Monday, March 13, 2017

CBO: AHCA would save $337B


Well there goes any right-libertarian opposition to Trumpcare; $337B of "deficit!" reduction and 70% thrown out into the "free market!". Should sail right through now.






21 comments:

lastgreek said...

Larisa Alexandrovna‏ @larisa_a
1. Either @SpeakerRyan thinks Republican voters are too stupid for basic math or too rich to care. #24million

Considering Americans voted for an orangutan masquerading as a human being for president, I'd say Ryan believes in both. Really, can you blame him?

You Americans need to hit the streets. This is getting insane now -- the richest country in the world and still no single-payer medicare for all!

Noah Way said...

Why stop there? Eliminate Medicare entirely and save $600B annually. Pussies.

Ryan's top contributors include Koch Industries, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Pfizer Inc., Northwestern Mutual, USAA, etc. Many of these also contribute to his PAC.

Tom Hickey said...

America has gone off the rails and there's no turning back.

We're just getting warmed up. You ain't seen nut'in' yet. The "best" is yet to come.

Tom Hickey said...

BTW, I'll reiterate what I said sometime ago. Younger people in the US — anyone with a life in front of them — should pop the red pill and be making plans to look elsewhere for greener pastures unless they choose to stay in the belly of the tiger as defectors in place.

Noah Way said...

@Tom

The rest of the world isn't in great shape, and they certainly don't want a flood of 'Mericans. Young people need to step up and take over. And not just young people but everyone.

It isn't going to be easy going against unlimited corporate funding and a a militarized police force, but there really is no other choice.

Matt Franko said...

"Why stop there? Eliminate Medicare entirely and save $600B annually"

dont give them any ideas....

Penguin pop said...

"BTW, I'll reiterate what I said sometime ago. Younger people in the US — anyone with a life in front of them — should pop the red pill and be making plans to look elsewhere for greener pastures unless they choose to stay in the belly of the tiger as defectors in place."

If i had the resources right now as a younger person, I'd seriously consider moving to Canada (Hi, Lastgreek ;)). I'm tired of America's BS and nonsense, but I gotta work now for at least a year and build up my capital first and also pay off private debt.

Tom Hickey said...

The rest of the world isn't in great shape

All too true.

, and they certainly don't want a flood of 'Mericans.

Not a flood, but there are opportunities. That would depend on one qualifications. Actually, a lot of native English-speakers are employed teaching English as a second language.

Young people need to step up and take over. And not just young people but everyone.

That's true, but it's not going to happen until the shit's on.

It isn't going to be easy going against unlimited corporate funding and a a militarized police force.

See Occupy for a preview.

, but there really is no other choice.

Life is a series of choices with competing options, opportunity costs, and tradeoffs.

lastgreek said...

All it takes is ONE damn state ... as it did with ONE damn province in Canada. (That's why, btw, I had asked a very concerned and worried Dan what state he lived in.)

The Birth of Medicare: From Saskatchewan’s breakthrough to Canada‑wide coverage

Medicare was born in Saskatchewan on July 1, 1962. It would be the first government-controlled, universal, comprehensive single-payer medical insurance plan in North America. It was a difficult birth. The North American medical establishment and the entire insurance industry were determined to stop Medicare in its tracks. They feared it would become popular and spread, and they were right. Within 10 years all of Canada was covered by a medical insurance system based on the Saskatchewan plan, and no serious politician would openly oppose it.

https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/the-birth-of-medicare

And let me tell you Americans something. Even the most extreme right-wing capitalists here (you know, not the nice folks) wouldn't trade in their healthcare system for what you Americans got. It would be instant political suicide for any Canadian party running on a platform of repealing single payer healthcare. Instant!

Penguin pop said...

"And let me tell you Americans something. Even the most extreme right-wing capitalists here (you know, not the nice folks) wouldn't trade in their healthcare system for what you Americans got. It would be instant political suicide for any Canadian party running on a platform of repealing single payer healthcare. Instant!"

That's the way it should be here, but no, "muh individualism!" "muh liberty" "muh rugged worship the Constitution like it's a religion bullshit."

MRW said...

Considering Americans voted for an orangutan masquerading as a human being for president

No, we didn't. We rejected her.

MRW said...

This is true:

Even the most extreme right-wing capitalists here (you know, not the nice folks) wouldn't trade in their healthcare system for what you Americans got.

Canada basically nationalized the medical insurance business. The federal government can dictate to the drug companies what they are going to charge for drugs, they can tell the hospitals “You ain’t charging $5000 for a q-tip,” and the industries that grew up to take care of their well-run medical system are thriving.

I spoke to a 30-something Canadian dentist (who is not subject to the national medical system and makes 1/2 million a year) and asked him if he ever wanted to move to the US to make more money. He scoffed at me. He sneered at the US medical system and how it provides for its patients. He said no one my age (meaning fellow doctors and dentists) would ever want what Americans have. It’s inhumane, he told me. This guy volunteers his time two nights a week at a local hospital to provide reconstructive dentistry to indigents and the poor. (Dentistry is not provided for under most provincial medical plans, only if you have Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) in addition to your provincial plan. The cost per month for BCBS is $99/month for the Platinum Plan and that includes home care nurses, redesigning your bathrooms for handicap situations, 100% dental. 100% eye care, etc. Obviously, BCBS feels it can still make a profit at that rate, but the cost here would be about $5000/month.)

MRW said...

And once you reach the age of 65, BCBS provides the same level of coverage for free, provided you've had it for the previous three or five years. Completely free. No payments for seniors.

MRW said...

Medicare was born in Saskatchewan on July 1, 1962.

Was that the Social Credit government? Tommy Douglas and all that? I think Tommy Douglas was Kiefer Sutherland's grandfather.

MRW said...

What province do you live in, lastgeek?

MRW said...

Sorry, lastgreek, not lastgeek.

Matt Franko said...

"The cost per month for BCBS is $99/month for the Platinum Plan"

Well then the Trump plan should work as the lowest individual credit is $2000 annual.... would leave $800 left over...

lastgreek said...

Wish I were a "geek," too, MRW ;)

Quebec

BTW,

The Trump Files: When Donald Had to Prove He Was Not the Son of an Orangutan

True story ... http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/09/trump-files-donald-son-orangutan

Noah Way said...

The cost per month for BCBS is $99/month for the Platinum Plan

Don't know where your numbers are coming from, my useless extortive Empire bronze plan is $800 mo. with $7k deductible.

MRW said...

What province are you in? This is what my relatives in Alberta paid (the province gave everyone free health care seven years ago).

Noah Way said...

@MRW, the very heart of Capitistan - New York.