What the infamous Health Care bill IS and ISN'T
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That's a bit of a silly comparison. The USPS has been operating with the same borrowing window since the 70s. It hasn't been receiving $X a year in funding, but rather its balance sheet has fluctuated over the years, and has unfortunately stayed negative. They're not losing $10 billion a year... That's their overall cash balance, not their annual budget deficit. It's not a profitable company, by any stretch, but borrowing money is not the same as taking government funding. A lot of companies have a lot more outstanding debt than the postal system. Let's see... Just glancing at Time Warner, for example, I'm seeing about $15 billion in long-term debt. IBM is running with over $25 billion, plus another $60 billion in other liabilities... Companies borrow money all the time. That said, now the USPS is getting to the point where it will probably NEED some government funding, because its business model is becoming obsolete, thanks to us geeks and our mighty Intarwebs :)
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)Ian Shlasko wrote:
That's a bit of a silly comparison.
I'm glad you picked up on that. My point was that off budget does not make it non-existent.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
Companies borrow money all the time.
Not from the taxpayers. Well, they didn't use to. The cost of a 1st class stamp in 1975 was 10 cents. The cost of a 1st class stamp now is 44 cents. The average income in 1975 was around 38k. The average income in 2007 was around 48k The cost of stamps in now 440% of what it was. Average income is around 125% of what it was. After inflation, our incomes are about the same as 1975 so period adjusted rate is 25%, which makes the cost 350% of what it was, in roughly constant 1975 dollars. And they are losing money. You don't think this has anything to do with Congress placing mandates on them, do you?
Opacity, the new Transparency.
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They should be checking IDs at polling booths... It's entirely possible, and I don't understand why they don't do it. As for the exchanges, since these will be government-run, what's to stop them from requiring a valid SSN or TID?
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)Ian Shlasko wrote:
They should be checking IDs at polling booths... It's entirely possible, and I don't understand why they don't do it.
Liberals claim doing it is racist. Conservatives claim not doing it lets generally liberal illegals vote.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
As for the exchanges, since these will be government-run, what's to stop them from requiring a valid SSN or TID?
They are required NOT to check them at the polling booth, a singularly 'citizens only' activity. Why would they degrade people by requiring something harder, proof of legal status, at the insurance pool?
Opacity, the new Transparency.
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Ian Shlasko wrote:
That's a bit of a silly comparison.
I'm glad you picked up on that. My point was that off budget does not make it non-existent.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
Companies borrow money all the time.
Not from the taxpayers. Well, they didn't use to. The cost of a 1st class stamp in 1975 was 10 cents. The cost of a 1st class stamp now is 44 cents. The average income in 1975 was around 38k. The average income in 2007 was around 48k The cost of stamps in now 440% of what it was. Average income is around 125% of what it was. After inflation, our incomes are about the same as 1975 so period adjusted rate is 25%, which makes the cost 350% of what it was, in roughly constant 1975 dollars. And they are losing money. You don't think this has anything to do with Congress placing mandates on them, do you?
Opacity, the new Transparency.
RichardM1 wrote:
You don't think this has anything to do with Congress placing mandates on them, do you?
Oh, of course it does. Congress regulates the stamp price, requires them to deliver six days a week, requires them to keep certain office hours and shifts, and tells them how to run their pension plan. It's ridiculous and unsustainable. From a balance sheet standpoint, however, the only difference between the USPS and a private corporation is who's extending them a line of credit. Medicare and Medicaid are government programs, funded entirely by taxpayer money, and doing nothing (From a financial perspective) but draining the federal coffers. The USPS is a business that has income and expenditures, and if it was run better (And more independently) might generate a profit.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
Ian Shlasko wrote:
They should be checking IDs at polling booths... It's entirely possible, and I don't understand why they don't do it.
Liberals claim doing it is racist. Conservatives claim not doing it lets generally liberal illegals vote.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
As for the exchanges, since these will be government-run, what's to stop them from requiring a valid SSN or TID?
