Hey Chauncey! Thanks for letting me borrow your magazine. It was exactly what I needed. Also, there was an article in the Portland Press Herald on December 19, 2008 about Maine's healthcare plan or something along those lines. It might interest you.

Katie's second response

Chauncey, I love all your ideas on what this country needs for health care- you should have a position in government when you're older. I too, think some of the facts are horrible. 18,000 die because they don't have health care?! "oh sorry, you're poor. you have to die". I also am positive that all children should be given health care- I can't see how parents could think that they couldn't need it. In your paper, are you going to take a more expository approach, doing pros and cons, or are you going to argue your point of view? I think you should do your opinion because it would make more of an impact. Also, for field experience or impact I'm sure you could arrange to talk to someone who works at Miles and get first-hand how health-care works in Maine and what that person's views are on it. I'm looking forward to continuously checking in on your blog!

Response to: Children remain uninsured

I was very pleased when I found this article. It isn't about Universal Healthcare exactly but it shows that need for a good healthcare system. It is unfortunate that a parent would to proud to provide their kids with preventive care. Parents also think that when coverage runs out they will be faced with large bills but wouldn't you be faced with bigger bills if you didn't have insurance. I think that if the group that was providing the healthcare didn't advertise it as much as for poor children but just for children in general, then they would able to market it better.

I think it is really great that people are trying to get health insurance to children so they can grow up healthy.

A comment left on this article was that single mothers sometimes don't like to release the name of the father because of abuse and stuff. Maybe if the enrollment was easier and required less information, things would be better.

Second Blog Response by Liam

Chauncey, I think that given the wealth of this country, it is deplorable that the United States ranks 42nd in terms of average life span. If we had health insurance for all I would expect that we would rank much higher. I think it would be worth it for the country to have an extra tax if it meant everyone would be insured. How much money would be saved if the paperwork was streamlined and people had good preventive care?

Children remain uninsured

December 18, 2008
A group tried to get a total of 3000 children signed up for a free insurance program
They wanted to get the total from 400 to 300 but were unable to because of parents not wanting their children to be marked as poor.
The parents think that since their kids are already healthy, then they don't need insurance
The group had assumed that people would sign right up but that's not the case.
Many parents that can be considered on welfare don't seek medical care for anything, so they don't think that preventive care for their kids is very important.
Parents are also scared that they will get hit with big bills when the coverage runs out.

Jeanette's Response #2

Hey Chauncey, nice blog. I like the fact that you know what you want to find, it makes it easier to offer advice. One thing that you might want to research or try to find is who the people are that don't have health care. What % of Americans, age, race, gender, location, and similar stuff that might help you prove points on why universal health care is needed. I think your topic is important and interesting.

Everett Second Response

Wow. Lots of good ideas and very nice responses to the articles that you have used. I had known that we were spending excessively, but not necessarily frivilously. 700 Billion dollars for making double copies is outrageous. I think that this blog is interesting to read, and I look forward to commenting on it again later.

EM

Excellent notes and responses

Thorough and thoughtful!! Also - excellent titles for each post - no ambiguity! What is the category for the two articles that aren't databases?

Response to: Universal health care explained: Differences between system, coverage

I have found that a large amount of the articles I am finding are the same or follow the basic outline. This article was pretty "blah" when it came to information. It had some good quotes for me to use in a presentation. I really liked the short quote that explains Universal Coverage. It's a very short explanation but would be good for someone who doesn't really know anything about socialized medicine.
It brought up the point that Obama's plan will not affect the currently insured. Which is good in the fact that they will not be affected in a negative way but the level of their healthcare will not raise. I believe that Obama should take control of Health Insurance companies and give them a healthcare orientated agenda, not a profit-making agenda.
This article also brought up the point that it would not be fair for illegal immigrants to use the healthcare that is paid for by American citizens. Right now, hospitals have to give emergency care to anyone who requires it, despite citizenship.
With a effective Socialized Medicine, people would not have to choose between their house or the life of a loved one. That is a decision that should not have to be made.
The horrible healthcare in the United States is one of the reasons for the state that the economy downturn the US is in.
One con of a government run Universal Coverage system is that taxes will have to pay for, which means that taxes will have to be raised. That my sound bad, but you wouldn't have to pay for Healthcare anyways.
For my next blog, I hope to be able to get one that doesn't just explain Universal Healthcare but goes beyond that in a way that gives me more information