Comments on: Pretzel Logic

By: the other coyote

the other coyote — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:37:52 +0000

When I first saw the proposal to tax really good health insurance, it occurred to me that what Obama & Co. want is for you to buy health insurance, but only the health insurance they approve of (i.e., it can’t be TOO good or pay for TOO much — I guess because that would be unfair to those who don’t have it so good?)

I wasn’t a big believer in the “Obama is a Marxist” and “socialized medicine” meme, but this scheme has me wondering. There is no other logical explanation for why you HAVE to buy health insurance but will be taxed on health insurance that is too expensive (read: too good).

By: epobirs

epobirs — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:15:29 +0000

Ms. Romer,

When government feels it need resort to extortion to get non-criminal citizens to behave in a desired fashion, it is time to give thought to the next election cycle.

The list of person I’d like to see hold office another term, along with their appointees and cronies, is getting shorter by the week. Increasingly, I’m feeling more and more that elections are a failed mechanism because nobody who would seek office belongs there. Perhaps it is time to start drafting people into public office as a form of national service. Give them a minimal living stipend with an exit bonus based on their job rating by a public survey. More points are given for not breaking stuff as compared to creating new anything.

By: Dr. T

Dr. T — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:53:00 +0000

Christina Romer, who never had a reputation as a decent economist, has become a whore for the Obama administration. She is paid to put out whatever plan Obama wants, regardless of its sensibility or effects on the national economy. Thus, we get idiotic statements such as the one cited today, where Ms. Romer tried to defend the indefensible.

Of course, Ms. Romer is one step above Paul Klugman: he doesn’t get paid to shill for the administration; he gives it away.

By: Mesa Econoguy

Mesa Econoguy — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:49:02 +0000

Christina Romer – Garff B. Wilson Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley

That’s about all you need to know.

[Gasp! That's so closed-minded!]

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:45:52 +0000

And the winner is Charlie B!

By: Charlie B

Charlie B — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:59:15 +0000

Real world to Ms.Romer,

Since most employers kick money into employee health care, the employer is already more than sort of motivated to keep health care costs as low as possible.

By: Allen

Allen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:46:47 +0000

Good reply, Jeff.

I’m curious, does Ms. Romer think people call their HR department all the time and complain about the crappy, fee-riddled 401k choices their given?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:40:01 +0000

Here’s what I would like to ask Ms. Romer in reply.

My family has a high deductible plan ($6,000/year) with a Health Savings Account. We feel this plan is a great way for us to save money on our monthly premium and we save money on income taxes, since HSA spending is pre-tax dollars. This is exactly the type of behavior seem to be encouraging (‘Would you negotiate harder? Would you think about (whether this) is the most efficient plan out there,’), but the current legislation in the House and Senate outlaws my high deductible plan and HSA account.

So what is the goal? Efficient, consumer driven health care or government control?

By: Brian Dunbar

Brian Dunbar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:15:12 +0000

Geez.

I am not a consumer of my company’s benefit plan. I am a user. And the idea of thousands of cube dwellers and line monkeys calling their HR rep and having that conversation is just .. surreal.