The Heritage Foundation - Leadership for America

August 11, 2009 Obamacare: The “Post Office” of Health Care Plans « Pink Lloyd’s Blog Page writes:

[...] * Author: Rory Cooper http://blog.heritage.org/2009/08/11/obamacare-the-post-office-of-health-care-plans/ [...]

August 11, 2009 Joe Berman, San Diego writes:

Amtrak, Fannie/Freddie, GM, USPS and now Obamacare - I think that the Dems have some credibility issues here on their administrative track record

August 11, 2009 Flavored Coffee Drinker, St Paul MN writes:

I am not sure what needs to be done but something needs to be done about the costs of health care. Maybe telling drug companies they can’t advertise, or use advertising as a cost of business.. I am so sick of restless leg sydrome and other even more offensive commercials for drugs.
Sparky “Flavored Coffee Drinker”

August 11, 2009 Annie Mercer, Orlando FL writes:

You said:

“2.) If Americans were offered “free” postage paid for by massive government spending and tax hikes, would Fedex and UPS still exist?” Excellent point.
Everyone has an address — the Post Office delivers to every address. Even homeless people can get mail through General Delivery. I think the Prez has forgotten all the union members in the post office by his comment “UPS & FedEx are doing just fine…it’s the PO that’s always having problems.”

Problems like the union members had at GM, which have been taken care of by firing the CEO there. Might Mr. Potter’s job now be in jeopardy?

August 11, 2009 Vested writes:

Great piece! I am a (recently hired) Federal employee - part of a large organization, and it has been hillarious to note that we NEVER send official or time sensitive documents by U. S. Post Office. All new-hire personnel packages and documents - anything that can’t be sent via e-mail - are sent UPS or Fed X. We almost NEVER use U.S. Mail. All Federal agencies have either Fed-x or UPS accounts.

August 11, 2009 Bob, Lakewood, Colorado writes:

Also, along those lines, UPS and FedEx came about as a result

August 11, 2009 Bob, Lakewood, Colorado writes:

Also, along those lines, UPS and FedEx came about because there was a need that the government was not fulfilling (and that it had no mandate or responsibility to fill). Just because the private sector began to compete with the government when it comes to delivering packages (but not letters), that doesn’t mean the government should set about to compete with the private sector for ANYTHING.
The real problems are not being addressed at all. Such as malpractice insurance and insurance attempting to cover everything under the sun rather just unexpected and catastrophic costs.

Patriot Resistance Blog

August 11, 2009 URGENT: MIAMI TOWN HALL MEETING – Senator Bill Nelson 8/13/09 « FactReal writes:

[...] Blog Obamacare: The “Post Office” of Health Care PlansVideo: President Obama Contradicts Senator ObamaCap and Trade: Giving More Than 100 PercentHigher [...]

August 11, 2009 George Fulmore writes:

Better examples of private vs. public entities that work well together would be:
Do public universities put private universities out of business?
Does public drinking water put private bottled water out of business?
Do public schools put private schools out of business?
Do public hospitals put private hospitals out of business?
Do public libraries put private bookstores out of business?
Do computers available at public libraries put computer stores out of business?
Do public golf courses put private golf courses out of business?
The Swiss national health insurance, which was instituted in 1996, uses private insurance companies to “front” for the doctors and hospitals that are paid by the government. That is a system that, apparently, the swiss love and would not want to go away. We can learn from “experiments” in other countries.

August 11, 2009 Trey, Texas writes:

If you like the VA, then you’ll love Obamacare!

August 11, 2009 Does Linda Douglass know about this? part 2 | America Watches Obama writes:

[...] What an argument. While the President sells citizens on his “post office” of health care plans, the Heritage Foundation offers a few questions to consider: [...]

August 11, 2009 Dan, Columbia, SC writes:

We only have to go as far as MA to see government run health care does not deliver cost savings or health care. I can’t believe more people are not pointing that out loud and often. Why compair it to the post office or any other government failure when we have such a clear example in MA. I know it is because it was the example Mr Obama presented as an example. He led us down the road. Why don’t we lead and let him explain why we are wrong. You can’t out talk a liar. It is clear Mr. Obama is at least a liar. That much we are sure of.

August 11, 2009 Confused writes:

Ummm. I’m not sure but I think he just made his own argument against his own health plan?

August 11, 2009 Javacat, Rochester, NY writes:

False analogy: FedX & UPS are not comparable to USPS, which is mandated to deliver six days a week to virtually every US address. For example, USPS is bound to approximately 150 million potential daily delivery points. That includes the base of the Grand Canyon, which is delivered by mule. On the other hand, UPS averages 15.5 million deliveries a day, of which 2 million are international. No mules. If UPS were burdened with the mandates of USPS — “universal delivery” — could they profitably compete?

Would public “universal” health care end up with similar broad mandates to be all things to all Americans, and force private plans to play on this same field? (Many state mandates are already making insurance outrageously expensive for state residents.) If so, the result would likely be an initial exodus to the cheaper public option. But that option, according to the CBO, will eventually find itself, along with Medicare, exactly where USPS is sitting today. Let’s hope that a HC UPS or FedX will still be there to pick up the pieces of failed “postal” HC reform.

