Treasury Secretary Snow warns Congress: US government's cash running out

[Scott & Lai 12]

Here's a thought: They could actually try cutting spending (not just the rate of increase, but the baseline), and limit the government to what the Constitution permits

well there goes the government run healthcare for ALL Americans that some folks think is necessary......

It isn't the government's job to provide for you at your neighbor's expense.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Here's a thought: They could actually try cutting spending (not just the rate of increase, but the baseline), and limit the government to what the Constitution permits

well there goes the government run healthcare for ALL Americans that some folks think is necessary......

It isn't the government's job to provide for you at your neighbor's expense.

I have excellent healthcare, thank you very much. And I don't trust the government to do absolutely anything for me... this is just tossed out there in regards to a healthcare thread yesterday... you need to drop into that thread and tell folks they don't need government assistance...

Edited March 17, 2006 by Frances

[pax 0]

At the risk of completely derailing the thread (but since there are not-so-subtle hints being dropped in my direction!), let me say this about health care.

Those of you with good jobs and health insurance are fortunate enough to tell other people that they need not "rely on government assistance." I myself am lucky to have a job that does pay a portion of my health insurance as well. But you cannot be blind to the fact that people may work more than one part-time job, may be temping or working independently, and cannot afford health insurance. These are not people who refuse to work or expect the government to provide for them. These are people who go out and earn their paychecks, who are supporting themselves and their families, and who do not have health insurance because they cannot afford it. Tell me that that reflects any kind of equity or justice!

You say you don't want government to subsidize health care? Your taxes are already subsidizing it. For one thing, your elected representatives do not pay ONE DIME for their high quality health care. You and I foot the bill for that. As well, public and private health systems end up eating the bills that people can't pay because they don't have insurance. You think they're not passing those costs along to you already? Think again.

This is not, as Bono would say, about charity. This is about justice. This is about ensuring that all Americans have access to health care when they need it, and not just when they get hit by busses. This is about letting people live without the fear that one health crisis will put them in the poor house. It could happen to you or I, you know. It happens all the time to people who have health insurance and jobs. So don't say it only happens to welfare-sucking scumbags who have 15 kids and no job. It happens to people just like you.

Again, you're already paying for it. You're paying for it twice--in the medical insurance you pay, and then in the taxes you pay.

[Sister Fracas 5]

At the risk of completely derailing the thread (but since there are not-so-subtle hints being dropped in my direction!), let me say this about health care.

Those of you with good jobs and health insurance are fortunate enough to tell other people that they need not "rely on government assistance." I myself am lucky to have a job that does pay a portion of my health insurance as well. But you cannot be blind to the fact that people may work more than one part-time job, may be temping or working independently, and cannot afford health insurance. These are not people who refuse to work or expect the government to provide for them. These are people who go out and earn their paychecks, who are supporting themselves and their families, and who do not have health insurance because they cannot afford it. Tell me that that reflects any kind of equity or justice!

You say you don't want government to subsidize health care? Your taxes are already subsidizing it. For one thing, your elected representatives do not pay ONE DIME for their high quality health care. You and I foot the bill for that. As well, public and private health systems end up eating the bills that people can't pay because they don't have insurance. You think they're not passing those costs along to you already? Think again.

This is not, as Bono would say, about charity. This is about justice. This is about ensuring that all Americans have access to health care when they need it, and not just when they get hit by busses. This is about letting people live without the fear that one health crisis will put them in the poor house. It could happen to you or I, you know. It happens all the time to people who have health insurance and jobs. So don't say it only happens to welfare-sucking scumbags who have 15 kids and no job. It happens to people just like you.

Again, you're already paying for it. You're paying for it twice--in the medical insurance you pay, and then in the taxes you pay.

My sarcasm button must not be working today...I'm actually much more on your side Pax than you think...

And when I say I don't trust government to do anything for me...I mean it....I don't trust them...BUT that doesn't mean I don't think we shouldn't be using our elected officials to change the system. I'm too tired to make a coherant thought out of this but I'm in the trenches with this on my job on a daily basis. I work for a physicians organization and the number one agenda item we rally behind is healthcare reform.

Soz if you thought I was having a go at you....as I wasn't...it was just something that popped into my head...it could have been any government social program that is at risk because of spending that is "elsewhere"...

[pax 0]

Ah, okay, that's fair.

Look, I could get behind reforms that didn't include a single-payer system. It's not so much that I think NHS-style health care is necessarily the answer (it might be, but it might not be). Health care is in crisis, though--obviously that's something we can both agree on--and anyone who's pretending that their insurance at work will save them from anything and everything needs to wake up.

[Autumnal 25]

There are probably a number of ways to diminish the debt, but the raising of the national debt doesn't seem to be the answer. Cutting spending would probably be a start, and getting out of certain military conflicts would probably contribute as well. How about a review of where government spending is way overboard and where they're getting ripped off...

[Mirorgate 0]

Issues with HC system:

1) to easy for Dr to be sued over patients problems

2) taxpayer pays for all abuses to system since cost increase is passed on

3) noone really cares about solution, only treating symptoms

4) freeloaders

5) dumba$$ regulations that should not be in place to make it harder to provide adequet care (HMO)

6) dbl billing of insurance co's by unscrupulous dr's on golf vacation

7) wonder drug to help with side-effects of wonder drug to help with side effects of wonder drug

and the list goes on. But trying to say that we need more gov'ent involvment? And then scream over increased in taxes?

[tsunamihart 0]

A question for people who know these things:

What happens if the ceiling is not raised and the government is unable to pay its bills?

Ask the folks in Argentina. They had a fiscal disaster a few years ago.

If I had a clear understanding of what happened in Argentina, I wouldn't be asking the question.

I'm looking for a technical explanation from someone who knows these things. I am googling it up in the meanwhile.

Argentia just came to mind as I remember that crash and how our risk dept folks at the time were all on blood pressure controlling meds.

Here's a little something to read:

As lawmakers hem and haw, the Treasury Department is raiding the civil service retirement trust fund to pay the government's bills. If Congress fails to act before it goes on recess next week, it's possible that the United States will default on its obligations -- rocking global financial markets and possibly leaving Americans stuck with higher interest rates for decades to come.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/03/news/econo....reut/index.htm

http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/14/news/econo...ggedin_fortune/

It's nothing good, that's for sure...

And the foreign investors call in their markers for payments that we can't afford to pay. So instead of president, we have a PM who sits in England/Finland/where ever as they "bought" us out of debt.

Yeah like China, no issue for us there!