tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893272060787897238.post8175595616830219843..comments2024-03-19T08:42:45.690-04:00Comments on The Delaware Libertarian: Health care and personal responsibility: a few semi-random considerationsSteven H. Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09097470960863103473noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893272060787897238.post-28594539734237419702008-12-01T13:00:00.000-05:002008-12-01T13:00:00.000-05:00Fair enough. It's just that I'm starting to think...Fair enough. It's just that I'm starting to think we might be onto something with our posts/solutions. I don't claim to have all the answers. In fact, I believe some of the best solutions are achieved when opposing viewpoints hash the problems out.<BR/><BR/>Oh my... did you say a WEEK of in-laws?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893272060787897238.post-17690338921770671772008-12-01T12:21:00.000-05:002008-12-01T12:21:00.000-05:00Naw, pandora--I just finished a full week of inlaw...Naw, pandora--I just finished a full week of inlaws in my house and such writing as I did here was almost purely responsive rather than original. I'm afraid this discussion will get quite attenuated over time, because health care is one of those issues where you actually have to take your time and do your research.<BR/><BR/>Bear with me.Steven H. Newtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09097470960863103473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893272060787897238.post-56893408318297899912008-12-01T11:41:00.000-05:002008-12-01T11:41:00.000-05:00Steve, I'm starting to get a complex. Do you con...Steve, I'm starting to get a complex. Do you consider my response so off the mark that answering me is pointless? ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893272060787897238.post-43981250413216668842008-11-30T08:48:00.000-05:002008-11-30T08:48:00.000-05:00Okay, let me try this again.First, there are no si...Okay, let me try this again.<BR/><BR/>First, there are no simple answers. Both of our solutions will create problems since there will always be people who abuse ANY system. I tend to be uncomfortable with any law/system designed towards the fringe of the population. It's like the woman who uses abortion as her only method of birth control. I don't like that approach, but I don't want to focus on this extreme example when tackling the problem.<BR/><BR/>Will some people abuse a new healthcare system? Yes. Do some people abuse our current system? You betcha. Some people will always take advantage of any situation. Is it possible to take this group off the table for this discussion?<BR/><BR/>My biggest problem with healthcare is the insurance industry - talk about abuse - and their complete power over life and death. Even Doctors have been cut out of the decisions, instead Insurance Co. rely on their charts and tables to justify care... or lack of care.<BR/><BR/>It is this abuse that worries me most. In some ways I find parallels between the health insurance industry and the auto industry. Both of these groups have ignored the writing on the wall for quite some time, both knew they were offering a product that people were unhappy with, and both made no significant changes to ensure their own survival. (Perhaps, not the best comparison, but hopefully you can see my point.)<BR/><BR/>Healthcare has been building as an issue since the early 1990s. How has the Insurance Industry dealt with the possibility of its own extinction? By raising rates and cutting services. Have they made any consumer friendly changes? Have they tried to address the healthcare problem/cost facing individuals and business? Nope.<BR/><BR/>In fact, they've added big business to their enemy list. Really stupid. Twenty years ago people who worked for big companies didn't give health insurance a second thought - neither did their employer. Now the cost of health benefits is one of the main reasons companies cite for shipping jobs overseas - true or not, big business has tossed health insurers under the bus, and I'm not shedding a tear.<BR/><BR/>I don't have a perfect answer to this problem - I doubt there is a perfect answer. I just know something must be done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893272060787897238.post-50730067465070704532008-11-27T12:40:00.000-05:002008-11-27T12:40:00.000-05:00I see both our points. I think we're both talking...I see both our points. I think we're both talking about opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to being responsible. On your end there are those that should, but do/don't, and on mine there are those that would, but do/don't.<BR/><BR/>Shoot, gotta help with the turkey! Hold that thought!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com