posted September 11, 2008 21:02                      

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Originally posted by nibbler:
Lets look at a party whose mantra is "tax the rich, they don't pay enough"...

...If they really believed that the rich should pay more, why don't they?

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posted September 12, 2008 04:13                      

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Originally posted by nibbler:
well if we are trying to point out inconsistencies as a party, and not individuals who misbehave, Lets look at a party whose mantra is "tax the rich, they don't pay enough". How many multi-millionaire democratic congressman and senators hire tax attorneys and CPAs to avoid paying "too much" tax? Why doesn't Obama and his wife give a little extra in taxes since they make several million dollars a year?

If they really believed that the rich should pay more, why don't they?

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Hello nibbler, whatever happened to your former id "chesty"?

Your post certainly makes me feel fear for that oppressed and suffering minority, the billionaires should Obama come to power. However the super rich can take comfort from the fact that before the current downturn, though they amount to less than 1% of the working population, they appear to the only group in US society, that was better off than they were at the start of the Bush presidency. So I think they will get by.

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"Knowledge is Power. France is Bacon" - Milton

posted September 13, 2008 13:58                         

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September 12, 2008 04:13
Your post certainly makes me feel fear for that oppressed and suffering minority, the billionaires should Obama come to power.     ... though they amount to less than 1% of the working population.

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from "Mc Cain picks running mate"

September 03, 2008, 03:45
The point of the McKinsey report is that the US spends a lot more than other OECD countries for outcomes that are ... often worse than theirs. It is not unreasonable to conclude that there must be a better way.

Originally posted by ASM:
PS: Your statement "the US spends a lot more than other OECD countries for outcomes that are ... often worse" easily supports the premise that spending more does not mean "better."

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"Liberal" Idiot: If the government is allowed to search all medical records (claims) to investigate the billions of dollars of fraud and waste in medical care, then the invasion of privacy will be even worse than wire-tapping. Just spend more money without looking where it goes!!! It's the right thing to do!

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posted September 14, 2008 00:31                         

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Originally posted by ASM:
Why isn't "more efficient first" the better choice?

September 13, 2008 21:34
I'm pretty sure it's because our politicians are greedy bastards who allow their votes to be bought by special interest groups who have no interest in efficiency since those they represent are the ones who directly benefit from government waste?

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Originally posted by ASM:
If the government is allowed to search all medical records (claims) to investigate the billions of dollars of fraud and waste in medical care

September 13, 2008 21:34
You seem to be unaware of how this works. They already can investigate medical claims. That's what that paper you sign that authorizes your doctor/hospital/whatever to release records to your insurance is for. If you want to file a claim, you have to give that authorization. No way around it.

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They don't "investigate" medical claims. The government looks at the claim: Is the name in a database? Is the ID number in a database? Is the hospital approved for the service? Is that a service we pay for?     Ok! Give them the money!!!

Second, you sign to give the hospital/physicians access to your records (so they can get their money). If they're the ones scamming the system, then having them report fraud is like the fox guarding the hen house.

Currently, the government trusts the hospitals and physicians. The government doesn't say "we want to verify that patient _x_ received this list of treatments on the following dates" -- partly because the patient is supposed to authorize access to records first. Only if criminal charges are filed can the government ask for medical records (subpoena).

The total benefits paid per individual is only thing the government keeps track of (so they know when to stop paying).

There's no national medical record database yet, and one point of concern is the risk of such a system being compromised and violating privacy rights (which is a legitimate concern).

With respect to US health care, a major problem (IMNSHO) is the "we-can't-let-them-die" mentality. As a cynic, my question to the hospitals/physicians is: Do you care about the patients, or are you using them to get every dime you can from the government, the insurance companies, and everyone else?

Then there's the patients. Personal responsibility for one's own health should be a major factor. <rant> I think a HUGE dose of Amish life should be given to those who complain that it's not their fault for not taking care of themselves. </rant>

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Once a proud programmer of Apple II's, he now spends his days and nights in cheap dives fraternizing with exotic dancers....

posted September 14, 2008 00:34                      

Only ASM could describe the culture of waste and fraud that has flourished for 8 years under the Bush regime, then blame it all on "liberal idiots".

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P.J.O'Rourke:
Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, and then get elected and prove it.

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posted September 14, 2008 12:12                         

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September 14, 2008 06:03
Let's look at a few numbers: 2007 lobbying totals by industry
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$1,439,371,68 - Pharmaceuticals/Health Products

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from "Medicare Deceived Congress, Hid Fraud" (Daily KOS)

"The bad news is that Republican senators and Congress people are all over this, while Democratic politicians remain to be seen and heard from.  Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, lead the way in predicting upcoming hearings into bedeviled Medicare, a $466 billion program.

What's being done to address the mess?  Once again, it's Republican lawmakers who are leading the way. In June, [Mel] Martinez [R-FL] joined U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in sponsoring legislation that takes aim at fraud on major fronts..."

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Do you really believe that it's the "liberal idiots" ... who keep things the way they are now?

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Medicare and Medicaid can investigate a claim does not mean that they do.

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getting a physician to treat you without singing forms to allow the release of records

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posted September 14, 2008 19:50                         

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Hello nibbler, whatever happened to your former id "chesty"?

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posted September 14, 2008 20:45                      

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Originally posted by Xanthine:
As far as I can tell, it's just one more frakkin' form to sign. More dead trees, but nothing changed.

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posted September 14, 2008 22:11                      

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Originally posted by nibbler:
So back to the point of liberal Democrat millionaires who say, "the rich need to pay more" - Why do they hire tax professionals Like Wineberg, Solheim Howell & Shain to help them find 1 hunnert an fitty Gs in tax deductions?

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