Socialized Health Care Analysis
Comparing Japanese Socialized Healthcare with American Free-Market-based healthcare, we try to look at "Socialized Healthcare" and see if it works

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Pros & Cons
Subject
"BLUE STATE" Liberal (pro-solcialism) points
"RED STATE" Conservative (anti-solcialism) points
Constitutional Construction

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US Constitution does not specifically authorize healthcare for citizens, since the powers to specifically granted to the Federal Government are reserved to the States. That would be like calling the FBI to respond when a criminal breaks-in to your house. No – they would refer you to your state or local police. The Feds only exist to address the ‘national good’ like when crimes cross state lines or the like. (Thanks to Debra JM Smith for this one.)

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Even if Socialized Healthcare were a good idea, and worked in Japan and other countries –and would work here in the U.S.A., it is a violation of the 14th Amendment to seize one person’s property or money without Due Process and ‘redistribute the wealth’ to another –as would be the case in a national healthcare mandate. (Thanks to Debra JM Smith for this one.)

Personal Testimonials

"Hana Mukai, a fashion merchandiser in Tokyo, said she cannot think of anything wrong with health care in Japan," because, in spite of her approx.75 minute waiting-room time, she doesn't need an appointment, the visits are usually only a few minutes, and neither the visit nor the perscription drugs cost her anything, due, in part to a local co-pay, according to The Washington Post article: “Health Care in Japan: Low-Cost, for Now; Aging Population Could Strain System,” by Blaine Harden, page A1 (Sept 07, 2009).

“Injured man dies after rejection by 14 hospitals: Case of 69-year-old man in Japan underscores country's doctor shortage,” Source: AP, MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press Writer, Feb. 4, 2009 (Thanks to Rush Limbaugh for bringing this to my attention)

Availability of specialists

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In Japan there are "shortages of obstetricians, anesthesiologists and emergency room specialists" due, in part, to lower pay, longer hours, and high levels of stress, according to The Washington Post article: “Health Care in Japan: Low-Cost, for Now; Aging Population Could Strain System,” by Blaine Harden, page A1 (Sept 07, 2009). (Thanks to Rush Limbaugh for bringing this to my attention)

Regulation of Insurance Industry

“[Healthcare] [a]dministrative costs are four times lower [in Japan] than they are in the United States, in part because insurance companies do not set rates for treatment or deny claims. By law, they [the insurance companies] cannot make profits or advertise to attract low-risk, high-profit clients.” Source: “Health Care in Japan: Low-Cost, for Now; Aging Population Could Strain System,” by Blaine Harden, page A1 (Washington Post, Sept 07, 2009).

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Healthcare Costs

"Half a world away from the U.S. health-care debate, Japan has a system that costs half as much and often achieves better medical outcomes than its American counterpart." Source: “Health Care in Japan: Low-Cost, for Now; Aging Population Could Strain System,” by Blaine Harden, page A1 (Washington Post, Sept 07, 2009).

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End-Result Quality

“Statistics show that the Japanese are much less likely to have heart attacks than people in the United States, but that when they do, their chance of dying is twice as high.” Source: “Health Care in Japan: Low-Cost, for Now; Aging Population Could Strain System,” by Blaine Harden, page A1 (Washington Post, Sept 07, 2009).

“All that medical care helps keep the Japanese alive longer than any other people on Earth while fostering one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates. Source: “Health Care in Japan: Low-Cost, for Now; Aging Population Could Strain System,” by Blaine Harden, page A1 (Washington Post, Sept 07, 2009).

"Americans are living longer than ever, but not as long as people in 41 other countries...Dr Christopher Murray, head of the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said: "Something's wrong here when one of the richest countries in the world, the one that spends the most on health care, is not able to keep up with other countries." Source: "US Slipping in Life Expectancy Rankings: US Slipping in Life Expectancy Rankings; Other Nations Improving Health Care, Nutrition," By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press Writer, WASHINGTON, August 12, 2007 (AP)

"With breast cancer rates continuing to rise in the United States and Europe, researchers have begun to look toward Asia for insights as to why Asian women on the whole have much lower incidence of this devastating disease. Specifically, the age-adjusted death rates due to breast cancer from 1990-1993 were 3.3 times lower for Japanese women than American woman and 4.5 times lower for Chinese women compared to American women. (Parker SL, Tung T, Bolden S, Wingo P: Cancer statistics, 1996. Ca: a Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 1996;46(1):5-27.)

See also: (Gordon Wayne Watts' health research)

“Statistics show that the Japanese are much less likely to have heart attacks than people in the United States, but that when they do, their chance of dying is twice as high.” Source: “Health Care in Japan: Low-Cost, for Now; Aging Population Could Strain System,” by Blaine Harden, page A1 (Washington Post, Sept 07, 2009).

Outside Factors

"Liberal" talking point: While the data to the right may explain why "Socialized Healthcare" can not take full credit, Socialized Government of Japan, nonetheless, might theoretically be partly responsible for lower crime, less obesity, etc. -due, for example, by forced healthcare screenings of about 70% of the citizens -and mandatory diet and exercise counseling if they are too obese.

The Japanese "Socialized" Healthcare system can not take full credit for successes at cost * quality because "outside factors" may take some credit:

Japan has less violent crime than America, which affects average life-span.

Japan has fewer car accidents than America, which also affects average life-span.

Japanese diet & lifestyle are generally *much* healthier than for Americans -especially regarding America's obesity epidemic: About 3% obese in Japan to 30% or more in the USA.

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http://www.GordonWayneWatts.com

http://www.GordonWatts.com