I’m far from being an expert at economics or politics, but I can see the validity of your point. I guess I’m somewhat of an idealist and have trouble with the idea of being forced to support a compromised solution that doesn’t do much, if anything, to solve the root problem. As you said, it’s a big pill! I wouldn’t mind it if there were reason to believe that it would make us better prepared to solve the real problem, but there isn’t, at least not that I’m aware of.

Let me first start by saying i am a strong advocate for healthy living. I am a tri-athlete and very much believe in preventative diet and exercise. i also dont take a single perscription medication and have yet to spend a night in a hospital. so to me your artical makes alot of sense.

where i disagree is to your response to the question “why should i have to pay?” I agree that it does seem unfair for the healthy to help carry the burden of the unhealthy, unfortunately there are many “expensive” diseases, such as prostate or breast cancer, that commonly strike the “healthy.”

we are being taxed in the form of insurance premiums already, the difference is who we are paying. we pay the middle man (evil insurance) who is being price-gouged by health care providers because of the way they notoriously, fail to cover those who are supposed to be insured. if this is the case why do we need the middle man? should i get cancer and the insurance fails to cover me, i become a welfare case anyway. however i become a welfare case at the currrent price gouging price, caused by insurance companies. if we were to eliminate the need for this price battle by reforming the system, my “welfare case” price tag would be much reduced.

Secondly, one of the largest contributers to the economic downturn in this country was the collapse of the housing industry. The leading cause of bankruptcy in this country, medical bills…

anyway, i could go on about how we are economically tied to the smokers and chubsters of this american society, but i think you get my point. It is in our best interest to fix our economy, without that we can tackle no other problem we as a country face, and unfortunately for those of us who may not like it. Healthcare is a big “pill” in addressing our sick economy.

thanks for your article i do very much value this type of education. i just dont know that it will address all of our concerns with healthcare. my 5 cents.

scott

I completely agree, this is exactly like the symptom chasing mentality of conventional medicine. High health care costs are a symptom of our high rates of disease and poor health which, in turn, are symptoms of the unhealthy lifestyles that many Americans are living. Just as modern medicine often overlooks lifestyle habits as a cause of poor health, the government is overlooking it as a cause of our health care crisis. As usual, the proposed solution is to simply throw more money at it. Like prescription medication, this may provide temporary relief, but will allow the real problem to persist and progress.

Stephen – Yes, the food pyramid is absolutely part of the problem. It’s based far too much on grain and dairy based foods, and for most people, recommends too much carbohydrate. Unfortunately, due to the influence of processed food manufacturers, it’s unlikely that this will change any time soon.

Eric – Thank you!

April – I completely agree as do many others. Processed food is so cheap because the government subsidizes crops like corn, wheat, and soy which often contribute to health issues, especially in their processed forms. Perhaps it would still be unaffordable for some people, but it would make much more sense in my opinion to subsidize the foods that promote good health.

Sharona – Yes, the food industry and drug industry are powerful forces that unfortunately thrive on people who are poor, uninformed, and unhealthy. It does seem like a lost cause at times, but if we don’t continue trying to spread awareness, it will never change.

meatlessmama – Very sad indeed! During the presidential debates, I was excited about President Obama’s talk about preventative health care. However, as he continued to talk, it became pretty clear that his definition of prevention is much different than mine. It was a disappointment to say the least.

Raine – Thank you for sharing your letter. Reactive is a good way to describe the modern approach to health. I agree that it would be great for insurance companies to make alternative care more accessible. I could be mistaken, but I remember President Obama being supportive of alternative care which at least gives us some hope. Some insurance companies are already recognizing the demand for alternative care and are making adjustments. For example, MVP offers a plan called TriVantage which doesn’t require referrals, covers massage and acupuncture, and even has a program that reimburses you for certain exercise related expenses. I don’t know the specifics about the plan, but it sounds like a positive step in a much better direction.

It feels very inexpressible on how much of a problem it has become. It is better that some important petitions should be open around the world, instead of just in the US, because I feel it can increase the impact (gives a world view). I’m a Filipino citizen living in Malaysia.

I would urge everyone to contact your local representatives and legislature, as well as send a letter to the White House about this issue. The more people who stand up and speak out, the more our decision makers will realize we won’t take no for an answer and don’t approve of a health care reform geared toward throwing more money at the same system which hasn’t worked in the past and making those of us who are responsible and preventative-minded pay for the system which has caused the vast majority of our population view health reactively.