Someone please explain to me what these people, or any other CEO does that is worth a recurring payment in this range. Please also explain why paying 50% of this in income tax would cause irreparable harm to their lifestyle, business practice, or the future of their families to the third or fourth generation. You could also toss in a few words about why the 10% of gross annual revenue from each of these companies that goes to PhRMA and similar organizations and lobbyists doesn't have an adverse impact on prescription or health care costs. At some point, one must ask "To what end are we doing this?"
Most Scriptures and other moral advisories recommend strongly against the focus on accumulating earthly wealth (mammon) as the center of one’s life activities and, once one has enough to pay the bills and enjoy the pleasures of some free time with family and friends while keeping enough handy to meet reasonable unforeseen emergencies, what is the purpose or value in seeking more. To the current situation, what is the value in buying Presidents, Senators, Congresspeople or Governors just to continue or enhance the increase in one’s earthly holdings?
It would/will be interesting to see what sort of response this gets, although I doubt many in a position of having excessive wealth will comment, either because they don’t consider theirs excessive, or because, on reflection, they really don’t know why they do it. In that case, my suggestion is that they stop, smell some roses, look at some birds, figure out how much they really need, and put the rest to use in making this world more enjoyably livable for themselves, the rest of us, and those to whom we’ll sooner or later leave the burden of answering the question “To what end?”
Great graphic and even greater questions, Dave.
Will this murder actually open some eyes, some minds...some hearts?
Bernie has been right all along. But he has been criticized as being too radical for advocating "Medicare for All". Truth? Medicare for All would be the more conservative health insurance option because:
* It is more efficient for patients and medical providers. Less time on paperwork and forms. More time for patients. Imagine that.
* The administration of it is way more efficient costing about 4% of the total vs over 20% for the private insurers who pay their CEOs as if they had invented the wheel and space travel.
So "If we are serious" about cutting expenses for everyone (Elon!) just clear out this corrupt system and let the people have their human right called health care.
We could go in stages so the system could adjust to the new volume of subscribers. Start with all kids - under 25? Then add those that are 50 to 65. And finally, the rest.
The radical private sector is not the answer. If it was, we wouldn't have a lousy system that delivers inconsistent and sometime deadly results for twice the cost of other nations.
The entire health care enterprise is run by interlinked medical mafias. It's criminal.
Thanks, Dave. Good words. Agree completely. The cold blooded murder is wrong and it's the entire system itself that is inhumane. We need Medicare For All.