patrick.net

"Are you kidding? So you draw the distinction between current pay and pension? Pension is an earned benefit. It HAS to be counted the same as pay. How can you not count it as part of defense budget or national defense or whatever you want to call it?"

You implied that I claimed that current pay was not part of the defense budget. I did no such thing. My claim was solely about retirees. Nonetheless, after doing some more research, it looks like we are both technically correct and incorrect in certain aspects. The followng link provides detailed explanation: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/crs/crs_ib85159.pdf, but basically:

* Decades ago, retiree pay was in fact included in the DoD budget.
* This was changed to an accrual method, where the current personnel cost includes a component to cover future retirement, and that component is put into a special fund (part of the general fund but outside of DoD).
* Now actual military retirements are paid out of the mandatory/non-discretionary portion of the general fund (or total budget), not out of current-year DoD budgets.
* The link above put outlays in 2004 at about $12.5B from the DoD budget but $36.7B from the total budget. Since the $12.5B is like a "tax" on DoD that eventually helps fund the non-DoD/mandatory budget for military retirements, it is not clear whether, when looking at a total defense cost, the net expenditures are actually $36.7B - $12.5B but I assume so. If the accrued money is coming out of the DoD budget back to the general fund, then counting the DoD budget + retirement costs as actual expenditures of taxpayer money would double-count the DoD "tax."

So... my arguments about which part of the budget retiree pay falls into was a waste of time and I apologize for that. For argument's sake, I accept that we can consider it for all intents and purposes part of the "defense budget" although technically it is not because it is not in DoD's budget (except for the accrual). My thinking on the matter - right or wrong - was that retiree benefits are fixed and cannot be changed from budget to budget without impacting those already retired, and that this does not contribute to current defense operations. Nonetheless, Let's round up the amounts in this paper to what might be a reasonable estimate today: (I have not checked, but the projection in the link is $37.6 in FY05): $50B. Let's even say $100B. These numbers are much smaller than I ever assumed them to be.

So how again does the defense budget come out to be over 1/2 of the Federal budget? Only with creative statistics like including the entire budget of DHS despite such a small portion that is relevant to it, including any possible component of any other agency that may somehow contribute to defense without offsetting defense contributions to non-defense functions or activities, etc.

The argument was that the "defense budget" was over 1/2 of the Federal budget. This is based on what, in real numbers? It is in reality, not even close.

AdHominem says

Paralithodes says

Zlxr says

Disease is so expensive because today we treat mostly the symptoms - NOT the cause.
Our Drs. today understand prescribing drugs and surgery over other options.

It is also expensive today because there are many more treatments - some of which happen to be expensive - that did not exist years ago. There are treatments, equipments, medicines, etc., that only came into existence within the lifetimes of many posting here.

Could these prices be so high in the absence of third party (insurance and Federal assistance) that insulate the public from realizing the majority of the cost?

Certainly not. I am only pointing out that there are other variables that contribute. I believe the separation of the health care consumer from the cost he/she is incurring on the system is a larger contributor. I can think of no one I know - liberal or conservative, and including myself - who is particularly concerned about what their individual health care actually costs the whole system because it is covered by insurance.

Paralithodes says

AdHominem says

Paralithodes says

Zlxr says

Disease is so expensive because today we treat mostly the symptoms - NOT the cause.

Our Drs. today understand prescribing drugs and surgery over other options.

It is also expensive today because there are many more treatments - some of which happen to be expensive - that did not exist years ago. There are treatments, equipments, medicines, etc., that only came into existence within the lifetimes of many posting here.

Could these prices be so high in the absence of third party (insurance and Federal assistance) that insulate the public from realizing the majority of the cost?

Certainly not. I am only pointing out that there are other variables that contribute. I believe the separation of the health care consumer from the cost he/she is incurring on the system is a larger contributor. I can think of no one I know - liberal or conservative, and including myself - who is particularly concerned about what their individual health care actually costs the whole system because it is covered by insurance.

