Intelligent Discussion of Health Care Reform
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ironknee
Dec 7, 2009, 11:29:25 PM12/7/09
to Political Irony
As someone who works with lots of small companies, I am extremely
interested in getting health care reform in this country, as lack of
health insurance is something that stops people from starting new
companies. Unfortunately most of the information I see printed is,
shall we say, less than enlightening.
I'm sure there are some good things out there, so I'm asking for your
help. I would love it if people, when they see intelligent discussions
of health care reform, or good explanations of the issues in the
current legislation, post them here.
I'll start things off with this one, from a retired doctor:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20091205/ARTICLES/912044001/-1/EDITORIAL?Title=John-Gary-Maxwell-Health-reform-from-my-side-of-the-surgery-table&tc=autorefresh
A short but direct appraisal of the situation. The comments there are
interesting, too.
There are also (lots) of comments on Reddit, some of which were very
interesting:
http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/absy0/my_grandfather_is_a_retired_surgeonhe_published/
interested in getting health care reform in this country, as lack of
health insurance is something that stops people from starting new
companies. Unfortunately most of the information I see printed is,
shall we say, less than enlightening.
I'm sure there are some good things out there, so I'm asking for your
help. I would love it if people, when they see intelligent discussions
of health care reform, or good explanations of the issues in the
current legislation, post them here.
I'll start things off with this one, from a retired doctor:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20091205/ARTICLES/912044001/-1/EDITORIAL?Title=John-Gary-Maxwell-Health-reform-from-my-side-of-the-surgery-table&tc=autorefresh
A short but direct appraisal of the situation. The comments there are
interesting, too.
There are also (lots) of comments on Reddit, some of which were very
interesting:
http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/absy0/my_grandfather_is_a_retired_surgeonhe_published/
Effis
Dec 8, 2009, 1:30:41 AM12/8/09
to Political Irony
Very perceptive, unusual why these kinds of clear headed statements
are rarely heard in the discussions or arguments I've read.
Particularly damning of the 'Christian' Republicans or of whatever
political stripe who have never heard of 'love thy neighbor as
thyself' or other such doctrine whereupon you look out for each other.
Though to be fair, the average person would probably help out their
neighbour - rather it's those in power who profess Christianity to
suit their re-election, not to translate it across a national vision.
...and yes, 'wages' if you want to call them that, are out of control.
Similar to CEOs and bankers. It's so far away from reality it should
be criminal. I can't see how anyone with a conscience could justify
making over $1,000,000 a year... and then pay less tax than someone
making 1/10th the wage. Oh my God I must be a socialist! No problem
with hard work but for God's sake, tax those people! On the other
hand, I saw your chart on where 'taxes' go i.e. wars and
weapons....though it's rather a future tax, a debt - tax on your
grandchildren who are not even born yet.
On Dec 7, 8:29 pm, ironknee <i...@politicalirony.com> wrote:
> As someone who works with lots of small companies, I am extremely
> interested in getting health care reform in this country, as lack of
> health insurance is something that stops people from starting new
> companies. Unfortunately most of the information I see printed is,
> shall we say, less than enlightening.
>
> I'm sure there are some good things out there, so I'm asking for your
> help. I would love it if people, when they see intelligent discussions
> of health care reform, or good explanations of the issues in the
> current legislation, post them here.
>
> I'll start things off with this one, from a retired doctor:
>
> http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20091205/ARTICLES/912044001/-1/...
are rarely heard in the discussions or arguments I've read.
Particularly damning of the 'Christian' Republicans or of whatever
political stripe who have never heard of 'love thy neighbor as
thyself' or other such doctrine whereupon you look out for each other.
Though to be fair, the average person would probably help out their
neighbour - rather it's those in power who profess Christianity to
suit their re-election, not to translate it across a national vision.
...and yes, 'wages' if you want to call them that, are out of control.
Similar to CEOs and bankers. It's so far away from reality it should
be criminal. I can't see how anyone with a conscience could justify
making over $1,000,000 a year... and then pay less tax than someone
making 1/10th the wage. Oh my God I must be a socialist! No problem
with hard work but for God's sake, tax those people! On the other
hand, I saw your chart on where 'taxes' go i.e. wars and
weapons....though it's rather a future tax, a debt - tax on your
grandchildren who are not even born yet.
