# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 500
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9981 "2013-07-10T18:07:45Z")
> [@bup](#): > > He’s a hedge fund manager that the WSJ was willing to publish. If he were a Democrat, the byline would have crowed the fact in 24 point type. There are people who aren’t Republicans _or_ Democrats, you know. 😉 > [@Smapti](#): > > [Sarah Palin is considering thinking about possibly running for Senate next year.](http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/07/10/here-we-go-again-fox-news-palin-says-she-is-con/194801) > > No doubt she has a lot of questions she needs answered first, such as; > > 1. How much does it pay? > 2. …actually, that’s all I needed to know. Sooner or later somebody is going to mention that senators serve six year terms and the whole thing will be off. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9982 "2013-07-10T18:11:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > [Sarah Palin is considering thinking about possibly running for Senate next year.](http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/07/10/here-we-go-again-fox-news-palin-says-she-is-con/194801) > > No doubt she has a lot of questions she needs answered first, such as; > > 1. How much does it pay? > 2. …actually, that’s all I needed to know. Should probably look into what if any penalties would apply if she resigns before her term is complete. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9983 "2013-07-10T19:26:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Sooner or later somebody is going to mention that senators serve six year terms and the whole thing will be off. But that’s only three in Sarah years. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9984 "2013-07-10T19:46:09Z")
I understand there’s an opening on “The View” now. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9985 "2013-07-10T19:51:54Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I understand there’s an opening on “The View” now. Even better, said opening was currently held by a dumb vacuous bitch. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9986 "2013-07-10T20:00:06Z")
… who is replacing another one on a show and a channel where that’s what they \*all \*are, even the men. A perfect fit for Palin, see? ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9987 "2013-07-10T20:12:19Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I understand there’s an opening on “The View” now. > [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Even better, said opening was currently held by a dumb vacuous bitch. Palin better hurry if she wants that opening. Jenny McCarthy is in talks for that slot. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9988 "2013-07-10T21:08:22Z")
I’m actually curious to see how this works out, as it will be a test to determine if Palin really is as deluded as she sounds, or she does have some degree of rationality but acts like an idiot to sustain her popularity. Given that that she has a [25 point favorability gap](http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/02/08/alaska-poll-sen-begich-popular-palin-unpopular/) in Alaska she will be lucky not to get blown out of the water in the primary much less in the general election. So if she is at all based in reality she will see that this is a really dumb idea, and won’t go through with it, but if she is actually deluded enough to think more than a small sliver of America actually respects her then she is in for a nasty shock when she runs and I will be waiting with a big bag of popcorn liberally seasoned with Schadenfreude. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9989 "2013-07-10T21:48:00Z")
On the other hand, she _would_ be running for a seat which is only held by a Democrat because the previous GOP incumbent was _convicted of taking bribes the week before the election_ - and only then just _barely_ lost to said Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9990 "2013-07-11T15:59:27Z")
The link I posted, takes this into account > [@](#): > > But Begich is showing surprising strength and popularity, according to a new survey of the 49th State by Public Policy Polling. He has a 49 percent job approval rating, with only 39 percent disapproving of the job he’s doing. And Begich leads a bevy of likely Republican challengers. > > He has a big, big lead — 54-38 percent — over former Gov. and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9991 "2013-07-11T16:58:06Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > So if she is at all based in reality she will see that this is a really dumb idea, and won’t go through with it, but if she is actually deluded enough to think more than a small sliver of America actually respects her then she is in for a nasty shock when she runs and **I will be waiting with a big bag of popcorn liberally seasoned with Schadenfreude**. 😛 I saw what you did there! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9992 "2013-07-11T18:31:27Z")
[Ken Cuccinelli says health insurance was never meant to cover doctor’s visits.](http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/07/11/2285291/gop-gubernatorial-candidate-insurance/) ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9993 "2013-07-11T18:41:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > [Ken Cuccinelli says health insurance was never meant to cover doctor’s visits.](http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/07/11/2285291/gop-gubernatorial-candidate-insurance/) That was true a long time ago, but with the cost of just simple bloodwork for a yearly physical, the price would be astronomical. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9994 "2013-07-11T19:02:54Z")
Actually, I believe that is true. Health insurance in its original form was not intended to cover routine visits. Actually, I believe the original form in this country was only accidental injury coverage. Of course, that was 150 years ago and has nothing whatsoever to to do with the situation we’re in now. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9995 "2013-07-11T19:58:44Z")
