Political Hippo Circle Jerk - America, farg YEAH!

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

How is it that other countries have socialized medicine and make it work for them yet we can't?

Other countries have had whole socialist systems that work.  A communal ideology is a beautiful pie-in-the-sky notion.  The problem is that even without it, Americans are generally lazy shteins that take every opportunity to get by and suckle from the teet of the greater good.  The more given, the more that will be taken.  Other countries have very different (and better) ingrained cultures that allow the systems to work.

[Rome]

We already have socialized medicine in this country.  It's called medicade and medicare.  All I'm suggesting is we take out the middle man and use the money we pay to the the insurance companies to pay for the system itself.  No one can convince me that paying insurance companies is the right way to go or that by doing so we somehow get better care.  No one.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The laughable part is that you think the government wouldn't fill the middleman role with more waste and bureaucracy than the private insurance companies have right now.

The U.S. government sucks at doing things efficiently.  They don't step in and make stuff better.

[Cerevant]

I do think there needs to be reform in the drug industry, but I haven't spent as much time thinking about that.

is it because you don't even live in this country?

I lived in the US my entire life with the exception of the last two years.
Prescriptions are not covered by the Ontario health insurance program.

I know what the problems are:

• Advertising drugs to lay people makes them worry about problems they didn't know they had
• Drugs are prescribed without consideration of the cost involved
• Drug companies can give inappropriate gifts to doctors
• The government has overridden patents "for the public good"

If anything, Ontario might have the right idea on this front - if you have to pay out of pocket, you think twice about whether you really need it or not. 

[Rome]

The laughable part is that you think the government wouldn't fill the middleman role with more waste and bureaucracy than the private insurance companies have right now.

The U.S. government sucks at doing things efficiently.  They don't step in and make stuff better.

The insurance industry represents 100% waste.  I don't know how the government could make things any worse.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The laughable part is that you think the government wouldn't fill the middleman role with more waste and bureaucracy than the private insurance companies have right now.

The U.S. government sucks at doing things efficiently.  They don't step in and make stuff better.

The insurance industry represents 100% waste.  I don't know how the government could make things any worse.

Look at the National Debt.  Look at Social Security.  Look at the Iraq War.  Only farging up 100% would be a huge improvement over farging up 1000%.

You, sir, are not a Libertarian.

[Rome]

I kid, you hurt on purpose.

Shame on you.

[phillymic2000]

universal health care is a deep and dear issue to democratics...in fact along with civil rights and quality public education its the foundation the party sits on...and most dems dont wanna hear about a plan if it isnt universal

Healthcare they have failed to put it together yet

Civil rights, well the democratic run inner cities are as healthy as ever.

public education  bang up job there.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Try to keep up.  This country would be a utopia if the Democrats could run it without interference from the evil Republicans, including all the bedrock issues of health care, civil rights, and education.

[ATV]

I grew up with "socialist" health care. My Father was in the Air Force so whenever my family had a problem we simply went to Andrews AFB and everything was taken care of for free. It's like this for any military family. Our service was fine, none of us has ever had a single complaint.

Profit needs to be taken out the equation. The medical industries and their lobbyists have had our government by the balls. The first step to eventually making real progress has already begun - Awakening the people to let them know it doesn't have to be this way.

Health Care should be a right, not a priviledge.

[ATV]

Another thing to consider is if we had a national health system, this would unburden the private sector. Such as GM who claims they can't compete globally because for every vehicle they sell some $2000 dollars (or so) of the vehicle's price goes towards their employee's health care. This would be compeletely removed. Smaller businesses would be free to hire new employees without fear of having to pay this benefit.

[MDS]

I love George W. Bush. Kill all the Brown people.

[Phanatic]

Litigation and insurance are the problems with the existing system. The question is can the current system be fixed? Or does it get scrapped and we start over. I kind of liked the idea of tort reform where litigation is capped to eliminate rediculous pay outs that stress the system but people who really deserve the $$$ would lose and that's not a truly fair system either. Or maybe the insurance companies are full of crap and still make their money but just don't like paying when they should so they drive up rates for Dr's. Last I checked most health care companies are still making a profit.

[Geowhizzer]

Another thing to consider is if we had a national health system, this would unburden the private sector. Such as GM who claims they can't compete globally because for every vehicle they sell some $2000 dollars (or so) of the vehicle's price goes towards their employee's health care. This would be compeletely removed. Smaller businesses would be free to hire new employees without fear of having to pay this benefit.

So, in your view, who's paying for it?  Someone has to.

[phillymic2000]

The umpa loompa's