just an idea...
Cedars-Sinai hospital is one of the 20 largest hospitals in the US. With 950 beds and around 290,000 inpatient days, they post about $6.5 Billion per year in operating expenses. That would mean that without a single penny of incoming revenue, the government could fund one hospital the size of Cedars-Sinai in each state to provide 100% free medical care for a year for around $325 Billion.
Now I know that number seems high, but there are a thousand ways to get it down (slightly reduced salaries, minimal fees to patients, donations, volunteer hours, insurance payments, smaller states would post lower costs, etc.) I'm just thinking that with what, like $2 Trillion in "bailout" and "sitmulus" funding I'd rather see jobs directly created and healthcare provided than see billions go to failing companies like AIG where they blow our money on executive retreats and bonuses.
For the Lewis Black fans out there, this is my "big fucking thing." But any big fucking thing would work: pay $50 Billion to fix all the roads in the country or to renovate hospitals and schools. Pay $20 Billion to build new schools and pay for more teachers. Anything that DIRECTLY creates NEW jobs. Don't pump billions into financial institutions and car companies with bad management and horrible business plans and then watch them lay off thousands of workers and continue to perform shittily. Yes I just said "shittily."
^My two cents.
Now I know that number seems high, but there are a thousand ways to get it down (slightly reduced salaries, minimal fees to patients, donations, volunteer hours, insurance payments, smaller states would post lower costs, etc.) I'm just thinking that with what, like $2 Trillion in "bailout" and "sitmulus" funding I'd rather see jobs directly created and healthcare provided than see billions go to failing companies like AIG where they blow our money on executive retreats and bonuses.
For the Lewis Black fans out there, this is my "big fucking thing." But any big fucking thing would work: pay $50 Billion to fix all the roads in the country or to renovate hospitals and schools. Pay $20 Billion to build new schools and pay for more teachers. Anything that DIRECTLY creates NEW jobs. Don't pump billions into financial institutions and car companies with bad management and horrible business plans and then watch them lay off thousands of workers and continue to perform shittily. Yes I just said "shittily."
^My two cents.