70% of Americans now support Medicare for All

[Baruch]

Ms. Cortez is welcome to the NHS treatment any time.

There is quality, quantity and bureaucracy.  I would like to reduce the bureaucracy in particular.  I realize that the quality and quantity are problematic.  I would not enjoy France, though I hear they handle emergency care very well (I guess you don't have to stand in line for 6 months filling out paperwork).

[Cavebear]

Societies exist to provide basic services somewhat evenly to all members.  In the past, that was bread and water.  Later, it was fair laws and equal justice.  Now, there are some things that a progressing society considers basic rather than "for profit".  One of those is basic decent health care.  The question should not now be "how can we maximize health care profits for companies and share-holders", but "how can we best provide basic health care to the whole of the population".

The days of max-profit health care systems are going the way of subscription fire-fighters of the past.

[Baruch]

Societies exist to provide basic services somewhat evenly to all members.  In the past, that was bread and water.  Later, it was fair laws and equal justice.  Now, there are some things that a progressing society considers basic rather than "for profit".  One of those is basic decent health care.  The question should not now be "how can we maximize health care profits for companies and share-holders", but "how can we best provide basic health care to the whole of the population".

The days of max-profit health care systems are going the way of subscription fire-fighters of the past.

Haha ... are you Swedish?

For profit health care does suck.  And we could do better with a socialist system ... if you can enslave the medical staff at low salaries.  Nationalize the drug companies, I dare you!

[ferdmonger]

Profit margins are built in now, and our congress-critters will assure that they continue to be with our slow slog toward medicare for all.

It will be completely unfair the the CEO of Brand X to suddenly be worth only $32 million a year instead of $64 million a year.

This middle-man shit has go to go.

[Baruch]

Profit margins are built in now, and our congress-critters will assure that they continue to be with our slow slog toward medicare for all.

It will be completely unfair the the CEO of Brand X to suddenly be worth only $32 million a year instead of $64 million a year.

This middle-man shit has go to go.

Middle-class  = middle men.  Kill the bourgeoisie!

[ferdmonger]

I can purchase my product direct from the manufacturer at slightly above cost.  (Overhead.)

I can purchase my product from an intermediary with skimmed profits adding to overhead.

If this the the definition of bourgeoisie, then yes, eliminate that portion of the equation.

[Cavebear]

I can purchase my product direct from the manufacturer at slightly above cost.  (Overhead.)

I can purchase my product from an intermediary with skimmed profits adding to overhead.

If this the the definition of bourgeoisie, then yes, eliminate that portion of the equation.

I generally agree.  Let's says that farmers set up stands for selling their product.  I can buy corn and beans and potatoes for half the cost of what is at the grocery store.  Why should I not.  The actual producers of the products gain.  The middlemen get cut out.  Let them get more productive jobs.  I hear the farmers need pickers...

And there are benefits.  The farmers selling at stands don't pick their crops unripe and fake the ripeness.  They don't refrigerate their tomatoes causing the flavor enzymes to die and make the tomatoes taste like mush.

Granted that might make make it hard to find strawberries in February, but have you tasted those things?  I realize there are economies of scale and organization, but when I berries in the grocery store at $12/lb and $3/pint at the farm stand. I realize I am paying a LOT to middlemen who just shuffle the product along from a desk somewhere. 

I also realize there are objections.  Fire away!

[Baruch]

I generally agree.  Let's says that farmers set up stands for selling their product.  I can buy corn and beans and potatoes for half the cost of what is at the grocery store.  Why should I not.  The actual producers of the products gain.  The middlemen get cut out.  Let them get more productive jobs.  I hear the farmers need pickers...

And there are benefits.  The farmers selling at stands don't pick their crops unripe and fake the ripeness.  They don't refrigerate their tomatoes causing the flavor enzymes to die and make the tomatoes taste like mush.

Granted that might make make it hard to find strawberries in February, but have you tasted those things?  I realize there are economies of scale and organization, but when I berries in the grocery store at $12/lb and $3/pint at the farm stand. I realize I am paying a LOT to middlemen who just shuffle the product along from a desk somewhere. 

I also realize there are objections.  Fire away!

The government objects ... mostly the Health Dept.  You can't sell food unless you are incorporated, and the larger the corporation the better, so you can afford the government paperwork ;-)  This is why it is illegal for children to set up a lemonade stand (might poison someone).  This is why it is illegal for dairymen to sell unpasteurized milk (might poison someone).  And of course the more middlemen we have the more Middle-class people we can justify.  Bargain seeking consumers have been the bane of the Middle-class, ever since we chose to support Walmart.  Also most cooks at restaurants are former prisoners ... who will employ them when they get out of prison ... if people don't prefer restaurants over their own cooking?