What A Sustainable Health Care System In The U.S. Might Look Like

I love my country but we do think differently from Americans. First thing is you have to learn not to care about politics unless it is something directly affecting you. Second - no guns. Unless you own a property or are a member of a gun club - nobody bothers. Third Vegemite - you have to learn to eat it it is mandatory

 

That is what all the stats say and not only that we live longer and

Longevity https://www.worlddata.info/life-exp... world average age of,data from the year 2021.

Note Australia is number 8 in the world whist USA is not even on the same page

This is from the CIA https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/maternal-mortality-ratio/country-comparison/
Maternal mortality - ours is 3/100,000. USA 21/100,000. That stat is embarrassing!
Infant mortality

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chi...-children/contents/health/infant-child-deaths


I don’t think we do badly - no!

 

It's the case because of our demographics. The countries at the top all have homogeneous populations.

 

Australia? Homogenous? You have GOT to be joking! Maybe back in the seventies but not anymore. Been a long time since the “white Australia” policy. Same as UK. They threw out white immigration bans back in the seventies and they now have a very mixed population

 

Btw - you DO realise how racist that comment sounds don’t you?

 

I respect your accomplishments and sympathize with your viewpoint that rewards should be reserved for those who EARN them. But, (you knew there'd be a "but"), because the 'Welfare State' has been growing rapidly under both Democrats and Republicans for the last fifty years, in a short time from now we must anticipate that there will be some kind of overarching, all-inclusive "socialized-medicine" system put into place. There's nothing that can be done about it now because we've gone past the tipping-point. More and more people are now "on" one kind of government welfare or "subsidy" program or another -- more than 50% of us during the last 20 years, and once people get "on" these programs, they'll fight like mad dogs to keep them, whether they "deserve" them or not. And, of course, people on welfare get to vote, too, so, we may as well accept the inevitable.

Probably the better way to channel this development is through a national single-payer system, in which everybody who is enrolled in it must PAY! Keep all the others on the Medicaid welfare program in which they essentially pay nothing. Then at least we could bring costs down significantly because all the health provider AND pharmaceutical corporations would have to BID for our business, on contracts lasting between one and five years. The welfare handouts of all kinds are unavoidable, as I have pointed out... a "cost of doing business", since there's nothing else we can do but keep on doling it out, practically speaking.

 

A little bit of socialism does you good! . There are definite advantages to socialising healthcare. For a start it is cheaper, makes the government get interested in maintaining a healthy populace because a healthy populace is cheaper, makes the government ensure there are safety controls in place because politicians are allergic to pinged off constituents and fosters belief in supporting society as a whole and not just an individual’s selfish backside

 

It only sounds racist if you are racist. It's what it is. Look at the demographics and health outcomes in the U.S..

 

Some people ACHIEVE, working hard to gain skills, education, and experience... others whine, complain and say anyone that is successful is fraudulent. I know where I stand on that spectrum and now I know where you sit on it too.

I guess Detroit should have worked harder and gotten into a better school.

People aren't cities. People are successes or failures because of their personal achievements or lack thereof. I never heard of a city getting an IVY LEAGUE diploma, a Master's Degree or being awarded stock options. On the other hand I never heard of anyone's home having drug dealers in the bedrooms, gangs in the attic or flash mobs in the living room. Your analogy is ... weird.

 

Yes, it is very true that hard work is the key to success but you must understand that the limits of such is contained within the institutional framework in which you operate. For instance, those in the FIRE economy have made out-sized incomes over the past several decades because of the financialization of the economy. Similarly, those who have been financialized have suffered to the same degree. This does not mean that one cannot or should not do as well as you can, instead, that nobody exists unto themselves in a complex economy.

And I am not saying that individual success is fraudulent, only that the manipulation of the economy through regulatory capture, crony capitalism, and corporatism creates enormous obstacles for most [as well as a fast track to success for the well-monied/well-connected]. It's just the way it is.

And don't be so proud of yourself. Eventually you will find that it is a heavy burden that will tire you out. And Ivy League degrees aren't what they used to be. MBA's are a dime a dozen.

 

I don't do lingo very well. I was taught standard English in school, so I ask your assistance in understanding some of what you posted. For example, what is a "FIRE economy"? The current economy of Maui? An economy based on the levels of compensation of a firefighter? Please... help me out here.

And please explain what you mean by "the financialization of the economy". I have no clue what you mean. To me, all references to "economy" involve money and that "financializes" the subject. But I don't think that's what you mean. I have used cash, credit cards, bank accounts, checks, automatic deposit, etc., all my life... does that mean I am "financialized"?

I had a roommate in college that was raised in a urine smelling tenement in Spanish Harlem with no dad around. His mom was a seamstress. He worked hard, got into West Point and is an MD today. I don't see how "regulatory capture", "crony capitalism", or "corporatism" had anything at all to do with his personal commitment to excellence, his achievements, or his success. I had another roommate who was the son of a coal miner. He's a retired Colonel today. I don't see how any of those whiner complaints had anything to do with his commitment to excellence, his achievements, or his success either.

