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August 25, 2009 - Goanet's 15th Anniversary
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"In America, Death Is An Option!" I heard those words from quite a few
right-wingers. I first heard the phrase (with disbelief) about seven years ago
from Dr. Bernadine Healy. Since then, a few others, specially those promoting
the marvels of American Health have made similar claims.
Who is Bernadine Healy, M.D. ... you may ask? She is high-up in Republican
ranks and was appointed by President G.W. Bush to several positions. She was a
member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology;
and served as director of the National Institutes of Health; and president and
CEO of the American Red Cross.
In her article abstracted and referenced below, she makes the same claim about
death being an option; but attributes it to cynics, who "have a point." In
the article below she is trying to promote another bone-head idea of the
Republicans - "Savings Account". This idea is as bone-headed as "Death Panels".
Regards, GL
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Like Aesculapius, modern medicine is the victim of its own success. Cynical
wags say that the rest of the world treats death as an inevitability, while
Americans see it as merely an option. Cynical, perhaps, but they have a point.
Americans seem willing to spend whatever it takes to cure disease. And with our
prosperity, heavy investments in medical research, and public distaste for
healthcare rationing, we have created both good and expensive healthcare. So
good that we are the world's mecca for medicine. So expensive that it costs us
almost as much as the entire $2 trillion federal budget of the United States.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/articles/031019/27healy.htm
