To the women I know, and even the one's I don't,
We are blessed to live in a wonderful country. Regardless of your personal political convictions, this country currently enjoys a standard of living that no other country can compete with.
I am writing this as an opinion, not as a statement of fact. But, I sending it out because I care about you, individually, and collectively, and I care about the direction our country is heading.
Below are two links to recent articles that directly impact womens' health. The first is a link to an article in the Seattle Times regarding a federal panels recommendation that breast cancer screening procedures be limited to every-other year, not every year, as what has been currently recommended by the medical community. The second link is an msnbc article discussing a similar recommendation that cervical cancer screenings be done every-other year as well.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2010327711_mammoqampa22m.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34046944
My problem with this, is simple. These are simple tests that can be done to attempt early detection of potentially lethal and certainly life-altering cancers.
I am NOT a medical expert, but to sum it up for those of you who may not know: Younger women are at a higher risk for cervical cancer. As they age, the cervical cancer risk drops, but the risk for breast cancer grows. This does not mean older women cannot develop cervical cancer or, that younger women cannot develop breast cancer. While the generalities are agreed upon, the exact ages, risk factors and changes of developing any of these conditions is the subject of constant debate, and I'm not going to try to present an exact number for any of them. The generality is the concept here, and cancer awareness organizations have fought (and still do) to reach ladies in hopes of education and testing.
I have not seen any articles yet regarding men's cancers. But, in a similar risk factor pattern, young men are at risk for testicular cancer, and as that risk drops with age, the risk of prostate cancer increases. And, it's worth noting that men can also develop breast cancer.
The reason I bring this to your attention is simple. This is an early step in the process of a national health care system. In order for that to work, they must reduce us to numbers, not people. A number cannot act on it's own behalf. A number does not have a family that cares for it. But, by looking at the numbers, you can dismiss a certain percentage to poor health, and just bad luck. You can tell a number they "can't have a test this year". A number can't decide for itself. But a person can. A person can decide what tests are important for them to have. A person can decide what kind of health care they want to pay for. (Be it with insurance plan selection or straight fee-for-service) A number can't be trusted to decide for itself.
After reducing people to numbers, it's easy to not care. After all, they are just numbers, not someone's mother, sister, wife or daughter. They are just a number.
Health care is not a right. Nowhere in our state or country's constitution does it guarantee any of us the right to health care. And, I don't advocate that it should be. Part of the reason it costs so much, is because of how great our health care is. And, we should be free to decide.
I'm not a woman; I'm a guy. I would hope that this process outrages ladies everywhere. This is but a glimpse of the kinds of changes we will be effected by, if our country goes to a national healthcare system. Anyway you slice it; it's a bad idea.
PE
We are blessed to live in a wonderful country. Regardless of your personal political convictions, this country currently enjoys a standard of living that no other country can compete with.
I am writing this as an opinion, not as a statement of fact. But, I sending it out because I care about you, individually, and collectively, and I care about the direction our country is heading.
Below are two links to recent articles that directly impact womens' health. The first is a link to an article in the Seattle Times regarding a federal panels recommendation that breast cancer screening procedures be limited to every-other year, not every year, as what has been currently recommended by the medical community. The second link is an msnbc article discussing a similar recommendation that cervical cancer screenings be done every-other year as well.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2010327711_mammoqampa22m.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34046944
My problem with this, is simple. These are simple tests that can be done to attempt early detection of potentially lethal and certainly life-altering cancers.
I am NOT a medical expert, but to sum it up for those of you who may not know: Younger women are at a higher risk for cervical cancer. As they age, the cervical cancer risk drops, but the risk for breast cancer grows. This does not mean older women cannot develop cervical cancer or, that younger women cannot develop breast cancer. While the generalities are agreed upon, the exact ages, risk factors and changes of developing any of these conditions is the subject of constant debate, and I'm not going to try to present an exact number for any of them. The generality is the concept here, and cancer awareness organizations have fought (and still do) to reach ladies in hopes of education and testing.
I have not seen any articles yet regarding men's cancers. But, in a similar risk factor pattern, young men are at risk for testicular cancer, and as that risk drops with age, the risk of prostate cancer increases. And, it's worth noting that men can also develop breast cancer.
The reason I bring this to your attention is simple. This is an early step in the process of a national health care system. In order for that to work, they must reduce us to numbers, not people. A number cannot act on it's own behalf. A number does not have a family that cares for it. But, by looking at the numbers, you can dismiss a certain percentage to poor health, and just bad luck. You can tell a number they "can't have a test this year". A number can't decide for itself. But a person can. A person can decide what tests are important for them to have. A person can decide what kind of health care they want to pay for. (Be it with insurance plan selection or straight fee-for-service) A number can't be trusted to decide for itself.
After reducing people to numbers, it's easy to not care. After all, they are just numbers, not someone's mother, sister, wife or daughter. They are just a number.
Health care is not a right. Nowhere in our state or country's constitution does it guarantee any of us the right to health care. And, I don't advocate that it should be. Part of the reason it costs so much, is because of how great our health care is. And, we should be free to decide.
I'm not a woman; I'm a guy. I would hope that this process outrages ladies everywhere. This is but a glimpse of the kinds of changes we will be effected by, if our country goes to a national healthcare system. Anyway you slice it; it's a bad idea.
PE