I'm not real big on Ivy League Schools these days either. They study fluffy subjects there and graduate radical left wing wokists. I'm much more into MIT, RPI, and schools that teach Physics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, ElectroMagnatic Field Theory and similar subjects.

I am proud of myself, although my achievements are hardly world shaking. I believe everyone should be proud of their achievements from their first home run or touchdown, through their first A+ on their report card, through their academic awards, sports awards, professional awards, great family, through to their happy retirement. I'm proud when I see my son, the Cornell and Fordham Law graduate. I'm proud when I see my wife, the great mom, lawyer and my best friend.

I'm proud when I see the flag flying. I'm proud when I see the Alamo, the House of Burgesses at Williamsburgh, the "Follow Me" statue at Fort Benning, the West Point Diploma on my wall, and the thought of my fellow brothers and sisters in the "Long Gray Line". Far from being a burden, these thoughts bring a smile to my face and renew me.

 

Finance Insurance Real Estate

There have been two main factors that significantly changed the Western [especially U.S.] economy over the past four decades, one is financialization, the other is monetary policy.

Financialization is the process where finance [debt] and other corporations essentially took over other businesses by controlling their business models and markets. A perfect example would be health care where the insurance companies and other corporations gained control of the delivery of services by taking markets away from providers and selling patients back at a steep discount. Insurance, tech, and Pharma [with the blessing of the government regulators] decide how you are going to practice and have for decades now. One of the methods they employ is the oldest in the book, buy off the leadership [called, "thought leaders," in health care] and they will deliver the flock by mandating the the standard of care in practice aligns with corporate interests. They also determine how much you are going to be paid and whether it is permissible to proceed with care in many cases. There are reasons why these corporations make fortunes in this system.

You misunderstand me if you believe I do not support the same values as do you, but I understand how these systems work, as well, and call them out. We live in an era of great corruption.

Yeah. Like Main Twain said, "I never allowed my schooling to interfere with my education."

I say this because [excessive] pride is one of the seven deadly sins.

I get it...and thank you for your service!

 

I'm quite satisfied with my health care so I never got as wrapped up in the accounting details as you are. I respect that though. My wife is a CPA/EA/ tax attorney... she get wrapped up in details that go far beyond me. I'll stick to lasers, weapons, communications and such.

Humility will get you to Heaven, but it won't get you into the White House.

 

Given the unavoidable, inevitable realities that confront us all regarding health care, its costs, and those of pharmaceuticals, I must agree with you overall. If we have an overall healthier population, surely that, too, must inevitably contribute significantly to lowering the total cost-burden on all of us... at least, I surely hope that is true.

The old saying, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" applies here, as well as the other one, "it is what it is". Personally, I liked the health care I was provided by my employers before I retired the best. Now I have Medicare (also an EARNED benefit), and the usual assortment of "supplements" (that I still must pay extra for). It could be better, but so could nearly everything else in life. I hope we can make "single-payer" work!

 

"Single-Payer" needs a new name. It means SOCIALISM to most folks and that will never fly. I'm satisfied with medical care now, by the way.

 

It is not just that - think of overall productivity. A healthy population is a productive population. As I said we have a two tier system. If you want you can have private health care and mostly people use that if they have a “non urgent” condition as it does jump the inevitable waiting lists ( which are based on priority of care). You can even use your private cover in a public hospital. Doesn’t really get you anything more but the government is always grateful for that bit extra.

 

The Devil is ALWAYS in the details!

 

The only method that "works" is one that demands that people take responsibility for themselves. Additionally, this sick care system must change its stripes and become a true health care system. THIS is what will work because it will be sustainable...and the fruit it will bear is a population in MUCH better health and considerably more productive, as well.

As far as Medicare being an earned benefit, it is instead a tax on that supports the corporations that have created a debt-laced system that lines their pockets with billions.

 

It's truly amazing to listen to people who believe this system is working despite published evidence that shows that this system is one of the greatest boondoggles of all-time. COVID and all the insanity that went on around it is just a tiny part of what's wrong with this system yet the majority [who still have decent insurance] could care less. For those with little access or the tens of millions who are self-destructing because they have been dumbed-down into a state of hopelessness, who cares? After all, why have real health care when you can make so much money off of all the chronically [physically and mentally] ill people being produced faster than they can be drugged?

Several decades hence, people will look back and won't be able to believe what was going on and how the majority just sat around and shrugged their shoulders [just as they always have throughout history].

 

I'm happy. I'm not upset at all. Tell me... what should I be upset about? Things are fine here.

 

If all you care about is your own situation, then you shouldn't be.

 

Are you speaking for all Australians? And you believe that all Americans think alike?

 

Not all but most. We really are more laid back about politics - even just prior to our elections and even though voting is mandatory. In fact especially since voting is mandatory - see since it IS mandatory we don’t have to spend money to rile people up to go out and vote. We turn up - vote for the bloke we dislike least, buy something at the “sausage sizzle” raising money for the school (we vote on Saturday so we use state school grounds) and ping off home

 

As I said before “a little bit of socialism does you good.

 

Can you tell me where I can find information so I can get upset and whiney?