Health Care Reform thread

[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.

[ATV]

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is notably liberal

As if liberalism were a bad thing. Anyhow, evidence?

[Diomedes]

Also, I want the plan to include a sin tax on soda.  1 cent per ounce would be a good target.  The stuff has absolutely no nutritional value.  Mountains of science show how harmful it is, especially to children.  If we're gonna have sin tax on tobacco, booze, etc., then lets not stop with the adults.

Some will argue this tax would disproportionately affect the poor.  So what, I say.  No one is forcing them to drink soda.
Some would argue it's a government intrustion on the marketplace.  Bullshtein, I say.  A tax becomes a fact in the marketplace, and any good company will adapt to the change.  That's what they do.
Some will say we can't count on revenue from sin tax because as consumption decreases, so do reveues.  Fine, I say.  Don't fund shtein solely based on sin taxes; use them as supplementary revenue.

Why sodas and not trans-fats?  Because they are distinct.  They can be targeted precisely without much trouble.  They do only harm.

And while we're at it, we ought to stop subsidizing companies and farms that produce high fructose corn syrup. 

[ice grillin you]

As if liberalism were a bad thing.

exactly

i give all the credit in the world to the right for tricking so many people into believing that being progressive is actually a bad thing

[phillymic2000]

As if liberalism were a bad thing.

exactly

i give all the credit in the world to the right for tricking so many people into believing that being progressive is actually a bad thing

Tell me about it, I feel the same way about the left tricking so many into believing that they will make their lives better.

[Diomedes]

Liberals/Progressives are solely responsible for the greatest advancements in civilization ever. From emancipation, suffrage, freedom of speech and religion, and due process of law, to public education, social security and space exploration...every major step  forward has been instigated and achieved because progressive people looking to improve the human condition have fought against convservative forces seeking to maintain tradition, status quo, and the balance of power.

Hole up and defend the ramparts as long as you like, conservatism will never triumph.

[phillymic2000]

Liberals/Progressives are solely responsible for the greatest advancements in civilization ever. From emancipation, suffrage, freedom of speech and religion, and due process of law, to public education, social security and space exploration...every major step  forward has been instigated and achieved because progressive people looking to improve the human condition have fought against convservative forces seeking to maintain tradition, status quo, and the balance of power.

Hole up and defend the ramparts as long as you like, conservatism will never triumph.

In what part did I defend "the right" with my comment?

[reese125]

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.

those days are pretty much behind the industry where doctors would consistently get free personal vacations and other free goods for a certain amount of scripts written (sad to even think this shtein happens), plus most practices are a little more ethical than that prescribing whats gives the biggest benefit  to the patients...but can it happen in some cases? sure it can...but civil and criminal liability laws are now put into place and you easily risk losing your practice.

In some cases/patients the generic drug is just as effective as the new expensive drug, but majority of the time the new drug highly outweighs an over the counter in terms of degree of relief

[rjs246]

Liberals/Progressives are solely responsible for the greatest advancements in civilization ever. From emancipation, suffrage, freedom of speech and religion, and due process of law, to public education, social security and space exploration...every major step  forward has been instigated and achieved because progressive people looking to improve the human condition have fought against convservative forces seeking to maintain tradition, status quo, and the balance of power.

Hole up and defend the ramparts as long as you like, conservatism will never triumph.

Just to play devil's advocate, is progress really all that great? Are we better as a species because we've been to the moon or have free income when we're old? Has free education kept us from endlessly attempting to destroy the planet that we rely on or taught us how to live with some sense of balance with other people/societies/whatever? Human nature is by and large a pretty ugly thing and 'progress' has allowed us to multiply exponentially and expand to the ends of the earth and live longer and longer. In the big picture, is that really something to laud?

[Sgt PSN]

Also, I want the plan to include a sin tax on soda.  1 cent per ounce would be a good target.  The stuff has absolutely no nutritional value.  Mountains of science show how harmful it is, especially to children.  If we're gonna have sin tax on tobacco, booze, etc., then lets not stop with the adults.

not that it's really groundbreaking news, because i think it's pretty common knowledge that soda is bad for you, but i saw a little story on the news last night about a study on soda drinkers.  something like 40,000 people who drink at least 1 soda every day and i beleive it was 27% of them fell into the obese category.  didn't mention how many of the rest were mildly overweight but i would have to guess that it's around 50-60%. 

agreed on the tax too.  tax cupcakes and candy bars too. 

[Diomedes]

Just to play devil's advocate, is progress really all that great? Are we better as a species because we've been to the moon or have free income when we're old? Has free education kept us from endlessly attempting to destroy the planet that we rely on or taught us how to live with some sense of balance with other people/societies/whatever? Human nature is by and large a pretty ugly thing and 'progress' has allowed us to multiply exponentially and expand to the ends of the earth and live longer and longer. In the big picture, is that really something to laud?

Fair question.  I'm talking here about social progress, as I think you understand, not industrial and material progress.  Yes, we are better off for having gone to the moon.  Yes, we are better off for having increased health and reduced suffering.  Etc.

On balance, I think humans are a cancer on the earth.  We will eventually damage our host so badly that we cannot survive ourselves.  But since we're here (ignoring silly philosophical exercises), it is right that we try to progress and improve our condition, and fight against our fate.

[Diomedes]

tax cupcakes and candy bars too. 

That's much more murky ground, especially the former.  Even a McDonalds meal, as bad for you as it is, provides some nutrition.

As an aside, I think sin taxes are bad policy founded on farged principles.  I argue for a soda tax only because we're in for a penny and a pound, so let's apply the implement with some skill.

[PhillyGirl]

Doctors absolutely still get HUGE kickbacks. Some even admit to it to their patients.

And ESPECIALLY for vaccinations.

[reese125]

Just to play devil's advocate, is progress really all that great? Are we better as a species because we've been to the moon or have free income when we're old? Has free education kept us from endlessly attempting to destroy the planet that we rely on or taught us how to live with some sense of balance with other people/societies/whatever? Human nature is by and large a pretty ugly thing and 'progress' has allowed us to multiply exponentially and expand to the ends of the earth and live longer and longer. In the big picture, is that really something to laud?

Fair question.  I'm talking here about social progress, as I think you understand, not industrial and material progress.  Yes, we are better off for having gone to the moon.  Yes, we are better off for having increased health and reduced suffering.  Etc.

On balance, I think humans are a cancer on the earth.  We will eventually damage our host so badly that we cannot survive ourselves.  But since we're here (ignoring silly philosophical exercises), it is right that we try to progress and improve our condition, and fight against our fate.

one can only imagine the conversation that would take place between you two if you got together and smoked a bowl or two...or three

[rjs246]

But since we're here (ignoring silly philosophical exercises), it is right that we try to progress and improve our condition, and fight against our fate.

My point is that progress is not fighting our fate, it's actually accelerating it. The easier life gets the more we multiply and the faster we move toward extinction.

Silly philosophical debate my ass!