Kerry endorses Obama Options

[Spectatrix]

For better or worse... hopefully this'll give Obama a boost over Clinton.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22590831/

[Psykopath]

Ah yes, Reaganistic fears: "The commies are coming! Oh noes oh noes!"

1. Not everyone wants healthcare. There are a good number of Americans who have no interest in getting health insurance, not even if it was mandatory. Why should those people pay into something that they will never use (this same concept can be used for those who don't want social security)? Also, will the government fine these people for not paying in? Hillary's language is pretty much "mandatory" healthcare while Obama's is more fuzzy.

OMG....are you actually trying to be serious with this statement?!?!?!?!?!?
I almost don't want to touch this one, because it's so hilariously wrong, for lack of a better term.
When someone gets hit by a car, finds out they have cancer at a routine check up, gets severe food poisoning, etc. etc. etc., do you think they would like a little healthcare then?
Nah, you're right....fuck it. Who needs healthcare?

2. The main problem isn't the healthcare system, the periphery is. The insurance and drug companies are the problem. Ever since 1997 when it became legal to advertise prescription drugs on television and billboards we have seen an increase in the cost of healthcare. The insurance companies saw potential and have stuck with it and they've ignored preventive care.

I agree with the bold part. Pharm and insurance companies care little if nothing for people anymore. Lightly treat during, instead of preventing. =(

3. People who need/want healthcare can get it for an inexpensive price tag, the problem is, they don't do it. There are lots of options for less expensive, good healthcare. I priced self-paid insurance for me this morning, $80/month with the benefits of everything I have at work right now.

Inexpensive for certain cases, ridiculous in others. It depends on a myriad of factors to qualify for "inexpensive" healthcare, and much of the language to work ones way through to see if you qualify is extremely confusing (again, fuck you insurance companies).

4. It is the first true step to socialism. We already have government intervention in other areas, now we're getting government intervention with possible mandatory participation. No thanks.

So Universal Healthcare = what? Stalin?
haha, wow.
Let's eliminate ALL socialsm in the US. No fire, police, libraries, museums, public schools, parks, etc. etc. etc.

5. Taxes. Anyone who does not think we will see a minor and even significant tax increase is sorely mistaken. Utopias of healthcare for everyone don't come cheap, just ask a Canadian, they pay nearly 50% of their income away in taxes, leading to retirement problems later on. Yeah, sure, when they're 80 they'll still have access to a hospital for "free" but they will also still be working.

Yep, taxes would increase...never said they wouldn't. (Unless they found some magical way to balance/correct the budget without all the wasteful spending of today.)
I think figures are being exaggerated though (on both sides of the argument) as far as actual tax amounts vs. income and all that.



From here it looks like roughly 25% of total taxes, income and NI, for what would equate to the average US income.

6. Waste. There is a lot of waste associated with universal healthcare. Again, ask a Canadian. Why? Well there is no incentive to produce anything efficiently or cheaply because it is government funds being used to pay for it.

Again, I think this is another point that is exaggerated.
Do you think there is no waste in our current system? Go to any medical themed facility (hospital, clinic, pharmacy, nursing home, etc.) in the US and you'll see there is lots of waste.





Sorry if I was an ass in this post. Just a little e-fun, Hartmann.

::EDIT::
FUCK, that graph came out horribly, at least with my backround. Sorry about that...

This post has been edited by Psykopath: Jan 10 2008, 04:52 PM