The Senate Judiciary Committee recently held a hearing on the topic “Medical Debt: Can Bankruptcy Reform Facilitate a Fresh Start?” MyDD has posted a fantastic clip of our very own Senator Al Franken in action at the hearing.
Franken took on Diana Furchtgott-Roth, a Senior Fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute, over her claim that a universal healthcare system would somehow increase medical bankruptcies in the United States [conservative readers, feel free to chime in if you think that conclusion is in any way justified, because I can’t possibly imagine how anyone could reach that conclusion.] Faced with such an illogical argument, Franken broke out a weapon that he has used successfully throughout his career: facts.
FRANKEN: I think we disagree on whether health care reform, the health care reform that we’re talking about in Congress now should pass. You said that the way we’re going will increase bankruptcies. I want to ask you, how many medical bankruptcies because of medical crises were there last year in Switzerland?
FURCHTGOTT-ROTT: I don’t have that number in front of me, but I can find out and get back to you.
FRANKEN: I can tell you how many it was. It’s zero. Do you know how many medical bankruptcies there were last year in France?
FURCHTGOTT-ROTT: I don’t have that number, but I can get back to you if I like.
FRANKEN: Yeah, the number is zero. Do you know how many were in Germany?\
FURCHTGOTT-ROTT: From the trend of your questions, I’m assuming the number is zero. But I don’t know the precise number and would have to get back to you.
FRANKEN: Well, you’re very good. Very fast. The point is, I think we need to go in that direction, not the opposite direction. Thank you.
Go Al, Go!
I <3 Al
APPLAUSE!!!!!!
THIS is what a Senator is supposed to do! Rock on AL!
Unreal. I admit that I was a Franken delegate who had second thoughts and hoped Ciresi would get in the race. Al has proven me wrong and I realized it in the last few months of the campaign. He is the real deal. He's not running for re-election 5 years from now, like I sometimes think our other senator is. He's shown a lot of courage that seems Truman/Wellstone-like. A lot of people (locally and nationally) are going to owe him an apology for questioning his make-up. Even if he only serves 1 term, he will make a great impact on the senate.
As a former Franken critic/skeptic, I have to admit that I am impressed.
Interesting proposition….. Is it better for an individual to go bankrupt paying for his or her healthcare bills, or the people of a nation to collectively go bankrupt trying to pay everyone's healthcare bills?
I will have to ponder that. Fascinating question.
I hope you aren't pondering too long becuase its a false choice, not a facinating question. All of the countries that Franken mentions cover everyone (and thus have no personal bankruptcies) but spend less on health care than we do. And of course, they have better health care outcomes.
Exactly! Thank You, Dan.
age-old and lame-ass right-wing tactic of changing the subject when they're cornered.
Refer to DtM's previous post.
How is it changing the subject when I'm commenting specifically on the video clip that is the title and topic of this very thread?
Changing the subject?
If we cover more people, as most civilized nations do, our costs will decrease, as shown by all the evidence in the world….literally.
Your cancer study concluded that SPENDING was the determining factor…something you claim to adamently oppose. You can't have it both ways, sir. You have to oppose spending OR stop using these studies that tout spending as a panacea.
Finally, Obesity accounts for roughly 10% of medical expenses…far less than the overhead American health care in general (31%) Canada operates at 1% overhead costs.
Furthermore, your "FACT" is not, in fact, a fact. If you had bothered to read the article (I'm sure you didn't, or you wouldn't have stated what you did)
From the article:
"The US, Australia, Canada, France and Japan had the highest five-year survival rates,"
Japan, and Canada both use a single payer system.
Austrailia and France have universal coverage. So of the five with the best cancer outcomes, four have universal coverage, and spend much less/gdp and less/ PCI than the US does.
Now, please, stop with your bad-faith presence here.
Look below. Your argument is completely spurious…as dan pointed out, and you ignored.
Perhaps he should have simply said "Go fuck yourself" That seems to be within the realm of acceptable behavior in the senate.
And regarding the Wellstone statement: A healthy "go fuck yourself" to you, "Dan" the "Man" You aren't fit to reference Paul's memory.
I love you too, lojasmo.
And I didn't approve of the comment you reference on the Senate floor either. You incorrectly assume everyone is as partisan as you are.
Oh, by the way, I thought Wellstone was my Senator too. Didn't realize that he was only "yours". I didn't agree with many of his votes, but I respected him as a public servant and how he conducted himself in Washington.
Huizinga fail:
FRANKEN: Yeah, the number is zero. Do you know how many were in GERMANY?
FURCHTGOTT-ROTT: From the trend of your questions, I’m assuming the number is zero. But I don’t know the precise number and would have to get back to you.
FRANKEN: Well, you’re very good. Very fast. The point is, I think we need to go in that direction, not the opposite direction. Thank you.
Not so fast there AL… just the most basic web searches finds that AL's claim is not representative of the whole picture. Also, I wonder what the rest of the hearing contained, other than just the clip of Franken being such a smarty-pants?
Higher taxes equate to higher bankruptcies and a lower quality of life due to not having money to spend.
High rate of bankruptcies in regressively taxed societies:
http://sofiaecho.com/2009/09/09/781481_one-in-six...
Switzerland almost bankrupt too:
http://www.creditwritedowns.com/2009/02/switzerla...
Canada moving toward private insurance:
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/27/nation/na...
In France the poor get the worst healthcare:
http://www.humaniteinenglish.com/article740.html
"french UHC….going bankrupt
german UHC…going bankrupt
greek UHC…..going bankrupt
british healthcare…..severe cutbacks, on the verge of failing
canadian UHC….PRIVITIZING….In Canada, a move toward a private healthcare option — latimes.com
swiss health care……Swiss health care is predominantly private. Individuals are required to buy insurance and almost all of them do. Private companies compete to provide insurance, and there are subsidies for lower income buyers. The insurance is individually owned, personal and portable.
Despite competition, choice, private ownership and portability, the Swiss system is still very bureaucratic – perhaps as much as or more so than our own. It has mandated benefits, price controls on providers and other regulations that make it hard for entrepreneurs to solve problems."
source link: http://www.city-data.com/forum/politics-other-con...
k swiss sneaker
k swiss sneaker?