> [@redtail23](#): > > Actually, I believe that is true. Health insurance in its original form was not intended to cover routine visits. Actually, I believe the original form in this country was only accidental injury coverage. > > Of course, that was 150 years ago and has nothing whatsoever to to do with the situation we’re in now. There’s no reason that reforms can’t start changing things back to that model. Everything gets paid for one way or another. If insurance policies stopped covering routine visits, their payouts would be less and the premiums could (presumably) be lowered. So maybe the cost of your insurance goes down by $500/year, and you pay $500 to the doctor’s office for your yearly physical. It’s not quite that simple, obviously. For someone with employer-provided health coverage, you’ve transferred a cost that was picked up by the company to one that’s picked up by the employee. But you might also get some improvements by putting those doctor visits in an open, competitive market. Tell me up front how much it’s gonna cost so I can shop around. There are a lot of things that are weird about health insurance, compared to how we insure cars and such. I don’t think questioning them is necessarily a stupid idea. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9996 "2013-07-11T20:36:48Z")
Can anyone give examples of costs going down in an industry and then those savings being passed onto consumers 1:1 instead of the corporations just pocketing the savings to increase profits? ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9997 "2013-07-11T20:39:46Z")
Oh, without a doubt. Our current system is absolutely idiotic and needs to be completely overhauled. But the fact is, what we’ve currently got is a huge, incredibly complicated, mess. There are no simple fixes like “quit having insurance pay for office visits”. For example - different types of insurance charge customers differently for those visits, both in premiums and copays/deductibles. Those different types of insurance also pay out differently to providers - they’re not all fee-for-service. So how long will it take for insurance companies to figure out how much to cut premiums by? And what will compel them to do so? Because they cut costs? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. And provider visit charges have been inflated by the whole current set up. However, since each insurance pays differently, how will providers be able to figure out how much they can cut charges by? And how long will that take? And what will compel them to do so? Not to mention that the entire system of health care and medical capabilities has changed so vastly in the interim that it is laughable to compare the two. And that the situation 150 years ago was pretty much “be rich or don’t see a doctor”. (I would say “be rich or die”, but fact was, doctors couldn’t do much back then anyway, so there wasn’t really much benefit to having the wherewithal to see one.) Unless you just don’t give a fuck that millions MORE people than already do, will be unable to afford those visits, and/or that we’ll lose primary care providers (an already overstrained resource) due to lack of funding. And that such a situation could continue for years before settling out again. Which, hey, modern Republicans - they probably figure that’s a feature, not a bug. If you don’t have the money to pay a concierge price to see a physician, you don’t deserve to live anyway! ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9998 "2013-07-11T20:41:23Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > There’s no reason that reforms can’t start changing things back to that model. Everything gets paid for one way or another. If insurance policies stopped covering routine visits, their payouts would be less and the premiums could (presumably) be lowered. So maybe the cost of your insurance goes down by $500/year, and you pay $500 to the doctor’s office for your yearly physical. > > It’s not quite that simple, obviously. For someone with employer-provided health coverage, you’ve transferred a cost that was picked up by the company to one that’s picked up by the employee. But you might also get some improvements by putting those doctor visits in an open, competitive market. Tell me up front how much it’s gonna cost so I can shop around. > > There are a lot of things that are weird about health insurance, compared to how we insure cars and such. I don’t think questioning them is necessarily a stupid idea. And anyone with chronic or hard to diagnose issues would go bankrupt. You would see a lot more kids in the hospital. In fact most people would put stuff off until it it was urgent and overall health costs would probably go up. HMOs like Kaiser used to encourage preventative visits because it lowered their overall costs. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/9999 "2013-07-11T21:15:31Z")
I’m not necessarily advocating for this change; just saying that bringing it up is not _prima facie_ stupid enough to really qualify for this thread. > [@redtail23](#): > > So how long will it take for insurance companies to figure out how much to cut premiums by? And what will compel them to do so? Because they cut costs? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. The theory is that insurance companies will also compete against each other to offer better services at lower prices. You can’t watch TV for five minutes without seeing a commercial for car insurance touting their low rates. > [@Strassia](#): > > And anyone with chronic or hard to diagnose issues would go bankrupt. You would see a lot more kids in the hospital. In fact most people would put stuff off until it it was urgent and overall health costs would probably go up. > > HMOs like Kaiser used to encourage preventative visits because it lowered their overall costs. Presumably, care for chronic conditions or diagnosis would not be the same as a routine physical, and would be covered. And insurers could encourage preventative care in ways other than paying directly for it. Give people a cut in their premiums if they see the doctor regularly, in the same way that other insurers lower rates for people whose behavior shows them to be lower risk. As **redtail** says, it’s complicated. I haven’t studied the issue enough to advocate for one overarching solution. I just don’t think that opening up the market for health services, or comparing it to other types of insurance, is as laughable as most of the other things in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/10000 "2013-07-11T21:57:54Z")
I’d have to disagree. I think pretending that we just need a few simple changes and then magical market forces will fix our incredibly complicated, amazingly intermeshed, and totally broken, healthcare system is completely laughable. And I do know a fair bit about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=499) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=501)