by Harley Hawbaker

 

One half of the 2007 United States population has no or inadequate health care insurance.  For these 150 million individuals, a sudden case of cancer, heart disease or accident may result in rapid, devastating consequences for them and their families and futures...physically, emotionally, and financially.

 

Advanced technologies that are now available to Americans are incredible and expensive.  Humans can, basically, be kept alive forever...if you have the money and/or great health insurance.

 

And, most of all, the population is aging...requiring more health care.

 

Thus, Americans are rapidly accepting the belief that health care should be a basic human right that is paid for by the government...following in the footsteps of our European ancestors, Canadian neighbors, and Cuban neighbors.

 

Currently, government employees have among the best health care coverage plans.  As do folks on government assistance.  The rest of the citizens want the same.

 

Thus, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is inevitable in the U.S.A.  But, it will be a conglomeration of federal, state, and private (local, regional) entities that create alot of beaurocracy and jobs.

 

As the American population ages, and the people require more medical resources, the expenditures will become astronomical.  Eventually, health spendings will dominate the economy on many fronts.

 

Unfortunately, this national scenario will be adversely affected by an even bigger problem - global warming with its ensuing natural disasters, famine, disease, war, etc...

 

So, in the future, we can probably count on more socialism, especially if we want the government to take care of us medically.

 

Every area of our personal lives will fall under the government's idea of health.  Once the state assumes control of the health system, expect a whole set of regulations that individual citizens must follow, in order to be accepted for medical coverage.

 

Computers and the Internet will bring all of it together into one big brain.  Any county, state, or federal agency will be able to instantly tap into this central data base of citizens...finding any information they want...all based on the individual's "health profile".

 

State doctors and medical providers will be instructed to issue a standard federal form, backbround check, physical examination, and lab testing that all patients must complete before being potentially accepted for medical coverage.

 

These tests will involve detailed information concerning:

 

Disease conditions - physical, mental

Surgeries

Work record

Tax record

Bank records

Marriage and divorce

Child support

Property record

Home ownership

Credit record

Criminal record

Voting record

Organization record

Charity giving

Church membership

Education records

IQ records

Gun registration

Hunting registration

etc...

 

And anything that will find its way onto the Internet over the next few years.

 

Every bit of information will be available to almost everyone, especially to government workers, and especially if illegal aliens, sexual predators, terrorists continue to live among us.

 

Expect universal, inexpensive videocams in all offices run by the government...medical facilities, schools, agencies...to keep a record of the truth.

 

Common sense, if we have the technology.  Right?

 

Because we Americans love technology and worship scientific advancements, we are reaping what we have sown.  We relinquish personal freedoms, and we pay the government and corporations to provide us with stuff that can prolong our lives and physical existence on the Earth.

 

UHC is coming, whether Republicans or Democrats get elected to the presidency.

 

I think.

 

Some of these elements may come true, but I hope not.