[Info-vax] Down Again

[David J Dachtera]

"Richard B. Gilbert" wrote:
> 
> Without profits, how do you propose to raise the necessary capital?

Understand the difference between for-profits and non-profits.

Both "make money".

For-profits either pay dividends, over-compensate their exec.'s, and/or
roll the profits back into the business.

Non-profits are not beholden to stockholders, and hence have great
latitude in how they dissipate their gains. They expand, donate, invest,
...

> An organization that depends on profits for survival manages very
> carefully to ensure that there are profits.

Hhmmm... Seems lately they're not very good at it.

> The alternative is to have government owned and operated facilities.
> The government doesn't care if you live or die!  They get their taxes
> either way!
> 
> Government also gets to make the rules about who can bring suit for
> damages and who cannot!

For-profits pay lobbyists to help them do the same thing. What's your
point?

> A little tale about government and medicine might be instructive.
> 
> I take a medication called Metoprolol (Generic) or Toprol-XL (brand
> name).  About a year ago, the company that made Metoprolol screwed up!
> There product was, and is, exactly what it was supposed to be.  Where
> they screwed up was documentation.  For this flaunting of bureaucratic
> requirements, they were required to recall *all* of the Metoprolol in
> circulation.
> 
> I don't know when this penance will be complete.  I do know that it's
> costing me two dollars a day for the brand name Toprol-XL.  ISTR that my
> copay on Metoprolol was a small fraction of that; $20-$30 for a 90 day
> supply.
> 
> Thank you FDA.  Not!!!!!!!

That's just typical bureaucratic bungling. It's part of the reason why
folks don't want government involved in healthcare.

Still, severe regulation of health insurance providers is an absolute
must if health care in America is ever to become affordable, fair and
equitable.

D.J.D.