Wednesday, May 27, 2009

THIS is an interesting comment on Ben Smith's post at Politico about a conservative group airing an ad attacking the Obama health care reform plan:

Right Wing Myths about Universal Health Care:

Myth #1: The US has the finest health care system in the world and Universal Health Care will ruin it.

Reality: According to the World Health Organization, the US ranks 37th in health care.

37th!

Every industrialized nation on the list with Universal Health Care ranks higher than the US. France is #1.

Myth #2: Universal Health Care will create unacceptable waiting times for health care in this country, just like in Canada.

Reality: In 2007, CNN performed a study regarding waiting times for patients. Of the six countries surveyed in that study (United States, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Germany, Australia) only Canada had longer waiting times than America for sick adults waiting to schedule a doctor's appointment for a medical problem. The US had longer waiting times than four out of the six countries surveyed. All four have Universal Health Care.

Myth #3: Pharmaceutical companies will cease research and development of medicines if their profits are curtailed.

Reality: These companies do business in every industrialized nation with Universal Health Care and they continue to make a profit in those countries. Their profit margin isn't as high as in the US, but they continue to offer their products. Producing medicine is what they do. They will not stop doing it if their profits are curtailed. Much of what these companies spend on development is actually spent on defending and extending patents in order to protect their obscene profits.

Posted By: habeas corpus | May 26, 2009 at 06:03 PM