Krugman: All That Stands In Way Of Universal Health Care Is Greed, Lies And Gullibility

nytimes.com:

So we can do this. At this point, all that stands in the way of universal health care in America are the greed of the medical-industrial complex, the lies of the right-wing propaganda machine, and the gullibility of voters who believe those lies.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[dcrinaz]

A book was written about such Americans. It's called "Gullible's Travels"

(Thank you Leo Gorcey!)

[colah]

How is life as a $.10 per post shill suggie?
Suggie
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[AZM]

The CEO of Aetna makes $24 Million a year (give or take a little). How much health care does he deliver???

[00Ruth7]

Republicans are having trouble seeing a correlation

[PatLow]

I think there is going to be quite a turnover in 2010. Dems are not happy with this direction and repubs are doing what they can to take back some control.

If public option is taken off the table the dems will loose a lot of votes.

FYI the Swiss system can work here as long as there is government oversight like in Switzerland. Base level insurance that is offered by all insurance companies across state lines on a not for profit basis. Supplimental coverage could be offered by employers or bought by those who want it. Transparancy in the costs of services and doctors that are within the plans so you the consumer can choose. No employer provided insurance which would eliminate the tax credit given to businesses. I encourage anyone to look at the Swiss system as I think it is a much more realistic solution for the US.

[Steven Anderson]

What about the fact that there are at least enough moral and responsible Americans who would rather pay their own way in life than to require their fellow neighbor to take care of their personal responsibilities. You want to live amongst the sheep and cattle then you should move here to Europe where people never get a chance to grow up either and are brought up that after your 18 and leave mommy and daddy, the state takes over the parental role.

[ancientmarinader]

You didnt understand the article did you?

[PatLow]

Right Steve, because the Swiss are so far behind us culturally. You may want to look into that country to gain a better understanding. I believe they have a higher gun ownership percentage than here in the US, are not a part of the European Union, and may be the most capitalistic society out there. They do not like war becasue it is bad for business, had a healthcare system that was almost identical the the US but went through reform some years ago. They are anything but the socialists you paint them out to be. Perhaps you did not read the article and are just spouting.

[Findley]

"pay their own way"......­....guess you went to private schools all your life? and paved the highways that you use? and have your own private police force? firefighters? FAA and flight controllers? Safety standards in the cars you manufacture? incentives for oil companies to explore for oil (which they do some time but skim it and pocket some of it)? your own electrical grid so you're home and business can functionr? and I guess you paid your own way for the expansion of electricity to rural areas in the '30s so capitalism flourished with new farms, businesses and 'burbs? . WOW. Great job....pay­ing your own way.......­.

[Prakosh]

Don't confuse him with all these working government programs.

[aramos]

Spoken like a true card carrying socialist.

[Findley]

Get off my socialist highways..­..........­..we paid for them, not little old you.... Guess that's way too tough for your wee simple mind to understand.

[Kanamachirover]

“All That Stands In Way Of Universal Health Care Is Greed, Lies And Gullibility”. He forgot the GOP, weak-kneed politicians from all parties who are on the take from the insurance companies, and people on this blog like Suggie who prefer hysteria, innuendo, and misinformation over facts.
As mentioned in the article, most countries in the developed world have a variety of national health plans and all of them are superior to the the way the US handles health care. If the press in the US would actually look at some of these alternative systems instead of constantly reporting on the antics of the loony fringe, the fear-mongers, the unbelievable radio host haters, along with the wacky GOP who has nothing to offer except NO!, we might actually get somewhere on health reform.
It is becoming apparent that the American people would rather sit by and accept the lies from the GOP and the loonies on face value without investigating the facts on their own, and are happy to let the large insurance industry continue to rape them. These companies along with ignorance are the big winners, the American people are, sadly again, the big suckers and losers.

