Out of control health care costs are a tapeworm

[Oldshooter]

WELL IF THAT ISN'T AN OXIMORON! TAXES not being spent by FOOLS
  


Glenn Beck has a book I'm gonna have to read to deal with your posts................its called Arguing with Idiots   

[Dixie Dude]

Keynes idea was for the government to spend money providing jobs in infrastructure, dams, etc, until the private economy improves, then STOP spending the money.  His idea was that in good times the government should pay off debt and SAVE money for the next downturn.  He didn't say keep the government programs forever.  This is the problem.  Government programs last forever, and in good times when the budget is balanced, they want to spend it. 

[briarpatch]

sagegrouse715, I can do as good with your money as the government.
It is their policy to ask for and take your money with the primiss they will make you rich or give you great returns. Now we know that does not happen.
I will except the role as fool but I am still light years ahead of what we have in this administration.

[scootrd]

Keynes idea was for the government to spend money providing jobs in infrastructure, dams, etc, until the private economy improves, then STOP spending the money.  His idea was that in good times the government should pay off debt and SAVE money for the next downturn.  He didn't say keep the government programs forever.  This is the problem.  Government programs last forever, and in good times when the budget is balanced, they want to spend it.  

And thank God for the TVA (which by the way was a federally funded corporation) during the depression the TVA employed some 30,000 people and kept families from starving. Any one that wants to argue -- I'll just suggest they go have a good long cup of coffee with their grandparents cause they will set you straight. (and besides its a great excuse to see them and listen to the old stories) Now go hug your Grandma

[Dixie Dude]

Problem is they still own the TVA.  Prices are low with no profit, so when they need a power plant, they have to use tax money to build it.  So I don't think I should pay for your low prices with my tax money.  They should sell it off now to private companies like the Southern Company which owns Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf states power, etc.  Their rates are reasonable and competitive.  They mainly used TVA to build the dams and install the transmission lines to start with, but they never divested themselves of it to run privately.  Same with Amtrack.  Government shouldn't be in business that has private competitors.  If they sold Amtrack and TVA among other things, they could pay down the national debt.  Reagan tried this with the Grace Commission.  Sell off government business in competition with private business, sell of land they don't need.  For instance they own about a 1/4 mile strip of Wakaki beach surrounded by highrise hotels and condos.  The property was bought during WWII for officer leaves during the war.  They don't need it anymore.  The Grace Commission said by selling off these assets it could pay off the national debt.  Reagan couldn't get congress to go along.  Reagan also had the military buildup which caused the Soviet Union to colapse financially trying to keep up with us.  I lived through Reagan.  I made more take home money with the tax cuts, also he started the 401(k) plan which helped average Americans save for retirement.  He also had tax breaks for better health insurance plans.  Before Reagan, we only had major medical provided, after Reagan, we had co-pays, dental, and drug benefits added.  It spoiled a lot of people into thinking they had to have free medical care.  Carter on back most coverage was major medical only with anyone you worked with in my area.  

As far as health care:
1) We need to encourage more kids to enter medical school to increase doctors.  This alone will help bring down costs with competition.  The AMA is a union and limits doctors entering medical school.  Use scolarships or something to help with this.
2) Allow competition across state lines with insurance.
3) Allow groups of small companies to join together to buy insurance at a lower cost.
4) Encourage more kids to become RN's.  Clinics could be ran by RN's to take care of cuts, scrapes, minor accidents, tetnus shots, stiches, etc.  Even administer anti-biotics for thes accidents.  All without a doctor being needed.  This could cut costs.  Antibiotics could also be administered for strep and minor infections without a doctor.  Note it and have the patient check back in 3 days to see a doctor if there is not improvement.  
5) Require insurance companies to require adjusted rates based on people taking care of themselves.  For instance if I pay $x for my insurance, but I loose weight, my payments should go down accordingly.  Same with quitting smoking.  Or have a surcharge until you loose weight, quit smoking, etc, then drop it off.  85% of people in hospitals are there because of self inflicted problems, heart attacks, strokes, nervious breakdowns, dumb accidents, smoking, Type II diabetes. 

