Impeding changes to our Health Care system

I agree that the spending (upwards of $!/4 billion) has influenced the legislation...watering it down to their benefit.

They (particularly the insurance industry) are now spending $billions more on media buys with the hope of killing the bills completely...because in the end, it is not particularly favorable to their interests.

On balance, IMO, the benefits to most Americans far outweigh the marginal benefits to the affected industries.

Or we could simply go back to the status quo of the last 40+ years, with no meaningful or comrpehensive health care reform.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Redux

Or we could simply go back to the status quo of the last 40+ years, with no meaningful or comrpehensive health care reform.

I'm still not sure that this is comprehensive reform. I'm not sure it really addresses the problems within the system. It definitely adds a lot more people, no doubt there. But there are still inherent systemic problems that have been around a long time.

Originally Posted by classicman

I'm still not sure that this is comprehensive reform. I'm not sure it really addresses the problems within the system. It definitely adds a lot more people, no doubt there. But there are still inherent systemic problems that have been around a long time.

It addresses far more than just adding people (30+ million uninsured whose health care costs impact all of us in the form of higher premiums, lost productivity, etc.).

For the first-time, it provides protections to the vast majority of those currently insured.....protections against being dropped for pre-existing conditions...protections against excessive out-of-pocket expenses so that millions wont face bankruptcy as a result of a medical emergency...protections against rating discrimination against women....protections against collusion and rate-fixing by insurance companies.....

For the record, I dont think these bills will fix every problem with the current system...particularly the long-term solvency of Medicare....but, IMO, it represents a giant leap in the right direction as opposed to just a small step..or even worse, just standing still.

There are no guarantees. yet, for all the bitching and whining from the right, I have yet to see a better solution.

The only thing we know for certain is that doing nothing and letting the current system continue to fester will not result in that system healing itself in the public interest.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Redux

I dont think these bills will fix every problem with the current system...
particularly the long-term solvency of Medicare....

Huge issue - especially for me. The changes could be potentially huge and destructive.

but, IMO, it represents a giant leap in the right direction as opposed to just a small step..or even worse, just standing still.

Giant leap - IMO thats a stretch - a Step forward, yes. It is a beginning. Standing still would be a bad thing. On that we agree.

There are no guarantees. yet, for all the bitching and whining from the right, I have yet to see a better solution.

I've not heard one either - In fact, I haven't heard ANY realistic proposal. Perhaps the agree with some of this and their only argument is funding it. I don't think so, but maybe.

The only thing we know for certain is that doing nothing and letting the current system continue to fester will not result in that system healing itself in the public interest.

In this case I agree. Conversely, GM should not get bailed out over and over. It should be broken up and sold/given/transferred/merged with companies that have success productive business models instead of keeping that decaying carcass on life support.