patrick.net
An Antidote to Corporate Media
1,196,472 comments by 14,073 users - 6DOF, askmeaboutthesaltporkcure, B.A.C.A.H., GreaterNYCDude online now
invite responseComments 1 - 4 of 4 Search these comments
Dan8267
2013 Nov 4, 8:01pm
And your analogy applies so well to the Affordable Care Act because people can be imprisoned for not buying health insurance. Oh, wait...
In any case, what we really need is a single payer system for health care, not the ACA. The fundamental problems with health care in the U.S. are
1. Private insurance companies that raise costs and delay or prevent necessary health care.
2. Billing and accounting fraud in hospitals including, but not limited to, overcharging and charging vastly different amounts for the exact same thing.
3. Inefficient administration of health care and accounting services.
#1 is solved with a public option or, better yet, nationalizing the whole damn system.
#2 is solved with single payer.
#3 is solved by hiring me to lead the software development for a global health care and accounting system.
The bottom line is that health care isn't like the boat market. Health care is like the Highway Transportation System. It makes absolutely no fucking sense for it to be handle by private companies.
Yes, the Affordable Care Act sucks. The individual mandate without nationalizing the system, offering a public option, or implementing single payer is ridiculous. But that's what the scumbag Republicans lobbied for. It is solely the fault of the GOP that the individual mandate exists. It was their counterplan to HilaryCare back in the mid-1990s.
Furthermore, the ACA does not constitute real reform, but that again is solely the fault of the Republicans who blocked all real reform.
Nonetheless, the system before the ACA sucked just as much. In fact, the system before and after the ACA are almost identical, except that a few people got insurance and the young people are now subsidizing the old even more.
It is an utter misjustice that we the people were forced to buy insurance before the ACA just to prevent getting screwed over by billing fraud and then forced to endure insurance companies fucking us over when it comes to allowing treatment. And that hasn't changed under the ACA.
So it comes down to this. If we want real reform, less expensive health care, and fairness and accountability in the system, then we have to implement all three items above. Anyone who whines about the ACA but opposes those three items is just a hypocrite or an idiot.
In any case, what we really need is a single payer system for health care, not the ACA. The fundamental problems with health care in the U.S. are
1. Private insurance companies that raise costs and delay or prevent necessary health care.
2. Billing and accounting fraud in hospitals including, but not limited to, overcharging and charging vastly different amounts for the exact same thing.
3. Inefficient administration of health care and accounting services.#1 is solved with a public option or, better yet, nationalizing the whole damn system.
#2 is solved with single payer.
#3 is solved by hiring me to lead the software development for a global health care and accounting system.
Did you go to Princeton with Michele? Take a number and wait in line for the crony booties.
The bottom line is that health care isn't like the boat market. Health care is like the Highway Transportation System. It makes absolutely no fucking sense for it to be handle by private companies.
As if the national highway system were so efficient. Did you notice the difference in quality of roads when crossing state lines? Just like food quality differ at Walmart vs. Costco vs. WholeFoods, different people have different preferred price points for goods and services. One-size-fits-all usually don't work well unless you want all clothing look like sleeping bags and blankets.
Dan8267
2013 Nov 5, 12:10am
Did you go to Princeton with Michele? Take a number and wait in line for the crony booties.
Well, that's such an awesome counterpoint with indisputable evidence to confirm it. You win the argument! I can't argue with a genius like you.
As if the national highway system were so efficient.
Oh yeah, let's privatize the National Highway Transportation System. It would run so much better. Or were you proposing that we shouldn't have a national highway system at all? I just want to know which can of batshit crazy I'm dealing with.
The U.S. government has just passed a new law called: "The affordable boat act" declaring that every citizen MUST purchase a new boat, by April 2014. These "affordable" boats will cost an average of $54,000-$155,000 each. This does not include taxes, trailers, towing fees, licensing and registration fees, fuel, docking and storage fees, maintenance or repair costs.
This law has been passed, because until now, typically only wealthy and financially responsible people have been able to purchase boats. This new laws ensures that every American can now have a "affordable" boat of their own, because everyone is "entitled" to a new boat. If you purchase your boat before the end of the year, you will receive 4 "free" life jackets; not including monthly usage fees.
In order to make sure everyone purchases an affordable boat, the costs of owning a boat will increase on average of 250-400% per year. This way, wealthy people will pay more for something that other people don't want or can't afford to maintain. But to be fair, people who cant afford to maintain their boat will be regularly fined and children (under the age of 26) can use their parents boats to party on until they turn 27; then must purchase their own boat.
If you already have a boat, you can keep yours (just kidding; no you can't). If you don't want or don't need a boat, you are required to buy one anyhow. If you refuse to buy one or cant afford one, you will be regularly fined $800 until you purchase one or face imprisonment.
Failure to use the boat will also result in fines. People living in the desert; ghettos; inner cities or areas with no access to lakes are not exempt. Age, motion sickness, experience, knowledge nor lack of desire are not acceptable excuses for not using your boat.
A government review board (that doesn't know the difference between the port, starboard or stern of a boat) will decide everything, including; when, where, how often and for what purposes you can use your boat along with how many people can ride your boat and determine if one is too old or healthy enough to be able to use their boat. They will also decide if your boat has out lived its usefulness or if you must purchase specific accessories,(like a $500 compass) or a newer and more expensive boat.
Those that can afford yachts will be required to do so...its only fair. The government will also decide the name for each boat. Failure to comply with these rules will result in fines and possible imprisonment.
Government officials are exempt from this new law. If they want a boat, they and their families can obtain boats free, at the expense of tax payers. Unions, bankers and mega companies with large political affiliations ($$$) are also exempt.