America in poor health

America is in poor health, politically, economically, culturally, and bodily in the health of its citizenry. Michael Moore's 'Sicko' made a good case for a single pay health care system. It was pooh poohed since the insurance lobby, the moss back members of Congress, the White House, and the like took Moore to task for showing the high quality of Castro's health care programme. Well looking at the press, the US press that is, the true believers in laissez faire capitalism for others in the houses of Congress, when they benefit from completely socialised medicine which they and those who went before them voted on, wanted to cut doctors' fees in Medicare by 10 per cent. Then the AMA propaganda kicked him in this election year, sending out thunderbolts of warning that Republicans beware, we will run against you. So suddenly the Democrats got Teddy Kennedy out from his chemo, to come to Congress to vote the bill out for Mr. Bush's veto which would easily be over ridden. With Kennedy in the well of the Senate, well, annus mirabile, some Republican senators--and you can bet those in a tight race for re election--crossed the aisle to the number of 9, to vote for restoring the cuts to Medicare fees and to push pressure on the private insurers who take the seniors' money and give little in return. So the cuts would be restored...and Herr Bush will have to lump it as will his rapid barking conservative dogs. Yet the cuts restored, it won't help the state of health in the US which spends more money on health care but has little to show for it. Now some public radio stations are calling for a reform based on the French model...which Moore's 'Sicko' praised...but Moore did more than that he offered many alternatives for the US to consider in healthcare reform...be it Canada, the UK, Japan, France, Italy, or yes Cuba as a pis aller. So Herr Bush has succeeded where others try as they might have transformed the US into the sick old man of the west!