These can be done without a big government program.  

[jimster]

I will except the role as fool but I am still light years ahead of what we have in this administration.

I am the biggest fool here, for actually reading the stim package legislation and other legislation that was available to read.
It made me want to never pay any taxes at all again.  Now they are getting smarter and not letting us read all the raw legislation until it passes.

Anyone who takes the time to read what they pass (and it takes a lot of time) will not want to pay taxes at all because of the corruption in the legislation.
They can't hide that. They bank on the fact only a very small percentage of people will actually read it...and they are right.  The majority of people do not have a clue what's in there, only taking points from both parties is what they will hear.  There is no way to stop this, unless a whole bunch of people pick a few days to read several hundered pages of their corruption so it gets in the open.  Not likely.  HC...none of us will be able to read this before it passes, but it doesn't make much of a difference because even when they let us read it, nobody does, not even most in Congress.   

Briarpatch, yes, you are light years ahead of this administration, I have read their work and know where the taxes really go. 

Jim

[scootrd]

The TVA power system continues to operate with an unprecedented level of dependability, achieving 99.999 percent reliability every year since 1999. In 2004 it had its lowest level ever of connection-point interruptions.

Since 2000, TVA no longer receives federal funds for stewardship activities related to its management of the Tennessee River system. TVA finances all of its programs, including those for environmental protection, river management, and economic development, through power sales and the sale of bonds in the financial markets.

TVA's corporate governance has also changed. In 2005, federal legislation altered the governing structure from a three-member full-time board to a nine-member part-time board. The law also created the position of chief executive officer, which is filled by board appointment.

In order to meet the ever-increasing demand for power and still keep rates affordable, the TVA Board decided in 2002 to restart Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 1. Unit 1 returned to service in May 2007, adding 1,150 megawatts of cost-effective, emission-free generation to help TVA responsibly meet power demands while maintaining a strong reserve margin.

TVA’s production costs were third-lowest among the nation’s 25 largest electric utilities in 1997, according to Electric Light & Power magazine, it continued to look for additional ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency. TVA began to align the cost of its power with future competitive rates, in accordance with its 10-year business plan. It also initiated a Business Transformation program to further reduce costs, and moved to more flexible contracts with its distributor customers to meet their needs in a competitive marketplace.

Construction is now under way to complete TVA’s seventh nuclear unit, Watts Bar Nuclear Plant's Unit 2, by 2013. The unit is expected to add another 1,180 megawatts of safe, emission-free, base-load generating capacity to the TVA system.

Now go shake your Grandpa's Hand.  These are the folks that put our infrastructure in place.

[Dixie Dude]

If the government don't stop spending more than they take up in taxes, then they will bankrupt themselves.  So, they are going to have to sell off assets to pay the debt.  If we reach $20 trillion (approaching $15 trillion now, and at the rate Obama is spending $20 before he leaves office), the debt bill will be more than they take up in taxes.  They will then have to raise taxes which will styfle economic growth or cut our benefits like medicare, medicaid, national defence.  How will they actually pay this debt?  Carter did it with inflation.  We are either going to have run-a-way inflation, high taxes, or the government will need to sell their assets, like national forest land (which is about half the US), TVA, Amtrack, unused military bases, buildings, or something drastic like that.  It will happen, and soon, if they don't stop spending.  We can't afford anything else until they get spending in line.  To maintain the debt, the economy will have to grow faster than the debt, like it did under Reagan and Clinton, and Bush until 2008. 

