part of the reason health care costs so much

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Comments

  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    i think poll show over 70% of the population is in favor of UHC

    well ... if 70% truly want it and what it entails - it's workable ...

    i guess that still leaves how you handle the various industries that are profiting from health care now ...
  • decides2dreamdecides2dream Posts: 14,977
    polaris_x wrote:
    and i understood yours. the real point is, neither you or i know, definitively what the majority wants.....and it could well be UHC. or not. also, many throw around 'labels' to combat an idea they're against, remember how everyone was a communist back in the 50s? or hell, even at the start of the iraq war, many were accusd of being against america and unpatriotic b/c they spoke out against dubya and the government? so yea...people can label away, doesn't make it fit......and 'socialist' idea or not, as i already said, we as a country already have in place many, many socialist programs. so we shall see just what america wants. one thing is for sure, whether UHC or some form....many, many people are quite unhappy with the status quo of our current healthcare industry and desire change. how much change? remains to be seen. altho even there, i personally imagine our actual citizens are open to a lot more ideas than our healthcare, for profit industry is....and that is the bigget obstacle. still, doesn't mean it can't be done.

    how is public education working?

    point being?
    seriously..i love when other issues get brought into it, b/c really...it's apples and oranges.
    however, overall...i'd say it's working ok. is it the very BEST it could be? nope. however, it is doing what it set out to do...offering at the very least a basic education to ALL children. i mean, that was the goal. but i am not hear to debate public education. this thread is about healthcare. so yea...i'll stick to that topic. ;)

    i think poll show over 70% of the population is in favor of UHC


    i've heard/read similar stats....but i am not great with linking sources, so i just figured...it's a-ok to even say, none of us *know* what everyone wants......but IF it is what the people want, we should work towards it, and yea....it will be difficult, but anything is doable if desired and worked towards.


    and this:
    polaris_x wrote:
    i think poll show over 70% of the population is in favor of UHC

    well ... if 70% truly want it and what it entails - it's workable ...

    i guess that still leaves how you handle the various industries that are profiting from health care now ...


    sadly, is probably the biggest obstacle. far too many have been profiting far too long and too much on our healthcare. it should not even be a *worry*...but you bet, it is. that is probbly my biggest 'worry' about it all. instead of really going after what we want, working towards what we want...we may end up with half-assed ideas implemented simply to kow-tow to the big healthcare corps. it shouldn't be that way, at all. we shall see what gets hammered out, i want to remain hopeful......
    Stay with me...
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  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    point being?
    seriously..i love when other issues get brought into it, b/c really...it's apples and oranges.
    however, overall...i'd say it's working ok. is it the very BEST it could be? nope. however, it is doing what it set out to do...offering at the very least a basic education to ALL children. i mean, that was the goal. but i am not hear to debate public education. this thread is about healthcare. so yea...i'll stick to that topic. ;)

    point being that public education is a so called "socialist" program ... a program that i think is failing in many regards with reasons alluding to my point about healthcare ...
  • decides2dreamdecides2dream Posts: 14,977
    polaris_x wrote:
    point being?
    seriously..i love when other issues get brought into it, b/c really...it's apples and oranges.
    however, overall...i'd say it's working ok. is it the very BEST it could be? nope. however, it is doing what it set out to do...offering at the very least a basic education to ALL children. i mean, that was the goal. but i am not hear to debate public education. this thread is about healthcare. so yea...i'll stick to that topic. ;)

    point being that public education is a so called "socialist" program ... a program that i think is failing in many regards with reasons alluding to my point about healthcare ...

    again, believe me....i 'got' that....it was not a subtle point. ;)
    however, as i said...it's really apples and oranges. different program. and yea, as much as people bitch about public education, i also don't imagine mny wanting to see it disappear either. that said, i don't want to debate public education. this is about healthcare. and sure, while related to a degree, public/social programs and all.......we already have public education, but we don't have full, lifetime public healthcare for all.

    personally, i will take public education and all it's failings.....than no public education. i also would happily take UHC for all, for life....over our current, for profit healthcare industry that leaves out many, doesn't fully serve even those who do pay in, etc. however, i definitely respect there are differences of opinion on such preferences...;)
    Stay with me...
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    I am myself like you somehow


  • jlew24asu wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:

    well ... you still have to convince half the population that a socialist idea is a good thing ... probably the bigger of the two challenges ...

    but socialism is not a good thing. and can be proven.

