Comments on: John Edwards and “Dead Liver Girl” http://www.peoplefirstpolitics.com/john-edwards-and-dead-liver-girl/ Politics that put people first Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:39:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Aileen http://www.peoplefirstpolitics.com/john-edwards-and-dead-liver-girl/comment-page-1/#comment-518 Aileen Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:35:39 +0000 http://www.peoplefirstpolitics.com/john-edwards-and-dead-liver-girl/#comment-518 Okay, Caitlin. I slept on it and have to say the idea of insurance isn't such a bad thing. To get everyone to pay a little (but not enough to break them) into a central fund from which those who have something bad enough to break them happen can pay for the misfortune without going broke. It is a sound plan, it's just that it can't work to generate huge profits on a regular basis if indeed the pool belongs to those who paid into it instead of those who hold the money in reserve. If profits were just interest paid on the funds banked or in turn re-invested in 'safe' places, it would pay the holders and not leave the policyholders with nothing when disaster strikes. But the greed has become so unbridled in health insurance that it is now SOP for all companies to simply refuse to pay for anything - even while taking half their policyholders' incomes every month! Won't cover ER visits, stiched cuts, set bones, doctor's visits, medicines, tests, treatments... nothing. Unless you've enough money left over to hire a lawyer to sue them, and if you win the lawyer gets half of that so you're still SOL. That's no way to run a health care system. We are at the point now where the system is going to fall - the providers can't afford to keep providing what no one can or will pay for. When the hospitals close down, where will we be? Okay, Caitlin. I slept on it and have to say the idea of insurance isn’t such a bad thing. To get everyone to pay a little (but not enough to break them) into a central fund from which those who have something bad enough to break them happen can pay for the misfortune without going broke. It is a sound plan, it’s just that it can’t work to generate huge profits on a regular basis if indeed the pool belongs to those who paid into it instead of those who hold the money in reserve.

If profits were just interest paid on the funds banked or in turn re-invested in ’safe’ places, it would pay the holders and not leave the policyholders with nothing when disaster strikes. But the greed has become so unbridled in health insurance that it is now SOP for all companies to simply refuse to pay for anything – even while taking half their policyholders’ incomes every month! Won’t cover ER visits, stiched cuts, set bones, doctor’s visits, medicines, tests, treatments… nothing. Unless you’ve enough money left over to hire a lawyer to sue them, and if you win the lawyer gets half of that so you’re still SOL.

That’s no way to run a health care system. We are at the point now where the system is going to fall – the providers can’t afford to keep providing what no one can or will pay for. When the hospitals close down, where will we be?

]]> By: Aileen http://www.peoplefirstpolitics.com/john-edwards-and-dead-liver-girl/comment-page-1/#comment-514 Aileen Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:06:07 +0000 http://www.peoplefirstpolitics.com/john-edwards-and-dead-liver-girl/#comment-514 Well, the truth of the situation is that health insurance is a futures market in human suffering, with the suffering at a very significant disadvantage while CEOs and money market managers laugh all the way to the bank. It's a disgrace, a shame for all of us. One need only look at the actual statistics to see that we are at the bottom of the chart on health care, making that crazy "best health care in the world!" claim a laughable bit of satire. That said, we'll all die of something one of these days. Is it too much to ask to get our cuts stitched and our broken bones set without going bankrupt? That 40+ million Americans - including children - be able to see a doctor before they're dying of preventable or treatable diseases? Every other democratic government in the world can manage universal care. Why can't we? ANSWER: Because there's money to be made, and if there's money to be made those with money to lose have no business complaining. That's sick and wrong in my estimation. And before you echo my Mother in Law (haha!) to tell me how horrible "socialized medicine" is, I grew up in the Navy, and married a submariner. No, it's not the best of care and it's definitely a hassle, but it IS care when you need it. Compared to nothing at all, it's an improvement. Really. Thanks for the thoughts, I'll stew on possible better answers. Well, the truth of the situation is that health insurance is a futures market in human suffering, with the suffering at a very significant disadvantage while CEOs and money market managers laugh all the way to the bank. It’s a disgrace, a shame for all of us. One need only look at the actual statistics to see that we are at the bottom of the chart on health care, making that crazy “best health care in the world!” claim a laughable bit of satire.

That said, we’ll all die of something one of these days. Is it too much to ask to get our cuts stitched and our broken bones set without going bankrupt? That 40+ million Americans – including children – be able to see a doctor before they’re dying of preventable or treatable diseases? Every other democratic government in the world can manage universal care. Why can’t we? ANSWER: Because there’s money to be made, and if there’s money to be made those with money to lose have no business complaining. That’s sick and wrong in my estimation.

And before you echo my Mother in Law (haha!) to tell me how horrible “socialized medicine” is, I grew up in the Navy, and married a submariner. No, it’s not the best of care and it’s definitely a hassle, but it IS care when you need it. Compared to nothing at all, it’s an improvement. Really.

Thanks for the thoughts, I’ll stew on possible better answers.

]]> By: Caitlin http://www.peoplefirstpolitics.com/john-edwards-and-dead-liver-girl/comment-page-1/#comment-513 Caitlin Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:33:07 +0000 http://www.peoplefirstpolitics.com/john-edwards-and-dead-liver-girl/#comment-513 Just an idea: but what if we just got rid of insurance companies all together? Do you think that would help the healthcare crisis or hurt it? While I am absolutely not an expert on healthcare issues and how the whole system works, it seems as if the insurance companies drive up the price of healthcare. If insurance companies were suddenly boycotted by a significant number of people or outlawed all together would prices drop? Just an idea: but what if we just got rid of insurance companies all together? Do you think that would help the healthcare crisis or hurt it? While I am absolutely not an expert on healthcare issues and how the whole system works, it seems as if the insurance companies drive up the price of healthcare. If insurance companies were suddenly boycotted by a significant number of people or outlawed all together would prices drop?

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