They are required NOT to check them at the polling booth, a singularly 'citizens only' activity. Why would they degrade people by requiring something harder, proof of legal status, at the insurance pool?
Opacity, the new Transparency.
RichardM1 wrote:
Liberals claim doing it is racist. Conservatives claim not doing it lets generally liberal illegals vote.
Well, I usually lean toward the liberal side, but I have to side with the conservatives on that issue. Check IDs and keep it honest.
RichardM1 wrote:
They are required NOT to check them at the polling booth, a singularly 'citizens only' activity. Why would they degrade people by requiring something harder, proof of legal status, at the insurance pool?
Because while elections are a touchy political and civil rights subject, since that's our opportunity to stick it to our all-powerful overlords, health insurance is just about money. Since the right to vote is guaranteed by the constitution, it's hard to add any kind of restriction to it (Though come on, checking IDs should be a no-brainer). Health insurance has no such legal protections. Of course, I'm betting there'll be some kind of loophole... The illegals will probably be able to buy it directly from the insurers, instead of via the exchange, unless those insurers are demanding SSN/TIDs.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
Ian Shlasko wrote:
They should be checking IDs at polling booths... It's entirely possible, and I don't understand why they don't do it.
Liberals claim doing it is racist. Conservatives claim not doing it lets generally liberal illegals vote.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
As for the exchanges, since these will be government-run, what's to stop them from requiring a valid SSN or TID?
They are required NOT to check them at the polling booth, a singularly 'citizens only' activity. Why would they degrade people by requiring something harder, proof of legal status, at the insurance pool?
Opacity, the new Transparency.
RichardM1 wrote:
Liberals claim doing it is racist.
Where exactly? I've seen more people throwing fits over someone might ask them for their ID at the polling station, than anyone claiming it's racist. That said, the fits are generally followed by something insinuating only those other color people should be checked. Check everyone and I've got no issue with it, I'm also unaware of a liberal who does have an issue with it. That said, there is that whole 'secret ballot' bit where you're not supposed to be able to figure out who voted and how. Which does figure into this, but why bother with constitutional issues when you can blame those race baiting dems.
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Ian Shlasko wrote:
That's a bit of a silly comparison.
I'm glad you picked up on that. My point was that off budget does not make it non-existent.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
Companies borrow money all the time.
Not from the taxpayers. Well, they didn't use to. The cost of a 1st class stamp in 1975 was 10 cents. The cost of a 1st class stamp now is 44 cents. The average income in 1975 was around 38k. The average income in 2007 was around 48k The cost of stamps in now 440% of what it was. Average income is around 125% of what it was. After inflation, our incomes are about the same as 1975 so period adjusted rate is 25%, which makes the cost 350% of what it was, in roughly constant 1975 dollars. And they are losing money. You don't think this has anything to do with Congress placing mandates on them, do you?
Opacity, the new Transparency.
What was gas back in 1975? For as much driving as they have to do I'd figure that'd be a major component on them more so than most businesses. Taking base line statistics which are generally irrelevant to the question at hand and assuming they actually mean anything is not terribly productive. It helps when you bother to check what may have increased their costs and/or decreased their profits. Things like volume of mail delivered daily, mileage covered by postal vehicles and price per mile traveled would actually be useful in making these comparisons.
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The rhetoric is coming from all sides, not just the republicans. I'm not listing talking points... I listed what's actually IN the bill, not all of the things they wanted to get in there. From other discussions, I've seen that the non-USians here have gotten completely the wrong idea about it, thinking it's a lot closer to their government-provided health care, when in fact it's only an incremental change. I started this thread to correct that.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)Can you point out any conservative rhetoric you put up there? I can point out liberal rhetoric you put up there:
Ian Shlasko wrote:
* This won't be putting us further into debt. It will actually REDUCE the deficit by ~$140 billion over the next decade.
