherwise?

They grew up in a world where every passing fad was a "must-have".  Not a want.  Not even a reward for hard work and perseverence.  No, a "must-have".  The fashion ads shout it, the toy makers insist on it.  It's a "must", a "need"... so much more than a "want".

Our society is a spoiled brat, pining after the Wii as if fitness "must" be obtained by turning on the television as opposed to turning it off and taking a walk.  Our "must-have" mentality has brought us to the brink of disaster because our homes are filled with fifty-inch plasma screens upon which to view movies we wouldn't spend eight dollars to see at the theater, but for which we monthly shell out over a hundred dollars to flip through on our way to something "better" to watch.  Our McMansion driveways are cookie-cutter cluttered with Sport Utility Vehicles which see neither sporting or much utility beyond transporting us from point "A" to point "B".  Diamond "tennis bracelets", anyone?  IPod nano-second fad?  Laptops to notebooks to notepads?  Is your phone now smarter than you are?

And so it goes with our view of government.

We now "need" government to take over our healthcare?  Really?

Well, first of all, let's start using accurate words, shall we?  "The Government" doesn't want to take over your health care, per se, it wants to take over your health insurance.

The two terms are not, despite the talking heads on your six o'clock news and the so-called reporters in your local or even national newspapers, the same thing.  You could have the best "insurance" in the world, but if you have a heart attack in the middle of nowhere Nebraska, you are at the mercy of the Internist on duty in the E.D. of that twelve-bed hospital that may or may not have a cardiologist on call, and may or may not have a cath lab and may or may not be able to get you into it in time.  Your top-notch "insurance" does not always translate into state-of-the-art "care". 

"The Government" wants to take over your health insurance, and then, by default, once all insurance goes through "The Government", "The Government" will ultimately decide if you get health care, when, where, and by what level of trained professional.  Or not.

President Obama has declared that everything about healthcare has been said.

Well, Mr. President, you're wrong. 

I work in health care.

And I know for a fact that the health insurance as well as the healthcare delivery that "The Government" is already in charge of aren't working properly. 
So I have a lot of things to say about you coming after my health insurance, and then, ultimately, my care.

We all read the stories of the deplorable healthcare settings at Walter Reed Army Hospital. 
"The Government" is in charge of V.A. Hospitals, and "The Government" has completely dropped the ball.  Personally, I don't want the healthcare delivery "The Government" has been providing to the brave men and women of our armed forces.  They, and I, deserve better.

I know for a fact that there is at least one Medicare recipient out there who has gotten a hospital bed at home, a trapeze bar attachment, and a vacuum erection device - all paid for by "The Government"'s health insurance. 

The man is sick enough to need a hospital bed at home.  He's apparently weak enough to need a trapeze bar attached to the bed in order to change positions.

And he needs "The Government" to pay for his vacuum erection device?  If Grandpa is that sick, maybe getting his freak on just doesn't fall under the heading of "healthcare", at least not "care" for which taxpayers foot the bill.

What's next?  Latisse for Grandma?  I mean, come on, maybe she wants to bat those baby blues!

Ahh.  "Wants" to. 

An elderly member of my own family recently got a wheeled walker. 

She could easily have afforded the eighty-something dollars it cost retail. 

But she got it for "free"! 

Why?

Because she has insurance from "The Government".  So why would she "want" to pay for it?

Every person reading this knows someone who is either already on, or has applied for, Medicare disability.  And most of us know the person is not truly "disabled".  But they'll get "The Government" to pay them anyway.  We all know it.  Google "Medicare Fraud".  If you have a couple of days of spare time on your hands to read the thousands of results.

And, Mr. President, let's visit the very word "health" for a moment.

Our country's very own Supreme Court has defined "health" to include emotional and financial "health" (see Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton) conditions.

So will "The Government" now be making sure my emotional and financial conditions are what I want them to be?  Hmmmmm.  How interesting is that?

And doesn't good "health" start with clean air, safe water, untainted food and shelter from the elements?

So will "The Government" now be in charge of making sure we have clean air, safe water, untainted food... oh, wait.

"The Government" is already in charge of that stuff.

And we've seen what a great job "The Government" has done with that.

Mr. President, "The Government" is not the answer.  I know you don't want to hear that.  I know you think nothing more needs to be said about healthcare - I believe those were your exact words.

But you are wrong.

Much, much more needs to be said about health insurance and healthcare delivery.

This country may, in fact, need health insurance reform.

But this American does not want "The Government" to enact a coup to seize control of another 17% of the GDP (Forbes.com).

Because you are not being honest about one simple thing, Mr. President: 
WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM?

There are only so many dollars available to pay for health care.  There are only so many trained professionals to deliver the care.  There are only so many dollars available to build state-of-the-art facilities, and with which to equip them all with state-of-the-art technology.  If you live within a major metropolitan area, you will have access to state-of-the-art care simply by being in the vicinity of teaching institutions and trauma centers.  If you experience an emergency, you will be taken to the closest one whether you have health insurance or not. 

But if "The Government" controls ALL of the health insurance, then guess who we pay ALL of our health insurance premiums to (in the form of outlandish taxes)???

"The Government" has already proven that it cannot deliver even adequate, much less superior, health care (unless every veteran I know is lying about V.A. Hospitals, and I don't think they are). 

"The Government" has already shown that it's bloated, out-of-control health insurance plan (Medicare) is rife with fraud and destined to go broke without a massive influx of cash (taxes).

"The Government" demonstrates over and over again that it promises what we all know it can never deliver (and here I'm talking again about that clean air/safe water thing, not just the mail).

And lest we forget this one point:  "The Government" has NEVER spent YOUR MONEY quite as wisely as it promised to, now has it?

This American can simply not afford to pay the financial price of what "The Government" wants.

I need you to start paying attention, Mr. President.  WE need you to listen, even when you think we, the people, have said too much in opposition to what you want.
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