Why we push for healthcare reform

Originally posted by ownbestenemy
There was a time where Americans didn't purchase 'insurance' to insure they were able to pay for medical care when needed. I, along with my brother and sister were born under such circumstances. Yet, my parents are not in massive debt.

Those were good times were they not? Land was cheaper, jobs were plentiful, debt was low and living costs were generally cheaper. Then healthcare shot up towards the mid 70's costs began to rise and it has escalated.

Things are different today and neither you or I can compare our experiences then to circumstances today.

The doctors and the patients were the ones in control of such care;

Wonderful back then wasn't it? Before health costs grew before healthcare became financial gain only, before the executives, CEO's and politicians forgot what their jobs were about.

Wonderful times. Thankyou for reminding me.

reply to post by ownbestenemy


Now, lets see here... this man is supposedly a liberal as you describe and yet he is opposed to socialism or any government involvement in fixing the healthcare crises? This supposed 'liberal' even used Margaret Thatcher as a reference to how bad socialism is? Really? This is a progressive/liberal business owner you say? Right? For a second there I pictured a small business owner there. To top it all off your source is from The Wall Street Journal. On another note this isnt a small business owner, John Mackey is CEO of a company that earns at average $8 billion a year. Honestly now, way to go to sprinkle an argument.

In anycase essentially John Mackeys solution to the issue of healthcare in this country is to have the government encourage companies to provide healthcare to it's employees. That is the outline of his solution here. He doesnt deal with the issue at large such as the insurance corporations barring people from coverage over pre-existing condtions which is a significant contributing factor to the millions of uninsured americans. To make it worse he insists that the government must not dictate to the insurance companies who they can and cannot cover. He says this decision should be left up to the individual customer and their preferences. Really? I didnt know those barred because of their pre-existing conditions had much of a choice or preference? He also doesnt address the rising costs of premiums and other regular payments to insurance companies. This plan is purely over business solutions which doesn't look to the larger issue with the healthcare industry. His plan is also already in the current reform bill where businesses are encouraged to cover their employees.

Hey also insists that 'charity' should again be the solution as if charity has been effective already? His parroting the previous members here. This 'liberal business owner' as you had described.

'Saving employees from saving themselves' is part of Mackey's plan as this article puts it nicely. It also states how out of touch Mackeys plan is and further reinforces my previous comment:

Mackey is far from the left as you can get. He believes in corporations and not governments, nonprofits -- are the best way to provide for the well-being of people.

www.dailyfinance.com...

Still wondering why or how the man was refered by you as a 'liberal business owner'. Maybe its just your way of strengthening your argument? I dont know.

[edit on 31-3-2010 by Southern Guardian]

Originally posted by Southern Guardian
Those were good times were they not? Land was cheaper, jobs were plentiful, debt was low and living costs were generally cheaper. Then healthcare shot up towards the mid 70's costs began to rise and it has escalated.

Ah internet condescending tones are fantastic...

The times I speak of were 60-70s and there was no health insurance for the average American.

I love the presentation that the 60s-70s were the land of blissfulness and bountiful. As if cupcakes and lollipops were falling from the sky. While generally some of the points you have hit on are correct, wages were low.

My father worked day in, day out in construction (not really a plentiful job), we lived in Boise, ID and they did what they had to survive and provide a better life for us kids at the time.

There was no health insurance costs to drive up doctor's fees, thus paying cash was relatively easy. Insurance plans that were available at the time were either for wealthier people or were bare bones catastrophic in nature.

The plans were not stuffed with governmental mandates to cover every little thing and to force doctors to fix their prices.

reply to post by Southern Guardian


Sorry, true liberal business owner. Not one that believes the Government should be their nanny and take them cradle to grave...

Glad to see you blow off the argument though that someone on the left presents because it isn't lock-step with your argument.