GRASS IN REVIEW

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII

Nurturing the rights and responsibilities of the individual in a civil society.

 WEEKLY GRASS IN REVIEW   -    November 7, 2007

What'll it Cost When it's "Free"?
By Dr. Richard R. Kelley

There is no question that there are significant flaws in the current U.S. health care system. However, by most measures, our country has arguably the best system of health care in the world. In my opinion, the vast majority of Americans are satisfied with their health care, and it would be a shame to throw that system out in an effort to correct the flaws that make it difficult for some groups of people to get health insurance. I believe it would make more sense to focus on solving the problems of those groups rather than imposing massive government regulations and bureaucracy on those who are happy with their current health care and health insurance situation.

Note that I distinguish between health care and health insurance. While it is true that many people in the U.S., including millions of illegal immigrants, do not have health insurance, very few do not have access to some sort of health care through a network of hospitals, clinics, and charitable organizations.

Activist filmmaker Michael Moore polarized the health care debate with his film Sicko, which was released on DVD this week. He strung together a series of vignettes showing people who were allegedly denied health care for one reason or another. Then he focused on the government-run health care systems in Canada, France, England and -- of all places -- Cuba, whose citizens not only live in a police state, but suffer from a catastrophically failed economy that supplies the average family with little more than the most basic of needs. He conducted interviews with people in those countries extolling the benefits of their "free" systems. He made a case that looks appealing -- until you examine those systems more closely. There's an old saying that goes something like this: "You can have your product or your service cheap, fast, or good - choose two." In other words, it's just not possible to get all three. If you want something cheap, it may also be fast, or it may also be good, but it will certainly not be both fast and good. And if you want something that's fast and good, it will not be cheap.

In Canada's mandatory giant government-run HMO, health care appears to be cheap to the average citizen because they don't pay for it at the time of service. (Its costs are hidden in their taxes.)  Health care is probably good in the Great White North, but isn’t particularly fast.

Consider these facts: According to a 2006 report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information:

• 1.2 million Canadian adults are unable to find a family doctor.
• One out of six Canadians have trouble getting routine health care.
• 25 percent waited six or more days to see a doctor when sick.
• 57 percent waited four or more weeks to see a specialist.
• 75 percent waited up to two months to get an MRI, CT, or angiogram.
• The median wait for a knee replacement was seven months!

Compare that to the health care former President Bill Clinton received a few years ago when he had some discomfort in his chest. He saw a specialist, had an angiogram and angioplasty, all in a little over 48 hours. Most Americans receive nearly equal service on a routine basis every day of the year.

In health care, speed is often the key to better outcomes and survival rates. Betsy McCaughey reports in the Wall Street Journal that last month, the largest-ever international survey of cancer survival rates showed that in the U.S., 66 percent of men and 63 percent of women are alive five years after diagnosis -- the highest survival rate in the world. Compare that to 45 percent for men and 53 percent for women in Great Britain, which has had a universal health care system for half a century.

As you listen to and watch the presidential candidates debate health care, ask yourself the following: Knowing how well government handles driver's license renewals, motor vehicle registration, immigration, border security, public education, and a whole host of other services, do you really want it involved in delivering your health care through a giant government-run HMO?

Dr. Richard R. Kelley is chairman Outrigger Enterprises, Inc., Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, and OHANA Hotels & Resorts. This article appeared in a different form in Dr. Kelley's Weekly Briefing.

TRY OUR BLOGS
Use these links to access various topics.

The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Blog Archives>>>Major Business Publications Alarmed By Akaka Bill

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Enslave the Elderly!

Read what others have written or add your own thoughts. Click here for more blogs.

LIBERTY NETWORK

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a member of an extensive international liberty network of organizations that promote more individual autonomy and less governmental involvement in human affairs.

• The GRIH Annual Dinner this past Saturday was a wonderful event. Thanks to all who attended and who made it possible. Approximately 140 came, making it the largest Annual Dinner so far.
  
  Keynote speaker Paul Jacob was inspiring. His speech was taped and we will let you know the broadcast schedule. George Washington Award winner Ken Schoolland’s acceptance speech showed us again why we love him so much. May he one day be as respected in his own country as he is internationally.
  
