User profile
Status:
Name: Ryan Stewart
Nickname: ryan1888vandy
Member since: 2009-05-31 20:15:31
Website URL: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4713707
About me: I am a senior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, where I am double-majoring in Honors Economics and Political Science. Last summer I worked as on opposition researcher for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in DC and this past fall I worked on the Lamar Alexander for Senate (AFS) campaign in Nashville.
Facebook profile
Name: Ryan Stewart
Nickname: ryan1888vandy
Member since: 2009-05-31 20:15:31
Website URL: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4713707
About me: I am a senior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, where I am double-majoring in Honors Economics and Political Science. Last summer I worked as on opposition researcher for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in DC and this past fall I worked on the Lamar Alexander for Senate (AFS) campaign in Nashville.
Facebook profile
Does Obama Plan to Deny Seniors Medical Care?
June 11th, 2009 at 8:53 amI would love to see what a 13% decrease in benefits would do to middle-lower income elderly folks. The folks who have worked their whole lives and given money to SS, many of whom already live pay check to pay check with their current benefits. In reality, though, I would like to see what this decrease would do politically to the Democratic party. I hope you can push this through Donald.
Is this Change?
June 11th, 2009 at 8:44 amAdding on to John’s statement,
The Obama administration is also inflating it’s claims of created jobs, by including temp summer jobs. Apparently Geithner believes that 2 temporary summer jobs= 1 permanent job. Tell that to the families that have no income in September.
Who wants a dose of socialized medicine?
June 11th, 2009 at 8:33 amDonald,
You really don’t understand how to grasp what someone else is saying. I didn’t say we should use HMOs to reform the current system. I advocated against HMOs.
You can smooth talk as much as you want with “single payer system” costing less. It will not increase competition in any way shape or form. The government will CHOOSE the price, that is what single payer is. A monopoly over the system, in which they get to choose the price. That will not increase competition. Single payer systems have been initiated in other countries and been proven to fail the citizens considerably.
Who wants a dose of socialized medicine?
June 10th, 2009 at 3:41 pmDonald,
I did not say that today’s system does represent competitive capitalism and that is my entire point (refer to another post I made regarding HMOs). Essentially BCBS is a single payer system for small businesses and you are complaining about the cost. So now we will have that at a national level? Does that make any sense? No.
The way to make things competitive is have everyone buy their own healthcare. Don’t have it done through employers. The people just assume “oh my money is going to healthcare.” But the employer doesn’t care how much it costs to pay it off. If people were not blindly paying for healthcare through their employer, they would not purchase the products and services at current prices. End of story. Give the people that extra money back into their wages and: 1) consumer spending on other goods will increase 2) demand for these medical services will go down as people realize they aren’t worth whats charged, which will shift the demand curve down, some doctors will leave b/c profits are less, shifting the demand curve down as well, which means an even greater decrease in medical costs.
Does Obama Plan to Deny Seniors Medical Care?
June 10th, 2009 at 9:42 amI wouldn’t go as far as to say that there is no political will to reform SS. There are many Republicans and conservatives who desire to reform Social Security and wanted to push legislation through a few years ago. The Democrats’ were able to force Reps from backing down by playing to the fears of Older Citizens, saying that Republicans would risk their money in the stock market. In reality, under Bush’s plan the older citiznens were still guaranteed the same benefits. Also, no one had to invest their money, all citizens would have had the choice to opt into the same SS program, whether they didn’t trust the market or didn’t understand their options. It was younger citizens who would be given the opportunity to do more with their money and invest it. In reality, implementing this would be doing more for our economy than any of the Democrats stimulus bills. In the past 5 months American incomes have increased by $121 million, mostly from the stimulus, but our saving has increased by $131 million. None of the stimulus money is being spent by consumers, it is being locked away under their beds. SS reform would have led to automatic increases in investment. Several economic reports have estimated this increase in investment would increase GDP by 4-6%.
Who wants a dose of socialized medicine?
June 10th, 2009 at 9:20 amHow does a “single payer system” (a nice way of saying government monopoly), create competition? I don’t see a logical leap that can be made from the government paying off doctors and surgeons equally as creating competition amongst anyone.
OBAMA GREAT MAN SO-SO PRESIDENT
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:50 amNicely said Will. I challenge anyway to list 10 “W” programs Obama has actually changed since he’s been in office. (Note: Not said he’s going to and then changed his mind)
Who wants a dose of socialized medicine?
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 amNot sure what side Donald is trying to argue here- though I would agree healthcare needs a rehaul- I am obligated to point out that the rise in healthcare cost is directly related to HMOs. These HMO costs force up the cost for those of us with insurance, and especially for those of us who have employer based insurance- since they can charge extreme amounts the people never see. What we need is not to increase HMOs, or increase government control, but to decrease that. The more everyday Americans have to see the cost, the less the demand, and the lower the costs.
Who wants a dose of socialized medicine?
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:52 amI thoroughly enjoyed this article. It is a breath of fresh air to get some real facts out there, without the political spin that both parties use. I think that simple, straight-forward talk like this really hits home with people. I believe that the only candidate Republicans can tap that will have a shot at unseating Obama will be one who relays facts in these simple terms. No more political spin-doctors, just someone who can say look. How can you refute this?
If any readers are interested in more facts on healthcare in the US, check out Sean Hannity’s book ‘Let Freedom Ring.’ It has a good long chapter on healtchare in America.