As It Guts Medicare And Medicaid, White House Claims U.S. Has ‘The Best Health Care In The World’
As It Guts Medicare And Medicaid, White House Claims U.S. Has ‘The Best Health Care In The World’
In 2000, the World Health Organization ranked the United States 37th in health care out of 191 countries. Nevertheless, in December, President Bush proclaimed that “we have fabulous health care” compared to “other systems around the world.”
Today, OMB Director Jim Nussle echoed Bush’s inaccurate claim while explaining Bush’s new budget. Despite almost $200 billion in Medicare and Medicaid cuts over the next five years, Nussle alleged the United States still has the “best” health care:
So beneficiaries, I don’t think, will see the differences. … We have the best health care in the world. And our seniors especially get great health care. And that will not be affected by this small drop in percentage increases over the next five years.
Watch it:
In reality, Bush’s harsh budget cuts will make the dismal state of U.S. health care even worse.
The budget cuts Medicaid by $18.2 billion over five years, essentially “shifting costs to the states” and forcing “states to institute even bigger program cuts or tax increases,” according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). On Medicare, Nussle claimed that “access and quality should not suffer at all.” But as CBPP noted:
Many of the proposed cuts go well beyond the reductions that MedPAC, Congress’ expert advisory commission on Medicare payments, recommended and considers safe. These reductions could drive some health care providers to limit the number of Medicare patients they see or drop out of the program entirely. That, in turn, would jeopardize health care for significant numbers of people who are elderly or have serious disabilities.
Much of the Medicare savings would be achieved “by reducing the annual update in federal payments to hospitals,” many of which serve “large numbers of the uninsured poor.”
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) noted the irony of preserving Bush’s tax cuts “at a cost of $2.2 trillion” while proposing hundreds of billions in health care cuts. “We believe that is a very odd sense of priorities. That is not a sense of priorities that are shared by the American people,” Conrad said.
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You know I really am sick of that meme that we are the best, number 1 in the world in everything.
Our healthcare sucks.
Case in point - my grandma has to see a specialist, and getting the paperwork done at her family doctor’s in January, will be able to see the specialist in… late March at the earliest.
What’s the biggest advantage of US medical insurance system vs the European socialized systems?
Oh yeah - we do not have long wait times in America for a doctor…
February 4th, 2008 at 5:39 pmCompared to Bangladesh, we do have a great health care system. After all, he said “around the world” so he wasn’t really lying. It just depends on which part of the Third World we’re comparing to.
Sheesh.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:39 pmThe United States does not have “the best health care in the world”, and all those Republicans who say we do, including President Bush and Mr. Nussle, are lying. It’s as simple as that.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:40 pmWe have the best health care in the world. And our seniors especially get great health care.
Excellent Point. I Urge all Republican candidates to empasize this in their campaigns.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:42 pmAre there no poorhouses? Are there no jails? /snark
February 4th, 2008 at 5:45 pmOkay, another day, more lies.
z z z z z z z . . . snore . . .
Wait ! I have an idea ! Let’s have some good news for a change !
Is there any out there ?!?
February 4th, 2008 at 5:46 pmThe question really should be “does the AVERAGE person in the USA have the best health care in the world?”. NO. However, those with good jobs that provide health insurance and the affluent do have access to- most likely the best health care in the world.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:46 pmYou know I really am sick of that meme that we are the best, number 1 in the world in everything.
Comment by americangoy — February 4, 2008 @ 5:39 pm
We are #1 - Military spending, propaganda, debt, fat asses and beer bellies, surveillance, and prices paid for pharmaceutical drugs and health care.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:47 pmThe United States of America is the greatest country in the world! Just ask us…
February 4th, 2008 at 5:50 pmBrain . . . you are so right .
February 4th, 2008 at 5:51 pmOnly the elite can make such a statement.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:52 pmThe United States of America is the greatest country in the world! Just ask us…
Comment by KansasLiberal — February 4, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
I am seeing $10 per hour jobs now requiring a Bachelor’s degree in the NY-NJ metro area. What does that tell you?
February 4th, 2008 at 5:52 pmwe all need the same health care that cheney has….if he had my health care he would be dead and I have pretty good health care…..but nothing like what we provide for him
sponsored by the calif nurses association:
February 4th, 2008 at 5:52 pmWe all deserve Cheney Care
This is truly disgusting. They are cutting direct reimbursement to physicians but not to the private insurers with the cost plus contracts.
