General fitness, health and nutrition · Public discussion

Time For Single Payer System

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General fitness, health and nutrition
Published
30 December 2003
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5 January 2004
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AbelMalcolm
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  1. Mic Chek 123 said:
    Guy said:

    "Captain Compassion" <[email hidden]> wrote:

    <snippage>

    Quoted message said:

    You must convince me of three things.

    I am self insured. You must convince me of three things.

    1. My health costs, including payments to government health schemes, will be cheaper.

    According to an article this year in the New England Journal of Medicine, Americans collectively
    pay $200 billion *more* in administrative costs each year compared to Canadians because of the
    extra paper shuffling due to the myriad complex rules due to the multiple insurers, both private
    and government. This $200 billion contributes NOTHING to health care, but makes lots of insurance
    and HMO executives very, very wealthy.

    So, let's shut them down and throw some 300,000 more people out of work?

    At $667,000 each that's a very generous unemployment plan.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Think of what could be done with $200 billion per year:

    --Jeff

    --
    "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
    their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
    Happiness.

    --That to secure these rights, Governments ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ are
    instituted among Men, deriving their ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ just powers from the consent of
    the governed,

    --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the
    People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such
    principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect
    their Safety and Happiness."

  2. Jeffrey Turner said:
    Captain Compassion said:
    George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr. said:

    On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 13:22:28 GMT, "Mic Chek 123" <[email hidden]> wrote:

    >I'm all for a single payor system. I, and no other person, making me the single person in my
    >case will pay for my care, and you pay for yours. If a poor person needs help, that's what we
    >give tax deductions to churches and charities for. It is a great system, many poor use it, they
    >have some of the finest medical facilities in the world, so why not use that source instead of
    >piling up more money for the crooks in DC to steal.

    Because a single payer system would cost a lot less than we pay now, and would deliver a lot more
    medical care to boot.

    We're burning up an incredible amount of wasted money with our inefficient system, plus tens of
    millions live in fear that they might have to call an ambulance - and then file for bankruptcy.

    If you ask Canadians how they like their system, and ask Americans the same thing - I bet the
    Canadians would be incredibly more satisfied.

    Isn't that pretty much proof that their system is better?

    The ratings of medical consumers?

    If this is such a good idea why doesn't the government offer a health care plan in competition
    with the private plans. The government can use VA hospitals or build their own. Hire their own
    doctors. If the service is cheaper and better then the people will flock to it. Why force
    doctors, hospitals and a population who really doesn't want it into state servitude.

    When they're perfectly happy in HMO servitude! Your idea doesn't leverage the much lower overhead
    costs involved in single payer.


    A doctor or consumer can always chose another HMO. It's more difficult to chose another government.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    "Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life. --Will Durant

    "Madmen reason rightly from the wrong premisis" -- Locke

    "There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is
    always evil." -- Ayn Rand

    Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate -- William of Occam

    Joseph R. Darancette [email hidden]

  3. Quoted message said:

    [email hidden] wrote: =A0=A0 I'm a Republican. I pay my way. Why should I pay for others?

    Selfish.

    Quoted message said:

    Bull, Republicans would rather see thier fellow human beings provide for themselves, period.

    If that's true, then how do you explain the fact that the unemployment rate almost always goes up
    whenever a Republican is in the White House?

    Quoted message said:

    That's one hellava lot more compassionate than paying for others.

    You miss the point. You've obviously never been poor, or if you have, you have forgotten where you
    came from. The point is, and I've said this plenty of times before, a national health care plan is
    not supposed to be a 1st rate system, it is supposed to be for those who are down and out, such as
    the 40 million un-insured Americans, most of whom are victims of our own government's economic
    mismanagement. For those who already do have health insurance, thru an employer, or if they are
    rich enough to have their own, then good for them. Ideally, everyone would be employed with a good
    enough job that provides its own health insurance. More people were insured when Clinton was
    President, because more people were employed, and so therefore they acquired health insurance from
    their employer.

