Natural language law web site, shows how we might lose Medicare/Social Security

This web site seems to do a good job of distilling the WTO texts that I think pose a big problem to us that our politicians are ignoring, and is a hidden trap for the unwary.

Its self-annotated and contains some citations as well, Check it out. The text was summarized automatically.

https://www.lawinsider.com/clause/understanding-on-commitments-in-financ...

https://www.lawinsider.com/contracts/dvfSLJcNTOX#understanding-on-commit...

https://www.lawinsider.com/clause/annex-on-financial-services

What do you think?

Look at the References they cite too.

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Pluto's Republic's picture

...the US has agreed to maintain a privatized retail health care marketplace. Workers (and/or their employers) can purchase private insurance to help pay medical expenses they incur, but workers are liable to the medical Industry for all costs. The US is prohibited by the WTO agreement from establishing and funding a national health care system that would interfere with the free market that the Medical Industry enjoys. The Federal government cannot "form a union" to negotiate national medical costs. Consumer prices would be set by the Industry and private insurers. As I recall, the US is the only country legally bound by the WTO agreement.

This is the capitalist model of health care.

The rest of the world follows the Human Rights model for health care. They are committed to the UN's Declaration of Human Rights, an agreement passed and ratified unanimously at the UN in 1948. This agreement established health care as a primary Human Right that is protected and managed by the state on behalf of all the people. Of the 30 Human Rights in the Declaration, experts say that Americans have been given only 10 of them and health care is one human right that is denied to them.

The medical Industry is now one of the largest and most profitable Industries in the US, and a lucrative investment sector at the US stock market. The Medical Industry profits two to three times more when they sell the same products and services in the US. Total health care spending per capital in the US is more than double the per capita costs in any other country. (Approximately $4 trillion dollars.) I think it is safe to assume that US health care will remain predatory. Universal health care is likely a lost cause in the US, used merely as a political tool and empty promise during campaigns.

I do not see where this affects Medicare or Medicaid, which are social services for disadvantaged or non-working individuals.

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The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Dawn's Meta's picture

@Pluto's Republic asking for Medicare for All/Universal Single payer whistling up a pipe? Same question for any politician who says they are for it? They must know we have some international agreement.

What the heck?

Thanks Pluto and Zed2.

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A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@Dawn's Meta

....mentioned it. I formed impressions and those were my impressions, although they could be mistaken here and there.

I had that same question as you, thinking back on Bernie introducing Medicare for all. In some ways, it is a very smooth move to call national health care "Medicare" and grandfather everyone into that system that way.

But for me, I draw strong conclusions from the extra $2 trillion dollars of profits that the Medical Industry pulls in from the US capitalist economy. Two trillion dollars! Few nations have an economy that size. That number has fixed our destiny. The People have no will and no political power to claw that back.

So, there is no reason to call anyone's attention to this situation. That leads to more wasted political effort in a political dead end. Before know it, life is over and you didn't leave the planet better than you found it.

As I always suggest — and as you well know — the answer is to emigrate to a happier place.

Of course, that $2 trillion would be the savings in health care costs, year over year. I've seen medical journals try to explain this to their American readers. Chaos and anger ensues. The neuroreceptors for understanding this have been completely wiped out across the current US population.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
snoopydawg's picture

@Pluto's Republic

Hedges states that there is $14 trillion owed from medical debt. Student loans are only $1.7 trillion.

I read somewhere today that the banks putting interest on loans and things like it is just another way for them to transfer money from us to them. Joe might have linked it in the EBs tonight.

The neuroreceptors for understanding this have been completely wiped out across the current US population.

During Bernie’s 1st run when he was running on this and after HerHeinous shouted that MFA would never, ever happen here you’d think that the shitlibs would have said, "hey wait a minute, I have wanted MFA since Her first tried to get it passed", but instead they attacked Bernie for running against her. Now since she lost to the orange buffoon they are once again saying that we need MFA….and I just want to slap them for their ‘blindness' if I’m being kind..I have other words. But twice they had the chance to back someone running on it. Instead they defended the hideously flawed ACA because their boy Obama got it passed. Many said that they liked their employee health insurance because it’s good. The hell with people who don’t have it or can only afford to pay their premiums and hope to gawd they don’t get sick because of the high deductibles. Or are in states that didn’t expand Medicaid. They seem to have abandoned every principle they once stood for. Once again democrats are bombing the crap out of countries and there is no mention of it on shitlib websites. Or if anyone does dare to criticize Dems or Biden the defenders are there to scold them. Yes it’s the same gd ones of old. Good thing I’m already banned or I’d be pdq.

The neuroreceptors for understanding this have been completely wiped out across the current US population.

You can say that all damn day now. It’s not just this issue either. It’s on most issues.

Thanks, Zed. Appreciate you bringing your knowledge here. I’ve been tweeting about the trade agreements since I read your comments on CD. I bet congress could break them lickity split if they got in their way.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

snoopydawg's picture

@snoopydawg

Then all the scavenger ghouls will be ready to take anything left of value they have and destroy everything they worked for. I’m pissed tonight if you can’t tell. Anyone know of a foreign country that is like Utah? Gotta admit once I moved back home I’ve really come to appreciate all it offers geographically. From the high mountains to the low desert and in between. I love winter too.

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3 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Dawn's Meta's picture

@Pluto's Republic for cramming into my life-full brain.

It sounds like the given structures, not to mention players, preclude any real move in a universal single payer system. Arrgghhh.

We didn't know that when we moved to France that we would qualify for the same health benefits as any French citizen. When we came we had to have proof of international health insurance. So we bought a monthly plan from a Swiss company doing business in France. It was cheaper, and yet gave us full access to the health system, than anything we had in the US including Medicare. We were lucky in a way that the US wouldn't let us take our Medicare with us. The only country that won't let the citizen who paid in life-long to portable it to any other place in the world.

We didn't know until year three here that we could have applied after three months as we intended to make France our full time forever residence. But we pay no premiums for the Carte Vitale only 120 euros a month for the gap/top up portion. And voila, we look like any French person.

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3 users have voted.

A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.

Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.