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Yachtie -> Healthcare. Doors #1 and #2. (9/11/2012 7:58:46 AM)
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It's about math, not politics.
There is no "half measure" that will work. This is not about politics, it is about arithmetic. It is about a greater than 9% increase in federal spending on a compounded basis from 1980 to last year. It is about two decades of 10%+ increases in health premiums forced down the throats of businesses that have resulted in the skimming of nearly 20% of GDP by these firms into the pockets of some very wealthy individuals and corporate interests.
1. Stop it. Now. Repeal all the special protections granted health-related companies, "for-profit" or not, and allow competition to work. Stop protecting cross-border pricing disparities with felony laws prohibiting re-importation and enforce the first-sale doctrine. Repeal EMTALA. Prosecute balance sheet games and claims repricing as a felony attempt to restrain trade. Demand and enforce level pricing irrespective of the means of payment under threat of felony prosecution under the Sherman, Clayton and Robinson-Patman acts. Make forced subsidies from those who can pay to those who cannot a criminal offense prosecuted as is any other form of grand theft. Prosecute those who attempt to prevent others from opening hospitals, practices or diagnostic centers through CON laws and similar games as Racketeering, because it is. Ban the "in-network/out-of-network" tying between alleged insurance companies and providers as a rank violation of the Sherman Act and bring felony Racketeering prosecutions against those who attempt it in the future. Ban the sale of alleged "insurance" that is not actually insurance, forcing the separation between insurance (a product bought against a highly-unlikely but catastrophic event) and "prepaid medical services", putting an end to cross-subsidizations in this area as well.
2. Collapse the existing system and go to single-payer with hard rationing. This is where we're headed, because the system will collapse if we don't act on it. Our choice here is simply to evade the economic damage that comes from a government funding crisis in the middle of where we are now and this endpoint. This will mean that if you need a coronary bypass your name will go on a list and when you get to the top of the list you get your procedure. If you die first that's just tough crap. This is the Canadian model, basically. And if we get it here, it's going to suck.
This isn't about politics so much as it is about mathematics and the single largest existential threat to the continued fiscal solvency of our local, state and federal governments.
Both sides of the aisle are at fault. It should be noted that Obamacare is a step towards Door #2. It should also be noted that Romney, should he actually dump Obamacare (which he will not actually do) does not head towards Door #1.
This is instructive as relates to compounding.
People can either pay attention or live in La La Land. I await the usual and various forms of [sm=lalala.gif] that's so prevalent here in this forum. As such, I shall begin [sm=popcorn.gif]
The above only applies to healthcare. It ignores other related systemic problems.
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