Letters to the Editor: Student: the Right isn’t uncaring because they don’t support national healthcare
Editor:
This letter is written in response to Brandon Holcomb’s essay “What about support for social disease?” As a conservative, this essay angered me. There is no irony for a conservative to support a charitable organization like Relay for Life. Almost every American gives money to charities, and it is not because of our political, religious, racial or sexual orientation, but because we all care for our fellow citizens of this planet.
It seems that Mr. Holcomb’s letter is not to point out the “irony” of a conservative supporting activism against cancer, but rather to portray conservatives as uncaring because we do not blindly embrace the idea of a national healthcare program. Frankly, a national healthcare program would be disastrous for Americans both economically and medically. Our current government healthcare providers such as Medicare and Medicaid are going bankrupt because of fraud and overuse, and one can only imagine the nightmare of increased taxes and bureaucracy if these plans were mandatory for all Americans
Besides the huge tax burden of such a plan, there is also fraud to consider. The National Healthcare Anti-Fraud Association reports that Medicare paid up to $12.1 billion because of fraudulent claims in 2001 alone. Just imagine how much more of our tax dollars would be wasted in a national healthcare program.
A national healthcare program would also destroy the innovative nature of American medicine. Less than 10 percent of all new drugs come from countries with national healthcare systems. Price ceilings imposed on drugs by these nations make it impossible to conduct expensive research and development. That is why drugs are cheaper in counties with national healthcare, but it is also why these nations lack innovation and quality care.
While a national healthcare program is noble in intent, it would give Americans nothing but increased taxes, fewer cutting edge medicines and worse overall healthcare for the average American.
Chris Hicks
Executive Director
GC&SU College Republicans
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 29 2005. Filed under Letters to the Editor.
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