patrick.net

^ yes, I am familiar with your ideology, and admire the fact that it is no longer practice anywhere in the world worth living doesn't faze you.

Me, I prefer how things are done in Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, the UK, France, Japan, Singapore.

Being a left-libertarian in the mold of Chomsky, I believe the Jefferson's "pursuit of happiness" includes access to that which is required to become and remain a productive member of society.

The Founding Fathers didn't set out in the late 18th century to create libertopia, and experiments in this direction ended rather badly, while statism was showed to result in greater human progress.

Now, if we could rein in the rentiers raping our economy (by instituting targetted taxes that break their parasitical business models), I'd like to think minarchy would have a chance in this world, ie if everyone had fair access to the wealth of the land and its resources we'd all be able to bootstrap to some utopia.

But I think that given the distribution of IQ -- half this country is, let's admit it, f---ing stupid, this is a pipe dream.

Troy,
I think it is mainly the unsound monetary system that allows the "rentiers" to retain their power. They are adept at manipulating government to rule in their favor and they run the FED (control the money supply) to stack the deck in their favor as well.

Leigh says

But in all seriousness, there have been numerous studies that show if you are healthy you live longer which makes you a bigger burden on the system. So smoke away, eat away and die quickly so you don’t use too many Medicare and SS dollars.

Health care costs are irrelevant unless and until they push ground rents to zero. Here where I am, family apartments built in the 1950s still rent for $1500, and of course houses built back then sell for $700,000 or so. IMO if we instituted mandatory health insurance that actually covered the costs of health care, rents would just fall to $1000 and houses to $500,000, and we'd have a much healthier system. Win-win.

All Taxes Come Out of Rents --what the taxman doesn't take the landlord or mortgage banker will.

This of course doesn't address the cost side of the ledger, where medicine is still an obscenely well-paying racket.

elliemae says

Sure there is. The mammogram itself is free. Whether someone chooses to charge for it or not is another story.

that is pure genius. apples are free, oil is free, soup is free even the koolade is free. Wait a minute, what about electricity, oh yeah that is free too? WHEEE! everything is free!

In that case I'll take one of everything.... Ah, make it two.

AdHominem says

hey are adept at manipulating government to rule in their favor and they run the FED (control the money supply) to stack the deck in their favor as well.

My only disagreement with this is that rentiers ARE the government -- damn near every politician is also a landlord or lawyer, usually both.

When I speak of predatory rentiers, I am mostly thinking of "investors" buying up SFH and other euphemistically-described "income properties". This activity is generally entirely parasitical in nature and has nothing to do with the Fed, debased currency.

Wait, I struck that last because I do see the general inflation we saw in the 20th century empowering the buy & hold strategy of real estate investment. Real Estate, of course, is the gold standard inflation hedge, better than gold itself, since they ain't making no more land.

AdHominem says

Wait a minute, what about electricity, oh yeah that is free too?

Well, for one, the capital and labor costs of a mammogram are rather minimal. $20,000 or so capital outlay is $16/day of its five-year service life. Labor is the dominant expense, and of course it takes much less labor to slap a boob into a machine than major surgery down the road.

Troy says

My only disagreement with this is that rentiers ARE the government — damn near every politician is also a landlord or lawyer, usually both.

Pretty much.

Troy says

Real Estate, of course, is the gold standard inflation hedge, better than gold itself, since they ain’t making no more land.

No they aren't making more land (except in Dubai). So yes land is a finite resource. But it does in general require more maintenance to to protect and defend than does gold. Also, they aren't making more gold either. They find a bit more, but it costs a lot to reach and purify it. So for all intents and purposes it can be considered a finite resource.

Land is more valuable than gold, if you need a place to live and grow food. But there is so much land that it is hardly scarce. On the other hand, if you need to move, well, you can't move land.

Troy says

AdHominem says

Wait a minute, what about electricity, oh yeah that is free too?

Well, for one, the capital and labor costs of a mammogram are rather minimal. $20,000 or so capital outlay is $16/day of its five-year service life. Labor is the dominant expense, and of course it takes much less labor to slap a boob into a machine than major surgery down the road.

Hey man, just giving her a dose of her own medicine.

I am for preventative medicine. I just think the benefits and costs should be borne by the patient, and or anyone else who FREELY CHOOSES to do so.

Speaking of mammograms and diagnostic imagining in general, I cringe to think of the added expense competition adds to health care. What I see happening in the Portland area is that each hospital wants to be #1. #1 in cancer care, #1 in cardiac care #1 in diagnostic imagining, etc.

So what does it take to be #1?

1) state of the art, top of the line equipment
2) well trained, top notch doctors, RN's, technicians, etc
3) a beautiful hospital with lots of granite and marble and private rooms (no room mates)

Feel free to add to the list.

This is all very expensive. Diagnostic equipment is a lot like your PC, it's outdated after a year, needs routine upgrades and maintainance. And specialist doc's, your talking $500K/year. And don't get me started on how much some of local hospitals have spent on remodels and upgrades and new buildings. You feel like you are walking into a high end spa sometimes. Cha ching!

Who's paying for it? Is this what competition gets us in health care?

Leigh says

Speaking of mammograms and diagnostic imagining in general, I cringe to think of the added expense competition adds to health care. What I see happening in the Portland area is that each hospital wants to be #1. #1 in cancer care, #1 in cardiac care #1 in diagnostic imagining, etc.
So what does it take to be #1?
1) state of the art, top of the line equipment

2) well trained, top notch doctors, RN’s, technicians, etc

3) a beautiful hospital with lots of granite and marble and private rooms (no room mates)
Feel free to add to the list.
This is all very expensive. Diagnostic equipment is a lot like your PC, it’s outdated after a year, needs routine upgrades and maintainance. And specialist doc’s, your talking $500K/year. And don’t get me started on how much some of local hospitals have spent on remodels and upgrades and new buildings. You feel like you are walking into a high end spa sometimes. Cha ching!
Who’s paying for it? Is this what competition gets us in health care?

The problem here is not the competition for business (although there could be more of that too if we would encourage rather than discourage it). It is there is no competition in price. It is set by the insurance company/government. Set too high perhaps in some cases? Fee for service (with no or low copay) encourage over utilization? Patient has no incentive to find best value either.

AdHominem says

I just think the benefits and costs should be borne by the patient, and or anyone else who FREELY CHOOSES to do so.

yes, we are aware that your ideology hasn't changed since yesterday. What you fail to address to us or apparently yourself is that it lacks an example of successful practice in the modern world.

AdHominem says

The problem here is not the competition for business (although there could be more of that too if we would encourage rather than discourage it). It is there is no competition in price. It is set by the insurance company/government.

What the services providers are doing is providing two-tier service.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33863680/ns/health-health_care/

Make the insurance-level service shitty enough that the premium care is worth the price to people who can afford it.

Troy says

AdHominem says

The problem here is not the competition for business (although there could be more of that too if we would encourage rather than discourage it). It is there is no competition in price. It is set by the insurance company/government.

What the services providers are doing is providing two-tier service.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33863680/ns/health-health_care/
Make the insurance-level service shitty enough that the premium care is worth the price to people who can afford it.

That is true, this is happening in a relatively small scale. Don't know of too many places like this with two doors. But that is what you get when you rely on insurance companies and/or the government to regulate care. The bean counters dictate prices, what is and isn't "covered" etc... This will always be the case as long as we have a middle man who collects our money instead of the paying the provider directly ourselves.

End third party payer, please don't expand it. More of the same will just get us more of the same. Furthermore it stifles innovation and encourages the be the best clinic mentality like Leigh pointed out.

What we need is a truly free market where people can shop around, compare ratings and prices, make a bid. Like priceline.com.

AdHominem says

What we need is a truly free market where people can shop around, compare ratings and prices, make a bid. Like priceline.com.

yes, because major surgery or a chemo series is just like flying to Vegas.

Do you actually read the stuff you write???

Troy says

AdHominem says

What we need is a truly free market where people can shop around, compare ratings and prices, make a bid. Like priceline.com.

yes, because major surgery or a chemo series is just like flying to Vegas.
Do you actually read the stuff you write???

It is that kind of inside the box thinking that will get you more bureaucracy and less choice. Keep it up brother.

Government intervention did not create google, viagra, or PC's. Government intervention created HMO's, Medicare, and endless involvement in foreign wars.

AdHominem says

overnment intervention created HMO’s, Medicare, and endless involvement in foreign wars.

As well as the internet, the electric grid along with the dams that provide electricity to most of the west, interstate highways, and tang. Pc's were partially made possible by government funding in basic research by the way. What's your point?

Gummint also created the first web server at CERN and the first web browser at UIUC. These are salutory examples, since the free market (Peace be upon it) of the time was busy futzing around with walled gardens and subscription services.

Ad Hom's anti-government rants when it comes to medicine are completely baseless since I can rattle off a dozen countries with better healtcare for more people than the US's quasi-public system provides.

Now, there are issues involved with scaling up socialized systems so that they serve all 300M of us here in the US.

But the Eurosocialist approach is basically ensuring access to that which is necessary to become and remain a productive member of society. This is possible with high(er) taxes. As I've stated here numerous times, I don't fear high taxes since it's my thesis, which I basically cobbled from Georgists like Mason Gaffney, that all taxes come out of rents (and land values).

Double taxes, land values and rents would be halved. Win/win, as long as the government spending goes into wealth-accruing investments like public education, health, energy, water, internal security, national defense, and transportation.

Historically, free market fundamentalism fails due to the latifundialization of the lower classes on the model of the Irish estates of the 18~19th centuries. Wealth concentrates ever upwards. In a democratic society, trust busters may arrive and reset the system, as the Republican trust-busters did at the turn of the 20th century. Or you might have an enlightened despot like Bismarck or Hitler attempt to coopt the leftists by instituting the material parts of the leftist "social safety net" agenda.

There are critical flaws with Eurosocialism, namely making it too easy for people to check out of being productive members of society and coast on the safety net.

Speaking of which, I've got to go. Been fun, AH.

Troy says

There are critical flaws with Eurosocialism, namely making it too easy for people to check out of being productive members of society and coast on the safety net.

At least we agree on this.

Troy says

s long as the government spending goes into wealth-accruing investments like public education, health, energy, water, internal security, national defense, and transportation.

Thats a big IF. And when I look at public education the larger our budget has become the lower Americans have scored against international peers. When I look at health the more government has gotten involved the higher prices have soared. When I look at energy and environment I see higher prices and more pollution than ever before despite regulations and EPA. When I look at "internal security" I am appalled a the loss of freedom and see little improvement in actual security. When I look at "national defense" I see Americans fighting foreign wars, one of which bankrupted the Soviets. When I look at transportation I see gridlock traffic, government workers leaning on shovels and bridges collapsing.

Way to go federal government! Sure there are some "successes" we could cite, but most anything government can do, free market can do better. It is more efficient at allocating resources. What we need is a sound monetary system that will allow a free market to work properly. End the FED and we can start on the road to recovery.

AdHominem says

I see higher prices and more pollution than ever before despite regulations and EPA.

You see more pollution than ever before?? You need your eyes checked.

tatupu70 says

AdHominem says

I see higher prices and more pollution than ever before despite regulations and EPA.

You see more pollution than ever before?? You need your eyes checked.

You’re so right. That giant plastic mass in the middle of the pacific is getting smaller every decade. Our rivers and lakes are cleaner than ever before. Our drinking water has no contaminants like prescription drugs in it. Lake Tahoe is bluer than ever before. Wow, the epa is doing such a great job. But again this thread is about the fact there is no such thing as a free mammogram. Unless of course Ellie is performing it.

AdHominem says

tatupu70 says

AdHominem says

I see higher prices and more pollution than ever before despite regulations and EPA.

You see more pollution than ever before?? You need your eyes checked.

You’re so right. That giant plastic mass in the middle of the pacific is getting smaller every decade. Our rivers and lakes are cleaner than ever before. Our drinking water has no contaminants like prescription drugs in it. Lake Tahoe is bluer than ever before. Wow, the epa is doing such a great job. But again this thread is about the fact there is no such thing as a free mammogram. Unless of course Ellie is performing it.

I actually check my breasts for lumps often - and I have someone to help me in case I get tired. Sometimes it takes hours... He's a giver.
Sure, there's pollution now. But imagine how it might be without the EPA. Look at a list of environmental disasters, and the US is down the list of countries with disaster areas. Imagine what it would look like without the EPA.

EPA !!! lmao .... Mt. St. Helens ... or Penatubo ... or name-the-vocanic-explosion-of-choice ,,, will they be getting a visit from the EPA ?? lmao. More cubic tons of crap than all of the Otto engines ever made X 100,000,000. So, please, please, please .. do not suggest the EPS made any special changes. If ANYONE wanted cleaner air they would have not allowed all of the mexicans to come here. Many drive poor running cars that only pass smog illegally at their cusins shop, the population increase they have made requires more truck and rail and plane traffic, and they add to traffic congestion and that kills MPG. The EPA dreamed up cat converters are very bad. They made car exhaust poison with the gas additives and the cat converters.

