October 09, 2009
Some of us choose to have adult conversations

That's my response to Nicholas Kristof's completely childish column that appeared in yesterday's Times.

I do agree partially with his sentiments that some members of congress should give up their health care benefits. I just think that instead of the 15% he mentions (I guess he didn't get the memo from the White House that the new number is closer to 10%) they should all go with out health care benefits unless they want to pay for them themselves, as we all should be doing. (Health Savings Accounts for all!)

Posted by MarkGriswold at October 09, 2009 02:23 PM | Email This
Comments
1. Why should they give up their perks...comes with the job. HSA is for poor people without the skills to command real benefits. HSA is more or less a type of IRA where the employer gets a tax break and doctors get to charge full rates. The politicos would never do HSA unto themselves. Ralph Nader comes closer suggesting universal Medicare with reform, taxing stock trades. A revenue positive quota auction system for birth certs would help as well as co-pays for dependants...you breed you pay...only fair to the single people out there.

Yeah I see the authors point, would be shame if Bill Clintons Rhodes Scholar dream of universal corporate leverage over all Americans were not realized...where insurance firms screw individuals with sky high rates like they do with doctors...with the Selective Service System as the default remedy for those that can't do the mandate waiting to swallow them up.

Posted by: donbless on October 9, 2009 03:10 PM
2. What exactly is so "childish" about it? Affixing a "modest proposal" kinda sorta suggests that he's not serious, but more pointing out that folks in Congress have absolutely no idea what it's like to be poor and uninsured.

And no, Mark, Jonathan Swift didn't REALLY want the English to eat Irish children, either.

Posted by: demo kid on October 10, 2009 09:25 AM
3. Donbless, please get your facts straight. HSAs a re couple with HDHP's (high dedcutible insurance plans). Doctor's are paid negotiated rates just like every other insurance plan.

Posted by: Boatfoot on October 11, 2009 05:27 AM
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