How many WHITE PEOPLE die every year by being declined by insurance companies?

As John Gibson and Sean Hannity have told us before, the United States is facing a severe shortage of white people in the coming years. Many of those white people, particularly the older ones, are conservative, suspicious of other social and ethnic groups, and overwhelmingly tend to vote for Republicans. Surely a plan which provides universal access to health care and publicly funded health insurance would be a boon, not only to these people and their families, but by extension, to the Republican Party as well. All informed Republicans know that these good folks among the rank-and-file are already dying off at such a rate that even screamingly divisive controversies like integration, same-sex marriage, and reproductive rights are rapidly becoming settled issues, with few dissenting voices left to challenge the leftward social movement of the country.

If old, white people, many of whom are poor or working-class, are allowed to die for lack of adequate funding for health care just so the insurance corporations can make a greater profit in the short term, who will be left in a few years to raise their voices at town hall meetings on their behalf?

Perhaps the tragedy of this talking point will resonate with honest, good-hearted conservatives who genuinely DO care that some faceless bureaucrat is making decisions about whether Grandma lives or dies.

For my part, I care.

How many were white vs black? I have no idea. That is 60 per day.

This is people without insurance, not people declined a claim.

a very small number. I guess I would have thought it was more. WIth 40 million people uninsured I would think that number would be higher.

First, the number is horrific for a nation who declares every life is precious.

Second, it ignores the fact that many people without insurance do get care, and everyone else pays for it. That care
is through the emergency room.

As you point out, it is a burden we all share, and further, it is extraordinarily expensive when compared to an ounce of prevention. Perhaps you can be triaged by emergency room staff with an obviously visible melanoma, but just try to get a mammogram or colonoscopy from the ER. You will likely be promptly and politely shown the door.

"Come back when it's too late," they might as well say.

to imply that the number was in any way acceptable. It isn't. I just thought the number would be higher.

what I mean is that a talking point like this cuts through the "Obama wants to kill Downs' kids and old folks" fear-based talking point, while strumming the "what will happen to Conservatism" fearstring. Younger people, even white kids, are FAR more liberal/progressive than their elders -- and in general, far HEALTHIER. A common sense change in domestic healthcare policy might be a palatable compromise for those who are concerned about the outcome of the culture wars, in which many older whites (relatives of mine included) have much invested.

But as to the last line of my post, I really do care that citizens of all political stripes receive adequate medical care in order to save families from the tragedies that occur daily under the current dysfunctional system. If Grandpa is a vile racist and homophobe, I disagree with him, but for the love of God, don't let him die prematurely of a treatable condition, even if it is "pre-existing." Some people love him, and that DOES mean something.

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Am I interpreting this correctly?

I never made any universal assertion, but since the hardest of the hardcore conservatives tend to be located mostly in the South (as evidenced by the results of the last election), and since that also tends to be the home of the most entrenched racism in the country, then speaking generally and for the most part, I suppose so, yes.

But I care for all of our citizens equally, which is why I myself support a single-payer system which is financed by all in order to cover all. Let the culture wars rage on or die, for all I care, but at least let's do the moral thing and care for sick people.

I suppose that, for that subgroup of conservatives, an illustration of how many old white people have died of neglect imposed by insurance companies would be meaningful.

(I agree with your personal sentiments 100%)

No insurance. Cancer both times, one brain and the other colon. Both under 50 years old.

If health care reform reduces amenable mortality by 1% in the United States it will save 5,000 lives a year. The opponents of health care reform are murderers.

care at the clinic in West Virginia. Mostly white.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6142670

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Thousands+Receive+Free+Medical+Treatment+Forum+JAUNhXHGtXhl.jpg

Dino Carrillo and Dawn Schillinger, both without health or dental insurance, wait outside the Forum arena to enter a free health clinic on August 11, 2009 in Inglewood, California. The couple had been waiting outside all night to enter the clinic the next morning. From August 11-18 the non-profit Remote Area Medical (RAM), is holding the nation's largest free healthcare clinic. Hundreds of doctors, dentists, optometrists and nurses volunteered to serve uninsured and underinsured people. With a limit of 1,500 patients per day, the organizers expect to see some 10,000 people during the 8-day clinic. By John Moore/Getty.

From Andrew Sullivan's blog.

vote against their own interests. So basically it would bring about a shortage of idiots. Which of course would be a serious problem for Fox News as it would impact their ratings. But apparently Fox News has determined there is a bottomless pit of idiots to draw from. For which they thank Ronald Reagan.

Not that I am in favor of killing off people just because they are idiots.

When we fix the people-dying-from-treatable-illnesses crisis, we'll move on to the ill-educated-and-propagandized crisis.

But you're right, they sure have a tight racket going, don't they?

I'm with you.

If you remember the photos from the free clinic in West Virginia (or Virginia) a few weeks back, most if not all the people were white.

We don't have to convert the most conservative, the most ignorant, the most sincere, the most racist, etc. to ALL of our most progressive/liberal positions. On every issue under the sun there's room for disagreement. But even the most dug-in of those who are against health care reform probably knows someone whose health issues were dealt with inadequately or unsatisfactorily (or negligently or unsympathetically). If we can put it to those with whom we disagree that this is a moral issue, one whose impact will inevitably affect the things they care about in ways they might not anticipate, then we might bring them around on this issue. And this issue is one of vital importance to all of our families.

If you saw someone drowning, or pinned under an overturned bus, or trapped inside a mine, wouldn't you dive in or try to shift the weight of the bus just a bit or grab a shovel and start digging? So why don't the insurance companies pay for medical procedures after they've collected premiums for years and years? Why won't they allow some people, those who really need it the most, to have their costs covered despite "pre-existing conditions," when they are some of the wealthiest entities in the entire nation?

It's both a moral issue and an existential issue. People are dying by the thousands. Ask those who oppose reform whether we are our brothers' keepers.

Make the best of it.

I'm sick to death of this black vs white-white vs. black shit I see here on DU every fucking day! :puke: