I wish you could. I need something to make me optimistic. Let Obama keep digging, though. That will give me hope.
Two thirds, Obama says, and much of the rest from waste elimination. It's not like we aren't spending more money per capita for health care than any country in the world already. Did you think that money would disappear?
Did he say it would curb it instantly? Only a small part has actually been spent yet. "Shovel-ready" projects is apparently a meaningless term.
There's a reason we pay the most for healthcare and it's because we have the best healthcare and we lead the world in researching and coming up with new techniques to battle diseases. Okay, so Obama's plan extends gov't participants, increases reimbrusements to hospitals (because hospitals will go broke if he doesn't), implements a by the book plan for patients with no tort reform, and does all of this with the same amount of money. That doesn't make sense. And by the way, you will now have to wait longer to see a doc because of the influx of patients. This is a long process and will take many years. It starts with accountability and discipline both of which are characteristics that have to be attained over a long period of time. By the way, why were health expenditures flat through the mid 90's? It's not a loaded question, just curious if you have an opinion.
He said his stimulus would create 150,000 jobs and he said it would slow unemployment. 3.4 million new unemployed since the stimulus is not slowing down. Misread the economy? More like screwed up the economy.
This was my argument when stimulus passed. Not enough shovel ready projects included. Look where we are now. Hate to say I told you so but we could sure use some jobs right about now.
No. We do not have the worlds best health care. That's powerful evidence of the profiteering and waste of our system. I haven't studied it, but the graph shows a flattening of the rate of increase from 1993-2000. Three possible answers come to mind. 1. Bill Clinton was President from 1993-2000. 2. There was a huge economic boom from 1993-2000. Since health expenditures are calculated as a percentage of the GDP, a huge GDP boost would have made the health spending percentage lower. 3. Managed care (HMOs) provided a cheaper way of providing health care than traditional health insurance (PPOs). HMO enrollment exploded in the 1990's. I'll go with all three! :grin:
People in hell could use some ice water, too. Some things cannot be fixed overnight just because we could use it.