On Dec 7, 8:29 pm, ironknee <i...@politicalirony.com> wrote:
> As someone who works with lots of small companies, I am extremely
> interested in getting health care reform in this country, as lack of
> health insurance is something that stops people from starting new
> companies. Unfortunately most of the information I see printed is,
> shall we say, less than enlightening.
>
> I'm sure there are some good things out there, so I'm asking for your
> help. I would love it if people, when they see intelligent discussions
> of health care reform, or good explanations of the issues in the
> current legislation, post them here.
>
> I'll start things off with this one, from a retired doctor:
>
>
> A short but direct appraisal of the situation. The comments there are
> interesting, too.
>
> There are also (lots) of comments on Reddit, some of which were very
> interesting:
>
> http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/absy0/my_grandfather_is_a_r...
> A short but direct appraisal of the situation. The comments there are
> interesting, too.
>
> There are also (lots) of comments on Reddit, some of which were very
> interesting:
>
Daniel Habtemariam
Dec 8, 2009, 5:53:59 PM12/8/09
to Political Irony
I, too, liked the letter from the retired doctor. Thanks for posting.
I find that intelligent discussions on this subject ordinarily center
on one of two things - the fiscal argument for healthcare reform and
the moral argument for healthcare reform. The retired doctor in the
article hits on both, but I must admit I'm more convinced by the
former than the latter.
The Congressional Budget Office probably makes the best case for
reform not by offering an opinion on it but by sheer virtue of the
data they've published on the subject, the unambiguous implications of
what the status quo (or Republican proposals for reform) would do to
the federal budget, and detailed scores on each of the bills presently
before Congress. The current Senate bill's small business provisions,
in particular, paint a dramatic picture of how much more affordable
reform would make insurance premiums for small-group employers and
people currently buying insurance on the individual market:
http://www.cbo.gov/publications/collections/health.cfm
If it's costs to the middle class you're looking for (rather than
costs to businesses or government), I'd recommend this widely cited
article by Elizabeth Warren on the rising tide of healthcare costs as
a leading cause of bankruptcies in the U.S. (something our Canadian
and Western European neighbors can attest to being a uniquely American
problem):
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=7888044359863837415&hl=en&as_sdt=2000
Atul Gawande (also a retired physician) offers a reflective summary on
the subject in the New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/12/14/091214fa_fact_gawande?printable=true]
The President is rumored to have required his staff to read the
following briefing by academic Ronald Brownstein:
http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/11/a_milestone_in_the_health_care_journey.php
And last but not least, the Wikipedia article has quite a long,
comprehensive overview of the subject:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_reform_in_the_United_States
Sorry these aren't discussion articles (but they are intelligent!).
The comments on Reddit are the best discussions I've come across on
the subject.
Daniel Habtemariam
I find that intelligent discussions on this subject ordinarily center
on one of two things - the fiscal argument for healthcare reform and
the moral argument for healthcare reform. The retired doctor in the
article hits on both, but I must admit I'm more convinced by the
former than the latter.
The Congressional Budget Office probably makes the best case for
reform not by offering an opinion on it but by sheer virtue of the
data they've published on the subject, the unambiguous implications of
what the status quo (or Republican proposals for reform) would do to
the federal budget, and detailed scores on each of the bills presently
before Congress. The current Senate bill's small business provisions,
in particular, paint a dramatic picture of how much more affordable
reform would make insurance premiums for small-group employers and
people currently buying insurance on the individual market:
http://www.cbo.gov/publications/collections/health.cfm
If it's costs to the middle class you're looking for (rather than
costs to businesses or government), I'd recommend this widely cited
article by Elizabeth Warren on the rising tide of healthcare costs as
a leading cause of bankruptcies in the U.S. (something our Canadian
and Western European neighbors can attest to being a uniquely American
problem):
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=7888044359863837415&hl=en&as_sdt=2000
Atul Gawande (also a retired physician) offers a reflective summary on
the subject in the New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/12/14/091214fa_fact_gawande?printable=true]
The President is rumored to have required his staff to read the
following briefing by academic Ronald Brownstein:
http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/11/a_milestone_in_the_health_care_journey.php
And last but not least, the Wikipedia article has quite a long,
comprehensive overview of the subject:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_reform_in_the_United_States
Sorry these aren't discussion articles (but they are intelligent!).
The comments on Reddit are the best discussions I've come across on
the subject.
Daniel Habtemariam
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