And if federal employees think their plans are protected from all this, they are mistaken. When the number of affordable private HC providers shrinks as the public option dominates, their menu of options will also shrink. They may eventually find themselves on the public option too.

August 11, 2009 ObamaCare - Page 5 writes:

[...] [...]

August 11, 2009 Jim, Texan out east. writes:

I do not know about you, but I do not use fedex or ups for standard service. They are far too expensive and thier network of offices is less developed.
We need to solve a problem. The role of the federal government is to enable the people to do as a group things they cannot do on their own, like roads, schools, libraries, fair courts of law, social security. What makes a public option for health care coverage so evil?

August 11, 2009 Health Care and the Post Office « Random Musings writes:

[...] that government can co-existence with private industry.  Someone needs to explain to Obama the following points, as made by the Heritage Foundation today: 1.)  The U.S. Post Office is the only entity allowed by [...]

August 11, 2009 Jay, AR writes:

This is hilarious. What an ironic example used by our president to prove basically the opposite position of the point he was trying to make. Obamacare, have no fear gentle citizens our public option will be run like the Post Office. Well I feel comforted.

August 11, 2009 Bobbie Jay writes:

Flavored Coffee Drinker, the reason your health care costs are high is because you are covering the costs of those that don’t cover their own. If everyone were expected equal responsibility to pay their own, prices would be more reasonable and at the people’s cost, would make wiser choices and stay healthier.

Post office, another government run failure to run within its means. No offense to the mail service, just the failure of government to prevent or correct. They’ll do so much better with health care. They’ll have so much more money to dwindle to cause a crisis. Do we really want irresponsibility to cause to our health care?

The coercion, confusion put on the elderly. The government including the choices of the private citizens that leads to their PERSONAL consequence, that is expensed to us. ABORTION! Who knows what all in this bill, (coded) words imply?

August 11, 2009 Mike, Winston-Salem writes:

Yes Joe… and let’s not forget to include Medicare, Medicaid, and the illustrious Social Security programs that are such wonderful examples of government-run entities.
Sparky - the responsibilty for good health begins with us. I also am tired of the endless commercials concerning th endless maladies of us humans… I live in the real world.
Mike

August 12, 2009 Ben, USA writes:

If the Post Office didn’t exist, do you think we’d still be paying 44 cents to send a letter? Try 5 bucks. The USPS keeps private shipping companies honest and provides a framework within which they can profit. This is the point and just saying everything run by the government stinks is akin to saying “everything run by us stinks”… because in America, we the people are the government.

August 12, 2009 Joe, Atlanta writes:

I can’t believe it but Obama actually said it on national television. He gave us the perfect analogy:

Obamacare is to the post office what private insurance is to Fedex/UPS.

Wow.

The Post Office, just like Obamacare, is bloated, inefficient, inflexible, wasteful, and simply a sinkhole for money. This despite being given a natural monopoly. Exactly what we would expect from a public option in healthcare.

Thanks Mr. President for clarifying the issues for millions. Next time, try comparing your plan to Amtrak - it’s only losing two billion or so this year.

August 12, 2009 Federalist Paupers » Blog Archive » Hope, But No Change writes:

[...] Perhaps I’m alone, but today when Drudge had a headline that the president had said, “UPS and Fedex Are Doing Just Fine: It’s the Post Office that’s always having problems,” I briefly hoped that the president, to show that he wasn’t wholly against the free [...]

August 12, 2009 Obama: ObamaCare Will Be As Great As The Post Office | Bucks Right writes:

[...] gets even worse.  The Heritage Foundation points out that the US Postal Service operates under a virtual monopoly.  True, FedEx and UPS exist with the [...]

August 12, 2009 HawkWatcher, MI. writes:

For as long as I could tolerate C-Span the other day, I caught part of Mr. Potters pleas for more money from my wallet. John McCain and Joe Lieberman were on the committee that was grilling the incompetent red-faced postmaster. I don’t know if the boob got my money or not, I had to flee. Privatize. Now.

You nailed it with this analogy, Rory! Obama is digging the grave of federal health insurance as he speaks.

I shall use the concepts of 5) to bolster my everyday arguments for alternatives to ObamaCare.

August 12, 2009 Dr. JohnBurge writes:

If the Dems would simply 1) allow interstate competition of private insurance companies to bring costs in line 2)Allow small businesses to combine their purchasing power for group policies 3)Beef up Health Care Savings Accounts (HSA’s)4)Do something about TORT reform 5)Subsidize through earned income tax credits only those American citizens unable to pay and 6)Introduce LIMITED regulation to insure consistency of policy plans like Medicare supplements, then the American people would stand in line to support this kind of Health Care Reform. What’s wrong with this? Answer: IT DOES NOT LEAD TO A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM WHEREIN THE GOVERNMENT CONTROLS US!!!

August 12, 2009 RJS, Greensboro, NC writes:

Trotting out the old “We don’t want government run health care” argument. Enough already. I don’t want any more insurance company controlled health care!It totally bites!

