Pending Health Care Legislation

[bytor2112]

Republican's by now realize that the only time significant gains are made for the populace as a whole is when there is a Democratic President and both Houses of Congress are controlled by the Democrats. At these times, they are capable of passing such legislation as to bring Social Security, Medicare and now a health care system into being.

By now Republicans and probably some fiscally conservative Democrats have realized that Social Security and Medicare are nearly bankrupt.....and Nationalizing healthcare will likely follow the same model. Programs such as these should be elective only and not mandatory.

[Just_A_Guy]

Governments don't go bankrupt, guys. They just print more money and pay off their debts--nominally in full, but really at a tiny fraction of their original worth.

(Plays heck with the economy and bankrupts an awful lot of private citizens both here and abroad. But the government will be fine.)

[a-train]

Government can't provide health care any better than they can keep drugs off the streets. Give me a break. These idiots are hopeless. You want more Americans to have health care? Then get government out of the medical services business. That is the numero uno reason for the high cost of medical services.

-a-train

[Palerider]

Just what we need is another program ran by the Gov't...

[Seanette]

Originally Posted by Just_A_Guy

Governments don't go bankrupt, guys. They just print more money and pay off their debts--nominally in full, but really at a tiny fraction of their original worth.

(Plays heck with the economy and bankrupts an awful lot of private citizens both here and abroad. But the government will be fine.)

ISTR the Weimar Republic tried that, with less than desirable results. Doesn't seem to be doing Zimbabwe any good, either.

[Just_A_Guy]

Originally Posted by Seanette

ISTR the Weimar Republic tried that, with less than desirable results.

For the people, yes. But my suspicion is that the German government, as an entity, would have survived--and its leaders would have probably enjoyed gracious retirements--if Hitler hadn't sparked World War II which ultimately resulted in Berlin's being reduced to a heap of rubble.

[Seanette]

Originally Posted by Just_A_Guy

For the people, yes. But my suspicion is that the German government, as an entity, would have survived--and its leaders would have probably enjoyed gracious retirements--if Hitler hadn't sparked World War II which ultimately resulted in Berlin's being reduced to a heap of rubble.

If I recall the history correctly, the devastation to the people caused by the Weimar Republic's fiscal policy helped set the stage for Hitler, who claimed he could undo the damage and return Germany to a decent standard of living. Thus, their fiscal irresponsibility played a significant role in their undoing.

Did I miss some crucial chunk of the history involved?

[MorningStar]

My family can't afford health insurance, but I don't want socialized medicine either. Quite the dilemma. My husband is covered by his employer, I'm not, my state doesn't have anything available for me, so $350 a month is coming out of our check just for me and my kids are getting on medical coupons through the state. We tried so hard to avoid that. It would've been $800 for the whole family. Washington State's Basic Health program has a waiting list of 20,000 people and you can't even apply right now. They're going to send me a letter when I can apply and you can only get on as other people get off. Not likely my number will come up anytime soon.

[talisyn]

Originally Posted by Godless

The bureaucracy and red tape is a big step up from the ibuprofin-and-whiskey health care program that millions of Americans are currently subscribed to.

Agreed. The USA doesn't have lines in the hospitals and dr.s offices because poor people don't go to dr.s and hospitals. Every try treating a bladder infection with aspirin and lots of water, all the while working your 40/hr week job that doesn't pay enough for you to afford insurance? It's not a pretty thing.

[hordak]

Originally Posted by Seanette

If I recall the history correctly, the devastation to the people caused by the Weimar Republic's fiscal policy helped set the stage for Hitler, who claimed he could undo the damage and return Germany to a decent standard of living. Thus, their fiscal irresponsibility played a significant role in their undoing.

Did I miss some crucial chunk of the history involved?

The Treaty of Versailles.