On ABC's This Week 10-14-2010, Paul Krugman said: "Some years down the pike, we're going to get the real solution, which is going to be a combination of death panels and sales taxes. It's going to be that we're actually going to take Medicare under control, and we're going to have to get some additional revenue, probably from a VAT. But it's not going to happen now."
Somebody does have to decide which things Medicare will pay for. So in that sense he is right, but his timing might be a bit off and it is not just a question of timing. There is also the issue of labeling.
Someone should mention to the Nobel Laureate how much more successful the reproductive rights advocates were once they escaped from the "Pro-abortion" label. Perhaps they could also mention how much better it has worked out for gay rights groups since they dropped the language of "sexual preference" in favor of "sexual orientation".
Perhaps the left should not accept the right's "death panels" label.
Maybe they should think of another name.
How about: Quality of Life Commissions or just "Life Panels," but "pro-choice" is already taken.
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Tuesday, November 16, 2010
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OK, my universe may come to an end shortly, but I am going to admit that Mr. Krugman’s statement has a nugget of truth in it. That is 1) UNLIMITED health care and 2) FREE health care are unrealistic concepts. Yeah, we all knew that but it is still refreshing to hear it stated. But, and this is a big but, Paul’s statement further states (not just implies) that we, and not just the uber rich, will have to pay for it with “probably a VAT”. Again a refreshing truth (admission?).
ReplyDeleteI would also agree with the statement in this post concerning labels and timing. When health care was being passed the supporters were selling “bending the cost curve downward”. Now we are talking VAT. Timing is everything.
As for labels – no argument that labeling is crucial if you want to further a cause. “Death Panels” is harsh and in my opinion inaccurate and unfair. Still, as Mr. Krugman makes clear, health care will not be unlimited. In the current system health care is limited when the family declines to take out a second mortgage to fund Granny’s hip replacement. If we shift that decision making to a panel what would be a fair name for that panel. There are several good suggestions on this post.
As for me, I intend to call it a “health care rationing panel”. A little harsh perhaps, but, in my opinion, accurate as to function.
How about the Optimum OutCome Panel, popularly known as the "OOP's group."
ReplyDeleteI imagine that the "probably a VAT" tax remark was not what PK would recommend, but what he imagined might be possible in the current environment.
That's neat. I like that.
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