Government Spending and Waste

byke
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3110
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Auburn, CA, USA

Oof!

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1
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8/16/2026 6:05am

In other news: water is wet. The government doesn't actually care about waste, as the people making the decisions do not bear the consequences of those decisions. 

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1
Dudley
Posts
573
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Location
Denver, CO, USA
8/16/2026 7:58am

It’s absolute insanity at this point how big the national debt is. We’re all driving around in new Escalades but can barely afford the payments for a Honda civic. There’s absolutely nothing we can do about it because it requires massive cuts in service and increased revenue. No party is going to fall on that sword. 

1
1
TeamGreen
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37409
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11/25/2008
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Thru-out, CA, USA
8/16/2026 8:47am

Who awarded the funding to Ukraine doesn’t matter? Oh, ok. Now, if the current administration chooses to keep the plant open to change out equipment and begin making hardware…they’re a failure, too? 

Oh, ok.

On the other-hand, government fucking shit up ain’t new. 🤣

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lumpy790
Posts
11673
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9/18/2007
Location
York, SC, USA
8/16/2026 9:59am Edited Date/Time 8/16/2026 10:24am

WOW I guess that I need a government contract to pay for massive new production facility by robotics. 

So much for Americans working being so important.

4

The Shop

byke
Posts
3110
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Location
Auburn, CA, USA
8/16/2026 11:05am
TeamGreen wrote:
Who awarded the funding to Ukraine doesn’t matter? Oh, ok. Now, if the current administration chooses to keep the plant open to change out equipment and...

Who awarded the funding to Ukraine doesn’t matter? Oh, ok. Now, if the current administration chooses to keep the plant open to change out equipment and begin making hardware…they’re a failure, too? 

Oh, ok.

On the other-hand, government fucking shit up ain’t new. 🤣

This reads too party blame sensitive to me. In the video they make a point to say that it's not a right or left issue and at least in regard to debt you can go back and lookup who adds to debt and there are no party winners, though we could argue that we're still feeling the spending effects of gwb today..

4
mvd61
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Location
Brandon, SD, USA
8/18/2026 11:34am

Here soon DJT first and second terms will be responsible for adding 20% of the $40,000,000,000,000 debt. It's so insane how these figures are just tossed around like it's no big deal. I feel guilty throwing 10k at a new dirt bike every couple of years. These shit bags have daily meals that cost that much for a meeting or two. It has to end.

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1
mvd61
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Brandon, SD, USA
8/18/2026 11:42am

How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people are being fleeced like a motherfucker. Why is universal healthcare working in other countries but nope no way in hell is it going to happen here? It's time for people to put their boots on the necks of the politicians and actually get some shit done that benefits us. I care not a single fuck about the reflecting pool, that dumb fucking lawn he's whining about now, or a 250 year fair celebration. None of that stupid shit is making America great. Here in South Dakota diesel is still hovering close to $5/gallon with premium right there with it. 

6
1
borg
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Location
Long Beach, CA, USA
8/18/2026 12:22pm
mvd61 wrote:
How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people...

How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people are being fleeced like a motherfucker. Why is universal healthcare working in other countries but nope no way in hell is it going to happen here? It's time for people to put their boots on the necks of the politicians and actually get some shit done that benefits us. I care not a single fuck about the reflecting pool, that dumb fucking lawn he's whining about now, or a 250 year fair celebration. None of that stupid shit is making America great. Here in South Dakota diesel is still hovering close to $5/gallon with premium right there with it. 

You think health care is expensive now? Wait till it's free.

 

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12
bugnboo
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CA
8/18/2026 1:50pm
IMG 4593 2
8
1
Flatliner
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Location
CA
8/18/2026 2:35pm

Unfortunately,  neither party will stop wasting money no matter who's in charge.

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4
early
Posts
10024
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Location
University Heights, OH, USA
8/18/2026 3:35pm
TeamGreen wrote:
Who awarded the funding to Ukraine doesn’t matter? Oh, ok. Now, if the current administration chooses to keep the plant open to change out equipment and...

Who awarded the funding to Ukraine doesn’t matter? Oh, ok. Now, if the current administration chooses to keep the plant open to change out equipment and begin making hardware…they’re a failure, too? 

Oh, ok.