The cars make less junk per gallon thanks entirly to fuel injection and better ignition. Both improvements are racecar based and were done for performance, not EPA.

by the way, for extra credit, 1) what does a cat converter have in it, 2) those balls rub against eachother and make dust, what does the dust of that stuff do to people/skin/lungs, 3) where do they put the used ones? Thanks EPA!! (R. Nadar too - that dork)

Bap33 says

If ANYONE wanted cleaner air they would have not allowed all of the mexicans to come here.

Do you have a bumpersticker that says "Racism Rules?"

no ... why? Do you have a bumpersticker that says "Borders? We no need no steeenking borders!!" lol

besides, what race is mexican? If you were born in Juares, Mx, then you too would be a mexican. Pretty simple. No need for race baiting, Ellie. Pretend I wrote "Canadians", and pretend we have a invasion problem from the north. That better? Geeze.

Did you have a nice CHRISTmas?

Bap33 says

Did you have a nice CHRISTmas?

Festivus was lovely, thank you. George was a little outta hand, but otherwise it was wonderful.

"they are real, and they are spectacular"
or
"Jerry, it moved. Is that "the sign"..?"
or
"The Big Salad"
or
"I was in the pool!!!"
or
"No Soup for You!!"
or .. the best ever ...
".... hmmm .... Mulva...?"

I mentioned the bisque.

Bap33 says

The cars make less junk per gallon thanks entirly to fuel injection and better ignition. Both improvements are racecar based and were done for performance, not EPA.

by the way, for extra credit, 1) what does a cat converter have in it, 2) those balls rub against eachother and make dust, what does the dust of that stuff do to people/skin/lungs, 3) where do they put the used ones? Thanks EPA!! (R. Nadar too - that dork)

Actually multipoint sefi fuel injection and electronic ignition did come about to meet EPA standards. There was no way to get enough control of fuel mixtures to meet the tightening standards with a carb. Car makers would have much preferred to stay with carbs which are simpler and a lot cheaper. Race cars of the mid 80's used carbs or mechanical injection.

Catalytic converters have a honeycomb of platinum in them, not loose balls. There is no dust and no reason they should not last the life of the car. That is the entire meaning of the word catalyst. The used ones are recycled. People actually steal them, they are worth money.

This past weekend I spoke with some visitors from London. Surprisingly they think we have the best health care in the world here in the USA. Imagine that!

They also spoke of how similar the US is to European systems when it comes to welfare. The harder you work, the more taxes you pay, the higher your housing, health care, and other expenses and costs are etc... but in England (and the USA I would add) if you just want to sit on your "dignity" all day long, you can live off someone else's dollar/sterling.

AdHominem says

This past weekend I spoke with some visitors from London. Surprisingly they think we have the best health care in the world here in the USA. Imagine that!

AdHominem says

The harder you work, the more taxes you pay, the higher your housing,

housing costs are taxes are something of a zero-sum thing.

AdHominem says

This past weekend I spoke with some visitors from London. Surprisingly they think we have the best health care in the world here in the USA. Imagine that!

Oh, well if one unnamed person thinks something, then it must be true. All the scientific studies and comparative analyses must be mistaken. I stand corrected.

AdHominem, you should live in Alabama. They have a regressive tax system, you'd love it...but you get what you pay for;O)

AdHominem says

This past weekend I spoke with some visitors from London. Surprisingly they think we have the best health care in the world here in the USA. Imagine that!

If you have the right health care insurance and the live in the right place US health care is terrific. Did you ask them how much they would be willing to pay for the greatest health care in the world, talk is cheap.

Bob,
#1) racecars of the 50's had fuel injection. Racecars of the 60's had multipoint direct head injection AND multi spark mags. Fuel injection on the street was performance based first (50's) and fuel econ and EPA was just part of betr performance. EPA cafe crap made no improvements in anything, ever.
#2) Dude, I'm sorry, you are correct about a cat. These brand new cats have a pretty little honeycomb of platnum. Feel free the handle as you see fit and breath deeply when you remove a used one. Do so on a pre-85 carbed car if you would too, please. Nobody steels the older stuff. The new cars run so clean the cat is just added because some idiot demands it.

anyways ... what was my point again?? Oh ya, the EPA and smog laws on cars is a friggin joke.

everyone that needs a doc, sees a doc, in America.

Bap33 says

everyone that needs a doc, sees a doc, in America.

