Budget and HealthBudget and Health

What two major problems are What two major problems are facing the U.S. government this facing the U.S. government this

month?month? The closing of the Federal The closing of the Federal

Government because no budget Government because no budget resolution to keep it going has been resolution to keep it going has been passed.passed.

On Oct 17, the U.S. will not have On Oct 17, the U.S. will not have enough money to repay loans enough money to repay loans preiously borrowed…DEFAULT…preiously borrowed…DEFAULT…unless the ceiling on our debt is unless the ceiling on our debt is raised.raised.

What 3 ways does the government What 3 ways does the government get money to spend and which one get money to spend and which one is in jepoardy of not being able to is in jepoardy of not being able to

be used.be used. TaxesTaxes BorrowingBorrowing Printing Money: quantitative easingPrinting Money: quantitative easing

What government entity controls What government entity controls the amount of money in U.S. the amount of money in U.S.

money supplymoney supply

The Federal Reserve BankThe Federal Reserve Bank• The use a process called quantitative The use a process called quantitative

easing, which essentially prints money easing, which essentially prints money and adds it to the supply. It can also and adds it to the supply. It can also withdraw money if inflation becomes a withdraw money if inflation becomes a problem. Currently inflation is below 2%, problem. Currently inflation is below 2%, so not a problem.so not a problem.

What are the major objectives of What are the major objectives of the Tea Party wing of the the Tea Party wing of the

Republican Party.Republican Party. Smaller government doing lessSmaller government doing less Less Taxes (see number one)Less Taxes (see number one) Less government intrusion in Less government intrusion in

American life (see number one)American life (see number one)

Why don’t “old school” non-Tea Why don’t “old school” non-Tea Party Republican stop the Tea Party Republican stop the Tea

Party, if they think they are harming Party, if they think they are harming the country (many do)? It’s called the country (many do)? It’s called

by “primaried.”by “primaried.” Tea Party organizations will run Tea Tea Party organizations will run Tea

Party candidates, heavily funded, Party candidates, heavily funded, against them in Primaries, so they against them in Primaries, so they won’t even be able to run against the won’t even be able to run against the Democrats.Democrats.

Who is Grover NorquistWho is Grover Norquist

A non-elected Republican activists, A non-elected Republican activists, who organization “encourages” who organization “encourages” Republican Congressman to sign a Republican Congressman to sign a “pledge” never, ever, ever to raise “pledge” never, ever, ever to raise taxes for any reason. If they violate taxes for any reason. If they violate the pledge, they will be primaried.the pledge, they will be primaried.

What happens Oct 17?What happens Oct 17?

Unless Congress raises the debt limit, Unless Congress raises the debt limit, the U.S. will default on repayment of the U.S. will default on repayment of loans it has received, harming the loans it has received, harming the nation’s credit rating. John Boehner, nation’s credit rating. John Boehner, the Republican Speaker of the the Republican Speaker of the House, says he will not let it happen.House, says he will not let it happen.

What is the U.S. currency, the What is the U.S. currency, the dollar, backed up bydollar, backed up by

Confidence in the U.S. to be able to Confidence in the U.S. to be able to repay its debt, “the full faith and repay its debt, “the full faith and credit” of the U.S.credit” of the U.S.

What catastrophe is predicted by What catastrophe is predicted by many to happen if the U.S. many to happen if the U.S.

defaults?defaults? Lack of confidence in the U.S. will Lack of confidence in the U.S. will

cause stock and bond markets to cause stock and bond markets to crash. Less demand in U.S. back crash. Less demand in U.S. back loans will reduce demand for those loans will reduce demand for those bonds, crashing trillions in value. bonds, crashing trillions in value.

Others believe nothing will happen, Others believe nothing will happen, investors will just wait it out.investors will just wait it out.

What is meant by Gross Domestic What is meant by Gross Domestic Product, GDPProduct, GDP

It is the cumulative wealth of all It is the cumulative wealth of all aspects of an economy?aspects of an economy?

