One definite thing that I agree with him about and he certainly got right, aside from confusing defense spending with military spending, is that all of that money could be put back in people's pockets and they'd be able to afford healthcare, instead of enrichng the politicians, weapons manufacturers and special interests like the oil industry and western agribusiness.
Universal Healthcare (UH) can be seen as an aside to all that. Freeing up the equivalent of a second mortgage to most homes paying for private insurance would spur our economy like no other. Lifting the burden of private insurance off of employers would free them up to hire almost twice as many people, spurring the new home buyer's market...more economic boon.
UH would also free up $billions spent on platoons of medical insurance billing staff paid and necessary as part of today's hodgepodge and war with insurance claims adjusters. Those people with a spurred economy could seek ample employment elsewhere.
The only people profiting from the current system of guaranteed ER-visit $900 for two tylenols are the tycoons at the top of the insurance industry racket. The country suffers horribly meanwhile; not to mention those hiding their illnesses and wounds for fear of bankruptcy should their high-deductables and "pre-existing condition" penalties tip the family over into immediate destitution...
The current system isn't merely sadistic, its' asinine. The numbers can't be justified. So instead you get their paid bloggers showing up to respond to posts like this one hoping to demonize any of its critics and use smokescreen to keep the gravy train in place for that handful of assholes ruining the US economy. One wonders if the ultimate decisions at the top on UH aren't being made by Chinese or Russians? I mean, it's that subversive, the current system.
"Oh my GOD!! How would we PAY for UH!!" Article I, Section 8. Tax junk food, sodas, tobacco & booze at every sale across the US, every day. Then, small co-pays at service to discourage abuse of the system while keeping it within reach for those who would otherwise hide their illness to save money for the family....making the illness worse (and more expensive) ultimately for the system.
The benefits of UH would outweigh any additional costs to maintain it by like 10-1. The overall boost to the economy would be immediately felt and in a tremendous relief. Imagine you, Joe taxpayer, getting basically the same level of healthcare your insurance claims adjusters whittle you down into anyway, only not having to pay for it at all, except small co-pays at time of visit? Imagine what you would do with all that free cash each month?
1. Driving to more events (Hello BigOil)
2. Taking more vacations (Hello struggling vacation industry)
3. Buying more gifts and durable goods (Hello sagging manufacturing)
4. Save up to buy a home and stop renting (Hello endangered housing market/banking/loans).
etc.
BigOil, BigVacation, BigManufacturing & BigRealEstate are not mamby pamby liberal outfits. They are the bedrock of the trickle-up conservative economy. Everyone wins. Yet the system remains beaten down like a rented mule.
