Speakeasy forum: You might be interested in this on health care

It's one side of the story

Do you think the government will provide you with affordable quality health care?

Grim, what level of health care? A person on Medicaid has a level of health care, while a union auto worker has a higher level. Let's look at it using something that people need and get at different levels, food.
Say someone lost their job and their level of income changed. There's no way they could survive without food. So what do they do? They make choices in the spending of the available money until things improve. They may cut out things like cell phone service, cable TV, new clothes, all entertainment, and other expenses. You can go down to bare bones on expenses until things improve.
So let's look at health care in that same light. If that person who lost their job, or even had one that didn't pay enough to afford a health care plan like some "fancy" union, government, or other industry job, should they cut back some expenses to get a plan or a better plan? Or, should they be given health care, limiting the need to cut the expenses for things like cell phones, cable, dining out, etc.?
I've been through such a period, and learned the hard way what is truly necessary and what expenses can be cut if you need to. One of the interesting things is that my situation has vastly improved, and now I can again afford the things I cut out in hard times, but haven't done so. Having been through those hard times, I now consider many of those things unnecessary and save rather than spend excess money.
I made a point of mentioning that last thing as I think it may have a bearing on the current economic situation in general, especially in the "recovery". As things improve, how many people who cut expenses drastically to survive won't go back to their old wasteful spending ways, but will continue to keep their new thrifty ways? Many shows I've seen on the economic situation say that the U.S. economy driven by consumer spending. If this is the case, could the recent hard times for many have altered their future level of consumer spending for a long time, resulting in a chilling effect on future spending for that same long time?

Do you understand why businesses exist? It's not to "give" anyone anything.

Do you think their profits are too high? What should their profits be?

Don't forget that insurance companies are one of those rare business who put it in their contract that they reserve the right to take your money... and refuse to give you anything back

of total expenditures. And it covers everybody and everything. No co-pays, no deductibles, no exceptions. I never think about illness, or old age except to bemoan the loss of flexibility and the pain in my back and knees and ankles and feet. When I read what the Obama administration is willing to accept, a plan that doesn't cover everybody, which assures insurance companies 20% returns, and allows co-pays and deductibles and all that other stuff, I'd like to hurl.

How many businesses have a guaranteed return of 20% every year. Me, I'd be buying Health Care stocks like crazy because if things continue the way they appear to be going the insurance industry should be making out like bandits. Of course they always have.

Rob