Comments on: Obama, healthcare and social democracy

By: Michael Sutcliffe

Michael Sutcliffe — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:43:21 +0000

An alternative to the public option:

Swiss Health Care Thrives Without Public Option

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/health/policy/01swiss.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&em

It involves forcing private comapanies to do things for the public despite their business model, and doctors are occasionally complaining they can’t make a buck – so the the LP crowd should be able to support it with collectivist gusto! And it would be a whole lot more effective and cheaper than BarryCare over the long term.

By: Nickws

Nickws — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:57:57 +0000

but consider the stats [Daniel Hannan] puts forward on waiting times and success rates.

Daniel Hannan? The man with an "interesting methodology", who mentions "Lancet and BMJ papers [but doesn't give any cites]?" Whose thesis RE the British health system is refuted by at least one edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association? You're right, his work is interesting.

By: Michael Sutcliffe

Michael Sutcliffe — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:53:26 +0000

Here's another interesting article. I know you all hate the philosophy Daniel Hannan espouses (and I won't even mention Fox), but consider the stats he puts forward on waiting times and success rates. Also consider his comments on the elderly and the number of state employees in the system: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wcWlHTRcTE

By: Helen

Helen — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:15:05 +0000

Here’s an interesting find from Tom Tomorrow via Twitter.

http://www.thismodernworld.com/blog/lifemaghealth.jpg

Plus ca change!

By: tssk

tssk — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:09:13 +0000

OK…somewhat related…anti Obama protestors are now carrying assualt rifles to these meetings? What the f…? I know all about 2nd ammendment rights but surely this is more about intimidation and point scoring.

If anti bush protestors had carried water pistols to an appearance of a republican senator they would have been dealt with..heck..someone last year got tased into submission for raising his voice when asking a question to Dem Al Gore. What on earth is going on?

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:56:03 +0000

I’m fine thanks.

Why can’t they? They’ve embarked on massive and successful public ventures before.

By: Bingo Bango Boingo

Bingo Bango Boingo — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:21:42 +0000

Sean: “Ah, that ol’ American Can’t-Do attitude that has so inspired the world.”

An Australian pointing out that the American political system is incapable of efficiently and effectively maintaining a universal public health system (should such a system be introduced) is an example of the American can’t-do attitude? Are you OK?

BBB

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:04:11 +0000

Look dude I can’t re-read all 118 comments from the beginning! And yeah irony sometimes goes missing in typeface. That’s got me into trouble before today.

Sorry.

By: tssk

tssk — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:52:55 +0000

I know. I need to be better at telegraphing my sarcasm. Then again it’s always interesting to be exposed to new views.

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:53:35 +0000

tssk, you are also operating under the delusion that the well off can't pay extra for extra care in countries like Australia and the UK. I do, and I'm not very rich at all. The way it works is this: say you have to have an achilles tendon re-attached, and that is covered by public health. If you want to have it done in a private hospital, you still get public money, and then you pay the difference. In Australia, your public health tax is also reduced if you have private health insurance. Also, there is actually only a small but noisy astro-turf movement, and their arguments are all either weak as piss or straight up lies. Polls show the majority of Americans in favour of a public health option.