So .. the VA system is perfect. Odd — why do studies show their outcomes are v’ble? Despite being single-payer?

And if the system is “money-driven” — name one that isn’t — wouldn’t it be logical that efficiencies would lead to the layoffs of unionized hospital workers?

How many layoffs? Who’s got a calculator? Do Democrats know how to use a calculator?

Really getting tired of “experts” with obviously no ability to put pencil to paper and authoritatively calculate gains and losses.

Example: if gummint directly controls nearly 50% of health care, and health care is SNAFU — what does that say about gummint?

After Fannie/Freddie debacle — could anyone rational trust gummint? I don’t think so — I still have a brain, and trust myself more than Bwarney Fwrank.

This panel, if given the authority to make changes, has the potential to turn into the health care equivalent of the FCC or any number of politicized quasi-government authorities. That would be even worse than Congress making the decisions because the voters won’t get a chance to get rid of these members.

And to be blunt, I don’t want my healthcare decisions made by bureaucrats of any form. And the panel members will be bureaucrats. Do we REALLY need another arm of the government making decisions for us “for our own good”? Haven’t we seen enough of what the government does for our own good?

Tom and David hit the issue right on the head: we don’t need more government in our healthcare. We need less. A LOT less.

Tell us how we’re getting less government in our healthcare with this panel of supposed “wise men”? And when can I meet them so I can educate them on MY health care needs, since you want to let them make those decisions for me?

I have read all fo the Medpac reports from the last four years.

So now you have met someone who has read them..

You are right, most people haven’t–typically the reports are 180 pages long. They are detailed and very well foot-noted–no assertions without proof. . .

These reprosts are very, very good. I also know a few people on the 18-member commission.

They are extremely knowledgable and they believe in medical care based on medical resaerch–safe, high-quality care for everyone.

The panel is not made up fo governmetn “bureaucrats”

A fair number of the people on the 18-member panel commission are doctors,, plus a nurse, the head of the American Association for Retired Persons. the head of health care benefits and penstions for a healthcare workers’ union, etc., etc.–

These are people who have a very real-world understanidng of how Meicare affects people’s lives—and how both Medicare and taxpayers are gouged by people in our for-profit health care system.

For a number of years, MedPac has insisted that we need to raise reimbursements for primary care physicians. . .

They’re right.

With Congress running the show, you know where to go, and if all else fails, you can try to throw them out. A bureaucracy is where change goes to die. Smart reform from any government agency seems a bad bet, in my opinion.

I see this move as intended to create opacity between process and actors in an attempt to provide politicians cover. Why they want cover is an open question, but it makes me nervous.

The underlying error, that health care should be treated as right (and that others’ lives can be taxed away in order to provide it) must be challenged. If this is not challenged, then you are just fiddling around on the surface of the problem