We lost that when we separated the people who decide what to spend (the patient and the doctor) from the people who are paying for it (the insurance companies).
What we have now is subsidized capitalism which is virtually guaranteed to grow out of control. Since we don't have an actual capitalist system now don't feel bad for wanting a better non capitalist system.
Just don't fall for the argument the problem is that insurance companies are greedy. The system is out of control and half measures that only fix one part of the problem will get things more out of balance and makes it fall apart faster. There has to be limits on how much is spent even if that idea scares some old people and pisses off the unions.
What we have now is subsidized capitalism which is virtually guaranteed to grow out of control. Since we don't have an actual capitalist system now don't feel bad for wanting a better non capitalist system.
Just don't fall for the argument the problem is that insurance companies are greedy. The system is out of control and half measures that only fix one part of the problem will get things more out of balance and makes it fall apart faster. There has to be limits on how much is spent even if that idea scares some old people and pisses off the unions.
Insurance companies aren't dipping into their pockets to pay for anything; they're paying for medical care with premiums their clients paid them for precisely that purpose. And doing it grudgingly, only when forced; collecting money to be spent on a service they don't even provide and then resisting attempts to spend it seems pretty greedy. There have to be limits on how much is spent, but a vital component of that is how much is charged, and insurance companies are largely calling the tune there (they "negotiate" what doctors and hospitals can bill while dictating what doctors and hospitals pay for malpractice insurance without which they can't operate; is it any wonder people don't go into medicine to get rich anymore?) Though last I checked, the person most up in arms about limiting how much is spent was Sarah Palin, not unions; maybe you should send her a memo....
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Oh my god...I'm a socialist!
- 05/03/2010 02:46:17 PM
698 Views
Just remind yourself how good the government is with its other efforts
- 05/03/2010 03:00:26 PM
410 Views
And remember that some of the biggest health insurance companies are already "non-profits".
- 05/03/2010 03:18:45 PM
394 Views
The problem with "look how bad govt. programs are" is it ignores the "starve the beast" theory.
- 05/03/2010 05:51:50 PM
496 Views
You really think taking the money oput of the system won't affect innovation?
- 05/03/2010 10:09:20 PM
394 Views
those drugs would probably still get developed, and at about the same rate as before
- 06/03/2010 07:14:07 AM
387 Views
Re: those drugs would probably still get developed, and at about the same rate as before
- 06/03/2010 09:37:44 AM
375 Views
just like taking the profit out of insurance will make healthcare affordable?
- 06/03/2010 12:12:25 PM
386 Views
No, I don't, because expired patents would drive it if nothing else did.
- 15/03/2010 06:32:55 AM
362 Views
Don't worry it isn't like we have free market economics in health care right now
- 05/03/2010 03:19:39 PM
423 Views
Hold on a sec.
- 05/03/2010 05:58:00 PM
426 Views
That's not really a socialist policy.
- 05/03/2010 03:24:59 PM
434 Views
True. The European far-right isn't really far-right (or even right) in economic terms. *NM*
- 05/03/2010 11:46:15 PM
159 Views
you don't seem to understand socialism. visit wikipedia and check it out there. *NM*
- 05/03/2010 05:16:02 PM
157 Views
Making healthcare universally accessible is not socialist...
- 05/03/2010 05:29:16 PM
393 Views
It is universally accessible now
- 05/03/2010 05:43:52 PM
410 Views
Ah, like the Rolls Royce is universally acceptable.
- 05/03/2010 05:52:59 PM
388 Views
BS *NM*
- 05/03/2010 06:08:52 PM
147 Views
BSS
- 05/03/2010 06:28:15 PM
383 Views
Random Thoughts
- 05/03/2010 06:31:00 PM
375 Views
For profit isn't automatically BAD, just an unwise panacea for essential services.
- 05/03/2010 05:45:36 PM
451 Views
Government run isn't automatically BAD, just an unwise panacea for essential services.
- 05/03/2010 06:30:14 PM
376 Views
Universal healthcare is good...
- 05/03/2010 10:13:01 PM
412 Views
great I was really hoping we could hear from a moron and you seem to fit the bill
- 05/03/2010 11:39:15 PM
398 Views
I think he was joking RT - note the 
at the end of the message 
*NM*
- 06/03/2010 09:23:45 AM
206 Views
at the end of the message *NM*
- 06/03/2010 09:23:45 AM
206 Views
How does "Don't worry, it will never happen in America either way" sound?
- 05/03/2010 11:49:23 PM
396 Views