Apple recently rejected a free, iPhone application that advocated a single player health system calling it “politically Charged” according to the apps developer, Red Daly. This 22 year old computer science grad student submitted his iSinglePlayer iPhone app for approval on 21st August. About a month later Apple rejected the application based on its content.
The application features a Canadian style healthcare system where that includes facts and figures supporting a scheme where the government insures citizens and reimburses healthcare institutions but does not employ the doctors. The app also uses GPS to determine a user’s political representatives and how much health companies have given them in campaign funds. It also provides a single button for users to call lawmakers.
Daly says that he made the application to express his opinion and to help other people express theirs. “I went to the app store because I felt like I didn’t have much of a voice in other spheres,” Daly said. “When the mainstream media talks about single payer, they emphasize the negatives and this was my foray into the debate. It seemed like this would be the most effective way to reach people, since it is a phone and people can call right from it.” Daly also states that he anticipated the rejection when Apple called to ask if he was working on his own or for a group or politician. Daly replied saying that he is working for his own small company. Daly is annoyed by Apple’s preference for the establishment. He went on to say “I feel like politicians already have a megaphone and Apple is making it worse instead of making it easier for a regular guy to get an application into the store.”