The network of doctors that accept medicare will shrink, forcing Seniors onto these Big Health giveaway plans.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:52 pmBeing a senior, I just dumped a Dr. who was pilling me with usless pills,and test after test and wouldn’t tell me the results,except ‘you need more tests’ and keep coming back. Cut these bastards off and you cut medicare costs. I pay $100 a month out of my Social Security for quacks. Only certain Drs. will except medicare,because they make more money bilking ins. companys,thus raising our rates. Medical Rape we call it. $245 for a short wheelchair ride (I could walk just fine!)..F***Y**!
February 4th, 2008 at 5:54 pmI am seeing $10 per hour jobs now requiring a Bachelor’s degree in the NY-NJ metro area. What does that tell you?
Comment by Brain From Planet Arous — February 4, 2008 @ 5:52 pm
Yer Gonna need THREE of them.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:54 pmThe network of doctors that accept medicare will shrink, forcing Seniors onto these Big Health giveaway plans.
Comment by deebaser — February 4, 2008 @ 5:52 pm
That’s the Big Plan, to privatize Medicare, Medicare, Social Security, the military, police, water/air quality, road building, bridge building, EVERYTHING. Then we can use China as an example of privatization with no government oversite….EXCEPT to watch it’s citizens.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:56 pm#13 The company I work for here in Kansas is laying off 4,000 full time employees and 1500 contractors. Our economy and way of life (for us middle class folks) is going down the toilet fast. I have been at my job for 9 years now and should I be cut I don’t know how I will ever make up the difference in wages I will lose. I guess I will have to become one of those “uniquely American” people and work three jobs to support my family. I hope you noticed that my previous post was pure sarcasm.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:58 pm#17 you nailed it! Now the question is, what are we going to do about it? Until the masses take to the streets and raise hell this is what we are going to get.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:01 pmI have been at my job for 9 years now and should I be cut I don’t know how I will ever make up the difference in wages I will lose. I guess I will have to become one of those “uniquely American†people and work three jobs to support my family. I hope you noticed that my previous post was pure sarcasm.
Comment by KansasLiberal — February 4, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
I worked for Intel Corp in NJ for 10 years. They sliced up the entire division, and outsourced to Poland. Then Poland outsourced to India. Myself and about 25 out of 2000 were given the option to go to Oregon. I didn’t go, but got a decent package. Some people moved from NJ to Portland. After 6 months, they laid them off. Some sold their houses in NJ-PA, and now are stuck out there with no jobs. Others smartly rented apartments, and had family keep the houses back East. Now Intel is having some problems with Dell, and Dell is starting to use AMD Quad Cores. Apple is propping up Intel in a major way now, and I would not be surprised in a merger between those two. Now Apple, as much as I like them, pulled a BushCo with the NSA Spy Device the iPhone. Very unlike them. T-Mobile uses the exact same GSM technology, and would not submit to Herr Bush’s Total Surveillance that AT&T did.
http://www.inteldaily.com/?c=120&a=2824
February 4th, 2008 at 6:06 pmessentially “shifting costs to the states†and forcing “states to institute even bigger program cuts or tax increases,â€
that’s the way it’s been all these years… the idjits who brag about their tax cuts are the bigger fools… very few of them are wealthy enough to actually know any “tax cut”…
they sure as hell aren’t blogging on ThinkProgress…
February 4th, 2008 at 6:08 pmWhat is this? The second story today about some politician trying to be a stand up comedian?
Oh, he’s serious? My mistake. How sad.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:09 pmIdeeded we pay more than any country in the world for health per capita…but 40 million Americans have no coverage, and people who supposed to be covered still spending a lot of money annually from their pockets to meet their health needs. We are No. 1 in mismangaing the money .
When you add what the government & states pay(Taxpayers money), what the policy holders pay,what also goes out of people’s pockets as co payment and medicine…that’s a lot.
But the average American is getting the shaft as a return in his investment in such health system, while things getting from worse to worste every year.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:10 pmFor the rich,our House representatives and top government officials, it is the best health system..because they do not feel the average American’s pain.
