tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965783081453060079.post7400039848193049703..comments2023-04-10T04:41:45.293-04:00Comments on Triangulations: Taking Care of Our Unlimited Wantsmikhailbakuninhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13158822054353654203noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965783081453060079.post-80339538225160825292009-07-02T12:20:44.687-04:002009-07-02T12:20:44.687-04:00Thanks for the props! I totally agree with you. He...Thanks for the props! I totally agree with you. Health care is a really difficult issue for me – it’s just so complicated. There are so many philosophical, moral, and financial concerns. <br />. <br />The international comparisons strike me as unreliable for the exact same reasons – Americans have such different views on social responsibility and entitlement. We also have a very different political culture. Our system of government is great in some ways, but it’s often less accountable and more easily corruptible. <br /><br />On the issue of Wal-Mart, Megan McArdle had an <a href="http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/07/wal-mart_and_health_insurance.php" rel="nofollow">interesting post</a> yesterday on the latest announcement. I think she’s right. Wal-Mart probably had many different reasons for supporting an employer mandate – some good, some bad – but I think that the higher-ups at Wal-Mart are powerfully aware of the fact that an employer mandate will increase <i>fixed costs</i> and possibly price smaller companies out of the market. Wal-Mart can absorb rising health care expenses; smaller businesses probably can’t. <br /><br />There’s a myth that big companies don’t like government mandates. In reality, it seems to depend on how those mandates affect the overall competitiveness in the market.mikhailbakuninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13158822054353654203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965783081453060079.post-911480117314371682009-07-01T21:44:08.050-04:002009-07-01T21:44:08.050-04:00This is a great post- as were your previous ones o...This is a great post- as were your previous ones on health care. I've been reading so much about this lately, but it doesn't seem like there is one great option. And I think that Amercians have a very, very different view of what they "deserve" when it comes to their health care than people in other countries. I don't think there will be a perfect answer, and to be honest, I don't even know how successful our government will be in making significant change. Between the amount of lobbyists and the amount of money health insurance companies have given politicians over the years- can Congress really pull off a comprehensive, affordable and effective health care solution? It's going to be a bloodly battle, and I'm skeptical.<br /><br />I agree that Republicans need to stop their bickering and get together some type of workable plan themselves so at least there can be an honest debate between the parties. Something has to be done, we can all agree on that. <br /><br />Also, what did you think about Walmart backing employer mandated plans?Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01233884811870938830noreply@blogger.com