[lbo-talk] TNR: universal health care now! or how to work forWal-Mart

Michael Hoover hooverm at scc-fl.edu
Fri Mar 17 08:28:22 PST 2006



>>> cbcox at ilstu.edu 03/17/06 10:45 AM >>>
Assume that the DP and the AFL-CIO represent the ONLY possible source of social progress in the U.S. Hence the future depends on the continued flourishing of those institutions (defined in terms of their current leadership). At the present time that sole hope of humanity is blundering badly, risking its very existence. In such situations true believers can only make the best arguments possible, no matter how shoddy, with a straight face and hope for the best. Smart, talented, and well-intentioned men and women have followed such a course many times over the millenia -- and it is not always even wrong to do so. Carrol <<<<<>>>>>

didn't c wright mills say something about crackpot realism...

ted marmor - in his 1970s-era book on medicare - indicated that potential for essentially all persons to receive helpful medical care had emerged by early 20th century (failure to make this a reality is another example, perhaps, of not-so progressive era), introduction of 1930s coverage whereby individuals - some of them anyway - could exchange monthly premium for medical needs (originally only major stuff, if memory serves) 'insured' private conception of health care...

of non-medicare/non-medicaid/other government program health care payments (about 40% of total), 20% of u.s. health care is still paid for by indvidual out-of-pocket payments (about 5% is paid for through other private means), only 33% is paid by for-profit 'socialized' corporate health insurance payments (whether premium is paid by individual, employer, employer/employee combos)...

until health care is seen as public right rather than private good to be sought out and paid for by individual who needs care, health care 'providers' (producer interests) will continue to shape policy at expense of working people/general population... mh



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