They gotta keep the knuckle-draggers and Freepers in line. They salivate when they here this idiocy and just go “yeah, yeah, those damned liberals. They hate America.” No you moronic fools, we love America and are trying to save it from the likes of you.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:13 pm‘The Best Health Care In The World
February 4th, 2008 at 6:13 pmshow me one country out there that would like to trade their form of health care for our.,….NOT only do they not want to trade, but they are looking at US with disbelief wondering why WE put up with this.
#17 you nailed it! Now the question is, what are we going to do about it? Until the masses take to the streets and raise hell this is what we are going to get.
Comment by KansasLiberal — February 4, 2008 @ 6:01 pm
KansasLiberal, I hear ya loud and clear. All my wife, friends, and I can do is to keep contradicting the lies being told and retold by naive people. Americans keep seeing the pictures of Kent State to remind them what is in store for us if we protest too much. I even heard that at the Super Flush on Sunday, they had devices such as HD-1, F6A, Mark V-A1, Mini-Andros II, Wolverine, cops decked out like combat soldiers, killer robots in the street, surveillance cameras on every corner, blimps, F-16s, spot searches, frisking — and a jolt or two from a taser if you misbehave and are slow to obey barked commands — and all manner of high-tech “security†against ill-defined if not cartoonish enemies and invisible threats that will never materialize.
So, on a personal level, eat the healthiest you can afford, exercise, don’t watch TV News, read Progressive and Libertarian Blogs, arm yourself, stock up on supplies, write music/poetry/art, and remember the saying “Make Love Not War”.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:14 pmI heard this quip back in 2001 when Bushco started their hostile takeover:
“Get healthy,
Get wealthy,
Or get out.”
More true now than ever.
My dad used to tell me never to wish your life away, but Jan. 20, 2009 cannot come fast enough.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:14 pmOh, good! Here’s another change for the trolls to tell us how we could get better deals on our health insurance if we all went it alone instead of as part of a group…
February 4th, 2008 at 6:15 pmHe meant to say:
The U.S. has “the best health care in the world [if you’re wealthy; everyone else be damned]”.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:16 pmYeah, we have the best medical care money can buy, but only if you are in the top ten percent of wealth.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:18 pmIt’s really difficult to imagine anyone is as dumb as G.W.B.
and he’s carrying the title of POTUS. Scary!
But the average American is getting the shaft as a return in his investment in such health system, while things getting from worse to worste every year.
For the rich,our House representatives and top government officials, it is the best health system..because they do not feel the average American’s pain.
Comment by tarazan — February 4, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
The bellyaching i hear from Neo-Cons and the like is “I’m not paying a 40% tax like Sweden, Norway, and the European countries do”. They pay perhaps 2-5% of their taxes to military, and the rest goes to health care, the arts, safety in old age, alternative energy, public transportation, and they look pretty content. Here, 50% of our money is going to the military and it’s profiteers. We are safe from dead Bin Laden, so they tell us, but our infrastructure, economy, and society is collapsing in front of our eyes. I see that Shanty towns are starting to appear out west. Fasten your seat belts!!!
February 4th, 2008 at 6:22 pm“Oh yeah - we do not have long wait times in America for a doctor…”
Untrue. There are 2.4 doctors per 1000 patients in the U.S. Superior single-payer systems in other developed countries have a better ratio, often 3-3.5 per 1000 patients. Waits are not, in general, shorter.
“However, those with good jobs that provide health insurance and the affluent do have access to- most likely the best health care in the world.”
Also untrue. The rate of serious medical errors is much higher in the U.S. than in many other developed countries.
We pay 15% of GDP on health care for worse outcomes by almost any quantitative measure used in public health science than other developed countries, which typically pay somewhere between 8 and 10% of GDP.
This situation is the result of depraved indifference by those who profit from our system.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:22 pm“Yeah, we have the best medical care money can buy, but only if you are in the top ten percent of wealth.”
As I just commented, this claim is untrue. Even those of us in the top 10% are getting inferior care. There has been a sharp decline in quality over the past 10 years.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:24 pmAnyone who says the USA has the best healthcare in the world has never been anywhere.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:24 pmC’mon, trolls, try to lie on THIS thread. I will smash you with facts.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:25 pmThey’re just “catapaulting the propaganda.”
February 4th, 2008 at 6:32 pmIf they had a clue about the struggles of the average American in dealing with health care, the insurance coverage, the availability, “pre-existing conditions,” the cost etc., they wouldn’t spew such idiotic statements about our system being the best in the world.
