Trendevents: For Sale! The Health of the Nation

An analysis of Trends and Events in the News

Clyde Wilson

1995

Published in:

Social Trends Newsletters, Aug. 1995, No. 138

The American public has been inundated with plans and proposals for a national health care program. There seems to be no end to the information, or misinformation, that is coming from inside the beltway in Washington and the media concerning this issue. Whether intentional or not, the American people are in a state of confusion regarding this matter and have become thoroughly disgusted with the antics and the performance of the three-ring sideshow that is going on between the political proponents in the capitol arena.

After all the years of bickering and debating over a health care program (since the end of World War II), the government officials and political representatives in Washington have yet to come to any decision as to what plan or program would provide the best health and medical care for the nation and all of the American people. But when it comes to all of the citizens of the country having the same health and medical care and treatment received by U.S. Senators, Representatives, government officials and their families (at taxpayers expense), then that becomes an entirely different matter. You can't expect socialized medicine for everybody.

While this charade goes on, it provides the politicians with the opportunity to squeeze millions of dollars from the medical industrial complex, Political Action Committees (PAC) and other vested interests for the purpose of building up their campaign slush fund for future political considerations and to use for their own personal aggrandizement.

Running true to form and expectations, the financial coffers of the members of Congress are overflowing from contributions -- bribes would be considered politically incorrect -- from members of the American Medical Association, businesses of all kinds, insurance companies and associations, the pharmaceutical industry, and a myriad of suppliers, including those companies that produce and sell the sophisticated machines and technology that most Americans cannot afford when they go to the doctor or hospital. It is reported that the lobbying to influence the Congress of the United States on health care has already reached $100 million, mostly for the purpose of preventing any meaningful health and medical plan. How sweet it is for those on the receiving end.

One might get the idea that all of this infighting and posturing now going on in the hallways of Congress is not over the health of the nation and the well-being of the American people but over money, profits, and to perpetuate and maintain the rackets and the status quo of private enterprise.

Over the years there has been a hue and cry over the ever escalating cost of the American health care system. Warnings have gone out that the dollar cost has gotten out of control, and without significant changes, it would bring the system down with it. While already in a chaotic state, the cost of health care in the United States will soon reach $1 trillion and will continue to take bigger bites out of the national Gross Domestic Product. Like a runaway train with faulty brakes, its momentum has reached the point where it has become impossible to stop it while operating under an economic system that is geared to financial considerations and maximizing profits. Along the way, a disaster becomes inevitable.

There is no other business or industry in the United States that can come close to the size of the mediconglomerates, nor has any other business or industry grown as fast and become as profitable. Sensing the smell of success, the giant corporations and multinationals are becoming major players in this most lucrative enterprise. And the medical industrial complex has become the darling of Wall Street and the investing interests. The stakes have become so high that they must be maintained at all costs regardless of the consequences to the health and the general welfare of the country.

Of the major industrial nations of the world, the United States (the last of the superpowers?) is the one country that does not have a comprehensive health and medical care program. Is this not an indictment of the political process and this superfinancial system? But it should be understood that just passing a comprehensive-universal health bill in itself would be far from adequate in meeting the underlying problems that confront the country, not when all the elements and conditions that cause and breed diseases and illnesses that permeate society are still left intact. Rather than dealing with mere symtoms, the health of the nation must be dealt with in totality.

Why is it that after a half century the government of the United States finds it so difficult to come to a decision on providing a comprehensive and effective health program for all of its citizens? The Congress and the Administration in Washington had no trouble when it came to spending over $10 trillion on defense and preparations for war during the Cold War, coming up with billions of dollars to send a man to the moon, appropriating billions of dollars to bail out the Savings and Loan industry, continuing to subsidize businesses and making loans, forgiving the debts of foreign countries, creating trillions of dollars and becoming the largest debtor nation in the world just to keep the present economic system going, and they continue to play the profligate in the disbursement of funds for pork barrel projects and other favorites (ad infinitum).

Where are the country's priorities? Is the perpetuation of a financial and monetary system and maintaining a market oriented economy and capitalism more important than the health of the nation and the well-being of the American people? The answer to that question must be obvious. It is impossible to have a healthy and strong America under an economic system that puts a price tag on everything that is necessary for survival.

If America wants to minimize and prevent the further decay and deterioration of the health and welfare of the country, she must consider a fundamental change now from the present economic system to a method of social and industrial operation that puts the essential requirements and the well-being of the nation above mere pecuniary gain and financial considerations. Anything less would be a mockery and a continuation of the same old exercise in duplicity.