[scootrd]

If the government don't stop spending more than they take up in taxes, then they will bankrupt themselves.  So, they are going to have to sell off assets to pay the debt.  If we reach $20 trillion (approaching $15 trillion now, and at the rate Obama is spending $20 before he leaves office), the debt bill will be more than they take up in taxes.  They will then have to raise taxes which will styfle economic growth or cut our benefits like medicare, medicaid, national defence.  How will they actually pay this debt?  Carter did it with inflation.  We are either going to have run-a-way inflation, high taxes, or the government will need to sell their assets, like national forest land (which is about half the US), TVA, Amtrack, unused military bases, buildings, or something drastic like that.  It will happen, and soon, if they don't stop spending.  We can't afford anything else until they get spending in line.  To maintain the debt, the economy will have to grow faster than the debt, like it did under Reagan and Clinton, and Bush until 2008.  

DD ..the Debt is already more than they take up in taxes. Been that way for years .. Almost all the taxes collected in the U.S is only enough to pay the INTEREST on the borrowed money. You'll get no argument from me on this point. I'm exaggerating of course ..but your point is well made.

If we really want to get serious about fixing the debt we need to overhaul our tax system

One method being proposed is The Fair Tax plan.

The plan eliminates all federal income, payroll, personal, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, self-employment, and corporate taxes. All of these taxes would be replaced with a simple national retail sales tax. The plan includes tax rebates to ensure that no American pays federal taxes while living at or below the poverty level.

By taxing only what we choose to spend and not what we earn, the Fair Tax creates a system that is totally transparent and simple to comply with. Additionally, it restores to the economy those who have managed to avoid paying their share like the rest of us for so long, either through cleverly designed loopholes or by outright cheating the system to keep from paying taxes.

There is actually only one reason Congress refuses to consider The Fair Tax. They can't stand the thought of giving up the free money and perks' they get from lobbyists who would suddenly become unnecessary on Capitol Hill if it were to pass. They love them, more than they love a healthy, thriving economy.

[Oldshooter]

If the government don't stop spending more than they take up in taxes, then they will bankrupt themselves.  So, they are going to have to sell off assets to pay the debt.  If we reach $20 trillion (approaching $15 trillion now, and at the rate Obama is spending $20 before he leaves office), the debt bill will be more than they take up in taxes.  They will then have to raise taxes which will styfle economic growth or cut our benefits like medicare, medicaid, national defence.  How will they actually pay this debt?  Carter did it with inflation.  We are either going to have run-a-way inflation, high taxes, or the government will need to sell their assets, like national forest land (which is about half the US), TVA, Amtrack, unused military bases, buildings, or something drastic like that.  It will happen, and soon, if they don't stop spending.  We can't afford anything else until they get spending in line.  To maintain the debt, the economy will have to grow faster than the debt, like it did under Reagan and Clinton, and Bush until 2008.  

DD ..the Debt is already more than they take up in taxes. Been that way for years .. Almost all the taxes collected in the U.S is only enough to pay the INTEREST on the borrowed money. You'll get no argument from me on this point. I'm exaggerating of course ..but your point is well made.

If we really want to get serious about fixing the debt we need to overhaul our tax system

One method being proposed is The Fair Tax plan.

The plan eliminates all federal income, payroll, personal, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, self-employment, and corporate taxes. All of these taxes would be replaced with a simple national retail sales tax. The plan includes tax rebates to ensure that no American pays federal taxes while living at or below the poverty level.

By taxing only what we choose to spend and not what we earn, the Fair Tax creates a system that is totally transparent and simple to comply with. Additionally, it restores to the economy those who have managed to avoid paying their share like the rest of us for so long, either through cleverly designed loopholes or by outright cheating the system to keep from paying taxes.

There is actually only one reason Congress refuses to consider The Fair Tax. They can't stand the thought of giving up the free money and perks' they get from lobbyists who would suddenly become unnecessary on Capitol Hill if it were to pass. They love them, more than they love a healthy, thriving economy.

I am proud and glad to say I totally agree with you on this one!

[Dixie Dude]

I agree, if you are rich and buy a yacht, you pay the sales tax.  If you are a big corporation, you pay the tax on the stuff you buy.  You could keep unprepared food, like at a grocery store off the sales tax, but you would pay the tax at a restaurant.  Also, have a balanced budget amemdment, and only require deficit spending in a declared war, or national emergency.