It has already been proven to be mediocre: too many uninsured, too many infant deaths, too many old people improperly cared for, shorter life spans, and the list goes on.
We need universal health care, a quality of life issue that should be available to everyone in America.
VerbalKint, there are a few who have the very best that money can buy….anywhere in the world.
If dick cheny had our healthcare he would already be dead……
February 4th, 2008 at 6:33 pmWe all deserve Cheney Care
36 Marie, you don’t sound like you think the conservatives are very compassionate.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:34 pmWhatever chimpy says, believe the opposite. It works every time.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:39 pmC’mon, trolls, try to lie on THIS thread. I will smash you with facts.
Comment by VerbalKint — February 4, 2008 @ 6:25 pm
YEAH!! BRING ‘EM ON!!
Here’s another fact. Bioidentical Hormone therapy is having huge success with older people, male and female. No side effects in 99% of the cases. Wyeth, the manufacturer of dangerous hormones like Premarin® and Prempro® which increases the incidence of heart attacks, certain types of cancers and strokes in patients. Now Wyeth wants the Gestapo…..er….FDA to ban the natural bioidenticals.
http://search.lef.org/ cgi-src-bin/ MsmGo.exe?grab_id=0&page_id=3203&query=bioidentical&hiword=bioidentical%20
This battle with the FDA vs heath and Vitamin companies has been raging for nearly 30 years. The goal is to knock out the health industry, so insurance companies and pharmaceuticals would be the only option. They even want to as far as banning Spirulina, Bee Pollen, Herbs, and capped vitamins.
Sadly, and I have posted this before, look and gaze upon who wants to shut down vitamin companies, and push the pharmaceuticals up front. Yes, the esteemed “Liberal” Ted Kennedy.
http://www.wellnessresources.com/ newsroom/ index.php/ content/ articles/ s1082_the_voice_of_the_people_is_being_heard/
No more hawthorn berries for blood pressure, CoQ10 for cellular regeneration, Gingko Biloba for brain function, or Vitamin C for colds. Most of the Congress and Senate have big bucks in Pharms, and some even sit on the board of directors. Stress from working two jobs? No problem…SSRIs for you!!!!
February 4th, 2008 at 6:40 pm#34 that’s the only way they’d think this mess is good health care.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:40 pmHowever, those with good jobs that provide health insurance and the affluent do have access to- most likely the best health care in the world.
Comment by Joefriday — February 4, 2008 @ 5:46 pm
that could be… considering many insurance cos are shipping patients off to thailand for excellent care and lower prices… “medical vacations”!!!
February 4th, 2008 at 6:41 pm“there are a few who have the very best that money can buy….anywhere in the world.”
Yes, but very few.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:44 pmThere are very well-trained doctors in this country, but there are too few. People are shoved through the system too fast to get comprehensive care, even those of us who have excellent insurance and who live where the best doctors live.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:46 pm36 Marie, you don’t sound like you think the conservatives are very compassionate.
Comment by Fred — February 4, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
You have understated my opinion of conservatives.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:51 pmIt’s amazing to me that they can pray to their god on Sundays, and then deny their brethren health care during the week. Pharisees.
Truth be told, they worship only the almighty dollar.
Perhaps there are compassionate conservatives around, but they are few and far between; the ones I know are selfish, racist, bigoted, elite, and self-centered.
Compassionate conservatives ARE selfish, racist, bigoted, elite, and self-centered.
Comment by Marie
The name Compassionate conservative is only propaganda by the Bush New Speak, no such thing exists, they are all scum.
Buck Fush
February 4th, 2008 at 7:03 pm“Truth be told, they worship only the almighty dollar.”
Yes, truth be told. I have listened to so-called conservatives spout their economic and social theories about how they are compassionate, about why their ideas will help everyone, and about how liberal policies backfire and hurt people when the intention is to help. But these last seven years have laid bare the truth: they only care about reducing their own taxes, and about eliminating regulations that they perceive will hamper them from making a profit at the expense of others. They are a bunch of greedy, selfish hypocrites.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:05 pmWe do have the best physicians and medical scientists in the world. There is no doubt about that. However, we have dollar-driven/capitalist driven health care system…..that is undoubtedly conflict of interest.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:09 pmWe do have the best physicians and medical scientists in the world. There is no doubt about that.
