The U.S. spends twice as much as other industrialized nations on health care: $7,129 per capita.

Yet our system performs poorly in comparison. The World Health Organization ranked the U.S. health-care system last among 17 industrialized countries. This is because the private-insurance bureaucracy and paperwork consume nearly one-third of every health-care dollar. Streamlining payment through a single, nonprofit payer would save more than $350billion per year, enough to provide comprehensive, high-quality coverage for all Americans. People wonder if single-payer health coverage is a form of socialized medicine.

It is not. Socialized medicine is a system in which doctors and hospitals work for, and draw salaries from, the government. Doctors in the Veterans Administration and the armed services are paid this way. The health systems of Great Britain and Spain are other examples. But in most European countries, Canada, Australia, and Japan, the government pays for care that is delivered in the private sector, similar to how Medicare works in the U.S. Doctors are in private practice and are paid on a fee-for-service basis from government funds. The government does not own or manage medical practices or hospitals. There is a myth that with national health insurance the government will run health care and make the medical decisions. But in a publicly financed, universal health-care system, patient and doctor, as they should be. This is true even in the countries with socialized medicine.

Will it raise taxes? No. Sixty percent of health care is already publicly financed (Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, VA and coverage for public employees/elected officials/military). The single-payer system can be paid for through the administrative savings created by this system and a small payroll tax. Families and business will pay less.

In the present system, more than 31 percent of every health-care dollar goes to paperwork, overhead, CEO salaries, profits, etc. The Medicare program operates with just 3 percent overhead, compared with 15 percent to 25 percent overhead at a typical HMO. Provincial single-payer plans in Canada have an overhead of about 1 percent. All medically necessary care would be funded through the single payer plan, including doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, mental health services, nursing home care, rehab, home care, eye care and dental care. The Democratic platform includes a clear commitment that every American man, woman and child be guaranteed to have affordable, comprehensive health care. The language falls short of a commitment to single-payer that Democrats should be campaigning on six decades after Harry Truman ran and won on a promise to develop a national health-care program.

We might as well finally do it right with HR 676. This is a single-payer national health bill that has 91 congressional co-sponsors, including Rep. Howard Berman of Van Nuys.

Other Los Angeles-area co-sponsors of HR 676 are Xavier Becerra, Hilda Solis, Diane Watson, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Maxine Waters, Laura Richardson, Grace Napolitano, Linda Sanchez, Joe Baca and Loretta Sanchez. Notably missing from the list are Brad Sherman, Henry Waxman, Buck McKeon, Elton Gallegly and Adam Schiff.

When I was in Washington in July, many well-meaning legislators told me the American people were not ready for such a major change in our health-care system. It seems to be up to us to let them know that, yes, we are.

With all the information passed on to the Counties about universal healthcare bill HR676, you would think the Counties would endorse it because of big property tax savings. For example:

Martin - 7 million
Palm Beach - 80 million
Indian River - 5 million
Okeechobee - 4 million

and Congressional District #16 a savings of about $150 million.

When will the residents start screaming to have all elected officials, our Congressional leaders and candidates running for Congress to endorse and push for Single Payer Healthcare HR676. It is up to us to encourage everyone to make it happen. The Mayors of West Palm Beach, Fort Pierce and St. Lucie Counties as well as Congressmen Hastings and Wexler have endorsed the program. When are the rest of our elected officers going to get involved? Thank you,

Al Sheahen is the San Fernando Valley domestic leader of RESULTS, a national, grass-roots, volunteer group supporting HR 676. He lives in Sherman Oaks and can be reached at alsheahen@prodigy.net.

I plead if you support this Bill or Have or Know someone being effect by the health care system in its current for to Sign This Petition, With the current economic crisis, health care is a concern not be taking lightly. After you sign feel free to Email Al Sheahen at the above address, Make your voice heard. Contact the White House via their Website and your Local Leaders. This Petition Will be sent out to as many local leaders, People, News outlets and anyone that can help so Please let your voice be heard.

Source Material and Links Below

For more information http://s209363542.onlinehome.us/
http://www.hr676.org/
http://wisecountyissues.com/?p=287