Obama's Speech

[Rana]

If you believe the CBO this is going to reduce the deficit so cost is not going to be a problem. However I don't believe it partisan to say the CBO report doesn't pass the sniff test in terms of convincing people of that. I believe your instincts are correct leaningright and while I know Dungheap is a strong believer in the CBO numbers I think there is a reason people of all political stripes are at least questioning the supposive costs.

This is the only area that I agree with Superfreak, pppatoohy, healthcare costs will break this nation without genuine reform. Now where we differ is how to do it!

[Rana]

The way the rest of the industrialized world has done it. We implement a standardized payment system and implement cost controls. No more $10,000 MRI bills for a sprained ankle. It's a bunch of malarky that those nations health care costs are contributing to their fiscal problems when their costs are substantially lower, as in by half, than ours.

Amen and Amen!

[Rationalist]

The Mandate/Tax can't do it alone. We need to standardize the financing and we need to implement cost controls. That will take care of the health care contribution to the national debt.

The other half is a discussion of drastically cutting the rediculous amounts we spend on defense. The nation is over reaching militarily, economically and politically. It needs to stop and he need to drastically reduce defense spending to responsible and affordable levels. If we keep over reaching we will have disastrous consequences.

That's where the GOP is full of shit. They refuse to cut a single dime from "defense."

[Dungheap]

I would agree that we likely would be headed off the cliff regardless of ACA given the profligate spending of the two parties. However, ACA keeps us heading to the edge at a now accelerated speed. Despite certain peoples claims that it will 'reduce the deficit'.

"Certain people" like the CBO?

And we're only headed off a cliff if Congress decides to drive us there. The best thing to do to restore fiscal balance is nothing at all. Congress has to actually do something to take us to a fiscal cliff. Current law would have the government running annual deficits of about %5 of GDP, which is entirely manageable.

[Rana]

Like that will happen. No, he will talk about anything but the economy and jobs.

HE already talks about the economy and jobs, lets not be trying to fool yourself. HE can honestly point to Congress as the bad guys, and citizens already believe this!

[Superfreak]

I just don't think the CBO got both the costs and the revenues so wrong that the bill will substantially increase the deficit. If the CBO's latest projections are wrong by $150 billion, the net increase in the deficit over ten years is $7 billion, which is a drop in the ocean. The CBO would have to be very very very severely wrong for the ACA to have a meaningful negative impact on debts and deficits.

The double counting of Medicare cuts is one reason the CBO numbers are wrong.

The other reason is that they have been creating 'fixes' for the Medicare cuts they were supposed to do over the past decade or so. To pretend that Congress will actually make cuts when in the past they have consistently (both parties) refused to make such cuts is absurd.

[Mott the Hoople]

That's where the GOP is full of shit. They refuse to cut a single dime from "defense."

True but the same is true on the opposite side of the aisle with Medicare/Medicaid. Substantial reforms will need to be made to keep it viable and Dems are as intransigent on that as Repubs are on defense spending. I won't include SS spending cause that's an easy fix.

[Dungheap]

The double counting of Medicare cuts is one reason the CBO numbers are wrong.

The other reason is that they have been creating 'fixes' for the Medicare cuts they were supposed to do over the past decade or so. To pretend that Congress will actually make cuts when in the past they have consistently (both parties) refused to make such cuts is absurd.

The Medicare doc fix has nothing to do with the Affordable Care Act.

[Aoxomoxoa]

The way the rest of the industrialized world has done it. We implement a standardized payment system and implement cost controls. No more $10,000 MRI bills for a sprained ankle. It's a bunch of malarky that those nations health care costs are contributing to their fiscal problems when their costs are substantially lower, as in by half, than ours.

In many cases now, the NHS tells the drugs manufacturers what they are prepared to pay and if they don't like it they are told that generic versions will be used instead assuming that the drug(s) are out of patent.

[Superfreak]

"Certain people" like the CBO?

And we're only headed off a cliff if Congress decides to drive us there. The best thing to do to restore fiscal balance is nothing at all. Congress has to actually do something to take us to a fiscal cliff. Current law would have the government running annual deficits of about %5 of GDP, which is entirely manageable.

Certain people like you, who rely on numbers from the CBO that only a fool would believe. The double counting of Medicare cuts... cuts that are not likely to actually happen... is one major reason their numbers are off. But they have to put forth numbers based on what Congress says 'will happen'.

Are you not the very one that proclaimed my support of tax cuts w/corresponding 'future' spending cuts is ridiculous given the fact that history has shown Congress won't cut spending?

[Onceler]

"Certain people" like the CBO?

And we're only headed off a cliff if Congress decides to drive us there. The best thing to do to restore fiscal balance is nothing at all. Congress has to actually do something to take us to a fiscal cliff. Current law would have the government running annual deficits of about %5 of GDP, which is entirely manageable.

And for that day when China decides it's done w/ America?

How about that day?

[Superfreak]

In many cases now, the NHS tells the drugs manufacturers what they are prepared to pay and if they don't like it they are told that generic versions will be used instead assuming that the drug(s) are out of patent.

Just curious... but why wouldn't the NHS automatically go with the generics or lesser cost of the two?

[Rana]

Oh, by the way, my daughter hasn't been able the grands have strep and she is also moving her office! MAybe next week...

[Superfreak]

The Medicare doc fix has nothing to do with the Affordable Care Act.

Does the ACA require Medicare cuts?

[Superfreak]

Oh, by the way, my daughter hasn't been able the grands have strep and she is also moving her office! MAybe next week...

No worries, though with the 4th being next week, maybe the one after that? Whatever works for her, as I stated, I would love to hear what she has to say. Thanks!