Comment by Dr. Matt — February 4, 2008
We just can’t afford them.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:19 pmWhatever chimpy says, believe the opposite. It works every time.
Comment by whatevah — February 4, 2008 @ 6:39 pm
over and over… never forget…
rachel maddow just made the same obsevation, about the budget in general… “whatever it says, just do the opposite”…
she also pointed out that dubya sent this - via the EMAIL, btw - while congress wasn’t there… you won’t be hearing much about it on the SCLM until they are back and (hopefully) read the thing…
February 4th, 2008 at 7:24 pmWe do have the best physicians and medical scientists in the world. There is no doubt about that.
Comment by Dr. Matt — February 4, 2008 @ 7:09 pm
No doubt true, but medical scientists don’t count for much in the delivery of health care, and morale is plummeting among physicians who cannot provide their best care under the conditions they are forced to work under. I have watched the care provided by my own personal physician decline over the past 10 years as he becomes more and more overworked (call it a longitudinal study of a single-subject sample).
I get far better service from my veterinarian clinic than I do from my own health care providers. Whereas the latter NEVER ask followup questions, or show any interest in my comprehensive health, but rather confine themselves as narrowly as possible to the complaint at hand, my vets are always looking at the big picture when I bring my cats in for treatment.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:24 pmAnd when you see Compasionate Conservative bus approaching your station, find another bus stop….
February 4th, 2008 at 7:40 pm“Of all forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and most inhumane.”
February 4th, 2008 at 7:49 pm—Martin Luther King
U.S. has the most new medicines in world, spends more of GDP on medicine than any other nation, and yet has the highest rates of cancers for at least 10 cancer types and the highest infant mortality rate of all developed nations.
Harvard Study
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ news/ press-releases/ archives/ 2000-releases/ press05082000.html
The U.S. ranks
NUMBER ONE in COST of health care, but
NUMBER 24 in disability-adjusted life expectancy, and
NUMBER 37 in the overall performance of its medical system and
NUMBER 40 in the level of satisfaction recipients express for their care.
Nearly half (48%) of all people in the U.S. with below-average incomes report that it is “extremely, very, or somewhat difficult” to get medical care when they need it.
They say the gauge of the quality of a society is how they treat their infants and elderly. Looks like we’re a second rate banana republic:
INFANT MORTALITY RATE per 100,000 births:
Sweden: 382
Japan: 396
Norway: 413
France: 476
Austria: 492
Denmark: 551
Canada: 552
UK: 586
Israel: 662
U. S. 772
ELDERLY CARE: (From 2000 Harvard School of Public Health report)
More than 1 in 4 (29%) elderly Americans have a difficult time meeting their basic monthly expenses.
32% of U.S. elderly have no drug coverage.
20% of US elderly pay $50-$100 per month out-of -pocket for drugs, while 16% pay more than $100 per month. By contrast, under 5% of the elderly in four other developed countries pay more than $100 per month.
15% of elderly have foregone filling prescriptions because they could not afford it, and
18 % have problems paying medical bills.
The U.S. also has the greatest disparity between the health of the poor and that of the wealthy of all industrialized nations. Black infants, for example, have a mortality rate that is more than twice that of white children (14 versus 6 per 100,000).
February 4th, 2008 at 7:53 pmComment by Fred — February 4, 2008 @ 7:53 pm
Good post, Fred. I was particularly struck by your opening statement:
U.S. has the most new medicines in world, spends more of GDP on medicine than any other nation
I think this is a huge part of the problem. The pharma industry has sculpted a health care system that leans very heavily on its products, even when simple, cheaper treatment methods are available and as effective or more effective.
The very thought of pharmaceutical companies marketing to patients, I find obscene. They train us to suggest pharmaceuticals to our doctors. As Bill Maher points out, if you’re telling your doctor what drugs to give you, doesn’t that just make him your dealer?
February 4th, 2008 at 8:36 pmDo me favor libs? Try living in England, Canada, France, etc etc for a year or so and needing serious medical attention and you’ll be BEGGING to be back in the U.S. with our health care system…that is, IF you are still alive WAITING for an operation!!!
Wake up!
February 4th, 2008 at 8:38 pmMake those cuts in Defense instead and nobody’ll know the difference!