    Let me quote Ruth Rosen's quite prescient words, it's a very powerful statement if you think about
    it, since, according to Doctors, most of us eventually end up dying in a hospital, and most of us
    eventually end up dying a painful death.

    "Health care is a human right, not a privilege. If you don't believe this now, you might change your
    mind if and when you find yourself in need of life- saving care in a hospital emergency room."

    Abel Malcolm releases.usnewswire.comGetRelease.asp

  4. <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    I bet your are one of these folks that will whine and [censored] and harp for hours on how your civil
    liberties are being violated by the Patriot Act. Well, how about my civil liberties? What makes you
    think my civil rights should be violated just so you beggars can have a bit smoother sailing? How
    come it is that people like you will demand the right to choose on only those things that you
    choose? I choose to help people in need through my church and the charities I support and the
    crooked government ain't one of them.

  5. Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    [email hidden] wrote: =A0=A0 I'm a Republican. I pay my way. Why should I pay for others?

    Selfish.

    Quoted message said:

    Bull, Republicans would rather see thier fellow human beings provide for themselves, period.

    If that's true, then how do you explain the fact that the unemployment rate almost always goes up
    whenever a Republican is in the White House?

    Quoted message said:

    That's one hellava lot more compassionate than paying for others.

    You miss the point. You've obviously never been poor, or if you have, you have forgotten where you
    came from. The point is, and I've said this plenty of times before, a national health care plan is
    not supposed to be a 1st rate system, it is supposed to be for those who are down and out, such as
    the 40 million un-insured Americans, most of whom are victims of our own government's economic
    mismanagement. For those who already do have health insurance, thru an employer, or if they are
    rich enough to have their own, then good for them. Ideally, everyone would be employed with a good
    enough job that provides its own health insurance. More people were insured when Clinton was
    President, because more people were employed, and so therefore they acquired health insurance from
    their employer.

    Let me quote Ruth Rosen's quite prescient words, it's a very powerful statement if you think about
    it, since, according to Doctors, most of us eventually end up dying in a hospital, and most of us
    eventually end up dying a painful death.

    "Health care is a human right, not a privilege. If you don't believe this now, you might change
    your mind if and when you find yourself in need of life- saving care in a hospital emergency room."


    It all becomes clear now. Your basic premise is faulty. Perhaps I can help. You,
    [email hidden], have the human right to maximize the quality of your life to the best of your
    ability. However you have no right to ask me or others to help you do so.

    Help me out here. Are you a beggar or a thief?

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    "Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life. --Will Durant

    "Madmen reason rightly from the wrong premisis" -- Locke

    "There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is
    always evil." -- Ayn Rand

    Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate -- William of Occam

    Joseph R. Darancette [email hidden]

  6. Quoted message said:

    I've given up trying to argue with Republicans on the need of a national health insurance system
    here, like they have in all the rest of all the advanced and civilized democracies of the world. I
    swear, especially in these newsgroups, it seems obvious that Republicans just take an evil delight
    in seeing their fellow human beings suffer. So screw the Repugs. I want to debate with people who
    really do have compassion, not those who blatantly lie about having it.

    Then I guess you don't consider Dean, Lieberman, Kerry and Gephardt as having "compassion"--since
    NONE of them favors single-payer. (AFAIK the only two Dem candidates who favor single-payer are the
    also-rans Carol Moseley Braun and Dennis Kucinich.)

    All four of these leading Dem candidates has proposed ways to incrementally expand health-care
    coverage in the U.S. But not single-payer.

    Go argue it with them.

    Because if none of them is going to advocate single-payer either, then while this might be an
    intellectually interesting concept to discuss (along with a manned expedition to the planet Pluto),
    for the 2004 campaign it's a non-starter.

    -- Steven L.

  7. Quoted message said:

    Let me add one more thing. According to the article in my original post, "The overhead for
    Medicare is only 2 percent; for private insurance it is up to 25 percent". What this means is that
    a single payer, stream lined system would save up to 23% of the cost of medical care.

