How will the new socialist federal government affect Atlanta? (move, racism)

[gt6974a]

Clark seems to know how to make things affordable and save. Here's a link to his 'presidential' policies if he were to run:

Clark Howard for president in 2012?! on clarkhoward.com

an excerpt on insurance:

• Just say no to socialized medicine -- In a Howard administration, there would be just 12 health plans offered: 3 HMOs, 3 PPOs, 3 HSAs and 3 of the traditional 80/20 splits.

Every insurer would have to sell identical plans. That way you could switch to another insurer's HMO plan No. 2 if your insurer's HMO plan No. 2 is too costly. You would pay your premium based on age, and there would be no redlining based on your past medical history. You wouldn't be required to have health insurance, but you wouldn't be allowed to buy it when you're sick; instead, you'd have to wait 18 months.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

Just say no to socialized medicine -- In a Howard administration, there would be just 12 health plans offered: 3 HMOs, 3 PPOs, 3 HSAs and 3 of the traditional 80/20 splits.

Every insurer would have to sell identical plans. That way you could switch to another insurer's HMO plan No. 2 if your insurer's HMO plan No. 2 is too costly. You would pay your premium based on age, and there would be no redlining based on your past medical history. You wouldn't be required to have health insurance, but you wouldn't be allowed to buy it when you're sick; instead, you'd have to wait 18 months.

I don't see the big difference between "socialized medicine" (the universal coverage, single-payer system) and Howard's proposal of a highly regulated insurance market, but I suppose if it makes Americans feel they're avoiding the horror of socialism, OK.

It surprises me though, that y'all aren't up in arms about your socialized police and fire departments. Isn't it un-American to have a single-provider, taxpayer-funded government fire hall? Shouldn't I have the freedom to choose a different provider or opt out of fire protection if I want, just as you're so keen to have me free to opt out of health insurance?

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay

It surprises me though, that y'all aren't up in arms about your socialized police and fire departments. Isn't it un-American to have a single-provider, taxpayer-funded government fire hall? Shouldn't I have the freedom to choose a different provider or opt out of fire protection if I want, just as you're so keen to have me free to opt out of health insurance?

Like UPS and FedEx for your mail service?

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay

It surprises me though, that y'all aren't up in arms about your socialized police and fire departments. Isn't it un-American to have a single-provider, taxpayer-funded government fire hall?

There's a big difference and distinction here. One of the explicit purposes of government is to provide those services that cannot feasibly or practically be provided by individuals for themselves. At the federal level that means providing military for national defense, and at the local levels that means police, fire, and public works. These are things that individuals cannot feasibly provde on their own, regardless of cost.

Medical care is not something that has to be provided on your behalf, because you can feasibly provide it on your own. As we have seen for years, it's not impractical or impossible to be provided by an individual. What we are discussing here is the cost of that care, and the fact that for a myriad of reasons, some people cannot or choose not to provide their own care.

Perhaps medical care is something that all citizens are entitled to have (I won't enter that debate yet), but the question is how does it get paid for, given the current system? Many people (such as me) receive health benefits as part of my compensation package. I EARN my medical care.

The problem with most proposals is that they rely on increases in taxes for businesses and mandates on employers, and then they stifle the choices that individuals have as consumers. Doctors might also be limited as to what types of medicine they could practice and what they could charge. None of those things is positive in my opinion.

[onemanarmy]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

Clark seems to know how to make things affordable and save. Here's a link to his 'presidential' policies if he were to run:

Clark Howard for president in 2012?! on clarkhoward.com

an excerpt on insurance:

• Just say no to socialized medicine -- In a Howard administration, there would be just 12 health plans offered: 3 HMOs, 3 PPOs, 3 HSAs and 3 of the traditional 80/20 splits.

Every insurer would have to sell identical plans. That way you could switch to another insurer's HMO plan No. 2 if your insurer's HMO plan No. 2 is too costly. You would pay your premium based on age, and there would be no redlining based on your past medical history. You wouldn't be required to have health insurance, but you wouldn't be allowed to buy it when you're sick; instead, you'd have to wait 18 months.

This plan lacks a critical detail. Not all PPO/HMO/HSA are the same, some offer different coverage, co-pays, etc. So let's assume for a second that all of these plans have the same coverage. Does the "FREE" market dictate the coverage or are all coverage the same by Government mandate. Ok, let’s assume the coverage is government established and we have 9 plans with government policies on coverage. Now, this is very much like a commodity because the products are indistinguishable no matter the provider. So, NOW it's price driven like all commodities. When the only competition is price, few companies survive the price wars. Now we have a Healthcare with few competitors offering government mandated services which are indistinguishable in coverage, but no price controls. This plan eliminates competition without controlling price but does add a new interesting twist. Now that healthcare is a commodity, it can be traded on the futures market with oil and wheat, anyone want to guess how many people will need an MRI in 6 months? J

The only way this proposal works is if the government mandates cost controls to healthcare provider, which would then eliminate the “free” market concept, which would in essence be a single payer system.

[Huckleberry3911948]

this is a loaded question but i will take the bait.
big changes ahead and the race card don't work no more. no more us vs them
just we. you will hear this in mr obamas speeches a lot --- we.

[gt6974a]

I noticed no-one wanted to tackle the GRA's.

When I was unemployed I had BCBS for about $50 month. It was a short-term plan, but you can usually get this insurance for 6 months - year. If you don't have insurance after that you have bigger problems than insurance.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

this is a loaded question but i will take the bait.
big changes ahead and the race card don't work no more. no more us vs them
just we. you will hear this in mr obamas speeches a lot --- we.

Just what I predicted...

People thinking we are a post-racial society (because of Obama), when in reality, we are not even close.


A worrisome situation...

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by aries4118

People thinking we are a post-racial society (because of Obama), when in reality, we are not even close.

Not as long as people continue to think in those terms and refer to themselves in racial terms. Personally, I bought into Dr. King's vision where we judge people by the content of their character and not the color of their skin (or religion, sex, etc). I think that Obama illustrates that the country has changed, and it's time for people to be judged by the deeds and opinions, and the crutch of race needs to be put away. There will always be racism, but it's time to stop using it as an excuse, especially when an black man can be elected US President.

[BringBackCobain]

Originally Posted by neil0311

the crutch of race needs to be put away. There will always be racism, but it's time to stop using it as an excuse, especially when an black man can be elected US President.

I completely agree. Personally, I think its great because we can finally MOVE ON! Slavery was 150 years ago. Segregation was 50 years ago. Its a new era in America. No one cares what color you are!

I think some people would like it to not change and progress, for fear that they may not be able to pull the race card or use it as an excuse... Not naming any names though... cough cough aries.