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

To: Road Walker who wrote (11447)	11/17/2009 7:56:36 PM
From: TimF	Respond to of 42652

But, and I know you disagree, we have to do something politically to reign in the cost of health care. I don't disagree. Political decisions have greatly contributed to the increase in the cost, undoing those decisions, or perhaps in some cases trying to reduce the cost, or counter the negative effects, without undoing them, would itself be doing something politically. On 2nd though I think technically I do disagree, only thinking we should do something politically to lower the costs, not necessarily that we absolutely have to. OTOH we do need to do something about the governments current share of the cost, as it represents a huge problem for the US government's future fiscal situation, But I don't think having the government expand its involvement in health care is going to reduce the government's costs. Quite the opposite. Its like trying to put out a fire with gasoline.

To: Road Walker who wrote (11447)	11/17/2009 11:41:31 PM
From: i-node	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

>> But at least we are doing something. Ah. The old "change" mantra. Don't know what we're changing to, but I want to change. Sounds like a great way to run a country.

To: Road Walker who wrote (11447)	11/18/2009 7:57:11 AM
From: Lane3	Respond to of 42652

But, and I know you disagree, we have to do something politically to reign in the cost of health care. We have to do this. Maybe this stuff fails... if so the Reps will surely take power and have their opportunity. There are two things wrong with that logic. The first is that, since we have to do something, we have to do this particular something. Yet this particular something contains the factors that increase costs and lacks the factors that reduce costs. It's all about increasing coverage and paying for that increased coverage and not about lowering costs. The second is that, if it fails, we'll stop doing it and switch to something else. But both American history and understanding of human nature that you will can never take an entitlement away from the American voters. The only thing you can do is add on further compensating entitlement or further complicating elements. You can't go back and start over in a different direction. That's why it's so important that this not go forward.