Sean Chapin asked, blame him...

Sean Chapin, Same-Sex Marriage Champion, asked me what I thought of Obama's speech, and the debate in general. Here's what I wrote to him:

Basically, he won't address cost, and he's laying the blame on the Medical profession. He's a lawyer, and ergo, thinks like one.

He's wrong. The Medical Profession is doing the best they can. Until he can address the inflationary cost of medicine, the Democratic proposals will only increase gov't debt and ration care. The argument that we should have a European or Canada model doesn't take into account that those areas have confiscatory tax policies. America has the lowest of taxation in the Modern World. That's why our economy continues to grow, people can be rewarded, not punished, for success.

Do you know anyone in England? Canada? Ask how hard it is to create and sustain a business in those places.

Another Q: Can the Gov't provide decent, low cost care? No. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the VA both have failing health systems, Medicaid is killing states (That's why the Governor's Assn is against Obamacare), and Medicare is insolvent in 4 years.

Simply, they have no money.

Tax more? Wrong country. Try Europe.

Solutions? I'm glad you asked!

1. John McCain suggested removing the Employer tax exemption for providing Health Insurance. He's wrong too. I propose we go the other way. Anybody who buys there own insurance, write it off. That includes Employers, Employees, self-employes, and anybody who's job doesn't provide benefits. All Health insurance premiums are income tax deductible. Also, if You pay out of pocket for a check-up, R/x, stitches, or knee surgery, you take that money off the top of your adjusted gross income. $20,000 surgey? Fine, you don't pay taxes for 3 years. I just subsidized health care. (I'm taking the Health Savings Account concept and going full-bore)

2. BIG Pharma: Walmart kicked their asses with the $4 R/x, and now every major R/x outlet does the same. I'd incentivize MDs and Hospitals to subscribe Generics only. Like a savings tax credit, and Big Pharma will just have to get small and lean. Here's where the Canadian and European systems have us beat, they only take Generics. And, gee, the pharma companies are stilling selling, so I guess money is good, nes pas?

3. Federalize Insurance Law: I don't know if this is in the House or Senate Bills, but it should be. Right now, every state, all 50, have their own unique set of stupid rules governing insurance. Did you know that the Gov't (Usually the Department of Insurance for each state) determines what a health plan can and cannot cover. Did you know that they set the premiums? If the Insurance company wants to make changes, they must get the approval of the DOI in their state. I say make one Federal DOI, and that'll do two things: 1. Allows Insurance Companies to compete across state lines. This is huge, because insurance is about pooling risk, IE, combine the populations of CA and TX and you'll drop rates 20% overnight. 2. You could control rising costs by holding a sword over their heads. (Remember, Damocles?) If the insurance company doesn't control costs below the rate of inflation, and keeps their premiums increases to a minimum, they lose THEIR tax exempt status. Example: Company A and Company B are competing for your premium dollars. But Company A didn't keep their costs below natural inflation. So, if you buy Company A's policy, YOU, the consumer won't get that Tax Break I talked about above. Fuck that, You're buying Company B.

4. This is the nasty one that probably won't happen. Cap Medical Malpractice awards. Did you know that there are NO neuro-surgeons in West Virginia or the Shenadoah Valley? Why? Because of the malpractice rates. IE, you get a head trauma, you've got to be care-flighted to either Pittsburgh or DC. Nice huh? But since most Politicians are lawyers, this one's a long shot. Again, this is where Canada and Europe have us beat.

Other grassroots solutions: Doc-in-the-Boxes, Medical Conceirges, Health Care Boutiques, stop beating up Chiropractors, pay for smart kids to go to med school and nursing school, etc. etc.

You asked? Happy now?

BMK