So we are seeing that socialism is pushing up prices, because no one is accountable for the true cost of their own care and therefore there is little or no incentive to keep costs down, live a healthy lifestyle etc...

Socialism is failing us again.

Here's one explanation:

The "Real" Defense Budget
A number of budget analyst point out that the "real" defense department budget should include $7.1 billion for the Coast Guard and a number of other defense related items included in the $33 billion Homeland Security budget. From the Energy Department budget, we should also add $6.4 billion for operating America's arsenal of nuclear warheads and $795 million for maintaining the nuclear reactors on U.S. Navy ships. The $80 billion authorized for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is also not included. This amount was approved in a "supplemental" spending bill outside the annual budget authorization.
Added together, real annual spending on U.S. defense is well over half a trillion dollars. According to Dr. Cindy Williams of M.I.T., this means the U.S. spends more on its military than all other governments in the world combined spend on their militaries. A more radical organization, the War Resisters League, says U.S. military spending is actually over $1 trillion every year... because they add in the current cost of past wars including all spending on veteran's retirement and healthcare plus 80% of the interest paid on the national debt (since the debt was accumulated largely for military spending).

Here's another take.

http://www.borgenproject.org/Defense_Spending.html

I could find others if you'd like...

Zlxr says

I’m all for Health Care. I just want Well Care and Alternative Care to be included.

Absolutely.

Zlxr says

My Grandmother raised her own food. My Mom said that everything they ate was picked and cooked about 2 hours or less before they ate it. She also did not use chemicals and she understood the use of herbs if an ailment should arise.

There is something intensely un-American about this, or at the very least, something un-Obamabot. If you don't eat junk food, you might be healthy and you won't be able to be fixed by Obamacare. And not using chemicals in your food? That sounds radical. Your entire family should be hauled away for re-education and forced to eat dozens of Big Macs.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/04/09/Planting-the-Garden/

Obviously, your constant criticism of has worn them down. Retroactively.

Nomograph says

As I’ve said before, the distorted and convoluted arguments ALWAYS distill down to a single point: somebody might get health care who they feel do not deserve it for whatever reason.

Once again you are wrong. It is not about who gets "care". It is about personal choice, the freedom to pursue or not pursue the care of your own choosing. It is also about the freedom to use the fruits of your own labor as you see fit.

You try to pigeon hole everyone in this neat little diagnosis out of your text book or lizard brain. The world is much bigger than your way of thinking. Freedom includes the freedom to fail or succeed. When government/PtB decides that no one can fail to get health care, they take away the right to fail, (or even succeed seeing as how gubmint care will very likely not be the best care available but rather some bureaucrats wet dream) let alone the right to choose alternatives to Obamacare and use your income as you see fit.

AdHominem - FREEDOM is kryptonite to liberals. They can't stand it. It destroys them.

Abe

I'm a Victim says

You try to pigeon hole everyone in this neat little diagnosis out of your text book or lizard brain. The world is much bigger than your way of thinking.

I'm sure that Nomo appreciates your input, as well as your baseless accusations and relentless inability to have a discussion without resorting to personal attacks.

Dishonest Abe says

AdHominem - FREEDOM is kryptonite to liberals. They can’t stand it. It destroys them.
Abe

Kryptonite? Really? A fictional element is what you use to assert your opinion? Do you really expect to be taken seriously?

Elli May says

without resorting to personal attacks.

Like Rambo said, "You drew first blood."

But beyond that your way of thinking is so warped that you cannot accept the fact that others (indeed the founders of this very nation) thought very differently than you. In fact they fought to escape an environment that people of your stripe are trying to recreate. You deserve the America we have today with all its inequalities, injustices and debts, because you did not seek to protect the ideals this nation was founded on.

I guess if enough people mark your posts as impolite you'll be forced into moderation hell.

