i feel that socialism is the way to go. there is no reason why people should be celebrating capitalism. a system that promotes excessive greed and hording of money. that kind of get it anyway you can, no matter who you step on along the way attitude is whats destroying this country. there is no reason that us being the richest country in the world cant afford to give everyone insurance and keep people off the streets. socialism is an idea that everyone looks out for everyone so people can afford to have decent life style. to put it simply. henry ford knew that his workers were the ones that bought his cars, so he paid them well enough and made the cars affordable enough that everyone of them could afford to buy one. that his the easiest way to describe socialism. capitalism celebrates personal wealth and the size of the bank account is all that matters. reckless spending of money from multimillionairs that only goes to billionaires who are the top 5% of this country are looked appon as goes, royalty the rest of us mortals can only wish to be and will spend every dime to try and immitate the life style. i am 28 years old and my generation is the most excessive spenders yet. my generation is spending 80% of their total income on their image. these people will never be able to retire since pensions are a thing of the past and they cant see past the designer sun glasses towards a broke future. a 401k only means less take home money that could of gone toward rims, instead of a sound retirement. that said i will take socialism and no more mtv's how much you got, show me what bling i need to have shows thank you.

"Read history and the effects of price controls. Begin with Jimmy Carter . . ."

>>>Why not begin with Richard Nixon and his ACTUAL price controls?

"Capitalism allows me to be my own benefactor."

>>>If you like unbridled capitalism, you'd love Mexico. 3% (mostly capitalists) controls 98% of that country's wealth. Go for it!

Why do people keep bringing up China?? Yes, socialism and capitalism are intermingled.

I suppose if you can live with the restrictions on the internet (ask google and yahoo), the non-existence of religious freedoms, news censorship, pollution up the yang, then China definately is your cup of tea.

Either way, price controls are crap....

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"A committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing but together can decide that nothing can be done."
Fred Allen

"A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul."
George Bernard Shaw

"Politics is the art of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable."
John Galbraith

"Either way, price controls are crap...."

>>>Just trying to dispute the long-held Republican crapola that price controls began with Jimmy Carter.

.... I think it is about time someone puts price controls on PRIVATE medical coverage.

ONLY way a person can afford medical insurance with pre existing now a days is to work for someone else.

To get personal coverage (not through an employer) is about double the price....

When Italians offered INSURANCE it was called extortion and racketeering!

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"One Person Will Get $25.00 Visa Gift Card - CLICK HERE To Get Your Chance!"

Well Joe I am in healthcare and for once i agree with you. I can get into the how and why of why we are in this healthcare mess. It is multifaceted but there are many levels for example you cannot just have price controls for health insurance without price controls for pharmaceuticals, supplies, equipment and physicians. Surgeons in my area make about 1.5 million a year. i worked for Glaxo Smith Kline years ago when Zantac was released and it was so overprices it made ober 1 billion dollars its first 7 months on the market.

There is a really good book, that was written about the pharmaceutical industry and how little really is spent on developement (15%)

Most is spent on advertising. anyway healthcare prices are complex just like the oil industry the blame I think lies on huge corporations,greedy specialists, the pharmaceutical industry, the nature of healthcare itself with people demanding the ultimate care regardless of age or outcome(transplants etc)
the government is paid off by the lobbyist of the pharmaceutical industry AMA and HMO's. Anyway i think you can see how messy this is. Bottom line is that mainstream people are paying high premiums and unbeknowst to most of them whe they do get sick these insurance companies will fight tooth and nail to not pay the bill leaving the consumer to pick up a large portion of the tab. If you need bypass surgery your hospital bill will be about 40,000 your surgeon bill around 18,000 and your anesthesiologist bill about 4000. thats if every goes well , Then your insurance company will pay some but refuse to pay for a lot of the charge and the hospital will send you the bill and you better pay it or off to collections you will go.

A couple years ago I had a business group insurance policy with BC BS.

It was for a group of one (just me) - and charged about $600.00 a month.

A month ago I contacted them (I shut my business down) to see what it would cost to get a personal policy - I was quoted $1,200.00 per month.

There is NO excuse for that!

It is FLAT OUT ROBBERY!

.... and I will raise as much havoc about that as I can possibly do!

I am sick of the conniving ad's they have about their cheap "Blue Advantage" for under $150.00 a month!

.... sure!

That is the price for those who NEVER get sick and live in a life of plenty!

It's just another corporate hand trying to get into the easy money pocket!

Here Is a part of an interesting web site:

Gee - those SOB's - what is happening?

Can't they at least give the poor CEO a meager 100 million dollar bonus for doing his job so well??

okay - yeah I can be a bit snide and cynical!

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"One Person Will Get $25.00 Visa Gift Card - CLICK HERE To Get Your Chance!"

Joe even though we have different views on politics I feel compelled to try to give you some health insurance advise. The best insurer in this country is Fortis. They have the lowest prices and they will actually pay your bill if you get sick. The down side is they only take on the healthiest clients and are very picky who they insure. If you qualify they are a good bet.

I think BC is one of the worst. They charge high prices and then when you do go into the hospital they do everything to audit and try not to pay the bill leaving you with a balance. I would not consider them. I have Lifewise but I think they are available only in the Pacific Northwest. They are one of the lowere premiums companies and do pay the bill when you get sick.I think the way to go is have a high deductible and put enough aside in a Health savings account to pay what you predict will be your healthcare expenses. You can use the money before taxes for everything contact lenses,medical bills, any over the counter health remedies. Then the average healthcare consumer is unaware but if you get a bill you can negotiate with the physician or hospital. For example you see an orthospedist and a month later his $872.00 bill arrives. You can talk to the office manger and more times than not they will negotiate. Most hospitals will negotiate on leftover balances.

Also unless you have a serious health problem a lot of money is spent unnessarily. I would never go to a physician for a viral illness unless I had alarming symptoms. they cannot do anything and will give you a little advice and maybe an RX you do not need and a bill for $. 140.

You could also contact an insurance broker who will do the footwork and find the best deal for you. I agree with you I think medical expenses are devastating hardworking americans.

I know you will hate for me to say this but research Massachusetts plan. It is similar to what Kerry was going to do with healthcare. I think it is a good solution.

Good luck I hope you find a solution. I am amazed that Americans are willing to put up with corporate medicine.