Over my dead body
Aug 28th, 2008 at 3:02 pm by Levana
There are relatively few times these days that racism in public discourse is so blatant that you actually gasp when you hear it. Get ready to *gasp*:
“Here is the variation in life expectancy among ethnic and racial groups in the United States and as you can see, it’s all over the map. [...] but doctors just don’t control our over eating, over smoking, and shoot outs in the hood.” –John Goodman, Health Care Advisor to John McCain
I’m glad he thinks that racial disparities in health care could be solved by being more like white people, who apparently don’t smoke, overeat, or shoot each other. Just in case you are wondering, here’s the reality for people of color in the health care system of America. This is an excerpt from the U.S. Deparment of Health and Human Services report, Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care:
Disparities in health care are often ascribed to differences in income and access to insurance. Research has shown these to be important, but by no means the only factors.
[For example]
A small study of physicians’ decisions about whether to refer patients for cardiac catheterization, a diagnostic procedure for heart disease, provides supportive evidence that factors other than insurance and income can influence the quality of care people get. This study, which used actors portraying similar economic backgrounds, found that black women were significantly less likely than white men to be recommended for referral, despite reporting the same symptoms.
For some more little bits o’ wisdom from this health policy genius, check out John Goodman’s solution for the problems of the uninsured, “Voila! I will make you disappear.”
Eureka! Here’s why that’s dumb.
I only have one thing to say to this guy being in charge of anyone’s health. “Over my dead body.”
NOTE: Thanks Susie, for inviting me to write a little about Health Care.
that’s a great plan, walter. that’s fuckin’ ingenious, if i understand it correctly. it’s a swiss fuckin’ watch.
Actually John, some doctors work for things like having fewer guns on the streets because it is a health issue. And last time I checked, controlling for such behaviors as smoking and diet, those health disparities you mention remain so maybe we need to can the personal responsibility crap when our own country can’t adequately take care of its people. Grrr.
/rant
And to think, he played such a lovable dad on Rosanne.
The man’s a fucking idiot.