We met an expat here in Ecuador who had maintained a friendship with her ex-husband over the years. He had cancer and was tired of dealing with American health care. They decided to get together again for "one last adventure." They moved here and he lived another three years. The final year of his life, they had a live-in health care nurse who also helped with cooking and laundry--attending to all his needs to the very end. Their (and our) doctora, a Belgian who married an Ecuadorian would make house calls as needed. (She is the best doctor we've had and a plus--fluent in English). He never spent a single night in the hospital though he did visit the emergency room on two occasions. Their total "medical" costs during that last year totaled around $1,000 a month.
When I contrast their experience to my spouse's experience over the years, I marvel at the arrogance of our insistence that the US has such wonderful health care. They are masters of procedures and pill pushing--that's for sure. When private equity firms starting buying things up, you know the already mega rich are about to get richer at the working stiff and retiree's expense. The entire system is a house of cards like the rest of our war economy.
Bingo. The fed gov has money when they want to have money and doesn't have money when it doesn't want to have money. Assume you've heard of or read The Deficit Myth by Stephanie Kelton? Or watched an interview with Michael Hudson? Highly recommend. They are proponents of Modern Monetary Theory- a framework for understanding how a currency-issuing economy really operates.
The same US government that finds nearly one trillion dollars to pay for war (sold as "defense") could also find one trillion dollars to spend on everyday Americans. All the stuff the majority of Americans want - healthcare (that actually promotes health), a living wage, roads without potholes, a retirement without working at Walmart- all this stuff could happen in an instant if the federal government CHOSE TO DO IT.
I was listening to an interview with an MMT proponent named Thomas Fazi who gave a very interesting take on the demise of Liz Truss (on podcast Macro n Cheese, "The Breaking of the World with Thomas Fazi".) Fazi described how Truss had said in public something to the effect of, "deficits don't matter. We can spend whatever we want." In response to airing this secret to the public, the Bank of England tanked its own currency to force Truss out of office. She said something that the US gov and British gov absolutely prohibit expressing out loud: that a government that issues its own currency can spend whatever it wants, on whoever it wants.
Yes, you have to be aware of the inflationary impacts of printing money. But you are 100% spot on that the federal government COULD pay for universal healthcare, etc. It just chooses to pay that money to the Boards of Directors of defense contractors.
I couldn’t agree more, Bill. I live in a country with truly universal healthcare, Japan. I’m so glad to be here. It pains me to hear about the nonsense and injustice of health and wealth conditions in the Divided States of America. May something save you all. Though nothing is omnipotent, the only hope I see is in your uncommon good sense. Keep it up!
I would gladly trade universal healthcare for the warfare empire,and I'm one of those who is concerned how it's paid for and I have concerns that the system would serve to limit the freedom of providers. But the costs are generally consistent as a percentage of GDP, all that changes is how it's paid for.
From what I understand most of the Cuban doctors are in Venezuela anyway. The Cubans rent them out for a high price, pay the doctors (who are state employees) a low salary, and pocket the difference. 21st century Communism, I guess.
Sad to say the limiting factor for medical care is the number of doctors. That number has not increased in the immediate past so a call for medicine to be "free" to the user will simply result in more attempted use and more lines to get medical care. I understand this is what happens in countries where such policies are practiced. I'm not defending the current system, which has far too many middlemen for my purposes. It's just to say that if we adopted the policies of the UK, for instance, we would be swapping the problem of cost to the user for the problem of the amount of time to get treated.
We have the American Medical Association that does the same thing. Periodically, in an attempt to address a shortage of health care available to the public, politicians float proposals to expand the ability of nurses, etc., to give care. The AMA typically opposes those attempts, arguing that only doctors can give appropriate care. It's just yet another rigged system on behalf of the riggers. Making health care "free" to the user does nothing to address that problem.
Part of this too is who benefits from these proposals. In the run-up to Obamacare, the big insurance prescription benefits managers (PBMs) opposed it, thinking they would be replaced by a big government bureaucracy. The Obama administration assured them that this would not happen, that they would remain in the loop. So those same insurance companies now favored the proposals. Medicare recipients, who would largely by unaffected by the policies, got messages from their PBMs that they should tell their representatives that they should vote in favor of Obamacare. And it passed.
The other thing with government-paid for care is that the government likes to lower costs (so they can spend money on other things) and they do this by lessening the compensation to doctors and medical facilities. Finding a doctor who accepts Medicare for instance can be a problem and finding one who accepts Medicaid can be more of a problem. The problem of medical finance is like the game of whack-a-mole. Unfortunately.
