*1* US Constitution does not specifically authorize healthcare for citizens, since the powers to specifically granted to the Federal Government are reserved to the States. That would be like calling the FBI to respond when a criminal breaks-in to your house. No – they would refer you to your state or local police. The Feds only exist to address the ‘national good’ like when crimes cross state lines or the like. (Thanks to Debra JM Smith for this one.)

*2* Even if Socialized Healthcare were a good idea, and worked in Japan and other countries –and would work here in the U.S.A., it is a violation of the 14th Amendment to seize one person’s property or money without Due Process and ‘redistribute the wealth’ to another –as would be the case in a national healthcare mandate.  (Thanks to Debra JM Smith for this one.)

*3* “Injured man dies after rejection by 14 hospitals: Case of 69-year-old man in Japan underscores country's doctor shortage,” Source: AP, MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press Writer, Feb. 4, 2009 (Thanks to Rush Limbaugh for bringing this to my attention)

*4* “Health Care in Japan: Low-Cost, for Now; Aging Population Could Strain System,” by Blaine Harden of The Washington Post, page A1 (Sept 07, 2009) RUSH‘S SUMMARY: “they do cite the low cost of the Japanese system, but there are specialist shortages, longer hospital stays”… (Excerpt says: “All that medical care helps keep the Japanese alive longer than any other people on Earth while fostering one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates. Japanese hospitals experience a "crowding out" effect, with space for emergency care and serious medical conditions sometimes overwhelmed by a flood of patients seeking routine treatment, said Naohiro Yashiro, a professor of economics and health-care expert at International Christian University in Tokyo.”) 2009 “Japan's health-care system mixes socialism with individual responsibility and market forces. ” … “For generations, Japan has achieved its successes by maintaining a vise-like grip on costs. ” … “As a result, most Japanese doctors make far less money than their U.S. counterparts. ” … “Administrative costs are four times lower than they are in the United States, in part because insurance companies do not set rates for treatment or deny claims. By law, they cannot make profits or advertise to attract low-risk, high-profit clients.” … “Statistics show that the Japanese are much less likely to have heart attacks than people in the United States, but that when they do, their chance of dying is twice as high.” … “There are shortages of obstetricians, anesthesiologists and emergency room specialists because of relatively low pay, long hours and high stress at many hospitals, doctors and health-care analysts said. Emergency room service is often spotty, as ER beds in many hospitals are limited and diagnostic expertise is sometimes lacking. ” … “Toshihiko Oba had spent most of his medical career in hospitals. As an ear, nose and throat specialist, he worked 80-hour weeks for 13 years, with an annual salary of $100,000. The average salary for a hospital-based doctor in Japan is about $150,000, according to the Ministry of Health. "The money was not so good and you have lots of responsibility and pressure," said Oba, 47.” … “Medical malpractice insurance in Japan is not a major expense for many doctors, in part because there are relatively few lawyers. Oba pays only about $1,000 a year.” … “The self-employed and the unemployed in Japan must pay about $1,600 a year for insurance coverage. ” … “Hana Mukai, a fashion merchandiser in Tokyo, said she cannot think of anything wrong with health care in Japan.” … “The health-care system, though, does not deserve all the credit for the relatively robust health of the Japanese. Diet and lifestyle are generally healthier than they are in the United States. There is less violent crime, fewer car accidents and much less obesity. Only about 3 percent of Japanese are obese, compared with more than 30 percent of Americans, according to the OECD.” … “There is compulsory obesity screening for 70 percent of the population. If people are found to be too fat around the waist, they are required to receive counseling on exercise and diet.” (Thanks to Rush Limbaugh for bringing this to my attention) 

*5* Does Japan have less influx of illegal aliens than the USA? ~~~ And, if so, does this influx differential impact the costs of healthcare due to US illegals getting lot's of free healthcare? (If so, this might account for the apparent success of 'Socialized Healthcare' in Japan.)

*6* Cap medical malpractice lawsuit awards (I don't know if this is a reason for Japan's apparent success, but it *would* help cut healthcare costs -since doctors would not need as much med-mal insurance --THIS is a good conservative idea.)

*7* Socialized Health care countries might have more honest Joe Average citizens -who are less apt to take a free handout -thus not drive up healthcare costs as much as USA

*8* Other countries (no matter their communist or socialist gov't's) certainly eat healthier -and exercise more

*9* Possible skew of average figures due to some countries possibly not accurately reporting all fetus mortalities.

*10* Possible skew of averages due to highway wreck deaths

*11* An abortion wildcard?

*12* Tight control of hospital physician salaries by Japanese Government -even if private clinics aren’t regulated like this (Comment: This smacks of Big Brother -but, in all fairness, if the doctor is a child molester --or prescribes poison or illegal drugs, then Big Brother *does* step in and do something, so why not here when financial poison is prescribed by ludicrously high salaries -hey, it worked in Japan...)

*13* New point: CONSERVATIVE TALKING-POINT: Japan is not totally "socialized' --since doctors' offices are privately run, and only hospitals are state-run. Thus Japan's "Free Market" principles are a part of the success of their healthcare system. 

*14* LIBERAL COUNTER-POINT: However, Japan is more socialized than America and yet more successful in health and cost metrics. GORDON SAYS: It's still not fully analyzed, but the pieces are coming together…

Now that *I* have summarized and collated and done a good deal of working, researching, and asking around to get some answers (not to mention my heavy lifting in other conservative and pro-life causes: "Write-in" save -- Schiavo punt, etc.) ... These last 3 need some documentation and clarification.

GOAL: Once we've found out why they're beating us, we can get the word out for USA to *improve* in those areas while leaving the 'communist' ideas to bite the dust.
--'FLASH' Gordon Wayne Watts, Lakeland, Florida U S A (between Orlando & Tampa)