Healthcare Reform in a Depressed Economy, Al Franken and Norm Coleman May Have to Flip a Coin, Chris Matthews
Our daily look at stories and topics that are lighting up the Internets:
Healthcare for Everyone!
In today's New York Times, MIT economist Jonathan Gruber explains why reforming the healthcare system is a good way to stimulate the economy and why we shouldn't push aside plans for universal healthcare because of the economic crisis. Liberal bloggers think the idea is "pretty neat" and give it a thumbs up, while Andrew Sullivan is a bit more skeptical. A Huffington Post blogger answers the question, "Is healthcare a right?"
Minnesota Recount: Flip a Coin, Already
The Senate recount in Minnesota chaos continues to annoy conservative bloggers, who complain about the "useless ballot challenges" that Al Franken's campaign has issued. A blogger at AOL News is optimistic that Franken will win but says that if he loses, he might be able to get the Senate to intervene on his behalf. (A National Review Online blogger says that prospect is "really unfunny.") An op-ed in the New York Times says the solution is for Franken and Norm Coleman to flip a coin, but conservatives don't like the sound of that either.
Matthews for Senate, 2010
Bloggers debate the likelihood—and potential success—of a bid for a U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania in 2010 by MSNBC's Chris Matthews. Matthews is reportedly "shopping for a house in the state and privately discussing quitting MSNBC as proof of his intense interest." Few are excited about Matthew's congressional ambitions, to say the least. "The sense of entitlement that this blowhard personifies is truly stunning," says David Sirota at the Huffington Post. Anyone but Matthews, write some liberals. Others worry MSNBC would look partisan; they hope Matthews leaves the network immediately if he's seriously contemplating a Senate run. Not to worry, writes conservative Kim Preistap: "Everyone already knows that MSNBC is in the tank for the Democrats . . . [Matthews] is as in the tank as in the tank can be."
Reader Comments
Nice Try Jeff But Americans Are Morons
Jeff,
Your idea is correct --- focus on preventative care to minimize the cost of treatment. Unfortunately, Americans are too stupid to follow that route. They're also too stupid to figure out what they can do to minimize their own costs.
How many fat, obese whales do you see everyday? Every jumbotron represents a bottomless pit of medical costs, but do you see anyone trying to lose weight?
How bout smokers, drinkers, and drug users? People live to be self-destructive, and each of these people hike the cost of medical care for everyone else just like the fatties. They don't give a sh!t about anything but getting high or getting drunk.
You want affordable healthcare, start with these turds. Make them choose healthier lifestyles or continue to with a system where healthcare is ill-affordable.
Healthcare Reform in a Depressed Economy
I don't think we can wait any longer to tackle healthcare reform in this country. With 50% of the population either uninsured or underinsured the "indusry" is now inaccessible due to high costs. Which means higher costs down the road as more people get sick and require hospitalization. A lot of money and lives can be saved if we paid more attention to preventive care. Preventive care is cheap and actually promotes good healthcare, rather than the system we have now which is "disease" care. With an emphasis on prevention, we can make a dent into the number of people suffering from chronic diseases which accounts for 25% of our healthcare costs ($500,000) and have a healthier population. Say what you want about Europe and Canada's "socialized" medicine-their healthcare system is much better and cheaper than ours (they actually get the care that is recommended compared to this country which provides only 50% of recommended care). I suppose it all boils down to the medical industrial complex which has to account to stock holders and not patients. The free market doesn't work in medicine because true competition to lower prices only occurs when consumers are educated about the product they're obtaining so they know where to get the best treatment. If you don't have a degree in the health arena it is difficult to make that choice-its not like buying a TV at Best Buy. for more discussion on this and other topics, please visit, www.takingcontrolofyourhealthcare.com.
love seeking
oh maybe
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