Why are we Americans so full of greed? Why are our priorities so out of whack?

Question

We agree to taxes to be taken out of our paychecks so these sport figures will have wonderful staduiums to play in and where we can go watch. But we'd rather our neighbors and fellow americans die b/c they don't healthcare than pay a tax so they can have healthcare too? What happened to for the people by the people and what this country was founded on. Something needs to be done. This country is out of control when it comes to healthcare. What can we do? Anything? Do you think it's too late for us? Do you think it would take a revolution?

This pretty much sums it up....
"when people fear their government, there is tyranny. when the government fears the people, there is liberty."
-thomas jefferson

The goernment needs to fear us and we need to take our country back and fight for what we need not the money that they want.

OPM -

You make a few good points. However it is about economics when Drs are given a higher bonus for more denials or when the drug companies are in charge of the insurance companies. I understand that building stadiums will employ others but for me I'd rather be taxed more and feel secure that me my child my mother and/or the guy down the street from me feels secure that he/she will not be denied health care.

Answer 1

I think that it's all a matter of raising awareness. I think that most people will agree with you that this isn't right and would be willing to do something about it if this issue were more...out in the open? (No one really talks about it.)

Answer 2

Do we agree to pay taxes for staduiums and sporting event? How many of us actually want to pay taxes for things that have no bearing on our lives, our families or our friends. Truely your question is not one most will agree with. What I do beleive is that the government needs to get it together and provide the country with what it needs. Better healthcare, more employment, less imports, better eductation for our children, fairer gasoline prices. Instead it seems our leaders are more inclined to lace their pockets with our money, take our children to fight a war that is putting our country more and more at risk financially and globally speaking... all for their benifits.

One thing I do agree with you is that we may see a revolution in our lifetime...

Answer 3

Bone r, that is core ignorance right there. 1 out of 6 WORKING Americans that pay taxes don't have health care. Its not the lazy ***** that sit at home and do nothing that don't have it. They get it from the working Americans who cant afford health care's tax dollars.

To answer your question, you are going to get slammed for this question but I agree with you. Dallas is getting a1 billion dollar stadium while some schools in the country don't have the tools to properly educate the children. Health care shouldn't be luxury. I do think this country is to far in debt to try to institute one now but it could save us money in the future.

Answer 4

First, the word greed is a negative word and so implies it is bad, but what if it was rewritten as "striving for a better life." Greed is only a problem when it is an end in itself.

The second problem is that you imply democratic societies, or any society, should prioritize its needs and do the most important first. Elected bodies are not structured to do that and could not be so without being a totalitarian regime. If the solutions to health care were simple the problem would have been solved already as it is agreed upon to be a large problem. The truth is, no one really knows how to fix the problem. It isn't even decided if it is a societal problem. Not everyone agrees it is a problem that government needs to fix. Governmental fixes may, in fact, make the problem worse.

As an economist, I appreciate the scope of the problem and how we have redefined our expectations. Fifty years ago, what we now consider poor health care would have been standard care because we were a poorer nation. Health care is a luxury good, I mean that in the technical sense, as incomes increase demand increases. The nation is 200 times more productive than it was at the founding of the republic. That means the average American produces 200 times more goods and services per hour than our Revolutionary counterpart. Wages are always tied directly to production, this means the average American is 200 times wealthier than his or her revolutionary peer.

As people become wealthier, they expect better care. This means the demand for care increases, but that does not mean more people want to be physicians than before. The physicians, nurses and others only have so many hours in the day. Likewise, we demand more medicine, but that requires reallocating more production from goods to medicine. Because manufactured production permits the substitution of capital for labor, it is much easier to produce more medicine, but direct care is not subject to that substitution.

For example, if you have one obstetrician in a room or ten, you still only get one baby. Likewise, if you would try substituting capital by offering more rooms or machinery, you will still need one obstetrician. You cannot substitute capital for labor in direct care and you cannot divide the work like an assembly line to split it among ten obstetricians instead to get a more efficient birthing process. In fact, doing either would be more inefficient.

The problem isn't economic, it is expectations. People feel that they are now wealthier, but they are not getting as much as the prior generation of people who had the time equivalent wealth because there are more of them, but no more doctors per capita. There is more money to pay doctors, but not enough doctors. The problem will become increasingly acute as baby boomer doctors and nurses retire.

It means the wealthy get great care and the poor little or no care. Of course it has always been that way since the founding of the republic, this is not new. What is new is the idea that it should not be that way. If the majority of the public feel that way, then you may get change, but the problem with national health care is that it will either lead to the overpayment of doctors or rationing with rationing being as likely as overpayment.

You see, by removing market demand from the equation, doctors regardless of quality will get paid a fixed salary. There will not only be no incentive for innovation, there will be no incentive for a doctor to work hard as they cannot gain from it. It is not true more people will get health care because it is likely you will lose physicians, but it is true more people will gain access to health care. This will probably displace people who would previously have paid for it, create a black market for health care, and may switch doctors to vanity care such as cosmetic surgery as it would not likely be covered by national insurance and would become the way a doctor can get ahead. The sickest patients would get care, but the sickest drain resources at a higher rate than what we now provide so routine care would likely be reduced resulting in more and worse outcomes overall.

We build stadiums because it tends to provide employment, improve the local welfare and reduce local poverty and unemployment. The local officials prefer high wage players because they pay more taxes and because it implies what their city has is highly in demand. It is also easy to build a stadium.

Answer 5

Things are pretty messed up. The brave ones fighting in the armed forces are some of the lowest paid in our society. That's a disgrace. It's never too late to change things. I question whether a revolution (armed) would be possible. Even if it was, with all the death and destruction, we'd probably end up regretting it. We all need to vote in change in 08.

Answer 6

I agree. The world is very greedy and there is no community left. Our priorities are completely scattered. I think the only way to fix things (though I think it has come to far to be fixed) is to work on it in your own life. If we each take responsibility, maybe things will change. If nothing else, you will feel good about doing your own part.

Answer 7

Socialized health care is the WORST by far. Ever been to a VA hospital? I payed wayyyy to much in taxes last year and you still want me to pay for your health care. when exactly did health care become a right? get a job.

Answer 8

You obviously have not traveled. Americans are pretty generous compared to what I seen overseas