Originally posted by WajomaPhranny, as i was told by Duchess64, is a German living in the USA and therefore, probably has no idea how a Capitalistic Republic is supposed to work. There has been too much Socialism that has been adopted here by the Democrats for even the younger people born in the USA now to have an idea.
Oh yeah I'm sure tax has nothing to do with people going bankrupt.
I never cease to be amazed by stupid liberals who actually think the folks who run big gubbmint are to be trusted to do what is in our country's best interest or in the best interest of the people more than those individuals who must provide value in their service or go out of business.
Originally posted by WajomaAt least you recognize that private interests use their amassed wealth to influence government, and use it as a bludgeon against the citizenry and each other in the combat for more wealth and influence. How do you propose to fix that? Less regulation? We've seen in the Gilded Age, when regulation was minimal, that that results in the formation of tremendous monopolies, and it was precisely those monopolies that took hold of the instruments of government to begin tilting the playing field to their further advantage.
So that's what I've been saying about deregulating and getting the guvamint out of the medical industry.
It's guvamint interference (driven to a large degree by lobbying from corporate interests interested in shutting out competition with state force) that is pushing prices up.
The goobermint broke it, and now you want the goobermint to fix it with more ...[text shortened]... e controlled by legislation, the first to be bought and sold are the legislators." P J O'Rourke
Getting back to health insurance companies, what they "sell" is life itself. How do you price that? The usual supply and demand principles don't apply when the commodity is life; or at least, they don't if you care anything about averting the embrace of a most callous kind of barbarism. Health insurance companies therefore need to be regulated.
In Germany, alongside the government-run health care system there are also private medical insurers that cover about 11% of the population (it's a "multi-payer" system). The insurance companies are tightly regulated, but presumably business is good because they remain in business. In the US, in contrast, private medical insurers are -- believe it or not -- relatively unregulated by most world standards. And? And they suck. They are immensely expensive despite very often offering poor coverage. Obamacare (i.e. the Affordable Care Act) is not the ideal solution, but it's better than nothing. What I look forward to in the future is a multi-payer system put in place in the US rather like Germany's.*
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Germany
*Note: I think "single-payer" is used inappropriately in the US, because as far as I understand it a single-payer system is one in which the government is the sole health care provider. What Bernie Sanders is advocating is more accurately termed a "multi-payer" system wherein both government and private health care plans are available.
14 Jan 16
Originally posted by RJHindsBut you still collect your Social Security check every month, right old man?
Phranny, as i was told by Duchess64, is a German living in the USA and therefore, probably has no idea how a Capitalistic Republic is supposed to work. There has been too much Socialism that has been adopted here by the Democrats for even the younger people born in the USA now to have an idea.
14 Jan 16
Originally posted by SoothfastThose are scare stories, the only way for a monopoly to take hold is through the force of the state (as has been pointed out; the state is a monopoly)
At least you recognize that private interests use their amassed wealth to influence government, and use it as a bludgeon against the citizenry and each other in the combat for more wealth and influence. How do you propose to fix that? Less regulation? We've seen in the Gilded Age, when regulation was minimal, that that results in the formation of tremen ...[text shortened]... rmed a "multi-payer" system wherein both government and private health care plans are available.
There is a relatively unregulated, cheap, fast health system operating right before your eyes to compare the US system or the 'die while you wait' Aussie, NZ and UK systems. It's called the veterinary service. An industry devoid of the big bad monopolies we're warned against.
So yes, that is what I advocate, less regulation. Politicians have something to sell and that is the power to enforce protection rackets making it hard for smaller operators to start up, they sell that power in return for funding which they use to campaign for greater power. A glaring example is being played out right now here in Australia where a taxi licenses were worth quarter of a million dollars i.e. a state enforced protection racket.
Re-read the O'Rourke quote.
Don't political campaigns that cost far in excess of the salaries politicians earn not smell a bit fishy to you? Wake up and smell the rats.
Insurance companies don't sell 'life' you're being overly emotive. If that were the case the builder sells 'life' because you need shelter to survive, and the supermarket sells 'life' because you need food to survive, and the tailor sells 'life' because you need clothes to survive, and to buy a pair of shoes is to buy 'life'.