I guess if I'm impolite you are the devil's mistress.

like ellie said in another thread she is capable of even lower lows.

But I have a feeling this is all about the fact that you have no legitimate response to the revelation that your liberal utopia is all about using force to take from someone else. You can't handle freedom, in fact it scares you into submission to the PtB.

"I could find others if you’d like…"

No thanks, you've provided enough propaganda. Your numbers are complete stretches and your explanation is loaded with baggage. $7.1B for the Coast Guard should be part of the "defense department budget" despite that it's entire budget last year was about $10.5B and defense readiness is only 1/11 of its missions? For all we know, this $7.1B was the entire Coast Guard budget when it was written. What other parts of DHS should go towards defense? Why list the $33B (which includes CG already) when the remainder would be extremely small? Are costs at other agencies (including retirement costs) adjusted to reflect payments from DoD to those other agencies or funds? If not, why not, because the numbers are double-counted? And 80% of the interest is attributed to military spending though 80% of the budget is not military-related? Talk about lying with statistics....

BTW, the borgenproject link claims that national defense takes up 50% of the DISCRETIONARY budget.

So again, if you are going to make an argument that "national defense" takes up over 50% of the entire budget, please define what you consider "national defense" and provide clear numbers with the proper ajustments, not generalities like that the Coast Guard's budget is mostly (or all) "national defense."

Honest Abe says

AdHominem - FREEDOM is kryptonite to liberals. They can’t stand it. It destroys them.
Abe

That is a good one. So, are you then implying that liberals are Supermen?

^ I am SO stealing that

tatupu70 says

That is a good one. So, are you then implying that liberals are Supermen?

I'm sure you've offended elliemae with your politically incorrect use of "superMEN." Was this just a slip or were you attempting to offend? I don't know. I think "Superpersons" would have been much more appropriate.

AdHominem says

So we are seeing that socialism is pushing up prices, because no one is accountable for the true cost of their own care and therefore there is little or no incentive to keep costs down, live a healthy lifestyle etc…
Socialism is failing us again.

The origin of the "moral hazard" term everyone loves so much? It comes from the 19th century fire insurance industry where the worry was too much fire insurance led to carelessness about fires. The phenomenon you describe is more correctly attributed to any sort of INSURANCE but particularly comprehensive with low deduductibles. So it's not at all an aspect of socialism and is present in capitalist insurance as well. The term has spread to be used in pop culture now for just about anything.

Ellie,elliemae says

AdHominem says

elliemae says

The reason that it doesn’t work in reality is that you can’t afford your own medical care. You will be bankrupted overnight and become completely dependent on the state…

Lets assume you are correct. Why can’t I afford my own health care?

This topic has been beaten to death - yet here we go again:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/american_journal_of_medicine_09.pdf
http://www.wowowow.com/politics/got-serious-illness-you-may-go-bankrupt-your-medical-bills-312694
In fact, in 2007, of those who filed for bankruptcy, about 80 percent had insurance. Consider these numbers: In 2007, medical problems contributed to 62.1 percent of all bankruptcies, and during the six years prior, the proportion of all medical-related bankruptcies rose by about 50 percent. Many others had to file because they lost much of their income due to illness, or mortgaged a home to pay their doctor’s bills. And these people aren’t poor — most, in fact, were well-educated, middle-class homeowners.
The Washington Post has the full study here. The New York Times notes that the health problems that left patients with the most out-of-pocket expenses were:
Neurologic (i.e., multiple sclerosis): $34,167

Diabetes: $26,971

Injuries: $25,096

Stroke: $23,380

Mental illnesses: $23,178

Heart disease: $21,955
The amounts are out-of-pocket expenses, not total expenses. Diabetes can cost as much as $1,000 per month, not counting the misc extras.

Yes Elli, disease treatment is expensive. Why is it so expensive?

AdHominem says

Why is it so expensive?

How much is your health worth to you? In a free market, service providers will attempt to set that price level, to varying degrees of success.