February 4th, 2008 at 8:41 pmI wonder if Troll JK has ever lived in any foreign land for a year or so, or if he’s just pulling troll droppings from his anus again.
Anyone wanna make any bets?
February 4th, 2008 at 8:42 pmMake those cuts in Defense instead and nobody’ll know the difference!
Comment by Doc Rock — February 4, 2008 @ 8:41 pm
Blackwater will know the difference! How can you support heartless cutbacks in payments to the poor mercenaries who are just struggling to put gas in their Mercedes?
February 4th, 2008 at 8:45 pmDo me favor libs? Try living in England, Canada, France, etc etc for a year or so and needing serious medical attention and you’ll be BEGGING to be back in the U.S. with our health care system…that is, IF you are still alive WAITING for an operation!!!
Wake up!
Comment by John Kerry — February 4, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
Well Done, Mr Skull and Bones, doing your parody again of a Neo-Con. I always like when you post. You are as good as Colbert, maybe even better.
February 4th, 2008 at 9:07 pmDo me favor libs? Try living in England, Canada, France, etc etc for a year or so and needing serious medical attention and you’ll be BEGGING to be back in the U.S. with our health care system…that is, IF you are still alive WAITING for an operation!!!
Wake up!
Comment by John Kerry — February 4, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
ROTFL!!! There’s NO WAITING in ANY of those countries for SERIOUS MEDICAL ATTENTION you goofy ignorant little TARD! All YOUR POST does is speak to your GENERAL IGNORANCE and LACK OF TRAVELING! No wonder you’re such a dumb little nationalistic f**ker! GROW UP - JUNIOR, do some TRAVELING and STOP WHINING!
February 4th, 2008 at 9:08 pmThe very thought of pharmaceutical companies marketing to patients, I find obscene. They train us to suggest pharmaceuticals to our doctors. As Bill Maher points out, if you’re telling your doctor what drugs to give you, doesn’t that just make him your dealer?
Comment by ralph the wonder llama
I’m with you on this Ralph. I think that a large part of our population may be partially drugged all of the time…..zanex, viox, ect….I know a lot of people that seem loopy at times and they think just because they have a prescription that everything is just fine……..
as far as john kerry the troll…..he’s never been out of his trailer park except to sign up for his disability.
I used to make fun of conspiracy folks a little but I’m a little more reserved with my judgment these days.
February 4th, 2008 at 9:43 pmINFANT MORTALITY RATE per 100,000 births:
…
U. S. 772
…
Black infants, for example, have a mortality rate that is more than twice that of white children (14 versus 6 per 100,000).
…
Comment by Fred — February 4, 2008 @ 7:53 pm
Fred, somehow I have a problem matching these two sets of statistics. Not trying to shoot you down, but there has to be an error somewhere. Either that or there is an ethnic group that is losing infants like flies!
February 4th, 2008 at 9:46 pmShould the basis for the latter number be 1000?
February 4th, 2008 at 9:51 pmI used to make fun of conspiracy folks a little but I’m a little more reserved with my judgment these days.
Comment by Fred — February 4, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
Fred, what we are witnessing in front of our eyes are either Coincidences or Conspiracies.
So the question always is……..How many coincidences does it take to become a conspiracy?
February 4th, 2008 at 9:54 pmWhile on a concert tour in Europe our Dutch bus driver broke his upper plate one night (he and I had too many bottles of wine after a concert) and threw the broken teeth away. The next morning he went to a dentist in Florence and had a new set of teeth (both upper and lower plates) before 4 PM at no cost.
He told me the dentist admonished him for throwing the broken plate away. If had the broken plate he could have waited for a new plate using the same teeth, but since they had to fashion new teeth for the upper plate, they went ahead and made a completely new set so the upper and lower teeth would match.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:02 pmEasy.
Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.
This will never pass Congress. Ever.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:02 pmInteresting calling for a slow down in the growth of programs just as the baby boom generation is starting to need the services.
Instead chimpy is spending $357,000,000 every day for this stupid war.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:14 pmComment by americangoy — February 4, 2008 @ 10:02 pm
Just wait for February 2009. There will be an onslaught of corrections starting then.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:14 pm“The budget does not call for cuts in Medicare. It calls for cuts IN THE GROWTH of Medicare.”
You mean, just as the Baby Boomers are starting to retire?
Well, I see no problem with that……..
