Posted by
Mike on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 1:27:38 PM
http://westernperspective.blogspot.com/
Co-ops are the best option for health care reform. The nation's stated
goal is to bring all age groups and income levels on board. This can
best be accomplished at the local level. Co-ops have a proven track
record which includes such enterprises as Land O'Lakes creamery in
Minnesota, and Kimberly-Clark in Wisconsin before it became privatized,
agricultural and food distribution, student accomodations at colleges
and universities, and the numerous credit unions throughout the world.
Cooperatives have also been successful in the medical field and
competitive with private health insurance in a number of states.
The
advantage of the co-op is that it can meet local needs and is more
adaptable. The very fact that the members have some ownership and
control in the enterprise is itself a big plus for quality control.
Medical
co-ops, in addition to meeting local needs, could focus on specific age
groups to better serve the community. Thus seniors could have their own
medical structures which would not be taking away scarce medical
resources from younger members of society. Part of the funding could
still come from public sources, especially for economically depressed
areas.
It will take time, but with everyone's participation,
things will improve. The role of government will be indispensable to
get the cooperatives functional and off the ground.