Obama to Truckers and Environmentalists: F-You!

[WhipperSnapper]

You do realize other nations have higher taxes than us right? Also they barely can balance the cost of socialized medicine for a much smaller populace. The comparison would be the all European countries joining under one socialized plan. It would be a nightmare. Same way doing it in the US is a nightmare.

They may have higher taxes, but Americans have much higher health insurance premiums. Does it matter whether you write your check to a private insurance company or the government? The point is that they're writing smaller checks. As a percentage of GDP, they're spending much less than we are, including in dollars per capita.

Certainly few things are perfect, but it isn't as though the American system is not fraught with its own huge problems. At least people in those nations have access to health care and don't need to worry about going bankrupt or losing their jobs (and health insurance).

As far as I know, large numbers of people in those nations are not clamoring for the American system; they think it's completely retarded and it terrifies them, and rightfully so.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Without getting into DADT/DOMA and bank regulation, what about the 2 scotus judges obama appointed? I think tilting the court 6-2 with one swing vote would have repurcussions for decades.

You have a good point about the SCOTUS judges. I think we're better off with Obama than with McCain, but not that amazingly better off.

 

[Naeeldar]

They may have higher taxes, but Americans have much higher health insurance premiums. Does it matter whether you write your check to a private insurance company or the government? The point is that their writing smaller checks. As a percentage of GDP, they're spending much less than we are, including in dollars per capita.

Certainly few things are perfect, but it isn't as though the American system is not fraught with its own huge problems. At least people in those nations have access to health care and don't need to worry about going bankrupt or losing their jobs (and health insurance).

As far as I know, large numbers of people in those nations are not clamoring for the American system; they think it's completely retarded and it terrifies them, and rightfully so.

I don't really disagree with anything your saying. That said their system terrifies me. Why? Because quite honestly I'll be one of the people they take more money out of my pocket to pay for others healthcare.

 

[jonks]

You have a good point about the SCOTUS judges. I think we're better off with Obama than with McCain, but not that amazingly better off.

Luckily that goes both ways. It kept me sane when Bush was elected and reelected. Despite all the handwringing, it's very difficult for a president to fundamentally alter the country in 8 years. We should be thankful for that.

 

[PingSpike]

Solution: Pull out of NAFTA.

When a Mexican truck ends up killing a family of 4 in an accident (regardless of whether it was the truck's or the driver's fault), I wonder if they'll be a public outcry.

So what if that did happen? The politicians will just pass the "Making American Roads Safe Act" that will penalized American truckers that didn't cause the new accident and let the show continue. That's how it works. Remember when Mattel sold all those lead painted toys to kids and then our heroic law makers passed a law that Mattel were explicitly made exempt from?

 

[bradley]

The subject line should really read "NAFTA to Truckers and Environmentalists: F-You!" In this instance, President Obama is merely enforcing our dumb laws. Those who voted for Ross Perot are looking better with every passing year.

 

[xj0hnx]

You do realize other nations have higher taxes than us right? Also they barely can balance the cost of socialized medicine for a much smaller populace. The comparison would be the all European countries joining under one socialized plan. It would be a nightmare. Same way doing it in the US is a nightmare.

I don't understand why people can't get this? Everyone always tries to compare the US's health care to other, especially European, countries, but you just can't do that. They are entirely different not only economically, but culturally too. The much higher taxes aside, the people there just don't use services like we do, and are MUCH smaller environments.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I don't understand why people can't get this? Everyone always tries to compare the US's health care to other, especially European, countries, but you just can't do that. They are entirely different not only economically, but culturally too. The much higher taxes aside, the people there just don't use services like we do, and are MUCH smaller environments.

Perhaps it would be more expensive here in the U.S. than in Europe. The point is to show just how badly our system is doing compared to theirs. They have 100% coverage and spend much less. We spend much more and have tremendous issues with insurance coverage in addition to lots of other problems.

If we adopted a European model and still spent our 17% of GDP but received much more care for it--much more value for our money--such as having 100% coverage, zero medical bankruptcies, a more contented populace, and businesses that aren't burdened by health care concerns it would still be a good move. It would be a good move even if the cost increased to 18% of GDP; we'd be spending more while getting much more in return. (Removing health insurance and benefits issues from the backs of businesses would be a boon for our economy.)