Nomograph says

Do you actually expect us to believe that your hobby is looking at old photographs of crowds from 1920 to 1950, RayRay?

I didn't say it was my "hobby" NomoNomo. Try to comprehend what you are reading.

Nomograph says

Personally, I’m more concerned about the 99% of Americans who DO deserve health care. I don’t spend much time worrying about the other 1%, but if that is what you want to spend your life on, be my guest. I’m sure it will work out wonderfully for you.

There you go again with your imagination. I don't "worry" about anything. You claim 99% of Americans "deserve" health care. What are you basing that assertion on? Please be specific. LOL

Ad homo:

You asked wAdHominem says

Lets assume you are correct. Why can’t I afford my own health care?

...and I answered. As I mentioned, this topic is a dead cat on the road of life. The more you run it over the flatter it gets - but people still run it over and then apparently expect it to jump up and run away or something. Maybe this topic has 9,000 lives?

Yet you ask why healthcare is so expensive. You are fully capable of finding out the answer - feel free to search Patnet for answers. Or go online to find out this info. You will believe what you want, and will make personal attacks on those who disagree with your point of view. But it doesn't change the system.

Healthcare should never be an option. EVER. Not for the poor, not for the rich. Not for the illegals, not for the pillars of the community. People who choose to work in the field should be paid; and those who devote years of their lives honing their skills should be paid accordingly. We spend an awful lot of money on people whose responsibility it is to deny benefits and commissions to people who call an 800# to sign up for a certain type of insurance - this is money that could be used to pay for actual care.

RayAmerica says

I didn’t say it was my “hobby” NomoNomo. Try to comprehend what you are reading.

Seriously, "comprehend?" I'd say that he does. I love the english language. You might want to try learning it.

elliemae says

I love the english language. You might want to try learning it.

Obviously, you've been sitting by the phone all this time and Brad Pitt hasn't called. It has made you very, very bitter. Give it up and move on dot org.

elliemae says

This is a constructive criticism, not a verbal attack such as you use (”very, very bitter”).

A fine example of a very sincere leftist that is offering "constructive criticism" out of the goodness of a caring, sharing, leftist warm and fuzzy heart. LOL

Aw, you like me!

elliemae says

I love the english language. You might want to try learning it.

How, may I ask, do you know whether or not I'm of Hispanic origin? Your challenge to learn English would be a highly offensive, politically incorrect, xonophobic, downright mean and nasty comment ... that is of course if I were Hispanic. Intente por favor ser un poco más sensative.

RayAmerica says

elliemae says

I love the english language. You might want to try learning it.

How, may I ask, do you know whether or not I’m of Hispanic origin? Your challenge to learn English would be a highly offensive, politically incorrect, xonophobic, downright mean and nasty comment … that is of course if I were Hispanic. Intente por favor ser un poco más sensative.

Really?

I could ask you to show where, in any of my posts, I assume what your nationality might be. But that would be too easy.

"xonophobic?" elliemae says

your message, if you have one, is lost in your lack of command of the english language and sentence structure.

I could do this for hours - but fortunately, I have a pressing engagement.

elliemae says

“xonophobic?”

So sorry elliemae .... I needed an "e" there instead of that "o." Looks like you've won again!

Yea that happens alot. I'll be gone for awhile - hope you'll be okay without me. Seems like you need someone to fight against to validate your existence.

elliemae says

This is a constructive criticism, not a verbal attack such as you use

elliemae says

Seems like you need someone to fight against to validate your existence.

Case closed. NEXT.

elliemae says

alot

uhhhh, it's a lot as in two words, not one word Little Miss Spelling Bee Champion. LOL !!

Oops. You are correct. I left out a space.

So - you were right once. Congrats! Mark this date on your calendar, as it doesn't happen often. RayAmerica says

elliemae says

This is a constructive criticism, not a verbal attack such as you use

elliemae says

Seems like you need someone to fight against to validate your existence.