February 4th, 2008 at 10:15 pmI was particularly struck by your opening statement:
Comment by ralph the wonder llama
It was concise but I didn’t write it…..It’s from the link…..I’m just a country bumpkin……….
63 damn….don’t you have an internet connection…..
just type in your question and hit enter……..
from the cdc. table about half way down…….it actually says it’s closer to 3 to one.
http://www.cdc.gov/ mmwr/ preview/ mmwrhtml/ mm5127a1.htm
oh and here is one for 2007 guess the first one only went to 2000
February 4th, 2008 at 10:16 pmhttp://www.cdc.gov/ od/ oc/ media/ pressrel/ 2007/ r070502.htm
Either that or there is an ethnic group that is losing infants like flies!
Comment by WaltTheMan
how could you think this was an error……….it seems dead on to me and with the links from the cdc you can verify it for everyone and back me up on it……….
curious as to why you think the numbers are off……..Americans don’t care much about black babies……obviously
February 4th, 2008 at 10:22 pmThe budget does not call for cuts in Medicare. It calls for cuts IN THE GROWTH of Medicare. -GG
Shoot your toes off much?
February 4th, 2008 at 10:34 pmBlack is white, war is peace, bad is good, etc. This bunch of lying crooks have never been honest about one thing in the past seven plus years…why would anyone believe anything they say?
February 4th, 2008 at 10:36 pmThe following quote by Chimpy is found in an AP news story, dated August 5, 2004 and reads as follows:
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we,†Bush said. “They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.â€
That says it all.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:21 pmEither that or there is an ethnic group that is losing infants like flies!
Comment by WaltTheMan
how could you think this was an error……….it seems dead on to me and with the links from the cdc you can verify it for everyone and back me up on it……….
curious as to why you think the numbers are off……..Americans don’t care much about black babies……obviously
Comment by Fred — February 4, 2008 @ 10:22 pm
Lets make the math simple:
February 5th, 2008 at 12:46 amIf blacks are having infant mortality at a rate of 14 per 100, 000 and whites are experiencing them at a rate of 6 per 100,000 while the total population is experiencing same at a rate of 714 per 100,000, some group has to account for the residual 694 deaths per 100,000 for the total population and that group that accounts for the remaining 694 deaths per 100,000 can not consist of more than 34% of the population (Hispanics?), ergo they must be experiencing an infant mortality rate of 694/.34 (or 2041) per 100,000. If we are talking about SE Asians, the number would rise to one in five births.
Why, sure we have the best health care!
In my city one of the hospitals has free sandwiches and drinks while Bubba visits the ER to get a Tylenol to cure that headache he’s had for the past half hour. Don’t even have to waste your time with a doctor’s appointment. Can’t get any better service than that.
(Shoot! Even hospital employees have been known to grab a free meal from the ER from time to time).
February 5th, 2008 at 1:05 amThe budget does not call for cuts in Medicare. It calls for cuts IN THE GROWTH of Medicare. Most of the Medicare savings in the president’s budget would be achieved by REDUCING THE ANNUAL INCREASE in payments to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, ambulances and home care agencies — organizations that liberals usually spend their time attacking for making too much money.
http://www.iht.com/ articles/ 2008/ 01/ 31/ america/ budget.php
Comment by good_golly — February 4, 2008 @ 9:56 pm
Considering that the number of people USING MEDICARE is GROWING, that’s a CUT - TARD! As for your SMEAR on WHO liberals attack, STFU you pathetic POS LIAR!
February 5th, 2008 at 1:31 amAs soon as I step out of the room, the cowards show up to peddle their misinformation and lies. Good job battling back these human pathologies, Fred.
As for the apparent disparity in the infant mortality statistics, perhaps the lower numbers are based on total population, vs. live births for the 772 figure. In any case, infant mortality here is nearly double what it is elsewhere in the developed world. Paying twice as much for half the performance. There has to be something seriously wrong with you to think that this is a good health care system.