August 12, 2009 Gene, Germany writes:

The Democrats have been trying for 60 years now to establish a Russian or Chinese style government by having all the people dependent on them for every care or need. When will they learn that Americans fought a war for independence and a war to end slavery and will not give up those freedoms and liberty to a bunch of politicans, czars, panels.

Their current leader President Obama was taught by the best from both countries. First in Hawaii, then California, then New York followed by Harvard before the move to Chicago to get into the political machine. As the Russian President stated back in the 1960’s stated we will Bury You from Within. How true it is becoming!!

August 12, 2009 Bob writes:

Let’s see if I get the Obamacide healthcare bill rationale correct: Insurance companies are rationing healthcare. Rationing healthcare leads to people unnecessarily ill or dead. That’s evil. The oversight board set up by the healthcare legislation will have the final say on appropriate coverage for patients. That means rationing (or “triage”, if you prefer). Now the government can take over from the greedy insurance companies that are causing patients to go without healthcare. In the current budgetary crisis we must have a major cutbacks on healthcare costs. Why? Because we are spending trillions to bailout too big to fail banks (e.g. Goldman Sachs)and insurance companies’ (viz. AIG)gambling debts (AKA derivative securities.) Therefore I believe now our liberal government under Obama wants to be brought into the business of doing evil liberally in its own right. Bravo!

August 12, 2009 Fausta’s Blog » Blog Archive » A few questions on the healthcare bill, starting with the post office writes:

[...] citizens on his “post office” health care plan, the Heritage Foundation offers a few questions to consider:blockquote>1.) The U.S. Post Office is the only entity allowed by federal law to deliver first [...]

August 12, 2009 JohnR, Michigan writes:

As bad as the current system is, a Single Payer system would be worse. In concept, Single Payer has some strengths. The problem is that the govt would inevitibly screw it up, costs would skyrocket, and quality/quantity of services would erode. This is the experience of every single area where govt runs the show, and there’s simply no way (regardless of pols’ good intentions) to avoid it.

A Public Option is a non-starter because it would, over time, be subsidized by congress and would bankrupt the Private Option.

August 12, 2009 Thomas writes:

After all, he never ran a hotdog stand; please forgive him.

August 12, 2009 John Winston Salem, NC writes:

I am a USPS retiree and I know that the Postal Service does not recieve tax money to support the service. In, 1976 the USPS became self supporting function of the government. I believe that the Postal Service does a very good job for .44 cents per letter. What else can you get for that amount. A simple phone call cost more than that. Obamacare is not what the american public wants, We are too busy to read what is in a bill and we listen to what others tell us what’s in it. Wake up before its too late.

August 12, 2009 Gary, Lansdale PA writes:

Isn’t he great when he’s off the teleprompter?

August 12, 2009 Al, The Villages, Fl writes:

Maybe I’m missing something but comparing Obamacare to the medicare program is misleading. Obamacare will have the government replacing the “bad” private insurance companies as the one to foot the bill. What do you think will happen? look to Canada and the UK and see what happens when you have a serious illness if you want to know what is wrong with Obamacare. Also, look at the type of people in the Obama administration that would mann the panels/boards that determine what the benefits will be and what will be done to balance quality vs cost. Many of those people are fans of quality life years where the individual is treated as a broad brush entity whose probable years left, not what care is needed, will dictate the level of care you get.

August 12, 2009 "UPS and FedEx are doing just fine. It's the Post Office that's always having proble - Page 3 - Christian Forums writes:

[...] [...]

August 12, 2009 Dale, Cincinnati writes:

If the left is only concerned with fixing health care and not socializing medicine why do they only present legislation that looks like Canada, UK, France, etc. What’s wrong with Switzerland. According to NRO…

“In Switzerland, where consumers are the sole purchasers of health insurance, the majority choose to buy comprehensive policies; but competition holds Swiss insurers’ general and administrative expenses to 5 percent of revenues, as compared to 12–18 percent for ours……. (The Swiss consumer-driven system costs 40 percent less than ours, and its health-care price index has decreased, yet it achieves universal coverage and very good health care.)”

This sounds like a real solution. Not real socialism.

August 12, 2009 Tricia, Arizona writes:

There are many things that can be done to lower health care costs, but letting the government take over is not one of them. I don’t believe that Obamacare has anything to do with health care. It has everything to do with controlling our lives from cradle to grave. These people are very determined, so if we want to preserve the freedoms that we have left, we have a tough fight ahead. Dr. John Burge and Gene of Germany, you are both correct.
Yes, I believe America is waking up. It’s about time. I hope it’s not too late.

August 12, 2009 Normca writes:

The elderly at the town halls feel like their lives and their loved ones lives are being threatened; not just freedom and liberty [as if that is bade enough]. Obama is trying to run from his own words, he cannot and Linda Douglas says the words are being taken out of context. What a joke these people are. If this is “The One’s” signature issue, why did he put it after the so called stimulus bill. His priorities are as ignorant as he is about the American people. Over reaching - over reaching. I hope and it certainly looks like Republicans will turn out in Nov 2010 to repeat 1994. It would be great to see BO have to deal with a Republican controlled congress for the last 2 years of his presidency after he has alienated them. This fight will need to be repeated.

