Editor, The Transcript:
Despite the myths, distortions and outright falsehoods on the part of opponents, this Congress is still likely to pass some sort of health care reform. Whether you are for it or against it, one myth in particular is pervasive and needs constant refutation.
This is the idea that the U.S. has the best health care system in the world. This myth was repeated, unfortunately, in the Sunday Transcript by a spokesperson for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Not that BC/BC should be considered a neutral observer in this discussion. Profit-driven insurance companies are considered part of the problem by most advocates of change.
Here are the facts. The American system of providing health care is the most expensive in the world, by far. And it does not produce better results. In short, we pay more and get less.
We spend almost double what other countries spend as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product. Yet this country lags most advanced industrial nations on virtually every health indicator.
According to various attempts to create composite measures of a nation's health, Western European countries along with Japan and Australia always come out ahead of the U.S. We can identify several reasons why the U.S. finds itself behind so many advanced democracies. Our country, the world's richest, is the only industrial democracy without universal health coverage.
Moreover, according to T.R. Reid's new book, the U.S. system lags other modern nations for two basic reasons, other than lack of coverage -- the way we pay for health care, through profit-making insurance companies and the fragmented nature of our system.
Few advanced nations operate socialized health systems although all function under strict government controls. And they all have far lower administrative costs than the U.S.
Any significant change in our health care arrangement will surely be better than what we have, but it is most unfortunate than U.S. lawmakers haven't tried to learn from other rich nations.
David R. Morgan
Norman
Letters
Any change would be better than what we have
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More government intrusion
Editor, The Transcript: Kudos to Kathryn Jean Lopez of the National Review Online for telling it like it is (Transcript Opinion, Feb. 12, 2012) regarding President Obama’s religious “overreach.” No, Mr. President, your latest knee-jerk ...
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It’s time for Valentine’s Day
If it’s full of hearts and flowers And a cupid with a dart, That’s a card that’s mighty pretty and aimed right for your heart....
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Gov. Fallin’s tax plan is one big mistake
Editor, The Transcript: Well, it’s official now. In her State of the State message, Gov. Fallin confirmed that she hopes to reduce the state income tax now and totally eliminate it later. Big mistake, for two compelling reasons....
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Another Library Vote? Good grief!
Editor, The Transcript A new library on the west side? With hardly any books? With a dumb name above the entry as shown in your rendering? Infoplace? The library bureaucracy must think Norman voters just fell off the turnip truck....
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Eliminating state taxes places burden on poor
Editor, The Transcript: Your editorial on Feb. 8th that expressed your pleasure that the bill by Jim Wilson that would have removed the sales tax exemptions from newspapers was killed in committee was disconcerting. I can agree that the ...
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Not time to experiment with state taxes
Editor, The Transcript Governor Fallin proposed more cuts to the state income tax in her State of the State speech Feb. 6. This comes on the heels of a House Tax Reform Task Force that also proposed phasing out the state income tax over a ...
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Local investment is better for Norman
Editor, The Transcript Americans from all walks of life and political ideologies are asserting their voice to tell Wall Street “Enough is enough!” Occupy Norman members spoke at the Dec. 13 Norman City Council meeting, urging the city to ...
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Decline in unions harmful to economy
Editor, The Transcript Remember sometimes you get what your ask for? Let’s see, what could that be? I know, destroy those evil unions which are compromised of the middle class....
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Independent group needed
Editor, The Transcript: I wanted to write a letter a long time ago, but Ms. Rogers’ letter claiming that “Chromium levels in the water shouldn’t cause alarm” pushed me over the edge. As an environmental professional in Oklahoma, I have ...
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Obamacare is socialist nightmare
Editor, The Transcript: And now for the rest of the story… “Obamacare, Another Entitlement Nightmare.” The recent St. Louis Post Dispatch editorial reprint illustrates the sophistry that characterizes the liberal mindset now grasping the ...
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More government intrusion
