tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12563769.post8363420557815889836..comments2023-11-05T04:40:53.265-08:00Comments on Vonny: When Emotion and False Statements Drive Policy DebatesMark Vondracekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07968005525366534358noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12563769.post-42469542868164404762009-08-12T13:31:25.954-07:002009-08-12T13:31:25.954-07:00These are precisely the types of issues I wish cou...These are precisely the types of issues I wish could be debated and discussed at the town halls. The distractions that come in from emotionally charged groups, who are buying into absolute falsities, distortions, exaggerations of what is on the table is what drives me nuts. <br /><br />Much of this comes from the leadership of the two sides in Congress. Pelosi has not done a good job at all of bringing about a real discussion with Rep. leaders, at least from what we can gather through media reports. Of course, some on the right-wing then play the revenge game and literally make things up in order to see what grabs their supporters' ire. End result, no true debate, and this will lead to a left of center bill that will pass, if indeed something passes, in September or October. <br /><br />I absolutely agree that it is too complex, and the addition of another 1000+ page bill numbs the mind. Perhaps Obama made a mistake by letting Congress take the lead early on, and has lost his ability to keep the two sides from ending up where they usually do - completely split, with tit-for-tat politics taking precedence over what is best for the country. <br /><br />The one promising feature of this, to me, is how the AMA, AARP, and nurses associations have all endorsed the premise from a health-care point of view. Presumably decisions are to be made from doctor-patient interactions rather than insurance bureaucrats deciding what will and will not be paid for. The money is a problem, but even this is entirely in flux since everything is at the committee stage. Very maddening, to say the least.Mark Vondracekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07968005525366534358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12563769.post-61253714829559682632009-08-11T21:02:09.608-07:002009-08-11T21:02:09.608-07:00How likely is the USG to deliver health care at th...How likely is the USG to deliver health care at the current level of quality to more people at less cost?<br /><br />Not very. <br /><br />Instead of loading more complexity on to an already complex system and expecting cost savings/more coverage to appear, perhaps the first step should be to simplify the inefficiencies and disincentives and no-value cost add ons ( like malpractice insurance premiums and class-action lawsuits) from the current system. That in itself is pretty hard but it would give us an idea of the real money we have to play with in extending care to more ppl. Why accept all the current irrationalities and load national health care on top of them?<br /><br />For that matter, if we have national health care, why would we need separate medicare and medicaid and veteran's health programs?<br /><br />These are questions our representatives should answer.markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16283319657103608208noreply@blogger.com