On the other-hand, government fucking shit up ain’t new. 🤣

This raises a lot of questions to me. Where did the plant tooling come from to build howitzer shells at other facilities? Was the tooling produced by this Turkish company a build-to-print job or was it original designs? How much of the 500 million was spend on the defective tooling vs other expenses?

This is a more interesting story than just "government wastes money" but not something many reporters are knowledgeable enough to know what to look for.

APLMAN99
Posts
12734
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Location
Tualatin, OR, USA
Fantasy
8/18/2026 3:45pm
mvd61 wrote:
How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people...

How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people are being fleeced like a motherfucker. Why is universal healthcare working in other countries but nope no way in hell is it going to happen here? It's time for people to put their boots on the necks of the politicians and actually get some shit done that benefits us. I care not a single fuck about the reflecting pool, that dumb fucking lawn he's whining about now, or a 250 year fair celebration. None of that stupid shit is making America great. Here in South Dakota diesel is still hovering close to $5/gallon with premium right there with it. 

What do you mean that nothing is done about it?  It gets you elected Governor and Senator, doesn't it?

image 3588.png?VersionId=D7F8jOWC2WR22Vfh4iiK2bfB.n
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1
APLMAN99
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Location
Tualatin, OR, USA
Fantasy
8/18/2026 3:48pm
mvd61 wrote:
How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people...

How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people are being fleeced like a motherfucker. Why is universal healthcare working in other countries but nope no way in hell is it going to happen here? It's time for people to put their boots on the necks of the politicians and actually get some shit done that benefits us. I care not a single fuck about the reflecting pool, that dumb fucking lawn he's whining about now, or a 250 year fair celebration. None of that stupid shit is making America great. Here in South Dakota diesel is still hovering close to $5/gallon with premium right there with it. 

borg wrote:

You think health care is expensive now? Wait till it's free.

 

I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

image 3591.png?VersionId=3SjTY.WIn2Jf
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1
8/18/2026 6:53pm
mvd61 wrote:
How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people...

How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people are being fleeced like a motherfucker. Why is universal healthcare working in other countries but nope no way in hell is it going to happen here? It's time for people to put their boots on the necks of the politicians and actually get some shit done that benefits us. I care not a single fuck about the reflecting pool, that dumb fucking lawn he's whining about now, or a 250 year fair celebration. None of that stupid shit is making America great. Here in South Dakota diesel is still hovering close to $5/gallon with premium right there with it. 

borg wrote:

You think health care is expensive now? Wait till it's free.

 

APLMAN99 wrote:
I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

image 3591.png?VersionId=3SjTY.WIn2Jf

Big pharma makes higher profits in the US...

image 3590.png?VersionId=qMpRchCquTE Hw7xwPyK8Yg

The outcome doesn't match the expenditure...

image 3592.png?VersionId=cWNPjVHzk4Wjsgb0eoE926yXDg6oBk
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borg
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Location
Long Beach, CA, USA
8/18/2026 7:21pm
mvd61 wrote:
How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people...

How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people are being fleeced like a motherfucker. Why is universal healthcare working in other countries but nope no way in hell is it going to happen here? It's time for people to put their boots on the necks of the politicians and actually get some shit done that benefits us. I care not a single fuck about the reflecting pool, that dumb fucking lawn he's whining about now, or a 250 year fair celebration. None of that stupid shit is making America great. Here in South Dakota diesel is still hovering close to $5/gallon with premium right there with it. 

borg wrote:

You think health care is expensive now? Wait till it's free.

 

APLMAN99 wrote:
I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

image 3591.png?VersionId=3SjTY.WIn2Jf

I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because what I want is not going to happen. What the medicare for all, people want, is not going to happen either. The last attempt at this Obamacare, which just handed the insurance companies our dicks. 

 

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mvd61
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Brandon, SD, USA
8/18/2026 7:29pm
borg wrote:

You think health care is expensive now? Wait till it's free.

 

APLMAN99 wrote:
I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

image 3591.png?VersionId=3SjTY.WIn2Jf
borg wrote:
I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because...

I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because what I want is not going to happen. What the medicare for all, people want, is not going to happen either. The last attempt at this Obamacare, which just handed the insurance companies our dicks. 

 

It’d be cool to not pay $700 something a month being a 38 year old guy that takes care of himself. That $700 doesn’t cover the blood draw I have done a couple of times a year for labs. The men’s health clinic I use has done more for my health than anyone at a hospital has ever done. I’d be content paying about $350 a month. I’d probably still bitch but there’s no way in fuck my insurance needs to be $8400 a year. I go to the chiro once every few months and that’s it.