August 12, 2009 Cindy Kadinger, WA writes:

I was driving when I heard this comment concerning the Post Office, Fed-X and UPS and just about drove off the road. I was in shock that he said something sooooooooo stupid. Must have been ad-libbing and not using TOTUS.

August 12, 2009 Obamacare: Get used to the phrase “Soylent Green is People!” « The Technology of Business & the Business of Technology writes:

[...] Obamacare: The “Post Office” of Health Care Plans http://blog.heritage.org/2009/08/11/obamacare-the-post-office-of-health-care-plans/ [...]

August 12, 2009 John Roane Sarasota, Florida writes:

Once again, listen to the man, he is telling you what he will do and how it will impact you. You have no one to blame but yourself. Next elections take your responsibilities seriously and check up on the candidate. Don’t just listen to the national media, campaign speeches without checking the data that back s up the air waves and stumping speeches.

Bill Mayer had it right Americans are Stupid.

August 12, 2009 Jannice,CA writes:

Does anything intelligent ever come out of this mans mouth? He knows darn well that no private insurance company can compete against his Obamacare. I can’t believe that people actually think this guy has a clue to what he is doing.. Just floors me.

August 12, 2009 Bo writes:

The government passed a credit card bill recently providing some protections from unscrupulous credit card companies, but they didn’t take over the credit card industry. Why do they feel they need to take over the health care industry to correct those problems? Tort reform should be the first step. I’m very opposed to anymore government control of my life. More socialism just scares the heck out of me.

August 12, 2009 Post Office Health Care « The Underground Conservative writes:

[...] Hussein Obama, Government-Run Health Care. trackback The Foundry at The Heritage Foundation asks some questions that need to be asked before we turn America’s health care system into the Post [...]

August 12, 2009 The Cycologist, Wisconsin writes:

Have you ever noticed that when something is “free” the demand goes up. As long as a significant percentage of our population remains insulated from most of the cost of their health care, they will not exercise as much care in making spending decisions as they would if they were sharing the cost in a more significant way. The cost of healthcare for public employees is currently provded at no cost or a fraction of the cost for health care insurance. Essentially it is free or nearly so. Many employees in the private sector, primarily as a result of collective bargaining, also enjoy very low cost or no cost health insurance. The GM bankruptcy is a perfect example of how this type of unfunded liability works. If you think that the large banks were too big to fail, just think what the future of our country will be if the pols continue to spend the public purse as recklessly as has been done over the past several years with their “risky” ventures. Medicare should serve as the template for what Obamacare will become if enacted. The original projected costs were a small fraction of what actual costs became, and the program was and still is fraught with fraud and excess, in spite of or because of low “administrative” costs.Some of the so called “uninsured” could certainly afford some version of catasrophic health insurance, but instead chose to spend their money elsewhere. Then there are the “illegals” who freeboot the system. There are many ways that Congress can act to improve the cost of the current health care system without throwing the baby out with the bathwater but forcing us into another boondoggle should not be one of them.

August 12, 2009 Jim writes:

ANY ONE THAT THINKS THIS GUY IS INTELLIGENT
HAS A ONE DIGIT I.Q., JUST LIKE HIM. SOROS
IS UP THERE WORKING THE PUPPET STRINGS.

August 12, 2009 isukusa, AL writes:

What a moron! This proves how little O has thought about these things. It is possible that he is as clueless as some teenages? What an empty suit. The only thing that the government does well is break stuff. They fail at everything else they do and then there are those who want to trust government with their health. They should go to the DMV first then think about it…

August 12, 2009 Jeanne Stotler, woodbridge, Va writes:

I am very concerned that there are people who believe him, he said no pork or speciall interest were served by the Stimulas, what a crock of bull! it was loaded with special interest and pork, no one ever read the D___ thing, now they aren’t reading the healthcare bill but are telling us we shoulg suppoert it, another crock of bull. Health care in Canada and england as ell as other European countries is a joke, you wait months for routine care. I heard one congressman tell Drs. that they “Take the hypocratic oath too serious” I am a Nurse and I personally take my oath very serious and I hope my doctors take theirs serious also. “First Do NO Harm”

August 12, 2009 Carol in az writes:

Bo:
The banking and (credit card industry) lost trillions by allowing the extension of credit to non-legal Americans.
Do you remember that back in 2006 or 07?.

In any case this stupid business decision resulted along with the global melt-down in the trillions of home-loads, written to people who clearly could afford to pay for the monthly mort.
added to the total meltdown of these fiscal institutions.(no surprise)
My point;
Did we ever hear anywhere, from these institutions , like Citi Bank, Visa, and others, step-up to the inqurie board and say “Boy we sure were stupid.”

So now to spank the bad boys by the Gov’t,
The Gov’t passes a lack luster bill to slightly curve the credit card company’s regarding interests rates.

But the real issue here regarding banking and the credit lines connected to them cuts much deeper.

Many banks have and are involved with the daily transactions of “dirty money,” with duplicity.

