US Healthcare is failing us

[LonewolfNopack]

That's the declaration of independence. Not the constitution.

Obviously

 

[Tipmoose]

I wish I had more time to unbox this comment today because it's incredibly ill-informed. It's not nearly 100% about choice, but an arbitrary split that varies by person. At some point, I can give you example after example of physicians who'd rather medicate than educate. My own mother is letting diabetes win (choices) but out of the dozens of physicians she's seen, only one was brutally honest with her about her dietary choices. We're a fat national because of a host of systematic issues which most certainly includes the failure of our healthcare system to prioritize education, diet, and exercise over prescription medication.

I understand where you are coming from. And I agree with it to a degree. However I think the tendency to medicate VS educate is a reflection of society at large. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

To a large degree, the system provides what the participants demand. It's a service. People, in general, want the quick fix. They don't want to be lectured and told they have to give up one or more of the things that they enjoy. (foods they love, alcohol, smoking, etc)

I don't mean to say this is true for everybody. And I certainly don't mean any insult to your family or people you know personally. Im just speaking in generalities.

 

[LonewolfNopack]

I know quite a few people that could be retired right now but still need to work because of health care. If I retire next year and go on my wife's plan she would basically be working to pay for both our plans with no extra money to save. Swim the river or climb the fence and it's free. Yeah it's a problem.

That was kind of my point I was making. If your poor and unemployed it's free. If your rich you can buy excellent private coverage. It's many of the working class folks that suffer. Being self employed I personally pay a lot of money for a plan that is subpar. It's expensive enough that I don't go unless I think I'm dying.

 

[Ohiosam]

There are many many issues that contribute to this, they very from person to person, some are cultural. Ultimately it comes down to more calories taken in than burned. Here are a few in no particular order

In the 80’s “stranger danger” scared many parents into limiting their kids unsupervised playtime. At the same time video games and computers became many kid’s preferred recreation replacing more physical play.

With both parents working in many families many people resorted to more prepared foods and carry out to save time. Those foods tend to be high fat and/or high carb.

Doctors scared people away from red meats and eggs. Many times those were replaced with carbs.

Most jobs are less physically demanding.

in many places zoning segregates uses often by miles. So often if a person needs something from a store instead of walking you’re forced to drive.

I believe schools have less recess and gym.

 

[Hedgelj]

I'll take our system over every other system in the world. If you're going to angle for a socialized system like Europe and Canada have, that's a non starter for me.

Like it or not, Healthcare is not a right. It's not enumerated in the constitution. It's a service. You get what you pay for.

We aren't getting what we pay for....

I understand where you are coming from. And I agree with it to a degree. However I think the tendency to medicate VS educate is a reflection of society at large. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

To a large degree, the system provides what the participants demand. It's a service. People, in general, want the quick fix. They don't want to be lectured and told they have to give up one or more of the things that they enjoy. (foods they love, alcohol, smoking, etc)

I don't mean to say this is true for everybody. And I certainly don't mean any insult to your family or people you know personally. Im just speaking in generalities.

I'll add more later when I have time