I think in most instances competition is good, except for when it ends up giving all power to management or to labor - there has got to be a mix somewhere. On the other hand, competition in its current form got us to where we are. Today we have hundreds of forms for the same thing, hundreds of plans that are so different that it takes thousands of professionals to figure out who pays what [and makes our house payment], and mistakes are many. The system that spends as much as ours does figuring out who owes what [someone have a current figure on that???] and makes providers learn how to fill out 50 different forms for an office that does one procedure is just stupid wasteful. I think there are some good systems out there somewhere - didn't someone mention Germany? I have heard that system mentioned before. What we have now is broken - perhaps fatally so. The government is the only institution I know of that has the power and resources [our $$] to make anything work. The problem will be to keep the #$%# lobbyist and big money contributions out of the planning of it. You have to use people who understand the system, though. Perhaps a panel of retired health care professionals?? BillR
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jim Cathey Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2008 4:28 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] Was California, now Auto Workers Retirement and health costs > I don't think anyone wants the federal government to be running the > system - > especially not modeled after the IRS. I believe a 'single payer' > system is > what is proposed by most, and we spend [or did back when I knew about > such > things] about the same amount to figure out who is going to pay for > something as it would cost to cover everybody who is uninsured. The > current > system certainly isn't the solution. No system that doesn't encourage (or at least tolerate) competition will serve in the long run. Single-supplier systems, though perhaps more efficient in the short run, ossify in the long run. -- Jim _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
