How can anyone possibly want federal government-run healthcare, with tens of thousands more unionized public bureaucrats demanding benefits like the postal service has??

"The U.S. Postal Service suffered a net loss of $5.1 billion for fiscal 2011, a figure that would have been far higher if Congress had not delayed a retiree health care payment originally due on the final day of the fiscal year in September, according to financial results released Tuesday.......

...USPS leaders have said they lack the money to cover that obligation whenever it comes due. While the deferral had the effect of improving the Postal Service's 2011 results, Corbett said, "we still face the same financial stress."

http://www.federaltimes.com/article/...S02/111150302/

Yes, but isn't Medicare, which, if you're not already on it, will be, a single-payer system?

I'll tell you how.

Because other countries are eating our lunch when it comes to health care.

Because we pay more than twice as much per-capita than any other country on the planet for health care.

Because, according to our own CIA World Fact Book, we are 55th in average life expectancy - tied with CUBA.

Because we're the only industrialized nation that has coined the term "medical bankruptcy".

Because profits of the insurers continue to rise while benefits are cut and premiums rise. Do the math to see where the money is going.

Because drug companies sell drugs to other governments for a fraction of what the price is here. The latest case I read about was the arthritis drug Emben. It costs $1600/mo here in the US. It's about half that price in Canada. Oh - and every single does of the drug is made in the same factory in Rhode Island.

Because 10 times as many people travel from the US to other countries for medical care than the number of foreigners who come here. "Medical Tourism" wasn't even a term more than five years ago.

That's why. Some are so desperate they'll try any alternative to what we have now.

When you see what people in Canada or the UK complain about and compare it to what we complain about......

Originally Posted by djplong

I'll tell you how.

Because other countries are eating our lunch when it comes to health care.

Because we pay more than twice as much per-capita than any other country on the planet for health care.

Because, according to our own CIA World Fact Book, we are 55th in average life expectancy - tied with CUBA.

Because we're the only industrialized nation that has coined the term "medical bankruptcy".

Because profits of the insurers continue to rise while benefits are cut and premiums rise. Do the math to see where the money is going.

Because drug companies sell drugs to other governments for a fraction of what the price is here. The latest case I read about was the arthritis drug Emben. It costs $1600/mo here in the US. It's about half that price in Canada. Oh - and every single does of the drug is made in the same factory in Rhode Island.

Because 10 times as many people travel from the US to other countries for medical care than the number of foreigners who come here. "Medical Tourism" wasn't even a term more than five years ago.

That's why. Some are so desperate they'll try any alternative to what we have now.

When you see what people in Canada or the UK complain about and compare it to what we complain about......

Horse feathers. We are the greatest health care in the Universe. Why do students from all over the world beg to enter our teaching Universities?

Originally Posted by Loveithere

Horse feathers. We are the greatest health care in the Universe. Why do students from all over the world beg to enter our teaching Universities?

Horse feathers. Now that is what I call a well thought out answer...very impressive. And on what do you base that we have the greatest health care in the universe? (In the UNIVERSE no less...) Some uber conservative rag??

Your concern seems to be more on "public bureaucrats" being paid a decent wage then on the delivery of health care....I bet you just LOVE the folks who process you medicare and social security checks each month...

Originally Posted by ladydoc

Horse feathers. Now that is what I call a well thought out answer...very impressive. And on what do you base that we have the greatest health care in the universe? (In the UNIVERSE no less...) Some uber conservative rag??

Your concern seems to be more on "public bureaucrats" being paid a decent wage then on the delivery of health care....I bet you just LOVE the folks who process you medicare and social security checks each month...

Liberal progressive socialists, yourself included, will do anything and say anything to socialize the USA. Elitists, (not you,you do not seem capable enough) think that capitalism is not the answer. Elitists have no control over a capitalist society. Control is the game with progressives.

By the way, I do not have medicare or social security. Do you?

our medical system just like everything else in this country is falling apart. Again,follow the money. The cost of a room in a hospital for one night is a joke. A simple operation now costs thousands of dollars. Prescription drugs costs are a joke. See how many nurses are "nursing" in these hospitals and try to see a doctor in the hospital. Our system is a farce with insurance companies and big pharm getting richer by the day.

Our healthcare in the USA is yet another example of the spoiled brat culture that seems to grow bigger everyday...The entitlement mentality wants everything for free. You cannot have the level of cutting edge technology, medical expertise, results of years of research and incredible increases in survival rates for that price.
The USA has the greatest healthcare system in the history of man...could be better if the bureaucrats and drug companies stepped off.
I challenge anyone with over 25 years of experience in the clinical setting of healthcare to prove me wrong...