    But today, lots of people ALREADY have private insurance from their employers. And some of those
    programs are VERY generous:

    - Dental insurance
    - Eyewear coverage (glasses & contacts)
    - Mental-health benefits (therapist, psychiatrist, hospital, etc.)
    - and even a free membership in an exercise and fitness center

    You can't provide all those benefits to everyone in the country without bankrupting the country.

    Therefore, single-payer will NECESSARILY have to force people who already get such generous benefits
    from their employer, to accept less.

    And that's why it won't fly.

    Because people who already have good health care coverage from their employers, aren't going to
    support single-payer if it causes their health care coverage and benefits to get worse.

    -- Steven L.

  8. Quoted message said:

    We were not born with the guarantee of a new car every year, a new house when we want it and good
    healthcare whenever we want it.

    Fine. Believe that if you will. Just know that the vast majority of Americans and citizens of the
    world disagree with you. I assume you feel the same way about court-appointed lawyers, poor people
    shouldn't have access to them either.

    Just understand that despite what Rush tells you, you are HEAVILY in the minority on this one.

    www.bushmustlose.com

  9. "bushmustlose.com" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    We were not born with the guarantee of a new car every year, a new house when we want it and
    good healthcare whenever


    we

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    want it.

    Fine. Believe that if you will. Just know that the vast majority of Americans and citizens of the
    world disagree with you. I assume you feel the same way about court-appointed lawyers, poor people
    shouldn't have access to them either.

    Just understand that despite what Rush tells you, you are HEAVILY in the minority on this one.

    Rush don't tell me [censored] because I haven't listened to a radio in 20 years. But, if you think you
    were born with all those guarantees, what are you [censored]' about? All you need do is talk to your
    service advisor, right?

    --
    A famous person once said:

    "I can't hear my damn monitor!"

    Mic Chek 123

  10. Captain Compassion said:
    Jeffrey Turner said:
    Captain Compassion said:

    On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 06:42:10 -0800, George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr. <[email hidden]> wrote:
    >On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 13:22:28 GMT, "Mic Chek 123" <[email hidden]> wrote:
    >
    >
    >>I'm all for a single payor system. I, and no other person, making me the single person in my
    >>case will pay for my care, and you pay for yours. If a poor person needs help, that's what we
    >>give tax deductions to churches and charities for. It is a great system, many poor use it, they
    >>have some of the finest medical facilities in the world, so why not use that source instead of
    >>piling up more money for the crooks in DC to steal.
    >
    >Because a single payer system would cost a lot less than we pay now, and would deliver a lot
    >more medical care to boot.
    >
    >We're burning up an incredible amount of wasted money with our inefficient system, plus tens of
    >millions live in fear that they might have to call an ambulance - and then file for bankruptcy.
    >
    >If you ask Canadians how they like their system, and ask Americans the same thing - I bet the
    >Canadians would be incredibly more satisfied.
    >
    >Isn't that pretty much proof that their system is better?
    >
    >The ratings of medical consumers?

    If this is such a good idea why doesn't the government offer a health care plan in competition
    with the private plans. The government can use VA hospitals or build their own. Hire their own
    doctors. If the service is cheaper and better then the people will flock to it. Why force
    doctors, hospitals and a population who really doesn't want it into state servitude.

    When they're perfectly happy in HMO servitude! Your idea doesn't leverage the much lower overhead
    costs involved in single payer.

    A doctor or consumer can always chose another HMO. It's more difficult to chose another
    government.

    One of the problems is that most doctors belong to too many HMOs already, and each HMO has its own
    rules on what treatments and procedures are allowed - and each has its own paperwork. If they are
    lucky, each patient may be able to choose another HMO or PPO at some time during the next twelve
    months and then they may or may not get the doctor they really wanted. Single payer would mean less
    paperwork, I thought that's something the right wing and the Libertarians wanted.

    --Jeff

    --
    "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
    their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
    Happiness.

    --That to secure these rights, Governments ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ are
    instituted among Men, deriving their ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ just powers from the consent of
    the governed,

    --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the
    People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such
    principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect
    their Safety and Happiness."

