Has anyone seen this Alabama thing?

AJCM

It's a problem of economies of scale guys.

Universal health care is great in theory, but you would have to restructure our whole government to do so, france has 60 million ppl, canada has 33 million. the US has 300 million.

In relative terms, 16% of canada is below the poverty line, that means they have to account for 5.2 million people who don't pay into it at all.

France has a 2.6% poverty rate which means 1.5 million people

The US has 36 million people that wouldn't pay into it. (not including the illegals that would most likely get the free care as well)

The model for economies of scale dictates that things that work for smaller groups, don't necessarilly work for larger ones. Do I like insurance companies? No, not even a little, but I don't like having to pay for someone elses medical bills either. And anyone who thinks we wouldn't be paying higher taxes for universal health care is fooling themself. I read the proposals that Obama and Clinton put out, they all include tax increases, and neither of them adequately address (IMHO) the administration problems that would inevitably occur when trying to provide healthcare for 300 million LEGAL residents (not to mention the 30 plus million illegals in this country).

And if your argument were true, why does Japan have the highest life expectancy of any country? They don't have universal health care.

I'm sorry guys, the cause is noble, but it's a pipe dream as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks for that info Banks - makes perfect sense (unfortunately)...
:flowerforyou:

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banks1850

Thanks for that info Banks - makes perfect sense (unfortunately)...
:flowerforyou:

Too true.

lessertess

I'm with NicOle and Banks on this one.

Although there are some factors that make someone more predisposed to obesity, each of us (with very few exceptions) is here because of the choices we make or made. I'm overweight and I got here because I ate too much and the wrong things and I didn't exercise enough. I dare say that the huge majority of us on this site are here for the same reasons. If we are all honest with ourselves we would have to agree that this was not something that happened to us against our will. And, rather we like it or not, obese means that we are more prone to health issues. I very much agree that if you smoke, you should pay more for health care premiums and I have to apply the same logic to obesity.

Children in schools are not fat because we serve unhealthy foods. They are fat because they don't get enough exercise and because their parents serve unhealthy foods and allow them to eat too much and to spend their days in front to the computer or the TV. If parents would admit to this fact, we could begin focusing on solving the problem rather than trying to lay blame.

Fast food and restaurants are not the cause. They are simply selling what the market is asking (begging) for. The industry will only change when it is based on demand and tied to profits. The government will not be able to regulate the problem away.

As for universal health care, Banks is right, it's a great idea in theory but it will cost us more in practice. There is no way to pay for that program without raising taxes an alarming amount and then you have to worry about the quality of the health care. Our government is not the entity I want to trust to controlling my health care. Honestly, look at what they've done to social security....so we want a healthcare system that is bankrupt in 20 years? I've yet to hear anyone raving about the excellent care they receive under medicare or medicaid. When I was growing up, my family was military and that wasn't the best quality healthcare either. I foresee having to pay high taxes to fund a poor quality or poorly controlled program and then having to pay out of my own pocket an additional amount to receive the quality of healthcare that I need. And, I can't afford it because I'm desparately trying to figure out how I can ever retire without social security.

JeremyInvincible

Thanks for that info Banks - makes perfect sense (unfortunately)...
:flowerforyou:

Too true.

As usual Banks, I'm with you on this as well.