This isn't true. Many people have health insurance and will never know what its like to be sick, in pain, acutely or chronically ill without treatment. No moola, no treatment. That's what healthcare reform is about. Free clinics can't possibly help all the people out there, Medicaid programs don't cover younger people (18-65) nor does Medicare. People die without treatment every day in America.

Some people on this forum don't accept this, and I guess never will unless they lose their coverage. I do hope that never happens. However, another way to learn about this issue would be to contact a local free clinic and ask how you can help out. Spend a day with people who don't have healthcare coverage and are willing to wait all day to see a doctor, even though they can't afford the medications the doc prescribes. Why not put your money where your mouth is and do some actual research on the issue that doesn't include a conservative, anti-Obama, anti-healthcare reform website? This issue goes far beyond politics, and all the name calling and whining won't change the fact that people die every day in America because they can't afford to see a doctor, or dentist. Even people with healthcare, such as Medicare Advantage plans (HMO's heavily subsidized by you & me), deny treatment & benefits to people on a daily basis.

So, why not leave the comfort of your home, go to a free clinic and volunteer? or a homeless shelter and listen to the stories of the people who've lost everything, including their healthcare? Why not go to the ER and listen to people's stories? How about this one? http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/dec/23/woman-sues-umc-over-babys-death/

Ability to pay is a huge issue when healthcare is for-profit and no one's watching out for the little guy. Will the bill be anything close to what we need? Who knows. But it's a step in the right direction - healthcare should never be optional.

if I have to pay to keep someone alive, I should get to have input on how they care for themselves. But, I do not think it is right to have input over anyone elses health coice, so do not make me pay for others.
Leftists will be made to control costs in some manner. And we all know it.

By the way, I should have prefaced my post. Any human in California that needs a doc, sees a doc. If you need special treatment or meds you simply commit a crime and the treatment and all meds are covered while incarcerated --- including sex change hormones and crap like that. So, you are not correct ellie, the full care of anyone who wants it can be had. Will they have to give up something? Sure. Isn't that more fair? THe care is still supported by taxpayers, but at least the reciever has to put up something too. So, now we have a way for all who need meds and procedures to be covered ... why change?

Bap33 says

So, now we have a way for all who need meds and procedures to be covered … why change?

Again--do you really believe what you post? There are thousands of sob stories about people who got dropped by their insurance company after they got sick, or were denied coverage because of a "pre-existing condition". These people don't get treatment, and they die. You really need to get out more.

And don't you understand how insurance works? You pay a premium each month whether you receive any medical care or not. If you are healthy, your money pays for others who are sick. Then if/when you get sick, their money pays for you. Your whole "my money pays for someone else" argument is just rubbish.

again - all people die. No amount of treatment fixes death. The pre-existing condition called life, requires all to die.

secondly, insurance is a gamble on the part of both parties involved. The carrier is in the business to make money, so they want to limit their exposure. The customer is trying to protect their assets by limiting their exposure to medical costs. Any and all situations are spelled out in the plan you pay for. Not all plans are the best, but you get what YOU pay for, and I'll get what I pay for.

If you do not earn any or enough money for insurance, you get access to the EXACT same care as I do (in California). ANd that care is paid for by wealth transfers from working people (taxed welfare "programs"). My money pays for someone else's care - period. How you can say otherwise is odd, to say the least.

I have a sob story too ... it's about an open border allowing the invasion of my land .... and welfare abuse ..... and my vote being turned over on Prop 187 that would have halted both of those issues. Why are you not worried about me and my wellbeing?

Bap33, I would love to see stats re: illegal immigants and health care $$$, is it as much as many scream about it?!? I am an RN and work in a huge hospital in a metro area with many Hispanics (construction, landscaping, farming) and I can tell you that 'illegals make up less than 1% of my patient load.

I can also tell you that Medicare patients make up at least 50% fo my patient load and it seems that Medicaid makes up another 25%...heck, we are way more than half way to socialized medicine given those numbers.

And it just floors me to think so many do NOT even realize that Medicare IS socialized medicine/government run.

Bap33 says

again - all people die. No amount of treatment fixes death. The pre-existing condition called life, requires all to die

Not sure what your point is here...

Bap33 says

I have a sob story too … it’s about an open border allowing the invasion of my land …. and welfare abuse ….. and my vote being turned over on Prop 187 that would have halted both of those issues. Why are you not worried about me and my wellbeing?

Why am I not worried that something you didn't want got voted into law? Are you kidding? Cry me a river... That's not exactly the same as someone being allowed to die because their insurance carrier finds a loophole to avoid honoring their contract.