Comments on: Obama Shows Us the Money on Medicare and Health Care http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/ Firedoglake weblog Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:38:37 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Hugh http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1842037 Hugh Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:00:18 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1842037 <p>As with everything else I have seen from Obama there is much less here than meets the eye.</p> <p>I agree it looks like any costs that insurance companies or Big Pharma might have to eat out of Medicare they can just make up for by raising costs to their non-Medicare customers. This is more about cost shifting than cost reduction. And as you also note where this becomes problematic the insurance companies can simply bail.</p> <p>This has what is fast becoming the hallmark of Obama programs, which is: “Be nice to the pirates.”</p> As with everything else I have seen from Obama there is much less here than meets the eye.

I agree it looks like any costs that insurance companies or Big Pharma might have to eat out of Medicare they can just make up for by raising costs to their non-Medicare customers. This is more about cost shifting than cost reduction. And as you also note where this becomes problematic the insurance companies can simply bail.

This has what is fast becoming the hallmark of Obama programs, which is: “Be nice to the pirates.”

]]> By: gregsdiary http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1842002 gregsdiary Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:59:42 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1842002 <p>I don’t know the details–but it seems to me if the profits of insurance companies get cut into they’re going to start cutting back on coverage for services.</p> I don’t know the details–but it seems to me if the profits of insurance companies get cut into they’re going to start cutting back on coverage for services.

]]> By: Stirling Newberry http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841988 Stirling Newberry Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:53:58 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841988 <p>One of the pluses of this plan is that it focuses on reducing costs to the medicare system, without focusing on benefit cuts to Medicare beneficiaries. The cost savings are coming out of what the government pays for Medicare services, not out of services.</p> One of the pluses of this plan is that it focuses on reducing costs to the medicare system, without focusing on benefit cuts to Medicare beneficiaries. The cost savings are coming out of what the government pays for Medicare services, not out of services.

]]> By: gregsdiary http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841978 gregsdiary Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:49:35 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841978 <p>“…improving the Medicare System.”</p> <p>Improving the Medicare sytem or just cutting it back?</p> “…improving the Medicare System.”

Improving the Medicare sytem or just cutting it back?

]]> By: Stirling Newberry http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841977 Stirling Newberry Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:47:50 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841977 <p>The Defense budget is slated for some cuts. The real question is when Iraq draw down finishes, when the involvement in Afghanistan ends, and the fate of a large number of very expensive weapons programs.</p> <p>From my point of view we should not look at “cutting” the DoD, so much as shifting from a war footing to demobilization. Most of the money we save will have to be spent moving people to a civilian economy.</p> The Defense budget is slated for some cuts. The real question is when Iraq draw down finishes, when the involvement in Afghanistan ends, and the fate of a large number of very expensive weapons programs.

From my point of view we should not look at “cutting” the DoD, so much as shifting from a war footing to demobilization. Most of the money we save will have to be spent moving people to a civilian economy.

]]> By: Larue http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841943 Larue Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:25:37 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841943 <p>It’s early, I know that . . . but so far the political will I’ve seen is to LEAVE money out there. So they can raid it later? </p> <p>It’s HARD to fully trust any of these guys, including the prez. So we gotta ’make him do it’ . . . and I guarantee the MOMENT we lay pitchforks and faxes down, the raiding will resume in earnest. </p> <p>Thanks again for this read and a few before it, also . . . . always an informative process to read your thoughs. ’Preciate it . . .</p> It’s early, I know that . . . but so far the political will I’ve seen is to LEAVE money out there. So they can raid it later?

It’s HARD to fully trust any of these guys, including the prez. So we gotta ’make him do it’ . . . and I guarantee the MOMENT we lay pitchforks and faxes down, the raiding will resume in earnest.

Thanks again for this read and a few before it, also . . . . always an informative process to read your thoughs. ’Preciate it . . .

]]> By: Stirling Newberry http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841914 Stirling Newberry Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:08:17 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841914 <p>The positives here are that Obama is willing to raise taxes on the wealthy by closing loopholes, and he is willing to go into the weeds on improving the Medicare System. These are both necessary and long over due.</p> <p>However, there is a great deal of money being left on the table, and the question is whether there is the political will to pick more of that money up and improve the quality and coverage of care.</p> The positives here are that Obama is willing to raise taxes on the wealthy by closing loopholes, and he is willing to go into the weeds on improving the Medicare System. These are both necessary and long over due.

However, there is a great deal of money being left on the table, and the question is whether there is the political will to pick more of that money up and improve the quality and coverage of care.

]]> By: Larue http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841912 Larue Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:04:58 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841912 <p>And yes, I know that SS drawdowns are taxed now . . . a progressive system would have those drawdowns in our golden years NON taxable, further stretching our dollars when we need it the most. </p> <p>If corps get tax breaks, then SS recipients should too. Fair at the top, fair at the bottom for the sheeple.</p> And yes, I know that SS drawdowns are taxed now . . . a progressive system would have those drawdowns in our golden years NON taxable, further stretching our dollars when we need it the most.

If corps get tax breaks, then SS recipients should too. Fair at the top, fair at the bottom for the sheeple.

]]> By: SouthernDragon http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841911 SouthernDragon Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:03:22 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841911 <p>I haven’t seen much on trimming the War Dept’s budget, one of my top concerns. I’ve run across a very interesting, to me at least, statement by Noam Chomsky in a <a href="http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/19760725.htm" rel="nofollow">1976 interview with the BBC</a>. Go about half way down the page to the question:</p> <blockquote><p>QUESTION: On the principle of never believe anything until it’s officially denied. </p></blockquote> <p>Part of Chomsky’s response:</p> <blockquote><p>Right. Sort of on the assumption that Orwell essentially had captured the nature of the modern state. And that’s exactly the case. I mean, the Pentagon is in no sense a defense department. It has never defended the United States from anyone.</p></blockquote> <p>Not a long piece and well worth the read, particularly his comments re Defense Dept.</p> I haven’t seen much on trimming the War Dept’s budget, one of my top concerns. I’ve run across a very interesting, to me at least, statement by Noam Chomsky in a 1976 interview with the BBC. Go about half way down the page to the question:

QUESTION: On the principle of never believe anything until it’s officially denied.

Part of Chomsky’s response:

Right. Sort of on the assumption that Orwell essentially had captured the nature of the modern state. And that’s exactly the case. I mean, the Pentagon is in no sense a defense department. It has never defended the United States from anyone.

Not a long piece and well worth the read, particularly his comments re Defense Dept.

]]> By: Larue http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841910 Larue Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:02:24 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/25/obama-shows-us-the-money-on-medicare-and-health-care/#comment-1841910 <p>Exactly what Prez. Obama said last night . . . entitlements. Social Security, slowly raided and transferred to non taxable National Savings Plans (based on who knows what). Oh, and taxed upon usage in our golden years, at who knows what rates or user prohibitions . . .</p> Exactly what Prez. Obama said last night . . . entitlements. Social Security, slowly raided and transferred to non taxable National Savings Plans (based on who knows what). Oh, and taxed upon usage in our golden years, at who knows what rates or user prohibitions . . .

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