Mark Cuban: Amend U.S. Constitution to Make Healthcare a Right

[dfwgator]

Now I do agree that burdening employers with providing their employees' healthcare does put our workers at a disadvantage, and is one of the main reasons why offshoring is so prevalent. 

We need to decouple healthcare from employment. 

[truth_seeker]

In a global economy,  we can no longer afford to be outliers,  placing the burden for  health insurance for catastrophic health expenses on the backs of employers, and leaving millions with no viable option to bankruptcy and ruin.     

So in your view, the USA should strive to be more like Greece, Cuba, Venezuela and other socialist nations the world over, with respect to universal government funded health care ??

Leftists think we should mirror the immigration and refugee practices of Germany and Sweden, too.

Contrary to some, nobody in the US goes without health care due to lack of money or insurance. Babies do get birthed, bones do get set, wounds do get sown.

 

[Cyber Liberty]

Now I do agree that burdening employers with providing their employees' healthcare does put our workers at a disadvantage, and is one of the main reasons why offshoring is so prevalent. 

We need to decouple healthcare from employment.

That was the stated goal of Obamacare.  The result was decoupling people from employment and, as a result, coupling healthcare with government.  A perfect solution for Socialists and Communists.

[Rivergirl]

Sounds like Cuban is getting ready to run for office.  Here come the promises that can't and won't be kept.

[dfwgator]

That was the stated goal of Obamacare.  The result was decoupling people from employment and, as a result, coupling healthcare with government.  A perfect solution for Socialists and Communists.

Seems to me Conservatives are comfortable with the concept of School Vouchers.  So why couldn't there be a similar approach with healthcare insurance?

[Sanguine]

Dear moron billionaire, 

The Constitution doesn't confer rights to the people from the government.  It is an instrument to limit the federal government's ability to meddle with our natural liberties.

Sincerely,

Just your average American

[Jazzhead]

What you have taught us rubes on TBR is you don't even need a President or Congress to enact your superior vision, just a Court because decisions made by a Court are very wise and inviolate.  That politics stuff is messy, just get a wise Judge and all will be well. 

Your approach to these things is remarkable consistent...except for educating your particular children. In that case you should be allowed to sacrifice to provide them a better education than other children get.  Rubes don't need that, they just need to shut up and knuckle under to their betters.

What the **** are you talking about?  Have you lost your mind?   

[Jazzhead]

So in your view, the USA should strive to be more like Greece, Cuba, Venezuela and other socialist nations the world over, with respect to universal government funded health care ??

No,  that's not what I advocate.  To repeat:

I like what I think Mark Cuban is advocating -  provide by means of broad-based taxes basic protections for all citizens against financial ruin with respect to medical catastrophe -  serious injury and chronic illness.   Perhaps just simple taxpayer-funded "stop loss" insurance that would pick up when a citizen's total medical expenses exceed a threshold amount.

Then couple that with a robust, competitive private insurance marketplace for common medical expenses,  that would be neither controlled nor mandated by government.   That seems to me to be the best of both worlds - competition and innovation in the market for insurance covering most medical expenses,  with security against catastrophic loss provided by government, just as Social Security provides income security for the aged.   

  Leftists think we should mirror the immigration and refugee practices of Germany and Sweden, too.

But you'd be mistaken to think I give a crap about what "leftists" think.   I think for myself.   

Contrary to some, nobody in the US goes without health care due to lack of money or insurance. Babies do get birthed, bones do get set, wounds do get sown.

And the cost gets passed on to those who play by the rules and purchase insurance.   

The current luck-based system is flawed at its core.   Now's as good a time as any to fix it.   

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

No,  that's not what I advocate.  To repeat:

I like what I think Mark Cuban is advocating -  provide by means of broad-based taxes basic protections for all citizens against financial ruin with respect to medical catastrophe -  serious injury and chronic illness.   Perhaps just simple taxpayer-funded "stop loss" insurance that would pick up when a citizen's total medical expenses exceed a threshold amount.

This would require massive taxation. I think we pay enough taxes already.

[Axeslinger]

And the cost gets passed on to those who play by the rules and purchase insurance.   

@Jazzhead @INVAR

and instead what you're advocating is for the government to play the middleman...because their track record at that sort of thing is so stellar?!?

Either INVAR is right...or you've lost your derned mind...not a whole lot of other options.

[skeeter]

Dear moron billionaire, 

The Constitution doesn't confer rights to the people from the government.  It is an instrument to limit the federal government's ability to meddle with our natural liberties.