"The WHO and the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza say amputations have become commonplace during the Israel-Hamas war, now in its 12th week....... Experts believe that in most cases, limbs could have been saved with proper treatment. But after weeks of Israel's blistering air and ground offensive, only nine out of Gaza's 36-hospitals are still operational. They are greatly overcrowded....and lack basic equipment to perform surgery. Many wounded were unable to reach the remaining hospitals, pinned down by Israeli bombardment and ground combat."
"People die of infections that they have because their limbs are infected,” Casey told a news conference. “We saw patients who were septic.”
On Nov. 13, when an Israeli airstrike hit the home of Nabahin's neighbour in Bureij, a refugee camp in central Gaza, her ankle and arteries in her leg were partially severed by a clump of concrete that blew into her home from the explosion next door. She was the only one of her family who was injured, all her neighbours were killed.
She was quickly taken to nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where doctors managed to sew up her leg and stop the bleeding. But after that, Nabahin said she received minimal treatment or attention from doctors, who were dealing with a huge number of critically wounded people amid dwindling medical supplies. Days later, her leg turned a dark color, she said. “They discovered that there was shrapnel that was poisoning my blood.". Nabahin remains in acute pain and can't sleep without sedatives."
"Jourdel Francois, an orthopedic surgeon with Doctors Without Borders tells of a young girl whose legs had been crushed and urgently needed a double amputation, but she couldn't be booked into surgery that day because of the high number of other critical injuries. She died later that night, Francois said, likely from sepsis, or blood poisoning by bacteria."
And it goes on.. and on... and on.... and on - hell on earth Ray.
And Joe Biden could stop this - but he refuses to!
We met an expat here in Ecuador who had maintained a friendship with her ex-husband over the years. He had cancer and was tired of dealing with American health care. They decided to get together again for "one last adventure." They moved here and he lived another three years. The final year of his life, they had a live-in health care nurse who also helped with cooking and laundry--attending to all his needs to the very end. Their (and our) doctora, a Belgian who married an Ecuadorian would make house calls as needed. (She is the best doctor we've had and a plus--fluent in English). He never spent a single night in the hospital though he did visit the emergency room on two occasions. Their total "medical" costs during that last year totaled around $1,000 a month.
When I contrast their experience to my spouse's experience over the years, I marvel at the arrogance of our insistence that the US has such wonderful health care. They are masters of procedures and pill pushing--that's for sure. When private equity firms starting buying things up, you know the already mega rich are about to get richer at the working stiff and retiree's expense. The entire system is a house of cards like the rest of our war economy.
Bingo. The fed gov has money when they want to have money and doesn't have money when it doesn't want to have money. Assume you've heard of or read The Deficit Myth by Stephanie Kelton? Or watched an interview with Michael Hudson? Highly recommend. They are proponents of Modern Monetary Theory- a framework for understanding how a currency-issuing economy really operates.
The same US government that finds nearly one trillion dollars to pay for war (sold as "defense") could also find one trillion dollars to spend on everyday Americans. All the stuff the majority of Americans want - healthcare (that actually promotes health), a living wage, roads without potholes, a retirement without working at Walmart- all this stuff could happen in an instant if the federal government CHOSE TO DO IT.
I was listening to an interview with an MMT proponent named Thomas Fazi who gave a very interesting take on the demise of Liz Truss (on podcast Macro n Cheese, "The Breaking of the World with Thomas Fazi".) Fazi described how Truss had said in public something to the effect of, "deficits don't matter. We can spend whatever we want." In response to airing this secret to the public, the Bank of England tanked its own currency to force Truss out of office. She said something that the US gov and British gov absolutely prohibit expressing out loud: that a government that issues its own currency can spend whatever it wants, on whoever it wants.
Yes, you have to be aware of the inflationary impacts of printing money. But you are 100% spot on that the federal government COULD pay for universal healthcare, etc. It just chooses to pay that money to the Boards of Directors of defense contractors.
I couldn’t agree more, Bill. I live in a country with truly universal healthcare, Japan. I’m so glad to be here. It pains me to hear about the nonsense and injustice of health and wealth conditions in the Divided States of America. May something save you all. Though nothing is omnipotent, the only hope I see is in your uncommon good sense. Keep it up!
I would gladly trade universal healthcare for the warfare empire,and I'm one of those who is concerned how it's paid for and I have concerns that the system would serve to limit the freedom of providers. But the costs are generally consistent as a percentage of GDP, all that changes is how it's paid for.
Health expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022
United States = 16.6% - If you can afford it. Many cannot.
New Zealand = 11.2% - "Free" Universal coverage for EVERYONE
And medical care outcomes in New Zealand are BETTER than the richest country in the World.
New Zealand choses to spend its tax money on healthcare rather than bombs.
Medical outcomes in the United States are the BEST in the world - if you are rich.
The WORST if you are poor.
Perhaps NZ has more doctors than we do, as a percentage of population. Supply and demand. It's amazing what can be done if there's an adequate supply.