  11. Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> Hank writes:

    Hank> Why lambast Republicans? Why should the guy down the street get free health care for
    Hank> himself, his wife and six kids simply because he hasn't provided for his own? Why should my
    Hank> taxes pay for it? I can't get the level of health care he gets through the guvmint gimme
    Hank> programs.

    Hank> I'm a Republican. I pay my way. Why should I pay for others?

    You already are, see below.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I've given up trying to argue with Republicans on the need of a national health insurance
    system here, like they have in all the rest of all the advanced and civilized democracies of
    the world. I swear, especially in these newsgroups, it seems obvious that Republicans just
    take an evil delight in seeing their fellow human beings suffer. So screw the Repugs. I want
    to debate with people who really do have compassion, not those who blatantly lie about
    having it.

    Hank> Bull, Republicans would rather see thier fellow human beings provide for themselves,
    Hank> period. That's one hellava lot more compassionate than paying for others.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Health care is a human right, not a privilege. If you don't believe this now, you might
    change your mind if and when you find yourself in need of life- saving care in a hospital
    emergency room.

    Hank> It is not a human right. It is not a privilege. It's a responsibility to one's self and
    Hank> family.

    Hank> Emergency health care is for whoever needs it. That's what taxes should provide.

    That is not how sick care for the uninsured is paid for.

    It is paid by you and me, us folks that pay for our own insurance, and our own uninsured care.

    It is padded onto our bills.

    --
    Andrew Hall (Now reading Usenet in talk.politics.misc...)

  12. George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr. said:

    Because a single payer system would cost a lot less than we pay now, and would deliver a lot more
    medical care to boot.

    Not to those who ALREADY get generous health coverage from their employers: eyewear coverage,
    dental coverage, mental health coverage, chiropractic coverage, membership in exercise & fitness
    centers, etc.

    Single-payer will never be able to provide such generous benefits to everyone in the country,
    without bankrupting the country. Hence those who already have generous benefits from their
    employer's plan are going to be forced to accept less. And that's why this idea is a political non-starter--
    neither Dean or Kerry nor Lieberman nor Gephardt have endorsed it.

    Quoted message said:


    We're burning up an incredible amount of wasted money with our inefficient system,

    The advocates of single-payer do NOT claim that it can be paid for thru administrative
    savings alone.

    Rather, they have called for a whole slew of new taxes, including these two:

    - Implement a modest payroll tax of 3.3% on all public and private employers, while eliminating
    employer premiums for private health plans. ("All" means "all"--even some tiny dry-cleaning store
    or convenience store.)

    - Anyone who buys or sells a stock will pay a transaction tax equal to one quarter of one percent of
    the purchase price. For example, a $100 stock purchase will be taxed a total of 50 cents.
    ["Anyone" means "anyone"--including folks who carry out transactions inside IRAs and
    401(k) plans. That means the Government will have broken its promise to keep those tax-free. Also,
    the proponents of single-payer either don't know or don't care that a mutual fund buys and
    sells stocks and bonds from its portfolio all the time. If it has to pay taxes every time it
    does that, it's going to be much harder to provide an adequate return to its shareholders.]

    pnhp.orgnhi financing.html

    -- Steven L.

  13. Steven Litvintchouk said:
    Quoted message said:

    Let me add one more thing. According to the article in my original post, "The overhead for
    Medicare is only 2 percent; for private insurance it is up to 25 percent". What this means is
    that a single payer, stream lined system would save up to 23% of the cost of medical care.

    But today, lots of people ALREADY have private insurance from their employers. And some of those
    programs are VERY generous:

    - Dental insurance
    - Eyewear coverage (glasses & contacts)
    - Mental-health benefits (therapist, psychiatrist, hospital, etc.)
    - and even a free membership in an exercise and fitness center

    You can't provide all those benefits to everyone in the country without bankrupting the country.

    Therefore, single-payer will NECESSARILY have to force people who already get such generous
    benefits from their employer, to accept less.

    And that's why it won't fly.

