Seems like so far in 2012 Obama attracts the academic community and communications for his biggest contributors whereas Romney attracts many Wall Street firms as his top contributors. http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?id=N00009638 http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?id=N00000286 Maybe the banks think Romney will work to repeal those dastardly consumer credit protection laws. In recent days since the Supreme Court decision last week Romney has received a hefty bump in contributions and it wouldn't surprise me at all that the healthcare companies are behind it. I see a trend here and middle class America is the likely loser should these Romney contributors get what they want.
Health care companies stand to profit form the ruling. http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/07/15/of-course-the-drug-companies-loved-the-health-care-bill/ http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/business/22bizhealth.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all Maybe the banks and wall street are hoping for an economic recovery...leaving Obama with the liberal professors and the media.
Next time my company trots out their extremely high priced health insurance plan I'll remember reading that one. :roll: But hey.....that's capitalism for ya....
Obama demonizes an entire industry for years and now we're surprised they don't support his campaign???? Shocker there....
It seems that our gator friend believes that insurance companies should be compelled to provide coverage at a loss....fascinating stuff. How does that work? My guess is that if it were him working for the insurance co, we'd hear a different sob story.....just sayin
Obama's contributions are coming in much smaller chunks than four years ago. That Hope and Change nonsense has been outed for what it was.... pure hype.
Like health care costs, education costs continue to rise. http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/10/26/College-Prices-Continue-to-Rise.aspx#page1 No one is ranting and raving at colleges who refuse to acknowledge that the economy is squeezing family budgets. Why not? The federal government keeps pouring out more and more college loans that may or more likely won't be repaid. Colleges keep rolling in dough and for some reason support the hand that feeds them. I bet college folks get great health benefits too.
I guess there needs to be more Rick Scotts out there....a guv who has fueled hefty tuition increases here in Florida by implementing some serious budget cuts to the state university system. But hey....he sure keeps taxes down......and refuses federal money :lol: :lol: :lol:
There's the difference. When the state has financial problems they cut the budget. When the liberals in education get less from the state, they just soak the tuition payers. Heaven forbid that they'd actually cut expenses. Like their clones the liberal politicians, they have a bottomless well to draw from.....they think.
Why the knock on capitalism? Individual and small business sales are more profitable than large company sales precisely because there is no capitalistic free market at work. Insurance pools are kept artificially small because of...government regulation. Are the insurance companies in cahoots with government regulators? Yeah, probably...but that is a different question and it doesn't just involve Republicans.
Free market competition....if legitimate should be very effective in driving down price in a given market. So I agree....what the hell is going on in healthcare to where it seems like every deal pretty much is a poor choice? It makes you think there really isn't the competition that should be in place for such a large group of consumers. Of course the same thing or worse exists in the energy markets. When you think about it....if an industry can manipulate it's pricing to the point of everyone is pretty much the same and everyone is making profits then why make that product competitive? Only risks in that situation....for the possible rewards. Somemone or something has to get these markets that have such a huge and captive consumer base to budge.
I cannot purchase health insurance outside of New Jersey. I now have three companies I can deal with. Ten years ago I had thirteen. If I could buy insurance from any of the other 49 states I'll bet my pricing would go down. IT's called competition and it does not carry a $900 billion overhead cost with it.
There are so many factors that are causing the horrendous rise in health care costs. There are corporate abuses...I have no doubt about that...but there is so much going on here and all you want to do is blame the boogeyman. :?
I'm a pretty simple guy so let me see if I can post this in it's lowest form and see if it rings a bell with Dave... Dave, I think I remember that you are now in a business that deals in transporting goods. I'll use that as an example whether that is correct or not. In 1920, a transportation company charged the going rate for freight and was paid up front for that service or an account was charged and paid in 30 days or no more freight was hauled for that company. Now, let's say that the government stepped in for those companies that didn't pay their bill and you have to haul the freight and then accept whatever payment you can squeeze out of the customer no matter how small. What are you going to do with your rates to assure that your company does not go bankrupt? You are going to raise your rates just like all transportation companie will because of the losses you take from those that can't pay. Now, some of your best customers say: "Hey, I can't compete with companies that don't have to pay their freight charges so I'm not going to pay mine either. I am close to bankruptcy becuse my costs are higher and I am having to sell at the same rates those freeloaders are getting. Now you have more customers not paying their bills but you are bound by decisions of government regulations to accept what you get. Now you have to raise your rates again... and again... and yet again. This is what socialistic policies have done, and will continue to do to helathcare. Insurance costs may go down but it will be at the tax payers expense. That means you and I will be paying in other ways. Make any more sense to you now?
Why is that George??? Could it be government regulation???? So government regulations are preventing insurance cos from crossing state lines or forcing them to establish a different subsidiary for each state in which they operate, all with burdensome disclosure and reporting requirements and other associated overhead costs? Could it be that there are countless inane and completely unnecessary regulations that have a material impact on the overhead costs of many participants in the healthcare industry? Have those regs become more or less burdensome in the last several years? Boogieman is right..... :roll:
George....is that a law that could be changed by Governor Christie.....if he even wanted to? ....just sayin.... Tom.......good example and everyone invoved in a price increase and who benefited from said price increase could certainly use your reasons given above as THE excuse. Of course since my business is completely competitive and our clients have many alternatives to choose from.....as it is in 95% of the business conducted here in America......it is my company that would be bankrupt and out of business due to having no clients left if we priced ourselves out of the market. Our clients are not captive like healthcare consumers are so we would have to resort to other measures to stay in business. Maybe the boss would have to pull from those overseas bank accounts and get a smaller car every three years instead of every year so that we could compete....capiche?
Dave, You are taking personal observances and assuming that everyone and every business operates as unethicly as, in your reference, your boss. Have you taken into consideration that not all, but alot of hospitals are "not for profit" institutions? Their charges are designed to offset costs. One of their huge costs is indigent care. Everyone else pays for those that can't. Do you not see your boogieman right there? That is a major factor in healthcare costs rising over the years... more than inflation... more than any greed factor... and is is a product of liberal minded do gooders that want to convert the US to socialism.
I actually have a good boss....except for the no raise thingy....which is in fact very annoying going in to year 4. The bottom line about healthcare is that as long as people are being charged exorbitant....more than they can possibly afford prices for coverage and for services then I find it wrong and inappropriate for those who get wealthy from the process.......except for the doctors and surgeons who do lend their expertise and education to the equation and yes for the drug providers who do research. ( provided the profits designated for research are monitored for their actual use ). There are so many many hands in the till otherwise.....hard to pinpoint hands in the till.....and it's those guys....the Rick Scott clones and cronies.... that need to be squeezed out of the mix. If someone doesn't like the reduced profits made......or the salaries paid then let them either do what I do and grin and bear it or get the hell out.....there is always somebody willing to take their place.
......and when the government fixes the prices...the lines waiting for care will get longer and longer and longer... The politicians will get elected by promising lower and lower prices for health care...as more and more doctors drop out of a system that treats them like criminals for wanting to be paid for their services......and more and more pharmaceutical companies drop out of drug research for more profitable enterprises......and more and more working class people die waiting for care... "We're the government, and we're here to help"