Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : A US National Health Care System? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Road Walker who wrote (2841)	11/13/2007 8:13:52 AM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 42652

The most common statement is "it costs twice as much with similar results". Perhaps. My perception is that the most common statement is "it costs twice a much with worse results." That kind of stuff really bothers me. Given that folks insist on making gross comparisons without adequate data and will continue to do so regardless, if they can at least stick to "similar," I can live with that. As for the cost business, there are a lot of ideas on how to reduce costs. Universal single payer isn't the only alternative. I think many folks are stuck on it for the wrong reasons so won't listen to any other ideas.

To: Road Walker who wrote (2841)	11/13/2007 9:41:34 AM
From: Mary Cluney	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 42652

<<<The most common statement is "it costs twice as much with similar results".>>> But that is not true. The results are worse. Health care expenditures are spent to improve health and the best measurement and most exact measure for that is in longevity. It is true that there are variables that effect longevity. There are primarily two variables: 1. Heredity (predisposition to certain diseases) 2. Life style (diet, exercise,and behavior) When a reputable economist makes the claim that health care in the US costs more and when results are worse, they have looked at the relevant data. Now a days, economics is all about the data. Admittedly, the data could be and will be better as we get more and more into the digital information gathering revolution. But even before this information age, if you are in an elevator and it is falling, you don't have to be an elevator mechanic to know that there is something wrong. To put it another way, if you are a casino operator, you don't care if your clients are smart or not, good at gambling or not, and healthy or not, all you want is that they have money and are willing to gamble.