John Lott's Website: New Op-ed FoxNews.com: Moore's Myths Sicko

5/29/2007

New Op-ed FoxNews.com: Moore's Myths Sicko

Only 2 percent of Americans are both uninsured and "very dissatisfied" with "the quality of the health care that [they] receive." Another 2 percent were both uninsured and "somewhat dissatisfied." . . .

Labels: Economics, healthcare, Insurance

8 Comments:

rich said...: Hehe, very true. Don't tell the liberals -- it would dash some of their daydreams!

By the way, Mr. Lott, I've researched gun control for quite some time. I want to thank you for your book More Guns, Less crime -- it was incredible, and greatly revealed the truth about gun control.
-Shaun; 5/30/2007 1:03 AM
Will said...: Ahh, very true indeed. I appreciate you trying to promote reason in the health care debate. This particular article reminds me of some of the works by David Gratzer, MD (Manhatten Institute) warning against HillaryCare, and other health care proposals that are tumultuous manipulations of the market.; 5/30/2007 1:12 AM
Kris said...: Michael Moore gets to go on the list of things which are worse than Wikipedia.; 5/30/2007 3:35 PM
Anonymous said...: Heh, you nailed that one John!!; 5/30/2007 6:45 PM
John Lott said...: Dear Rich, WIll, Kris, and Anonymous,

Thank you all very much.; 5/31/2007 3:13 AM
Alan G. Stewart said...: In Ontario, Canada (where I live) the government maintains this site.

Ontario Wait Times

Health care can be expensive, so naturally the government attempts to control costs. Ontario does this by having a 'single payor' system, where only gov't insurance is allowed, and they set the price that is paid for most procedures. You ARE allowed to pay cash for health care, but the number of people that can afford to do this for major (and many not so major) procedures are statistically insignificant and have little effect on the market.

It is important to note that the Ontario government does not actually employ most health care providers, they simply make sure that no one else can afford to pay them, becoming the only real market for their services.

Demand is high (the consumer doesn't pay directly), price is low (government controlled), and supply falls far short of demand.

Something that is not often mentioned is that there is a real shortage of family physicians in most areas of Ontario and you can wait YEARS to find one willing to take you on as a patient.

Finally, after comparing income tax rates between Florida (where I used to live) and Ontario (where I live now), I calculated that my free health care costs me about 600.00 per week now compared to about 600.00 per month for family health insurance when I paid for it myself). (I make a bit less that 60,000 a year)

A real bargain.; 5/31/2007 7:15 AM
Anonymous said...: Perhaps you should note how many people actually participated in that survey. There are almost 9 million uninsured children in the United States. If each of those children's parents participated in the survey, then it would be legitimate. Visit one of the ERs across this country and you will see the only medical care that these children ever receive. I'm sure you would just blame it on the parents, but if you were a member of the "working poor" in this country you might know the truth. The healthcare in this country is sad. People have to choose between meds and food. How can such a rich country care so little about its own children?; 6/01/2007 11:37 AM
Harles said...: I am a member of the "working poor" and my job does not provide insurance. That is not an insurmountable problem. My wife and I have enough food, and we purchase private insurance at a reasonable rate. We just don't eat out much. It is a matter of personal responsability. One has to learn to budget, and work to improve your situation.

I lived in England for two years and saw the results of government run health care. It is horrible. I would not wish it on anyone.

You are worried about the children, Mr. Anonymous? I watched my neighbor's child laying on a hospital bed for six days with appendicitis. The refused to operate until it ruptured, because it was not "necisary".

Americans without insurance get better care than the NHS (National Health Service) provides in England.

Any way I can, I will fight government takeover of health care. It is horrible.; 6/02/2007 12:53 PM