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Today's Nuze

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

Nobody's listening.

YOU'RE NOT BUYING THIS "COMPETITION" NONSENSE, ARE YOU?

By
Neal Boortz
@ June 29, 2009 8:56 AM
Permalink | Comments (55) | TrackBacks (0)

Now we know just how ignorant Obama thinks the American people are. Answer: Dumb as rocks.

All the president's men (and women) are out selling the asinine idea that Obama's government health insurance idea is going to put competition into the marketplace. This is an idea that one could only sell to a fool. Thanks to our system of government education, we are not suffering any shortage of fools.

Here's what Obama wants us to think. If the government gets into the health insurance business it will create such a fine and wonderful health insurance product that all other health insurance companies out there will have to tweak their products and prices in order to compete. This competition will, if you believe Obama and his sycophants, make health insurance more effective and more available across the board.

Like I said .. there's certainly no shortage of fools out there. Someone is buying this load of horse squeeze.

Sure, the government may very well come up with a health insurance product that is cheaper (to the consumer) and more effective than those offered in the private sector. Think about this though ... Could that possibly be because the government will be under no pressure whatsoever to make a profit on its health insurance? When you can operate at a loss indefinitely you have no problem undercutting your competitors. When you can call on endless government subsidies you can run anyone you chose out of business.

Let's say I open a grocery store. My stated goal is to give the other grocery stores in town some competition so we can provide a better product to the poor hungry consumers and help them save money at the same time. The other grocery stores will have to make a profit or close their doors. Not me! I'm the government, and I can operate at a loss. I have endless government subsidies and infusions of cash at my disposal. What will happen? No secret: When I move into the marketplace with a below-cost product the other grocery stores will shut down and I'll have your business locked up. Then I can do whatever I want with the choice, quality and price of my groceries and there really isn't a thing you'll be able to do about it.

There, my friends, is Obama's goal. He knows very well that his government-run insurance option is going to run private sector insurance companies out of business. Then the only game in town will be the government. This "competition" nonsense is just a talking point created to placate the dumb masses. The average 12-year-old home schooled child could dissect this game plan in a heartbeat. The same fools who thought Obama was going to pay their mortgage and put gas in their cars will now think that PrezBO is bring good old free market competition to the health insurance marketplace. All hail Obama, the sort-of God.

Now if the competition line doesn't work there's always a little class warfare that can be played. Sorry ... didn't get the name ... but I saw some ObamaBot on Fox News last night trying to sell Obama's health insurance takeover on a wealth envy basis. He referred to health insurance companies being engaged in "Sweetheart Deals that makes its executives very very rich," and referred to the private sector health insurance companies as a "cartel." On the one hand he plays directly to wealth envy and the hatred that the Obama crowd has been generating toward high-paid executives; on the other he conjures images of health insurers operating like the Mexican or Columbian drug cartels. That's the Obama concept of open discussion.

This is about control. Nothing more, nothing less. Obama wants control. Control over every aspect of your life. He's well on his way to complete success.

Wednesday, the president will hold another online town hall about heath care. They're taking your video questions via YouTube. You can try asking your questions. We'll see if they actually get answered or if they just cherry pick the easy ones.



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What others are saying

  • And why not mention the "sweet deals"?
    drug companies patent the results of government-subsidized research, then sell the patented products at hundreds or thousands of times their production value. Is it not worth mentioning the sore-end of the deal the American Taxpayer is currently stuck with?
  • Healthcare/Schools Competition
    I read every comment. Halfway up the list, Dan was the 'spotlight hypocracy' winner. Why does Obama think we need Government competition in the health insurance marketplace; but we need none in the education marketplace?
    1. Overregulate an industry.
    2. Encourage 'victims' to sue that industry far beyond true damages.
    3. "I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help."
  • re:many on costs and coverage vs competition
    I asked why competition isnt naturally driving down costs while improving coverage and care and I essentially got 3 answers - too much regulation which is reducing competition, care is improving/technology is improving and defensive medicine (that is, the cost from threat and use of litigation against Dr's creating excessive costs).

