1/13/2010 8:45:26 PM
1/13/2010 8:58:51 PM
^ Again, such figures are worthless without information about controls for lifestyle and treatments. A better set of comparisons would be life expectancy of different disease states with similar treatment processes compared to costs.
1/13/2010 9:19:13 PM
yes, data showing we spend 3x as much, go to the doctor less, and live shorter than average is absolutely worthless without qualifications. Nope, no conclusions, and I mean none, can be drawn from these facts. completely worthless
1/13/2010 9:28:22 PM
you are correct. The conclusion is that we need more information to make sense of those numbers. They are worthless in such a vacuum.
1/13/2010 10:04:49 PM
a vacuum? There are at least 4 datapoints for 21 countries all succinctly displayed in one graph:1) the average yearly cost of healthcare per capita, in US dollars2) the average number of doctor visist per year3) the life expectancy 4) the style of healthcare each country provideshow many more datapoints are necessary for that to not be considered "a vacuum" or for you to be able to draw some basic conclusions? I'm not saying at all that that chart, or any single chart or table, is the end-all be-all needed in any health debate. But to look at as much data that is provided in that simple chart and to claim that no conclusions, or even reasonable hypotheses, can be drawn from it is just being obtuse
1/13/2010 11:42:00 PM
Does the information control for the fact that we have a violent crime rate in major metro areas more akin to countries at the bottom of that list than the top? I mean we're talking less than 2 years difference between us and their listed average. Our murder rate alone could be a huge factor in that graph which not only would bring our life expectancy down, but bring our medical costs up (ICU is expensive). Like I said, a better comparison would be specific health states and treatment regimens compared to costs.Then of course there's lifestyle factors including exercise, eating habits, smoking habits, sexual habits, as well as medical compliance (you would be amazed at the number of people who buy very expensive medical treatments that go to waste because they aren't following the procedures).Also note that this talks about spending on more than just the actual care, it includes infrastructure. Hospitals aren't cheap to build, and we have a lot of them, and we mostly keep them up to date (Walter Reed not withstanding), all of that costs money. Do they have any comparison for relative infrastructure costs?Really the only conclusion that you can draw from that graph is that how much money you throw at healthcare is not at all correlated with how long you will likely live.
1/14/2010 12:01:03 AM
1/14/2010 1:26:45 AM
Health Reform Drags Obama's Poll Ratings DownJanuary 12, 2010
1/14/2010 5:13:29 AM
1/14/2010 7:37:18 AM
No one reads the bottom of the page.^^ And his handling of healthcare is lowering his approval of his handling of healthcare. Not his overall approval.http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/gallup-daily-obama-job-approval.aspx[Edited on January 14, 2010 at 9:08 AM. Reason : ]
1/14/2010 9:00:31 AM
1/14/2010 10:17:13 AM
1/14/2010 10:23:05 AM
great post cash.And take out auto accidents and homicides and we rank the highest as far as life expectancy. But people arent really interested in comparing apples to apples if it refutes thier opinion.
1/14/2010 10:43:08 AM
STRONGLYRASMUSSEN
1/14/2010 10:52:29 AM
^LOL. Every other poll has obama's approval at 70%
1/14/2010 11:16:14 AM
huh?
1/14/2010 11:52:50 AM
It was a joke.This is the best one I think. You can take a look at the different ones.http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html
1/14/2010 12:20:48 PM
And so you can look at the chart in your link and still cite Rasmussen with what I assume is a straight face?
1/14/2010 1:00:33 PM
and where did you see me cite it? They ALL show the downward trend. Earthdogg's point is still valid. he just used the one that most illustrated his point. imoIagree, rasmussen is usually the most radical poller.
1/14/2010 1:41:24 PM
Way to cave in to the unions, Obama... Union members don't have to pay the Cadillac tax now until 2017. It's good to see what the real important things are when it comes to health care: political constituencies[Edited on January 15, 2010 at 9:26 AM. Reason : ]
1/15/2010 9:26:29 AM
I can't believe he pulled that stunt.
