America is the only country without a government ran health care system. For decades we have been a country that wants to lead instead of follow, but consequently, we are behind in health care advancement, education, and employment. We think that any other system other than ours is wrong, so we attach the socialism label to anyone with an idea of reform. It is time for America to follow Canada, Australia, France, and Japan on twitter. Some of their twitter updates would read: “Government ran health care and doing fine,” “We don’t have a black guy to blame,” “For the past decade we decided to help our people instead of creating fictional wars (Just to name a few). In other countries  such as Japan, people visit the doctor 10-20 times a year, not because of life threatening illnesses, but for checkups. To catch cancer before it spreads, to acknowledge the symptoms of the flu and treat it before it inflames, these are reasons to be checked up, these are reasons for health care reform.

In France, Australia, Japan, and Canada no one is denied health insurance for pre-existing conditions. Here, in America, if you had cancer before you better believe if it comes back your health care won’t. They have lower infant mortality rates and healthier lifestyles which strengthens the health care system. There are some set backs though; the long lines. In all of my research I have found and concluded that the most important issue proposed about a free health care system would be the waiting period to be helped also known as the ‘crowding out effect’. I honestly cannot imagine if America had a stable health care system no one would complain about the lines, as if they are not long as it is. Going to the hospital now to schedule an appointment can take 2 weeks to a month here and you would still have to pay if you don’t have insurance. Long lines at McDonalds waiting for a greasy Quarter Pounder with cheese seems more time allocated than waiting in line to get a checkup. It seems that waiting in line to detriment your health seems to be more important than waiting in line to become better. A stable health care system is needed or we can be stuck in the mindset of George Bush whom once said, “I mean, people have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room.” In France, social security funds  80% of the population, the financing is supported by employers, employee contributions, and personal income taxes. In France, Medicare is the universal health insurance and it is for everyone not just for the elderly. The government picks up the tab for the unemployed who cannot gain coverage through a family member. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and critical surgeries, such as a coronary bypass, are reimbursed at 100%. Cancer patients are treated free of charge. To make sure there is never a shortage of doctors, French doctors don’t have to pay back their student loans because medical school is paid for by the state, and in its 2000 assessment of world health care systems, the World Health Organization found that France provided the “best overall health care” in the world”. In Australia, all legal permanent residents are entitled to free public hospital care. In Canada, basic services are provided by private doctors with the entire fee paid for by the government, but in America we still have over 50 million citizens without basic health insurance.

Rhianna might be “The Only Girl in the World,” but America is “The Only Country in the World” that still has an inadequate health care system. With our many advancements in science and technology, we are somehow trumped by other countries. It is sad that our current health care system had to be reformed so much that it is taking years to get a basic concept through the door. We still have politicians repealing the idea of health care reform instead of finding conceptual ways to fix it. We are a country compartmentalized into making drastic choices like whether or not to go to Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts, or whether or not purchase a Mac or a PC, but when will we be able to perform the cognitive decision to choose from health care incentives and benefits. I guess we are in competition with the red-winged blackbirds, the fish, and the cows for health care seeming how nearly 2000 birds dropped from the sky, thousands of fish washed up on the shore, and 200 cows died; are humans next? Its sad that the older you get the more money you have to spend to stay alive, and the younger you are the higher the chances you wont be able to afford health care. We’ve had price tags attached to us since we were born, I wonder how much I am worth, I guess we will find out when the proper, justified, and constitutional bill comes to pass. Until then, don’t get hit by a falling bird which will cause you to go to the hospital to realize your insurance wont cover your head injury because random acts of birds is not insured under your health insurance (Thanks).