    Because people who already have good health care coverage from their employers, aren't going to
    support single-payer if it causes their health care coverage and benefits to get worse.

    Maybe we can make a deal with those fifty employees.

    --Jeff

    --
    "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
    their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
    Happiness.

    --That to secure these rights, Governments ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ are
    instituted among Men, deriving their ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ just powers from the consent of
    the governed,

    --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the
    People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such
    principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect
    their Safety and Happiness."

  14. Mic Chek 123 said:


    <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    [email hidden] wrote: Well, you beggars can't be choosey.

    But YOU elitist fascists CAN be choosey. Think about it. Why should our Congressmen have a
    government run health care plan, which is incidentally the best in the world, while at the same
    time these very Congressmen vote against letting the rest of us have any kind of health care plan
    at all?

    Hypocracy, thy name is Republican.

    Quoted message said:

    If you need a government handout to keep you afloat, maybe Canada should be your destination.

    And let the fascists take over this great country? No way! Because some of us would rather stay
    here and make it a better country, that's why. Some of us would rather stay and fight, because we
    REALLY do love our country, unlike those who think they do.

    No. We will not run to Canada, or anywhere else, no matter how much the fascist monsters destroy
    our country. We will stay right here and fight these Devils to the bitter end.

    Because some of us really do love America, and our fellow American citizens. And we don't go
    around pretending that we are patriotic just so that we can screw our fellow citizens with that
    false agenda and a phony flag. That's why.

    You can call it a "government handout" if you want. But what do you call it when the rich and the
    powerful are given a "government handout"? Such as our Congressmen, and other government workers,
    who enjoy the best health care system in the world. Do you call THAT a "government handout"?

    This is what is so evil about the fascist mindset, they think that God is on their side, and then
    they completely overlook an obvious evil, they consider it a perfectly normal thing for our money
    to go to subsidize those who are already rich and powerful, but then they will raise and stink
    and a holler that will reach all the way up to the earth's stratosphere if any money at all goes
    to help the poor and the powerless.

    Abel Malcolm

    So, stay here and be miserable then. But you ain't gonna' change nothin'.

    Liberals just LOVE being miserable. They're always in misery. They're the most angry, miserable,
    frustrated people. Ever wonder why liberal talk shows don't succeed? It's always doom-n-gloom, blame-
    America, liberal-inspired guilt trips. But their guilt trips arent working so well anymore. That's
    what is pissing them off more. Liberal-inspired guilt-trips where the US is to blame for everything
    is dead. Bush 2004!

    JD

    "In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has
    worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and
    his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda
    members..." ---- Hillary Clinton, Oct 10, 2002

    "Some have said we must not act until the threat is imminent. Since when have terrorists and tyrants
    announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike? If this threat is pe-
    rmitted to fully and suddenly emerge, all actions, all words and all recriminations would come too
    late."
    - President George W. Bush
    January 28, 2003
    (Another liberal lie exposed.)

    "Members and front organizations must continually embarrass, discredit and degrade our critics. When
    obstructionists become too irritating, label them as fascist, or Nazi or anti-Semitic .... The
    association will, after enough repetition, become "fact" in the public mind." --Communist Party,
    Moscow Central Committee 1943

    "This time, I think the Americans are serious. Bush is not Clinton. I think this is the end."

    - Uday Hussein

  15. [email hidden] (Captain Compassion) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    "Health care is a human right, not a privilege. If you don't believe this now, you might
    change your mind if and when you find yourself in need of life- saving care in a hospital
    emergency room."


    It all becomes clear now. Your basic premise is faulty. Perhaps I can help. You,
    [email hidden], have the human right to maximize the quality of your life to the best of
    your ability. However you have no right to ask me or others to help you do so.

    Help me out here. Are you a beggar or a thief?

    It would seem that every society that wishes to function as a society is faced with a fundamental
    question -- which functions are of such utter importance that they should be addressed on a
    national level?

