Can the Democrats learn from the swallows?
Can the Democrats learn from the swallows?
In These Times
July 23, 2004
Cure a Sick Healthcare System
By Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein
Like Capistrano’s swallows, the Democrats always return to health reform. Unfortunately, this year they’re showing little more brain power than the birds.
Don’t get us wrong, we’re no fans of President George Bush’s health agenda:
Ship tens of billions of federal dollars to a panoply of healthcare firms, privatize Medicare, and dangle skimpy tax credits in front of the 44 million uninsured. But Kerry seems intent on refilling a failed prescription for reform: by proposing to give hundreds of billions to private insurers in exchange for measly coverage for some of the uninsured.
Kerry promises more of the same. He proposes to spend about $65 billion annually to expand coverage through two mechanisms: One, offer government
subsidies for private insurance; two, expand Medicaid. As a nod to middle-class Americans, he’d try to hold down private premiums by having the feds pick up the tab for any patient whose care costs more than $50,000-a misguided effort that shifts some costs to the taxpayers but leaves control in the hands of private firms. Kerry’s massive new spending would leave at least 17 million uninsured (by his own estimate) and tens of millions more with inadequate coverage, and stimulate the malignant growth of healthcare costs.
Kerry’s plan would actually boost bureaucracy. He’d funnel hundreds of billions of additional public dollars through wasteful private plans. And he’d do nothing to cut the tens of billions that doctors and hospitals waste on insurance paperwork. Kerry claims administrative savings for his plan-through computerized billing and claims processing. But such claims are not credible; more than two-thirds of all healthcare bills already are filed electronically. It’s not sending the bill that’s expensive. It’s the insurance advertising and sales, utilization review, eligibility
determination, obtaining pre-approvals for referrals, cost-tracking, and co-payment collections. All would continue under Kerry.
For the 85 percent of Americans who currently have insurance, Kerry offers virtually nothing. No plausible plan to upgrade their coverage, slow premium
increases, bring down drug costs, improve quality, or expand the number of
nurses. He’d just ask tax-payers facing skyrocketing premiums to chip in for
the coverage of the uninsured.
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/cure_a_sick_healthcare_system/
And…
infoplease
Accessed July 28,2004
The famous cliff swallows of San Juan Capistrano… land at the mission in San Juan, California, on or around St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, to the ringing bells of the old church…
Legend has it that the swallows took refuge in the Mission San Juan Capistrano from an irate innkeeper who destroyed their muddy nests. The swallows return to the old ruined church each spring knowing they will be protected within the mission’s walls.
The mission is located near two rivers and was an ideal spot for the swallows to nest for years because of the abundance of the insects on which they feed. The reduction in numbers of the insects, largely as a result of the development of the area, has caused some of the swallows to locate further from the center of town and explains why there are no longer huge clouds of swallows descending on the Mission.
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/swallows1.html
Comment: Thanks in a large part to the inspiration provided by the work of Steffie and David, I know something about health policies that would correct the profound deficiencies in our system. As a life-long liberal, I also know something about the Democrats and their positions on issues of social justice. And as a resident of San Juan Capistrano, as I look out of my home office window towards Dana Point Harbor and observe the darting and diving flight of the swallows catching their food, I do know a little bit about the swallows of Capistrano.
Steffie and David state that the Democrats are showing little more brain power than the swallows. But when the swallows return to Capistrano, they know how to adapt to the havoc that has been wreaked on their habitat. They know where to go to build their nests and collect their food. When the Democrats return to Washington, they too recognize the havoc that has been wreaked on our health care system. But they don’t seem to know where to go to find the policy wonks who would show them how to build a health care system that would care for everyone. They can’t seem to get past their political advisors who are reminding them that the Democrats are the party of inclusiveness, and they can’t afford to offend the libertarians.
No, Steffie and David, I’m afraid that the swallows are the ones with the superior brain power.
Don McCanne
San Juan Capistrano, CA