Comments on: Sophomoric Debate on Health Care is Distressing

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:46:23 +0000

In many states malpractice insurance for Ob-Gyns can exceed $10,000 per month. In New York State, annual malpractice insurance for specialists can run in excess of $300,000.

Anyone who tries to claim that doctors approve of the current malpractice set-up or that medical lawsuits are not part of the run-up in costs is simply dishonest.

Like parents hoping their child will be the next NBA star or the Georgia Lottery will match all their numbers this week, there is a subset of the population that sees medical mistakes as their chance to financial success.

Should doctors who are reckless be financially punished? Yes. Should patients who have had their lives screwed up due to a doctor’s mistake be compensated? Yes. Is it logical that the more than half of all jury awards for malpractice exceed $1 million? If you answer yes, then I think you’re part of the problem…

By: jwberrie

jwberrie — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:25:54 +0000

We have a “right to health care” by default because no one will be denied medical care despite their economic situation. If you are poor and you need immediate health attention you will be taken to an emergency room, the most expensive health care there is. And because you are poor you will not be able to pay the enormous bill you pay and the hospital will pass along their lose to the bills of others who can pay. Morally if you think there is no right to health care you have to decide if a rich person who has a broken leg is more deserving of care than a poor person who has a broken leg.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:45:28 +0000

Why can’t the dems fix Social Security with the 787 billion in stimulis before putting us in another hole. The feds don’t want the public option just like they don’t any part of Social Security, they have PERS because it is better than Social Security. It’s good enough for the public but not good enough for gov employees.

By: henny youngman

henny youngman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:32:28 +0000

Democrats, realizing the success of the President’s “Cash For Clunkers” rebate program, have revamped a major portion of their National Health Care Plan.

President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Sen. Reed are expected to make this major announcement at a joint news conference later this week. I have obtained an advanced copy of the proposal which is named….

“CASH FOR CODGERS” and it works like this… Couples wishing to access health care funds in order to pay for the delivery of a child will be required to turn in one old person. The amount the government grants them will be fixed according to a sliding scale. Older and more prescription dependent codgers will garner the highest amounts.

Special “Bonuses” will be paid for those submitting codgers in targeted groups, such as smokers, alcohol drinkers, persons 10 pounds over their government prescribed weight, and any member of the Republican Party.

Smaller bonuses will be given for codgers who consume beef, soda, fried foods, potato chips, lattes, whole milk, dairy products, bacon, Brussel sprouts, or Girl Scout Cookies.

All codgers will be rendered totally useless via toxic injection. This will insure that they are not secretly resold or their body parts harvested to keep other codgers in repair.

By: Chris Broe

Chris Broe — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:28:20 +0000

The sophomoric discussion continues….The crux of the Rx fix lies not in the K’s of text that put the z’s on congress, but rather it lies in the founding tyranny of our current contract law, which itself was born of and for the slave trade, and which now gives Rx patients all the rights once afforded slaves. The reform must come from the way we underwrite our legislation.

By: shuck and jive

shuck and jive — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:21:24 +0000

http://yfrog.com/0fcashdj

By: shuck and jive

shuck and jive — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:59:20 +0000

“Mr Barr, You appear to me to be fueling the fire of misinformation and frustration”

That would be Baghdad Bob Gibbs.

By: gloom and doomer

gloom and doomer — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:07:54 +0000

Just the facts said on Aug 13th:

“But the argument that a government run healthcare system (much less the one which is currently being proposed, which is far from being goevrnment run) will be an unmitigated disaster, is hyperbole at best but more likely, disingenuous panic mongering.”

What is to be expected from an uninformed electorate and those who speak for them?

Having lived under a socialized medical system for a number of years, I found it very competent and fair. My share of my medical insurance payment was around $250 a month, but I never had to worry about filing bankruptcy because of a catastrophic medical condition were it to occur, and the insurance covered everything.

Now, let the chorus of “Well, move back there if it was so good” begin from those who have no higher political or issues consciousness.

By: Tea

Tea — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:56:03 +0000

Mr Barr, You appear to me to be fueling the fire of misinformation and frustration. Rather than critisizing the Democrats, you can just go to the nonpartisan arbitor of Congressional legislation, respected by all sides, The Congresional Budget office for their evaluation of the various plans pending: I’m sure your readers(including me) would appreciate your evaluation of what the REAL proposals are, rather than to perpetualte partisan bickering. Everybody_ read the REAL story here:
http://www.cbo.gov/search/ce_sitesearch.cfm?criteria=&filt_congress=111&bill=&filt_func=10&filt_committee=any&filt_paygo=0&filt_intergov=0

By: just the facts

just the facts — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:38:21 +0000

Here is some food for thought: Japan has a universal government run healthcare coverage. I lived there for over a year and much of my family still does. It is not flawless but it seems to be working. Everyone is covered. Noone uses an emergency room for primary care – which in the U.S. costs all of us in taxes and is incredibly expensive and inefficient. Perhaps most importantly, Japan spends approximately one third per capita (let me repeat that – ONE THIRD PER CAPITA) compared to the United States. Yet the Japanese have one of the longest life expectancies in the world. Yes, I know there are cultural and genetic components to Japanese life expectancy, but if their government run healthcare system was truly atrocious (as is predicted by some in this debate whenever any government runs a healthcare system), I am sure their life expectancy would suffer. So there you have it – a healthcare system that is run by a government that does not result in total disaster as is predicted by the current naysayers. And last time I checked, Japan is far from being a “socialist” country. I lived there, its a great system and a great country. Before you start with your spurious personal attacks to undermine my credibility, don’t get me wrong, I love this country. But the argument that a government run healthcare system (much less the one which is currently being proposed, which is far from being goevrnment run) will be an unmitigated disaster, is hyperbole at best but more likely, disingenuous panic mongering.