Why the US is on a Collision Course with Total Collapse

[Canun]

It is also unsustainable. It is, and has been for decades, increasing in cost far greater than inflation. I know most people these days aren't that good with exponential math but eventually curves so here it is one for everyone:

For a while it's fine, then you start noticing the increase but still all good, then the increase starts getting bigger and you are like "fuck this is getting expensive" (us right now) and not long after that it's "holy motherfucking shit" pitchforks and torches time.

Kind of reminds me of the cost of college. When I first went to school in the mid 90s, it was $100 a course hour. Went back 3 years ago, and the same school now runs at $400 a course hour.

To get back on topic though, I broke my hip playing basketball 5 years ago. My company has excellent insurance, so the whole costly thing only cost me about $400 out of pocket. I did receive the bill from the hospital for around $120k. I then received a payment receipt from the insurance company and they only paid $32k. If I didn't have insurance, you can bet I would have been on the hook for the entire amount.

 

[Fern]

I suspect we'll have serious problems at some point. But I don't think it will be health care. 20% of the population uses 80% of health care costs. Of that group it's again 20% using 80%. These are mostly elderly with chronic diseases. Many people don't use much HC (at least until they're quite elderly).

Destroy/damage the power grid etc., now you're talking real problems IMO. No food, no water, no transportation, no HC etc.

There are a number of things, whether by hacking, war or natural disaster that are much worse than rationed HC. (If any of these happen, HC won't be rationed due to costs, it simply won't be available,)

Fern

 

[destrekor]

I suspect we'll have serious problems at some point. But I don't think it will be health care. 20% of the population uses 80% of health care costs. Of that group it's again 20% using 80%. These are mostly elderly with chronic diseases. Many people don't use much HC (at least until they're quite elderly).

Destroy/damage the power grid etc., now you're talking real problems IMO. No food, no water, no transportation, no HC etc.

There are a number of things, whether by hacking, war or natural disaster that are much worse than rationed HC. (If any of these happen, HC won't be rationed due to costs, it simply won't be available,)

Fern

I don't think anyone is arguing against the idea that natural disasters and/or other unpredictable events could completely derail everything.

A significant CME/solar storm could render our entire grid useless. A high-altitude nuke/EMP from NK could do the same, if not for the whole country then quite a large portion of it.

It still doesn't mean that, when these variables are removed, other courses of action couldn't completely derail everything. There are constant worries, and the occasional worry, and a whole host of things could cause the US to collapse, but very few of them are long-simmering issues with partisan politics driving their progression.

 

[Exterous]

Destroy/damage the power grid etc., now you're talking real problems IMO. No food, no water, no transportation, no HC etc.

Thats why I hope solar comes a long way as that would negate much of the lost electrical grid chaos (aside from solar storm\buncha nukes issues). Disaster movies would need to come up with something else when our AC and hot water tanks keep running despite power plants going offline though

 

[Darwin333]

Thats why I hope solar comes a long way as that would negate much of the lost electrical grid chaos (aside from solar storm\buncha nukes issues). Disaster movies would need to come up with something else when our AC and hot water tanks keep running despite power plants going offline though

The inverters would still be vulnerable to EMPs.

 

[Fern]

-snip-
It still doesn't mean that, when these variables are removed, other courses of action couldn't completely derail everything.

I don't see how rationing HC would derail "everything". I, as with many people, have never received a single dollar of reimbursement from my HC insurer. Yeah, I have medical expenses, but they've never exceeded my deductible.

I do consider escalating HC costs a significant and growing problem, and not just for us here in the USA but Europe as well. But it's a not one that will destroy or country or civilization. To be sure, for some unfortunate individuals, like those who develop a serious chronic illness, it may be devastating.

Fern

 

[destrekor]

But it's a not one that will destroy or country or civilization.

Alone? No, it wouldn't bring down our country. Taken together with many other failures? Yeah, it could tip the scales.

note: I'm not saying that healthcare will be what brings anything crashing down, if any crashing is to be had. But, it contributes.

But when it comes to healthcare, financials are only a tiny part of the problem. The lack of quality care for those who can't afford it impacts far more than those individuals, or even their families. Generations upon generations of piss-poor care, bad decisions, addictions not treated, jail sentence after jail sentence, and you've got broken families begetting broken families, and when they are all clustered together, it's a powder keg. We've completely disregarded the issues that just continue to pile up because it's "not my problem." It's a serious rut we've got ourselves in because of the big red commie scare has caused many to swear to end any and all welfare as it's the work of some social devil. If we'd have started to address quality healthcare decades ago, I bet we wouldn't even be having the number of mass shootings we have. Most other developed nations with a large number of guns have actually addressed their issues, and while gun regulations are a part of it, actually taking care of the citizens has superior effect all its own.