    Defense of course -- you rarely hear anyone seriously debate whether or not we all should contribute
    part of our productivity to try to make sure that we don't have to worry 24/7 about Russian,
    Chinese, North Korean, or Martian troops for that matter landing on our dinner table.

    We don't even seem to mind having nationalized control of the monetary system. Do you honestly think
    that if totally free market forces were at work that anyone would both with minting PENNIES? Do you
    think that currency would exist at all. Nope ... if free market forces were completely in play you'd
    have to have good enough credit at least for a debit card if you wanted to be in the economy at all.

    We don't seem to mind having a nationalized ROADS system -- do you have a RIGHT to I-75? If the free
    market were completely in play in that market you'd have to pay tolls right up to your driveway.

    Actually we do have a nationalized health care SYSTEM ... of sorts ... if you are sick enough and
    you can find your way to an emergency room you will get treated.

    However you will also get treated to a bill with six figures on it.

    Fortunately we have a bandaid solution for that one too as you can then walk into federal court and
    discharge your hospital bill.

    I was watching I think it was Dateline the other night and I was furious beyond description by
    someone pointing out another gaping "hole" in our system. It was a story about a young lady who was
    hit by a drunk driver. Actually as far as drunk driving accidents goes she was actually quite lucky,
    but did suffer extensive damage to her face.

    The only insurance coverage she had was a $25,000 lifetime limit student policy. I think she got
    something like $25,000 more from a victims of violent crime fund. But her medical bills came to
    over $125,000.

    She seemed to be the type who was too proud to go Chapter 7, but, let's face it, through no fault of
    our her own and because, apparently, you and I can't bear the thought of having to wait to see a
    doctor for a couple of days over a hangnail, this intelligent, articulate, promising young woman's
    financial life is utterly destroyed.

    I'm telling you ... yes ... it's pretty cool that I can usually get in to see my doc or my doc's LPN
    on 24 hours notice when I have a stomach bug, but I'd trade it in a second for being able to go to
    sleep at night knowing that if I ever do get seriously sick I'm not going to have to suffer the
    double indignity of financial ruin.

    And if you think private insurance is going to be there much longer, each and every one of you is on
    crack. Many of the better doctors in the area are no longer doing business with one of the larger
    insurance carriers here because their reimbursement rates are so low. In fact, a HUGE hospital chain
    here (which includes the university hospital with the Level 1 trauma center) looks like they are
    going to tell this large insurance company what to go do with themselves.

    Oh ... and there was a great story in the New York Times a few weeks ago about I think it was a
    hospital in Yonkers who was putting arrest warrants out on people who didn't show up to court when
    they sued them for medical bills they probably couldn't pay.

    Just think about this people ...

    Each and every one of you who has not called your Senators and Representatives and DEMANDED a
    National Health Plan ... one day ... it could be you ... you could be on your deathbed with
    tubes running out the wahzoo and the Sheriff could come to haul you off to jail because you
    can't pay the bill.

    Can you live with yourself knowing that you support a society that is capable of such cruelty? Are
    you SURE this could never happen to you?

    Ax

  16. "Steven Litvintchouk" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr. said:

    Because a single payer system would cost a lot less than we pay now, and would deliver a lot
    more medical care to boot.

    Not to those who ALREADY get generous health coverage from their employers: eyewear coverage,
    dental coverage, mental health coverage, chiropractic coverage, membership in exercise & fitness
    centers, etc.

    Single-payer will never be able to provide such generous benefits to everyone in the country,
    without bankrupting the country. Hence those who already have generous benefits from their
    employer's plan are going to be forced to accept less. And that's why this idea is a political non-starter--
    neither Dean or Kerry nor Lieberman nor Gephardt have endorsed it.

    Quoted message said:


    We're burning up an incredible amount of wasted money with our inefficient system,

    The advocates of single-payer do NOT claim that it can be paid for thru administrative
    savings alone.

    Rather, they have called for a whole slew of new taxes, including these


    two:

    Quoted message said:


    - Implement a modest payroll tax of 3.3% on all public and private employers, while eliminating
    employer premiums for private health plans. ("All" means "all"--even some tiny dry-cleaning
    store or convenience store.)

