After waiting 90 minutes with my hand raised to speak, I was finally selected. The entire town hall meeting about healthcare had been unfolding just like all of the reports I'd been seeing and hearing in the media. Loud and disruptive naysayers overpowering any voice that proposed modifying our broken health system.
My heart and mind were racing. So many things that I'd like to say. So many falsehoods and misconceptions to counter. So many facts to share. As I waited behind two others for my turn I scratched some notes on piece of paper I dug from my pocket. Finally, the mic was to be handed to me, and...... "I'm sorry folks that's all we have time for, we have to leave the auditorium at 8pm sharp!" I couldn't believe my ears.
I had so much to say! So little had been accomplished! What a sham!
The whole ride home my father and I, who had attended with me, were simultaneously angered and disheartened by the experience. We discussed a myriad of ways in which the forum could have been better organized. We took turns saying things that we would have liked to have had the opportunity to say.
To paraphrase my own thoughts, (and possibly brush up the language) I would have liked to have said something like this:
"Thank you for taking my question. My name is Todd Vachon from Colchester and I'd like to start by saying that I have spent several years working as a teacher in that 'oh so socialist' institution known as public education. And if this were my classroom, the disruptive members would be on their last warning. But since the principal is not here, perhaps we could call on the uniformed folks standing in the back, who work for that other socialist institution-- the police department, to escort them to their cars. From there, they could drive home on those 'socialist' public roads, abiding by the 'socialist' traffic signals before crossing any 'socialist' bridges.
I think we should also thank the Stalinist 1st selectman and communist regime of Montville for allowing us to use this 'socialist' high school auditorium, free of charge; a beautiful and brand new one at that.
It is unfortunate however, that over 100 folks had to be turned away at the door. The maximum capacity has been reached and the 'socialists' from the fire department deemed it a matter of public safety.
But seriously, all sarcasm aside, what I'm getting at with these examples is that NOT ALL THINGS are handled best by the so-called 'free-market'. Imagine if we all had to subscribe to fire, police and medical service. Many folks would not be able to afford the premiums. What happens when your neighbor's house is on fire and they didn't pay their fire bill? Or better yet, the fire companies deny coverage to your home because it is too old or has a pre-existing condition. I know, it's ludicrous to consider, but what is so different about health services?
If you get in an accident today, the fire and police department respond as a public service. EMT's respond and start treating you on the scene, but as soon as you arrive at the ER the treatment now becomes a commodity that you must pay for.
Every other industrialized country spends considerably less per capita on healthcare; half to be exact. They provide it universally to all of their citizens; we leave 50 million without, and they have better service than we do; we rank 38th in the world.
So, my question is this: Can the naysayers suck it up, get past the ideological free-market dogma, and consider practical solutions to a real problem? Or are they too damned stubborn to ever admit that they are wrong? Thank you."
Well those are my two cents. A day late and a dollar short, but still here anyway.
You know, in retrospect, I think that merely organizing the two opposing factions on opposite ends of the parking lot and allowing them to yell back and forth at each other would have been equally as productive.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Bringing Single-Payer InToThe Media
Friends,
In case you have not heard, Representative Courtney will be hosting a town hall forum on health reform this Wednesday, September 2nd at 6:30 p.m. at Montville High School.
I would like to make an appeal to progressives, folks on the left and anyone who wants a real discussion about our broken health care system to attend:
1.) To counter the right-wing nonsense about death panels, Adolf Hitler and Darth Vader.
~and~
2.) To advocate for single-payer instead of this band-aid, doomed-to-fail, "public option". HR3200 does not address the real core of the problem: that multi-payer systems are bureaucratic nightmares, required to put profit before care in every instance. HR676 is the logical solution and must be considered.
As most of you know, I have been advocating for the single-payer solution for a very long time. Pre-dating my challenge to Mr. Courtney at the ballot last fall. I have attached below a few recent breakthroughs into the media that I have made for the single-payer option.
Hope you enjoy and hope to see you on Wednesday in Montville!