APLMAN99
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12734
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Location
Tualatin, OR, USA
Fantasy
8/18/2026 8:15pm
borg wrote:

You think health care is expensive now? Wait till it's free.

 

APLMAN99 wrote:
I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

image 3591.png?VersionId=3SjTY.WIn2Jf
borg wrote:
I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because...

I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because what I want is not going to happen. What the medicare for all, people want, is not going to happen either. The last attempt at this Obamacare, which just handed the insurance companies our dicks. 

 

There’s obviously an incredible number of variables between nearly every healthcare system by country, but it’s hard believing that we need to spend nearly double per capita compared to several countries that have pretty significant increased life expectancies. 

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2
Elliot
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GB
8/18/2026 8:31pm
mvd61 wrote:
Here soon DJT first and second terms will be responsible for adding 20% of the $40,000,000,000,000 debt. It's so insane how these figures are just tossed...

Here soon DJT first and second terms will be responsible for adding 20% of the $40,000,000,000,000 debt. It's so insane how these figures are just tossed around like it's no big deal. I feel guilty throwing 10k at a new dirt bike every couple of years. These shit bags have daily meals that cost that much for a meeting or two. It has to end.

I heard a stat yesterday that the $40 trillion national debt equals the value of all the residential properties in the US today, based on an average house value of $400k.

8/18/2026 9:13pm
mvd61 wrote:
How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people...

How are other countries making it work with universal health care? All this fraud here being uncovered, nothing is done about it, and we the people are being fleeced like a motherfucker. Why is universal healthcare working in other countries but nope no way in hell is it going to happen here? It's time for people to put their boots on the necks of the politicians and actually get some shit done that benefits us. I care not a single fuck about the reflecting pool, that dumb fucking lawn he's whining about now, or a 250 year fair celebration. None of that stupid shit is making America great. Here in South Dakota diesel is still hovering close to $5/gallon with premium right there with it. 

borg wrote:

You think health care is expensive now? Wait till it's free.

 

APLMAN99 wrote:
I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

image 3591.png?VersionId=3SjTY.WIn2Jf

Too funny...the logic in your head is severely twisted.

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13
truck
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Louisville, KY, USA
Fantasy
8/18/2026 10:04pm

Also trying not to get triggered and vomit all over but so much I want to say..... 

With matched populations our life expectancy is fine. It's not healthcare dragging ours down, it's mostly choices and priorities. We like cars, guns, fast food, beer, drugs, dirt bikes, etc etc etc.... 

We spend a lot of money at the end of life because we apparently find this worth doing whereas other countries where I'm told universal healthcare is working just say no, go home and die, or have you considered killing yourself? 

Same goes for pharma profits here vs elsewhere. People want the latest and greatest even if it offers next to no benefit over the old standby, and in the US they get it. In other countries, or in the US's version of universal healthcare at the VA, the answer is no, take the old drug. Instant savings. 

Need a hip replacement? Get in line, enough of you will die as you become more debilitated waiting for it that there's some more instant savings. 

Most of our spending increases over the past few decades are also on administrative costs, not healthcare itself. Every attempt at reform just creates more administrative positions and is a handout to one industry or another. People have been tricked into thinking health insurance = health care and it most definitely does not. Insurance and hospital industries spend lots of money lobbying for laws that prevent physicians from having any ownership stake and therefore the ability to cut out all the leeches and just provide health care. They've changed reimbursement to make it virtually impossible for most specialties to exist outside of a giant health system so we're all just employees along for the ride now. 

Everyone here also wants to have it both ways, they want insurance to cost less but they also want insurance to pay for everything. Insurance works by pooling risk. As soon as you use insurance to pay for things that are routine, you are guaranteeing that that thing is more expensive because you've added administrative costs. You've also removed any consumer incentives to decide if something is worth it or not or to price shop. The admin class hates high deductible plans with HSA's that tried to make that happen. 

Healthcare is very broken but too many people who add nothing of value are making a living off of it and spend big and play dirty to make sure that doesn't change. 

I'm totally opposed to universal healthcare because it would also be a disaster of a different kind, but what we have is such shit that I really don't care all that much anymore if it were to happen. The current system is hardly worth passionately defending, but much of what people believe about it is just wrong. 

