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About Me
- John Lunn
- I am a professor of economics at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. I teach intermediate microeconomics and a research class for senior economics majors. This blog is to keep in touch with students, former students, and anyone interested in basic economics. I am also interested in theology, so occasionally a more theological emphasis may show up in an entry.
There is so much wrong with this, and every other bill trying to be passed, I don't even know where to begin. The bill limits both economic and individual freedom. People should be forced to have health insurance? Unbelievable. Trying to force down the price of premiums? Oh yea, I forgot how good the government is at price control.
ReplyDeleteCompetition is what drives down costs and improves quality, and that is clearly not the goal of this bill. We also find another piece of legislature that promises to pay for itself. Like we haven't been fed that line before.
Also, how come health care reform is so critical right now?
"Our health care system is simply unsustainable." -Baucus
What changed from last year, or two years ago? It's funny how when they want to pass something all the sudden it's an urgent emergency and we need to act as quickly as possible. I guess it worked with the stimulus package tho.
"I predict future happiness for Americans
if they can prevent the government
from wasting the labors of the people
under the pretense of taking care of them." -Thomas Jefferson
I guess I've been a bit more political than economic. Oops.
There is good reason for this plan to be shot down by both the Republicans and Democrats. This plan seems extremely expensive. Extending Medicaid and offering the subsidies to individuals and families will cost the government so much money at a time where we should not be handing out money. The tax on the high premium insurance plans and the penalties will not be able to cover the expenses. This plan is not going to pay for itself.
ReplyDeleteI also do not think that the taxes on high end insurance plans will drive down prices. I agree with Matthew who above said that only competition will drive down the prices. Scarcity is the driving factor of lowering the prices, not taxes.