Sunday, October 09, 2011

New Marchers, Old School

Seen at yesterday's "Occupy Chicago" march on State Street:


The entire US Defense budget for 2010: $685.1 Billion

In 2009, the United States federal, state and local governments, corporations and individuals, together spent $2.5 trillion, $8,047 per person, on health care. This amount represented 17.3% of the GDP, up from 16.2% in 2008 and health insurance costs are rising faster than wages or inflation.

Even if every sword was beat into scalpels, it wouldn't begin to pay for America's exploding health care bill. Worse, with our new health care reform law, the same old construct for health care delivery remains: burgenoning middle-man costs, pandering to special interests, and endless consumer expectations.

-Wes

2 comments:

Sherie said...

Another informational, enjoyable post to read.......thanks for putting it together.

Tim Hulsey, MD said...

I have maintained for years that I would provide medical care for free, IF I can go to the grocery and bypass the cashier on the way out, got to the auto dealer a leave with a car without the obligatory talk with the credit manager, live in a house with 0% interest, 0 principal mortgage, and get a free education for my kids. I've had plenty of people take me up on the free medical care part, but, surprisingly, none have stepped up to provide my family's needs gratis!
If health care generates no funds to pay all those millions of workers involved, then there would be NO health care. Maybe it would be good for the country to see how that felt for a week or two! That old saying, "SOL," might take on an entirely new significance!