And yet, Coburn doesn't seem to realize that HE IS THE GOVERNMENT. And how about Coburn setting the example and being a good neighbor to the people he is supposed to represent here in Oklahoma without health care. What is his solution? I haven't heard anything.
Life expectancy in the U.S. is less than that of other countries where they provide health care to everyone. As a doctor, I expect Coburn to have more compassion, but that apparently is only applied when he sees fit. There are thousands of people he represents who are sick and/or dying right now due to no health care. And he's doing nothing about it. In fact, he's trying to PREVENT them from having it. So much for the hypocritic oath. (Spelling intentional.)
No, he's not attempting to prevent people from getting health care. Who's scaring the little kiddies now? Do you care about the truth or just DNC sound bites and talking points? One glaring stat being left out in the haste to call our healthcare system a failure is that the United States is overwhelmingly the most overweight society on the planet. We beat Mexico by 6%
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_obe-health-obesityhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.htmlCompare the two web sites, life expectency seems to be the inverse of obesity. Point is, we have unhealthy lifestyles in the United States. A government re-vamping of health care will accomplish little in the way of improved mortality if people don't change their own attitudes about their own health and practice personally proactive health care.
Coburn's point is correct. Government is not the solution for everything. In this woman's case he might be able to appeal to gov't bureaucrats to make something happen for this woman's husband. But the point is, government is not the solution for every person's problems. You guys just want to split hairs so you can talk about how bad Coburn is.
Here is Coburn's solution you claim he hasn't offered from his own web page, unfiltered:
http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=HealthCareReform.Home"May 20, 2009
Senators Coburn, Burr and Representatives Ryan, Nunes Offer A Better Path Forward on Health Care Reform
Bicameral Coalition of Reformers Unveil “The Patients’ Choice Act of 2009”
WASHINGTON – Earlier today, U.S. Senators Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) and Richard Burr (R-NC) and U.S. Representatives Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA) introduced health care reform legislation that delivers on the shared principles of promoting universal access to quality, affordable health care, and does so without adding billions of dollars in new debt or taxes.
“The Patients’ Choice Act of 2009,” transforms health care in America by strengthening the relationship between the patient and the doctor; using choice and competition rather than rationing and restrictions to contain costs; and ensuring universal, affordable health care for all Americans. “The Patients’ Choice Act” promotes innovative, State-based solutions, along with fundamental reforms in the tax code, to give every American, regardless of employment status, age, or health condition, the ability and the resources to purchase health insurance. The comprehensive legislation includes concrete prevention and transparency initiatives, long overdue reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, investments in wellness programs and health IT, and more.
“As a practicing physician, I have seen first-hand how giving government more control over health care has failed to make health care more affordable and accessible. The American people deserve health care reform that will work, not another round of so-called reform that repeats the same failed policies of the past. Congress and the administration have the opportunity to pursue bold reform and a fresh start. The Patients’ Choice Act will provide every American with access to affordable health care without a tax increase, more debt and waiting lines,” Dr. Coburn said.
“The American health care system needs a complete transformation,” Senator Burr said. “The Patients’ Choice Act will finally enable Americans to own their health care instead of being trapped in the current system, which leaves people either uninsured, dependent on their employer, or forced into a government program. With a focus on prevention and wellness and covering those with pre-existing conditions, the Patients’ Choice Act will make health care affordable and accessible to all Americans.”
“Both parties need to step up to the plate with specific solutions to our nation’s health care crisis,” added Ryan. “The Patients’ Choice Act represents a clear alternative to those who seek to empower Washington at the expense of the individual, and I am hopeful that our efforts can help push Congress to enact a more sensible health care reform bill this year. The Patients’ Choice Act proves that America can have universal health care coverage without the government running our health care system.”
Nunes stated, “The American people deserve a health care system that is centered on their individual needs. Our bill will allow us to achieve this goal, while improving health outcomes, lowering cost and guaranteeing access to health care for every single American.”