Note; I couldn't give a hoot what you call it. 'single-payer', 'multi-payer' call it what you like but remove coercion from it. In a free society you're free to contribute to and foster your ideal healthcare system. You just couldn't force it on others.
14 Jan 16
Originally posted by WajomaWill you get together with your mates and form your own non-profit organization to protect people from force and fraud?
That's why you should get together with your mates and form your own non-profit voluntary organization, rather than whining for more guvamint which get's inflicted on everyone. And you'll be offering a far superior product to the insurance companies.
Win win
Originally posted by WajomaBut how do you assure, in Wajoma-world, that private companies don't use the state to become monopolies? The private companies that become exceptionally wealthy and are run by clever owners (or executive boards) naturally always want to become wealthier. They also want to arrange things so that they remain wealthy in the future. If there is a government in your world, then I imagine it will be made up of fairly low-paid humans. So wealthy companies will cart their cash to the politicians and bureaucrats in government in exchange for favorable new laws and regulations. It doesn't matter how withered the state initially happens to be in Wajoma-world: a lot of big money in the private sector is going to be used to put some muscle on the bones of that state and make it into an instrument for profit.
Those are scare stories, the only way for a monopoly to take hold is through the force of the state (as has been pointed out; the state is a monopoly)
There is a relatively unregulated, cheap, fast health system operating right before your eyes to compare the US system or the 'die while you wait' Aussie, NZ and UK systems. It's called the veterinary ...[text shortened]... to contribute to and foster your ideal healthcare system. You just couldn't force it on others.
How do you prevent that?
As for your holding aloft veterinary medical practice as the model for human health care, well, the simple fact of the matter is a dog's health care only goes a fraction as far as a human's, generally, before the recommendation is euthanasia. I just can't believe you're serious. My wife is a veterinarian and she's going to fall down laughing when I pitch your fantasy to her. You really do not have an effing clue.
14 Jan 16
Originally posted by SoothfastWajoma apparently feels that humans should have the same type of healthcare as is received by hamsters and goldfish.
But how do you assure, in Wajoma-world, that private companies don't use the state to become monopolies? The private companies that become exceptionally wealthy and are run by clever owners (or executive boards) naturally always want to become wealthier. They also want to arrange things so that they remain wealthy in the future. If there is a governmen ...[text shortened]... to fall down laughing when I pitch your fantasy to her. You really do not have an effing clue.
Originally posted by WajomaWe've already gotten together and formed societies and left it to our elected representatives what level of government benefits and taxes to pay for them is appropriate.
That's why you should get together with your mates and form your own non-profit voluntary organization, rather than whining for more guvamint which get's inflicted on everyone. And you'll be offering a far superior product to the insurance companies.
Win win
You're not being kept in your country against your will, are you?
14 Jan 16
Originally posted by WajomaIf you work 6 days a week you're doing something wrong.
BTW, when you take into account all the sin taxes (taxes for doing bad) income tax, gst (tax for doing good) land rates, duties etc those peanuts add up to about half my working life, in a 6 day week I spend the first three days working for the guvamint, it's great news that you'll be taking over my 'peanuts', thanks.
Unless you enjoy working 6 out of 7 days of course...?
14 Jan 16
Originally posted by no1marauderIf he is in Australia - maybe!
We've already gotten together and formed societies and left it to our elected representatives what level of government benefits and taxes to pay for them is appropriate.
You're not being kept in your country against your will, are you?
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/13/christmas-island-detention-why-is-australia-deporting-so-many-people
14 Jan 16
Originally posted by SoothfastStop it!
I was perusing the link
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/1/13/1469209/-BNR-Sanders-Soars-In-A-Plethora-Of-New-Polling-amp-Bernie-s-Ad-Buys-Are-Working
when I came across a picture a little ways down the page. It shows a US demonstrator holding a sign that says
[b]SINGLE PAYER
FRANCE HAS IT.
CANADA HAS IT.
TAIWAN HAS IT.
[i]WE WAN ...[text shortened]... has it. Germany has it. Australia has it. Finland has it. Lithuania has it. Japan has it...
Do you want to see Obama cry again? After all, he just fixed health care.