Today’s Q for O

I have yet to hear why health care is so expensive. According to many doctors, they get paid far less than what they think they should, and many of them less than national or even state averages.

A lot of the stuff they use in surgery can simply be bought through a company like Carolina Biological and autoclaved.

Unless they're doing surgery with gold catheters and platinum sutures, the costs should in no way be what they are. Heck, dentists at any rate can do X-rays with far less radiation and no film to buy or develop...yet they're just as expensive as ever.

Speaking of which, it would seem that offering good preventative dentistry programs would go a long way in preventing other health problems in the body. That's something I could be on board with. I'm amazed that companies don't offer and bug their employees to get free cleanings twice a year.

I'm confused, is Obama not an advocate of the free market?

This is what Jake Tapper posts as his in depth question, when all it exposes is the ninny press laughing with their leader who is engaging another plane which will not work.

Hey Mr. Tapper, how about asking this question:

Mr. Obama, as a multi millionaire, will you forgo along with every Democrat in Congress as you control the government from using the cushy health care plan all of you have until this mess is fixed without spending a trillion dollars more?

Ask the questions Mr. Tapper which put heat on the hucksters and stop pretending you are doing the press work of hard questions.
All you did is dust off all old Hillary health care questions. In school you would be flunked, if you are Joe Biden that kind of plagiarism gets you to be Vice President.

Jake,

I appreciate your continuing efforts to pinpoint our president's point of view on issues even when he would much prefer to gloss over them. You are one of the few left in the MSM to do that. Thank you.

Opps, I know! There should not have been an apostrophe in "your's." I saw it just as I hit "Post."

Ryan C, we are discussing issues from different perspectives. Your's is more socialist leaning, mine is from a capitalist, free market perspective (or if you prefer a neocon perspective). And President Obama's is probably further left than your perspective (unless you were also mentored by the likes of Mr. Davis, Rev. Wright and the teachings of Mr. Alinsky).

"His true agenda has been forged by his mentors over the past 30 years--specifically Frank Marshall Davis and the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.--and the teachings of Saul D. Alinsky."

Damn and here I thought we were making some headway in discussing issues albeit from different perspectives.

Ryan C, then candidate Obama campaigned on populist issues in order to get elected. His true agenda has been forged by his mentors over the past 30 years--specifically Frank Marshall Davis and the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.--and the teachings of Saul D. Alinsky.

"Just look at how "efficient" Medicare and Medicaid are right now. Imagine adding the entire population into such a system."

How is MediCare and MediCaid less efficient than an HMO?

Are wait times longer?

Are medical errors higher?

"Ryan C, I respect your opinions on socialization. However, the U. S. Constitution limits the powers of Congress and the Executive Branch to those powers specifically identified within the Constitution. It is my opinion that Education and Health Care should be left to the states."

I disagree.

I think the education and health of our nation should be a federal priority even if ultimately administered by the states and local governments.

"Danita, if President Obama had announced his true agenda for America during the campaign he would never have been elected."

Obama campaigned on raising taxes, serious reform of our healthcare system and the need to regulate business.

Where he has disappointed compared to his campaign rhetoric has been on issues to the left such as gay rights.

So what is the basis for your claim?

Danita, if President Obama had announced his true agenda for America during the campaign he would never have been elected. But he is a very smart politician. He knows that even as President, he still has to deal with the moderate Democrats in Congress. So he isn't going to spell out his entire agenda. Instead he (and the Liberal Democrats in Congress) will use popular issues to fulfill their agenda by way of the back door.

Today was an excellent example. President Obama knows that the public option will mean the death of private insurance. But instead of just coming out and saying their agenda is to destroy the private health insurance industry, under the guise of competition and the Free Market, they want to offer up one more option--the public option--knowing full well that it will eventually end private health care in America.

jhw539, it's not about efficiency. It's only about cost. We already know how inefficient the federal government is. Just look at how "efficient" Medicare and Medicaid are right now. Imagine adding the entire population into such a system. It will be a disaster!

Our current Free Market is a hybrid. There is a lot of government interference and regulation. Granted some of this interference and regulation is good for public safety. But some are intrusive, in spite of good intentions (i.e., minimum wage, dictating additives in gasoline, etc.).

Ryan C, I respect your opinions on socialization. However, the U. S. Constitution limits the powers of Congress and the Executive Branch to those powers specifically identified within the Constitution. It is my opinion that Education and Health Care should be left to the states.

"over time it may be that we end up transitioning to such a system?"

This statement doesn't scare me as much as it apparently scares you James. I see it more as a 'may' statement, not a 'will' statement.

Again, I'm looking for good comparative studies that point out the pros and cons of various systems if anyone has such. Not interested in studies that only point out negatives.

James Danley:"Since the federal government will not have to include a profit margin in its cost IT will always be cheaper than the private sector. THAT is the key. "

If the private sector is more efficient than the government - as is typically advanced by the right - their efficiency is their profit margin. If they are not more efficient than the government, then that could explain why we spend 2 to 3 times as much per person for health care compared to all other first world nations with no obvious benefits.

"What about comments like those of Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)? "

Jim McDermott sets the agenda?

What no Bernie Sanders mention?

"Let's also not do any studies on how many jobs in the insurance industry will be lost and etc."

Yes, let's do this study.

Then let's calculate how much business and jobs are lost due to the obscene costs of health insurance.

"I believe in the Free Market and Capitalism, as they empower the greatest individual freedom. Socialism stymies individual freedom."

I happen to think pure systems fail far too many and that a hybrid system is best.

I think certain elements of society should be socialized including education, defense and healthcare.

Danita, so you are going to completely ignore the comment, "over time it may be that we end up transitioning to such a system?"

What about comments like those of Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)? Here are just a couple of excerpts from his speech from July 15, 2008:

"We cannot stand idly by and watch when we know that developing and instituting an American single payer health care program can dramatically improve the health of American business and American families – literally and financially. And for the first time in decades, we have a chance if we are willing to seize the opportunity."

"I am here to say that single payer is on the table. It is time to breach the dam of opposition and create a single payer health care program for the health and well being of the American people and American business."

Majority of the Democrats in both houses of Congress have the same viewpoint. The question is whether they can convince the more moderate Democrats to join them. As a unified block, the Democrats can ram any legislation they want through Congress. They can even use the "nuclear option" in the Senate to block a filibuster attempt by the Republicans.