    - Anyone who buys or sells a stock will pay a transaction tax equal to one quarter of one percent
    of the purchase price. For example, a $100 stock purchase will be taxed a total of 50 cents.
    ["Anyone" means "anyone"--including folks who carry out transactions inside IRAs and
    401(k) plans. That means the Government will have broken its promise to keep those tax-free. Also,
    the proponents of single-payer either don't know or don't care that a mutual fund buys and
    sells stocks and bonds from its portfolio all the time. If it has to pay taxes every time
    it does that, it's going to be much harder to provide an adequate return to its
    shareholders.]

    pnhp.orgnhi financing.html

    -- Steven L.

    These people don't care because they don't pay any taxes. Hell, if any of them even work, chances
    are, they work for some government bureaucracy.

    --
    A famous person once said:

    "I can't hear my damn monitor!"

    Mic Chek 123

  17. Mic Chek 123 said:


    "George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Mic Chek 123 said:

    I'm all for a single payor system. I, and no other person, making me the single person in my
    case will pay for my care, and you pay for yours. If


    a

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    poor person needs help, that's what we give tax deductions to churches


    and

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    charities for. It is a great system, many poor use it, they have some of


    the

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    finest medical facilities in the world, so why not use that source


    instead

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    of piling up more money for the crooks in DC to steal.

    Because a single payer system would cost a lot less than we pay now, and would deliver a lot more
    medical care to boot.

    We're burning up an incredible amount of wasted money with our inefficient system, plus tens of
    millions live in fear that they might have to call an ambulance - and then file for bankruptcy.

    If you ask Canadians how they like their system, and ask Americans the same thing - I bet the
    Canadians would be incredibly more satisfied.

    Isn't that pretty much proof that their system is better?

    Well, you beggars can't be choosey. If you need a government handout to keep you afloat, maybe
    Canada should be your destination. So, if it is all that great, why do you stay here and suffer
    this injustice? I know, you need single payor transportation, right?

    Canadians pay for their medical care. They simply have to pay about a third less than we do. And get
    about thirty percent more doctors visits than we do.

    And are far happier with their health care system than we are.

    Please tell us why you want us to pay more, for less, in a system proven to be inferior by ratings
    of its consumers.

    I miss your logic.

    .

  18. On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 16:43:24 GMT, [email hidden] (Captain

    Compassion) said:
    George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr. said:
    Mic Chek 123 said:

    I'm all for a single payor system. I, and no other person, making me the single person in my case
    will pay for my care, and you pay for yours. If a poor person needs help, that's what we give tax
    deductions to churches and charities for. It is a great system, many poor use it, they have some
    of the finest medical facilities in the world, so why not use that source instead of piling up
    more money for the crooks in DC to steal.

    Because a single payer system would cost a lot less than we pay now, and would deliver a lot more
    medical care to boot.

    We're burning up an incredible amount of wasted money with our inefficient system, plus tens of
    millions live in fear that they might have to call an ambulance - and then file for bankruptcy.

    If you ask Canadians how they like their system, and ask Americans the same thing - I bet the
    Canadians would be incredibly more satisfied.

    Isn't that pretty much proof that their system is better?

    The ratings of medical consumers?


    If this is such a good idea why doesn't the government offer a health care plan in competition with
    the private plans. The government can use VA hospitals or build their own. Hire their own doctors.

    I am not proposing that the government provide health care. Only that it - or something else - be
    the single payer. To get rid of all those armies of needless workers - the marketers, the
    advertisers, the accoutants, all that.

    You have confused socialized medicine with the single payer system.

    In a single payer system private parties provide health care, but are paid by just one source.

    If the

    Quoted message said:

    service is cheaper and better then the people will flock to it. Why force doctors, hospitals and a
    population who really doesn't want it into state servitude.

    To get more care, for all, at far less cost.

    In a system proven by conusmer ratings to be superior.

    Why exactly do you want a system which costs more, does less, and which consumers have many more
    complaints about?