    I think some of those are all valid (although I wonder just how much cost regulation really adds). And I do think care has improved but, at what cost and to how many?

    I still have to wonder - given our current system, where is the incentive to lower the costs?

    As it works now - typically - an employee pays premiums to their employer who then covers a larger portion of that total cost to the insurance company the employee chooses. Employee gets sick and then pays either a cop-pay or a deductible up to a certain amount (or some combination) and then gets treatment/service (let's put issues of refusal of service and refusal to cover off to the side for now). The medical service provider then charges the insurance company for the service.

    In that system, the person who would be the biggest advocate for lower costs, the patient/employee, ends up bearing the smallest burden. The costs to the insurance company are larger than the co-pay/deductible (most times, depending on how it's structured) and the costs to the employer are not felt by the employee (until the employer raises the amount they have to pay annually). In any event, the broadest shoulders bear the greatest burden of cost - insurance company/employer. And those shoulders are broad enough that there is absolutely zero incentive for the medical provider to reduce fees/costs. As they saying goes "everyone likes to stick to an insurance company".

    So, how do you create a system that incentivizes medical providers to reduce fees and costs that can then be passed on to insurance companies who, in theory, would pass those savings on to employers?

    Would a govt run system force costs down? the easiest answer is to look at medicare - and I think it does not. In fact, the only system people like to stick it to more than insurance companies is the govt.

    So, how do you reduce costs? Seems like you'd want to shift more of that burden to individuals in terms of cost. Yes? Put the ownership on those who need the treatment.

    So, how do you do that in a way that creates real change without callousness towards health of citizens?

    I don't know.... thoughts?
  • Sorry, made a mistake in my previous posting: It's starting to get pretty funny watching Statists like Copyleft get more and more shrill and deranged as their agenda of soft tyranny slips away.
    To quote one of our resident Statist idiots: “He's just appeasing the healthcare terrorists instead of destroying them.... “

    Geez.. Saul Lewinsky only referred to the opposition and the “Enemy”, and here copy-leftist-idiot ups the shrill factor using the word 'terrorist' and talks of destroying them.

    It's going to be so much fun watching them get even more angry as their dreams of a Statist utopia slip away.

    Stay tuned folks, for tomorrow's installment of 'When Statist moonbats crack up'.

    (Snicker... Snicker)
  • Re: butt neckid The only way the Achievers and Producers can get the attention of the 'Rulers' in Washington is to go on strike(at least for a while).
    That's the only way the achievers and producers will matter. If they don't do that, they will simply become enslaved to the system.
  • Turtle
    Posty is doing fine, thankee for axing.

    He's gotten lots of laughs in his new home. And groans from my (few) liberal friends.
  • got turtles........................
    Joyce M/B

    how is your turtle doin'?

    the stinkin'muslim osamabama is a real post turd-el................hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe
  • Smooth Operator
    I really really hope you are right. However, it took Europe a LONG time to see the light and it'll take them more time to complete the cycle.

    Personally, we would have been better without Social Security ever being passed. We should have been encouraged to save our own money. Or had the monies put somewhere safe away from government hands! Try to cut it out now, oh boy will that start a feud!
  • and another thing
    Pasting this from Neal's article yesterday:

    "So top Democrat senators say that they have found $400 billion in savings by reducing the amount of subsidies for the poor, poor pitiful poor to buy insurance. The other $200 billion in savings will come from "further adjusting the level of subsidies.""

    They are counting not spending something that hasn't even gone into effect yet? How can you count something you aren't spending?

    That's imaginary money paying for a future screwup.

    Sorry if this is repetitive but it's just mind boggling.
  • @Joyce
    It may not have the votes to pass given the impact it will have on the middle class( i.e. taxing employer-provided health benefits).

    However, if it does, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if we reverse course down the road much like the Europeans, after their disastrous experiment with government-run healthcare.
  • Healthcare IS improving
    "So, explain to me with all the competition in health insurance, why do rates just continue to go up by double digit percentages each year? Shouldn't this be getting cheaper, with better coverage for more people? If we're looking to market forces to make this work, why does it seem to be working so poorly now?"

