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Show Holding President Obama to campaign pledges to expand, improve nation's healthcare World Health Organization ranks U. S. healthcare system 37th in the world ifest and are now, at least temporarily, unprepared to Opinions editor find a suitable replacement. President Obama's health Assembling a new team care reforms are expected to of individuals to spearhead be delayed following Tom the President' s proposed Daschle's exit last week health care reforms, practifrom the nomination pro- cally speaking, will take a cess for Secretary of Health little time. In the meantime, and Human Services (HHS). those approximately 45 milDaschle was being groomed lion Americans without curto simultaneously fulfill the rent access to health care can positions of Secretary over steadily apply attention and the Dept. of HHS as well pressure to the subject of our as head of the newly cre- grossly incomplete healthated White House Office of care system and the need to Health Reform. reform it. Daschle, a former U.S. Access to proper medical Senate Majority Leader (D - attention in times of physical South Dakota), was viewed distress should be a Right for by many within Washington all, not a Privilege. With our as one with sufficient legis- vast national wealth and relative experience and health sources we as a society have care expertise to tackle the means to care for the the new President's health health and well being of all care reform agenda before our citizens. Daschle withdrew from conWithin the collective sideration for the posts, Feb- psyche of American sociruary 3, after controversy ety it is commonly believed surrounding his improper fil- that we enjoy "the greating of taxes. est healthcare system in the Apparently the new ad- world," as the claim goes. ministration had banked on This is simply false. Daschle's smooth transition The World Health Orgainto the two positions before nization (WHO), in 2000, the tax scandal became manJohn Ditzler compiled the most compre- the U.S., we currently exhensive country-by-country pend a higher percentage of comparison of each nation's our Gross Domestic Product health care system and sub- (GDP) for health care than sequently ranked them from any other nation ranked, ilbest to worst. Among 191 of lustrating the fact that we are the most developed countries highly inefficient. In essence, dozaround the globe, ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ens of countries the United States around the globe is ranked 37 poare currently sitions from the Among 191 of medically covertop of the list, just the most deing larger porBehind the Coun- veloped countions of their sotry of Costa Rica tries around ciety than we are and just above the globe, the here in the U.S., the nation of Slo- United States for less money venia. It might be is ranked 37 than we spend to of interest to note positions from insure a smaller that France holds the top of the portion of our sothe top position. list, just Behind ciety. This seems The 2000 the Country counterintuitive. study by the of Costa Rica How can we WHO compares have 45 million a host of various and just above Americans withcriteria such as the nation of out basic health infant mortality Slovenia. care coverage, rate, life expeca less than comtancy, affordabil— petitive health ity of, and access to, various medical services, care system for those other 250-plus million Americans etc. In addition, the report re- that do have coverage in this veals that although 36 coun- country, and all the while be tries with better all around paying more for our grossly second-rate health care systems exceed incomplete, health coverage than any other country with first-rate. Universal health coverage? Research has shown that it can be cheaper to collectively cover all Americans than it is to cover only some of us, because uninsured Americans are forced to wait to address medical ailments until they reach a stage of crisis management. It is much more expensive to foot the bill for people rushed to the Emergency Room for emergency procedures than it is to pay for periodic and preventative check-ups. It is far more costly to treat cancer, various communicable diseases, and conditions such as diabetes when they have progressed to advanced stages, not diagnosed or treated until the last possible moment because uninsured individuals prolonged seeking medical attention. The difference for the bottom line of our GDP between paying for preventative procedures and emergency procedures becomes exponential. As New York Times journalist Ian Urbina BYjORDYKIRKMAN WWW.DAILYDEMONS.COM UNDECLARED You're so insensitive! Just because you have that internet scam... You know what the worst part about losing your job is? Then just hang out with himl Is it your constant whining? pointed out in the Times article, "In the Treatment of Diabetes, Success Often Does Not Pay:" It costs roughly "$150 for a diabetic to see a podiatrist, who can help prevent foot ailments associated with the disease." Amputations, however, "typically cost more than $30,000." As President Obama assembles his team of individuals to reform America's health care system he will inevitably meet partisan opposition in the pursuit of those necessary reforms. However, leaving 45 million Americans uninsured and paying more money to do so is financially and ethically indefensible. The majority of Americans that elected the new President on the campaign promise of a reformed, inclusive and efficient health care system should look now for accountability and a fulfillment of those promises. It's called cyberbeggingand it's a legitimate income If Rob Blagojevich would just sell me that senate seat, like he said, then I would. That guy never answers his phone! Don't worry Obama will fix the economy you'll find a job. om Dinner $3 w/ UVU ID |