Only two economic strategies needed.

[2centsworth]

Dramatically increase our energy supply and reduce the COST of healthcare.

everything else will fall in to place.

[Tully365]

Why not include increased energy conservation also?

[Supergirl]

I like the economic strategy of the guy on SNL: "Just fix it!"
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/update-freds-mapfix-it/784121/

[baseline bum]

What are your solutions to those problems? Is ANWR+offshore drilling anything more than band-aids to our oil-addiction?

[clambake]

What are your solutions to those problems? Is ANWR+offshore drilling anything more than band-aids to our oil-addiction?

american oil would sell that shit to anybody, gladly.

[2centsworth]

Why not include increased energy conservation also?

Freedom.

[boutons_]

"reduce the COST of healthcare."

damn near impossible.

"free market" for-profit health care, and Big Pharma, has figured out how to gouge the people, and nothing going to stop them from gouging more and more.

health insurance companies support universal mandated coverage where they accept even the currently uninsurable, because it will punitively drive people into their bloody talons.

[2centsworth]

What are your solutions to those problems? Is ANWR+offshore drilling anything more than band-aids to our oil-addiction?

invest in alternatives, but for now natural gas, wind, and domestic crude are the short-term solutions.

[2centsworth]

"reduce the COST of healthcare."

damn near impossible.

"free market" for-profit health care, and Big Pharma, has figured out how to gouge the people, and nothing going to stop them from gouging more and more.

health insurance companies support universal mandated coverage where they accept even the currently uninsurable, because it will punitively drive people into their bloody talons.

bitch, bitch, bitch. solutions please.

[clambake]

you keep saying "domestic crude" as if they wouldn't sell it to anybody.

[boutons_]

natural gas "fracking", as well as requiring millions of gallons of poisoned water per well, is also polluting ground water/aquiferes with secret mixtures of very probably pathogenic chemicals.

fracking is simply not a sustainable way to extract NG, and should be outlawed.

[boutons_]

It's your thread, you go first with your solution to reducing COST of health care.

[boutons_]

Nearly 50 Percent of U.S. Physicians Plan to Quit; 60 Percent Warn Others Away from Career in Medicine

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4AH1CE20081118

Primary care physicians are already in critically short supply in many regions.

[2centsworth]

It's your thread, you go first with your solution to reducing COST of health care.

One payor system with an annual health care credit to each person payable for regulated basic coverage. Extra coverage is not deductible.

[Anti.Hero]

Why not include increased energy conservation also?

You're right. No one drive anywhere. No one buy anything that takes energy to obtain.

Market will rebound in no time.

[boutons_]

I go with single-payer.

Fold Medicaid and Medicare into one program that covers everybody.

EVERYBODY pays mandatory payroll dedections and everybody get covered.

Will need a national computer system for Health ID cards.

If you want additional private insurance and for-profit care, you buy that on your own account with no tax credits.

[Drachen]

You're right. No one drive anywhere. No one buy anything that takes energy to obtain.

Market will rebound in no time.

Wow! THAT is what you get from the words energy conservation? How about move the thermostat 2 degrees, or turn off the lights, or go ahead and drive, but plan your trips to do more than one errand in one trip, that way the money that you save by doing the above can be spent on other things such as *gasp* products that would fuel the economy (no, can it be? a solution to help our energy independence that directly effects the stabilization of our economy?)

[doobs]

Wow! THAT is what you get from the words energy conservation? How about move the thermostat 2 degrees, or turn off the lights, or go ahead and drive, but plan your trips to do more than one errand in one trip, that way the money that you save by doing the above can be spent on other things such as *gasp* products that would fuel the economy (no, can it be? a solution to help our energy independence that directly effects the stabilization of our economy?)

Be sure to check your tire pressure, too.

[Drachen]

Be sure to check your tire pressure, too.

Damn straight!

[doobs]

Damn straight!

If it's yellow, let it mellow . . . if it's brown, flush it down!

[2centsworth]

I go with single-payer.

Fold Medicaid and Medicare into one program that covers everybody.