The millions that flow from the States in all directions to South over the border, has by many banks, been one of their closely held dirty secrets.
“Don’t look don’t tell” attitude.
THe U.S Gov’t has known about this problem.

After 911 we froze all fiscal assets and bank accts from some of the Emerates country’s.

If we really wanted to cut the dragons tail off regarding banking and credit…and the drug trade (Border War) all we have to do is freeze all accounts of “known” drug cartels and their highly organized money trail.
So I am not real impressed with the recent credit card Leg. passed by the Gov’t.

It pales in conparison to what is really needed here by our U.S. banks to help to protect the men and woman who put their lives on the line every day, on our Border which is an all out blood bath and will continue, down to the last man standing because of the trillions of dollars exchanged through American banking system.

August 12, 2009 John Roane Sarasota, Florida writes:

In answer to George Fulmore :

In answer to your questions in almost all those comparisons you still have the option to buy elsewhere, however, under the Obama care you can’t purchase elsewhere, any change by either party in your insurance for any reason places you in the public plan.

The only one I can’t speak to is the Swiss program, but I will look it up.

In anticipation let me say I, but I have read the draft. Please keep in mind that no bill has been passed by either the Senate or House. However, once done it will go to Conference. There, without any public oversight anything can happen if the conferees agree it goes to the President to sign and you can read about it as a done deal in the media. Or go on line several days afterwards on Thomas. But either way its’ too late.

August 12, 2009 Daver Ft. Worth writes:

The “smartest people in the room” appear to all be standing around naked with snarls on their faces–and what most Americans are seeing is not Pretty!

Did I mention for the first time in my adult life I am no longer proud to be a citizen of this government?

August 12, 2009 New Paltz Journal » Blog Archive » Is Obama turning into Ralph Nader? writes:

[...] As Obama did yesterday in New Hampshire. [...]

August 12, 2009 Universal Health Care is the new Post Office — Libertarian Longhorns writes:

[...] The Heritage Foundation acutely notes: “On the one hand, the President remarks how great his public health care plan will be. On the other hand, he notes it won’t be good enough to crowd out your private insurance, i.e. the Post Office comparison. So which is it Mr. President? Will it be so great that private insurance disappears or so awful that it isn’t worth creating in the first place?” My sentiments exactly. Universal Health Care = worthless. [...]

August 12, 2009 Universal Health Care is the new Post Office | LibertarianChristians.com writes:

[...] The Heritage Foundation acutely notes: “On the one hand, the President remarks how great his public health care plan will be. On the other hand, he notes it won’t be good enough to crowd out your private insurance, i.e. the Post Office comparison. So which is it Mr. President? Will it be so great that private insurance disappears or so awful that it isn’t worth creating in the first place?” My sentiments exactly. Universal Health Care = worthless. [...]

August 12, 2009 Phyllis, New Jersey writes:

I hope all those people who bought into Obama’s campaign rhetoric and voted for him are now seeing the damage being done to this country. God help us as we continue to speak out..clearly & loudly…..and in greater numbers, to save our beloved United States from this President, his administration, and this Congress.

August 12, 2009 Forgotten Man writes:

The USPS Commissioner indeed does not have the tools to improve the operations. Here’s an example: unlike UPS and Fedex, USPS cannot install GPS in their delivery trucks. Why? Well because mail carriers consider it a violation of their privacy. They don’t want anyone to track where their vehicles are going.

August 12, 2009 keith,jackson,tn. writes:

Obama said it best they [the gov.]can’t run the post office.they can’t run the medicare,medicaid system.they can’t run social security and they can’t run any bureaucratic run organization. the one they can run is their mouths.Obama doesn’t care what is in the bill,this is one more small step for Obama and one giant leap for socialism.Remember it was said that American wouldn’t except socialism outright but fed a little at a time then one day they would wake-up to find themselves in a socialist nation. I hope that everyone will realize that the leadership in the democratic party would like to take over complete control of our lives and this is only one of the many ways they will try.

August 12, 2009 Jill, California writes:

If Obamacare is like the U.S. Postal Service, it’s a dinosaur before it ever gets off the ground.

If the U.S. Postal Service had been smart, it would have foreseen how email would drastically cut the demand for ordinary postal service. It would be providing Internet service to compete with private industry. And it would have remained profitable.

Obamacare can’t hope to compete with private enterprise or with consumer demands.

August 12, 2009 Carol Orlando FL writes:

The Constitution requires the Federal Govt to provide a postal service. It does NOT require it to provide healthcare.

August 13, 2009 Southern Appeal » Lost in the mail? writes:

[...] have a ready answer because the correct one was being sent to me him via the post office. Details here. PermaLink | Rebel Yells (0) | Trackback/Pingback [...]

August 13, 2009 Question: Does Obama comparing UPS and Fedex and the PO make you feel better about healthcare? - TideFans.com writes:

[...] Re: Does Obama comparing UPS and Fedex and the PO make you feel better about healthca I think that he needs to find better examples of efficient government run programs. Then again, the Post Office is possible that this was the best example that he could find. I read a good article this a.m. on the subject, it is worth reading… The "Post Office" of health care [...]