    My parents didn't have things like ultra-sounds during pregnancy except for extreme situations. Today? You get one every few months for a simple checkup. I paid a 10% co-pay to get it.

    MRIs? Where were they 20 years ago? Only in emergency situations. Now, you get one so an orthopedic doctor can check your knee for tissue damage.

    We are getting improved healthcare. But when Obamacare comes in, all the new tech stuff will stall out. Regarding the sky rocketing costs, well what do you expect when you can sue people for unlimited money by just spilling hot coffee in your lap? Doctors are having to buy specialized malpractice insurance for WHEN they get sued (not IF). Capping punitive damages to reasonable levels would reduce some of the costs of the healthcare industry.

    BTW, we think he lots of competition right now? Heck no! Your insurance is tied to your company. Lose your job, and you better buy COBRA, or you are toast when it comes to pre-existing conditions. Thank the unions for that one! We have a heavily regulated industry, so it slows down some things, and eliminates lots of others.
  • Neal, this is precisely why
    you believe the dumb masses shouldn't be able to vote...and you're right...Well, when their care starts to get rationed they still won't get it! So it'll serve them right - maybe we can get rid of some fatties and smokers?
  • you don't matter..........................
    again I say you don't matter. you are only good for your tax money.

    osamabama medical care is your only choice. get used to it......
  • It's starting to get pretty funny watching Statists like Copyleft get more and more shrill and deranged as their agenda of soft tyranny slips away.
    To quote one of our resident Statist idiots: “He's just appeasing the healthcare terrorists instead of destroying them.... “

    Geez.. Saul Lewinsky only referred to the opposition and the “Enemy”, and here copy-leftist-idiot ups the shrill factor using the word 'terrorist' and talks of destroying them.

    It's going to be so much fun watching them get even more angry as their dreams of a Statist utopia are slip away.

    Stay tuned folks, for tomorrow's installment of 'When Statist moonbats crack up'.

    (Chuckle)
  • Health Insurance, competition, & prices
    RE Mark's comment about why prices continue to go up. Simple: government regulations. If you are a single guy, working for a large employer group, _by law_ your employer has to offer you a health insurance package that includes government mandated coverage riders: such as maternity benefits (nevermind that you are not going to have a baby...ever), and childhood routine care and immunization (whether you have children or not). Furthermore, there _is_ no competition across state lines. This is law. For an insurance company to sell across state lines, the in-state insurance provider must cede the business to them...why would they want to do that? But it's the law, so there it is, squashing competition.
  • Health Care
    "Sure, the government may very well come up with a health insurance product that is cheaper (to the consumer) and more effective than those offered in the private sector."

    If that's the case, what is your problem? If the government can do it better, why not let them?

    And if they can't, then the private sector can still out compete them, even if the government doesn't make a profit. How? All that efficiency the private sector excels in. If the gummint makes zero profit, and the private sector is 20 per cent more efficient, then private insurers can undercut the gummint by 10 per cent and still make 10 per cent profit, right?
  • Single-payer SUCKS!
    "No, the entire notion of a for-profit health insurance industry needs to be simply and quickly dismantled. Single-payer is the best solution."

    Just show me all the places where single-payer, government monopolies have served us well in the past.
  • ahaaaaa! so you think you........................
    well my fellow amerikins it's later than we think.............

    the scum suckers in the whore house got what they wanted. next up the scum suckers in the bordello(senate) are going to go along, there is no stopping this...........

    health care that fails is next...

    I said awhile back "YOU DON'T MATTER!!!" and not one of you could show me that I'm wrong. the only thing you (any of us) are good for is tax money.

    am I wrong? I don't think so. what is the solution? change the gubmint,NOW!!!

    gimme a leader that has values, guts, and a good supply of ammunition of his own, and I'll follow......

    DRIP
    ARM
    PROTECT
  • markets
    I thought that competition in markets tended to keep prices low. Or heck, at least on a downward trend. Companies look to build better mouse traps, cut costs, or find other ways to either gain margin to then invest in other things or reduce price and stay competitive or gain on the competition. Isn't that how it works?