It will put us over 360 billion further in debt, just from the dems' numbers. The 500 bil they are using to finance it is spending the money that comes in to fund future payments for medicaid/medicare, which will still have to be made.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
* Most people will NOT see a tax increase. The extra money not provided by medicare/medicaid changes will come from applying the medicare tax to investment income (Currently it only applies to normal income) for people making in excess of $200k/year ($250k for families), and starting in 2018, the high-end insurance plans will gain a significant tax... They're also adding a 10% tax on tanning salons, which seems kind of odd.
Per CNN, in 2009, 47% of households paid no income tax. So if 4% of households see no tax increase, this is technically true. So, if 49% of households see a tax increase, most people will not see a tax increase. So that is just a talking point.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
* Premiums are supposed to be reduced... They're adding "exchanges" where small businesses and individuals can more easily purchase insurance... I guess it'll increase competition among insurers, by easing comparison. Note that these will be managed by each state, not centralized federally. This is the free market at work, folks.
Insurance companies had a 2-10% profit margin[^] last year, when they were not taking on preexisting conditions (others say the industry average was 2.2%, which falls in this range). So their costs per person will go up (they now have to amortize the preexisting conditions), they will have to start spending more on advertising to compete with the others, and they will be lowering prices. How do you see that working?
Opacity, the new Transparency.
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RichardM1 wrote:
You don't think this has anything to do with Congress placing mandates on them, do you?
Oh, of course it does. Congress regulates the stamp price, requires them to deliver six days a week, requires them to keep certain office hours and shifts, and tells them how to run their pension plan. It's ridiculous and unsustainable. From a balance sheet standpoint, however, the only difference between the USPS and a private corporation is who's extending them a line of credit. Medicare and Medicaid are government programs, funded entirely by taxpayer money, and doing nothing (From a financial perspective) but draining the federal coffers. The USPS is a business that has income and expenditures, and if it was run better (And more independently) might generate a profit.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
RichardM1 wrote:
Liberals claim doing it is racist. Conservatives claim not doing it lets generally liberal illegals vote.
Well, I usually lean toward the liberal side, but I have to side with the conservatives on that issue. Check IDs and keep it honest.
RichardM1 wrote:
They are required NOT to check them at the polling booth, a singularly 'citizens only' activity. Why would they degrade people by requiring something harder, proof of legal status, at the insurance pool?
Because while elections are a touchy political and civil rights subject, since that's our opportunity to stick it to our all-powerful overlords, health insurance is just about money. Since the right to vote is guaranteed by the constitution, it's hard to add any kind of restriction to it (Though come on, checking IDs should be a no-brainer). Health insurance has no such legal protections. Of course, I'm betting there'll be some kind of loophole... The illegals will probably be able to buy it directly from the insurers, instead of via the exchange, unless those insurers are demanding SSN/TIDs.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)Ian Shlasko wrote:
health insurance is just about money
Do you really believe HCR is just about money? Do you think there could have been a minor power grab in making it more OK to regulate those damn insurance companies? I will let you figure out if a single payer health care system was about the money.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
Of course, I'm betting there'll be some kind of loophole
You and me, both. I see you are coming over to the Dark Side, little by little.:suss: Lord Cheney will have you under his power. It is just a matter of time. ;P .
Opacity, the new Transparency.
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Ian Shlasko wrote:
* Insurance companies get more regulation... First and foremost, they won't be able to deny people for existing conditions.
So you were including this as a downside to the bill?
Opacity, the new Transparency.
I was including it as a factual component of the bill. Fact, not opinion. I wasn't intending to take a side on whether this is good or bad. I was trying to educate people.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
Can you point out any conservative rhetoric you put up there? I can point out liberal rhetoric you put up there:
Ian Shlasko wrote:
* This won't be putting us further into debt. It will actually REDUCE the deficit by ~$140 billion over the next decade.
