I'm so frustrated with Health Care in America

Although I heavily lean towards single-payer systems of health care, I am always open to solutions involving the private market that promise fair and accessible coverage for everybody. However, today I just want to put little fact on the market. I have been spouting off recently to friends how frustrated I am about something I heard on NPR. Rudy Guliani's policy advisor recently said something to the effect that the U.S. government spends more per capita on health care than Canada. To it was very well known that the U.S. spends more, as a nation, per capita by a long shot but to actually hear that government spending was more per capita as well was a shock. Well today, I'm backing this radio message I heard with hard data. Here's the table:

From this table we glean to main fact in our comparison between Canada and the United States. First, Canada and the United state have about the same percentage of GDP spending per capita on health care, but once you look at the actual amount of money spent, the United States spends over 50% more than Canada per capita!

I think this should frustrate any American paying for health insurance. Per capita the government is spending $36,006 but you still have need of your own private insurance on top of that? There must, MUST be a better way!

For example, for me this is what I demand: universal health care. There are two main reasons why: 1) the moral argument and 2) the practicality.The moral argument needs little elaboration, so I will just quickly elaborate on practicality. Do not look at Canada as an example for universal health care. There are problems, and it can be done better. For example, encourage and allow greater role for physician assistants and nurses in primary care and encourage doctors to continue training for more specialized roles. That's just one of my great ideas. Check out this article for more good reading.

Wait, what just happened?

The U.S. primary elections and caucuses are an interesting event. It is through these that we can pretty much accurately predict what candidate will be selected to run for both the Democratic and Republican Party when both parties decide at their respective national conventions. I don't think I've ever seen so much buzz surrounding the primary elections. Anyways, to the important stuff! What do I think New Hampshire's results mean? It's a crapshoot. McCain was the only big surprise for me. I'm definitely voting democrat this upcoming elections.

I do not heart Huckabee

Romney was the ONLY hope the Republican Party had for me to even consider me voting conservative this year. Why? First, although Romney is pandering to America's cursed Religious Right, his presence on the ticket would be their worst fear: I quite enjoy that thought. Second, although Romney was pinned as a political flip flopper, his real life reflected what family-oriented Americans wanted in a politician. Basically, Romney to me was a genuine character and if elected would be like a John F. Kennedy, minus the philandering, in that he would have a lot to prove and thus introduce careful and calculated policy.

However, I believe what we saw in Iowa is the future of the 2008 U.S. Elections. We will have Obama and Huckabee on the ticket. But you know what, I am not that disappointed. Why? I love Obama. I think he shares many of the characteristics that Romney possesses. He is a young, charismatic, and handsome politician who would have a lot to prove in office. Obama will do wonders for America's perception abroad. For domestic issues I would have preferred Clinton, but overall Obama has some good ideas for important issues such as health care and his pledge to start cutting into the pockets of CEOs.

Something I would really like to see happen in the 2008 elections (if it does turn out that Obama will take on Huckabee) is for Utah to become a blue state. I think the odds have never been better: wake up Mormons, the Republican Party hates you. REAL conservatives need to take back their party from intolerant religious bigots and fear-mongering neoconservatives.