Amendment 2--Trauma Center Funding--failed. (Atlanta, Macon: schools, casinos, costs)

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Personally, I think it was the second reason: Taxophobia. Some Georgians are so opposed to any tax, or fee, that they refuse to LISTEN to what it would do and what it would fund. I guess saving and improving lives is not as important.

I know a few people who voted against it for precisely this reason. No new taxes regardless of true cost, benefits, etc.

[rmsmith1977]

I was against it because we have several here in the Atlanta area without a special tax being pulled out of my pocket. In a capitalist economy south Georgia would have a trauma center if it would be financially viable, otherwise it's socialism.

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by rmsmith1977

I was against it because we have several here in the Atlanta area without a special tax being pulled out of my pocket. In a capitalist economy south Georgia would have a trauma center if it would be financially viable, otherwise it's socialism.

Wow! Just, wow.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by rmsmith1977

I was against it because we have several here in the Atlanta area without a special tax being pulled out of my pocket. In a capitalist economy south Georgia would have a trauma center if it would be financially viable, otherwise it's socialism.

Sorry, but on this score I absolutely disagree (and I am a Libertarian). Even in a capitalist economy, there has to be an establishment of certain services for the public good, even if they are not profitable. This would be one of them.
Under this scenario, people with rare diseases would simply be out of luck because private pharmaceutical companies could not produce enough volume of the medicine to turn a profit.

[rmsmith1977]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Sorry, but on this score I absolutely disagree (and I am a Libertarian). Even in a capitalist economy, there has to be an establishment of certain services for the public good, even if they are not profitable. This would be one of them.
Under this scenario, people with rare diseases would simply be out of luck because private pharmaceutical companies could not produce enough volume of the medicine to turn a profit.

They do, that's why such drugs are so freaking expensive.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by rmsmith1977

They do, that's why such drugs are so freaking expensive.

Do I follow that you would prefer to let these people die in order to achieve a lower embedded drug cost? I somehow think that we cannot lay the entire fault of high drug costs at the feet of victims of rare diseases.
I also pray that you or a loved one never sustain serious injuries in a remote part of this state.

[rmsmith1977]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Do I follow that you would prefer to let these people die in order to achieve a lower embedded drug cost? I somehow think that we cannot lay the entire fault of high drug costs at the feet of victims of rare diseases.
I also pray that you or a loved one never sustain serious injuries in a remote part of this state.

This is why I have a lot of insurance. Cancer insurance specifically because treating that can be very expensive. I don't believe it's my fault because people don't have the same

As far as trauma centers in the middle of nowhere. If I have to go past macon, I fly.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by rmsmith1977

This is why I have a lot of insurance. Cancer insurance specifically because treating that can be very expensive. I don't believe it's my fault because people don't have the same

As far as trauma centers in the middle of nowhere. If I have to go past macon, I fly.

We're not talking about cancer here. 'Trauma' would be referring to car crashes, house fire, gun and knife wounds, etc.
Whether or not one has insurance is irrelevant to this conversation. When minutes are critical, you are in Douglas, GA and the closest Level 1 adult trauma center is 200 miles away at Grady, I suspect that one might not be so flippant and rethink their position about a lousy $10 fee on their license plate.

Georgia Health Info | Trauma Centers in Georgia (http://georgiahealthinfo.gov/cms/trauma_centers_georgia - broken link)

[rmsmith1977]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

We're not talking about cancer here. 'Trauma' would be referring to car crashes, house fire, gun and knife wounds, etc.
Whether or not one has insurance is irrelevant to this conversation. When minutes are critical, you are in Douglas, GA and the closest Level 1 adult trauma center is 200 miles away at Grady, I suspect that one might not be so flippant and rethink their position about a lousy $10 fee on their license plate.

Georgia Health Info | Trauma Centers in Georgia (http://georgiahealthinfo.gov/cms/trauma_centers_georgia - broken link)

I was simply answering your question about lower drug costs. Like I said, if i travel south of Macon, I fly.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by rmsmith1977

I was simply answering your question about lower drug costs. Like I said, if i travel south of Macon, I fly.

What does THAT have to do with what we're talking about?