Healthcare and "Obama"s Waterloo"
The first time I heard it, I didn't believe it.
South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint expressing his hopes of defeating President Obama's health care initiative was quoted as saying "If we're able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo.
It will break him.
" Now there is no shortage of ridiculous soundbites coming out of Washington, but DeMint's comment makes Joe Biden sound as thoughtful as Stephen Hawking.
I listened a few days later to an unremorseful DeMint on CNBC (which provides a platform for windbags of all stripes) claiming that Obama's plan would "push our country over a cliff," and that he (Obama) wants "to destroy a health care system that's the best in the world.
" In the midst of his rhetoric he did share a cogent thought when he said "the biggest casualty of this debate has been the truth.
" Hear, hear.
The truth is that our health care system is broken.
Study after study highlights that we pay the highest per capita expense for health care of any nation in the world, yet we receive poor outcomes.
The Commonwealth Fund Commission study from 2007 compared the U.
S.
to five other countries on health care costs and outcomes.
The countries included Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Consistent with the results of many other studies, the U.
S.
was ranked 6th out of 6 overall, while per capita costs were almost double the next highest country.
High costs and poor outcomes is a recipe for disaster for employers.
It has become increasingly difficult for employers to offset the double digit inflation on the most expensive system in the world, while competing in a global economy against competitors with lower costs and healthier employees.
Worse off still are the unfortunate individuals who have lost their coverage or can not obtain coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
They are indeed facing a financial Waterloo.
I am not sure what the solution is, but I know what it is not.
It is not to be found in ridiculous rhetoric and misinformation.
Take some time and dig into this issue for yourself.
Do not be swayed by bombast from either party.
We all have a stake.
If your employer provides your health care, gird yourself for never-ending cost increases.
If you are interested in starting your own business, prepare for serious sticker shock.
And if you are in the market for individual insurance...
good luck.
South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint expressing his hopes of defeating President Obama's health care initiative was quoted as saying "If we're able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo.
It will break him.
" Now there is no shortage of ridiculous soundbites coming out of Washington, but DeMint's comment makes Joe Biden sound as thoughtful as Stephen Hawking.
I listened a few days later to an unremorseful DeMint on CNBC (which provides a platform for windbags of all stripes) claiming that Obama's plan would "push our country over a cliff," and that he (Obama) wants "to destroy a health care system that's the best in the world.
" In the midst of his rhetoric he did share a cogent thought when he said "the biggest casualty of this debate has been the truth.
" Hear, hear.
The truth is that our health care system is broken.
Study after study highlights that we pay the highest per capita expense for health care of any nation in the world, yet we receive poor outcomes.
The Commonwealth Fund Commission study from 2007 compared the U.
S.
to five other countries on health care costs and outcomes.
The countries included Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Consistent with the results of many other studies, the U.
S.
was ranked 6th out of 6 overall, while per capita costs were almost double the next highest country.
High costs and poor outcomes is a recipe for disaster for employers.
It has become increasingly difficult for employers to offset the double digit inflation on the most expensive system in the world, while competing in a global economy against competitors with lower costs and healthier employees.
Worse off still are the unfortunate individuals who have lost their coverage or can not obtain coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
They are indeed facing a financial Waterloo.
I am not sure what the solution is, but I know what it is not.
It is not to be found in ridiculous rhetoric and misinformation.
Take some time and dig into this issue for yourself.
Do not be swayed by bombast from either party.
We all have a stake.
If your employer provides your health care, gird yourself for never-ending cost increases.
If you are interested in starting your own business, prepare for serious sticker shock.
And if you are in the market for individual insurance...
good luck.