Why Does Our Health Care Cost So Much?

You've probably already heard that the U.S. spends more per capita on health care than any other developed nation.


(Source: "Why Does U.S. Health Care Cost So Much?", Uwe Reinhardt, New York Times, 14 Dec 2008)

But by any objective measure of performance -- infant mortality, disease morbidity, just about anything except for the coddle-care of the superrich -- we lag countries much poorer than us.

What gives?

Here's a huge chunk of the reason: We're blowing it on insurance companies. You know, the ones with the executive spa retreats in the middle of the economic meltdown, the ones that spent $28 mil just on the current congressional incumbents in 2008 alone.



It's pretty clear that single-payer is no bleeding heart liberal spend-o-rama; it's simply the best way to get Americans covered, rein in the administrative costs, and start making Americans healthier.

After all, the wealthy can continue to pay out of pocket for their cradle to grave service; why should they begrudge the rest of us the level of care available even in much poorer nations? (Hint: They've got megabucks invested in the insurance companies too.)

See the Daily Kos for more.

Failblog Win

What really gets me is that if you look closely, it's an ad for funeral services:

Signs and Songs of the Season

I give you...Chiron Beta Prime Christmas Lights!

Thanks, Kirsten!

Well, it made ME laugh...

My Daughter's Favorite New Saying

Sometime during the latter stages of the presidential campaign, my eight-year-old daughter found a way to characterize all the promises being made -- and the hazy fulfillment conditions --  into one snappy line. Now she uses it as a magic charm whenever something looks really unlikely or difficult. I'm going to start using it in software meetings to replace rapid hand-waving:

...then everyone gets a pony!