Many doctors are now fed up with the tons of paperwork and the myriad of difficulties involved with dealing with the insurance companies. But, while the majority of doctors favor some form of universal health care for all Americans, they are not yet convinced that either a single payer or a public option is best. They just don't know at this point. But a growing number are leaning in that direction. The group Physicians for a National Health Program, a non-profit research and education organization of 16,000 physicians, medical students and health professionals, has issued "The Physicians' Proposal" which states, "We endorse a fundamental change in America's health care the creation of a comprehensive National Health Insurance Program. Such a program - which in essence would be an expanded and improved version of Medicare would cover every American for all necessary medical care."
Even though it reportedly has the most potential for cost savings and efficiency based on Medicare's very low administrative costs, the single payer system has, unfortunately, now been pronounced dead by Congress and Obama. They will not even discuss it. Mr. Obama, in town hall meetings, repeats the same tired old, "If we were starting from scratch" mantra. So, sad to say, our only hope for any kind of reform seemingly lies with the public option. But will even that be possible with this Congress?
President Obama is witnessing the extreme pressures that lobbyists and special interests groups are exerting on this Congress to try to derail any meaningful reform of our extremely faulted system of health care. Mr. Obama needs to counter that pressure with a solid message of his own to Congress; that he will not sign any legislation that does not include at least a public option.
The current U.S. Congress may well be the most ethically-challenged in the history of America. There are, certainly, some honest members, but they are a definite minority. Corporate lobbyists and special interest groups hold great power over Congress. The founders and architects that gave life to our democracy; Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin and others, would be in a state of shock and disbelief if they were able to watch the actions of this Congress.
President Obama needs to give up his endless quest for bipartisanship on this issue. Republicans in Congress have one thing in mind and that is to oppose everything he tries to do with every tactic at their disposal. He must use the power of the White House bully pulpit to convince the American people of his total commitment to a public option. He needs to mobilize Americans to pressure those legislators who refuse to do the right thing for America - that is to enact effective health care legislation that includes a public option.
America is standing at yet one more critical crossroads. A Canadian government official recently stated, "We Canadians understand that we have a moral obligation to take care of all our fellow citizens and that is exactly what we will do." It is now time that we Americans, our president and our Congress accept that same moral obligation and responsibility by vowing to take care of all our fellow citizens.
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