Hannelore, one of the (5 million!) problems with taxes in the US is -- how much goes to pork projects and waste! We pay for commissions to study commissions to make recommendations for more commissions, while the actual problem never gets solved. And then each commission is in some deep pocket$$, so no recommendations get made unless it is beneficial to those pocket$$.

I don't want national health care because all our tax $$ will go for commissions and committees, and very little for our actual health. Our government does a HORRIBLE job of managing our money, and I don't care to give them any more than I have already.

I don't see an end to the pork and corruption. UNTIL I see an end, I will not vote for any national programs to fund anything -- because, ultimately, it will fund the pockets of fat cats, and leave the rest of us poor mortals taxed to death.

You said a mouthful Meredith and I agree 1000000%!

Meredith, maybe if a new medical program would be launched, and it’s made corruption proof from the start ( it is possible!), than the money will go through the right channels. It’s easier to build a new house than to repair a shack.

And even if there is some corruption, isn’t that the lesser evil? Isn’t it t better than thousands of people not being treated because they aren’t insured. Stories like Sandpiper related should just not be. The unpaid medical debts are a burden to society as well. So saving money in the long run probably doesn’t happen either, if you don’t have national medical coverage.

That’s a good point, Anne327, about the big insurance companies having a lot to lose. It always comes down to money, doesn’t it?
Your right about wellness vacation saving money in the long run. That’s why they do it, although they are very careful that people don’t misuse it, and just go on a paid vacation.

I agree with the Divine Ms. M and Chatty. To allocate hundreds of thousands of dollars to study why a person slips on banana peels, is wacko! They send millions of dollars into space and then lose the device they're tracking. Pork and corruption: If they got rid of those, the national budget wouldn't be in the RED!!!!