    In what context are you referring to socialism as a proven not good thing?
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118

    In what context are you referring to socialism as a proven not good thing?

    any country that has been communist. I'm all for government stepping in to help those less fortunate, or children, or elderly. but what I don't want is the government to have 100% control of the healthcare system
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    jlew24asu wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:

    well ... you still have to convince half the population that a socialist idea is a good thing ... probably the bigger of the two challenges ...

    but socialism is not a good thing. and can be proven.

    In what context are you referring to socialism as a proven not good thing?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index

    if you look at the top of the list - you could say that the HDI favours socialist countries ...
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    America can not afford UHC. we simply do not have enough money to fund it. there is always room for improvement but UHC is not it. at least at this point in time.
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    America can do anything. We have plenty of money. UHC is doable and can happen...
  • IndifferenceIndifference Posts: 2,728
    inmytree wrote:
    We have plenty of money. ...

    http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

    SHOW COUNT: (164) 1990's=3, 2000's=53, 2010/20's=108, US=118, CAN=15, Europe=20 ,New Zealand=4, Australia=5
    Mexico=1, Colombia=1 



  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    inmytree wrote:
    We have plenty of money. ...

    http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

    and...?
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    inmytree wrote:
    America can do anything. We have plenty of money. UHC is doable and can happen...

    if we have plenty of money, why do you have such a high deficit?
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    inmytree wrote:
    inmytree wrote:
    We have plenty of money. ...

    http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

    and...?

    what do you mean and? this shows you we do NOT have plenty of money.
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    jlew24asu wrote:
    inmytree wrote:
    America can do anything. We have plenty of money. UHC is doable and can happen...

    if we have plenty of money, why do you have such a high deficit?

    you tell me...

    personally I'm guessing it has something to do with military spending...sprinkled with corporate welfare and tax shelters in the Turks and Caicos islands....

    and by the way...I love the the whole "we can't afford it" arguement...other counties do it, there is no reason we can't....
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    inmytree wrote:

    you tell me...

    personally I'm guessing it has something to do with military spending...sprinkled with corporate welfare and tax shelters in the Turks and Caicos islands....

    you seem to not understand what a deficit is. but yes, these are 2 of many reasons for them.
    inmytree wrote:
    and by the way...I love the the whole "we can't afford it" arguement...other counties do it, there is no reason we can't....

    there are plenty of reasons. one being, we dont have enough money. we are running a huge deficit. not to mention UHC would cost trillions of dollars. we aren't exactly talking about tacking on some little thing to the budget. Healthcare is by far and away the most expensive program.
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    edited July 2009
    jlew24asu wrote:
    inmytree wrote:

    you tell me...

    personally I'm guessing it has something to do with military spending...sprinkled with corporate welfare and tax shelters in the Turks and Caicos islands....

    you seem to not understand what a deficit is. but yes, these are 2 of many reasons for them.
    inmytree wrote:
    and by the way...I love the the whole "we can't afford it" arguement...other counties do it, there is no reason we can't....

    there are plenty of reasons. one being, we dont have enough money. we are running a huge deficit. not to mention UHC would cost trillions of dollars. we aren't exactly talking about tacking on some little thing to the budget. Healthcare is by far and away the most expensive program.

    1) I gave 3 reasons...

    2) since I don't understand, please share your knowledge

    3) if other countries can do it, why can't the good ol' God Bless America US of A provide UHC...?
    Post edited by inmytree on
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Mar-A-Lago Posts: 20,942
    of course we can do it

    we all pay for it now...universal care would remove the profit centers that are insurance companies and free up billions of dollars to provide care rather than line CEO's pockets

    we just have to "shift" how we are paying for it now from monthly insurance premiums to an increase in taxes
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
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    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
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  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    of course we can do it

    we all pay for it now...universal care would remove the profit centers that are insurance companies and free up billions of dollars to provide care rather than line CEO's pockets

    we just have to "shift" how we are paying for it now from monthly insurance premiums to an increase in taxes

    makes sense to me... :!:
  • decides2dreamdecides2dream Posts: 14,977
    of course we can do it

    we all pay for it now...universal care would remove the profit centers that are insurance companies and free up billions of dollars to provide care rather than line CEO's pockets

    we just have to "shift" how we are paying for it now from monthly insurance premiums to an increase in taxes



    and there it is!
    seriously...it's not a diffuclt concept to grasp, and yet...this is denied as 'impossible.'
    it's been said in myriad different ways, but that is what it comes down to, really.
    Stay with me...
    Let's just breathe...


