John Deering for March 17, 2009

What? This makes no sense. After what Bush did to the Medicare drug plan, this would be more confusing? Doubtful!

The big “O” is thinking of taxing medical benefits, the same Idea he said McCain was stupid to propose…

Talk about a “two faced” flip flopper….

Machado - “two faced flip flopper”…..his teleprompters weren’t in sync!! (I stole that from McCoy!)

Motive - at least there IS a Medicare drug plan. Let’s hope that BO doesn’t slap some sort of tax on it!!

Ask MachO, as all inquiring minds want to know.

You’re right, single payer is really the only way to go.

In 2000, the last year the WHO issued rankings, the US placed 37th in quality of health care, just behind Costa Rica and just ahead of Slovenia. Canada ranked 30. France ranked #1, Italy #2. UK was #18, and Germany was #25. More recently, (2007) The Commonwealth Fund released a report listing the US as lowest in health care rankings among six top industrialized nations. It noted that emergency room waits were longest, elective surgery waits were no shorter (average 4 months), and that we have the highest infant mortality rate (on par with Malta and just above Latvia). Yet we pay twice as much as Germany per person and four times as much as the UK.

Thanks, cdward. I posted a link to a similar study, which everyone studiously ignored. We pay twice as much for half as much coverage and get far lower service – and we should stick to our current system why??

This cartoon confuses the issue of health care reform.

I wonder if Congress will be asked to tax their own health care plan, as well?

Intellectually dishonest toon, and others have cited some of the reasons. claude, motive, you and I and others have cited facts about our current healthcare system that are irrefutable, including excessive costs, fraud and abuse, declining quality, health insurer tyranny, bloated inefficiency, etc. Those who come back with ”Healthcare reform? What’s the problem? Mine is just fine.” are holding on to their willful ignorance. Would be interesting to know who pays for their healthcare premiums, wouldn’t it?

My radical plan would be to eliminate employers responsibility to provide health insurance for their employees. It’s hit or miss now anyway. Make having health insurance mandatory, just like car insurance. A larger pool will reduce the costs overall. Make Medicare availabe to all. For the poorest, provide a safety net. Yes taxes will have to be raised, but in the long run preventive care will save money. And think of the money businesses will save. And their products will be more competitive pricewise with foreign competitors. Will it cost money? Yes. But look what it is costing us now. And before someone calls this socialized medicine, all it means is that doctors and hospitals would be reimbursed by the government not by private insurance companies.

bcs - it’s worse than that. I have seen not one word of commentary from the right wing that makes any sense, or shows any sign that they read any of our posts. I’m a scientist by training, I’m a big believer in data, and the data show we are being screwed by paying twice as much for half as much coverage. Shouldn’t a true conservative be in favor of greater efficiencies instead of rooting for the insurance companies? The Wall Street Journal is, folks!

motive, you and I are preaching to the choir. no? The facts and data show overwhelmingly how inefficient our system is. It’s so skewed that now even business groups are saying it must be reformed, as well as the WSJ. But I know it’s still going to run into hysterical opposition from many who are receiving taxpayer-funded health insurance.

You mean like Republican Senators?

motive, yes, like them, and others who as they reveal their own circumstances, have health insurance that is already taxpayer funded … I don’t want to get too specific, I’ll be flamed!!

Yes, but now its only $4 a month…does someone get credit?

This is confusing me. Aren’t we ALREADY being taxed to the hilt for, through no fault of the doctors, piss-poor medical benefits for all that put us behind places like Costa Rica?

No, danielsangeo, we’re paying insurance companies (with a hefty profit) instead!

motive: A “tax” by any other name….

Well - let’s see, my husband’s medical benefits are taxed federally as additional income to me because he and I both happen to be men.

curiousty, could you expand on that? I wasn’t aware that the value of health benefits were ever taxed at all? If you’re partner is getting health benefits from your employment as a domestic partner, don’t you pay for an additional premium? Your post is confusing to me.