[Winona Online Democracy] I think Rich Pflughoeft is closer to the essentials of a solution than he might think - bravo for late-night brainstorming. Several points I would offer:
1) Make the pool big (all of us) - that way no insurance company, business, or group of individuals gets stuck with paying for the few people with lots of health problems. 2) Make everyone part of it, not like auto insurance, but like the IRS (in some ways) - you're in whether you want to be or not. Auto insurance still requires each of us to find our own private insurance company, and the hook is that if you don't, you don't get a license and can get fined or jailed for not complying. We can't do that with people's bodies. What, we'd throw people in jail until they sign up for insurance? More like MnDOT - we build roads that everyone gets to use and we collect taxes from everyone whether they agree to it or not, based on formulas and compromises worked out by the legislature. 3) People with lots of money can always go around the system, like the highway system - most of us drive; rich folks get to charter their own jets. 4) I think it needs to be a national, not a state, system so that people don't flock to Minnesota as I understand they have done for welfare benefits. If there is a great imbalance among the states people will take advantage of it. 5) Profit is not evil for companies, but it is as the basis for a community enterprise devoted to keeping people healthy. - Phil Carlson, Mpls P.S. We already require employers to pay for employees' groceries - it's called the minimum wage. _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
