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

[Cyber Liberty]

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

"Don't tax you, don't tax me, tax that fellow behind the tree."

[Jazzhead]

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.

Mythology and lies - your stock in trade.   

And for the record,  I am a critic, not a defender, of the ACA.   The ACHA, which I support, would do away with the mandate/taxes you foam at the mouth about, and would allow free riders to be punished by paying higher rates for insurance.   

[truth_seeker]

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

Part of the new paradigm of electing Trump, is the realization by many, that "Little boys Have Cried Wolf" too often.

We already listened to the "your healthcare costs will be reduced by $2,500 per year" claims. (Along with keep your plan, and keep your doctor)

There is only so much room, for "middle men," in efficient systems. The fewer, the better.

Home maintenance and repair, works pretty well. Few people have insurance policies. They go to Home Depot or Lowes, get what they need and install it.

In that regard, we do not rely on government to direct our home maintenance and repairs.

But if we followed the health care model, we would utilize a big corporation to sell us insurance, and a big government to arrange and rearrange the entire industry every few years.

Eventually the overhead cost of so many middlemen crushes it in terms of cost, complexity and efficiency.

[INVAR]

Mythology and lies - your stock in trade.

Says our resident Leftist/Communist sympathizer and advocate in nearly every post you make to this board.

[geronl]

and I have already seen posts that reference the need to pay off that middleman if he gets cut out. I say no way.

[Jazzhead]

Home maintenance and repair, works pretty well. Few people have insurance policies. They go to Home Depot or Lowes, get what they need and install it.

In that regard, we do not rely on government to direct our home maintenance and repairs.

That's because the traditional purpose of insurance  - to protect against the risk of catastrophic, unexpected loss that cannot be budgeted for out-of-pocket - doesn't exist with respect to home maintenance and repair.

Health insurance is desired by most rational folks because health care expense can happen to anyone, and can lead to financial ruin.     

But if we followed the health care model, we would utilize a big corporation to sell us insurance, and a big government to arrange and rearrange the entire industry every few years.

Eventually the overhead cost of so many middlemen crushes it in terms of cost, complexity and efficiency.

You sound like an advocate for single payer.    There's a lot less overhead (and a lot less choice) in a single payer system. 

What I'm advocating is a hybrid system - single payer insurance, broadly supported by taxation, for catastrophes, and a competitive,  flexible and voluntary system of private insurance for routine and/or predictable medical costs.     

[Jazzhead]

Says our resident Leftist/Communist sympathizer and advocate in nearly every post you make to this board.

Mythology and lies.

[INVAR]

Mythology and lies.

Oh no.  The board sees you for what you really are now.

No more hiding the fact that you are a Leftist.

You can call that lies and mythology all you like.

Your own words and posts reveal to everyone what you really are.

[Jazzhead]

Oh no.  The board sees you for what you really are now.

No more hiding the fact that you are a Leftist.

You can call that lies and mythology all you like.

Your own words and posts reveal to everyone what you really are.

Of course my posts "reveal to everyone what I really am".  I'd sure hope so, anyway.  For those of you obsessed by labels, call me a pragmatic Republican,  who's moderate or conservative or even libertarian depending on the issue,  who insists on thinking for himself without being bound by ideology or mythology. 

[INVAR]

Of course my posts "reveal to everyone what I really am".  I'd sure hope so, anyway.  For those of you obsessed by labels, call me a pragmatic Republican,  who's moderate or conservative or even libertarian depending on the issue,  who insists on thinking for himself without being bound by ideology or mythology.

Your posts on nearly every issue you make a crusade about on this board - reveal you to be a Leftist/Communist Anti-biblical Liberal pretending to be a Conservative.

You are pragmatic only about things tilting Left and things anathema to Conservative and Christian principles.

[Axeslinger]

@Jazzhead

Respectfully, I'll not call you anything except a damned fool.  One who is willing to give the government even MORE power and MORE of our money and MORE control over our lives when they have amply and completely demonstrated that they are utterly incapable of doing so responsibly. 

Trying the same thing over and over again expecting different results is the definition of insanity...and in this application (government) a technique used by useful idiots and power hungry ideologues.  Which are you?

[truth_seeker]

You sound like an advocate for single payer.   

Only to the extent of the consumer being the "single payer."

The additions of health insurance corporations, government involvement and lucrative lawsuits drove costs higher and higher.

Between my wife and my family our parents somehow managed to scrape together the means to pay for there eleven children's births, and raise them to adult hood without health insurance.

Two self-reliant self-employed people without four year college degrees, either. WWII combat wounded vets, I must add.

In about 2005 we paid cash for major female surgical procedures, for my wife. We were "self-insured," and I was an independent contractor.

I realized Americans and others have become "gibmedats," but I don't like it.

Leftists continually bemoan the unfairness of some people having little. To a large extent, it is because however little they obtain, they save nothing.

I should NOT have to subsidize people that refuse to save for their own financial need.

[Cyber Liberty]

@Jazzhead

Respectfully, I'll not call you anything except a damned fool.  One who is willing to give the government even MORE power and MORE of our money and MORE control over our lives when they have amply and completely demonstrated that they are utterly incapable of doing so responsibly. 

Trying the same thing over and over again expecting different results is the definition of insanity...and in this application (government) a technique used by useful idiots and power hungry ideologues.  Which are you?