[youknow]

Bravo! I nominate you for the Nobel price in Medicine. It is amazing all this fuss over a mere trillion over ten years. What about the bail out of the largest financial corporations? Where is the yelling? What about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan costing hundreds of Billions? Where is the yelling? What about a 600 + Billion Military Budget (per year)? Where is the yelling? What about the fraud in the Medical Industrial Complex costing the taxpayers Billions? Where is the yelling? What about the over 800 Bases the U.S. Military maintains around the world costing Billions of Dollars? Where is the yelling? One could go on, but I doubt we will get any more yelling. It is easier to shoot yourself in the foot and say oops I can not afford to get that fixed. Well one is almost attempted to tell all those Nay Sayers "go ahead and bleed"

[Jazzman323]

Yes, Greed, Lies And Gullibility, and the majority of Americans.

[StillAmused]

(repost)

How very sad that so many Americans gleefully support a for-profit-based health insurance model that easily runs a 30-to-40 percent overhead, is inclined -- by its very corporate nature -- to deny authorization of payments whenever possible, charges soaring premiums and, accordingly, has reaped a more than 400 percent increase in profits between 2002 and 2007.

... and, for a kicker, its non-governmental, unaccountable bureaucrats "get between the patient and the physician", the very looming horror that critics claim would attend a single-payer system. All this for the privilege of an overall health care system that ranks well down the list of developed countries.

Anyone who can't compute the stunning, explicit advantage of single-payer, coupled with -- wherever practical -- a fixed, SALARY-based hospital model (successfully operating in a number of top institutions) and sane regulation of pharmaceutical pricing should have his or her primary school math exams reviewed..­. money must have changed hands in return for those passing grades.

In the end, ignorance is right wing bliss. Much of the support for the current corporate rip-off comes from people who've either never enjoyed the Bankruptcy Tango with their insurer over a catastrophic illness or can't feel that hand in their pocket, groping around for their wallets, because they haven't put two and two together and realized that what's "paid for" by their employers actually comes off the top of their incomes.

[DavidATolucaLake]

Funny, if the United States were hit by another 9-11 size domestic attack, the conservatives would find PLENTY of money to fund military spending. As was down the VAST amounts of BORROWED money to fund the Iraq war and its subsequent “rebuilding”.

Conservatives love to spend HUGE sums of taxpayer money, as long as it’s for the military and not for poor Americans.

[ancientmarinader]

Exactly, 10 trillion in debt over 30 years.. almost under from republican presidents. No democrat since truman has left office with the debt as a % of gdp higher than when he arrived. Every republican since Reagan has done it.

[Prakosh]

Just like Palin's record as mayor of Wasilla!!!!

[talkitreal]

AS STATED TODAY BY A WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN TODAY, AUGUST 17, 2009 -- PRESIDENT OBAMA IS STILL IN FAVOR OF THE PUBLIC OPTION :

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/17/health.care/index.html

[FrozenNorthObserver]

I'd have to agree, Ob*a*ma spent 2yrs selling the major campaign "plank" of the public option to a "gullibile" electorate,(li*es) that "plank" of the campaign was described yesterday by the same Ob*a*ma as just a "sliver" of any reform. So it appears that the $20mil that O took from Big Health(greed) whittled that Ob*a*ma "plank" down to a mere "sliver" in less than a year.

"Krugman: All That Stands In Way Of Universal Health Care Is Greed, Lies And Gullibility"

[TikiPhil]

barriosbabe,

Last year I was paying over twice as much for health insurance per month than I was paying for our car payment. We drive a new Lexus, which as you know is not a cheap car. We have been paying for health care we never use. Nobody in our family has ever had a health problem. I was writing checks every month to Blue Cross (who's CEO's pay rose 26% last year bringing bringing in a whopping $3.5m) just for the security of knowing that if I get sick, I will not lose my house. At least with the car payment I get daily satisfaction of driving a fine automobile.

[Findley]

December 18, 2002 Phil Jordan wrote this for the Washington state press:

Premera Blue Cross, one of the largest non-profit health insurers in Washington, is asking permission to renounce their non-profit status. If the conversion is allowed, advocates believe that healthcare costs will increase and residents in less populated areas of the state are at risk of losing health insurance altogether
I GOOGLED AND FOUND THIS FROM 2002. Guess which direction the premiums went....it­'s what happens when the PROFIT-MOTIVE is the bottom line.