Comments on: Should Government Determine the Value of Human Life? http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/21/should-government-determine-the-value-of-human-life/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:53:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Thomas Dean, Sheffie http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/21/should-government-determine-the-value-of-human-life/#comment-49810 Thomas Dean, Sheffie Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:04:34 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=11353#comment-49810 To the people suggesting God decides when your life ends, I presume you mean all the modern day bureaucracy, brought about by years of control over people exercised by organziations more powerful than your own, others, and any man on his own. In the UK I am fortunate enough to be provided with treatment, surgery etc. if I need it, with my life being valued at £30k per year of extension/keeping me alive. I can go out and purchase extra insurance, I can also pay for private healthcare. (Now I might not be able to afford it, and I might not never need it). Taxes I pay go towards provided NHS care to all, receiving the care is free. The state I believe is in a better position to provide healthcare fairly, opposed to a profit making company. even though it may falter. Often when prescription drugs are not available its because they are being sold at a high price by a private company seeking to make profit. The sort of company with a bad ethical record. (One which might employ me to make their drugs, owing to my qualifications in a certain field of science). Bare in mind I can still pay extra for better healthcare. I think it is better for society. You Americans are welcome to visit our country, even claim citizenship. We will provide you with healthcare free of charge too. We all pay towards it somewhat you see, a large group of humans working together for the collective good. It is one of the only decent things I feel I can say about my country nowadays. If you believe in God and believe he decides when you should go. Should you not do God's work. Help thy neighbor and all. There are always going to be moral and ethical dilemmas in healthcare and fine line examples with regards to budgets. Mistakes are made sometimes. Would you not rather it be run by a democratic organization you participate in, than one which exists to make a profit. To the people suggesting God decides when your life ends, I presume you mean all the modern day bureaucracy, brought about by years of control over people exercised by organziations more powerful than your own, others, and any man on his own.

In the UK I am fortunate enough to be provided with treatment, surgery etc. if I need it, with my life being valued at £30k per year of extension/keeping me alive. I can go out and purchase extra insurance, I can also pay for private healthcare. (Now I might not be able to afford it, and I might not never need it).

Taxes I pay go towards provided NHS care to all, receiving the care is free. The state I believe is in a better position to provide healthcare fairly, opposed to a profit making company. even though it may falter. Often when prescription drugs are not available its because they are being sold at a high price by a private company seeking to make profit. The sort of company with a bad ethical record. (One which might employ me to make their drugs, owing to my qualifications in a certain field of science).

Bare in mind I can still pay extra for better healthcare. I think it is better for society. You Americans are welcome to visit our country, even claim citizenship. We will provide you with healthcare free of charge too. We all pay towards it somewhat you see, a large group of humans working together for the collective good. It is one of the only decent things I feel I can say about my country nowadays.

If you believe in God and believe he decides when you should go. Should you not do God's work. Help thy neighbor and all.

There are always going to be moral and ethical dilemmas in healthcare and fine line examples with regards to budgets. Mistakes are made sometimes. Would you not rather it be run by a democratic organization you participate in, than one which exists to make a profit.

]]> By: Obama Seeking Internet Snitches To Rat Out Opponents To Universal Healthcare http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/21/should-government-determine-the-value-of-human-life/#comment-46324 Obama Seeking Internet Snitches To Rat Out Opponents To Universal Healthcare Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:50:36 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=11353#comment-46324 [...] deal with the largest ponzi scheme ever created by man, Social Security. You see if the government has the ability to dictate whether or not people receive life saving medical care and the poor souls happen to wind up kicking the bucket then anything left in their Social Security [...] [...] deal with the largest ponzi scheme ever created by man, Social Security. You see if the government has the ability to dictate whether or not people receive life saving medical care and the poor souls happen to wind up kicking the bucket then anything left in their Social Security [...]

]]> By: Washoe County Republican Party » Obamacare’s Effect on Seniors http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/21/should-government-determine-the-value-of-human-life/#comment-45719 Washoe County Republican Party » Obamacare’s Effect on Seniors Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:24:51 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=11353#comment-45719 [...] Rationing Your Care: Another centerpiece to Obamacare is the creation of a federal health board that will ration your health care. Obama supporter and infanticide advocate Peter Singer made the case for rationing health care recently in the New York Times, writing: “The task of health care bureaucrats is then to get the best value for the resources they have been allocated.” Conservatives in Congress have given Obamacare supporters every opportunity to disavow government-rationed health care, but Obamacare supporters have voted down every anti-rationing amendment proposed. Make no mistake, Obama plans to pay for expanded coverage for the young and healthy by denying treatments to the old and sick. Americans can do better. [...] [...] Rationing Your Care: Another centerpiece to Obamacare is the creation of a federal health board that will ration your health care. Obama supporter and infanticide advocate Peter Singer made the case for rationing health care recently in the New York Times, writing: “The task of health care bureaucrats is then to get the best value for the resources they have been allocated.” Conservatives in Congress have given Obamacare supporters every opportunity to disavow government-rationed health care, but Obamacare supporters have voted down every anti-rationing amendment proposed. Make no mistake, Obama plans to pay for expanded coverage for the young and healthy by denying treatments to the old and sick. Americans can do better. [...]

