What's the difference between an HMO and the socialized medicine "nightmare?"

Republicans have attacked the idea of socialized medicine by claiming if the US government takes over medicine, the system will be a nightmare. What is the difference between the socialized medicine "nightmare" and the HMO that exists right now under the free market system?


Here is how I break it down.

1. Healthcare decisions
Socialist "nightmare": made by government bureacrats who are heartlessly trying to avoid costs, not doctors and patients
HMO: made by executives who are heartlessly trying to avoid costs, not by doctors and patients

2. Customer service
Socialist "nightmare": long lines, silly forms, like a trip to the DMV
HMO: long lines, silly forms, like a trip to the DMV

3. Missing coverage
Socialist "nightmare": Your 85 year old grandmother will not receive cancer treatment.
HMO: Anybody at any age who has ever had cancer is dropped from coverage. The poor are also not covered.

4. Efficiency
Socialist "nightmare": Money will be wasted on governnment bureacrats' salaries
HMO: Money will be wasted on executive compensation and marketing

That is all I can think of off the top of my head, but I bet you guys can think of some more.

Because the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973 was introduced under president Richard Nixon, a Republican, and therefore is not subject to the extremely partisan scrutiny that Republicans are currently showing Obama's plan.

What you have here is a fine demonstration of hypocrisy.


That being said, the 'socialist nightmare' that Obama is planning is so far from socialism, it's not even funny anymore. His plan is terrible, its basically forcing the crappy care we already pay too much for onto everyone, and then forcing everyone to pay more for it.

We really need a single payer system, like the majority of other wealthy countries offer their citizens. Until we have a system like this, health care in our nation will suffer, as the insurance companies will still be putting their bottom lines over our well-being.

I wrote an article detailing some of the concerns here.

I believe we need a National Health Care system, but I am extremely leary of what is currently on the table.

Extremely.

Have had much discussion on the issue on other websites and... well... one article seems to keep it pretty concise:

Obama is no Socialist

After you read the article above, do consider who wrote it.

Follow the money...