11/8/09: I’m happy, kind of.

// November 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I’m pretty happy right now.  The House just passed the epic healthcare reform bill and kept public funding of abortions out of it.  I’m having a stream of thoughts as I watch this unfold on TV and the web though:

People who complain about the government take over of health care and offer instead that the private sector is a better solution should keep in mind the free market approach got us into this in the first place.

I think the Republican complaint that government shouldn’t get involved is just silly.  They make points including government will be wasteful, inefficient, incompetent etc.  I understand the concern – but isn’t that also saying that Republicans themselves are probably about half of that problem (other half being the Democrats as we have a lovely 2 party system)?  The reality here is the government is already responsible for a lot.  A ton.  Trillions actually.  If we already must trust them with things as important as our national security then perhaps the real issue is holding our government more responsible instead of putting less on their plate.  Why can’t our government be afraid of what we think like some other countries – I think that’d be great.  A “truer” democracy IMHO.

Related to the last item (if you want to talk about the private sector being more efficient with health care than the public sector): We spend hundreds of billions on wars and if the private sector is so efficient then why don’t we privatize the military too?  We allocate hundreds of billions here – we ought to be able to save a ton!  Now, this would be a horrible idea – I think most would agree with that – because our security and our health shouldn’t make people rich – it should not be profitable.  They’re both (healthcare and security) rights every American is due and should all contribute towards.  (Couple notes: I know there are private contracts in Iraq etc so my insinuation that the military is entirely publicly run isn’t entirely true.  Also, on the topic of wars – I find it interesting that the GOP was fine charging up the wars on our nation’s charge card – why isn’t our own health worthy of this?)

I hate the lobbies.  Some of what the big lobbies get away (on both sides!) should be criminalized.  Clink go the handcuffs.

I hate earmarks – it’s going to be a shame when a bunch get tagged along to this bill in the Senate.  It’s baloney.

I don’t fully understand how a private system would work better anyway.  Any private system will inherently put shareholders over policyholders.  How is that an ideal system?  Profit cannot serve as the reward, goal, or incentive.  Private insurance is a simple operation: less paid in claims/for care = more profit.  The system needs to put patients first.  I think profits need to be taken out of the equation.  Bottom line.  But it should be noted that’s not what this bill is going to do.  Ugh for me.

The government doesn’t innovate!  They’re going to kill us all with crappy care!  We’ll let’s keep in mind the government isn’t taking over the system with this new bill.  They’re offering a public option with the goal of stimulating competition in an industry enjoying massive profits.  Now some say that “It is the U.S. government — via the Energy and Defense departments, the National Institutes of Health, and the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs [who] provide money to support research and development in government-funded national labs, at universities and in industry that are largely the driving forces for our nation’s innovation.”  I believe, like with defense, innovation will continue if the government takes this over.

Is everyone aware that these private insurance companies are printing millions (tens of millions for some) in pure profit every single day!  Since the companies are public – look up their quarterly tax filings.  The SEC provides us with Edgar online – access to all public filings.  Pick an insurance company and pull up their most recent 10-Q (quarterly filing).  The drill into the Income Statement – you’re looking for Net Income (or Net Earnings, same thing).  Look for the column showing the most recent quarter (3 months) – and keep in mind this figure will be in millions – so 1,000 is really a billion dollars.  Now Net Income or Net Earnings are what the company has left over after they paid their bills, interest on debt, employees etc.  This is profit – pure and simple.  1 billion per quarter is 11 million a day – in profit, not revenue!  Are you really okay with that kind of money going to top investors and to top management (through performance based bonuses) because of your health?  I’d bet these profits go more towards the top 2% of earners than the lower class – so who is really cashing in on care here?  Um…not me so that’s a problem

This bill isn’t anti-Freedom.  You know what’s anti-Freedom?  Being a diabetic who can’t get insurance because I was born with a pre-existing condition.  Or how about a family who is left without insurance because the mother/father/both lost jobs.  Fox News and CSPAN callers fail here.

People love Medicare and Medicaid – whenever you talk about touching those people freak out.  I especially hate the commercials with old people complaining that we need to protect the greatest generation’s right to healthcare during retirement.  I don’t think we’re kicking you to the curb here – so first off calm down.  Secondly, I am paying for your retirement already – keep in mind I am paying Social Security and might not ever see that money out the other end.  Also – your generation has charged enough to my generation’s charge card – so zip it and let us in on what you’re fighting so hard to protect.  If I had a grandparent alive I might put this more gently – but I don’t and am assuming they understand what I’m saying (plus they have to forgive me in heaven right?)

I like the approach businesses take when making big decisions – you first look for best practices in the market – it’s always a great reference or starting point.  It would seem that countries like Italy, the Netherlands, France, the UK etc. would be great places to start.  These countries rank towards the top of all the lists – and more importantly they always beat out the US system.  It should be noted the most common system in these top countries is a form of nationalized coverage.  But again this bill doesn’t even take us that far – so chillax folks.

Cost, cost, cost!  We’re spending too much!  I understand the concern.  But rather than harp on the 1 trillion dollar price tag – let’s keep in mind 2 other really important points.  The CBO says (a) health care costs are rising fast and consuming a larger and larger portion of the federal budget and (b) this bill “would yield a net reduction in federal budget deficits of $109 billion over the 2010-2019 period.”

I hate US media.  My stance is – you’re always going to remove other’s bias if you go right to the CBO, independent polls, (some) non-US news sources etc. to get your info.  It honestly concerns me that people who get their news solely from Bill O’Reilly or Keith Olbermann have the same weight in their vote as some of the rest of us.

That’s all – I’m tired and going to bed.  Apologies for typos or grammar errors – it is past 1am right now.