What Percent of the U.S. GDP is What Percent of the U.S. GDP is spent on healthcare? What do spent on healthcare? What do

other developed countries spend?other developed countries spend? 18%18% 8-12%8-12%

How does U.S. debt to GDP How does U.S. debt to GDP compare to the rest of the compare to the rest of the

developed world?developed world?

About the same, to a little less.About the same, to a little less.

What part of the U.S. government What part of the U.S. government is spiraling out of control and is spiraling out of control and

whose trajectory will cause great whose trajectory will cause great debt in the future?debt in the future?

Medicare: health care for older Medicare: health care for older Americans as the largest part of the Americans as the largest part of the population of the U.S. gets older. population of the U.S. gets older. Medicare costs mirror U.S. health Medicare costs mirror U.S. health care which is MUCH higher than the care which is MUCH higher than the rest of the World.rest of the World.

How does the percent covered and How does the percent covered and health outcomes compare?health outcomes compare?

Most of all other developed countries Most of all other developed countries cover 100% of their citizens, the U.S. cover 100% of their citizens, the U.S. has not covered approximately 50 has not covered approximately 50 million people until now.million people until now.

The U.S. is generally rated in the mid The U.S. is generally rated in the mid 30s, according the New England 30s, according the New England Journal of medicine.Journal of medicine.

How do Canadians feel about How do Canadians feel about socialized medicine?socialized medicine?

A 2009 Harris/Decima poll found 82% A 2009 Harris/Decima poll found 82% of Canadians preferred their of Canadians preferred their healthcare system to the one in the healthcare system to the one in the United States, more than ten times as United States, more than ten times as many as the 8% stating a preference many as the 8% stating a preference for a US-style health care system for for a US-style health care system for CanadaCanada[14][14] while a Strategic Counsel  while a Strategic Counsel survey in 2008 found 91% of survey in 2008 found 91% of Canadians preferring their healthcare Canadians preferring their healthcare system to that of the U.S.system to that of the U.S.[11][11][12][12]

How has U.S. Health Care been How has U.S. Health Care been structured since the ’60s?structured since the ’60s?

Medicare: for elderlyMedicare: for elderly Medicaid: for the poor.Medicaid: for the poor. Private: paid for by employers and Private: paid for by employers and

employees.employees. Uninsured or underinsured: the Uninsured or underinsured: the

working poor. Typically these people working poor. Typically these people go to emergency rooms, where costs go to emergency rooms, where costs are shifted to the other groups.are shifted to the other groups.

How will the change under the How will the change under the AHCA: Obamacare (they hope)?AHCA: Obamacare (they hope)?

Medicare: UnchangedMedicare: Unchanged Medicaid: expanded modestly (if states fund it)Medicaid: expanded modestly (if states fund it) Private: Unchanged. (some argue smaller Private: Unchanged. (some argue smaller

business will stop offering forcing employees to business will stop offering forcing employees to “exchanges”“exchanges”

Uninsured: will be “mandated” to get insurance. Uninsured: will be “mandated” to get insurance. Depending on their income, they may receive Depending on their income, they may receive government subsidies to pay for it.government subsidies to pay for it.• Emergency rooms will no longer be forced to “eat” costs Emergency rooms will no longer be forced to “eat” costs

for these people.for these people.• These exchanges will compete for customers, thus These exchanges will compete for customers, thus

lowering the price.lowering the price.

How is Obamacare to be paid for?How is Obamacare to be paid for?

Through cuts in other programs, Through cuts in other programs, government control, and competition in government control, and competition in the exchanges, and by savingd in waste. the exchanges, and by savingd in waste. (All has been accounted for on paper).(All has been accounted for on paper).