The problem is, damned fools like that are doing their best to drag the rest of us to Hell with them.  It would be nice if, just once, he'd advocate a government policy that left everybody else alone, but no.

"Those who forget History are doomed to repeat it, but those who remember history are doomed by the bloody fools who don't."

[Jazzhead]

The problem is, damned fools like that are doing their best to drag the rest of us to Hell with them.  It would be nice if, just once, he'd advocate a government policy that left everybody else alone, but no.

I favor the AHCA, which repeals the ACA's requirement that you purchase insurance or pay a tax, and that your employer provide you with insurance or pay a tax.  See?  You're left alone to be a free rider and a burden on your local hospital when you show up without insurance.    Unfortunately,  the law doesn't go far enough and let the hospital just leave you alone too.     

[Restored]

It's not going to be easy to tax people for health care because so many people don't pay income taxes. Unless you plan on a National Sales Tax, you won't get enough money. The ONLY way to generate that kind of money it to tax the "poor". That's where the money is.
Medicaid is already bankrupting states that expanded it and they pay a small percentage of it. Take a hint, America.

[Cyber Liberty]

I favor the AHCA, which repeals the ACA's requirement that you purchase insurance or pay a tax, and that your employer provide you with insurance or pay a tax.  See?  You're left alone to be a free rider and a burden on your local hospital when you show up without insurance.    Unfortunately,  the law doesn't go far enough and let the hospital just leave you alone too.   

You're already done such a good job of burying yourself under all the ridiculous claims of the wonders of government help, I no long believe you.  Sorry.  Your credibility is shot from months of claiming to be something you're obviously not. 

Good day, I have a dentist that needs visiting.  Much more pleasant.

[Jazzhead]

Between my wife and my family our parents somehow managed to scrape together the means to pay for there eleven children's births, and raise them to adult hood without health insurance. 

Then you were damned lucky, if not a damned fool.   

  I should NOT have to subsidize people that refuse to save for their own financial need.

One cannot save for a catastrophic medical event.   And you are mistaken (the mildest word I can think of) that the poor lack virtue.   The community is, thankfully, less selfish than you.   

[Jazzhead]

It's not going to be easy to tax people for health care because so many people don't pay income taxes. Unless you plan on a National Sales Tax, you won't get enough money. The ONLY way to generate that kind of money it to tax the "poor". That's where the money is.
Medicaid is already bankrupting states that expanded it and they pay a small percentage of it. Take a hint, America.

Maybe you're on to something - use a sales tax or VAT or a tariff on imports.  Or just raise either or both FICA taxes on wages.    I have no problem whatsoever with the basic point you're making - income taxes are only paid by about half of us, if I recall correctly.   Something that's a benefit to the entire community should be paid for by the entire community.   

[Jazzhead]

Your credibility is shot from months of claiming to be something you're obviously not. 

I think for myself, without regard to ideology or mythology.   

[Cyber Liberty]

Maybe you're on to something - use a sales tax or VAT or a tariff on imports.  Or just raise either or both FICA taxes on wages.    I have no problem whatsoever with the basic point you're making - income taxes are only paid by about half of us, if I recall correctly.   Something that's a benefit to the entire community should be paid for by the entire community.

@Restored Did you see the way the eyes lit up when you suggested a new tax??     Just like a Holiday Tree!

[driftdiver]

Then you were damned lucky, if not a damned fool.   

One cannot save for a catastrophic medical event.   And you are mistaken (the mildest word I can think of) that the poor lack virtue.   The community is, thankfully, less selfish than you.

@truth_seeker @Jazzhead

Govt and the insurance companies are the problem.   Today a simple birth can easily cost $20,000 if everything goes right.   Slightest problem and you're easily looking at $100,000.   Perhaps you could pay that back at 1965 rates then but most people can't today.

Meanwhile the insurance company pays about $5000 for that normal birth, something most people COULD pay.   But you and I can't get that rate for paying cash.   

Govt isn't the solution, GOVT IS THE PROBLEM.  That and the lawyers who force the OB/GYN to pay half his income in insurance premiums.

[Cyber Liberty]

I think for myself, without regard to ideology or mythology.

Why don't you explain to all us rubes what you mean by "mythology?"  You keep saying that, and I think it's high time you define it for us, otherwise it's just another Jazzhead weasel word.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Other sectors of the economy are able to bring costs down by cutting out the middle man.

The problem with our healthcare is that the US mandates a middle man. And every middle man you add adds to cost and overhead.

[thackney]

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

Do you honestly believe we could provide more service than we do today for less cost, by passing that function through the federal government?

Really?

[truth_seeker]

Then you were damned lucky, if not a damned fool.   

One cannot save for a catastrophic medical event.   And you are mistaken (the mildest word I can think of) that the poor lack virtue.   The community is, thankfully, less selfish than you.

On to name calling (again). I am just an ordinary guy that can remember when we had better people, instead of entitled gibmedats.

And poor people did not go without medical treatment.

You are part of the problem, an overeducated elite, who thinks that just one more adjustment, and socialism will be okay.

You have not commented on much substance, ie. the middlemen. The insurance companies and the government involvement.

Could that be that you are yourself a lawyer in employee benefits, giving you a vested interest in the status quo?

Ronald Reagan:

"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem. ... Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them."