PBS’s ‘Inside Washington’: Single-Payer System Solves ObamaCare Woes

[Rapunzel]

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2013/10/26/pbs-s-inside-washington-single-payer-system-solves-obamacare-woes

PBS’s ‘Inside Washington’: Single-Payer System Solves ObamaCare Woes

By Noel Sheppard | October 26, 2013 | 18:01


Even before the disastrous ObamaCare launch, many conservative pundits have said the so-called “Affordable Care Act” was the first step toward a single-payer, universal healthcare system in America.

On PBS’s Inside Washington Friday, syndicated columnist Mark Shields and Politico’s Evan Thomas both advanced single-payer as the solution to all that ails us with host Gordon Peterson agreeing (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary):

During a lengthy discussion about ObamaCare’s woes, Shields said, “There is an answer to it. It’s a two-word answer: it’s called single-payer.”

A few minutes later, Thomas said, “We’re going towards single-payer. It’s just a question of how we’re going to get there.”

Shields and Peterson both agreed saying, “Yeah.”

NPR’s Nina Totenberg seemed dubious, but when has she been right about anything?

After all, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said in August that he felt ObamaCare was just a step towards single-payer.

This of course raises the question: is it possible the disastrous rollout of the health insurance exchanges was intentional?

Before you scoff, consider what appears highly likely:


    The vast majority of people that will successfully purchase insurance through the exchanges will be currently uninsured sick people that need coverage.

    A tremendously small percentage of the healthy young people necessary for the system to “work” will enroll.

    Millions of Americans will lose health insurance they had before the plan was implemented due to their policies not being acceptable under the new law.

This could result in millions of Americans suddenly in desperate need of coverage, far more than prior to the law being enacted.

President and Obama and the Democrats ride in as the white knight with the plan to rescue the nation: single-payer.

The problem is that they’ve demonstrated such incompetence up to this point, will there actually be enough desperate people in the nation willing to let the gang that couldn’t shoot straight take over the entire healthcare system?

With folks such as Peterson, Shields, Thomas, and the rest of the single-payer-loving media leading the charge, the answer sadly might be “Yes.”

Be afraid, ladies and gentlemen. Be very afraid.

[EC]

Be afraid, ladies and gentlemen. Be very afraid.

Why?

What is actually wrong with a single payer system?

Yes, I got me own thoughts here, living with one, but I want to cross check.

[Rapunzel]

I hope you are just pulling out leg with that question. 

[EC]

I hope you are just pulling out leg with that question.

Not quite a leg pull. I know the faults of the system we have. The various European systems which I know of first hand are similar and substantially less robust than ours is (hard to believe, but true.).

I am curious if there is any specific trait to the USA that would make single payer work even more badly than it does here - or conversely if there is something that may possibly make it work better.

[Rapunzel]

Not quite a leg pull. I know the faults of the system we have. The various European systems which I know of first hand are similar and substantially less robust than ours is (hard to believe, but true.).

I am curious if there is any specific trait to the USA that would make single payer work even more badly than it does here - or conversely if there is something that may possibly make it work better.

Single anything is never good...unless poor service and higher prices are good in your book.  Competition in anything always benefits the end users..  for any good or service.  I fear if you have to ask the question it really shows how great the divide between American way of life and the European.. which the Soros controlled Obama wants to turn us into.  No thanks.

[EC]

But, but, but .....

No - you pretty much nailed the problems with single payer.

I would add that single payer depends on payers. Economically speaking, we are in a better place than you in the USA (temporarily and no thanks to the idiots in power), so the pain is not quite as severe, but it is both noticeable and annoying.

In THEORY it is a decent idea. Like Walmart and supermarkets use their overall massive buying clout to get the lowest prices from suppliers. Except we are not talking carrots and milk here - we are talking people. Sure, bulk buying medicines and equipment can be cheaper if done correctly. Look at the government and tell me they can actually do that. Anyone want to buy a toilet seat? Only $4500 each.

Bulk buying of people - wasn't there a war about that or something?

I know I am being slightly bitter here. Single payer does work - badly, but it does work. The system you guys have had for years works well - you take a gamble on your health, but coverage is there. Need something - pay for it. The insurance companies are betting you won't get badly ill. Tort reform would bring the prices down significantly and make things far more affordable than the abomination you have been stuck with now. Somehow, Obamacare took the worst of both systems and mashed them together. You have all the inefficiencies of the single payer, government mandated system with an extra layer of costs by including insurance companies - who want to get paid handsomely.

I know - preaching to the choir here.

[SlapLeather]

But, but, but .....

No - you pretty much nailed the problems with single payer.

I would add that single payer depends on payers. Economically speaking, we are in a better place than you in the USA (temporarily and no thanks to the idiots in power), so the pain is not quite as severe, but it is both noticeable and annoying.

In THEORY it is a decent idea. Like Walmart and supermarkets use their overall massive buying clout to get the lowest prices from suppliers. Except we are not talking carrots and milk here - we are talking people. Sure, bulk buying medicines and equipment can be cheaper if done correctly. Look at the government and tell me they can actually do that. Anyone want to buy a toilet seat? Only $4500 each.

Bulk buying of people - wasn't there a war about that or something?

I know I am being slightly bitter here. Single payer does work - badly, but it does work. The system you guys have had for years works well - you take a gamble on your health, but coverage is there. Need something - pay for it. The insurance companies are betting you won't get badly ill. Tort reform would bring the prices down significantly and make things far more affordable than the abomination you have been stuck with now. Somehow, Obamacare took the worst of both systems and mashed them together. You have all the inefficiencies of the single payer, government mandated system with an extra layer of costs by including insurance companies - who want to get paid handsomely.

I know - preaching to the choir here.

The collapse is just the means to the ends.  It's hyperdrive.. now...