Thursday, July 12, 2012
Well, Somebody's Peddling
I was watching Tavis Smiley's PBS show the other night and noticed something very interesting. It seems that one of Mr. Smiley's sponsors is Walmart. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong here, but didn't Mr. Smiley just write a book on poverty, and isn't Walmart one of the businesses that liberals frequently cite for providing their workers "poverty wages"? Hm, it sounds to me like there just might be a conflict of interest here. Can you say, a free pass for Walmart, anyone?
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13 comments:
I'm not aware of this fact. Or at least I wasn't until now.
One thing is clear, money is a necessity and when the circumstances are right the left is every bit as "conflicted" as they accuse the right of being.
Just for the record, I don't have a major problem with Walmart. Yeah, I wish that they gave their workers a little bit better healthcare but, on balance, I think that they're basically a slight net-plus (they save me $280 a year on 2 generic prescriptions and a boatload on other necessities and that's just me).
In order to 'give' the healthcare, Will, they would have to cut wages to make up for it. Why not give the workers all their money and then they can decide along with their families how to divide it up?
@ demarks - "Why not give the workers all their money and then they can decide along with their families how to divide it up?"
The ideal for sure. However, in reality the cost for insurance is such that to purchase it on an individual or family basis is quite often prohibitively expensive. So, low and lower income families often can't afford it and pay for all the other necessities of life.
We may not need the ACA as i is flawed greatly. But we do need to identify the root cause of our problem and why health care and prescription medications care is so damned expensive and correct it. The ACA will not accomplish this.
I recently went to my doctoe for a routine check up and total billing came to over $500.00 dollars for 20 minutes of his time. And of course bib Pharma places largely in the problem side as well.
No easy answers.
There are some easy answers which would definitely make the system better. Maybe not solve things but make them a lot better. Tort reform and ending frivolous lawsuits is one. The other is banning states from preventing health insurers from selling products across state lines.
I would like to totally eliminate the tie between health insurance and employment. My suggestion would be to allow for health savings accounts, subsidies for people who can't afford them, and a catastrophic care plan for everyone (pubic, private, I'm definitely open to suggestions).
Subsidies for people who can't afford it, and none for those who can afford it. Hear hear!
Tort reform is certainly long overdue. Most lawmakers are attorneys, enough said on the likelihood of that one.
Definitely interstate competition in the health insurance industry makes sense.
Beyond that I have been a proponent of the Swiss Healthcare System. Having been convinced by a liberal who despises my views in general.
HSA'a are becoming more prevalent in businesses. They are excellent for the young and healthy and can accumulate a nice chunk of change if one leads a healthy and active life. Some companies, like my immediate prior toss in coin as encouragement. To sign on. Companies who have traditionally provided conventional health care are beginning to see the benefits as well. In terms of cost.
I actually think that the Swiss model is similar to Obamacare but without the waivers and employer mandates. Is that true, Les?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/health/policy/01swiss.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
For starters..
Swiss model? Someone tell the Secretary of State's husband. He might have some opinions on this.
I think that he'd take pretty much any European model (maybe a couple of Asian ones, too).
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