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Healthcare Breaks Washington – And Both Parties Are To Blame

Developed countries around the world enjoy universal healthcare while Americans struggle with inadequate coverage. While many are quick to scapegoat Republicans for this problem, Democrats – and the Big Pharma companies that fund them – are just as much to blame.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– The latest for-profit healthcare scheme – which is set to line countless pockets – will hit every American across the country who desperately relies on health services, should it pass through the Senate.

The lengthy Senate bill, which includes Medicare cuts and offers states the ability to drop benefits like emergency services, mental health treatment, and maternity care, has been roundly denounced by Democrats. From Nancy Pelosi to Hillary Clinton, there’s been no holding back in their criticism of this new healthcare bill. But why haven’t Democrats themselves done more to secure healthcare for Americans?

Though characterized by many as a utopian pipe dream, universal healthcare isn’t new to wider American political discourse, with a history dating back to Truman. But listening to establishment Democrats now, one would think that maybe the landscape has changed, or that these politicians know more than us about what works. In reality, there’s a reason for-profit healthcare is more beneficial to both political parties – it has nothing to do with feasibility and all to do with profit.

 

In 2016, pharmaceutical companies donated nearly $1 million to presidential candidates, with a third of these donations going to Hillary Clinton, making her the biggest recipient. The health industry as a whole gave Hillary Clinton nearly $3.5 million – and this doesn’t even account for lobbying efforts. Patty Murray, a Democratic Congress member for Washington, received over $340,000 in contributions from pharmaceutical PACs and health industry organizations in 2016, including Pfizer, Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline. Unsurprisingly, Murray is one of many corporate Democrats derailing efforts to push for single payer.

Colorado Congressman Michael Bennett recently came out against a single payer initiative called ColoradoCare. His representative called it “the wrong approach.” How much has Bennett seen from the pharmaceutical and health industry? Nearly $500,000 since 2011 from companies like Mylan, AstraZeneca and Alexion.

At a time when Americans are forced to rely on charity platforms to receive healthcare, it’s even more important that the fight for greater access to healthcare continues. While the GOP bill is terrible, we must acknowledge that Democrats are also stopping Americans from getting equal care.

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