tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38049554.post7199053835456428987..comments2023-10-21T07:53:38.322-05:00Comments on (It's a ...) Micro World (... after all): Once again I ask ...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38049554.post-2583971465012545952009-08-18T12:46:22.025-05:002009-08-18T12:46:22.025-05:00If what I advocate were to pass muster and be put ...If what I advocate were to pass muster and be put into law, I wouldn't fire off a letter of opposition to my lawmakers either before or after the vote. <br /><br />I know (before anyone points it out) what I suggested via Medicare and Medicaid (in the fourth paragraph) seems contradictory to what I wrote in the second and third paragraphs, but I don't think it is. I DO think that Medicare and Medicaid suffer from problems, some of them REALLY problematic ... but I think they can be rehabilitated if done properly. If they cover a portion of our country (i.e., those who cannot afford health coverage), not everyone, it should be sustainable.<br /><br />As things stand, I don't think the status quo is sustainable for anyone, and so I agree something needs to be done. I just really disagree with the need to push something ... ANYTHING ... through as quickly as possible. This isn't something that should be rushed. It needs to be done right the first time.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14211618861743447072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38049554.post-77255003304316323552009-08-18T12:18:19.943-05:002009-08-18T12:18:19.943-05:00Sadly, much of what you advocate was in the origin...Sadly, much of what you advocate was in the original House Bill whenit cleared committee . . . .Philip H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12049875206738422083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38049554.post-31221316395142348832009-08-18T09:22:52.781-05:002009-08-18T09:22:52.781-05:00Actually Philip, by some of the stuff that I have ...Actually Philip, by some of the stuff that I have read, prices <b>will</b> drop if we mandate everyone to have health coverage. More coverage means lower cost since risk is shared by a larger pool of people, a majority of whom are healthy individuals who do not need much health care.<br /><br />Has Medicare and Medicaid increased the quality of health care? The poor payouts seems to me to indicate that the exact opposite is occurring. These programs are forcing doctors to see patients in bulk from them to see a sort of return on the investment they've made in their education. Moving further in that direction seems to me to be a way to ensure that people do not take on the financial hardship of medical school because it will become increasingly difficult to work their way out of that debt. That would reduce the quality of health care.<br /><br />And then we have the issue of the massive abuses of both federal systems. Moving further in that direction, without proper safeguards would mean that that abuse would just increase.<br /><br />So, those who can afford insurance should be made (a la car insurance) to get health insurance ... or pay a penalty. That penalty money should be directed towards boosting up Medicare and Medicaid which can (already does in some cases) cover those who cannot afford health insurance. And these two programs need to be monitored more closely. If we can hire thousands of new IRS agents to track down fraud cases, perhaps we need to do the same for Medicare and Medicaid.<br /><br />Is this not a workable solution?Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14211618861743447072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38049554.post-24297425035692735822009-08-18T08:23:01.923-05:002009-08-18T08:23:01.923-05:00Thomas,
This is wher eyou and I part ways. The &q...Thomas,<br />This is wher eyou and I part ways. The "market" approach ahs been an abysmal failure at delivering even basic healthacre to all Americans, much less anything considered good. A wholly market approach - which is what Republicans want and Blue Dog Democrats will support because they are DINO's - will not substantialy change the quality, price, or efficacy of the nation's healthcare system.Philip H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12049875206738422083noreply@blogger.com