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OpEdNews Op Eds    H4'ed 9/22/17

Trump on single payer healthcare: "A CURSE on this country and the American people."

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Message Michael Payne

What? Did this president actually tweet that such a single payer-system that could provide medical coverage for every American was a curse? Believe it or not he certainly did and here's what he said: "Bernie Sanders is pushing hard for a single-payer healthcare plan - a curse on the U.S. & its people."

In a follow-up tweet he added, "I told Republicans to approve healthcare fast or this would happen. But don't worry, I will veto it because I love our country & its people." Yes, he loves the people so much he wants to push through Congress a disastrous GOP healthcare plan that would jeopardize the healthcare coverage of 23 million or more Americans.

Those tweets, those statements are mindless, make no sense whatsoever and should be totally ignored. No rational-minded U.S. president would condemn such an attempt by a U.S. senator to create a healthcare system designed to cover all Americans.

Mr. Trump should be asked to explain, in explicit terms, why a single-payer or Medicare for all healthcare system should, in any way, be considered a curse; a common definition of which is, --evil or misfortune that comes as if in response to imprecation or as retribution, often said to involve a supernatural power."

He and his fellow shallow-minded GOP politicians should take some time and read what the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution states relative to the functions of this government; and, in particular, its reference to the government providing for the "general welfare of the people."

If one were able to ask the Founders if that term, general welfare, would include the creation of such a universal-type healthcare system, the answer would be a resounding YES! It is a part of what is often referred to as the government's "promoting of the health, safety, morals, and well-being of the people governed thereunder."

Here's what Senator Sanders said in response to Trump's pathetic tweets. --Mr. President, let me tell you what a curse on the American people is; that is your support for legislation that would throw 23 million people off the health care they currently have, and then provide huge tax breaks for the rich and large corporations."

He continued; "Providing health care to every man, woman, and child in this country " that's not a curse. That is what every other major country on earth does and that is exactly what we should be doing," he added.

Yes, what Sanders say is true; every one of the other 31 developed nations in the world has some form of universal healthcare covering everyone in the country from birth to death. These countries are distinctly different from America in that their people share the same belief; that healthcare is a right for every citizen. They make it clear that they feel this way because they care for their fellow citizens, something that is hardly the case in this greatly divided America.

Countries in Europe have had such healthcare systems in place for decades; some are better than others, some have problems that need to be addressed but, for the most part, they are quite effective and the people of these countries are quite satisfied with them. The costs per capita of most of these systems are about half of the cost of America's. Check out this article that shows the 16 countries that have the best life expectancy in the world. See the United States anywhere on the list?

So, Mr. Trump, let's talk about this curse;

Is having a healthcare system that covers every American from birth to death some kind of curse?

Is a system in which profits of insurance companies no longer represent a huge part of the overall costs a curse in your mind?

Suppose that all Americans had the opportunity to take preventative tests that identify serious problems in their early stages; that then provided the necessary treatment leading to a satisfactory outcome. Is that a curse? And, if as a result of large scale preventative testing, Americans' life expectancy would rise is that a curse?

If the five separate healthcare systems we now have in place, private medical insurance, Medicare, Obamacare, Medicaid and the VA, Veterans Administration system, are consolidated into one and the current massive paperwork and clerical functions are dramatically reduced, is that also a curse?

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