Originally Posted by waynet

our medical system just like everything else in this country is falling apart. Again,follow the money. The cost of a room in a hospital for one night is a joke. A simple operation now costs thousands of dollars. Prescription drugs costs are a joke. See how many nurses are "nursing" in these hospitals and try to see a doctor in the hospital. Our system is a farce with insurance companies and big pharm getting richer by the day.

Oh, I guess the exuberant cost of nurses and other hospital jobs has nothing to do with it.

Originally Posted by Loveithere

Liberal progressive socialists, yourself included, will do anything and say anything to socialize the USA. Elitists, (not you,you do not seem capable enough) think that capitalism is not the answer. Elitists have no control over a capitalist society. Control is the game with progressives.

By the way, I do not have medicare or social security. Do you?

No, I do not have medicare or social security. Once again, you did not even come close to answering my question; you resort to inaccurate name calling and insults. And I would venture that I am far more capable in most areas of life then you...you see everything thru black tinted glasses and do not seem able to process new information. You need to cast everything within a narrow framework of very conservative thought. Sad.

Liberal..yes I am, in some things. I believe in the death penalty, control at the borders, doing whatever it takes to deal with illegal immigration and incarcertation as both punishment and seperation from society. Progressive? I would hope so. My goal is not to return to the days of flat earth theorists. I believe that all systems have to change with the times. Socialist. No. Elitist...well, since you are certainly acting like one, I am most happy to not be included in this group.

But I will end where I started....ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!

Originally Posted by ladydoc

No, I do not have medicare or social security. Once again, you did not even come close to answering my question; you resort to inaccurate name calling and insults. And I would venture that I am far more capable in most areas of life then you...you see everything thru black tinted glasses and do not seem able to process new information. You need to cast everything within a narrow framework of very conservative thought. Sad.

Liberal..yes I am, in some things. I believe in the death penalty, control at the borders, doing whatever it takes to deal with illegal immigration and incarcertation as both punishment and seperation from society. Progressive? I would hope so. My goal is not to return to the days of flat earth theorists. I believe that all systems have to change with the times. Socialist. No. Elitist...well, since you are certainly acting like one, I am most happy to not be included in this group.

But I will end where I started....ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!

Apparently you do not know the real meaning of progressives. Sad, as you would say. As for being capable, I had a chuckle with that one.

Originally Posted by Loveithere

Apparently you do not know the real meaning of progressives. Sad, as you would say. As for being capable, I had a chuckle with that one.

Still, no answer to my question. I wonder why that is? I guess you are too busy chuckling to answer. Go ahead and laugh....if I cared enough to actually compare our life successes I think you would choke, not laugh. But, I don't care..you have to respect someone to care what they think.

Originally Posted by Loveithere

Horse feathers. We are the greatest health care in the Universe. Why do students from all over the world beg to enter our teaching Universities?

Because they're the ones who can afford them.

I've read several stories of colleges and universities actively recruiting foreign students to make up for the lack of local students who are finding it increasingly difficult to pay for the ever increasing (much faster than inflation) costs.

They don't seem to take the hint of LOWERING THE COSTS because they can tap these international markets to keep their inflated salaries for professors who work 3 days a week with several months off per year.

Originally Posted by ilovetv

How can anyone possibly want federal government-run healthcare, with tens of thousands more unionized public bureaucrats demanding benefits like the postal service has??

"The U.S. Postal Service suffered a net loss of $5.1 billion for fiscal 2011, a figure that would have been far higher if Congress had not delayed a retiree health care payment originally due on the final day of the fiscal year in September, according to financial results released Tuesday.......

...USPS leaders have said they lack the money to cover that obligation whenever it comes due. While the deferral had the effect of improving the Postal Service's 2011 results, Corbett said, "we still face the same financial stress."

http://www.federaltimes.com/article/...S02/111150302/

I posted this thinking more of how the federal government mismanages and squanders money, and how public employee unions ARE the government when it comes to "negotiating" their fat union contracts.

"“It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government.”

That wasn’t Newt Gingrich, or Ron Paul, or Ronald Reagan talking. That was George Meany -- the former president of the A.F.L.-C.I.O -- in 1955. Government unions are unremarkable today, but the labor movement once thought the idea absurd.

The founders of the labor movement viewed unions as a vehicle to get workers more of the profits they help create. Government workers, however, don’t generate profits. They merely negotiate for more tax money. When government unions strike, they strike against taxpayers. F.D.R. considered this “unthinkable and intolerable.”
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate...-sector-unions