Name a Gov program that's not broke

[domwilson]

Maybe the government as an entity isn't profitable, but there sure are alot of individuals who work for the government that aren't doing too bad. Often using the government to turn a profit.

[wirenut67]

How come the usual suspects are not chiming in on this one?


There must be one thing the governments run right?

(in my best text voice as if I was a young child in class)OH, OH, OH, I know please, please ask me, ask me...... The IRS.

Steven thanks a bunch....now YOU can come clean the computer screen....I spit coffee all over it.....NICELY DONE!

[RCprince]

Here I am, to the rescue.

[domwilson]

Here I am, to the rescue.

You got it...

[Steven Vaccaro]

Ok, I gave you guys plenty of time to reply to this thread. You lurkers know who you are. So I have a new question, if you CANT tell us what programs the government is running right, HOW THE HELL can you expect us to agree to hand over health care, the largest proposed government program of all time?

Imagine every week handing a financial advisor $100 and week after week, he gives you a negative 10% return, how long do you go on handing this bum money without saying something? That's where we are. Constantly handing over our Tax money, week after week. Receiving less and less services.

If your old enough, think back the the 70's. The "free" things.

For instance tap water. Free. Now it cost me about $1,000 A year.

Sports, when I played football it and a banquet at the end was FREE. Now I will have to pay almost $500 for my kids to play football in high school and have to kick in for banquet tickets.

Trash, at my store I pay almost $2000 a year for trash. It was once free.

Now I realize all that stuff was never really free. Taxes paid for them. But as I said above, year after year we are TOLD to pay more taxes, but at the same time told we will receive less. You know my Uncle tried that at his newly purchased restaurant while back. Guess what, it only took a year or so for him to go bankrupt.

[domwilson]

Possibly one of many reasons why we don't get so much free stuff?
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0904490.html

http://www.warresisters.org/pages/piechart.htm

Also I believe the states and local municipalities handled more of the burden. Labor and services weren't so "Outsourced" to private/overseas companies.

[Steven Vaccaro]

Factor in inflation

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

556 billion spent in 1946 would have been almost 6 trillion in 2007

[domwilson]

A question comes to mind. In 1946, was so much of that spent here nationally or in foreign countries?

[domwilson]

Well Steven, I think I have an answer to your question.
The Government is not in the business of making a profit.
They are here to govern, protect and serve the people and their needs. The very basic rules of conduct for the government are established by the Constitution of the United States. Politicians, special interest groups, big business, and the influential, have blurred the lines of acceptable roles of the government. Often putting their own personal growth above the needs of the people.

[Steven Vaccaro]

I agree. Since the lurkers can't answer my questions, they stand NO ground is asking or wanting our Government to run a new health care system.

[domwilson]

I don't think the government is trying to run the healthcare system but is merely offering a alternative to the monopolistic coup that insurance companies hold. This can reduce costs to those who want to keep their private insurance by forcing insurers to reduce costs, waste and poor patient management in order to stay competitive with the government program. Sure some employees in the private insurance sector will lose bonuses for denying claims, but overall, I think it could be better for us all...BUT and I do stress BUT, only if the plan is implemented correctly and minimize abuses.

[rockwerks]

I don't think the government is trying to run the healthcare system but is merely offering a alternative to the monopolistic coup that insurance companies hold. This can reduce costs to those who want to keep their private insurance by forcing insurers to reduce costs, waste and poor patient management in order to stay competitive with the government program. Sure some employees in the private insurance sector will lose bonuses for denying claims, but overall, I think it could be better for us all...BUT and I do stress BUT, only if the plan is implemented correctly and minimize abuses.

You are a very naive person if you believe anything of what you just typed, Insurance companies will just not write insurance if they do not stand a chance to make a dollar. That will leave just the gummit plan. Dom Im curious what do you do for a living?

[Steven Vaccaro]

I don't think the government is trying to run the healthcare system but is merely offering a alternative to the monopolistic coup that insurance companies hold. This can reduce costs to those who want to keep their private insurance by forcing insurers to reduce costs, waste and poor patient management in order to stay competitive with the government program. Sure some employees in the private insurance sector will lose bonuses for denying claims, but overall, I think it could be better for us all...BUT and I do stress BUT, only if the plan is implemented correctly and minimize abuses.

I'm very thick headed, so tell me who will be running this new system if government isnt? Some Zar?

[domwilson]

You are a very naive person if you believe anything of what you just typed, Insurance companies will just not write insurance if they do not stand a chance to make a dollar. That will leave just he gummit plan. Dom Im curious what do you do for a living?

Far from naive. But I do have family members in the business who do know a whole lot more than you or I. What does my profession have to do with this? No one said that insurance companies will not make money. They will just have to run a tighter business.

[domwilson]

I'm very thick headed, so tell me who will be running this new system if government isnt? Some Zar?

Not exactly sure. I think the government will just be another player. I will have to ask.
I spoke to my sister at great length about this. Who is she? Well, She was VP of finance for Blue Cross/Blue shield in California. Assistant CFO for Kaiser-Permanente, VP of Finance of several HMO's and large clinics. Currently she is a Professor at USC. She has read the whole bill. I will email her and ask her that.