It will put us over 360 billion further in debt, just from the dems' numbers. The 500 bil they are using to finance it is spending the money that comes in to fund future payments for medicaid/medicare, which will still have to be made.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
* Most people will NOT see a tax increase. The extra money not provided by medicare/medicaid changes will come from applying the medicare tax to investment income (Currently it only applies to normal income) for people making in excess of $200k/year ($250k for families), and starting in 2018, the high-end insurance plans will gain a significant tax... They're also adding a 10% tax on tanning salons, which seems kind of odd.
Per CNN, in 2009, 47% of households paid no income tax. So if 4% of households see no tax increase, this is technically true. So, if 49% of households see a tax increase, most people will not see a tax increase. So that is just a talking point.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
* Premiums are supposed to be reduced... They're adding "exchanges" where small businesses and individuals can more easily purchase insurance... I guess it'll increase competition among insurers, by easing comparison. Note that these will be managed by each state, not centralized federally. This is the free market at work, folks.
Insurance companies had a 2-10% profit margin[^] last year, when they were not taking on preexisting conditions (others say the industry average was 2.2%, which falls in this range). So their costs per person will go up (they now have to amortize the preexisting conditions), they will have to start spending more on advertising to compete with the others, and they will be lowering prices. How do you see that working?
Opacity, the new Transparency.
RichardM1 wrote:
It will put us over 360 billion further in debt, just from the dems' numbers. The 500 bil they are using to finance it is spending the money that comes in to fund future payments for medicaid/medicare, which will still have to be made.
It looks like the money they're using to finance it will be coming from the extra taxes I've stated, and the closing of whatever that "doughnut hole" thing is supposed to be (I admit I didn't look into that part). In other words, they spend money now, and as the program comes into effect, it makes that money back... Unless I'm completely missing something here.
RichardM1 wrote:
Per CNN, in 2009, 47% of households paid no income tax. So if 4% of households see no tax increase, this is technically true. So, if 49% of households see a tax increase, most people will not see a tax increase. So that is just a talking point.
The actual numbers are right there... The tax increases come on individuals making more than $200k, and families making more than $250k. That and the tanning salon thing, and a rather large tax increase (40%) on the high-end insurance plans (People spending over something like $25k a year on premiums, not including dental and vision).
RichardM1 wrote:
Insurance companies had a 2-10% profit margin[^] last year, when they were not taking on preexisting conditions (others say the industry average was 2.2%, which falls in this range). So their costs per person will go up (they now have to amortize the preexisting conditions), they will have to start spending more on advertising to compete with the others, and they will be lowering prices. How do you see that working?
Keep in mind that everyone will be forced to buy insurance, including healthy people who haven't had a need for it in the past. I don't know how many of each category are out there, but that will determine whether the "health pool" gets better or worse. And don't forget, there are more factors than that. Their costs are tied to the actual cost of doctor/hospital care, to the number and variety of tests they require, to prescription drug costs, malpractice insurance, etc... I know the bill is doing something to affect that, but as I didn't know the details, I didn't include it. Hence the phrase "Premiums are supposed to be reduced" instead of "will be reduced."
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Ian Shlasko wrote:
health insurance is just about money
Do you really believe HCR is just about money? Do you think there could have been a minor power grab in making it more OK to regulate those damn insurance companies? I will let you figure out if a single payer health care system was about the money.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
Of course, I'm betting there'll be some kind of loophole
You and me, both. I see you are coming over to the Dark Side, little by little.:suss: Lord Cheney will have you under his power. It is just a matter of time. ;P .
Opacity, the new Transparency.
RichardM1 wrote:
Do you really believe HCR is just about money? Do you think there could have been a minor power grab in making it more OK to regulate those damn insurance companies? I will let you figure out if a single payer health care system was about the money.
Now you're just taking my statements out of context. I'm talking about the legality of requiring ID, and you're applying it to the ethics of regulation. This is a forum discussion, not a political campaign.