Which is why Obama called the Constitution a 'negative charter'.

He and Mark Cuban much prefer conferring a 'positive charter of rights' on the People, obligations the government has to make its citizens comfortable and happy.

Kind of like an American version of the Great Leap Forward.

We know how well that worked out for China. For the Party anyway, if not for the average yokel.

[Restored]

Health Care is already a right.

He means Health Care paid by someone else.

[Jazzhead]

This would require massive taxation. I think we pay enough taxes already.

That tax burden would be offset by a reduction in your health insurance premiums.   

[Jazzhead]

Health Care is already a right.

He means Health Care paid by someone else.

That's functionally correct.  A hospital can't refuse to treat someone who shows up in the emergency room.  And the cost of that uncompensated care is passed along in higher charges to those with medical insurance.   So, in that sense, we already have the right to health care paid for by others.   But broad-based taxes are at least a lot fairer than placing the cost only on that segment of the community that plays by the rules.   

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

That tax burden would be offset by a reduction in your health insurance premiums.

Now this I find extremely hard to believe. Your tax dollars would be supporting those who cannot afford it, not your own healthcare.

There are no free lunches in life. You cannot cover po' folk without paying more. Period.

[Jazzhead]

Now this I find extremely hard to believe. Your tax dollars would be supporting those who cannot afford it, not your own healthcare.

There are no free lunches in life. You cannot cover po' folk without paying more. Period.

We are already paying for the po' folks - just not all of us, just those of us who have medical insurance.   I'd rather that burden be shared more fairly by means of broad-based taxes.   

[Cyber Liberty]

We are already paying for the po' folks - just not all of us, just those of us who have medical insurance.   I'd rather that burden be shared more fairly by means of broad-based taxes.   

Still trying to find the word "fair" in the Constitution.  It must be near "waltzing."

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

We are already paying for the po' folks - just not all of us, just those of us who have medical insurance.   I'd rather that burden be shared more fairly by means of broad-based taxes.   

Are you advocating for single payer or what? Those advocating for single payer need to understand the scale of the taxation involved. My brother married a German woman and I was talking to her friends. They pay very close to 50% of their taxes to the government over there.

You will never get Americans to agree to pay 50% of their taxes to the government.

[Sanguine]

Are you advocating for single payer or what? Those advocating for single payer need to understand the scale of the taxation involved. My brother married a German woman and I was talking to her friends. They pay very close to 50% of their taxes to the government over there.

You will never get Americans to agree to pay 50% of their taxes to the government.

We already do!

[Cyber Liberty]

You will never get Americans to agree to pay 50% of their taxes to the government.

They already do, they just don't know it because there's so much tax buried in the price of goods.  I hate to think what the true tax rate of Germany is because they have a lot of taxes buried in the VAT.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

They already do, they just don't know it because there's so much tax buried in the price of goods.  I hate to think what the true tax rate of Germany is because they have a lot of taxes buried in the VAT.

That is true. I'm just talking as income taxes.

[geronl]

As long as it says 'a right paid for by billionaires'

[240B]

I pay 100% of my taxes to the government. Federal, State, or local, all of my taxes go to the government.

[INVAR]

That's functionally correct.  A hospital can't refuse to treat someone who shows up in the emergency room.  And the cost of that uncompensated care is passed along in higher charges to those with medical insurance.   So, in that sense, we already have the right to health care paid for by others.   But broad-based taxes are at least a lot fairer than placing the cost only on that segment of the community that plays by the rules.

Total horse shiiite.  'Broad-based taxes' my ass.   

According to ObamaCare, the Socialist entitlement you consistently defend and promote - EVERYONE is forced to have health insurance or suffer punishment. 

Offsetting the costs from the insured to broad-based taxes so everyone can bear the burden is utter bullshit when ObamaCare already imposes the broad-based "TAX" (Roberts) on those who do not have insurance along with the higher premiums (broad based 'tax') every single one of us WITH insurance now has to pay.

What you advocate is higher broad-based wealth redistribution on top of the bane of Obamanation that the ACA already is.

You advocate more Socialism, misery and stupidity.

[Cyber Liberty]

That is true. I'm just talking as income taxes.

"Tax Freedom Day" is defined as April 24 this year, which is the average day among the 50 States (and DeeCee).  That means states like NY and CA are probably paying pretty close to half right now, between the State and Fed Income Taxes.  It should not come as a surprise these are the states with the worst gun laws.