EVERYBODY pays mandatory payroll dedections and everybody get covered.

Will need a national computer system for Health ID cards.

If you want additional private insurance and for-profit care, you buy that on your own account with no tax credits.

I would still keep the providers private, but mandate a basic care policy at a price no greater than TBD.

[Tully365]

You're right. No one drive anywhere. No one buy anything that takes energy to obtain.

Market will rebound in no time.

Nice retort.

[Tully365]

Freedom.

Do you think it's a coincidence that the words conservative and conservation look and sound an awful lot alike? So you don't want to conserve energy as a small, simple part of lowering dependence on foreign energy sources because you think that it will mean losing your freedom? Is your conception of freedom really that superficial? Will wearing a sweater in a government building that has lowered its thermostats by 2 degrees really perpetrate what you consider a horrible infringement on your freedom?

[2centsworth]

Do you think it's a coincidence that the words conservative and conservation look and sound an awful lot alike? So you don't want to conserve energy as a small, simple part of lowering dependence on foreign energy sources because you think that it will mean losing your freedom? Is your conception of freedom really that superficial? Will wearing a sweater in a government building that has lowered its thermostats by 2 degrees really perpetrate what you consider a horrible infringement on your freedom?

are you really this much of a pompous prick?

[scott]

Speaking of pompous pricks, I feel obligated to point out that neither of these things are strategies - they are objectives.

[2centsworth]

Speaking of pompous pricks, I feel obligated to point out that neither of these things are strategies - they are objectives.

You Dan Rather now?

[boutons_]

"mandate a basic care policy"

basic?

You're covered if you get basically sick, but if you get un-basically, gravely sick, then what?

[Drachen]

are you really this much of a pompous prick?

I am not trying to stir the pot, but what exactly is pompous about suggesting we put a sweater on while turning the heat down by two degrees? No one is infringing on your rights, you don't have to wear a sweater. Your comment really confuses me.

[2centsworth]

"mandate a basic care policy"

basic?

You're covered if you get basically sick, but if you get un-basically, gravely sick, then what?

if you want everyone to have cadillac coverage, and then that's where you and I disagree.

[clambake]

if you want everyone to have cadillac coverage

:lol

[2centsworth]

:lol

:lol I may have to replace that saying with Lexus.:lol

[spurster]

I agree with 2 cents objective strategies (or were they strategic objectives). One factor against US workers is paying for their health care. If it's arranged through the government, and you control costs using the best of what other national health care systems do, then we save money and US workers are cheaper.

If you increase available energy (being green all the way which is possible with enough nuke plants in the mix), then you are sending less money away that enables terrorism and spending it the US instead. Yes, I include freedom-stifling conservation in this. It's not really freedom if what you do adversely affects the rest of us.

[2centsworth]

I agree with 2 cents objective strategies (or were they strategic objectives). One factor against US workers is paying for their health care. If it's arranged through the government, and you control costs using the best of what other national health care systems do, then we save money and US workers are cheaper.

If you increase available energy (being green all the way which is possible with enough nuke plants in the mix), then you are sending less money away that enables terrorism and spending it the US instead. Yes, I include freedom-stifling conservation in this. It's not really freedom if what you do adversely affects the rest of us.

I'm a conservationist, but democrats take that to mean tax the hell out oil.

[Tully365]

are you really this much of a pompous prick?

Sorry... didn't realize that someone who's hero is Scarface would be so sensitive to honest criticism. I think the term pompous applies better to the theory that repeating the mistakes of the Reagan era will somehow fix the troubles that in large part stem directly from the Reagan era. Again, my apologies for having an opinion that differs from yours.

[Cry Havoc]

Pouring about half of our military budget into our education system would be a pretty good start to improving the state of this country. Consider the logic that we are fighting a war in Iraq, and our education system is so broken that many children do not even get decent primary education. To me, that represents not only the height of ridiculous, but the most telling statistic of what our country will be seen and judged by in the future. Medicine is expensive and energy is a big, big deal, but a nation that cannot or makes a decision not to fund it's education system... well... nothing else matters, really. Regardless of our society and the fact that we remain a world power, all is for naught if our youth is less intelligent than the generation that came before it.

