Is this a good reason to pass the healthcare reform bill?

[Sasquatch]

Nancy Pelosi:

“But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy."

http://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=1576

 

[professor nono]

No.  I have spoken.......

[Shimmy]

lol.  If anything, you socialists are entertaining.

[Flummoxed Lummox]

I would think anyone with just a modicum of human decency about them would understand that 30-40 million people with little; inadequate; or no health insurance would be reason enough to pass health care reform. Not to mention the tens of thousand who have had to declare bankruptcy because of out of control health care costs. But then again, we're dealing with conservative Republicans here. Compassion for other human beings is not their forte.

[professor nono]

FL - I agree with your premise but I just prefer the government to stay out of it and let the market do its thing.  Many many Americans are riding the edge on financial matters as it is and the thought that the government, funded by taxes, would be paying the medical bills of the millions about which you speak, is somewhat disconcerting - especially during these times.  basically the thought is that I don't want to pay my neighbor's medical bills - I already have my own to pay and I'm working my a off to get it done and just squeezing by.

[Shimmy]

What have you done with the real professor nono?

[NCVol]

FL - I agree with your premise but I just prefer the government to stay out of it and let the market do its thing. 

Just a question, what "market" exists for a cancer survivor?  How about an old person, a diabetic, a heart attack survivor, just a sickly adult who makes more than average visits to the doctor?  I've got arthritis and am uninsurable, unless I don't want coverage for arthritis, which is of course the one thing I'm positive I'll need lifelong, expensive coverage for... 

Point is the "market" will predictably fail in many ways.  One predictable failure, the money losing proposition of insuring old people, is why we have the immensely popular Medicare - neither you nor your parents loses a minute of sleep worrying about whether they will get covered when they turn 65.  And so what we are talking about with the system is HOW to MASSIVELY to intervene in the system, not whether there will be massive interventions. 

Then there's the whole issue of the "free market" such as it is existing alongside a system that is already about half paid for with government funds of one sort or another, with decent coverage literally impossible for those on the bottom of the full time working category, and the idea of "markets" solving anything in the heathcare arena is kind of a joke, really. 

And finally, I appreciate free markets and all, but what matters to most of us is the motivation of the health care providers - which under any plan will be private providers with, perhaps, government PAYERS.   Frankly I don't give a damn who pays the bills and nobody has yet demonstrated to me ANY loss of utility if instead of Blue Cross, my doctors sends his bills to Medicare.  Yeah, sure, there are "death panels" possible with gubment health care!  Oh nooooooo!!!!  But anyone who's actually been sick or has seen the inside of a billing office knows the "death panel" exists for BCBS, United, etc. they're just motivated a little differently - profits instead of heartless cruel bureaucrats who want the non-taxpayers to DIE! 

Finally, finally, is the fact that we pay double, or about it, for about the same outcomes....   Which system has failed, the gubment systems of every other industrialized country on the planet, or our free market system? 

[LTC]

The smartest man in Congress!

Rep. Grayson Introduces Bill to Allow Anyone to Buy Into Medicare at Cost

[professor nono]

NC - I'm hearin' yah but I really have my own to take care of.  All of those folks are just going to have to find a way - I don't know how or who can help, but perhaps there is a way.  The gubment just can't keep printing money and paying bills without repercussion.  Question:  should the baby boomer generation pass on its bills to boomer children and grandchildren?  Is there another way?

[ben stein fan]

The leftist want to pretend that the system in place now is a free market system but it is not and really not really close.  The progressives under the direction of Brandies have been slowly for years chipping away at the free market portion of our health care system and replacing piece by piece by government control.

The surest evidence of this is when I walk into a doctor's office I have no idea what I am paying for the care and I have no idea if the guy next to me who is receiving the same treatment is paying for the same price that I am.  To make it worse, if the doctor who is treating me has a monetary interest in a machine he is using that doesn't have to be disclosed and who knows if that machine is using the latest technology or if my insurance is paying the premium for old or new technology.

The system has been designed since the early 1900s with the single over arching purpose for government takeover of health care.  Republicans and Democrats have been part of this.  Some on purpose and others by stupidity.  Until the market is restored to health care prices will continue to increase, care will decrease, and the poor will continue to get the short end of the stick.

[NCVol]

NC - I'm hearin' yah but I really have my own to take care of.  All of those folks are just going to have to find a way - I don't know how or who can help, but perhaps there is a way.  The gubment just can't keep printing money and paying bills without repercussion.  Question:  should the baby boomer generation pass on its bills to boomer children and grandchildren?  Is there another way?

You realize this "free market" system you love is DOUBLE the cost of the "gubment" and socialist versions and increasing at an alarming rate?

[professor nono]

On the other hand NC, I'd take my US doctors over government paid doctors from the countries that are listed in your signature.  Bottom line is this:  I want US doctors to be filthy rich.  I want the medical profession to be an extremely rewarding occupation.  The reason is that, if the gubment will stay out of it, the best, smartest and most qualified candidates should claw their way to the top and become doctors.  This is, of course, assuming that medical schools actually maintain meritorious and ethical academics and admissions (but that is a concern with or without gubment involvment).  Sometimes people don't consider that there are genius good doctors and there are dumba$$ bad doctors.  I want to get the most genius good doctors out there working in our healthcare.  I also am of the opinion that the more that gubment takes over healthcare, the less incentive there will be to draw genius good doctors into the system.  Why go into the medical profession for lower pay and hassle from the gubment?  There are easier ways to make money.  And the genius's will find a way elsewhere.