    Are you a masochist or what?

    Quoted message said:


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    "Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life. --Will Durant

    "Madmen reason rightly from the wrong premisis" -- Locke

    "There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is
    always evil." -- Ayn Rand

    Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate -- William of Occam

    Joseph R. Darancette [email hidden]

  19. Mic Chek 123 said:


    "George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr." <[email hidden]> wrote in message

    Let's take whatever it is that you do for a living. You do work for a living don't you?

    I own my own business.

    Quoted message said:

    Let us assume that a bunch of us think you are charging too much for your product and we think you
    are making too much money. How long would you be willing to provide your labor at prices me and
    some of my friends set for you?

    Why talk around the issue? We have a system with a single payer, and it works. It demonstrably costs
    a lot less than our own system. You can not deny that. It delivers thirty percent more visits to the
    doctor per person than our system does. You can not deny that. Its consumers are far happier with
    their system than our consumers are happy with our system I think. You could deny that with data
    which contradicts my memory on that point.

    So instead of making up dumb irrelevant hypotheticals, why don't you just look at the real
    world instead?

    Let the friggin' system work as it was originally meant to work. Those

    Quoted message said:

    that can pay, do. Those that can't, seek help from the charity of their choice or join a church
    that provides healthcare for its members.

    The friggin system costs us a fortune, far more than it costs those in other systems. Why exactly
    should we pay so much more?

    When we get less, and get something which, relatively speaking, as measured by actual consumers,
    doesn't work very well?

    You have a nice ideology. It has only one problem. It leads you to support a system demonstrably
    inferior to others.

    When ideology and reality collide, I prefer to go with reality.

    You are free to continue wandering around lost in the forest of your closed mind.

    When you

    Quoted message said:

    provide the medical community, or any other industry, with a guarantee of payment for their
    services, they will only bleed the system.

    Look - when you talk about the real world you should stick to real facts.

    When you have a prediction from your ideology you should just say - my theory predicts X.

    Your theory predicts X. X happens not to happen.

    I suggest you try theory B.

    But, on the

    Quoted message said:

    other hand, if they have to compete for viable, fee paying customers, it gets a little more
    realistic. We were not born with the guarantee of a new car every year, a new house when we want it
    and good healthcare whenever we want it. If that's what you want, many countries have it. I would
    suggest you check out Cuba, North Korea, China, Lybia and many others. I'll just bet you would
    think you died and went to heaven.

    You have confused socialized medicine with a single payer system.

    I am glad to make comparisons among the real-world alternatives.

    Take Canada for instance. They pay about a third less than we do for medical care, get thirty
    percent more visits to the doctor, have coverage for all, and report that such a system works great,
    on the whole.

    Compared to our expensive system, with care limited to only some of us, which consumers here fail to
    indicate works as well.

    Quoted message said:


    This is a country of "Can Do" people. That's who claimed it, that's who built it and that's who
    should run it. If you can't hack it, hump it outta here.

    So your answer is that we may have an inferior system, but it's our system so we should just plod
    along with it.

    That's pretty lame.

    How many tons of pressure does it take to keep that tightly closed mind of yours locked shut?

    Just curious.

  20. On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 16:50:05 GMT, [email hidden] (Captain

    Compassion) said:
    George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr. said:
    The Frog. said:


    I think it is the fear of unintended consequences that cannot be undone that keeps most wary
    about the socialist model of a one payer system.

    A single payer system is not the same as socialized medicine.

    You just have a single insurance company paying the bills. To private parties.


    That's [censored]. If the sole source of income to doctors and hospitals is the government then the
    hospitals and doctors are creatures of the government.

    The government prints our money.

    Does that make you a creature of the government?

    Socialism occurs when the state owns the means of production.

    If a doctor in Canada breaks his xray machine, who has to pay to get another one - the doctor or the
    government?

    So who owns the means of production?

    There is a difference between that system and others where the govt would pay to buy the
    new machine.

    I think you should understand that the two are not the same.

    As far as I can tell, Canadians like their system better than Brits like theirs.

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