And for the love of all that's Darwin, can we PLEASE get some classes once in a GREAT while to teach these children and students some REAL LIFE SKILLS? Ugh. I'm going to go kick a puppy now.

[baseline bum]

Pouring about half of our military budget into our education system would be a pretty good start to improving the state of this country. Consider the logic that we are fighting a war in Iraq, and our education system is so broken that many children do not even get decent primary education. To me, that represents not only the height of ridiculous, but the most telling statistic of what our country will be seen and judged by in the future. Medicine is expensive and energy is a big, big deal, but a nation that cannot or makes a decision not to fund it's education system... well... nothing else matters, really. Regardless of our society and the fact that we remain a world power, all is for naught if our youth is less intelligent than the generation that came before it.

And for the love of all that's Darwin, can we PLEASE get some classes once in a GREAT while to teach these children and students some REAL LIFE SKILLS? Ugh. I'm going to go kick a puppy now.

Our educational system is so jacked up that throwing money at it isn't anywhere close to enough. I know a math teacher in Texas who tells me he's not allowed to teach proofs in plane geometry because it's not covered on the TAKS. To me that's unreal to have a plane geometry class where you do no proofs. Fucking Bush and his retard pal Ted Kennedy have concocted the stupidest and laziest solution to measure how much our younger generation is learning in school; just throw an easy test out and have teachers teach that instead of teaching kids how to think for themselves. Just memorize the fucking test.

[baseline bum]

And for the love of all that's Darwin, can we PLEASE get some classes once in a GREAT while to teach these children and students some REAL LIFE SKILLS? Ugh. I'm going to go kick a puppy now.

I agree with this one. It disgusts me that people can get school credit for working at Subway. The school has completely failed that person. They could have taught him how to be an electrician, a carpenter, a plumber, etc., but no, take the easy way out and don't do shit to train him. Our educational system epically fails those who do not go to college.

For college prep though, our system has greatly improved in the past 10 years or so. The AP classes are a great step to challenge and prepare the top students in the school. They have been a great way to keep the best students from having to be slowed down to the pace suitable for average students in class.

[2centsworth]

Sorry... didn't realize that someone who's hero is Scarface would be so sensitive to honest criticism. I think the term pompous applies better to the theory that repeating the mistakes of the Reagan era will somehow fix the troubles that in large part stem directly from the Reagan era. Again, my apologies for having an opinion that differs from yours.

my "hero" :lol. Arrogance rubs me wrong, so that's why I called you a pompous prick. anyways, don't want to beat a dead horse.

[2centsworth]

Pouring about half of our military budget into our education system would be a pretty good start to improving the state of this country. Consider the logic that we are fighting a war in Iraq, and our education system is so broken that many children do not even get decent primary education. To me, that represents not only the height of ridiculous, but the most telling statistic of what our country will be seen and judged by in the future. Medicine is expensive and energy is a big, big deal, but a nation that cannot or makes a decision not to fund it's education system... well... nothing else matters, really. Regardless of our society and the fact that we remain a world power, all is for naught if our youth is less intelligent than the generation that came before it.



And for the love of all that's Darwin, can we PLEASE get some classes once in a GREAT while to teach these children and students some REAL LIFE SKILLS? Ugh. I'm going to go kick a puppy now.


I'm with you on education except for where to get the cash or if cash is even the problem.

[8ft.tall.tejano]

Why not include increased energy conservation also?

won't that lead to more energy surplus?
if it makes too much sense it will never happen in this country...
we're the same people that practically annexed iraq to get even for the work of a few saudis...

[Tully365]

my "hero" :lol. Arrogance rubs me wrong, so that's why I called you a pompous prick. anyways, don't want to beat a dead horse.

Cool. I perceived you smugly insinuating that conservation is essentially anti-freedom as somewhat pompous also. No big deal.

[Guru of Nothing]

How about we legalize marijuana (tax it) and end war on drugs boondoggle. To anybody who opposes this, you are simply too dense to recognize the inevitable. Might as well reap the benefits today.

