Health Care Reform thread

[fansince61]

I'd like to see direct marketing to consumers by pharmaceutical companies banned outright. 

I agree with this.

I'm curious to know how you feel, MMH.

I can't help but thinking that the direct marketing causes the weak minded to think they have these symptoms and to run to the doctor to be checked for whatever malady they think they have. The doc then prescribes this medication and gets kick back for doing so. Is that a fair assessment?

The commercials are downright annoying. I love how the happy actor recites the potential side effects at the end.

Great points.  How many people do you know that have gone to the Dr. after self diagnosing themselves and then picked there own course of treatment?  I have seen people do this at work and it's frightening.   This happened a lot (with some female employees) when we had "Elite" Blue Cross Policies that paid almost everything (almost no out of pocket)  and cost $2000/mo for families".

[Diomedes]

Just to play devil's advocate, is progress really all that great? Are we better as a species...

I'd like to add that, if you're question is something like, has scientific and medical progress really helped humanity, has it really decreased suffering, has abolishment of slavery and world wide adoption of equality improved our condition, has greater leisure and education made us happier, etc.

If that's the question then maybe the answer is no.  I can't think of a better happier more well functioning civilation than Native Americans, afterall.

We did however realize all of these things because progressives defeated conservatives every time.

[reese125]

I'd like to add that, if you're question is something like, has scientific and medical progress really helped humanity, has it really decreased suffering, has abolishment of slavery and world wide adoption of equality improved our condition, has greater leisure and education made us happier, etc.

If that's the question then maybe the answer is no.

do you really truly believe the answer is no to the above mentioned? I have a hard time believing you do

[Diomedes]

do you really truly believe the answer is no to the above mentioned? I have a hard time believing you do

If that's the question then maybe the answer is no.

I don't know.  It's worth thinking about.

[phillymic2000]

The government is run by which group pays the most to whoever is in power. I see it in the educational field. Have you ever been to a conference where School officials are? It's insane how much cash is thrown at booze, sport's outings, free gifts (gas cards, i pods, GPS etc..), free free free free. I have a conference in Chicago next month and no joke I have about 8 or 9 offeres to go out to, Nicks fish market, The Chop House, The Rosebud, Odyssey Cruise Dinner on the lake, Riva on the Pier and on an on.  It's fargin insane how much big business blows fargin money and runs everything in this country, right or left they are all owned!

[reese125]

do you really truly believe the answer is no to the above mentioned? I have a hard time believing you do

If that's the question then maybe the answer is no.

I don't know.  It's worth thinking about.

played out response... but I was really asking in the form of a question to get an open response from you of why you might even think to pose the question..and should of end the question as "you would" not you do ...thats my bad

[Diomedes]

The only thing I can say is, I think it's worth considering the possibility, even if you see it as purely a thought experiment.

[ice grillin you]

thought and reese hate each other

[Diomedes]

no

he's often more thoughtful than you, but that's not much of a compliment is it

[ice grillin you]

definitely not

[Munson]

I feel bad for igy and his blind tunnel vision sometimes.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I'd like to see direct marketing to consumers by pharmaceutical companies banned outright. 

I agree with this.

I'm curious to know how you feel, MMH.

I can't help but thinking that the direct marketing causes the weak minded to think they have these symptoms and to run to the doctor to be checked for whatever malady they think they have. The doc then prescribes this medication and gets kick back for doing so. Is that a fair assessment?

The commercials are downright annoying. I love how the happy actor recites the potential side effects at the end.

Great points.  How many people do you know that have gone to the Dr. after self diagnosing themselves and then picked there own course of treatment?  I have seen people do this at work and it's frightening.   This happened a lot (with some female employees) when we had "Elite" Blue Cross Policies that paid almost everything (almost no out of pocket)  and cost $2000/mo for families".

I don't know anyone personally, but I can't help but think this is very prevalent with the depression drugs. There are people who are legitimately depressed and need help, but I'd be willing to bet that at least 25% of the people on anti-depressants don't have depression.

They think they are depressed because their lives suck or because something bad happens. So they trick themselves into believing they are depressed and off they go to Doctor Nick who has them gorging on Xanax before lunchtime that day.

[Munson]

Yep. Happens with the over-diagnosing of ADD too I'm sure.

[ATV]

The easier life gets the more we multiply

I dunno about that. How many of us are playing Warcraft instead of rasing or bettering our families?

[mpmcgraw]

It's statistically proven the worse things are the less people farg for babies.

Look at Russia over the past 25 years.  They are PAYING people to have babies and even have a national farg day that you get off work for.