Here’s an observation on the health care debate that you’ve not heard before.
Here’s an observation on the health care debate that you’ve not heard before.
There’s an interesting bit of history that you may want to consider before you put on your “Tea Party Outfit” to complain about the pending Health Care Program. That program is not as large as other programs we’ve had in our past.
Yes, we are going to hear loud screaming from politicians and pundits who will try to foment anger and hatred among those of us who consider ourselves fiscally conservative. But before you decide to go out and protest, it may do us all good to pause and consider a little bit of history; history that occurred just 60 years ago….
Historians say that our estimated cost to conduct World War II was about $341 Billion in 1945 dollars. That’s over $3.5 trillion in today’s dollars. Nonetheless, WWII will be a less expensive war than the current Iraq War (if you include all the principal and interest payments we’ll have made on the loans from Communist China…). But I digress……
Back in 1945, our nation saw the destruction that had occurred in Europe, we saw the millions of Europeans who didn’t have enough to eat, who were sick, & were without a job. Our nation was a better nation then. Even though we incurred a tremendous cost in ending the War, we decided to help those that needed help. Our nation sent over $12 Billion overseas to help those in Europe after the War, and when the Marshall Plan was in effect from 1948-1951, we sent another $13 Billion. So in six years, we sent over $25 Billion dollars to help those who needed help in Europe. “So what…”, you might ask. Well, back in the late 40’s, our average Gross Domestic Product (GDP, or the total sum of our economic output) was around 260 Billion dollars a year. So, if you do the calculation, we were sending over 1.6% of our GDP overseas to help others less fortunate than ourselves. And we did it every year for six years.
The result? Europe rebounded economically, thanks to our help.
Today, in our own country, we have millions of people who don’t have enough to eat, who are sick and are without a job (just like the Europeans in the late 40’s). The pundits are screaming now about the cost of this government program; totaling about $900 Billion over ten years. That’s $90 Billion a year, a lot of money. But look at today’s Gross Domestic Product. Our GDP is over $14 Trillion dollars a year! Do the same calculation and you’ll find that we will be spending less than .6% of our current GDP on this program over the next ten years. That’s less than half of what it cost us (on an annualized basis, based on GDP) to help those who were in need in Europe.
In essence, as large as this program sounds, it is a fraction of the cost of the aid we sent overseas in the 40’s. And this Health Care Program is supposed to help Americans who are in need.
So why was it OK to help Europeans after WWII (many of whom fought against us back then), but it’s not OK to spend a fraction of that to help Americans today, most of whom are having difficulty making ends meet, have no health care, yet must still pay taxes?
Sure, this Health Care Program has flaws. No government program has ever been perfect. (And frankly, there are dozens of current government programs that have outlived their usefulness and should be shut down for good.) But what will the long-term cost be to our country (and the health of millions of Americans) if we continue to sit on our hands and do nothing on this matter? Before you start listening to all the “Limbaughs”, the “Palins” and the “Becks” and put your “Tea Party Outfit” on to protest, you might want to remember the past; when our Government and our people actually cared about those in need. Listening to these self-described “experts” now makes one realize how far we have sunk as a nation. It’s very sad.
Earl Rynerson
Reader Comments
Whatever the outcome of Sunday’s vote. Pre-existing conditions will still exist for another 4 years.
Competition within the insurance industry. Dont’ even know what that is. The only competition is to see which American they can screw up the most. That was McCanes answer to health reform. Looks like he got his way anyway. Competition my foot.
And in 4 years, there will be another mandate. Health Insurance mandate. No matter the cost, we will have to buy it or pay a fine. Can you afford it? Maybe not, but you’ll have to wait until the government says if you can or cannot afford it. You see, they set your living standards too.
Do they care? Not really. They make plenty of money. Have time off. you know a vacation (unlike the rest of us)they have health insurance paid by us. So what’s the hurry about? Come live in MY world and then we’ll talk. Of course they don’t want to. Ahh politics.
So, the question is, how many people will die between now and 2014? You do the math.
As for insurance in general……..hmmmm. They’ve got the market cornered. Analyze this. PIP is for personal injury. If you have an accident in your car and need medical attention or hospital…..PIP will cover it. So what is your health ins. for?
Workman’s comp. You get hurt on the job and you need medical attention or a hospital……Workman’s comp will cover it. So what is your health ins. for?
We are doubly insured for EVERYTHING. Why does anyone not analyze that? It’s obscene. And we continue to support insurance companies, Pharmaceuticals, Oil and, Banks.
So whatever the vote is on Sunday, my life will remain the same. Living on the edge, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYpDAVh2Kec
Know the TRUTH about the Government Health Care Bill H.R.3200 - Key Points
MARCH 18,2010
THIS IS NOT ABOUT HEALTH CARE; IT’S ABOUT POWER AND CONTROL OVER ALL AMERICANS.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON.
Note: the pdf file to see a copy of the Bill at the end of the video is not correct. Here’s the correct link http://candicemiller.house.gov/pdf/hr3200.pdf
This will kill America as we know it. It is not a right and it should not be yet another entitlement program. It will destroy jobs and put us under the thumb of the most corrupt politicians we have ever had to endure in America. And we woould not be spending a “fraction” — it will amount to TRILLIONS of dollars in further deficits and will break the back of this nation - which is exactly what they want to do. Only the economically illiterate can find this to acceptable, and you apparently aren’t too educated in this area. Listen to the REAL numbers — not the smoke and mirrors they’re putting before you. They are LYING.