August 13, 2009 William Butler, Union City, CT writes:

Here is the meat of the subject! The Post office has been subsidized by the American populace for many years. They will show a 7 billion dollar deficit this year! We will need to bail them out via tax dollars! The Post Office competes unfairly with UPS and Fedex. The P.O. has a monopoly and for years has operated without having to charge tax for service. The Post Office gets favorable treatment for international shipping and is again tax free. Ups and Fedex can’t deliver to APO’s or FPO’s such as military bases around the world. Another P.O. monopoly. Therefore, even on an unfair playing field, the Post Office still can’t run successfully. Imagine a Postal type of Health care!

August 13, 2009 Steve writes:

George Fulmore offered some examples of public vs. private operations where the public option competes rather well, most would say.

George, how many of the public operations you listed are FEDERALLY controlled? None, nada, zilch. Your straw men comprise local and/or state run programs. A very different animal. The Feds do not, cannot, and have not operated anything efficiently ever.

August 13, 2009 Kayman Dewar, Sarasota, Florida writes:

One thing the PO does right. It offers optional insurance. That keeps costs down. What if doctors, hospitals and other health providers were allowed to offer “insured services” or “uninsured services”. Insured services would be covered by medical malpractice insurance that the patient would buy at their own expense (just like the PO or CDW with a rental car) on a visit by visit basis. Uninsured services would be provided as the norm and at the patient’s risk. Throw in tort reform and maybe most of the health care probelm would go away.

August 13, 2009 Ty, Wisconsin writes:

PROBLEM:
For those of you who like Obamacare and government run programs must you be reminded government programs are NOT FREE, they are paid for by you and me. Every, government program is simply another tax which often gets convoluted into an another state tax as well.

SOLUTION:
Get rid of taxes that don’t go towards providing what the government constitutionally was set up to do such as provide a strong military, etc..

LOVERS OF GOVERNMENT and SPREAD THE WEALTH:

Consider professional sports–what if we spread the “wealth of talent” around in professional sports–that is we penalize those athletes who are more gifted and we put added “weight” on their ankles and in their shoulder pads so everyone ran the same speed, was of the same strength–what would you have? Parity I prefer apathy. You would have a game where the outcome would be “predictably” the same, who would watch such a game?

We love sports because of the competitive element. Those teams with less talent compete against teams with superstars by finding ways to negate the superstar(s)–competition and free market work–parity-apathy does not.

Free market, i.e. competition is the answer because people help dictate prices by cheering with their dollars for the competitor who offers the best product at the lowest price. Government health care is apathy in red, white and blue. Government run programs are apathy on a white horse here to “save” us from ourselves-God forbid we know how to take care of ourselves. Give us back our tax money and the economy will flourish and we can pay for what we need with the thousands of new dollars in our pockets. Do we have problems in private sector-yes-but the answer is not more government-more wrongs don’t make it right.

August 13, 2009 Katie Gregory writes:

How can anyone compare providing health care for a tiny relatively well to do, healthy country like Switzerland with providing health care to the huge USA full of over weight Americans, illegal immigrants and greedy lawyers shouting “Sue! Sue! Sue!

August 13, 2009 Chris Wright, Raleigh, NC writes:

In response to George Fulmore writes:

“Better examples of private vs. public entities that work well together would be:
Do public universities put private universities out of business?
Does public drinking water put private bottled water out of business?
Do public schools put private schools out of business?
Do public hospitals put private hospitals out of business?
Do public libraries put private bookstores out of business?
Do computers available at public libraries put computer stores out of business?
Do public golf courses put private golf courses out of business?
The Swiss national health insurance, which was instituted in 1996, uses private insurance companies to “front” for the doctors and hospitals that are paid by the government. That is a system that, apparently, the swiss love and would not want to go away. We can learn from “experiments” in other countries.”

George, let me ask you:
When given the choice, which of those examples do YOU prefer to utilize (public or private from the list you gave)?
In all cases above, which one provides better quality and service?
I thought so (your answer = private). That being the answer, would you rather your money (i.e., my tax dollars) stay with you and you choose or would you rather have that money seized from you (via taxes) to pay for a much more inferior program? I’m OK if YOU want to pay for inferior healthcare, but don’t take money from me to do it!

August 13, 2009 Tracy, columbus, GA writes:

I am a 22years retired vet (army) three combat tours all under president bush. I love my goverment run healthcare. I have a family of five me,my wife, three boys 18, 14,and 10. I pay $490.00 a year for HC, and i can go to any hospital in be seen. I may have to pay a $12 co-pay or $3 for medicin. Your Dem and GOP senators receive the same govenment run systems. So if it is so bad why are they (GOP) in a government ran system. Why they (GOP) don’t have private coverage. YES WE CAN!!!!

August 13, 2009 John Roane Sarasota, Florida writes:

Tracy, first of all thank you for your service to our country. Let me also say you paid a lot higher price than $490.00/yr. You paid with your life of service to this country and never forget that or let anyone tell you your healthcare is free or low cost.

As a 100% Disabled Vietnam 1969 Veteran I know I paid for my entire healthcare, good or bad, the VA offers.