1/15/2010 9:42:00 AM
1/15/2010 10:02:23 AM
^ Surprised? That is the Chicago way.
1/15/2010 12:40:31 PM
1/15/2010 12:43:01 PM
A friend of mine used to do some campaign work and was telling me about a conversation he had with his old boss, it is worth relaying:Him: "This bill is not going to work if it gets passed, like that it wont be a success"Boss: "Well, actually it will be a success for Obama and the House members and Senators who can go back and say they got healthcare reform passed"Him: "No, it won't be a success in the sense that it won't help me nor will it really help the people who actually need it"Boss: "oh"Which pretty much sums up the current mentality in Washington.
1/15/2010 3:30:04 PM
Why not make it easier and just exempt anyone who gave money to Obama's campaign?[Edited on January 16, 2010 at 10:41 AM. Reason : .]
1/16/2010 10:40:56 AM
F him[Edited on January 16, 2010 at 8:29 PM. Reason : .]
1/16/2010 8:10:32 PM
Fred Barnes gives us some hope in killing this health-care no-reform bill...
1/16/2010 10:27:04 PM
Health bill may impose 'marriage penalty'Both the House and Senate plans have higher premium caps for a married couple than an unmarried pair making the same money.
1/18/2010 9:08:50 AM
Posted this elsewhere, still relevant here:
1/18/2010 6:25:19 PM
^^ the only reason you ever needed is that evil democrats proposed it. Who are you trying to kid?
1/18/2010 6:51:56 PM
why are they still talking about a healthcare vote?what happened on 12/24/09?
1/18/2010 7:17:43 PM
^ Well, the senate voted on their version of the health"care" bill. However, in order for it to become law, both the house and the senate have to agree on A bill. So now they're in a joint committee to hammer out the differences between the House and Senate version so that it can be voted on and passed to the President to be signed.
1/18/2010 8:00:36 PM
^^ see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ
1/18/2010 8:03:02 PM
^ ahahahah 10/10
1/18/2010 8:06:06 PM
o i thought the house passed it months ago and then it went to the senate 2nd[Edited on January 18, 2010 at 11:58 PM. Reason : and kennedys vote shouldnt matter since the senate already voted?]
1/18/2010 11:57:03 PM
^ Both the House and Senate have to vote and pass on the same bill for it to go to the President.
1/18/2010 11:59:53 PM
Democrats May Seek to Push Health Bill Through House January 18, 2010
1/19/2010 5:03:29 AM
1/19/2010 10:57:05 AM
1/19/2010 2:47:53 PM
Here come the nullifiers again.
1/19/2010 3:15:10 PM
Nullification seems like a pretty great idea when the Democrats are going to force this disaster upon us. They don't care what people think about it. They're convinced that their way is the only way and they want to force everyone to accept it, because they are the elite, and they know what is best for everyone.
1/19/2010 3:25:38 PM
Nullification ... please, that is so 1850's.Hooksaw:
1/19/2010 5:33:26 PM
1/19/2010 6:22:47 PM
owning a car and someone's health are TOTALLY different. imagine if someone was "priced out" of going to school. that would is totally unimaginable and unacceptable. EVERYONE deserves EQUAL quality healthcare
1/19/2010 6:29:02 PM
And you dont think there are varying levels of education. A degree from harvard vs a community college degree? Honestly folks.
1/19/2010 6:33:28 PM
1/19/2010 6:34:39 PM
because the people were given the choice of a giant douche and a turd sandwich, and they all picked the giant douche?
1/19/2010 6:39:34 PM
They didn't. Even if they did, it's pretty easy to promise everyone free stuff with money that doesn't exist. People have to be waking up at this point, though. There is no money to spend. I can't hammer that point enough. You can try to wish these programs into existence, but it's going to be our downfall.
1/19/2010 6:41:14 PM