Comments on: I’ll take a health care to go, and make it snappy http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/ Sat, 19 May 2012 16:10:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Nathan Clark http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-81 Nathan Clark Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:15:35 +0000 http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-81 NPR is another good example without the competition. Of course, the competition couldn't account for it else we'd be doing at least a wee bit better in Iraq. NPR is another good example without the competition.
Of course, the competition couldn’t account for it else we’d be doing at least a wee bit better in Iraq.

]]> By: peter http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-80 peter Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:56:36 +0000 http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-80 even with the moon landing, though, wasnt there sort of a government "market" there? There was a global perception of a race for reputation - leadership in technology innovation with undertones of power for the first countries to explore space. Perhaps if it were somehow a race for the healthiest country...i dont know how to make that happen... even with the moon landing, though, wasnt there sort of a government “market” there? There was a global perception of a race for reputation - leadership in technology innovation with undertones of power for the first countries to explore space.

Perhaps if it were somehow a race for the healthiest country…i dont know how to make that happen…

]]> By: Nathan Clark http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-79 Nathan Clark Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:32:59 +0000 http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-79 I'm beginning to reconsider the premise that government oversight is synonymous with indifferent control. The US government got us on the moon, which was an example of innovation, speed, cost and quality. I don't see why we couldn't achieve that in other places (though recognize we've failed to continue that success with even Nasa). I’m beginning to reconsider the premise that government oversight is synonymous with indifferent control. The US government got us on the moon, which was an example of innovation, speed, cost and quality. I don’t see why we couldn’t achieve that in other places (though recognize we’ve failed to continue that success with even Nasa).

]]> By: peter http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-78 peter Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:17:56 +0000 http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-78 I've read that article (actually <a href="http://itsonlytwocents.blogspot.com/2008/01/when-will-we-just-let-free-market-work.html" rel="nofollow">posted on it back in January)</a>, and what I read is clearly "free up the markets", because the problem is government intervention. Subsidy, regulation or tariff leads to artificial price manipulation. Back to the main point, this is why I don't know if government is the answer. I watched sicko this past weekend, which I liked (apart from general Michael Moore ass-holery). It was cool to see how Canadians, Brits, French and even Cubans live. Part of me likes that system alot, and am curious if a similar stystem here would work. The other part of me knows that if there is no incentive for driving costs down, or for innovation, that the overall quality of care will decline over time, most likely swiftly. That is my greatest fear. I’ve read that article (actually posted on it back in January), and what I read is clearly “free up the markets”, because the problem is government intervention. Subsidy, regulation or tariff leads to artificial price manipulation.

Back to the main point, this is why I don’t know if government is the answer. I watched sicko this past weekend, which I liked (apart from general Michael Moore ass-holery). It was cool to see how Canadians, Brits, French and even Cubans live. Part of me likes that system alot, and am curious if a similar stystem here would work. The other part of me knows that if there is no incentive for driving costs down, or for innovation, that the overall quality of care will decline over time, most likely swiftly. That is my greatest fear.

]]> By: Nathan Clark http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-77 Nathan Clark Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:13:56 +0000 http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-77 World food prices have been on the rise for a while, and Washington's decision wasn't the determining factor. There were many causes, and where Washington was complicit it was in reaction to a fuel crisis beginning now to manifest. <a href="http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10252015" rel="nofollow">You can read their article here.</a> HMOs were also the market's supposed solution. When the government props a faulty market, I think we'd both agree bad things happen. But the bio-pharmaceutical industry is only propped by aggressive patent laws, and drug prices are a large factor in our spiraling health care cost. So the blame cannot purely be on HMOs (where are in theory great ideas). Related: Bush said every American has health care access via emergency rooms. Another piece in the puzzle, given the exorbitant pricing in the ERs. World food prices have been on the rise for a while, and Washington’s decision wasn’t the determining factor. There were many causes, and where Washington was complicit it was in reaction to a fuel crisis beginning now to manifest.
You can read their article here.
HMOs were also the market’s supposed solution. When the government props a faulty market, I think we’d both agree bad things happen. But the bio-pharmaceutical industry is only propped by aggressive patent laws, and drug prices are a large factor in our spiraling health care cost. So the blame cannot purely be on HMOs (where are in theory great ideas).
Related: Bush said every American has health care access via emergency rooms. Another piece in the puzzle, given the exorbitant pricing in the ERs.

]]> By: peter http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-76 peter Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:32:31 +0000 http://veryness.com/2008/04/18/ill-take-a-health-care-to-go-and-make-it-snappy/#comment-76 our current system is in no way "purely market-based". Medicare, Medicaid, massive regulation, even HMO's were encouraged by congress. it can be argued that we are where we are because of government intervention. http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/health-care/ http://www.ronpaul2008.com/articles/54/free-market-medicine/ I dont pretend to know what the answer is either. I just am very apprehensive that MORE government is the answer. Remember, the soaring world food prices are much the fault of of a bunch of suits in a building in Washington mandating that burning food is better than burning gas... our current system is in no way “purely market-based”. Medicare, Medicaid, massive regulation, even HMO’s were encouraged by congress. it can be argued that we are where we are because of government intervention.
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/health-care/
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/articles/54/free-market-medicine/

I dont pretend to know what the answer is either. I just am very apprehensive that MORE government is the answer. Remember, the soaring world food prices are much the fault of of a bunch of suits in a building in Washington mandating that burning food is better than burning gas…

]]>