Because free “well care” is mandated as Because free “well care” is mandated as part of the program, hopefully the U.S. will part of the program, hopefully the U.S. will get healthier and treated earlier, bringing get healthier and treated earlier, bringing down costs. (As about Zipcodes)down costs. (As about Zipcodes)

Many believe it will eventually have to be Many believe it will eventually have to be subsidized by taxes.subsidized by taxes.

How are pre-existing conditions How are pre-existing conditions treated differently under treated differently under

ObamacareObamacare Before, insurance companies could Before, insurance companies could

deny care to those who are the most deny care to those who are the most expensive to treat, now they can’t.expensive to treat, now they can’t.

Will that raise costs or will their be Will that raise costs or will their be enough savings from emergency enough savings from emergency treatments to pay for it?treatments to pay for it?

How much of premiums most be How much of premiums most be spent on Health Care?spent on Health Care?

Under Obamacare 80% of premiums Under Obamacare 80% of premiums must be spent on health care, not must be spent on health care, not profit or administrative costs, like profit or administrative costs, like billing and advertising.billing and advertising.

How might Obamacare affect How might Obamacare affect young people?young people?

They can now stay on parents policy They can now stay on parents policy until age 27.until age 27.

Young, healthy uninsured now must Young, healthy uninsured now must buy insurance or be fined.buy insurance or be fined.

How might jobs be affected?How might jobs be affected?

Employees now may leave jobs they Employees now may leave jobs they stayed in for the health care.stayed in for the health care.

Employers may lay off workers to get Employers may lay off workers to get under the number they need to to under the number they need to to not provide health care, or higher not provide health care, or higher lots of part time workers, forcing lots of part time workers, forcing them into the exchanges.them into the exchanges.

What do opponents not like about What do opponents not like about Obamacare?Obamacare?

Forcing people to buy what they Forcing people to buy what they consider a commodity.consider a commodity.

Employers might reduce jobs so as Employers might reduce jobs so as not to have to provide insurance.not to have to provide insurance.• If over 50 employees, must provide.If over 50 employees, must provide.

Future costs.Future costs. Health providers being over-Health providers being over-

regulated.regulated.

How is it hoped that Obamacare How is it hoped that Obamacare will drive down the overall cost of will drive down the overall cost of

healthcare in America.healthcare in America. Competition in the exchanges.Competition in the exchanges. More healthy Americans as they get well-More healthy Americans as they get well-

care.care. No need for emergency rooms to raise No need for emergency rooms to raise

prices to cover costs of uninsured.prices to cover costs of uninsured. Increased productivity in work force.Increased productivity in work force. More participation in system.More participation in system. More targeted and regulated approaches More targeted and regulated approaches

to health.to health.

What is a single payer plan or What is a single payer plan or government option and why wasn’t government option and why wasn’t

it included?it included?

Single PayerSingle Payer: complete governmen : complete governmen takeover through increased taxes, most of takeover through increased taxes, most of developed world.developed world.

Government optionGovernment option: would allow people : would allow people to buy into Medicare in some fashion. to buy into Medicare in some fashion. Some afraid the government would out Some afraid the government would out compete the private companies.compete the private companies.

Was not political feasible as some consider Was not political feasible as some consider it socialist.it socialist.

How do Americans feel about new How do Americans feel about new law?law?

38% think it goes too far.38% think it goes too far. 50% think its ok or didn’t go far 50% think its ok or didn’t go far

enough. (CNN and Kaiser health enough. (CNN and Kaiser health tracking polls concurred)tracking polls concurred)

U.S. compared to World in costU.S. compared to World in cost

Emotional Intelligence:Emotional Intelligence: Daniel Goleman Daniel Goleman

Ability to self-regulateAbility to self-regulate Introspection and self-Introspection and self-

knowledgeknowledge: including what makes : including what makes you feel good/bad, and maximize the you feel good/bad, and maximize the good.good.

EmpathyEmpathy: understanding what : understanding what others feel and how to handle it.others feel and how to handle it.

Optimism: Optimism: strong correlation to strong correlation to happiness.happiness.

PerseverancePerseverance