The National Health Insurance Debate.

A year ago I posted some thoughts on health care, copied below, after watching a 60 Minutes segment on a medical organization called Remote Area Medical (RAM). RAM, and their methods, are in the news again because of the federal government's health insurance initiatives.

I am not opposed to a "nationally governed" health care system because it is inherently wrong, but because it is inherently cumbersome, restrictive, and expensive. And I emphasize "inherently". The regulation of any such enterprise from a central location is a beast that no one will control. Imagine General Motors at its most bloated, times 10. The effect of more and more statutory law is always less and less justice. If a national health policy is the only way to accomplish the goal of health care for everyone then we are a nation on the downward slope of good health.

The post from a year ago on the organization Remote Area Medical. (RAM):
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In political discourse, it is called framing the debate.

Example: 90 years ago, Congress was debating whether or not to install a national income tax. Today, we have the Federal Income Tax, and no Congressional debates on whether we need an income tax, just how much we should pay. That debate has been framed.

Health care funding, on the other hand, is a very current debate. After watching the CBS 60 Minutes segment on an organization named, Remote Area Medical (RAM), I think someone should ask another question. I wish someone would re-frame the debate.

RAM goes to remote areas of the world to provide desperately needed health care. A few years ago they took the idea local and brought the services to parts of the USA. Hundreds of medical professionals, from dentists to surgeons, met in Tennessee somewhere for a one-day, free service to all comers. The physicians and nurses were doing something they love for people who needed it -- and appreciated it (the report is very clear on this point, see link below).

What does this have to do with a debate? Organizations like RAM are filling a void that should not exist. And it makes me wonder if all of us wouldn't be better off by eliminating the pounds of paperwork and constant threat of medical malpractice, like RAM does on their missions. Why can't we go back to simpler system where an MD is concerned more with the patient's health, than with paperwork and litigation? If the professionals working with RAM could provide care that way, there, why not in their home office?

Am I being naive? Probably.

But I go back to the title of this post, what damage have we done by allowing medical lawsuits and burdensome paperwork ruin common medical care?

We will have a national healthcare system in the next 5 years -- which reminds me of an old Roman political maxim: the loss of personal and civic virtue ushers in decadence, usurpation follows in the name of order.

We live in the American age of centralized government usurpation. It will get worse.
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CBS 60 Minutes report on RAM:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/28/60minutes/main3889496.shtml
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(FINAL NOTE: I was wrong about one thing. I said we will have a national health policy in 5 years. We will have it in a year or two.)

Carrabba's Grill at the Northeast Mall

My wife suggested Carrabba's Grill  for a late dinner last night. Carrabba's is a new restaurant in the south section of the Northeast mall near the Rave movie theater. I had heard some good things about their version of Italian food, but my expectations were not high.

The problem is that I grew up with very good (read: the best) homemade, Italian food. Because of a permanently lodged comparison meter, the idea of eating-out Italian is not appealing. I am not a food snob, I'll eat darn near anything, but when I am paying for it, I do not want a tomato sprinkled with oregano and garlic salt passed off as Italian food.

But back to Carrabba's.

Our dinner was a shared mixed-greens salad tossed with oil and vinegar, and a three-cheese pizza. Both were very good. It's hard to hurt a salad if the lettuce is fresh and cold, which it was. But pizza is another thing. The crust was thin and crispy with just enough body to give it a little chewiness and it was sprinkled with some tasty dried tomatoes. It isn't the best pizza I have ever had but it was very good.

My only criticism, and it is not enough to keep me from returning, is that the portions were on the small side. A ten dollar salad and a ten dollar pizza could be a bit bigger than what they were serving, and still be very profitable for the restaurant. The cost for two without tip was $24 which included a liter bottle of Pelligrino water.

I liked Carrabba's. The service was good and friendly, and the food was good.
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One final note from the curmudgeonly side of my brain. One of the reasons that I have never tried a Carrabba's is that the two guys that play the "Carrabba's boys" in the TV commercial play up the "I'm a real Italian boy with a real Italian mama" thing way too much for me. It's annoying enough to have kept me from the restaurants.
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The Details:
Carabba's Grill / Hurst
(817) 595-3345
1101 Melbourne Rd, Ste 6200, Hurst, TX 76053
Mon-Thurs: 4pm-10pm
Fri: 11am-11pm
Sat: 11am-11pm
Sun: 11am-10pm

Arts Goggle

Congratulations to Fort Worth South, Inc. for their Arts Goggle / a near Southside experience. The event showcases the area just south of downtown and includes outdoor music, art exhibits, food, tours -- and Molly the Trolley to get visitors to different venues.

For more information visit their online brochure: http://www.fortworthsouth.org

Details:
October 3, 2009
Fort Worth South ( Magnolia Street area)
3 pm -- 10 pm