    I am myself like you somehow


  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    of course we can do it

    we all pay for it now...universal care would remove the profit centers that are insurance companies and free up billions of dollars to provide care rather than line CEO's pockets

    we just have to "shift" how we are paying for it now from monthly insurance premiums to an increase in taxes

    so basically force everyone to pay into a system that may or may not work for them. I currently pay about $70 a month and my employer picks up around $300. but not all companies do that.

    at my first job, a small business with about 20 employees, they didnt offer health care coverage. I paid my own for about $150 a month with a high deductible. it was basically for emergencies only. under UHC, you would force companies like this to pay? how much? enough to the point that some of those 20 employees would surely be let go.

    not to mention you want to completely eliminate the insurance industry. in theory, maybe not so bad. but you would be eliminating millions of jobs.
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118

    and there it is!
    seriously...it's not a diffuclt concept to grasp, and yet...this is denied as 'impossible.'
    it's been said in myriad different ways, but that is what it comes down to, really.


    yea piece of cake :roll: we are talking about millions of jobs and trillions of dollars. yea, its so easy
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    and lets say this miraculously "easy" shift takes place. the government has a proven track record of sucking bad at social programs. the cost will just go higher and higher and will be either be taxed more or print more money to pay for it.
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    jlew24asu wrote:
    and lets say this miraculously "easy" shift takes place. the government has a proven track record of sucking bad at social programs. the cost will just go higher and higher and will be either be taxed more or print more money to pay for it.

    when all else fails, pull the "gov't can't do anything right" card...

    I had a healthcare discussion with my brother, a city firefighter and his brother-in-law, a police officer....both were saying private industry is better and the gov't can't run anything...I said "fine, let's privatize fire and police departments, you know, since private industry can do a much better job..."

    interestingly, the conversation ended at that point...
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    inmytree wrote:
    jlew24asu wrote:
    and lets say this miraculously "easy" shift takes place. the government has a proven track record of sucking bad at social programs. the cost will just go higher and higher and will be either be taxed more or print more money to pay for it.

    when all else fails, pull the "gov't can't do anything right" card...

    I had a healthcare discussion with my brother, a city firefighter and his brother-in-law, a police officer....both were saying private industry is better and the gov't can't run anything...I said "fine, let's privatize fire and police departments, you know, since private industry can do a much better job..."

    interestingly, the conversation ended at that point...

    not surprised you ignored where I said sucking at "social programs". there are many things the government IS good at. fire/police/military being one of them.
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Mar-A-Lago Posts: 20,942
    jlew24asu wrote:
    of course we can do it

    we all pay for it now...universal care would remove the profit centers that are insurance companies and free up billions of dollars to provide care rather than line CEO's pockets

    we just have to "shift" how we are paying for it now from monthly insurance premiums to an increase in taxes

    so basically force everyone to pay into a system that may or may not work for them. I currently pay about $70 a month and my employer picks up around $300. but not all companies do that.

    at my first job, a small business with about 20 employees, they didnt offer health care coverage. I paid my own for about $150 a month with a high deductible. it was basically for emergencies only. under UHC, you would force companies like this to pay? how much? enough to the point that some of those 20 employees would surely be let go.

    not to mention you want to completely eliminate the insurance industry. in theory, maybe not so bad. but you would be eliminating millions of jobs.

    yes there would be thousands of jobs cut....and I'm convinced that is what keeps anyone from doing anything about it

    the "tax" would have to be some % of employer payroll....and then a general increase in the income tax

    my guess would be that employers would love it....health insurance in this country is a scam and is driven by monopolies....I'm not sure what your experience has been but I could bore you with stories about how screwed up this system is...the end result is that our health care is driven by greed and profit....not quality care

    Try to pay attention to how many hospitals in your area advertise....how much money are they spending on this? Why? One example of billions of dollars tied up that has absolutely no relation to providing quality care.
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
    The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
    2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Mar-A-Lago Posts: 20,942
    edited July 2009
    inmytree wrote:
    jlew24asu wrote:
    and lets say this miraculously "easy" shift takes place. the government has a proven track record of sucking bad at social programs. the cost will just go higher and higher and will be either be taxed more or print more money to pay for it.

    when all else fails, pull the "gov't can't do anything right" card...

    I had a healthcare discussion with my brother, a city firefighter and his brother-in-law, a police officer....both were saying private industry is better and the gov't can't run anything...I said "fine, let's privatize fire and police departments, you know, since private industry can do a much better job..."

    interestingly, the conversation ended at that point...

    that's a good comparison....can you imagine the bill you would get for fire services if your house caught on fire? Why should my neighbors pay for the fire dept to hose down my house? I'm the one who left the vibrator plugged in right?

