Guess What Greece Has To Jettison to Rescue their Economy? (Just guess before peeking)

Investors Business Daily ^ | 05/14/2010

[SeekAndFind]

Greece was told that if it wanted a bailout, it needed to consider privatizing its government health care system. So tell us again why the U.S. is following Europe's welfare state model.

The requirement, part of a deal arranged by the IMF, the European Union and the European Central bank, is a tacit admission that national health care programs are unsustainable. Along with transportation and energy, the bailout group, according to the New York Times, wants the Greek government to remove "the state from the marketplace in crucial sectors."

This is not some cranky or politically motivated demand. It is a condition based on the ugly reality of government medicine. The Times reports that economists - not right-wingers opposed to health care who want to blow up Times Square - say liberalizing "the health care industry would help bring down prices in these areas, which are among the highest in Europe."

Of course most of the media have been largely silent about the health care privatization measure for Greece, as it conflicts with their universal, single-payer health care narrative.

The public health system in the Hellenic Republic is operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, where centralized decisions and rules are made.

It provides free or low-cost treatment through what is essentially a single-payer system established in 1983 when the Socialist Party was in power. Family members and retirees are also covered. Like the systems in Britain and Canada, it has agonizingly long waiting lists.

[SeekAndFind]

The dems and republicans are the ultimate Dumb and Dumber act.

So, who's dumb and who's dumber :)

[moovova]

Ah ha! Gotcha BO!

[SeekAndFind]

Ah ha! Gotcha BO!

The man and his party ain't listening.

They lost Ted Kennedy's sit in VERY LIBERAL Massachusetts on precisely the issue of health care and yet what did they do after that ?

The only thing that will make them listen is to get them out of their elected positions.

[Erik Latranyi]

Healthcare was passed to hasten our slide to collapse, just like it is a component in the collapse of Greece.

Socialists are prepared to restructure these nations into new orders and simply wipe the debt away, just like they did in the Soviet Union.

The collapse is nearly imminent for us. It is a matter of who leads us out of that collapse that will determine if we remain a representative republic with a constitution dedicated to capitalism, liberty and justice for all or a new nation dedicated to social justice.

[DocRock]

bookmark

[AFPhys]

From the NY Times- It would be diffiult to even see Greece in this diagram - it is a good thing that they put it at the top:

[gitmogrunt]

Looks like their socialist utopia is about to blow it’s lid.(nice diagram, thanks for posting)

[DocRock]

Awesome graphic... stolen and stashed for future reference

[EyeGuy]

As clear a representation of the seedy shell game that is Socialism as I have ever seen.

Is there a source that regularly provides such illuminating graphics?

Thanks.

[556x45]

They keep us guessing and trade places now and again. ;)

[DocRock]

I read an article on FR a couple of days ago and it said, "on weekends, hospitals admit elderly people who require nursing care or are confused because their children bring them there so that they can take a few days of vacation. This, of course, drives up healthcare costs." Link - 2nd Paragraph

Unbelievable...

[Pan_Yan]

Look, the problem with Greece's financial mess is that there are still countries healthy enough to bail them out. That's why Obamacare is so important. The only way to break the free market system is to do it on such a large scale that no one has enough money or credit left to save it. As long as the United States at least has a prayer of paying its debt back the system will work. Greece is just a warm up. The United States must be forced into default to bring down the entire first world. Then the Workers’ Utopia can be established and those few who remain will be very happy, or at least they will keep their discontent to themselves.

Sincerely,
Karl

[SeekAndFind]

As long as the United States at least has a prayer of paying its debt back the system will work.

American is not doing any better than Europe if you look closely at the fundamentals.

It's only a matter of time. .

See here : Will America join the PIIG sty?

[GOPJ]

Greece was told that if it wanted a bailout, it needed to consider privatizing its government health care system. So tell us again why the U.S. is following Europe's welfare state model.

A bankrupt country - one with citizens rioting - is easier to control with force. When dems try to pin the crisis on us - we'll become the new Jews... ObamaCare expenses are enough to push us off the cliff. We know it - they know it.

[OneWingedShark]

>Think the RNC and congressional republicans will be smart enough to run with this?

No.

[Impy]

I guessed right.

[CPT Clay]

Health care .... Imagine that.

[FBD]

bump and bookmark

[dcwusmc]

In most cases they’re pretty much interchangeable...

[wendy1946]

Properly used, this story could spell the end of the demoKKKrat party, and none too soon.