Webs’ Random Ideas

I just heard something on the radio on my way home from work that upset me. I was listening to All Things Considered on the Health Care summit that took place today and they got a chance to talk to GOP Congressman Dave Camp. This is where things got a little frustrating.

First Camp wouldn’t admit that the plan Obama presents isn’t a Federal takeover. He kept beating around the bush essentially saying it wasn’t, but wouldn’t just come out with it. Ugh! What an asshole because he obviously knows there is a difference between Federal takeover and regulation.

They talked about some other topics but one of the last ones forced me to shut off the radio. Camp was asked about Obama’s plan in relation to the GOP one. Essentially Camp said the GOP plan would work better because it would lower health care costs which would allow Americans to have more and better coverage. Yup, in so many words that was the gist of his statement. At 6:00P NPR will have the full audio to the story on their site. I will update the loose quote once I get a chance to go back and listen.

It just really pissed me off. For one that statement assumes Americans don’t understand how corporations work. Everyone knows that when given the option to have reduced cost, corporations use that lower cost as increased profit, which is one reason why corporations are always looking to reduce costs. In other words, if a Health Care Insurance company just had their costs reduced by $50 million they aren’t going to turn around and spend that same amount. Instead they would, like any other company, use the majority of that amount as a means to report increase in profit and share value. Lower costs almost always mean higher profitability.

It makes no sense to think the company would turn around and re-increase their cost thus reducing profitability. Why would a Health Insurance company turn around and give health insurance to the un-insured or high cost/risk people? THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY AND/OR SHARE VALUE!! I find it hard to believe they will ever insure more high cost/risk people unless forced. It’s simple economics.

Things get even more frustrating knowing middle class people that support the GOP and agree with such a silly statement. Do they not realize what is going on? I remember watching a movie about credit cards where a pawn shop owner said he gets into discussions with clientele that are middle to lower class and Republican. He just shook his head, “I ask them, ‘Dont you get it? Don’t you realize that you are the one being affected by their policies?’ And he says they never do.

So what are we to do? How do you get it through to a middle American GOP supporter or a tea party’er? I dont know.