[Nbadan]

Our educational system is so jacked up that throwing money at it isn't anywhere close to enough. I know a math teacher in Texas who tells me he's not allowed to teach proofs in plane geometry because it's not covered on the TAKS. To me that's unreal to have a plane geometry class where you do no proofs. Fucking Bush and his retard pal Ted Kennedy have concocted the stupidest and laziest solution to measure how much our younger generation is learning in school; just throw an easy test out and have teachers teach that instead of teaching kids how to think for themselves. Just memorize the fucking test.

well....they did implement a test centered on problem-solving without a plan to teach kids problem-solving...but I degress....public schools get a bad rap for not teaching our kids but yet many of these same kids go on to become very successful adults, college grads even Masters and doctorates .....so maybe it's not that they aren't learning but rather that it takes people a while adopt what they've learned to real world situations...

[Nbadan]

Our educational system epically fails those who do not go to college.

...35%-45% drop-out rates among hispanics in Texas...it's not the schools failing our kids, it's Texas

[Nbadan]

How about we legalize marijuana (tax it) and end war on drugs boondoggle. To anybody who opposes this, you are simply too dense to recognize the inevitable. Might as well reap the benefits today.

Although I do not partake, I completely agree.....let's grow hemp to stump deforestation and make marijuana legal to get rid of the drug cartels cash crop..

[Cry Havoc]

Our educational system is so jacked up that throwing money at it isn't anywhere close to enough. I know a math teacher in Texas who tells me he's not allowed to teach proofs in plane geometry because it's not covered on the TAKS. To me that's unreal to have a plane geometry class where you do no proofs. Fucking Bush and his retard pal Ted Kennedy have concocted the stupidest and laziest solution to measure how much our younger generation is learning in school; just throw an easy test out and have teachers teach that instead of teaching kids how to think for themselves. Just memorize the fucking test.

Schools are running out of money. That's a problem that can be directly cured by "more money". However, you're right, it's a lot deeper and more complex than that. However, if you use the cash wisely, then everyone profits.

[Nbadan]

Schools are running out of money

Schools get their money from taxing homes and everytime the FEDs lend school districts money they make them jump through legal and regulation hoops that screws up the system even more....the TAKS test isn't completely useless but it is useless to test kids at every grade....

[Winehole23]

Finance-driven growth. Wild overleveraging. Profligate government spending and borrowing. Irresponsible tax cuts. Weak dollar policy. The Iraq War. Negative national savings. Have led to unsustainable debt.

The solutions: raise taxes on everybody (after the recession, right?). Cut benefits for everybody. Cut government spending. Develop a technical base that doesn't depend on petroleum. Conserve energy. Educate our children to the standard of other advanced democracies. Quit living like pigs. Stop living beyond our means, and start saving for the future. Invest in companies that make real goods and provide real services, rather than just pushing paper around.Credit can expand responsibly only on the basis of real wealth.

Also, our fiat currency is kaput. Without sound money there is no incentive for savers. We need a commodity standard, instead of our soon to be totally worthless promise to pay. This money should be issued by the US treasury, as provided in the constitution. 86 the effing Fed.

Fractional reserve banking is fine, but there need to be meaningful capital requirements and transparency on all financial products. The market doesn't work when involved parties have a monopoly on information or when banks get overleveraged.

No more elective wars. We can't afford it anymore. Also, we can't afford to be the world's policeman anymore. Call the troops home. They're supposed to defend us, not the whole effing world.

Hear that giant sucking sound? It's the $5 trillion and counting we've thrown at the insolvent financial sector in the so-called bailout. If we don't start letting them fall on their faces, pretty soon we'll be circling the bowl with them. Let em fail. Global capital will pick up the pieces.

If we do all of these things, starting right now, maybe we can climb out of the hole we're in.

[DarkReign]

^ You need to meet a member here named BradLohaus.

[Wild Cobra]

I don't get most of you guys. Most of our problems are directly traceable to government involvement, and you want more?