]]> By: Ed Fuller, Australia http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/21/should-government-determine-the-value-of-human-life/#comment-45521 Ed Fuller, Australia Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:56:22 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=11353#comment-45521 How interesting to read comments from folk who have no idea how a government program can help and work in with a private system. My wife of 45 years is from the Bay area in California and myself from Logan Qld. Australia. During our married life we have lived for 10 years in USA (first 2 children) and 35 years in Australia ( next 4 children) where we still reside. We have experienced both the US private approach and the Australian system and there is no doubt in our minds that the Australia system is far superior from a cost viewpoint and equal in service and quality. To qualify you just need to be a Taxpayer. Let me explain. With any medical program can't be all things to all people. Here we have a dual system where the Govt system co-exists very happily with an insurance type program which is quite inexpensive by US standards. For 90% of common family ailments bone breaks,births, most common types of operations like appendix removal,gallstones etc and common diseases, etc the "socialized" (seems like a dirty word in America) approach is excellent with a minimal waiting period. However with many major operations requiring special expertise a small insurance policy is recommended to get immediate attention. Such operations are also available under the "socialized" approach but there may well be a waiting period. In all the above you can choose whomever doctor/specialist you want and the medical parties in volved can also charge whatever they want. The upshot is that a typical family is far better off financially for the same service under the Australian program. Living under and experiencing both systems has been a real eye opener for our family. Would be happy to answer any specific questions re these programs. Ed How interesting to read comments from folk who have no idea how a government program can help and work in with a private system. My wife of 45 years is from the Bay area in California and myself from Logan Qld. Australia. During our married life we have lived for 10 years in USA (first 2 children) and 35 years in Australia ( next 4 children) where we still reside. We have experienced both the US private approach and the Australian system and there is no doubt in our minds that the Australia system is far superior from a cost viewpoint and equal in service and quality. To qualify you just need to be a Taxpayer. Let me explain. With any medical program can't be all things to all people. Here we have a dual system where the Govt system co-exists very happily with an insurance type program which is quite inexpensive by US standards. For 90% of common family ailments bone breaks,births, most common types of operations like appendix removal,gallstones etc and common diseases, etc the "socialized" (seems like a dirty word in America) approach is excellent with a minimal waiting period. However with many major operations requiring special expertise a small insurance policy is recommended to get immediate attention. Such operations are also available under the "socialized" approach but there may well be a waiting period. In all the above you can choose whomever doctor/specialist you want and the medical parties in volved can also charge whatever they want. The upshot is that a typical family is far better off financially for the same service under the Australian program. Living under and experiencing both systems has been a real eye opener for our family. Would be happy to answer any specific questions re these programs.

Ed

]]> By: Lois, North Carolina http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/21/should-government-determine-the-value-of-human-life/#comment-45426 Lois, North Carolina Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:15:53 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=11353#comment-45426 Has anyone thought of linking health care reform to tort reform? Lowering the cost of malpractice suits and the insurance doctors have to pay to defend themselves against them would go a long way toward reducing health care costs, without rationing care. Has anyone thought of linking health care reform to tort reform? Lowering the cost of malpractice suits and the insurance doctors have to pay to defend themselves against them would go a long way toward reducing health care costs, without rationing care.

]]> By: Andy,San Antonio http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/21/should-government-determine-the-value-of-human-life/#comment-45414 Andy,San Antonio Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:28:25 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=11353#comment-45414 While I hate to bring up the word, I seem to recall the Nazis, the Stalinists, and the communists had similar views - the state gets to determine if you have worth, and if you don't you don't get any needed services. There is some segment of the Native Americans whos ancesters would put out of the tribe the elderly to fend for themselves, left - literally - to the wolves. Perhaps other cultures did this, too. In my view it is not the governments place to say who is of worth. Who is of worth? We are all of worth, aren't we? If the determining factor as it seems to be, what will be the bang for the buck due to age, what about the bang for the buck due to return on investment? How long will it be before those who contribute less to society will be considered of less worth? How long before the Downs child will be forced to be aborted because the government made a decision? What about the blind, the lame, the deaf? We hear the cry that it will never go there, that this will not go there. It did in Nazi Germany and no one stopped it. It goes on now in mainland China and we sit silent. It goes on in many areas of the world right now - and yet we sit, wondering whats for lunch, complaining about Obama, or those complaining about Obama. This has to be stopped. You have to hand write a letter to your representatives. I was once told by a sitting member of congress that 20 hand written letters would change any representatives vote - 20 hand written, personally signed and mailed hand written letters. If youi want to stop this - that is what it will take. While I hate to bring up the word, I seem to recall the Nazis, the Stalinists, and the communists had similar views – the state gets to determine if you have worth, and if you don't you don't get any needed services. There is some segment of the Native Americans whos ancesters would put out of the tribe the elderly to fend for themselves, left – literally – to the wolves. Perhaps other cultures did this, too. In my view it is not the governments place to say who is of worth. Who is of worth? We are all of worth, aren't we?

