The President, Healthcare, and Snake Oil II

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Red vs. Blue Pills

Like many 50+ Americans, I know a little about medicine and healthcare. In this week’s press conference Mr. Obama started talking about different medicines and gave the analogy of the red pill vs. blue pill. He made the choice of medication sound simple. He also a little more than intimated that all doctors are driven by greed.

Mr. President. If the choice of medication should be determined by a bureaucrat in Washington; then will you next be determining food supplements? Peanuts are a great source of protein. Why doesn’t the FDA mandate that all foods have peanuts added to make sure that all foods are higher in protein? Oh, there is that little thing about some people being allergic to peanuts. Yes our diets would have more protein, but some people would DIE. The same will be true if you put our health care in the hand of a faceless, heartless, and self-serving “healthcare board.” Medical decisions must be made by the doctors and patients. There is no reason to destroy 100% of the American healthcare system with the stated goal of providing it for less than 10% of the population.

Last year my insurance company denied paying for one of my medication. They determined that I could take an over the counter medication. Since the medication I used was not available, and I tried the OTC medicine (that did not work), I appealed their decision. After a couple of months, I won the appeal. I have to ask: Will you be able to appeal to use the blue pill if you are required to take the red pill by the government? Will the blue pill even be available if the government does not allow it to be prescribed? If the government decides that people can only take the red pill then, will any companies be allowed to make the blue one? How many people will the red pill kill?

So I personally don’t care which pill you take. Just make sure that we have the pills that work.

©2009 Pedro Sykes