Thursday, May 31, 2012

Do you know?

Do you now why I call this blog "discussions in the Cabinet Room" with capital letters? Hint: it has to do with the picture of Cal!

The Compromise solution?

As promised here is what I know and understand about the health insurance system in Switzerland. First, some background.
Switzerland is a neutral country and has a very interesting government system. In my opinion, the Swiss have a form of government that can keep despots out of the system! Their executive branch is a--get this--collective presidency?! There is an executive council made up of seven executives who collectively hold the presidency and control of the executive branch! The four major parties in Switzerland are equally represented on the council based on population. Interesting! The legislature is very similar to our House and Senate and the judiciary is separate but equal just like it is in the USA. What would a seven member board look like in our executive branch based on voter registrations: 2 Republicans, 2 Democrats, 1 Independent, 1 Libertarian, 1 no party?! Think anything would get done?

So, back to health insurance. Once you understand the Swiss government it's easy to understand how they have a healthcare system unlike anyone else in the world. There is a law that says everyone in the country must have insurance--even visitors. The Swiss life expectancy is second only to Japan and they spend 2.7% of GDP on health care!!

The health insurance is not administered by the government but it is paid for by the government--kinda. The basic plan that covers everyone is funded by the government but administered by private companies. The system is set up so that no one pays more than 10% of their income to health insurance and if someone is poor (although poverty in Switzerland is minimal) the government subsidizes the cost on a graduated scale. The beauty of the system is that it is tightly regulated but every citizen buys insurance in the free market from over 100 companies. Because the individual has some skin in the game, there are naturally occurring cost controls--you control your insurance and coverage!

It isn't a perfect system for conservatives OR progressives because there are pieces of the puzzle that neither group will like but if Senator Rand Paul can get on board with a version of the system a compromise could be possible!

I would recommend further reading on this if you're interested--the more Americans who are educated on the Swiss system the better chance we have to reaching a REAL solution to fix the problems in our health insurance system! Forbes did a great article last year that can be found here http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2011/04/29/why-switzerland-has-the-worlds-best-health-care-system/


Monday, May 28, 2012

Remembering those who serve


Ronald Reagan said that our country is the shining beacon on the hill but have you ever stopped to ask why we are that beacon? Our country is the greatest nation the world has ever seen. We are a country of individuals who swim upstream to accomplish the impossible. We are a country driven by achievement but is also the most compassionate in the world. There are two reasons our country is different and will remain the shining beacon on the hill. First, our country is and has always been uniquely blessed by God.  Second, that blessing and our prosperity are protected and sustained by the Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, and Airmen who have voluntarily given their lives for the people of our nation. The first of these comes freely from God; the second comes from the sacrifice of the individuals who wrote a blank check for up to and including their life.
Today is a day for family, friends, and remembrance. But before your barbeques and fun take a moment to remember those who have served, those who serve today, and those who died to guarantee our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Anchors Aweigh. 

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

LearnLiberty.org LOVE IT!

Couldn't help but sharing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct1Moeaa-W8&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Let's talk health insurance....

Okay I'm back in action and will dedicate at least three blog posts a week! Let's get the followership up up up!!! What is on the docket today? HEALTHCARE!!

What is the perfect compromise solution to the health insurance crisis in the United States today?

Before we start discussing the system, we have to accept several basic premises of our government; this will be part one of the blog posts for the week.

First of all, there is no problem with the health care system in the USA there is a problem with the health insurance system! Second, a “right” is something that comes from something greater than another human being. This is fundamentally why our founders stated in the Declaration of Independence that we are “endowed by our creator certain unalienable rights.” One has to accept the premise that if we allow our rights to come from other humans then those rights can be taken away. I understand that in some situations one’s right to liberty can be removed but it must be through the due process of the law. Next, if a right is something endowed to us from a “creator” then there is no basic right to have someone else pay for your health insurance. Access to the healthcare system (doctors, hospitals, clinics, prescriptions) or having someone else pay for one's access is not a right because it involves one taking something from someone else.

It is my opinion that the best compromise situation for the United States’ health insurance system is a system similar to Switzerland.

The next post will compare and contrast the Swiss insurance system to the American system. Until then remember the words of President Calvin Coolidge (who I'll quote frequently!): “The suspension of one man’s dividends is the suspension of another man’s pay envelope. Men do not make laws. They do but discover them. Laws must be justified by something more than the will of the majority.”