What are our real interests in the Middle East? What would we find unacceptable? Destruction of Israel? Slaughter of the Kurds? Annihilation of religious or ethnic minorities such as the Yesidis? Closing of trade routes especially for oil? Most people would probably agree on these. Sure there are some isolationists that say none of this is our business. That would be unrealistic. Chase Yesidis up a mountain and public pressure demands we send in the planes and we do. Nobody wants another Rwanda. Since the beginning of the 19th century we have had warships with marines aboard protecting trade routes. We’re not about to change now. We feel a certain affinity towards the Israelis and the Kurds. We have extended our protection to both for decades and that’s not going to change either. What else? Iran as Nuclear power is a problem we will deal with separately. Continue reading
Author: Dave Davis
AFTER TACKLING A BIG DOMESTIC POLICY, WE LOOK ABROAD
While we compile Q & As on Dave’s Plan, our next post give our take on Middle East Policy.
HOW DAVE’S PLAN WOULD WORK FOR EMPLOYERS AND THE SELF EMPLOYED
Employers that have contractual obligations to pay for healthcare and retirement would have no change. All others would be responsible for deducting the proper amount from paychecks (10% minimum with a Max equal to the current 401K cap plus $10,000 medical allowance and direct depositing it in the employee’s PBA. They would retain the same ability and limits to make matching funds. Again just deposit them to the PBAs. Employers will be encouraged facilitate a one time group move from their health plan to individual plans. As management tends to be older, this is very much to their benefit.
Employers will be encouraged negotiate their employees move en mass to individual policies. While this is in the best interest of everyone, employers, employees and insurers, there may be some circumstances where the help the agency administering the mandatory cash fund in each PBA may be sought to smooth the transition. The important principle is that everyone with employer insurance continued to have coverage.
That’s pretty much it. Before you pop the champagne, just remember you’ll still have to compete for employees. Wages and ability to pay matching funds would come to the forefront. Your employee’s healthcare and retirement will be totally portable, so job hopping would be much easier. Instead of trying to figure out a prospective employer’s health and retirement plans all the employee has to do is compare dollars. This would definitely level the playing field between large and small employers. All this is as it should be. The self-employed would come under the same 10% minimum and a Max of the current 401k cap plus 10,000 medical allowance and matching funds ability that apply to employers.
HOW DAVE’S PLAN WOULD WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT
The one thing we can say for certain is this plan will cost more than the Affordable Care Act.(ACA) Wait didn’t we say that Government support would be based on Medicaid and the subsidies current on the ACA . Why should it cost more? Simply because it covers more people. Even under the supposedly universal ACA, millions remain uncovered. Our plan covers everyone. No ifs, and or buts about it. However, this should be cheaper than covering everyone under the ACA if it could ever get there. Helping offset the increased cost would be lower overhead and insurance costs. Continue reading
HOW DAVE’S PLAN WOULD WORK FOR PROVIDERS
Maybe providers won’t think they died and went to heaven, but it just might seem that way. No more dealing with third parties over every little thing. No more wondering about payment. Only when the Catastrophic Policies kick in would there be any reason to deal with an insurance company. That would most likely be in the case of serious illness and that’s exactly as it should be. Everything else just normal business. You would just have to be approved as a legitimate health provider. Anyone who is generally approved by insurance companies and/or Medicaid would be approved to accept the new credit cards. Providers that sell other products or services other than healthcare would have to keep a separation. For instance, Walgreen’s has separate terminals for Healthcare & Prescriptions so they don’t give Total Rewards Points on these charges. Nothing but healthcare terminals would be the norm or providers might come up with another innovative solution. To be sure, your customers will be keenly aware of what they are getting for their money and you’ll have no choice but compete. Again that is the way it should be. Large or small providers will be able to concentrate on providing good service at a competitive price. Providers could offer discounted prepaid packages or most anything else that might work. The huge potential market could prove very rewarding to innovative providers. The medical profession could concentrate on medicine. If nothing else it should improve morale. What more do you need to know?
Detour on the Road 