The Pursuit of Happiness and Health Care Reform

This argument needs to be louder (4.00 / 1)

Every business I know of complains about health insurance costs. GM, famously, claims health insurance adds $1,500 to the cost of every car. Why isn't GM helping out in the effort?

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by: JimC @ Mon Jul 27, 2009 at 15:14:28 PM CDT

So true (4.00 / 1)

Real economic growth comes from three things:

Increased population (neutral in of itself)

Technological development increasing productivity

Increased productivity through increased market efficiency or smoothness

That third one: aside from being good for the people, which is a good enough reason on its own, a robust public option increases the efficiency of the labor market, which in turn results in less lost potential productivity. Let's not even mention the incredible amount of inefficiency in the private insurance system itself—every doctor employs a billing specialist just to deal with it!

It does occur that small companies, with their smaller insurance pools, are at a great disadvantage in the current system compared to large firms. Indeed, this is probably why Republicans are unalterably opposed; modern Republicans are pretty much bought and paid for. Democrats have this pesky habit of being somewhat concerned with policy...

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by: Mormo @ Mon Jul 27, 2009 at 16:40:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

There are no free-market conservatives (0.00 / 0)

Only big business conservatives.

Seriously, a free market works great for economic growth but doesn't work well for infrastructure, including the infrastructure of the market. Indeed, it's natural and appropriate for companies to try to become monopolies (outcompete everybody else!), thereby destroying the free market...it's the regulated free market that works, not the glibertarian one.

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by: Mormo @ Mon Jul 27, 2009 at 16:45:48 PM CDT

Senators' Public Option Petition (0.00 / 0)

Not a big online petition fan, but when these three call, I answer. -JM

(h/t  thenekkidtruth)
Schumer, Leahy and Durbin Launch Website - A Call To ACTION !!

With nearly 50 million Americans lacking health insurance, and premiums rapidly rising, it's time to address the health care crisis in our country. All Americans deserve access to affordable, quality health care -- and today, nearly one-in-six of us don't have it.

I join Senators Durbin, Leahy, and Schumer in their efforts to pass strong health care reform legislation this year. In particular, I support the creation of a public health insurance option that would foster greater competition in the marketplace, create more choices for consumers, and lead to lower costs and better quality for all.

Please reform our health care system this year!

Signed by:
[Your name]

Whack-a-mole, anyone?

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 11:17:35 AM CDT

Called Gregg's office (0.00 / 0)

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by: lymie @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 16:05:34 PM CDT

I called Gregg's office (0.00 / 0)

Oops, let's try again.

I tried to be polite and I said, I knew there was little point in telling him I wanted a public healthcare option.  The intern told me that JG supported health care reform.  I replied that without a public option JG only supported health insurance reform.

The intern in Gregg's office told me that that it was a nonsequitur and that I was being illogical.  Kid goes to Georgetown.  I told him he sounded like a brat.

Gee, you think they would teach them to just say, "thank you, have a nice day."

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by: lymie @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 16:09:58 PM CDT