    So, explain to me with all the competition in health insurance, why do rates just continue to go up by double digit percentages each year? Shouldn't this be getting cheaper, with better coverage for more people? If we're looking to market forces to make this work, why does it seem to be working so poorly now?
  • assumption
    you're assuming people will buy this gov't product.

    The post office maybe cheaper than fedex or ups, but I still send my mail through them for their customer service.

    in a free market, lowest price does not always win, especially when it comes to health care ...
  • Politicians/socialized medicine
    I would LOVE to hear a politician say, "I will fully support a federal health care system when the average American fights for their right to the same care and treatment provided at our VA hospitals."
  • Competition/health care
    Why is competition so good for health care but not education? Think how great our schools might be if they did not monopolize the industry. Hmmmmmmm, me thinks I smell Union-flavored Kool-Aid!
  • End of Medicare
    Just a thought for all you seniors who like your Medicare. Do you really think the government is going to run two insurance programs. Not likely. You will be the first dumped into the "pool" to offset costs. Good luck standing in line, and will that hip replacement be worth it to the government at your age?
  • Feds providing healthcare insurance?
    If the federal government is so good at providing healthcare insurance, then why do MediCare recipients need to have Part B plans to get full coverage? With this new plan by Barry, will be all need to have a private insurance policy in addition to our government (paid by taxes) policy?
  • What's Walmart have to do with Obamacare?
    Isn't this the same argument we've heard in the past from Dems about their archnemesis Walmart? For many years, we've heard about the evil Walmart coming in to towns and undercutting the small town shops owned by long time residents. Walmart does this because they have large amounts of cash and can afford to sell quantity at a smaller profit than can the mom and pop stores who have to adhere to higher prices on lower quanitity sales to get by. Walmart also pays their employees next to nothing to further reduce overhead.

    Now along comes Obama who is explaining how when it comes to healthcare this is a good thing. Government will subsidize the costs undercutting the long standing insurance companies and force doctors into charging a fraction of the cost in effect paying them next to nothing for their services. To the Dems, this is is a good thing. Funny how these things work.
  • What is wrong with you people
    Problem with Neals grocery store analogy. The government store would be poorly, stocked, run by lazy idiots hired for their diversity and open only during specified hours. Anyone who could afford to would shop elsewhere until the government shut down the other stores at the point of a gun.
  • @ The Truth
    First off, I hear ya...

    But, a correction is in order. While you are right in that the President doesn't make laws, you are wrong in saying that he isn't doing his job. One of the duties of President is to set the agenda for Congress, and therefore his agenda is the agenda of Congress. In addition to that, he is also the head of the Democrat party, and has to rally his party behind a unified message (something the Republicans haven't been able to grasp since Newt was Speaker).

    None of what he is doing makes him King, he's no more empowered than Bush was, and Bush usurped the powers of both the legislative and judicial branches, not to mention trampling States' rights (and the rights of individuals). We haven't really seen Obama do that yet, he's been busy usurping the powers vested in the private sector.

    Welcome to the end of the American road... Bush got everything prepped and primed for Obama. We've been had by both parties.
  • Buisness as usual
    You're barking to the choir on this one, Neal. Some of us are not so stupid that we don't understand how business works. Most of us also understand how corrupt our politicians are, and also understand that this is just a Democrat power grab.
  • Gov't Health Care
    Something akin to this happened years ago and it backs up Neals point perfectly. I was involved (indirectly) of procurement of memory for personal computers in the 1980's. American memory manufacturers could not compete with the Japanese because the Japanese would take a loss on their chips to undercut the competition. The Japanese companies were subsidized by their government so they could stay in business until the competition was defeated. In effect, these companies were government companies. So, in the same type of environment, how can we expect our private health care to compete with government health any more than our chip companies could do so with the Japanese?
  • healthcare too expensive?
    Fox News Sunday, Bret Baier asks HHS Sec. Sebelius how Obama wants to pay for this $1+ trillion legislation, and she says:

    "About $660 billion over 10 years in savings from the current system in redirecting the money that's not currently going to make people healthier and make them more secure would be on the table, as well as about $330 billion over 10 years in capping the itemized deduction."

