Another reason entitlements need to go bye-bye

[Saeculum]

Originally Posted by purist [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

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This. Also, arguments against Keynesian economics would probably be more effective if we were actually implementing such policies; which would probably be a good idea since the current CBO figures indicate that the US will have about a one trillion dollar gap between potential GDP and actual GDP by the end of the year (which pretty much decimates any crowding out arguments). Additionally, while deficit spending is a problem in the long-term (and possibly the medium-term), it is far overshadowed by the significant short-term problem of 9% unemployment.

As far a Libertarianism is concerned, it's a reasonable philosophy, but unfortunately it also requires people to make consistently rational decisions, which this thread alone is not the case in the real world. This is also exacerbated by the fact that we continue to cut funding for education. I mean the National Assessment American Literacy found that roughly 60% of the population has below average to poor reasoning skills. Personally, I recommend a Rawlsian approach to governance, but that requires people to accept that things like education and health care are actually necessary social goods for the citizenry.

[Saeculum]

Originally Posted by Silmiril [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

The idea of helping out someone who is down on their luck has great appeal. Who want to see starving people dying of preventable diseases in the US. Surely a free national health system is the answer to the hordes of people suffering and dying for lack of access to decent medical care. How dare those greedy drug companies, medical equipment companies, doctors and hospitals acutally make a profit! Not to mention the greedy insurance companies that do everything to deny health care. They should all be disbanded and the Federal Government should take control and nationalize all health care industries! Evil Profit should not be allowed!

That idea sounds great in principle but I have some questions for you. How many new drugs or new medical devices were invented by those countries that provide medical care? How about the new medical procedure that are invented in the US by those greedy for profit doctors? The majority of research is done by for profit companies. Are you willing to give up advanced medical research so there is no profit to be made in medicine? Did the Federal Government map the human geonome? Wasn't the for profit medical establishment responsible for coming up with effective drugs and treatments for childhood leukemia for example that would have killed my niece 10 years ago?

The whole internet line and DARPA is the most mis-used example I can think of. How much research do you think the employees of DARPA do. Basically none. They create research grants to companies like the one I used to work for to do their research. Was DARPA responsible for the way the internet became popular or was it the for profit compaines the created content that people wanted to use? Oooooh evil profitsssssss!!!

The DoE is one of the most screwed up companies in the entire government. They are the worst example of any government agency you could have picked are are probably the most disfunctional agency in the entire US Government. I suggest you do some research on the Hanford, Washington facility, or the numerious other Superfund sites they are in charge of cleaning up. And they have nothing to do with regulating your power company even if it is a nuclear plant (try NRC for the nuclear plant and your state government for other types power plants). And ask Southern Maryland and Washington DC residents how well their Governments are regulating Pepco btw. They would tell you but they are probably sitting in the dark due to another power outage.

Oh and please tell Japan that their health care system that is based on for profit hospitals and doctors doesn't work and they need to completly nationalize their health care system quick. It really cracks me up how many people who are for free health care, and against profits, talk about them all the time and they don't know what kind of system they actually have.

So you would say that TSA is well run and is a model agency right? I mean it is a federal agency. Imagine how well they would run your health care.

How about Vetreran Hospitals or military doctors? I am not talking about the surgeons that treat the battlefield injuries. I grew up in a miltary family and know how bad the doctors were in the 70's and 80's. My father is a retired Naval Officer. The surgeons were good but the regular doctors like Internists were horrible.

I am not saying that the government is evil and that it isn't necessary. To think that it would be better because there is no profit involved is niave (sp?) at best. The problem is you still have people making decisions that may not be any better than someone trying to make a profit. Decisions are made by all using all kinds of motivations. And since in the Federal Government you won't be held accountable for any stupid boneheaded decision you make, it makes it even worse.

I have worked for companies that have provided IT services to Federal Agencies and the DoD for most of the past 20+ years. I have seen the waste, fraud, and stupid decisions first hand. I don't what them anywhere near making decisions about my health.

Silmiril

In response to this you should check out this study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20966778
which concludes "that assessed recommended processes of care almost always demonstrated that the VA performed better than non-VA comparison groups. Studies that assessed risk-adjusted mortality generally found similar rates for patients in VA and non-VA settings".

[Orruar]

Originally Posted by Saeculum [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

In response to this you should check out this study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20966778
which concludes "that assessed recommended processes of care almost always demonstrated that the VA performed better than non-VA comparison groups. Studies that assessed risk-adjusted mortality generally found similar rates for patients in VA and non-VA settings".

An entity that receives most of its funding from government determined that government does a good job? Shocking.

[booter]

It's actually peer-reviewed. Shocking (when it doesn't fit your narrative).

[nalkin]

Originally Posted by Saeculum [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I mean the National Assessment American Literacy found that roughly 60% of the population has below average to poor reasoning skills.

Isn't like 80% of the US religious? Meaning 80% have poor reasoning skills.

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by nalkin [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Isn't like 80% of the US religious? Meaning 80% have poor reasoning skills.

Oh hey, another retard who equates a belief in anything to stupidity.

[Bodeanicus]

Originally Posted by Harrison [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Oh hey, I like boys.

[Slathar]

Originally Posted by Harrison [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Oh hey, another retard who equates a belief in anything to stupidity.

so belief in santa claus isn't stupid?

your bra must be on too tight today, angel tits.