If we could only get passed the “ME ME ME” thing and have a little more transparency. The thing is we are our worst enemy with this kind of stuff. Some not educated or misinformed as to the real info and we seem to only make it worse on our selves. I know that I am not alone out their with the feeling that things seems to be falling apart. I am not poor or rich but I still don’t understand the health care system as it is right now. I don’t have a primary care doctor. I have insurance and find it much to complicated with too many people pushing your paper trail around the system. I would like to cut out all the middle people and administrators and deal direct with the doctor’s and hospital with cost. I am sure that it would be a start with cutting cost. Next I would limit the cost of Malpractice Insurance and cap the limit on law suits with doctors and hospitals. This would free up the money and make things more cost effective. Sorry to all those lawyers that we would be cutting into their living but for the good of all this would have to happen. You would all bennifit in the long run. We would all have to make some consessions to make things work but if we could just look further into this than just immediate gratification, it would work.
Just the ramblings someone that cares and is willing to help but has no idea where to start.
The law does exist in Florida, the Sovereign Immunity Law…which i think is a good thing, this caps lawsuits against the state agencies or hospitals below:
5) The state and its agencies and subdivisions shall be liable for tort claims in the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances, but liability shall not include punitive damages or interest for the period before judgment. Neither the state nor its agencies or subdivisions shall be liable to pay a claim or a judgment by any one person which exceeds the sum of $100,000 or any claim or judgment, or portions thereof, which, when totaled with all other claims or judgments paid by the state or its agencies or subdivisions arising out of the same incident or occurrence, exceeds the sum of $200,000. However, a judgment or judgments may be claimed and rendered in excess of these amounts and may be settled and paid pursuant to this act up to $100,000 or $200,000, as the case may be; and that portion of the judgment that exceeds these amounts may be reported to the Legislature, but may be paid in part or in whole only by further act of the Legislature. Notwithstanding the limited waiver of sovereign immunity provided herein, the state or an agency or subdivision thereof may agree, within the limits of insurance coverage provided, to settle a claim made or a judgment rendered against it without further action by the Legislature, but the state or agency or subdivision thereof shall not be deemed to have waived any defense of sovereign immunity or to have increased the limits of its liability as a result of its obtaining insurance coverage for tortious acts in excess of the $100,000 or $200,000 waiver provided above. The limitations of liability set forth in this subsection shall apply to the state and its agencies and subdivisions whether or not the state or its agencies or subdivisions possessed sovereign immunity before July 1, 1974.
Then why aren’t our health insurance premiums lower for us who live here in Florida? Earl
First of all it is NOT H.R. 3200 that is being passed, that bill was turned into H.R. 3962 which is the current bill that will be voted on Sunday March 21. The issues and language that most people were unhappy about were removed from H.R. 3962. Please make sure you are reading the correct bill!!! Don’t let anyone tell you that it is the same just a different number on a piece of paper, read it for yourself.
Secondly, I don’t have an employer to ‘give’ me any workman’s comp. insurance. In fact I wish I did. And I am sure that there is a good chance I can have an accident without being in a car. Health Insurance is for people who want to worry less about the risk they take in ALL of life. No health insurance will ever be perfect just like there will never be any of you (or me) that will ever be perfect. I try and find ways to help others because I would rather be happy than right.
What else do you have to know to be in favor of the proposed bill than the fact that the insurance industry is so determined to defeat it??? The last thing the industry wants is to have the golden cash stream they now enjoy shut off. They are spending hundreds of millions to lobby against passage. If they defeat it, they can go back to annual price increases without any restriction. The Republicans should be forced to explain to the public why it is okay to make us pay more & more every year for coverage which has ever larger deductions because that is the historic track record of the insurance companies!!!
It’s easy to see that Republicans are more interested in defeating Obama than they are in helping people !!!
Earl,
Thank you for doing the research and the math. I agree with you whole-heartedly!
http://www.hrbtax.com/Lorraine_Profeta
Of course the insurance companies are fighting it. Wouldn’t you if the government was going to start a business to compete with yours. Our federal government has never done anything where they can control the cost. They do not have to worry about making a profit and just keep allocating more of the taxpayer money to fund it. I cannot find a single successful program the government has run within it’s budget. Now we are going to turn over 1/6 of our economy to them. If you were hiring a CEO for a major company would you hire someone that has failed at every job they had?
Why are americans confusing Obama’s health care ideas with socialism? it’s madness. What are you all so afraid of?
We have national health in UK and it’s not the best but we can pay for private if we wish and if we don’t wish, help is still available. England is not socialist, neither is Canada! Everybody needs to examine the facts and stop listening to propaganda.
My boss cancelled my health insurance, I can’t afford my own and so if something should happen to me I’d be in trouble. This it the type of situation Obama is trying to help us with.
Earl, thanks for the info., but you really have to look at it being 150 Billion for six years and not 90 billion over ten years as the first four years you will be paying into the system and not receiving any benefits on the new program. After ten years who knows what the next ten years of the Health Care reform will cost the tax payers.
Earl,
Thanks for providing a different point of view, much needed. Look at the trillions of dollars we are spending to occupy Afghanitan and Iraq. Wouldn’t health insurance for all Americans be a better way to spend this money?
I, for one, will welcome the opportunity to get out of this dead-end job that I am staying employed in for the benefits! I believe that people with an entreprenurial spirit will break free and pursue their own ambitions, creating new jobs and opportunities when this initiative becomes fully vested.