Among the wealthy, a new voice for fiscal sacrifice

[marcus phoenix]

^^ +1000, can anyone one on the right rebutt the above with anything other than generic talking points?

 

[jbaldyga]

i think a more significant consderation for firms is the cost of additional regulatory burden, including healthcare costs. these costs are not trivial and the uncertainty surrounding them is paralyzing.

 

[marcus phoenix]

jbaldyga Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i think a more significant consderation for firms
> is the cost of additional regulatory burden,
> including healthcare costs. these costs are not
> trivial and the uncertainty surrounding them is
> paralyzing.


So why not take away the cost of healthcare completely from firms by going for a public option and getting rid of employee sponsored insurance?

 

[NYCGorilla]

Marcus Phoenix is the man. He rulez the internetz

 

[marcus phoenix]

NYCGorilla Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Marcus Phoenix is the man. He rulez the internetz

And you are a frackin genius.

 

[jbaldyga]

marcus phoenix Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jbaldyga Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > i think a more significant consderation for
> firms
> > is the cost of additional regulatory burden,
> > including healthcare costs. these costs are
> not
> > trivial and the uncertainty surrounding them is
> > paralyzing.
>
>
> So why not take away the cost of healthcare
> completely from firms by going for a public option
> and getting rid of employee sponsored insurance?

because they're going to pay for it one way or another, it just depends on how much waste, fraud and inefficiency the gov't can inject into the process, all with the aim of expanding their power and buying votes. i don't understand why you think political self interset is more desirable than private self interest.

 

[marcus phoenix]

jbaldyga Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> marcus phoenix Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jbaldyga Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > i think a more significant consderation for
> > firms
> > > is the cost of additional regulatory burden,
> > > including healthcare costs. these costs are
> > not
> > > trivial and the uncertainty surrounding them
> is
> > > paralyzing.
> >
> >
> > So why not take away the cost of healthcare
> > completely from firms by going for a public
> option
> > and getting rid of employee sponsored
> insurance?
>
> because they're going to pay for it one way or
> another, it just depends on how much waste, fraud
> and inefficiency the gov't can inject into the
> process, all with the aim of expanding their power
> and buying votes. i don't understand why you
> think political self interset is more desirable
> than private self interest.

We will pay for it, but by eliminating the middle man (insurance companies) I believe we will end up paying a lot less than the pathetic healthcare system we have in place right now where we all pray we don't fall ill.

 

[jbaldyga]

^i believe you are wrong.

 

[marcus phoenix]

jbaldyga Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ^i believe you are wrong.


Well what is your alternative? Unsustainable status qou? We will have to cover the costs of the uninsured regardless - I would rather they be treated before they end up in the ER costing multiples of preventative medicene.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"USA troop is a public goods for American and World" ---Lord qqqbee, Sep 1, 2010

 

[jbaldyga]

start with tort reform.

 

[marcus phoenix]

jbaldyga Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> start with tort reform.

Sure, you want a cap on what you can sue the doctor? Go ahead, but the whole sob story told by doctors about medical malpractice insurance rates driving them out of business is just crap. Tort reform is just another republican talking point with a negligible impact on costs in the same breath as the impact eliminating funding for the endowment for the arts will have on the deficit.

 

[iteracom]

marcus phoenix Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would rather they be
> treated before they end up in the ER costing
> multiples of preventative medicene.


I'm starting to lose it. I immediately interpreted ER as "Equity Research"

 

[kkent]

Here is a short list I've put together for federal spending cuts:

1) Department of Education
2) Federal diversity coordinators
3) Smithsonian Channel
4) National Public Radio (NPR)
5) Public Broadcasting System (PBS)
6) The Corporation for Public Broadcasting ($1.2 billion)
7) Federal ad campaigns
8) Earmarks ($28 billion)
9) Eliminate the drug enforcement budget allocated for fighting marijuana
10) National Endowment for the Arts
11) All ceremonial military organizations and expositions (including air force flyovers)
12) Some military bases
13) White House Social Secretary and White House social events
14) Congressional private jets
15) Reduced White House travel
16) Corn-based ethanol tax breaks/subsidies ($7.7 billion in 2009)
17) The Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools ($1.8 billion)


And some other ideas:

1) Privatizing the postal service
2) Privatizing the national park service
3) Fully privatizing the GSEs (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac) as well as privatize the FHA, FDIC, Ginnie Mae, Sallie Mae, FHFA, and maybe HUD (supported by premiums paid by banks, etc.), but have effective government regulation and oversight
4) Scaling back deployment of troops overseas and consider closing some foreign military bases
5) Implementing 4-day work week for federal employees (i.e. employees work 10 hours per day, 4 days per week). This saves vacation costs, will allow all federal buildings to be completely shut down for 3 days, and will drastically reduce traffic congestion in Washington, DC on Fridays and in the evenings M-F.
a. Also eliminate 3 federal holidays
6) Increasing federal salaries to essentially market rate but make the workforce nimble, which means that layoffs will be allowed


There are a ton more. The federal government is robust with inefficiency and waste.

I also like how the ones signing this letter are so wealthy that an increase of the top marginal rate will have virtually no impact on their lives. Also, let me point out that "millionaire" has ZERO to do with income and EVERYTHING to do with net worth. You can earn $300,000 per year and not be a millionaire.