August 13, 2009 Carl, Marin County writes:

The Post Office is so broke, they want to “ration” service by cutting out Saturday delivery.

August 13, 2009 Bob, Portland, OR writes:

Wiliam is right. The USPS is running at a 7 billion dollar deficit per year. Hey Chris, you don’t get it, it’s not health care they’re after, its your “extra cash” they want. What percentage of the money they take out for social security actually ends up there? It’s a fraction. The truth is that the health care money will be a cash grab for them for other things like our friends at ACORN. If this happens, only the super rich and the politicians will prosper. You and I won’t have a chance and in the end we will be forced to see things their way.

August 13, 2009 Eddie Williamson writes:

As many have pointed out, it was poor judgment on the part of Obama to use the USPS as an example of government vs. UPS and FedEx as an example of private industry. Government is inefficient because it is run by politicians that will spend money that citizens earned to fund programs that politicians will take credit for, all for the purpose of gaining power and buying votes. When things don’t go the way politicians expected, they blame the other party. If government operated as a business, it would not be popular by those who are dependent on government, but those who are self-sufficient would not suffer. In short, politicians are the problem and people keep voting the incumbents back in office. With such a low approval rating of Congress before Bush left office, especially when the Democrats lied about ending the war twice, how is it that the Congress still has those same politicians in office?

August 13, 2009 Ty, Wisconsin writes:

Tracy,

I hope I didn’t misunderstand you, but I’m hearing you say you want government run healthcare.

I’m a Viet Nam Vet. While still in boot camp at Fort Benning we were on bivouac, it was pitch dark. They have Coral snakes in that area; and a coral snake if it bites between the fingers can kill you. I was bitten by something as I was helping set up camp. There were marks between my fingers and the sargeant not wanting to take any chances rushed me to the VA hospital emergency, I was at the hospital in less than 5 minutes but then sat for 2 hours in our Government run VA hospital waiting without a single soul coming in to check on me……I would have died in that waiting if it had been a coral snake bite, fortunately it was not. Compare that to my going into an emergency room at 59 years of age for what my wife thought was a heart attack and was seen IMMEDIATELY, turned out to be a torn muscle in my chest wall.

Tracy you can go to any hospital currently, good, we all can and recieve the best care possible from the private sector. I’m proud to have served, but that doesn’t mean government run hospitals are the answer. You, having served, should know of the government waste and abuse, you’ve seen it firsthand so have I, so tell me and others you prefer government run healthcare. The government has their place and this isn’t it.

August 13, 2009 Jerry from Chicago writes:

By now it should be clear to all but his most ardent supporters how truely weak Mr. Obama is. I take no pleasure in calling Mr. Obama a liar, but I do so out of necessity. During his campaign he, promises “transparency” in his administration; he promises to exercise line item veto authority on proposed legislation loaded with unnecessary “earmarks” and pork barrel projects; and he promises to not employee lobbyists in his administration. Upon becoming President Obama, he signs an $800 billion dollar Stimulus bill with no review or debate; he doesn’t read the bill, so he can’t exercise line item veto authority on even one of the 9,000 earmarks in this Bill. He said he had no desire to take over banks or auto companies, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to. When someone goes out and does just the opposite of what he said he was going to do, it’s fair to call that person a liar.

Candidate Obama was caught on video tape, that I have seen and heard, saying that he favored a “single payer” healthcare system. On the other hand, President Obama has been seen seveal times on TV saying that he favors a government health care plan that will compete with private health plans. Recently on Fox Cable News, Bill O’Reilly interviewed an official of AARP asking why AARP was in support of Mr. Obama’s national health care plan. The official said that while AARP did support health care reform, he repeatedly denied that AARP was in support of a government run health plan described in HB 3200. Apparently oblivious to AARP’s denial, Mr. Obama goes on TV at his own townhall meeting and asks his audience, if this plan was hurting seniors, why do you suppose that AARP supports it. Mr. Obama and his Press Secretary, Mr. Fibbs, tend to get flustered these days when they are reminded of how his current comments contradict his prior recorded comments and how his current comments about AARP support are completely opposite of what AARP’s leadership say.

Based on Mr. Obama’s lies and misrepresentations, how can anyone believe anything he says from now on? He has destroyed his own credibility and has no one but himself to blame.

August 13, 2009 Norma Weimer, Victorville CA writes:

President Obama has misreprested himself from day one. I read both of his books and in doing so I now know why he is trying to bring down this Wonderful Country. You should all read them,but don’t buy them (money will go in his pocket)Go to the Library to get them.We all know why he is trying to get all this done within such a short time. His lies will be judged one of these days. .

August 13, 2009 Richard, D.C. writes:

Obama is playing this brilliantly. Does anyone remember during the campaign, when he said ‘Spread the wealth’ and everyone was shocked, and his staff said he ‘misspoke’… now that its time to soak the rich, no one can say he didn’t warn us.

Well, I think this might be another one of those staged gaffes.

