The Omaha guide., 1945-10-06

OppOSltlOn TO Qefeat the provisions
OF the new social security amend
ments, all in the face of the wants,
needs and desires of those for whom
the benefits are intended. Labor is
solidly behind the new social securi-
ty proposals and a survey just com
pleted by the department of agricul-
ture indicates that this same con-
Germ is voiced by farmers the coun-
try over.
Hospital Insurance
The survey shows that more
than fOur-fifths of the nations
farmers favor more public med
ical clinics in rural areas, and
more than three-fOurths want to
subscribe to some flat-rate pre-
payment plan to Ove possible
hospital bills and the cost of
doctors and nurses for them
selves and their families. This
is the disqualification insurance
feature of the new proposals.
The answers to the department
survey indicate that farmers gen
orally are conscious and concerned
about the need for better rural med
ical and health facilities. They are
aware that farm youth. Is and 10
years old, showed the highest re-
lection rate in the selective service
for physical. mental and education
al defects Of any occupational group
Al per cent, compared with an
average Of Is per cent for other
groups.
Many factors, the survey shows,
contribute to bad rural health .
the shortage of medical and SANTA
ton facilities and the lack of physi-
clans, dentists and hospital serv-
ices. Many of these rural folks
are in the low income groups which
would be reached by the new
amendments, since in 1899, approx
mately 5000, 900 out of the 5000, 900
farms in the country produced less
than $500 worth of farm products.
The records show that out of the
1910 counties in the country. in 1910
there were 1000 counties contain
ing a total of more than Is, 00O, 900
people, which had no hospitals at
all. And there were only about 1900
counties with any organized pub
lie health service, and most of
these inadequate. According to the
estimates of the surgeon general of
the United States, there is need
now for some So, 900, 900 in hospital
construction which would provide
for 1000, 900 jobs including doc
tors, nurses, technicians and as
~sistants to keep them going.
Medical Care Wanted
Animal husbandry, consolidated
schools, roads and bridges, soil
conservation and crop insurance,
agricultural experiment stations,
vast agricultural laboratories and
many other material detectives
are fostered through governmental
help for the benefit of the rural
areas. Many, many farmers, how
ever, believe that assurance of
medical and hospital care for them
selves and their families are more
important than building roads, con-
structing dams or saving soil, and
that no price is too high for a
healthy. vigorous and productive
people.
The statistics show that although
the death rate from all causes for
the last several decades has been
lower among rural people than ur-
ban folks, deaths from some pre-
ventable diseases such as typhoid.
diphtheria, malaria and pellagra
tend to be more numerous among
rural people.
Moreover, the death rate has been
going down rapidly in the cities, but
relatively slowly in the rural areas.
The records show that folks in the
rural areas are i'll oftener and for
longer periods than city people.
Under the social security law
there are now SO, 1000, 900 insured
workers against unemployment.
There is no insurance for farmers
either for unemployment, old age or
survivors insurance. The new act
would extend these latter two pro-
visions 20 include farmers, pro-
fessional people, domestics and
others not now covered by the law.