Thanks to My Readers
I sincerely appreciate all of the feedback and encouragement that I have received from my loyal readers over the past year.
A Surprise Budget Deal – a Good Start and the Need to Do More
posted in: Deficit Reduction, Economic, Entitlement Spending, Fiscal Policy, Medicare, Social Security |
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I applaud the budget deal reached in Congress this past week. Not because it’s a good bill that addresses the long-term financial problems of the U.S., but because it spares the country another government shutdown.
Fiscal Policy and Growing the Economy
Here’s a short list of three things that Congress could do that would help boost economic growth without adding to the deficit: Fully fund the Highway Trust Fund; restore the Export-Import Bank; and tax reform.
Comprehensive Fiscal Policy and Reducing the National Debt
I believe the biggest long-term threat to the economy is our colossal national debt. In the years 2001-2015, we more than tripled the national debt. Starting 2001 it was $5.7 Trillion; it is now about $18.2 T and still growing.
Needed Tax Reform
The Tax Reform Act of 1986 is recognized as the model for tax reform, and it should be. It was a substantial and truly bi-partisan achievement between President Reagan and a Democratic Congress.
More Ideas for Reducing Healthcare Spending
I believe the ideas that I have outlined in this blog and last week’s blog are good next steps in the process of improving the healthcare payment and delivery systems.
Controlling Healthcare Spending
In this blog, I’m going to present some ideas to reduce government spending on healthcare. There is no pain-free, silver bullet solution that will fix this problem quickly – it will take a number of steps, over time, to slowly bring costs down.
The Political Challenges of Controlling Federal Healthcare Spending
The most difficult political challenge for healthcare spending reform that will continue is big money from special interest groups. Politicians in both parties have come to rely on the healthcare sector to be among the largest contributors to their campaigns.
We’re Spending Too Much on Healthcare
Ultimately, there will need to be changes made. We have the most expensive and complicated health insurance system in the world, much of it paid for by taxpayers, and millions of people still without coverage. We cannot continue to spend so much on healthcare, especially in the federal budget.
More on Medicaid and Obamacare
All of the bickering over Obamacare misses the larger point, namely, we spend too much on healthcare – both the federal government, and as individuals.