If the determining factor as it seems to be, what will be the bang for the buck due to age, what about the bang for the buck due to return on investment? How long will it be before those who contribute less to society will be considered of less worth? How long before the Downs child will be forced to be aborted because the government made a decision? What about the blind, the lame, the deaf? We hear the cry that it will never go there, that this will not go there. It did in Nazi Germany and no one stopped it. It goes on now in mainland China and we sit silent. It goes on in many areas of the world right now – and yet we sit, wondering whats for lunch, complaining about Obama, or those complaining about Obama.

This has to be stopped. You have to hand write a letter to your representatives. I was once told by a sitting member of congress that 20 hand written letters would change any representatives vote – 20 hand written, personally signed and mailed hand written letters. If youi want to stop this – that is what it will take.

]]> By: Keith Christensen, C http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/21/should-government-determine-the-value-of-human-life/#comment-45387 Keith Christensen, C Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:34:52 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=11353#comment-45387 The question should be: Should a For-Profit Insurance Company Determine Value of Human Life? How many families are bankrupt because of unforseen medical emergencies? How many patients die while waiting for the insurance company to approve a procedure? Has any country voted to dismantle their national health care system? Who benefits (profits) when the U.S. doesn't have a national health care system? The question should be: Should a For-Profit Insurance Company Determine Value of Human Life?

How many families are bankrupt because of unforseen medical emergencies? How many patients die while waiting for the insurance company to approve a procedure? Has any country voted to dismantle their national health care system? Who benefits (profits) when the U.S. doesn't have a national health care system?

]]> By: Amanda B. http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/21/should-government-determine-the-value-of-human-life/#comment-45197 Amanda B. Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:45:34 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=11353#comment-45197 Peter Singer has very little regard for human life. In fact, he thinks an adult ape should have more rights than a human infant or a sick senior citizen. It disgusts me that the media gives this immoral man a forum for his evil ideas and treats him like he's some kind of scholar. I wonder if he has requested to be "put down" if he ever develops a degenerative mental condition in his old age... Peter Singer has very little regard for human life. In fact, he thinks an adult ape should have more rights than a human infant or a sick senior citizen. It disgusts me that the media gives this immoral man a forum for his evil ideas and treats him like he's some kind of scholar.

I wonder if he has requested to be "put down" if he ever develops a degenerative mental condition in his old age…

]]> By: Gary, Atlanta http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/21/should-government-determine-the-value-of-human-life/#comment-44766 Gary, Atlanta Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:10:19 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=11353#comment-44766 I am one of those kidney cancer patients who are too expensive to keep alive. At diagnosis, I was expected to live a few months. After agressive treatment, including Sutent, I have been working some and am now given "years" to live (I have already survived 21 months. By coincidence, I found that some states (Rhode Island and Connecticut spend roughly the same amount per inmate per year in state prisons as the British National Health Services deems the limit to keep a patient alive ($49,000). However, I never hear any serious talk of killing anyone, no matter how heinous their crimes because "they are too expensive to keep alive." If I, a 25-year military veteran and medical professional, am worth no more to our society than a convicted child murderer, then we are a society with a death wish! Well, duh! I am one of those kidney cancer patients who are too expensive to keep alive. At diagnosis, I was expected to live a few months. After agressive treatment, including Sutent, I have been working some and am now given "years" to live (I have already survived 21 months.

By coincidence, I found that some states (Rhode Island and Connecticut spend roughly the same amount per inmate per year in state prisons as the British National Health Services deems the limit to keep a patient alive ($49,000). However, I never hear any serious talk of killing anyone, no matter how heinous their crimes because "they are too expensive to keep alive."

If I, a 25-year military veteran and medical professional, am worth no more to our society than a convicted child murderer, then we are a society with a death wish! Well, duh!

]]> By: Leah, Seattle http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/21/should-government-determine-the-value-of-human-life/#comment-44739 Leah, Seattle Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:38:25 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=11353#comment-44739 Singer would do well to look at the recent history of Germany who also had a formula for determining the worth of human life. At first it was limited to the elderly, deformed babies and the infirm in the T4 Euthanasia program. Eventually it expanded to anyone who was an 'undesirable' human being. How does someone who is Jewish so quickly forget? Singer would do well to look at the recent history of Germany who also had a formula for determining the worth of human life. At first it was limited to the elderly, deformed babies and the infirm in the T4 Euthanasia program. Eventually it expanded to anyone who was an 'undesirable' human being. How does someone who is Jewish so quickly forget?

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