Matt Yglesias

15 Responses to “The Difference on Health Care”

1. mpowell Says:
   September 16th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

   Well, it’s really difficult in a lot of normal settings. Doing it at work makes working awkward. Doing it with family risks pissing of the in-laws. Really the only time it’s low cost is with people you meet casually but don’t care about all that much. I think the Republican chain emails works so effectively b/c they don’t generate the face to face confrontations that are so awkward.

   Ultimately, I think the problem with Americans is that we have decided to nationalize the strategy of running perpetual credit card debt. It is amazing how many people think that when you get serious about your personal finances, you will tend to favor the party that cuts your incremental tax rate. The Republican culture wars help them lock up a certain percentage of the population, but it’s the financial side that puts them over the top (and where people are most likely to be voting against their interests). The idea that growing the top line is actually a great way to grow your bottom line is simply incomprehensible to most people.

2. Rachel Says:
   September 16th, 2008 at 12:41 pm

   I believe you’ve linked to the same op-ed twice, without linking to the Health Affairs article.

3. DX Says:
   September 16th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

   The last two links both point to the WSJ. Also, I should point out that health care policy is a double whammy: the folks who should be most concerned with health-care policy (especially those with chronic illness) are the most discouraged from talking about it. Nobody wants to hear us talk about our health care, much less politics at the same time.

4. someguy Says:
   September 16th, 2008 at 1:44 pm

   “John McCain taxes the high-value high-wage jobs that are also high-benefit jobs. When you tax something, you get fewer of them: fewer high-value jobs that take advantage of the skills of the American worker.”

   Maybe it is for best Americans don’t talk politics with their friends. I mean if you say something like the above your friends will think you aren’t as bright and informed
   as they thought and/or you don’t think they are as bright and informed as they thought.

   If they don’t it means they don’t care and weren’t listening. Which means you bored them un-necessarily. Or it means they aren’t as bright and informed as you thought.

   No good outcomes.

   I am pretty sure the above statement is not a good way to battle ignorance.

5. Mixner Says:
   September 16th, 2008 at 2:16 pm

   The fact that health care is getting so little attention from the candidates, especially Obama, demonstrates the absurdity of the constant refrain from liberals and progressives that the U.S. health care system is “fundamentally broken,” that there is a health care “crisis,” that the system is on the verge of collapse, etc., etc. ad nauseum.

6. nate Says:
   September 16th, 2008 at 2:56 pm

   You ever notice that the things that are supposedly impolite to talk about (politics, religion, money/salaries) are all things that if they WERE talked about openly would allow people to work together to challenge the existing power structures?

7. Mario Says:
   September 16th, 2008 at 10:51 pm

   First, the tax change will not result in fewer jobs because it is designed to decouple benefits and jobs. The plan does not change the tax advantages to businesses, and when the switch happens people currently receiving benefits would simply receive the cash value instead. No changes now, lower costs later. Everybody wins.

   Also, only fools or liars would describe the tax credit as “small.” Right now, it would more than fully cover the tax costs to nearly all but the highest paid workers (if it currently covers 1/3 of the premium, only people paying a higher than 33.3% marginal tax rate would pay anything) and the remainder would be kept in a form that would be as good as cash.

   Obama’s plan disregards the skyrocketing inflation in health care prices and promises to make it worse. McCain’s is designed to address inflation directly. McCain’s plan can be improved via negotiations with Congress, Obama’s would only get worse. McCain’s plan is a great starting point, while not perfect as is; I fear Obama’s plan is irredeemable.

   Overall, though, the article was otherwise reasonably accurate.

8. Trevor Says:
   September 17th, 2008 at 3:10 am

   Nobody minds if you bring up the fact that Palin likes to slaughter defenseless animals. Murdering moose? A moose is like a rabbit – probably gentler. Murdering wolves from airplanes? Who doesn’t like to hear wolves baying at the moon? Like vox populi Pam Anderson said: “I can’t stand the stupid bitch.” Is it THE issue? No, but it gets people talking and if I’ve heard “It’s time for a change” 10 times I’ve heard it 100 times from all kinds of people.

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