OBAMA/TRUMPCARE MEGATHREAD

[Balta1701]

Seriously? They're not even trying.

The day the Supreme Court gathered behind closed doors to consider the politically divisive question of whether it would hear a challenge to President Obama’s healthcare law, two of its justices, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, were feted at a dinner sponsored by the law firm that will argue the case before the high court.

[Jenksismyhero]

Seriously? They're not even trying.

 

I assume you have a similar issue with liberal justices attending ACLU luncheons/events?

 

As to the argument time, that's a ton for each side. My experience is only here in the Illinois appellate court, where you're giving a maximum of 15 minutes, and they could conceivably cut you off before that.

 

Reports are coming out too that Justice Kagan had some...choice words...concerning the passage of the bill. Wonder if there will be a fight for her to recuse herself. Should be an interesting case.

[Balta1701]

Wonder if there will be a fight for her to recuse herself.

No one can make these people recuse themselves even when they should. That's part of the problem. Both Thomas and Kagan have direct connections to lobbying against and for this law.

[StrangeSox]

Republicans will whine and cry that Kagan should remove herself, Democrats will whine and cry that Thomas should recuse himself, neither will and the losing team's fans will always cry about corrupt officiating.

[Rex Kickass]

Republicans will whine and cry that Kagan should remove herself, Democrats will whine and cry that Thomas should recuse himself, neither will and the losing team's fans will always cry about corrupt officiating.

In a way, they both balance each other out - so I don't know that I have too much of an issue with that. However, I will say that attending a dinner hosted by the legal firm arguing before the supreme court in arguably the most important case of the upcoming judicial session is really really amateur hour on the part of Scalia and Thomas.

[Jenksismyhero]

In a way, they both balance each other out - so I don't know that I have too much of an issue with that. However, I will say that attending a dinner hosted by the legal firm arguing before the supreme court in arguably the most important case of the upcoming judicial session is really really amateur hour on the part of Scalia and Thomas.

 

How about a Justice "working" in the past for a firm?

 

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/jus...er_confirmatio/

 

Come on guys, it's not that big of a deal.

[Balta1701]

How about a Justice "working" in the past for a firm?

 

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/jus...er_confirmatio/

 

Come on guys, it's not that big of a deal.

Past employment by a group that eventually brings a case before you is iffy. For a judge, there's likely some assumption of impartiality at the moment they become a judge compared to beforehand. But that one sort of has to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, because a whole lot of judges worked as lawyers, clerks, legal assistants, etc., before they became judges, and you can't just have every judge recuse himself or herself when a former employer has a case.

 

But let's be honest...working for a group that eventually brings cases before you is fundamentally different from either working on behalf of a specific law that you then get to decide on after promotion (Kagan), having a family member actively being paid to lobby against a bill that you decide on (Thomas), or accepting favors from a plaintiff who is about to stand in front of you (Thomas + Scalia).

[Rex Kickass]

How about a Justice "working" in the past for a firm?

 

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/jus...er_confirmatio/

 

Come on guys, it's not that big of a deal.

 

I would say that being wined and dined by one of the lawyers about to plead a case before you is a big deal. And in full disclosure, I think Kagan should recuse herself, as should Thomas.

[kapkomet]

Forget anything I've ever said about health care for a moment... act like I'm a new poster or something.

 

I've spent most of my weekend reading the issues with health care and the costs rising, and how to actually (FOR REAL) bend the cost curve down.

 

I think I said at the very beginning without the Kaperbole ™ that you have to get off of the medicare reimbursement matrices. I still (and even more so now) believe that's a big deal.

 

But - I have a Henry Ford moment in front of me. If I could do this in a dog and pony show, I will rescue our country. For once, I think I'm serious.

 

There's a way to actually cost this stuff out that would change the dynamics of the whole health care debate. Who's with me to be on my save the country tour? And the biggest thing is, the people in the health care industry, nor the insurance industry, would lose any MARGIN. Money, yes, but no margin.

 

(I love it when a little research goes a long way).

 

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Are you waiting for the patent on your idea before posting it? What is it man, speak up!

 

[Texsox]

Every idea I have had ultimately fails because someone has to earn less and someone has to pay more.

[southsider2k5]

Are you waiting for the patent on your idea before posting it? What is it man, speak up!

 

If he speaks first, someone will steal his idea and claim it.

[kapkomet]

 

Exactly.

 

You know, I have had that happen to me at least three times now.

 

I had a business plan for a groupon like deal in 2000 (ask SS). It's not exact but it's pretty damn close. I could see that one coming and I'm the in debt pennliess bastard.

 

I wrote a paper for my MBA that is 100% my plan, literally down to the 4P's. Too bad I didn't patent the process then, because I'd be worth millions.

 

And, my fearless (har har) prediction that immediately after the Beijing olympics there would be a world-wide financial meltdown. But that one doesn't really count.

 

 

[Y2HH]

 

Exactly.

 

You know, I have had that happen to me at least three times now.

 

I had a business plan for a groupon like deal in 2000 (ask SS). It's not exact but it's pretty damn close. I could see that one coming and I'm the in debt pennliess bastard.

 

I wrote a paper for my MBA that is 100% my plan, literally down to the 4P's. Too bad I didn't patent the process then, because I'd be worth millions.

 

And, my fearless (har har) prediction that immediately after the Beijing olympics there would be a world-wide financial meltdown. But that one doesn't really count.