Google is our friend Alex.
Number of doctors per 10,000 people
Cuba = 84 !!!!!!!
Norway = 51
Australia = 41
Russia = 40
Israel = 36
New Zealand = 36
USA = 26
Canada = 26
Niger = 0.3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_number_of_physicians
From what I understand most of the Cuban doctors are in Venezuela anyway. The Cubans rent them out for a high price, pay the doctors (who are state employees) a low salary, and pocket the difference. 21st century Communism, I guess.
Well that's the answer. Just send the poor Americans to Cuba for free health care. Ha ha ha.
LOL LOL LOL
Universal health coverage now genicide Joe...heal us don't kill us
cut: national defense
cut: homeland security,
cut: funding the16 intelligence agencies that watch over us.
Sad to say the limiting factor for medical care is the number of doctors. That number has not increased in the immediate past so a call for medicine to be "free" to the user will simply result in more attempted use and more lines to get medical care. I understand this is what happens in countries where such policies are practiced. I'm not defending the current system, which has far too many middlemen for my purposes. It's just to say that if we adopted the policies of the UK, for instance, we would be swapping the problem of cost to the user for the problem of the amount of time to get treated.
We have the American Medical Association that does the same thing. Periodically, in an attempt to address a shortage of health care available to the public, politicians float proposals to expand the ability of nurses, etc., to give care. The AMA typically opposes those attempts, arguing that only doctors can give appropriate care. It's just yet another rigged system on behalf of the riggers. Making health care "free" to the user does nothing to address that problem.
Part of this too is who benefits from these proposals. In the run-up to Obamacare, the big insurance prescription benefits managers (PBMs) opposed it, thinking they would be replaced by a big government bureaucracy. The Obama administration assured them that this would not happen, that they would remain in the loop. So those same insurance companies now favored the proposals. Medicare recipients, who would largely by unaffected by the policies, got messages from their PBMs that they should tell their representatives that they should vote in favor of Obamacare. And it passed.
Big Insurance is a HUGE bureaucracy Alex! LOL
Even the Federal Government couldn't do worse eh!
You know the best thing about New Zealand Universal Healthcare...
ZERO PAPERWORK! No kidding - my NHI# is on the computer. Thats all that's needed.
When I arrive in the Ambulance all my details are on the computer.
You will never see a bill😁!
Viva New Zealand!!
The other thing with government-paid for care is that the government likes to lower costs (so they can spend money on other things) and they do this by lessening the compensation to doctors and medical facilities. Finding a doctor who accepts Medicare for instance can be a problem and finding one who accepts Medicaid can be more of a problem. The problem of medical finance is like the game of whack-a-mole. Unfortunately.
This BV regular is only too happy to bear with you on the 120th day of your 80th year Ray.
For me you haven't posted too much of what you read so far today.
Two excellent articles - even if off topic.
Kaumātua are wise elders in Māori society. Male elders are known as koroua.
You are a koroua Ray.
Take care my friend
My sickening read today Ray,
"The WHO and the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza say amputations have become commonplace during the Israel-Hamas war, now in its 12th week....... Experts believe that in most cases, limbs could have been saved with proper treatment. But after weeks of Israel's blistering air and ground offensive, only nine out of Gaza's 36-hospitals are still operational. They are greatly overcrowded....and lack basic equipment to perform surgery. Many wounded were unable to reach the remaining hospitals, pinned down by Israeli bombardment and ground combat."
"People die of infections that they have because their limbs are infected,” Casey told a news conference. “We saw patients who were septic.”
On Nov. 13, when an Israeli airstrike hit the home of Nabahin's neighbour in Bureij, a refugee camp in central Gaza, her ankle and arteries in her leg were partially severed by a clump of concrete that blew into her home from the explosion next door. She was the only one of her family who was injured, all her neighbours were killed.
She was quickly taken to nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where doctors managed to sew up her leg and stop the bleeding. But after that, Nabahin said she received minimal treatment or attention from doctors, who were dealing with a huge number of critically wounded people amid dwindling medical supplies. Days later, her leg turned a dark color, she said. “They discovered that there was shrapnel that was poisoning my blood.". Nabahin remains in acute pain and can't sleep without sedatives."
"Jourdel Francois, an orthopedic surgeon with Doctors Without Borders tells of a young girl whose legs had been crushed and urgently needed a double amputation, but she couldn't be booked into surgery that day because of the high number of other critical injuries. She died later that night, Francois said, likely from sepsis, or blood poisoning by bacteria."
And it goes on.. and on... and on.... and on - hell on earth Ray.
And Joe Biden could stop this - but he refuses to!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/middle-east/301032928/lose-a-limb-or-risk-death-growing-numbers-among-gazas-thousands-of-warwounded-face-hard-decisions