posted 01-24-2002 12:10 AM            

There can’t be enough MRI machines in the world to explain the way health care prices go up so much faster than the cost of living – but technology is what everyone blames in most cases. I haven’t heard that doctors’ salaries are going up very fast … so where’s the money going? Into someone’s pocket is what I think. Give me a candidate who wants a real investigation into the industry.

Also, drug prices are frequently higher in the U.S. than in other countries; same drug, same manufacturer, higher price. Doesn’t hurt me yet, but what about people (e.g. seniors) who depend on several prescriptions for their quality of life … maybe even for life itself. Let’s start talking about limits to this ‘what-the-market-will-bear’ approach.

Some progress has been made toward portability of coverage when people change jobs (I think) but what we really need is universal coverage. I don’t expect anyone will get anywhere with that one, but I’d be really impressed if they tried.

Campaign reform:

Get rid of soft money. The supreme court was wrong; money isn’t speech, it’s a way to drown out the speech of others.

Civil liberties:

De-Ashcroft America. ‘Nuff said.

Taxes:

Kill the ill-considered Bush plan (people are actually talking about this!) and pay down the debt. After we save things like Social Security, which we should treat like it's some kind of federal program.

While we’re at it, lets bump the top rate up to the pre-Reagan days. Why? CEOs average 531 times their lowest-paid-workers’ wages. That’s beyond ridiculous! (Yes I know this won’t happen soon, but I am serious.)

Drug laws:

Stop using our money to persecute people who just aren’t as fond of alcohol as they are of something like pot. When no one’s getting hurt, the government should mind its own business. Remember, “life, liberty, AND the pursuit of happiness.” We have the highest per-capita prison population in the world and it’s mostly because of a bunch of loons who thought Refer Madness was a documentary.

Ideally, I’d like to see a constitutional amendment stating that there will henceforth be no such thing as a victimless crime in our “free” country.

Energy:

Minnesota is practically the capitol of SUV-land. I drive to work every day surrounded by single-passenger busses. Apply CAFE standards to these things and/or tax them heavily. Most of these people NEVER do anything that really makes use of all that extra space.

Oh yes … scrap deregulation.

Separation of church and state:

Absolutely, positively, always, without exception. The founding fathers knew …

Obviously, I’m looking for people who would turn just about every current governmental trend around 180 degrees. By now you’re all thinking this guy is a complete left-wing nut. Well, I’m very aware that much of this isn’t supported by the majority of the population, so I know I won’t be getting what I want any time soon. But unless anyone can explain what’s wrong with these ideas, I’ll stand by them.

Finally:

We need leaders who bring out the best in all of us instead of the worst. People who accept reasonable, enlightened self-interest and competition, but not “greed-is-good.” Where’s the next really inspiring, unifying, uplifting speaker? We need this generation’s “Ask not what your country can do for you …”

posted 01-24-2002 02:02 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Jack Intveld:
[b]Health Care:

There can’t be enough MRI machines in the world to explain the way health care prices go up so much faster than the cost of living – but technology is what everyone blames in most cases. I haven’t heard that doctors’ salaries are going up very fast … so where’s the money going? Into someone’s pocket is what I think. Give me a candidate who wants a real investigation into the industry.

Some progress has been made toward portability of coverage when people change jobs (I think) but what we really need is universal coverage. I don’t expect anyone will get anywhere with that one, but I’d be really impressed if they tried.
[/B]

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I am responding to your points one at a time, Jack, since you had so many good ones and I only have so much brain power.

I agree that we should look into where all that money is going - it certainly isn't going to nurses, either, considering the shortage of competant ones that exists.

Simply some renewed attention to health care costs will help reign in some of the increases. Contrast how quickly costs have risen in the past few years with how slowly they grew when Hilary Clinton's attempts at reform had the industry under a microscope.

Our company calculated that it is paying 50% more for employee medical benefits than it was paying just two years ago. No wonder so many employers are passing those costs along to the employees. They can't afford not to. What other industry can raise prices that quickly and get away with it?

posted 01-29-2002 03:02 PM               

They're not even trying to be bashful about it. They're going for the vulgar damned dollar, and they've made it clear that they're not going to let anyone do anything about it.

The public service commission in this state has no elected seats; all the people sitting on that board are political appointees. As part of the explanation for the increase - at least on paper - is taxes, and given the state government's odd refusal to make any comment on this activity, it's starting to seem as though our elected representatives in the state capitol are going to sit quiet and let their cut of the money roll in.

Worst of all...it's a monopoly. We have no choice of natural gas providers. We're stuck with AOG.

In the meantime, elderly people and others on fixed incomes are sitting by helplessly as their service is cut off, in the dead of winter. Even the assistance programs that exist for vital utilities like natural gas are gasping for air here, because they can't absorb the costs of a lot of small three-room residences suddenly being hit with $250+ gas bills.

When you screw with people's ability to stay warm in their own homes and cook their food, you're screwing with - essentially - their ability to stay alive. This isn't like cable rates. This is stuff that falls into the foundation of Maslow's hierarchy: basic, essential human needs. Opinions are growing more and more angry, suggestions are shifting from merely angry to radical, and sooner or later someone's going to wind up doing someone real harm over this.

All because someone got greedy.

I have to admit, normally a peacenik myself, I too am growing impatient for some kind of action here. Election season isn't going to roll around soon enough to bring heat back to the homes of elderly people and single mothers with a bunch of kids who they can already barely feed. This area's economy is not strong enough to absorb this kind of a hit. But rest assured, when election season does roll around, it is my intention to cast my vote against anyone who is presently sitting cozy in office, benefitting from this.

Something's got to give.

posted 01-30-2002 09:36 AM               

In PA, we have certain cutoff dates before which the gas company just has to eat the costs of continuing to provide service to these people. After these dates, they are free to stop service. These dates are, of course, designed to keep people on fixed incomes from literally freezing to death. Of course, PA's climate may have contributed to this law. Not sure if your climate has traditionally made this a priority.

(Now that we've shot the environment to hell and it can snow in southern Arizona - maybe it will be.)

posted 01-30-2002 05:07 PM               

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Last month, our gas bill was $35. This month, our usage was down, and the bill is up to $221. The company has been very mum on why this is, alluding only vaguely to having to make up for financial shortfalls last winter.

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And as for snow, my mom got 1.5 inches the other day. In Santa Rosa, California right near Sonoma and Napa counties. A town near her had a snow day. It's absolutely crazy here.

Oh yeah, the topic. Obviously, health care is always an issue for me. For all of the reasons mentioned above. I'm fearful that the rehabilitation Medicare funding reinstatement that is scheduled to expire in 2-3 years will mean no rehab for lots of seniors suffering from things like stroke, heart attacks, surgery, amputation, and the like.