 

You can't patent/trademark something like Groupon (the idea), which is why it's being copied by everyone right now.

[kapkomet]

You can't patent/trademark something like Groupon (the idea), which is why it's being copied by everyone right now.

 

 

Well, kinda.

 

I guess the point more is I had the same type of idea 12 years ago before it was "hip".

[StrangeSox]

You also had an idea to explain m2m! I'm noticing a pattern.

[southsider2k5]

You also had an idea to explain m2m! I'm noticing a pattern.

 

The sad thing is that I can vouch for this stuff. Pretty much two decades of it now.

[kapkomet]

You know, that's scary, I've known you for over 50% of my life now. Ack.

 

Yea, Strange, I know...

 

one of these days, I actually will hit one of my "ideas" and I'll remember my pals at soxtalk.

 

 

[Balta1701]

one of these days, I actually will hit one of my "ideas" and I'll remember my pals at soxtalk.

And that will be the last anyone ever hears of Balta1701...

[kapkomet]

And that will be the last anyone ever hears of Balta1701...

 

 

 

Nah. Not really.

 

I really should call up a patent attorney. Er something. I could revolutionize America.

[southsider2k5]

You know, that's scary, I've known you for over 50% of my life now. Ack.

 

Yea, Strange, I know...

 

one of these days, I actually will hit one of my "ideas" and I'll remember my pals at soxtalk.

 

I've always said... Money wouldn't change me at all. I've always been an asshole.

[kapkomet]

Did any of you catch the big spread the Wall Street Journal did on health care on Monday? I just got through reading it.

 

I think they completely miss the boat.

 

The issue isn't vertical integration (which all these companies, doctors, hospitals, etc.) are trying to do. That completely misses the real issue. Hell, even Balta understands that you have to actually bend the cost curve. Vertical integration doesn't do that, it simply moves the curve from one place to another.

 

 

[Y2HH]

Did any of you catch the big spread the Wall Street Journal did on health care on Monday? I just got through reading it.

 

I think they completely miss the boat.

 

The issue isn't vertical integration (which all these companies, doctors, hospitals, etc.) are trying to do. That completely misses the real issue. Hell, even Balta understands that you have to actually bend the cost curve. Vertical integration doesn't do that, it simply moves the curve from one place to another.

 

I also dislike the use of the word vertical integration these days, since it's become nothing more than a buzzword thrown around board rooms, and most people don't even really understand what it means.

 

The issue with healthcare is a broad spectrum issue that's been ongoing in this country for decades now, and they let the animal grow from a chipmunk into a lion...and this Lion, he's bigger and badder than any other animal in the forest...and he's going to use his teeth to protect what it has. * Education to become a doctor costs WAY too much, to the point that their main incentive becomes the fact that one day they're going to make TONS of money to compensate. * The malpractice insurance policy's doctors have to carry to protect themselves from lawsuits, warranted or not, are VERY costly, so they inflate their wages to compensate. * Hospitals and clinics tend to arbitrarily charge non-Medicare patients...whatever the f*** they please...because they can. I mean, do you know what a kidney transplant usually costs? Neither do I. * Drug companies have similar issues, from VERY costly lawsuits, to the insane costs of creating new drugs, which often forces them to charge exorbitant amounts for said new drugs when they hit the market. Do they keep the prices too high, too long? Possibly, but who can tell them what/why/how?

 

The list of issues between the big 3 (drug companies, insurance companies and hospitals/clinics themselves) is immeasurable at this point...attacking one of the three renders nothing in terms of progress. And the cherry on top of all of this...our lawmakers know almost NOTHING about how the medical industry actually operates...yet they hold the control in passing laws that affect the industry.

[kapkomet]

I also dislike the use of the word vertical integration these days, since it's become nothing more than a buzzword thrown around board rooms, and most people don't even really understand what it means.

 

The issue with healthcare is a broad spectrum issue that's been ongoing in this country for decades now, and they let the animal grow from a chipmunk into a lion...and this Lion, he's bigger and badder than any other animal in the forest...and he's going to use his teeth to protect what it has. * Education to become a doctor costs WAY too much, to the point that their main incentive becomes the fact that one day they're going to make TONS of money to compensate. * The malpractice insurance policy's doctors have to carry to protect themselves from lawsuits, warranted or not, are VERY costly, so they inflate their wages to compensate. * Hospitals and clinics tend to arbitrarily charge non-Medicare patients...whatever the f*** they please...because they can. I mean, do you know what a kidney transplant usually costs? Neither do I. * Drug companies have similar issues, from VERY costly lawsuits, to the insane costs of creating new drugs, which often forces them to charge exorbitant amounts for said new drugs when they hit the market. Do they keep the prices too high, too long? Possibly, but who can tell them what/why/how?

 

The list of issues between the big 3 (drug companies, insurance companies and hospitals/clinics themselves) is immeasurable at this point...attacking one of the three renders nothing in terms of progress. And the cherry on top of all of this...our lawmakers know almost NOTHING about how the medical industry actually operates...yet they hold the control in passing laws that affect the industry.

 

Right there. I *do* know a way to measure what it really costs. And that's the whole key to breaking this to a different plane.

 

I am not quite sure why no one has figured out a way to do the real accounting costs and then break down the pricing based on that cost to where the curve isn't so outrageous. But I do know a way... and it's not exactly rocket, er, accounting science. I guess that's why I have a CPA, because it seems really easy to me.

 

 

[Balta1701]

No one wants to. That would break the game.