CapitalistMarks

MRI, as in MMM, R I worried about health care!

Posted on 15. Jul, 2009 by scott in Social commentary, economic daydreaming, markets, political munglings

I had an MRI today, took a couple of hours but only 35 minutes in the actual machine.  The rest was waiting. Fortunately the MRI was one of the new ones that are called ‘open’ which means translates to only terrifyingly claustrophobic.

When I got home there was breaking news on CNBC, the Senate had passed a health care bill.  After listening for only a minute I knew there was trouble.  An MRI is nothing to worry about compared to what our government can do when they pump a bill through a veto-proof Congress.  Yikes and it only took the Dems a week or so after getting Al Franken in the Senate!

Its like magic for Obama and his obedient servants.  Mr President, you may get your wish for a bill to sign by August but if you do it WILL NOT BE A GOOD ONE.

I tell you what gentlemen and ladies, America has been trying to get a universal health care bill passed for 60 years (ever since FDR’s days).  And now we are to believe that the Dems in Congress can flush out a workable solution in just a matter of weeks?

Don’t you believe it.

Of course we still have hope for reasonable dialogue on the tough issues (how to pay for it, how to lower costs, how to ‘force’ people to signup, and so on).  But I will tell you the thing I really fear after my one minute lesson during the breaking news: 8%!!

Seems the Dems in the Senate want to force employers to pay 8% of payroll to help finance this thing (a $trillion + over the next decade . . . and that’s low).  If they are starting at 8% what are they going to end up with.

Let me give you the historical example . . . and it is a good one that is entirely relevant.

Social Security.

Hang on because this is a lesson in government, politics, economics and social theory.  One you are NOT going to like.

SS is big now, but it wasn’t to start.  Today, Social Security is the largest government program in the world, the single greatest expenditure in the federal budget (21%) and represents 37 of ALL government spending and upwards of 8% of our entire GDP!!Can you imagine if we duplicate that with the Dems universal health care bill?

Originally in 1937 (the first year the 1935  ‘Old age, survivors, and disability insurance’ Act went into affect) only 1% if wages up to $3,000 were paid by the employer and employee.  That’s $60 total.   The figures for today are 6.2% and $106,800!  That’s $13,243 total.  Now, we all understand the longterm impact of inflation but the % increase is 620%!

In the midst of the greatest recession since FDR’s time (when Social Security started) we can’t afford to ‘TAX’ our employers another 8% of their payrolls.  This is particularly true of the engine of our economic miracle . . . the small businessman(woman).

And if they want 8% not what is it going to be when they really figure our how much this is going to cost?  Are they going to tack on another 8% withholding from the employees wages?  Will it end up a 16% tax?  20%?   30%?  In a year?  Two?  Five?

These are the biggest knuckleheads in our country that we are talking about here.  Guys that do everything possible to keep getting elected again and again (like our 30+ year veterans such as Hatch, Utah, and 40+ year Kennedy, Massachusetts). They don’t know what is going on in mainstreet and they really don’t care!  They have been living ‘cushy’ loves in DC far too long.

Note:  Don’t forget that my single greatest desire for our country is to see term limits for ALL elected officials.  Do I need to keep harping on this?

Point:  we need universal health care.  We can’t be a great country without caring for ALL our people.  But . . . there are other ways and they need to be explored in more than the first few weeks and months of Obama’s 1st year in office.  Let’s do it, but let’s do it right the first time.  In a sensible economic and social way.

Our ‘leaders’ need to be creative, innovative, thoughtful and concerned. Good Universal health care just can’t be this easy.  They need to consider most, if not all, alternatives and not start with an 8% tax right off the bat.  Not in this economic environment.  Such irresponsible thinking will lead to higher unemployment and even greater social costs in the future.

We need good, well-paid doctors and health care providers, but can’t we give them tax incentives, or writeoffs of student loans for service to God and Country?

There aren’t millions of people NOT getting medical care in this country (the double negative is intentional for affect . . . did it work?).  Those that need care get it and providers as well as taxpayers are paying for it already.  Can’t we figure out how to take those costs and build them into the system?

American’s tend to treat injuries and diseases.  Can’t we be more proactive and preventative in our care to reduce costs?  What about expensive tests?  Like my $1400 MRI today.  Do we really need all these or are Doctors just protecting themselves from the costly lawsuits filed by greedy lawyers?  Can’t we limit medical malpractice suits?  Like the loser being forced to pay all costs?

We have to find a better way.

Come to think of it, I might see if my doctor will order up a CatScan so I can have another couple hours to think on this.  Why not?  Our current system has no controls, no reasonable bounds, and it sure doesn’t make sense to the millions of people waiting tens of millions of hours in doctors offices every year (my personal record is a three hour wait for a 4 minute visit with a doctor).

How does any of this make sense?

Doesn’t unless you care.

So contact your congressmen and let them know you won’t stand for a ‘quickie’ bill pushed through by the Democratic majority. Not that the Republicans have offered any real alternatives.

Get a committe together of the top minds in all the related fields, put them in a room with nothing to eat but buttered popcorn and diet Pepsi.  For a week.  Bet they will come up with some great ideas.  Fast!

Let’s take the time to craft something really good, really innovative, really effective, really American!!

Thanks for your time and I hope you don’t have to get an MRI anytime soon!

Thanks to muffet of Flickr for the photo of an older ‘enclosed’ MRI

Tags: congress and health care, obama's health plan, sensible healthcare alternatives, term limits, universal health care