    OK, now assuming that they can actually save $660 billion (which they won't without a serious drop in quality of care), she's admitting that these "savings" won't actually benefit consumers of healthcare, because that money will go to the gov't in the form of additional revenue.

    So the cost savings to the American people is zero, with a drop in quality. Personally, I'd rather give that money to "evil" healthcare companies.
  • dumb as rocks indeed
    He is President today isn't he? Now, he is an intelligent man himself so he knows if that many people voted him into office there are enough idiots out there to buy just about anything he's selling.
  • Who's the customer?
    Remember, the job of the service provider is to satisfy the customer. If you're getting poor service, ask yourself "who's paying the bill?" That's the customer.
  • What is wrong with you people?
    Why are we even talking about Obama and HIS plans?

    MAKING LAW IS NOT HIS JOB!!!!!

    If I had 10 million dollars, I would start a campaign with this message:

    WHO CARES! IT'S NOT YOUR JOB OBAMA.

    Last I heard, he was the President, in the EXECUTIVE BRANCH, not in the LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (that actually makes the laws for you that are government educated).

    Obama should do HIS job and quit trying to make laws.

    If you try to MAKE LAWS, EXECUTE LAWS, and JUDGE THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS (CZARS, Firing CEOs)... that sounds more like a KING.

    So... ALL HAIL KING OBAMA.

    OBAMA is the worst president ever simply because he is not doing his job.
  • Real competition
    Want to fix healthcare here is my idea. No more Co-Pays or NO-Pays. How about regardless how well insured you are or who your insurer is, you should pay NO LESS than 10% of every medical bill out of pocket. Be it check up or cancer treatment. When the cost directly hit the consumers pocket, they will shop around. Right now who does that? Very few which is why prices are so out of control. There is no reason for doctors or hospitals to compete and insurance companies and the government care programs are to big to oversee the cost we rack up.
  • Obama is right
    We are a stupid people...at least a plurality of the electorate are as you put it..."dumb as rocks." Look who we elected this time out. You can't get people more ignorant that the American voter.
  • Healthcare
    We mustn’t question our Barry, his biracial metrosexual community organizing creed make him immanently qualified to be our President, and deal with healthcare more specifically. We conservatives get bogged down on silly things like American Exceptionalism, love of country, freedom, upholding the ideals of our founding as guaranteed by our Constitution. I recommend anyone who believes in government care start today and go to the Health Dept. for their health care and report back it would be instructive. Embrace the lunacy!
  • Copyleft
    "Darn that moderate Obama and his pragmatism! He's just appeasing the healthcare terrorists instead of destroying them...."
    Moderate?...Like Hitler was a mere moderate right?..Laughable.Thanks Copyleft..I needed that on a Monday morning!!!
  • I think Boortz has it wrong...
    Not on the idea that govt healthcare stinks (because it does).
    I mean more on the "Obama thinks we're idiots" thing. Now, I have no doubt that our elected officials think that we're not that bright. They may have something there because if we were smart they wouldn't be in power would they?

    I think he's giving Obama too much credit though. Remember, this is a guy that has grown up with the idea that free market and such is one of the most evil things in the world. If you've grown up hating the free market, how would you really know how it works?

    This isn't Obama trying to fool the dumb masses, this is Obama showing his own level of understanding about how the real world works.
  • Smooth Operator
    If it passes, we'll never get rid of it. Just like Social Security.
  • Health Care
    Cancell ALL medical and health benefits for ALL governemnt employees and elected officials at ALL levels. Put them in the same market the rest of us are in.
  • What's "moderate" about dismantling free markets?
    Nothing. I think it would be better if trolls like Copy and his ilk would just come out and admit they're nothing more than communists. At least that way, they wouldn't have to constantly lie to make their points.

    Once again, there's NOHTING moderate about Obama. He's nothing more than a communist posing as a democratically-elected president.
  • george carlin says it best
    as soon as i saw the opening line for this post, i said to myself "if i wasn't dumb as rocks i would be able to think of what i needed to say right now. or right then. "

    http://www.blog2.tshirt-doctor.com/
  • Wal-Mart?
    No, Randy, Wal-Mart is spending its own money. Obama is not, so he doesn't have to be efficient, nor does he have to satisfy his "customers" to get that money. Big difference.