Case closed. NEXT.

Exactly what case did you close? And why does it matter? Or should I ask, to whom does it matter? Certainly not to me - and it's obvious that you really want to matter to me. Otherwise, why do you post ridiculous statements on the interweb? Judging from the underwhelming response you receive, it doesn't impress many of us.

But I do enjoy discussing your sentence structure with you. Hopefully you will learn something - perhaps how to use the interweb to access help with your writing - that will enable you to further your professional career. Knowing that I'm a positive influence on you makes me warm & fuzzy inside.

elliemae says

Yet you ask why healthcare is so expensive. You are fully capable of finding out the answer -

Yes, But I want to know why YOU think health care is too expensive? Because YOU want to solve a problem with government interference. But in order to solve the problem we first need to understand it. So again I ask why is health care so expensive?

Top 10 reasons health care is expensive:

1. Medical School Tuition (Higher education tuition is in a lending bubble)
2. Medical Mal Practice Insurance (Thank you John Edwards)
3. Inflation
4. The Medical Establishment is the most protected and restrictive establishment in this country
5. Insurance Companies acting as criminal enterprises refusing to pay doctors.
6. Doctors price gouging to recover the cost off treating those who don't pay
7. The FDA regulates the industry to death
8. Medicare/Medicaid pay doctors next to nothing for services
9. The Elderly
10. The American Diet

You forgot one Oak. There is no real substitute for health care. If you get sick, you HAVE to use the health care system. They have monopoly power.

tatupu70 says

You forgot one Oak. There is no real substitute for health care. If you get sick, you HAVE to use the health care system. They have monopoly power.

Yeah, and don't forget the food service system. They have a monopoly on food!! If you get hungry there is no real substitute. When you are hungry you HAVE to buy food from a food retailer. We really should regulate those restaurants and grocery stores because they have monopoly power.

So again I ask why is health care so expensive?

Why wouldn't it be? Is there nothing not as important as your health or the health of a loved one?

While a new filling might only cost $50 in materials and labour, its utility is worth many tens of thousands to me. And that's a relatively minor health ailment.

Demand is completely inelastic and supply is relatively limited!

Basic economics tells us we're lucky to have the prices we do now, LOL.

There's only two options. Rigorous extra-market (ie GOVERNMENT) cost controls, optionally coupled with insurance mandates, or complete deregulation a la the deregulation of the mortgage market accomplished by the Republicans 1998-2003 in the hopes that new service providers will drive down profit margins.

Libertarians gravitate toward the latter because they are ideologues with their heads in cloud-cuckooland and therefore unable to learn from the real-world policy successes of the socialized systems -- from Japan to [er, I was going to say Ireland but their public system isn't that good] Norway.

Prices aren't high because of tuition (that's mistaking the cart for the horse), malpractice (less than 0.5% of costs go to malpractice), inflation (costs are rising many multiples of CPI), the FDA (the FDA is run by the industry). [Though I have to agree with Oakman that elderly + obesity is a big combo. The Medicare trust fund is going to be blown through later this decade, right when the baby boomers are entering their 60s.]

Disease itself isn't necessarily costly, as long as it kills quickly. Obesity adds a variety of syndromes that increase demand for care over longer periods of time and thus greatly increases health care costs.

You want to fix our system, study other systems and learn from them.

AdHominem says

We really should regulate those restaurants and grocery stores because they have monopoly power.

Jesus Christ you are a f---ing retard. This country is overflowing in food and productive farmland. The shit literally grows on trees.

The barriers to entry as a farmer or food preparer are minimal. Labor involves common household operations like turning on a stove and carrying a plate. We as a nation import millions of unskilled farmworkers to harvest the shit. We individually purchase food many times a day and can judge quality and value for our money trivially. Hunger is a trivially cured ailment.

Food service and medical service are two different planets, anybody who confuses the two has NO F---ING clue of the real world or economics.