The health care crisis: let them eat cake, no, wait, let them NOT eat cake

Lack of health care coverage is a real problem. It's not something people just need to budget for or cut back on their cable and get a plan. There are no bootstraps to pull one's self up by. You do every one of your fellow citizens a disservice if you think this way.

Here's some hard facts:

About 45 million Americans have no health care coverage. Health care costs are growing much faster than the economy, accounting for 16 cents of every dollar spent in this country, twice as much as two decades ago.

And, despite spending far more than comparable industrialized nations on health care, the United States has above-average infant mortality, below-average life expectancy and the largest percentage of uninsured people, the non-partisan Government Accounting Office concluded in a January report.

"In short, our health care system is badly broken," the report states. "In fact, if there is one thing that could bankrupt America, it's runaway health care costs."

Source: "Comparing McCain and Obama on health care plans," by Bob Deans, Cox News Service, via MarshallNewsMessenger.com.

To reiterate: In fact, if there is one thing that could bankrupt America, it's runaway health care costs.

What does Obama say about it? "Every American has the right to affordable health care. I believe that millions of Americans who can't take their children to a doctor when they get sick have that right . . . And I believe that no amount of industry profiteering and lobbying should stand in the way of that right any longer."

What does McCain say about it? We will offer every individual and family a large tax credit to buy their health care, so employers can spend more on wages, and workers don't lose their coverage when they change jobs."

But does McCain get it? It would seem not, if you consider what he said recently when asked about rural health care, or lack thereof.

MCCAIN: I think one of the things we need to do is to emphasize wellness and fitness . . . I'd like to see---you know, I've talked about this a couple of times and it may not sound too serious, but I am serious---who the young people here in an American admire the most and that's great athletes. I'd like to enlist great athletes to come around the country and take maybe just a few days of their time to talk to students about the need and absolute necessity and benefits of wellness and fitness.

(Watch the video clip "McCain v. Rural Health Care." Really...it's a good and short clip. Do not fear the click.)

That's it: let them eat less cake and run more.

That should solve the health care crisis.

We take Shaquille O'Neal's challenge and lose 76 pounds, or 97, or something, it's a little sketchy.

Problem all solved. Or...is it?

According to an Iowa Politics Press Release (which alerted me to this issue) from Brooke Borgenhagen, Iowa State Senator Amanda Ragan from Mason City, a member of the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services doesn't think this knife will cut the cake:

Senator McCain just doesn't understand the challenges facing Iowa's rural communities. Bringing Shaq into schools wonâ't increase reimbursement rates and won't attract doctors and nurses to work in small towns across Iowa. The rural health care problem is a serious one and needs a serious solution. Senator McCain has voted against increasing reimbursements to rural communities, and now claims Shaq can solve the health care challenges throughout rural America. Senator Obama has spent a great deal of time traveling throughout rural Iowa and has listened directly to Iowans and understands the hurdles we are facing related to health care.

As noted in the press release, McCain's website offers no straight talk on rural health care issues. On the other hand, Barack Obama's health care issue site leads off with a quote from a speech he made in, you guessed it, Iowa, promising to build health care for all.

"If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition or illness.

---Barack Obama, Speech in Iowa City, IA, May 29, 2007

In short, his bullet points are:

Quality, Affordable and Portable Coverage for All
Lower Costs by Modernizing The U.S. Health Care System
Fight for New Initiatives

But don't take my word for it. Go read the candidates' websites yourself, and, if you're pressed for time, read this great summation/comparison of the two candidates' health care plans (it's non-partisan and apple for apple comparison, no editorializing).