-Todd
Trying To Bring Single-Payer In To The Media:
Some Health Proposals Address The Issue of Waste
By Todd Vachon
Norwich Bulletin
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/opinions/columnists/x769901449/Todd-Vachon-Some-health-care-proposals-answer-issue-of-waste
Health Care: What’s The Diagnosis?
By Todd Vachon
New London Day
http://archive.theday.com/re.aspx?re=3d92d656-ccbb-491e-9839-716af30f2a6b
WHUS Radio Interview with Todd Vachon about Single-Payer
http://www.4shared.com/account/file/126038457/84651d11/whus_interview.html
Other Great Resources on Health Reform:
Physicians for a National Health Program
www.pnhp.org
House Bill 676
www.hr676.org
Frontline: Sick Around The World
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/
Bullying, Hate-Mongering Have No Place In Health Debate:
In a reasoned debate, single payer will come out on top
By Laura S. Boylan, MD and Joanne Landy, MPH
http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/08/18/bullying-hate-mongering-have-no-place-in-health-
debate/
In case you have not heard, Representative Courtney will be hosting a town hall forum on health reform this Wednesday, September 2nd at 6:30 p.m. at Montville High School.
I would like to make an appeal to progressives, folks on the left and anyone who wants a real discussion about our broken health care system to attend:
1.) To counter the right-wing nonsense about death panels, Adolf Hitler and Darth Vader.
~and~
2.) To advocate for single-payer instead of this band-aid, doomed-to-fail, "public option". HR3200 does not address the real core of the problem: that multi-payer systems are bureaucratic nightmares, required to put profit before care in every instance. HR676 is the logical solution and must be considered.
As most of you know, I have been advocating for the single-payer solution for a very long time. Pre-dating my challenge to Mr. Courtney at the ballot last fall. I have attached below a few recent breakthroughs into the media that I have made for the single-payer option.
Hope you enjoy and hope to see you on Wednesday in Montville!
-Todd
Trying To Bring Single-Payer In To The Media:
Some Health Proposals Address The Issue of Waste
By Todd Vachon
Norwich Bulletin
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/opinions/columnists/x769901449/Todd-Vachon-Some-health-care-proposals-answer-issue-of-waste
Health Care: What’s The Diagnosis?
By Todd Vachon
New London Day
http://archive.theday.com/re.aspx?re=3d92d656-ccbb-491e-9839-716af30f2a6b
WHUS Radio Interview with Todd Vachon about Single-Payer
http://www.4shared.com/account/file/126038457/84651d11/whus_interview.html
Other Great Resources on Health Reform:
Physicians for a National Health Program
www.pnhp.org
House Bill 676
www.hr676.org
Frontline: Sick Around The World
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/
Bullying, Hate-Mongering Have No Place In Health Debate:
In a reasoned debate, single payer will come out on top
By Laura S. Boylan, MD and Joanne Landy, MPH
http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/08/18/bullying-hate-mongering-have-no-place-in-health-
debate/
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Norwich Bulletin Column on Health Reform
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/opinions/columnists/x769901449/Todd-Vachon-Some-health-care-proposals-answer-issue-of-waste
Some health care proposals answer issue of waste
Guest Column
By TODD VACHON
For The Norwich Bulletin
Posted Aug 19, 2009 @ 10:49 PM
Last update Aug 19, 2009 @ 11:46 PM
Health care reform is the topic of the day. One cannot pass by a radio or television without hearing some mention of it. What seems to be missing from the coverage, however, are the sobering facts about our problem and the true nature of our potential reform measures.
First, let’s examine our health care system.
The United States spends twice as much — $7,129 per capita — on health care as other industrialized nations, yet we still have nearly 50 million uninsured people. Despite spending more, we continue to perform poorly on major health indicators. According to the CIA World Factbook, the U.S. ranks 30th for life expectancy, right behind Bosnia; 46th for infant mortality, right behind Cuba and Guam, and 20th out of G20 for deaths by treatable causes.