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8
8/19/2026 6:10am
truck wrote:
Also trying not to get triggered and vomit all over but so much I want to say..... With matched populations our life expectancy is fine. It's not...

Also trying not to get triggered and vomit all over but so much I want to say..... 

With matched populations our life expectancy is fine. It's not healthcare dragging ours down, it's mostly choices and priorities. We like cars, guns, fast food, beer, drugs, dirt bikes, etc etc etc.... 

We spend a lot of money at the end of life because we apparently find this worth doing whereas other countries where I'm told universal healthcare is working just say no, go home and die, or have you considered killing yourself? 

Same goes for pharma profits here vs elsewhere. People want the latest and greatest even if it offers next to no benefit over the old standby, and in the US they get it. In other countries, or in the US's version of universal healthcare at the VA, the answer is no, take the old drug. Instant savings. 

Need a hip replacement? Get in line, enough of you will die as you become more debilitated waiting for it that there's some more instant savings. 

Most of our spending increases over the past few decades are also on administrative costs, not healthcare itself. Every attempt at reform just creates more administrative positions and is a handout to one industry or another. People have been tricked into thinking health insurance = health care and it most definitely does not. Insurance and hospital industries spend lots of money lobbying for laws that prevent physicians from having any ownership stake and therefore the ability to cut out all the leeches and just provide health care. They've changed reimbursement to make it virtually impossible for most specialties to exist outside of a giant health system so we're all just employees along for the ride now. 

Everyone here also wants to have it both ways, they want insurance to cost less but they also want insurance to pay for everything. Insurance works by pooling risk. As soon as you use insurance to pay for things that are routine, you are guaranteeing that that thing is more expensive because you've added administrative costs. You've also removed any consumer incentives to decide if something is worth it or not or to price shop. The admin class hates high deductible plans with HSA's that tried to make that happen. 

Healthcare is very broken but too many people who add nothing of value are making a living off of it and spend big and play dirty to make sure that doesn't change. 

I'm totally opposed to universal healthcare because it would also be a disaster of a different kind, but what we have is such shit that I really don't care all that much anymore if it were to happen. The current system is hardly worth passionately defending, but much of what people believe about it is just wrong. 

"our life expectancy is fine"

Is it?

image 3595
5
4
Dudley
Posts
573
Joined
9/10/2012
Location
Denver, CO, USA
8/19/2026 6:35am
truck wrote:
Also trying not to get triggered and vomit all over but so much I want to say..... With matched populations our life expectancy is fine. It's not...

Also trying not to get triggered and vomit all over but so much I want to say..... 

With matched populations our life expectancy is fine. It's not healthcare dragging ours down, it's mostly choices and priorities. We like cars, guns, fast food, beer, drugs, dirt bikes, etc etc etc.... 

We spend a lot of money at the end of life because we apparently find this worth doing whereas other countries where I'm told universal healthcare is working just say no, go home and die, or have you considered killing yourself? 

Same goes for pharma profits here vs elsewhere. People want the latest and greatest even if it offers next to no benefit over the old standby, and in the US they get it. In other countries, or in the US's version of universal healthcare at the VA, the answer is no, take the old drug. Instant savings. 

Need a hip replacement? Get in line, enough of you will die as you become more debilitated waiting for it that there's some more instant savings. 

Most of our spending increases over the past few decades are also on administrative costs, not healthcare itself. Every attempt at reform just creates more administrative positions and is a handout to one industry or another. People have been tricked into thinking health insurance = health care and it most definitely does not. Insurance and hospital industries spend lots of money lobbying for laws that prevent physicians from having any ownership stake and therefore the ability to cut out all the leeches and just provide health care. They've changed reimbursement to make it virtually impossible for most specialties to exist outside of a giant health system so we're all just employees along for the ride now. 

Everyone here also wants to have it both ways, they want insurance to cost less but they also want insurance to pay for everything. Insurance works by pooling risk. As soon as you use insurance to pay for things that are routine, you are guaranteeing that that thing is more expensive because you've added administrative costs. You've also removed any consumer incentives to decide if something is worth it or not or to price shop. The admin class hates high deductible plans with HSA's that tried to make that happen. 

Healthcare is very broken but too many people who add nothing of value are making a living off of it and spend big and play dirty to make sure that doesn't change. 

