Comments on: What can health reform in the United States learn from Africa? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/health-reform-united-states-learn-africa.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Martin Younghttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/health-reform-united-states-learn-africa.html#comment-111139 Martin Young Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:57:44 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39824#comment-111139 All views are understandable and accepted, but the first four miss my point, and that is that we have a global problem requiring a global solution, and self interest (or commercialism) is not going to help anything. I am not pro governmental control whatsoever. I am however against commercial interests that strip the flesh off quality medical care and leave patients suffering! That is just inhumane! And that appears to be what the reformers want to prevent. Whether they will succeed or not is unknown. What does appear very clear is that if things do not change, and comprehensibly, none of us will have decent affordable healthcare in the near future no matter where we live! All views are understandable and accepted, but the first four miss my point, and that is that we have a global problem requiring a global solution, and self interest (or commercialism) is not going to help anything. I am not pro governmental control whatsoever. I am however against commercial interests that strip the flesh off quality medical care and leave patients suffering! That is just inhumane! And that appears to be what the reformers want to prevent. Whether they will succeed or not is unknown. What does appear very clear is that if things do not change, and comprehensibly, none of us will have decent affordable healthcare in the near future no matter where we live!

]]> By: Family Dochttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/health-reform-united-states-learn-africa.html#comment-111076 Family Doc Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:05:40 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39824#comment-111076 Dr Young, thank you for expressing a component of the debate that has not received sufficient attention. The majority of Americans do subscribe to this concept, that we as members of this wealthy nation have a responsibility to one another to try to provide people with the means to stay healthy. It's not about being American or African, it's about being human.The first few people who left comments are members of a very vocal minority. I hope that you also experience the opinions of the millions of Americans who are banding together to ensure that they no longer need to watch their children, parents, friends, and neighbors struggle due to lack of access to health care, and the tens of thousands of doctors who feel the same way. Dr Young, thank you for expressing a component of the debate that has not received sufficient attention. The majority of Americans do subscribe to this concept, that we as members of this wealthy nation have a responsibility to one another to try to provide people with the means to stay healthy. It’s not about being American or African, it’s about being human.

The first few people who left comments are members of a very vocal minority. I hope that you also experience the opinions of the millions of Americans who are banding together to ensure that they no longer need to watch their children, parents, friends, and neighbors struggle due to lack of access to health care, and the tens of thousands of doctors who feel the same way.

]]> By: Nuclear Firehttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/health-reform-united-states-learn-africa.html#comment-111074 Nuclear Fire Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:54:41 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39824#comment-111074 You should have first asked someone with the "right credentials" to explain to you what being an American means in the first place. This isn't Africa. You should have first asked someone with the “right credentials” to explain to you what being an American means in the first place. This isn’t Africa.

]]> By: Bad Medicine, Good Solutionshttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/health-reform-united-states-learn-africa.html#comment-111065 Bad Medicine, Good Solutions Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:52:28 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39824#comment-111065 Your country can embrace its unique culture. American's embrace personal responsibility and freedom. Apples and oranges. The converse is just as true. We are all of the same blood and ancestry. Why aren't they embracing personal choice and freedom?"A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away." -Barry Goldwater"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher Your country can embrace its unique culture. American’s embrace personal responsibility and freedom. Apples and oranges. The converse is just as true. We are all of the same blood and ancestry. Why aren’t they embracing personal choice and freedom?

“A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away.” -Barry Goldwater

“The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people’s money.” -Margaret Thatcher

]]> By: Evinxhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/health-reform-united-states-learn-africa.html#comment-111053 Evinx Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:28:17 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39824#comment-111053 Not certain if you comprehend what the healthcare debate is about. To a large group of people (imo, the majority based on polling data), the debate is about personal freedom. We have a safety net to assist the poor (Medicaid) but for the rest of us, we want to maintain our personal freedom - and not have govt mandates and control. At present, we have a hybrid system - and now the tug of war is being fought - more govt control and authority - vs keep the govt out of healthcare.Over 200 years ago, we had a Supreme Court Justice state that the freedom to move one's fist should only be limited by the proximity of another person's chin.Having govt tell us and compel us what is or is not in our interest does not sound like Ubuntu to me. Not certain if you comprehend what the healthcare debate is about. To a large group of people (imo, the majority based on polling data), the debate is about personal freedom. We have a safety net to assist the poor (Medicaid) but for the rest of us, we want to maintain our personal freedom – and not have govt mandates and control. At present, we have a hybrid system – and now the tug of war is being fought – more govt control and authority – vs keep the govt out of healthcare.

Over 200 years ago, we had a Supreme Court Justice state that the freedom to move one’s fist should only be limited by the proximity of another person’s chin.

Having govt tell us and compel us what is or is not in our interest does not sound like Ubuntu to me.

]]> By: ninguemhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/health-reform-united-states-learn-africa.html#comment-111030 ninguem Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:22:46 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39824#comment-111030 Hutus and tutsis come to mind. One man, one vote.....once. I've done medical volunteer work in Africa, saw plenty of tribalism and cruelty.“Ubuntu”, huh? I saw it lacking many a time there. Hutus and tutsis come to mind. One man, one vote…..once. I’ve done medical volunteer work in Africa, saw plenty of tribalism and cruelty.

“Ubuntu”, huh? I saw it lacking many a time there.

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