RichardM1 wrote:
You and me, both. I see you are coming over to the Dark Side, little by little. Lord Cheney will have you under his power. It is just a matter of time.
Heh... Everything has loopholes. Tax shelters, offshore banking, bailouts... People are always gaming the system, no matter which system and no matter which political party, company, or group is behind it.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
No, CSS is technically right. It forces MOST people to buy insurance, and it raises taxes on the wealthy (And on tanning salons). Of course, I said all of this in the original post on this thread, so I dunno what he's arguing about.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)Ian Shlasko wrote:
and it raises taxes on the wealthy
Riiight... :rolleyes: it imposes fees and fines lower income people instead. Garnishing your wages if you do not buy insurance.
Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] Sons Of Liberty - Free Album[^] The True Soapbox is the Truthbox[^]
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I was including it as a factual component of the bill. Fact, not opinion. I wasn't intending to take a side on whether this is good or bad. I was trying to educate people.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
Ian Shlasko wrote:
and it raises taxes on the wealthy
Riiight... :rolleyes: it imposes fees and fines lower income people instead. Garnishing your wages if you do not buy insurance.
Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] Sons Of Liberty - Free Album[^] The True Soapbox is the Truthbox[^]
CaptainSeeSharp wrote:
Riiight... Roll eyes it imposes fees and fines lower income people instead. Garnishing your wages if you do not buy insurance.
No, if you're making less than $80k a year, and aren't covered by your employer (Businesses with more than 50 employees will be required to offer a coverage plan), they give you credits to help you afford insurance. If you still don't get insurance, THEN you get fined. Of course, there are exceptions to the fine. American Indians living on reservations are exempt... You can raise a religious objection and be exempt... And I forget the exact numbers, but if the cheapest available insurance would be more than some percentage of your income (I think it was 8%), I think it exempts you. For someone who lectured me for finding summaries instead of reading the entire text, you don't seem to have read much at all.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
CaptainSeeSharp wrote:
Riiight... Roll eyes it imposes fees and fines lower income people instead. Garnishing your wages if you do not buy insurance.
No, if you're making less than $80k a year, and aren't covered by your employer (Businesses with more than 50 employees will be required to offer a coverage plan), they give you credits to help you afford insurance. If you still don't get insurance, THEN you get fined. Of course, there are exceptions to the fine. American Indians living on reservations are exempt... You can raise a religious objection and be exempt... And I forget the exact numbers, but if the cheapest available insurance would be more than some percentage of your income (I think it was 8%), I think it exempts you. For someone who lectured me for finding summaries instead of reading the entire text, you don't seem to have read much at all.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)Fuck that, I will work under the table.
Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] Sons Of Liberty - Free Album[^] The True Soapbox is the Truthbox[^]
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Fuck that, I will work under the table.
Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] Sons Of Liberty - Free Album[^] The True Soapbox is the Truthbox[^]
Don't forget to mention that when you fill out your tax return.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
Don't forget to mention that when you fill out your tax return.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)They can come and brutally slaughter me with their black ski-mask thugs with sawed off shotguns.
Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] Sons Of Liberty - Free Album[^] The True Soapbox is the Truthbox[^]
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They can come and brutally slaughter me with their black ski-mask thugs with sawed off shotguns.
Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] Sons Of Liberty - Free Album[^] The True Soapbox is the Truthbox[^]
Oh, that mental image just cheered me up... Thanks :)
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
I know that it forces everyone to buy insurance and raises taxes.
Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] Sons Of Liberty - Free Album[^] The True Soapbox is the Truthbox[^]
So Ian doesn't know anything because he hasn't read all 2700 pages and you know enough having read none of it? I hope your sphincter is more watertight than your logic, Captain Wet Pants. :laugh:
You measure democracy by the freedom it gives its dissidents, not the freedom it gives its assimilated conformists.