I'm totally opposed to universal healthcare because it would also be a disaster of a different kind, but what we have is such shit that I really don't care all that much anymore if it were to happen. The current system is hardly worth passionately defending, but much of what people believe about it is just wrong. 

I could be wrong but I suspect the current system is heavily plagued by rules that remove free market for medical equipment and pharmaceutical, malpractice lawsuits, and passing the costs down from the ones who can’t pay their bills. By default having a middle man ads cost (insurance companies). It worked for many years but now their business model is to increase costs every time we get a raise and deny coverage. If the same prosthetic from India meets standard of American and is 100 times cheaper, then why not use it? (This is where I differ from most republicans and democrats) 

I agree no society should have to make the choice of ending life. They did that to my Granfather because blood was too precious for an 80 year old man. He recovered against doctors attempts and lived into his 90’s. 

I don’t know what the answer is, universal healthcare would rest on the shoulders of a Congress that can’t even balance a checkbook. I would say 80 percent of Americans have zero trust in our federal government to implement it. 

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1
borg
Posts
6947
Joined
12/7/2009
Location
Long Beach, CA, USA
8/19/2026 6:41am
APLMAN99 wrote:
I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

image 3591.png?VersionId=3SjTY.WIn2Jf
borg wrote:
I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because...

I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because what I want is not going to happen. What the medicare for all, people want, is not going to happen either. The last attempt at this Obamacare, which just handed the insurance companies our dicks. 

 

APLMAN99 wrote:
There’s obviously an incredible number of variables between nearly every healthcare system by country, but it’s hard believing that we need to spend nearly double per...

There’s obviously an incredible number of variables between nearly every healthcare system by country, but it’s hard believing that we need to spend nearly double per capita compared to several countries that have pretty significant increased life expectancies. 

The answer, at least my answer is we don't. For the vast percentage of the public, they are spending money on insurance not healthcare. They really don't need much healthcare. The actuarial tables that have been compiled over many many years bears that out.  " yeah but what if something really serious happens?" THAT is what you need the insurance for. Not for having the doctor stick his finger up your ass or listening to your kid's chest because his nose is running. People just do not understand how much money they are throwing away by having insurance for that shit. No clue. They are convinced that the more insurance, the better. They couldn't be more wrong. A lot of their misconception comes from thinking that their employer is paying for it. Again, they couldn't be more wrong. 

Just to get an inkling, I suggest to people to go on google earth and take a stroll around Hartford Conn. Check out the United Healthcare Bldg. That's where you money goes before some small slice of it ends up in your doctor's pocket. 

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1
8/19/2026 12:04pm
borg wrote:

You think health care is expensive now? Wait till it's free.

 

APLMAN99 wrote:
I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

image 3591.png?VersionId=3SjTY.WIn2Jf
borg wrote:
I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because...

I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because what I want is not going to happen. What the medicare for all, people want, is not going to happen either. The last attempt at this Obamacare, which just handed the insurance companies our dicks. 

 

There was a theory (that seems to track with the numbers). When Obama Care came into being, They capped the percentage insurance companies were allowed to make. We all got a refund that year. Any of you ever get another refund? My guess is not. So, prior to Obama Care insurance companies had an interest in keeping the cost down for medical care. After Obama Care, there were only so many people they could insure so, the only way to increase profits was to incentivize medical treatment to cost more. 3% of a $200K bill is more $$s than 3% of a $100K bill. Insuring the same # of people and doing the same work, just bigger #s. Higher medical bills justify higher premiums.

TM

1
2
Titan1
Posts
9452
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Location
Lehi, UT, USA
8/19/2026 3:54pm

It is because of all the government waste that I will never support any increased taxes, for anyone, ever.   The government has PLENTY of revenue...it needs to spend less, way way way less.  

Waste like in the OP is part of it...but really EVERY government department (including the military) needs to slash spending by at least about 25% (some departments far more...like foreign aide).  I would gladly suffer the pain that that would cause to right the ship economically.  Because that pain will be far less than the pain we will all feel when the train finally runs out of track if the government keeps doing what its been doing.  

And I'm so sick of the Vudu economics these stupid politicians use to justify every budget, and every debt ceiling increase...I'm sick of the 10,000 page omnibus spending bills that nobody even knows what is in...the irresponsibility at the federal government (in the legislative and the executive branch, and across both parties) is absolutely infuriating.  

Until the government can prove it won't waste Americans money...I'll never support a tax increase on ANY American, for any reason, ever. 