August 14, 2009 Abe, Texas writes:

IF “public universities, public drinking water, public schools, hospitals, libraries, golf courses” etc. are so great, Why do all these elitest politicians (Obama, democrats and republicans included) opt for all the private entities? Their kids go to private schools and I’ve never seen or heard of such elitist sit for hours in a county hospital waiting for medical help. Have you ever been inside a VA hospital? Give me the private entities every time!

August 14, 2009 Mikey, Maryland writes:

Frankly folks, I like my mail delivery. Sure I don’t use the mail system as much as in the past because of technological advances (internet, email, electronic bill paying, etc.). The USPS needs to figure out what it costs to to process the mail and charge accordingly even it this means raising significantly the cost of postage. I am also satisfied with my present healthcare, so I do not want to see it messed with by government flunkies. Our representatives in Congress need to start listening to their constituents and not the garble coming from the mouth of the teleprompter man.

August 14, 2009 Scott M. Crystla Lake IL writes:

The playing field is not level in comparing USPS to FEDEX/UPS as the latter doe not enjoy financial backing of their sugar daddy.

The post office delivering my letter for .44$ is not really .44$ if I factor in the my tax dollars already given and soon to be given. My money pays for the billions the postal general is asking for, even worse if that money is borrowed and then printed. Then you are institionalizing my childrens debt thru infaltion and defaciong my currency.

If Fed Ex was allowed to deliver letters it would cost more than .44$, but they would not be asking for billions in a bailout now, nor would they have asked to be bailed out previous to this.

Lets try asking the USPS to charge me what it actually costs-without the fed slush fund, then FedEx and UPS will really shine- level the playing field.

August 14, 2009 TR, Ocala FL writes:

Perhaps the USPS should stop paying for Lance Armstrong’s bike jaunts through France? I’m sure they could save a few $$ there, not to mention the millions they spend on TV advertising. Is there anyone in this country that does not know we have a postal service?

August 15, 2009 The Grand Illusion: Barack Obama’s So-Called “Coalition” (With Apologies to Styx) writes:

[...] “universal health” which — no matter how hard he tries to deny — is really the ultimate aim of “ObamaCare.” Polls out this week show that only the cloud-cuckoo types like [...]

August 16, 2009 Going Postal | Bearing Drift :: Virginia Politics On-Demand writes:

[...] By Amit Published August 16th, 2009   Call it a Freudian Federal slip when Obama equated government run healthcare to the Post Office. Considering he said UPS and FedEx are better than USPS, would he consider allowing them to deliver [...]

August 17, 2009 Darrell, Texas writes:

Limit medical liability. Works here. Doctors are actually moving to our state, instead of out.

August 17, 2009 Obama’s Post Office Gaffe: More True than You Can Imagine « Right Sided American Kafir writes:

[...] Heritage Foundation has elaborated on the details even further. One of their [...]

August 18, 2009 Celebrity Paycut - Encouraging celebrities all over the world to save us from global warming by taking a paycut. writes:

[...] Heritage Foundation, as usual, has excellent points to make about what Americans can learn from our experience with a [...]

August 20, 2009 Whose rhinoplasty am I funding this week? « The Quintessential Knowledge writes:

[...] can’t tell unless we try it. The president’s misguided analogy with post-office said as much: “It’s the Post Office that’s always having problems,” not the smartest [...]

August 20, 2009 Whose lobotomy am I paying this week? « The Quintessential Knowledge writes:

[...] can’t tell unless we try it. The president’s misguided analogy with post-office said as much: “It’s the Post Office that’s always having problems,” not the smartest [...]

August 21, 2009 How Would You Fix the Post Office? | BNET Intercom | BNET writes:

[...] you think of how well the government could run healthcare, do lunch breaks killed in Post Office queues pop into your head?  Even President Obama trashes on [...]

August 22, 2009 Topher writes:

OK, this directly addresses the post office/healthcare comparison in a firsthand manner. I voted absentee in the last election. Poor planning and my work schedule made it necessary to send my ballot overnight to ensure timely arrival. Naturally, I sought the least costly means to this end. USPS was affordable, but would only guarantee delivery in two days. I had to trot to the local Office Depot and send via DHL. Spent a little more for the guarantee of next day delivery, but I know my vote was counted. For real. I have receipts. Government in charge of MY healthcare? I believe, assuredly, not.

August 24, 2009 Other Great Public Options « The Conservative Constitutionalist Movement writes:

[...] acknowledge now that Obama put his foot in his mouth when he used the Post Office versus Fedex and UPS as an example of a public option not hurting [...]

September 6, 2009 Badger Blogger » Blog Archive » Making up the bullshit as you go along writes:

[...] Heritage Foundation weighs in on Obama’s carefully referenced “symbiotic relationship” between UPS, FedEx, and [...]

September 28, 2009 Want health care like the U.S. Postal Service? | Independence Institute: Patient Power writes:

[...] This post by Rory Cooper at the Heritage Foundation has more critiques of the United States Postal Service. [...]

October 15, 2009 Lawrence, Ohio writes:

Get your “facts” straight people! The law does not require that the Postal Service make a profit — only break even. Still, the US Postal Service has averaged a profit of over $1 billion per year in each of the last five years.