Again, Why Medical Care Ain't Broccoli

The notion by a Supreme Court Associate Justice that the commercial medical care system of the United States is comparable to the commercial buying and selling of broccoli is a specious argument at best. Moreover, the comparison of the commercialized health care market to the broccoli market shows an inveterate indifference to human suffering and pain.  


To understand how different the commercialized health-care market is from the broccoli market, please continue reading this post on the other side of the break.

Quotation for Today: Medical Care: An Involuntary and Imperfect Marketplace (Updated)

The quotation for today offers us a look at one of the fundamental truths that makes necessary the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).  The quoted comments were part of the Solicitor General's argument in the case Department of Health and Human Services, et al., (Petitioners) v. Florida, et al..  The Supreme Court of the United States, over a period of three days, is presently hearing arguments in the case.

A Thousand Words, Vol.1, Issue 19.

This week the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will hear arguments about the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA/Obamacare).  Should the justices decide ACA is unconstitutional, then the impact will be devasting on many Americans who are insured through the Medicare program with its infamous, Republican-created "donut" hole for prescription drugs.


The benefits to Medicare recipients of the ACA/Obamacare vice the Republicans' plans to privatize Medicare can be seen here.


Related information:


Health Care Blessings of ACA/Obamacare.

Notwithstanding Republicans' Devilish Tactics, ACA Is a Health Care Blessing

In presenting this post on the issue of health care, I would like to begin with a passage from a study done by the Employee Benefit Research Institure (EBRI).

This [EBRI] article examines the impact that repealing PPACA [Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act] would have on savings targets [read costs] for health care expenses in retirement. The estimates suggest that retirees with high levels of prescription drug use throughout retirement would see their savings targets [costs] increase roughly 30-40 percent were the coverage gap reduction in PPACA repealed. 

To learn more about the EBRI report and retiree health care costs, please continue across the jump.

A Thousand Words, Vol.1, Issue 16.

You can get a picture of the effectiveness of the Affordable Care Act here and read the companion article here.


Related information is available here and here 

Quotation for Today: The Roberts Court: Disreputable and Politicized

“I have complete confidence in the capability of my colleagues to determine when recusal is warranted.” 

John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the United States.

Quotation for Today

"Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 2.5 million more young adults don’t have to live with the fear and uncertainty of going without health insurance. Moms and dads around the country can breathe a little easier knowing their children are covered."

Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services

Levey, Noam N. "Millions of young adults getting coverage under new healthcare law."  Los Angeles Times 14 December, 2011: online edition.