Health Care Reform for Dummies

Are you confused about health reform? I don't blame you it's quite a conundrum. This post is going to appeal more to our public health readers rather than our environmental ones. But, I think it is an important issue to discuss.
I will try my best to make as much clear as possible.
Let's start with this premise: our healthcare system is broken. I don't think that is debatable. Something has to change so that 45-50 million people are not uninsured. These people don't receive primary care and tend to use the Emergency Room as their doctor's office. You, the taxpayer pay for that. Wouldn't you rather not? Isn't everyone entitled to health care?
Here are some links that help to explain the new proposals.
Let's start with the government's website. It gives an overview of the new system and you can also share your personal story (which I of course already did).
Here is one from the Washington Post that explains the difference between single payer system and socialized medicine. Basically, there is a difference between them. Socialized medicine is where the government provides health services. Health care providers are essentially employees of the federal government. A single payer system is where the government PAYS for the health care but does not own the system.
Another issue that needs to be cleared up is the fake Death Panels. Sarah Palin and her cronies are saying that Obama and his plan are promoting euthanasia and are going to have death panels that decide whose life is more worthy of being saved. This is just plum not true. There is no such thing. Here is an article that dispels these myths and sets the record straight. What is really going on is that there are proposals in the legislation that would provide coverage for consultations for end of life care.
My favorite part of this debate is watching very ill informed people complain that they don't want the government meddling with their health care. My favorite video is that of the woman who had cancer and claimed to love the health care she received while sick. She is now getting divorced and is unemployed, and hence has no health insurance. But she is adamant about the government not telling her what kind of health care she should have. What this woman fails to understand is that no health insurance is going to take the risk of insuring her because she is unemployed and a cancer survivor. She is exactly the person who would benefit from the public option. Watch her rant. (Please disregard the very rude representative in the beginning)

Here is another favorite video of mine proving the lack of knowledge of these protesters.

And just in case you live under a rock and haven't seen the Barney Frank video. Here it is.

Last time I checked Nazis were not looking to provide health care for all German citizens.
The public option will be an ALTERNATIVE to the private options. Many people misunderstand and think that the government is going to require them to be on public insurance. They are afraid that the government is going to take away their right to choose. But many of these same people have no problem taking away a woman's right to choose.
I do not claim to know everything about health care reform and if you have any questions or comments please free to send them along.