Death grips
Submitted by James on Sat, 08/22/2009 - 12:23pm
In the Great Death Panels Debate, there is no difference of opinion about whether we as a culture must be able to manage the economics of death more effectively. All sides agree on the need. Health insurers can't survive if they ignore the issue. A taxpayer-funded American Health Plan will not be able to ignore it either.
Republican abuse of this issue for political gain seems an almost criminal exploitation of public ignorance. Free-market thinkers here in North Carolina should be embarrassed by their role in obfuscation. A lyin' game of gotcha played at the cost of clarity.
Any thinking person knows we have to come to grips with the real cost of long lives and slow deaths. The only question is who drives the agenda.
The American Health Plan I want deals with death honestly.
Health insurers can't survive if they ignore the issue.
Sounds like a pretty powerful argument against government-run health care James.
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"The natural wage of labor is its product." -- Benjamin R. Tucker
A liberal is someone who thinks the system is broken and needs to be fixed, whereas a radical understands it’s working the way it’s supposed to.
I'm missing the point here. Why is that?
Health insurers can't survive if they ignore this issue. The government must deal with this issue. How does this create an arguement, albeit a powerful one, against a public option where the government runs a healthcare plan that is truly non-profit?
Thanks!
North Carolina. Turning the South Blue!
It's basic economics.
A restaurant won't survive if it doesn't provide good food. That doesn't mean that we need government-run "non-profit" restaurants to come in if and when restaurants fail. It just means that restaurants have an incentive to produce good food, whereas a government restaurant has no such incentive because it will be in business even if you choose not to eat there.
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"The natural wage of labor is its product." -- Benjamin R. Tucker
A liberal is someone who thinks the system is broken and needs to be fixed, whereas a radical understands it’s working the way it’s supposed to.
Not if it has to compete
I want to be part of this American Health Plan but I assume I would never be forced to participate. I want it to want me the way a good business wants good customers. I want it to deliver exceptional service at a fair price, rewarding its shareholders (we the people) with efficient operations. Governments all around the world do this well.
I doubt we can. We'd have to rise to a level of excellence that folks like you will ridicule and subvert. And the current approach to policy-making doesn't even have "excellence" in the vernacular.
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
Free market subverters!
So, are you arguing against a public option because it's not likely to live up to your standards?
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"The natural wage of labor is its product." -- Benjamin R. Tucker
A liberal is someone who thinks the system is broken and needs to be fixed, whereas a radical understands it’s working the way it’s supposed to.
I'm working for one that will measure up
and if if fails, I'll be working to improve it.
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
Speaking of honesty
Rolling Stone lays it all out, clear as a bell.
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
Rolling Stones Article
The "failed political entity known as the United States of America"
That's just what Kruschev used to say. Maybe you should get down on your knees to him?
Have you ever been more than 50 miles outside of your house? Let me guess, you're going to college for free....
If you're going to guess about things,
you might want to get a little better at it ... or at least use the Google for some hints.
I've traveled to more than 50 countries over the past 40 years. But yes, I went to college for free. The United States Naval Academy, class of 1972. Your tax dollars at work.
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
I have an honest question here on this issue
Can we "fix" or at least "make better" the current health care system in America without having government controlling care for a very large portion of our society? I know that Medicare is "government run" but it has so many elements like part B and part D that makes subscribers to choose a private insurance company to cover much of the coverage therein.
I know in my heart that government must get involved with regard to those that cannot afford health insurance on their own but I'm really bummed out that we can't have legislation that controls much of what the insurance companies are doing that keeps our citizens away from good care yet goes to the companies' bottom lines.
Hopefully the fear that what is being presented in congress today isn't really a prelude to putting the private insurance companies out of business so that the federal government can take over everyone's health care in the U.S. This, in my view, would be a debacle. We're so different than Canada and the UK and the other countries that have this kind of health care. To me, this wouldn't be feasible in our country. I believe legislation is the answer combined with a government option. I believe that is going to be the ultimate outcome of all of this. At least I hope so.
But honestly
The grenades from the right are pretty ridiculous when you think about them. What sense does it make to set up "death panels" or "insure illegal aliens"? And what is the mentality of someone who actually believes all that nonsense?
In the run-up to the war in Iraq when all the outrageous claims about WMD, etc. were being made - now those were the real lies - and here we are after having expended a gazillion dollars on the war and others on the right are saying health insurance reform will "bankrupt the country". What is that all about? We're no longer one of the wealthiest countries in the world? Ridiculous grenades or absurd sniper fire, take your pick. It's all nuts.
I think it's a tribute to the moderators of this site to take on all comers. It's gotta get tiresome having to refer to the facts over and over again.
But we'll get health care reform and it'll be a good bill.
Is Robert Brown drunk?
Your statements make absolutely zero sense. But let me guess, you pull the D lever anyway?
Go ahead superbob
Elaborate
You're too kind.
Elaboration would require some evidence of actual thought.
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
I like your spirit
Some fresh optimism may be just what the doctor (Not Dr. Quigley) ordered.
Republican fear tactics have reached a sick art form, and are well on their way to theatre of the absurd. But they depend on the mushroom model of democracy: keep people in the dark and feed them cow manure.
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
It's still recess
Things will pick back up in September. We're seeing a lot of sausage but I truly have turned more optimistic. This is a great country and I'm very proud of our state.
You're doing a great job with this site.