Being the richest nation in the world, this certainly reveals our national priorities to be issues other than public health.
More than 18,000 Americans die each year because they cannot afford to seek treatment. That’s rationing based on income. Those with insurance have more bureaucrats between them and their doctors than any other nation, namely the claims departments at the insurance companies. In fact, we have the most bureaucratic system in the world. More than 31 percent of all health expenditures go to administrative costs. Our multi-payer, profit-based system has countless insurers, each with their own overhead costs, marketing departments and exorbitant executive salaries.
These expenses combined account for $350 billion spent on things other than providing health care. Meanwhile, 70 percent of bankruptcies are because of medical bills, and half of those are people who actually have insurance.
The diagnosis: The system is very ill.
The treatment: Here are the options in Congress:
Garnering the most attention is the president’s preferred bill, HR 3200. This adds a public option to compete in the system. However, it does not address the root problem, namely the administrative waste of a multi-payer system. U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, has offered an amendment to allow individual states to create their own single-payer systems. This would begin to save money and increase efficiency.
Getting practically zero mention in the press is U.S. Rep. John Conyers’, D-Michigan, bill, HR 676, that would create a National Health Insurance plan. This bill details the creation of a universal single-payer system covering all Americans with comprehensive care — and for the same amount we’re spending. Conyers and advocates contend eliminating the tremendous overlap and waste of a multi-payer system, the whole country could have comprehensive coverage.
The final option, preferred by pundits and spin masters, is to do nothing.
These are the choices legislators face this fall. Please do some research and contact your representative to share your views.
Todd Vachon resides in Colchester.
Some health care proposals answer issue of waste
Guest Column
By TODD VACHON
For The Norwich Bulletin
Posted Aug 19, 2009 @ 10:49 PM
Last update Aug 19, 2009 @ 11:46 PM
Health care reform is the topic of the day. One cannot pass by a radio or television without hearing some mention of it. What seems to be missing from the coverage, however, are the sobering facts about our problem and the true nature of our potential reform measures.
First, let’s examine our health care system.
The United States spends twice as much — $7,129 per capita — on health care as other industrialized nations, yet we still have nearly 50 million uninsured people. Despite spending more, we continue to perform poorly on major health indicators. According to the CIA World Factbook, the U.S. ranks 30th for life expectancy, right behind Bosnia; 46th for infant mortality, right behind Cuba and Guam, and 20th out of G20 for deaths by treatable causes.
Being the richest nation in the world, this certainly reveals our national priorities to be issues other than public health.
More than 18,000 Americans die each year because they cannot afford to seek treatment. That’s rationing based on income. Those with insurance have more bureaucrats between them and their doctors than any other nation, namely the claims departments at the insurance companies. In fact, we have the most bureaucratic system in the world. More than 31 percent of all health expenditures go to administrative costs. Our multi-payer, profit-based system has countless insurers, each with their own overhead costs, marketing departments and exorbitant executive salaries.
These expenses combined account for $350 billion spent on things other than providing health care. Meanwhile, 70 percent of bankruptcies are because of medical bills, and half of those are people who actually have insurance.
The diagnosis: The system is very ill.
The treatment: Here are the options in Congress:
Garnering the most attention is the president’s preferred bill, HR 3200. This adds a public option to compete in the system. However, it does not address the root problem, namely the administrative waste of a multi-payer system. U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, has offered an amendment to allow individual states to create their own single-payer systems. This would begin to save money and increase efficiency.
Getting practically zero mention in the press is U.S. Rep. John Conyers’, D-Michigan, bill, HR 676, that would create a National Health Insurance plan. This bill details the creation of a universal single-payer system covering all Americans with comprehensive care — and for the same amount we’re spending. Conyers and advocates contend eliminating the tremendous overlap and waste of a multi-payer system, the whole country could have comprehensive coverage.
The final option, preferred by pundits and spin masters, is to do nothing.
These are the choices legislators face this fall. Please do some research and contact your representative to share your views.
Todd Vachon resides in Colchester.
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