    Same for police...someone breaks in your house while your gone so you call the police once you discover...they send out detectives and start finding out who did it....lots of man hours there....would be very expensive

    That would be the perfect idea to sell police insurance

    but no we make it a public service and spread the cost to everyone....because we all benefit from this protecion

    the same way we would ALL benefit from health care
    Post edited by Gern Blansten on
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
    The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
    2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118

    yes there would be thousands of jobs cut....and I'm convinced that is what keeps anyone from doing anything about it

    the "tax" would have to be some % of employer payroll....and then a general increase in the income tax

    my guess would be that employers would love it....health insurance in this country is a scam and is driven by monopolies....I'm not sure what your experience has been but I could bore you with stories about how screwed up this system is...the end result is that our health care is driven by greed and profit....not quality care

    Try to pay attention to how many hospitals in your area advertise....how much money are they spending on this? Why? One example of billions of dollars tied up that has absolutely no relation to providing quality care.

    there is room for improvement and even government regulation. but not 100% control.
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    jlew24asu wrote:
    inmytree wrote:
    jlew24asu wrote:
    and lets say this miraculously "easy" shift takes place. the government has a proven track record of sucking bad at social programs. the cost will just go higher and higher and will be either be taxed more or print more money to pay for it.

    when all else fails, pull the "gov't can't do anything right" card...

    I had a healthcare discussion with my brother, a city firefighter and his brother-in-law, a police officer....both were saying private industry is better and the gov't can't run anything...I said "fine, let's privatize fire and police departments, you know, since private industry can do a much better job..."

    interestingly, the conversation ended at that point...

    not surprised you ignored where I said sucking at "social programs". there are many things the government IS good at. fire/police/military being one of them.

    UHC would not be a "social program"...I see it more along the lines of health and safety...you know, like police and firefighters....

    why do you assume UHC would suck...? as I've wondered before, those who currently have Medicaid and Medicare aren't forgoing those "sucky" programs for privately run insurance programs, are they...?
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Mar-A-Lago Posts: 20,942
    jlew24asu wrote:

    yes there would be thousands of jobs cut....and I'm convinced that is what keeps anyone from doing anything about it

    the "tax" would have to be some % of employer payroll....and then a general increase in the income tax

    my guess would be that employers would love it....health insurance in this country is a scam and is driven by monopolies....I'm not sure what your experience has been but I could bore you with stories about how screwed up this system is...the end result is that our health care is driven by greed and profit....not quality care

    Try to pay attention to how many hospitals in your area advertise....how much money are they spending on this? Why? One example of billions of dollars tied up that has absolutely no relation to providing quality care.

    there is room for improvement and even government regulation. but not 100% control.

    my main point being that any private business could argue that they could do what gov't does for less cost....but there is also a point where the gov't can step in and do the same thing to a non public business....we have reached that point with health care

    the bigger issue that I haven't seen here yet is that we as taxpayers already shoulder the burden of the poor who go to the hospitals and don't pay their bills....we already pay that
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
    The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
    2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
  • decides2dreamdecides2dream Posts: 14,977
    jlew24asu wrote:

    and there it is!
    seriously...it's not a diffuclt concept to grasp, and yet...this is denied as 'impossible.'
    it's been said in myriad different ways, but that is what it comes down to, really.


    yea piece of cake :roll: we are talking about millions of jobs and trillions of dollars. yea, its so easy


    yea...none of which i said.
    our current system does not work well for us, and it certainly is possible to change it. piece of cake? no. easy? no. never said that. simply that it CAN be done. i along with many others have given suggestions as to, possibly, how it can even start to be addressed, but sure..i leave it to the thinkers/planners to work it all out. bottomline, if even i can see the possibilities, i highly doubt i am alone there.


    also, do see threads by byrnzie and scb about healthcare.
    don't worry about michael moore, it's not 'about' him, but about a healthcare insider speaking rather frankly....and see too the thread about healthcare rationing. and none of it is particularly surprising. sad, but unsurprising.

    one thing you might find interesting, the health industry insider actually spoke to stats of those who receive meidcare, government run/funded healthcare...overall...have a higher satisfaction rating with their care than those who pay for private insurance.




    and btw to Gern Blansten...
    great posts...thanks for sharing your pov. it's always nice to see a fresh perspective expressed on this topic.
    Stay with me...
    Let's just breathe...


    I am myself like you somehow


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