I recommend you read “Lloyds of London” by Jeffrey Hodkins (it’s been awhile and I’m not sure of the spelling of the author’s name). This is the sum total and basis of the world econony. I believe there is a placque at the site of this historic building in London which states their motto as follows “that the burden shall fall lightly upon the many, rather than heavily upon the few.”

Health rationing is exactly what you propose. Those who can afford get those who can’t don’t, and what ever you can “dole” out in between. I remember when AARP cropped up and offered their A-J policies. What kind of health care do you think you get with J as opposed to A which of course was the highest premium. I got it, I’m not covered for killer diseases but we can always turn to the government for that. I love the people who talk free market until there is a catastrophy. Floods, give it to Uncle Sam, hurricanes – Uncle Same, health care that exceeds XX$’s – Uncle Sam. As long as the risk has been determined to be minimal we’ll cover it. Remember we are insured and reinsured 10 times over, we can’t lose unelss our investments fail then we can raise our premiums. Joe Blow has nowhere to go to recoup his/her loses. Certianly can’t afford to buy 10 insurance policies just in case.

Exactly how much medical care are you willing to provide your patients. What is your cut off. It all depends on what you define as your worth and how you wish to live. Doctors who think we should have free market health care should hang a sign out that says we except cash and credit cards. Do you think you are a better doctor because you make a lot of money. Can a doctor in the same field who makes less than you be as good a doctor or would that be a socialist. Does money determine your abilities or have anything to do with your work ethic as a doctor.

Does a human being in this country who doesn’t have a piece of sheep skin on their wall, is not at the top of the gene pool, but works hard, pays their bills, saves for a rainy day and, can do this not because of their high salary, which they do not have, but because of group health insurance through their job and the safety of social security and a pension, have to lose their home and savings or…. spend the rest of their life paying off the hospital, labs, doctors, etc. because one day they are told that they or they child has leukemia. We don’t need medicare, medicare D, medicaid or anything else but a good health care system for all that gives equal health care regardless of income.

Everyone of us deserve the best care. Our health system is part of the commodity insanity and portofilio management ideal. Equity firms and Hedge funds are buying American.

Just as 2 and 2 equals 4, you do not deserve or have a right to better health care than I because you have more money.

You need to redefine your Hippocratic Oath. Doctors used to care about people. They had a calling to heal the sick. Making a good living is not the issue. Doctor’s should be paid well and be able to pay off their education debt. The questions is, are you in it for the money, i e., fancy house, club memberships, boats, fancy cars, private educations for your children, etc. Frankly, I am astounded by some of the costs I have seen on medical bills and I mean costs for operations by the doctors. My primary doctor is a pauper compared to the specialists. Is that what being a doctor is about. My husband and I raised a family on what you would consider a joke today. I am 67 years old and we are being affected by Wall Street’s rape of the financial system who have turned all of us against each other. My concern now is my sons. One in particular who now has twins who were born premature. He is a hard working blue collar worker and his health care is being gutted now as will all those who come after.

In the days of unregulated, unfettered capitalism i.e. 1900 and before, we had charity wards, high priced doctors on family retainers (wealthy families, of course, workhouses. I believe in a regulated form of capitalism. I don’t want to be anyone’s charity case. I believe in the LLoyd’s way. It served them well over 300 years to the present and it works. They were also willing to put their own wealth at risk something our society the wealthy are not prone to do. For all the flapping lips about redistribution of wealth which I like to think of as sharing the costs, those that yell the loudest are not sacrificing one penny, selling their second homes, giving up their vacations, high priced cars, worrying about fuel costs, eating at Macdonalds or worrying one second about their health care. Nor do they have any connection or clue about people like me and my family. We are faceless unkowns and numbers on polls and surveys. But I guarantee you we are at least half the current population. I’ll exclude florida which is still a slave state living on outside retire’s “pension” incomes.

It’s the same old story, blame the victim for the rape, blame the sick for health care costs, blame the American workers who dared to collectively bargin for their wages for the debt burden of America.

In the end, what the hell has money got to do with good health care and their are no ethics. Being a doctor takes a long time and requires special skills and is not easy when you are dealing with humanity. However, you chose to be a doctor and if it’s all about the money rather than helping the sick, quit and get a job on Wall Street or work for the insurance companies as a medical advisor so you can help them determine who is overusing health care.

Also, as regards obesity and diabetes in American and our food choices. I would suggest that you write about the mega food industries who are anti organics, anti taking crap out of schools (the nanny state issue). None have “voluntarily” reduced the amount of sugar in their foods. I’m talking cereal aisles here. It’s obscene, but of course it’s our choice. My ideology states that if you profit from the ignorance, naivete or misfortune of others, YOU ARE NOT THE GOOD GUY and the matter of choice runs both ways. That one was for our corporate monarchists.

Thank you.