House healthcare bill is worse than nothing

[Pooky 3,929]

Health care isn't about politics. It's about health care profits.

Fixed that for you. If health care was about health care, we would neither have the ridiculously inefficient and ineffective system in place that we have nor would we have the discussion on this issue that we're having. We also wouldn't have hundreds of millions of dollars spent on a campaign to retain the unacceptable and unsustainable status quo.

Kind of missed the point there, BD. The point being made was decrying the political entanglement sidetracking where the legislation was headed and trying to pass this thing just for the sake of passing something.

The original article was a slam on the financial side of things and no-one is yet in disagreement about the dirty money flying around trying to influence the game and the wasted money that is there now and will result if this piece of carp passes.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Health care isn't about politics. It's about health care profits.

Fixed that for you. If health care was about health care, we would neither have the ridiculously inefficient and ineffective system in place that we have nor would we have the discussion on this issue that we're having. We also wouldn't have hundreds of millions of dollars spent on a campaign to retain the unacceptable and unsustainable status quo.

Kind of missed the point there, BD. The point being made was decrying the political entanglement sidetracking where the legislation was headed and trying to pass this thing just for the sake of passing something.

The original article was a slam on the financial side of things and no-one is yet in disagreement about the dirty money flying around trying to influence the game and the wasted money that is there now and will result if this piece of carp passes.

I know what the point was. I just couldn't help but correct an obviously incorrect statement.

But let's talk about the political issue for a moment. I can see that there is an argument to be made along the lines that something - whether it's good enough or not - has to be passed because not doing so would be a political defeat that neither the Democratic majority in Congress nor the President may be able to recover from. There's a good bit of validity to it.

Of course, there's also this consideration to be made: Aside from political interests, there are a number of business interests involved in this matter. What is primarily tackled here is the insurance portion of the system and that in a way that actually transfers lots and lots of taxpayer funds to the insurance companies with really no controls built in on how that taxpayer money may be spent. It's huge corporate welfare. Leave out an element (strong mandate to carry insurance) that would virtually guarantee the insurance industry tons of new customers - low cost customers at that - and throw in one element that may actually have small controlling effect on the insurance industry - a public plan - and it's all out war. This is one war that you actually stand a chance of winning because you're fighting it on one front. If you were to start fighting the war on all fronts at the same time, good luck with that.

I think there's an argument to be made that health care reform will take a number of bills and a number of efforts to complete. If this one fails, as others have for decades past, the odds of getting on track to do what needs to be done for the sake of our economy'survival (not sure who actually believes that an economy that sucks 1/4 of it's output into health care is sustainable) are not particularly good. On the other hand, if this one passes, there may be momentum to tackle other issues that need to be tackled.

Again, I've been a fan of single payer for the longest time and believe that single payer is the most efficient way to go. The problem is that you don't get to a single payer system from where we are today. That's just not going to happen.

[mawilson 2,133]

Just increase the Medicare tax from 1.45% to 10% (for *everyone*, not just "the rich")

and cover everyone. Keep the employer's portion of the Medicare tax the same (1.45%).

If you have private insurance, you can keep it and use it for things that are not covered

by Medicare.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Just increase the Medicare tax from 1.45% to 10% (for *everyone*, not just "the rich") and cover everyone. Keep the employer's portion of the Medicare tax the same (1.45%).

Do I get the employer portion of the premiums currently due for my PHI? If so, this would be a good deal. If not, get outta here.

Edited November 25, 2009 by Mr. Big Dog

[mawilson 2,133]

Just increase the Medicare tax from 1.45% to 10% (for *everyone*, not just "the rich") and cover everyone. Keep the employer's portion of the Medicare tax the same (1.45%).

Do I get the employer portion of the premiums currently due for my PHI? If so, this would be a good deal. If not, get outta here.

If you don't want to keep your private insurance, I don't see why not. It's between you and your employer.