    You're right, Neal. Two words prove the average voter is a moron: "President Obama."
  • Competition
    With any hope, the gov't health services will be as bad as the post office, DMV, TSA etc. When that happens, I'll gladly still pay for private care. I refuse to be governed any more than I already am. Are you listening, Aetna?
  • @randy
    I fail to see any connection between Wal-Mart and a state-run enterprise.

    Wal-Mart makes profits. Government-run companies do not.

    Wal-Mart creates jobs. Government does not.

    Wal-Mart creates price competition. Government does not.
  • Power hungry gov't
    If they are so proud of this plan why dont they have a debate with Dr's and others that opose it in a public forum? Debate just doesn't seem to be an option within this administration.
  • gangsterism....
    And just think what happens when Amnesty comes. Im willing to bet the illegals here will have voting rights by 2012....putting Chairman Teleprompter back for another 4 years. Ron Paul warned us guys....we were told about this insanity.
  • Competition?
    All I have to say about that is, how many Health insurance companies are primary insurers for People over 65?

    'nuf said.
  • lunacy
    Rule of thumb: federal employees are LOSERS!

    If you think the federal government would ever be more efficient than a private enterprise, then YOU ARE A LOSER!
  • competition?
    looks like Mr. Obama has been studying the Wal-Mart method of business.
  • "Comptetion - Mafia style"
    I posted this on another channel last Thursday, but it is even more appropriate here. It isn't really about the mafia except in the ruthless squeeze effect it portrays.

    Let’s see if I can get this right:
    1. My employer pays $800 of the $1200 month premium for my family health insurance.
    2. Federal government forms the Health Care Collective to which all must contribute.
    3. Federal government takes an additional $200 per month out of my check to tax my “Health Insurance Income.”
    4. My employer winds up laying off one of every five employees to make up for his additional tax burden on his S-Corp tax filings, leaving our group plan a few short of the good rates and thus raising the price of my employer provided health insurance.
    5. My employer starts pressuring the employees to dump the employer insurance in favor of the “free” government plan in order to save him the now $1000 a month of employer contribution for the group insurance plan.
    6. Half of the employees dump the employer plan to save themselves the now $250 a month of additional “health insurance benefit” taxes and the now $500 per month of premiums.
    7. Employer withdraws group plan forcing everyone onto the government plan.
    8. Repeat at every small business in America leading to 295 million Americans on the government plan and 5 million flying to the new medical havens set up in the Caribbean island nations to get health care.
    9. All my insurance stocks in my retirement fund are now worthless, and I have to go to the Caribbean to visit my doctor brother because he had to move to make a living.

    The above chain of events would take about 2 years to work out fully to steps 8 and 9, but make no mistake, they would get there.
  • Nonsense indeed
    There should be no "compromise" solution. We saw how well that accommodation approach worked with Bill Clinton's healthcare proposal.

    No, the entire notion of a for-profit health insurance industry needs to be simply and quickly dismantled. Single-payer is the best solution.

    Darn that moderate Obama and his pragmatism! He's just appeasing the healthcare terrorists instead of destroying them....
  • The NWO knows...
    the people of this country are as dumb as rocks. They made us that way. The NWO has been systematically destroying education programs which results in masses of young adults that are practically braindead. They are either addicted to drugs or they are addicted to their IPhones or their computers. Their dumb assed parents are all watching their reality TV while their kids sniff paint and get drunk every night. American society has massively deteriorated. Sometimes I don't even know what is worth saving anymore.
  • Media Reporting
    If the state-run media would give half as much attention to this healthcare scam (and the cap and tax scam) as they are giving to finding the blame for Michael Jackson's death, then the truth would finally be reported. Does anybody else see an imbalance here?
  • Comrade Obama
    Disdain for capitalism and free markets--hallmarks of socialism.

    The very notion that government should even be allowed to "compete" versus the private sector is insanity.

    This man is dangerous. I pray to God he can be stopped after the mid-term elections, if the damage is not already too severe to be undone.
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