  Unsung Hero Award winner Representative Colleen Meyer received a resolution from the State House of Representatives honoring her service, and she gave a heartfelt acceptance speech. Robert Thomas accepted the Unsung Hero Award on behalf of the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), which is based in Sacramento but has an office in Honolulu. While humble in describing his own arguments before the Hawaii Supreme Court, he thanked his own law firm - which supports his PLF work - and praised the PLF. The PLF has been representing individuals in cases seeking to limit government, secure property rights, and further individual liberty for over 30 years. Unsung Hero Award winner Paul Vierling, former School Board Member and lifetime volunteer, also gave a touching acceptance speech which included reading a favorite poem about volunteers.

• Bill Burgess, member of GRIH, wrote one half of a commentary published in the Honolulu Advertiser this past Sunday, 11/4. While Bill did not actually mention GRIH, the writers of the other half did. See "The Akaka Bill - On both sides, a question of civil rights.

• On Thursday, October 25th, from 7:00-9:00 AM, Elaine Willman, Chairman of Citizens Equal Rights Alliance, spoke at the weekly SBH Sunrise about her experience with Indian tribes and the Akaka Bill. As with any SBH Sunrise, a broadcast of her talk will be aired on Channel 54 @ 4:30 pm each Sunday for the remainder of November. Elaine's talk has been slightly edited in order to fit the broadcast time. In the future, a shorter portion of her talk will be available in YouTube format on the SBH site.

• An article by GRIH Board Member Cliff Slater was published November 3rd in the Grassroot Perspective section of Hawaii Reporter: "Cutting Through the Plannerspeak.

• GRIH president Dick Rowland will be out of the office November 8-13, attending a State Policy Network networking meeting in Washington, DC.

• GRIH seeks one or more individuals willing to endure up to six months of clerical work (to learn the center-right think tank business) who could then be promoted to handle some amount of program work. Funding for program work in the youth program and government/tax areas is available now. Funds for programs in other areas forthcoming. We seek college graduates or individuals with an equivalent amount of work experience. Applicants must be able to type and format Word documents; send, reply to, and forward Outlook e-mail with various attachments; enter data in Excel work sheets; and have fair understanding of Windows XP file management and experience with standard office equipment. We are looking for individuals who have something to show from their life experience that they can bring to the job. Good writing skills, knowledge of current events or American government... if this sounds like you or someone you know, call Wendy at the GRIH office [(808)591-9193] or e-mail resume to wendy@grassrootinstitute.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

All of the Institute’s events, research publication dates and speaking engagements are available on our website.

1. The 2007 Preserving the American Dream Conference, "Recovering from Smart Growth", will be held November 10-12, 2007 at the Wyndham Hotel in San Jose, Calfornia.

Does the high cost of rail transit have you down? Are heavily subsidized, high-density developments infesting your city? Is utopian urban planning making housing unaffordable in your region?

If so, you need to attend the 2007 Preserving the American Dream conference, cosponsored by the Grassroot Institute. This conference will give you the opportunity to meet dozens of expert speakers and activists from all over the world. It will be held November 10 - 12, 2007 at the Wyndham Hotel in San Jose, California. Click here to learn more.

2. Through a grant from the CHEAR Foundation, the GRIH is sponsoring free market on-topic debate training for various high school students, starting November 13-16.

A number of high schools as well as some home schoolers have signed up. This season's topic is, "Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its public health assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa." If you would like to learn more, participate, or otherwise support the program, e-mail Wendy Fujimoto at wendy@grassrootinstitute.org or call her at the office: (808)591-9193. More information is available at Greg Rehmke's site: www.economicthinking.org/debate.html or click here for the Economic Thinking debate program flyer.

Tentative schedule for Greg Rehmke's free market economics on-topic debate training:

• Tuesday, 11/13, 3:30-5:30 PM -- Iolani School
• Wednesday, 11/14, 3:30-5:30 PM -- Punahou School
• Friday, 11/16, 6:30-9:30 PM -- Homeschoolers meeting at Faith Baptist Church in Kailua
• (Date and time TBD) -- Kuhuku Intermediate and High School

Please call Wendy (a former Hawaii high school debater) at the GRIH office [(808)591-9193] if you are interested in attending a session and/or helping out with the program. Times and locations subject to change at any time.