Comments on: The Heads in the Sand Coalition Strikes Again http://blog.heritage.org/2008/07/24/the-heads-in-the-sand-coalition-strikes-again/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:16:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Mark W. Farnham, Leb http://blog.heritage.org/2008/07/24/the-heads-in-the-sand-coalition-strikes-again/#comment-3018 Mark W. Farnham, Leb Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:52:41 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/2008/07/24/the-heads-in-the-sand-coalition-strikes-again/#comment-3018 The root of all evil (okay, waste) is means testing. We would be far better off subsidizing all citizens to the poverty level with no questions asked and then letting them make their own spending choices. Then we can just argue about what the poverty level is without piling on the administrative costs and conflicting rules of each various and sundry entitlement program. Combined with equal taxes and a proforma right to keep 75% on the dollar of earned income in lieu of paying your true equal share of taxes would eliminate the need for most programs, eliminate the excuse for crimes of desperation, and greatly reduce the costs of the baseline transfer of wealth needed to minimize societal costs attributable to people living in poverty. That will help us focus on the important gap - the gap between actual income and the poverty level, and put the lie to the government having a legitimate interest in the gap between the wealthiest and the poorest. As for health care, the starting point is to prohibit group discounts and cost shifting - charge whatever you want to for any medical service, but charge everyone the same. That will put the free market to work and eliminate a huge amount of purely wasteful red tape. The root of all evil (okay, waste) is means testing. We would be far better off subsidizing all citizens to the poverty level with no questions asked and then letting them make their own spending choices. Then we can just argue about what the poverty level is without piling on the administrative costs and conflicting rules of each various and sundry entitlement program. Combined with equal taxes and a proforma right to keep 75% on the dollar of earned income in lieu of paying your true equal share of taxes would eliminate the need for most programs, eliminate the excuse for crimes of desperation, and greatly reduce the costs of the baseline transfer of wealth needed to minimize societal costs attributable to people living in poverty. That will help us focus on the important gap – the gap between actual income and the poverty level, and put the lie to the government having a legitimate interest in the gap between the wealthiest and the poorest. As for health care, the starting point is to prohibit group discounts and cost shifting – charge whatever you want to for any medical service, but charge everyone the same. That will put the free market to work and eliminate a huge amount of purely wasteful red tape.

]]> By: Jack Lohman, Colgate http://blog.heritage.org/2008/07/24/the-heads-in-the-sand-coalition-strikes-again/#comment-2907 Jack Lohman, Colgate Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:33:00 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/2008/07/24/the-heads-in-the-sand-coalition-strikes-again/#comment-2907 So let me see if I have this correct. Medicare is spending 3.2% of GDP to cover perhaps 20% of our population. If we expanded it to cover the other 80% as well, say, with a Medicare-for-all system, we'd be covering 100% of our people for less than the 16.5% we are currently spending. Medicare is our most efficient form of providing health care because it eliminates the 31% of insurance industry waste. For more details look at the health care section at: <a href="http://moneyedpoliticians.wordpress.com/issues/" rel="nofollow">http://moneyedpoliticians.wordpress.com/issues/</a> The problem is, our insurance industry is a big contributor, not just to the political campaigns that protect their position in our "free market," but also to think tanks. If money were not playing a part in our decisions we'd fix this system overnight. But the politicians don't want it fixed, because that would cost them major contributors. So let me see if I have this correct. Medicare is spending 3.2% of GDP to cover perhaps 20% of our population. If we expanded it to cover the other 80% as well, say, with a Medicare-for-all system, we'd be covering 100% of our people for less than the 16.5% we are currently spending. Medicare is our most efficient form of providing health care because it eliminates the 31% of insurance industry waste. For more details look at the health care section at: http://moneyedpoliticians.wordpress.com/issues/

The problem is, our insurance industry is a big contributor, not just to the political campaigns that protect their position in our "free market," but also to think tanks. If money were not playing a part in our decisions we'd fix this system overnight. But the politicians don't want it fixed, because that would cost them major contributors.

]]> By: Out of Control « Random Thoughts from Denise http://blog.heritage.org/2008/07/24/the-heads-in-the-sand-coalition-strikes-again/#comment-2894 Out of Control « Random Thoughts from Denise Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:22:36 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/2008/07/24/the-heads-in-the-sand-coalition-strikes-again/#comment-2894 [...] lately.  I believe this is a good thing.  The folks at the Heritage Foundation have written a great articleabout the costs of these programs.  It is completely out of control.  Now, Obama and his liberal [...] [...] lately.  I believe this is a good thing.  The folks at the Heritage Foundation have written a great articleabout the costs of these programs.  It is completely out of control.  Now, Obama and his liberal [...]

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