@ctrwtf:
I have said it here before, and I still believe: The problem is not the market. A true market would help matters. We spend too little time asking why the cost of health services is so expensive and instead focus on just figuring out a way of paying for it. There are good economic reasons why some (including me) oppose the ACA, as well as single payer programs. It is not just partisan politics. There are also good economic reasons why the consumers must be attached to the cost in some way (see link below).
That's the back story. Now the reason for my rant is that a-hole Republicans still are fuming about so-called Obamacare. I find it ironic that the party that touts personal responsibility doesn't want to part with a nickel to be personally responsible about their own health needs. "I'm young and don't need health insurance." Really? If you get in an accident or need your appendix removed it's going to cost anywhere from 50K to a million bucks. Do you have that cash floating around? "No, but I'll pay it off over time." Guess what Einstein? The hospital is going to send you to collections in three months time then write off the loss and pass the cost on to the next consumer. That said consumer being me, the guy that pays for health insurance at an inflated rate to cover your irresponsibility. Now let me state for the record at this point, I'm not mad about those that because of personal circumstances cannot afford to be responsible for their own needs. I'm mad at people that complain that the govt is forcing them to be responsible. BTW, republicans have yet to forward ANY ideas to solve this enormous issue.
I try to view the issue outside of the Republican/Democrat framework. But I wonder if you are viewing a free market solution as a lack of solution - as if the only valid solutions are in the domain of new government programs? So, when a more conservative Republican tries to speak about returning to a market, you feel he/she would just like to undermine the current law that was, at least, an attempt to fix things. I do agree, we have a messed up healthcare system now, but we are far from a real market.
Personally, I think the best healthcare systems in the world are single payer, govt sponsored. But if you dare to forward that idea, you get the inevitable, "Ya, but people from all over the world come to the USA for advanced medical treatment maaaan." Okay, less than a handful fo people come here every year for some exotic treatment. Meanwhile, life expectancy in every other first world country is surpassing the good ole US of A. They're also spending less per capita on medical treatment.
I don’t give that response normally. We went down this path about 8 months ago. Take a look at this thread, starting on pp. 11. I defend a free market in health care, with much of the same responses.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/social/current/262749/11/So-are-Republicans-now-openly-terrorists
Incidentally, that thread was also ragging on Republicans. There’s not much difference between the two parties these days.
When consumers are separated from the cost (the price), it means that they aren’t paying attention to the information conveyed within that price. The doctor too doesn’t get a good view of the real demand. It looks inflated because a rich single payer is paying for the increase in care usage. There will be an expansion for sure, and prices will rise. The incentive to expand comes from more money flooding into the system, whereas, if a prices were to fall from a real market, the expansion would come from actual demand (people being able to afford the care). In time, prices will continue to rise - after all, what keeps them from rising? Demand looks off the chart to the providers, and the price will rise. Eventually, it will have to stop. Price fixing (which will cause shortages) or rationing will start to occur.
To be fair to all those people (you make them sound like hippies ... maaan.. :) ) telling these stories of coming to the USA, it makes a lot sense. Once the rationing kicks in, you might find yourself on a waiting list for an important procedure, one that really can’t wait.
I'm not sure if this is the forum for such a secular discussion. But I wiil say that the dubs as a people could care less about being fiscally responsible. Janitors and pioneers don't usually have enough to spend on such things as personal responsibility. Maybe they should purchase some "miracle wheat" to deal with what ails them.
I don’t know about that. I know a lot of currently active JWs that are fiscally responsible, on matters of health care and otherwise. On matters of health care, they too are dealing with the increased cost like everyone else.
MMM
