As part of this service we often discuss politically charged subjects, like abortion, taxes or socially taboo subjects, like who we are, what we think, and how we are led down the road of false facts.
Trader MP has strong opinions on Obama and socialized medicine, and I'm sharing them below, with my comments in bold. The issue here is not my opinion, or trader MP's, or what is right or wrong, but "how the decision MP makes" is made, as this is what hurts or helps a trader. Your comments I'll be honored to share on our Blue Chip blog.
From MP:
There is no way you can sell me on Obama's healthcare agenda because there are the realities of Universal Healthcare...and any argument against these is mute or weak at best...
- There isn't a single government agency or division that runs efficiently; do we really want an organization that developed the U.S. Tax Code handling something as complex as health care? Floyd: there is no company that runs efficiently,nor any group of more than 5 that run efficiently. Medicare, and Social Security, as examples, appear to now be considered "rights".
- "Free" health care isn't really free since we must pay for it with taxes; expenses for health care would have to be paid for with higher taxes or spending cuts in other areas such as defense, education, etc. Floyd: "free" is not even part of this plan. Any country should want to help its poor, however, and make insurance equitable.
- Profit motives, competition, and individual ingenuity have always led to greater cost control and effectiveness. Sure have. United Healthcare CEO makes 57,000 an hour, and insurance company profits are UP 428% in the past 10 years. The entire argument that "free enterprise" works can be summed up well: Goldman Sachs. Who's kidding who on the lobbyists and their bribes
- Government-controlled health care would lead to a decrease in patient flexibility. Would lead to an INCREASE as the patient would have CHOICES.
- Patients aren't likely to curb their drug costs and doctor visits if health care is free; thus, total costs will be several times what they are now. This is one part of a large plan that offers all type of insurance, and in no case is it "free"
- Just because Americans are uninsured doesn't mean they can't receive health care; nonprofits and government-run hospitals provide services to those who don't have insurance, and it is illegal to refuse emergency medical service because of a lack of insurance. This makes me laugh. Just be poor and go to an emergency room. My Dr. friends tell me they constantly are told to refer dying emergency room patients to government hospitals and not admit them. And, if they are admitted,this raises the cost of health care.
- Government-mandated procedures will likely reduce doctor flexibility and lead to poor patient care. Then why are 78% of all Dr's in the U.S. for this?
- Healthy people who take care of themselves will have to pay for the burden of those who smoke, are obese, etc. They are now in the rates of the private insurance.
- A long, painful transition will have to take place involving lost insurance industry jobs, business closures, and new patient record creation. This is not moving the entire country to socialized medicine, which this is not, but offering an alternative. Our paper system now is what causes the costs to rise, and we need this simply to organize ourselves. NO other country has a paper system like ours in health care, except third world.
- Loss of private practice options and possible reduced pay may dissuade many would-be doctors from pursuing the profession. This is not proven in any way. Pure propaganda
- Malpractice lawsuit costs, which are already sky-high, could further explode since universal care may expose the government to legal liability, and the possibility to sue someone with deep pockets usually invites more lawsuits.
- Government is more likely to pass additional restrictions or increase taxes on smoking, fast food, etc., leading to a further loss of personal freedoms. Govt needs to do this. The average child consumes 1000 calories of sugared drinks a day. This builds obesity. Taxing allows the consumer to choose. We should tax that which is killing us.
- Patient confidentiality is likely to be compromised since centralized health information will likely be maintained by the government. No proof of this at all. Our records are open now with Medical information act.
- Health care equipment, drugs, and services may end up being rationed by the government. In other words, politics, lifestyle of patients, and philosophical differences of those in power, could determine who gets what. Where did this come from? Glen Beck. Nothing has even been discussed on this.
- Patients may be subjected to extremely long waits for treatment. Just like now.
- Like social security, any government benefit eventually is taken as a "right" by the public, meaning that it's politically near impossible to remove or curtail it later on when costs get out of control. It's out of control now. My wife is 60 and I am 59. My wife has a pre existing condition from 15 years ago. We are self employed. Our health insurance has a $5000.00 a year deductible and runs us 1976.00 per month, and we've bid every insurance company all who seem to have similar rates. How am I to get insurance? Who can stop these companies from raping me to offer lower policies to others? Next, a company I am consulting for has only 4 employees and cannot afford group insurance rates and stay open. Thusly, all four of these employees have no insurance at all.
We have been led by a propaganda campaign led by the drug and insurance companies and their lobbyists. We are the only major country in the world that does not offer either socialized medicine, or government supported medicine programs.
Health insurance is another bubble, and when it breaks we'll see even worse care, higher premiums, and fewer controls without government interaction.
Trader MP continues to write:
After hearing the following 10 minutes of Ronald Regan on socialized medicine, I'm convinced that Obama is making a HUGE mistake...
Ronald Reagan was a great actor. Check the economy of the U.S for the following 7 years after he left office, as taxes had to be raised to cover the deficits created. Somehow listening to a President talking in 1975 doesn't seem appropriate to knowing the situation that has transpired.
There is no way in hell the government should tell any doctor when and where they can practice (and don't say that is not going to happen because it is a FACT that it will)...and let me ask you this....if EVERYONE can go to the hospital and clinic and get checked out for "FREE"...where the hell are all the doctor's going to come from? We don't have enough doctors in our country to treat everyone!!
I'll let the readers just laugh at this one. The government is not saying any such thing, and "FREE" is not even part of the program.
This whole agenda is a joke...this whole universal health care is just stripping away my freedom - and that is a FACT!!!
A fact?
We have a family plan with Blue Cross/ Blue Shield...we pay a bit and my wife's employer pays the majority of the premium...EVENTUALLY, universal health care will cause my family to have inferior coverage because my choice is going to diminish...that is another fact my friend...YOU have drank the socialized cool aid and it is another FACT that socialism DOES NOT WORK!!
I have so many clients that cannot even afford basic coverage. Socialism is not part of this, and by definition, no part of this program is socialistic.
Name one socialized country that has more opportunity for expression, growth and possibility then America...we are the greatest country in the world because we are not socialized....that is why EVERYONE wants to come here!!
I hate patriots. Sorry. France, Canada, and much of Europe is not running to the good old USA. We are not the only and the best.
Do everyone a favor and send this 10 minute Regan clip to your subscribers so they can learn the truth...Obama is a communist! Or at least a socialist...and it appears that you are to...
Obama is spending us into oblivion and you blame it all on Emperor Bush...
I blame this on many years, on Greenspan, on our greed, on Bush, and on our lack of thinking as a people. The economic stimulus appears to be working. Spending is what is needed.
Chime in, subscribers. I'm interested in hearing your thinking on the LOGIC behind the argument, the FACTS behind the statements, and HOW a trader like this can have his trading affected by what he is "hearing".