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8/19/2026 4:32pm
APLMAN99 wrote:
I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

I understand that sentiment in a broad sense, but in the real world it sure seems like it might be less expensive in the end.  

image 3591.png?VersionId=3SjTY.WIn2Jf
borg wrote:
I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because...

I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because what I want is not going to happen. What the medicare for all, people want, is not going to happen either. The last attempt at this Obamacare, which just handed the insurance companies our dicks. 

 

ToolMaker wrote:
There was a theory (that seems to track with the numbers). When Obama Care came into being, They capped the percentage insurance companies were allowed to...

There was a theory (that seems to track with the numbers). When Obama Care came into being, They capped the percentage insurance companies were allowed to make. We all got a refund that year. Any of you ever get another refund? My guess is not. So, prior to Obama Care insurance companies had an interest in keeping the cost down for medical care. After Obama Care, there were only so many people they could insure so, the only way to increase profits was to incentivize medical treatment to cost more. 3% of a $200K bill is more $$s than 3% of a $100K bill. Insuring the same # of people and doing the same work, just bigger #s. Higher medical bills justify higher premiums.

TM

Health expenditure went off the rails way before Obama, what changed in the 1980s?

image 3594.png?VersionId=4FOBc 3pk
Moto Nomad
Posts
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Location
Grass Valley, CA, USA
8/19/2026 4:41pm

Since I know the national debt is out of control and will be until after I am long gone, I choose to not give a crap. At almost age 60 my belief is the purpose of the federal government is to remove wealth from the people. 

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borg
Posts
6947
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Location
Long Beach, CA, USA
8/19/2026 4:56pm
borg wrote:
I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because...

I had an arsenal of points to make on how illogical our system is but I just don't have the energy to get into it because what I want is not going to happen. What the medicare for all, people want, is not going to happen either. The last attempt at this Obamacare, which just handed the insurance companies our dicks. 

 

ToolMaker wrote:
There was a theory (that seems to track with the numbers). When Obama Care came into being, They capped the percentage insurance companies were allowed to...

There was a theory (that seems to track with the numbers). When Obama Care came into being, They capped the percentage insurance companies were allowed to make. We all got a refund that year. Any of you ever get another refund? My guess is not. So, prior to Obama Care insurance companies had an interest in keeping the cost down for medical care. After Obama Care, there were only so many people they could insure so, the only way to increase profits was to incentivize medical treatment to cost more. 3% of a $200K bill is more $$s than 3% of a $100K bill. Insuring the same # of people and doing the same work, just bigger #s. Higher medical bills justify higher premiums.

TM

Health expenditure went off the rails way before Obama, what changed in the 1980s?

Health expenditure went off the rails way before Obama, what changed in the 1980s?

image 3594.png?VersionId=4FOBc 3pk

Lets just say that they could have made some positive changes but they went the other way instead. SOME people got insurance that didn't have it and others lost theirs. Calling it the Affordable Care Act is a laugher. Your chart shows that. 

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2
8/19/2026 5:24pm
ToolMaker wrote:
There was a theory (that seems to track with the numbers). When Obama Care came into being, They capped the percentage insurance companies were allowed to...

There was a theory (that seems to track with the numbers). When Obama Care came into being, They capped the percentage insurance companies were allowed to make. We all got a refund that year. Any of you ever get another refund? My guess is not. So, prior to Obama Care insurance companies had an interest in keeping the cost down for medical care. After Obama Care, there were only so many people they could insure so, the only way to increase profits was to incentivize medical treatment to cost more. 3% of a $200K bill is more $$s than 3% of a $100K bill. Insuring the same # of people and doing the same work, just bigger #s. Higher medical bills justify higher premiums.

TM

Health expenditure went off the rails way before Obama, what changed in the 1980s?

Health expenditure went off the rails way before Obama, what changed in the 1980s?

image 3594.png?VersionId=4FOBc 3pk
borg wrote:
Lets just say that they could have made some positive changes but they went the other way instead. SOME people got insurance that didn't have it...

Lets just say that they could have made some positive changes but they went the other way instead. SOME people got insurance that didn't have it and others lost theirs. Calling it the Affordable Care Act is a laugher. Your chart shows that. 

That doesn't explain why the US's health expenditure diverged from other developed countries in the early 1980s, what changed in the 1980s?

2

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