One other remark: the health care system in Britain is indeed bad, possibly the only country with health care as bad as here. There are two reasons: the British system truly is socialized medicine, in that all health care workers are government employees (unlike any single-payer system elsewhere), and more importantly, Britain spends only 40% of what we spend here. Imagine how awful our health care would be if we cut spending by 60% under our current system! So if a pathetic freak brings up Britain as a benchmark, point out that they are just lowering the bar to an absurdly easy level to beat. Just like they do for their guy Chimpy, who still can’t step over the bar even when it is on the ground.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:30 amLet’s transition the U.S. from Liarship to Leadership in 2009 if we can’t turn the wheels of impeachment. Write your congressman, gut their intent, and finish them off.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:52 amWait,
We are reporting a $400 billion deficit for this budget. Why didn’t he make larger cuts in entitlement programs to balance the budget?
February 5th, 2008 at 9:14 amFred, somehow I have a problem matching these two sets of statistics. Not trying to shoot you down, but there has to be an error somewhere. Either that or there is an ethnic group that is losing infants like flies!
Should the basis for the latter number be 1000?
Comment by WaltTheMan
Walt, I just fininshed my morning coffee and was reading your posts. I see now what you were talking about and if you go to the link below you will see that it is in fact based on 1000 instead of 100,000. That makes more sense…….sorry I caused confusion on this…..Thanks for catching it….I will correct my information.
http://www.cdc.gov/ od/ oc/ media/ pressrel/ 2007/ r070502.htm
February 5th, 2008 at 9:21 amAs usual, the Republicans consider it more important to kill Iraqis (pro-life anyone?) then to provide healthcare to the elderly.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:24 amWhy didn’t he make larger cuts in entitlement programs to balance the budget?
Comment by Roger_Roger — February 5, 2008 @ 9:14 am
yes, he could have easily cut that from the Pentagon budget, the biggest entitlement of all.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:33 amFred, You are most welcome - the numbers just gnawed at the statistician in me.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:37 amFred, You are most welcome - the numbers just gnawed at the statistician in me.
Comment by WaltTheMan
I’m an MS Excel type myself…….I still should have caught that.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:44 amthanks for helping me not look quite so foolish.
Why didn’t he make larger cuts in entitlement programs to balance the budget?
Comment by Roger_Roger — February 5, 2008 @ 9:14 am
Or rescind some of the tax cuts he gave the ultra-rich?
February 5th, 2008 at 9:47 amHey ,i have an idea let`s cut the defense budget for this war for (operation Iraqi liberation)
February 5th, 2008 at 9:56 amIt`s only 3.1trillion,ahe says it`ll save us money.Iknow how to save $ stop this guy and his Bushco crime family and getem out of office.What cur medicare and medicaid the very people he says he wants to help.The man is so out of touch with what is reality in this country.
Bushco is cronyism,contradiction and corruption.I think there is some fuzzy math again.
What i really don`t get is that these ignorant neocons want for more years of this with john 100years McCain.John Mc is going to keep perpetuating this kind of anti americanism with his foriegn policy and his anti american home agenda.He will keep lining the pockets of these neocons that call themselves americans(cronyism,contradiction and corruption).
February 5th, 2008 at 10:12 amTo put a frame around health care ,1 out of every 5 kids in your in childs school does`nt have health care.So if your kid is in a class of 30 kids there is a 1in6 chance they will get sick fromm one of (”no child left Behind)” kids BUCHCO says he trying to help.CONTRADICTION or what.Eat this you neocon bushy`s.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:21 amI don’t understand something: We specifically pay Medicare Taxes. It comes right out of our paychecks every week. How can it be possible for any President to “cut the funding” if we are paying a specific tax for the program? It’s not like Federal Taxes that go to different programs.
It really confuses me how they can talk about cutting the funding to a program that we have to pay taxes to specifically fund.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:48 amWe also pay specific taxes for Social Security and it like the Medicare tax fund gets raided by other administrative depts. Or borrowed as they like to call it. Pay back the “borrowed” amounts and there is no problem.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:20 am37th out of what, 191 or something other countries? That’s not bad. If we were tennis players that’d be pretty goo…Ok, well, if we were a…Hold on gimme a second. If we were a golf professional…Uh…How many countries? Actually it’s 194 so that’s a little better. So if we were a automobile manufacturer we’d be…uh….Out of business sure but if there’s only 194 in the world then that’s pretty good right? No.
Up is down
February 5th, 2008 at 1:00 pmWar is peace
black is white
failure is progress
Speaking of “best health care”, check this out. If you thing the maladministration is in the last concerned about the health of our troops, just read it….
Cheers,
February 5th, 2008 at 1:42 pm