Comments on: Korobkin on the Clinton/Obama Mandate Contretemps

By: Michael Turton

Michael Turton — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:29:30 +0000

Living in Taiwan as I have for most of the past 18 years, Williams’ description is mostly correct. Funding for the health care system remains a problem, but almost everyone is covered, and costs are cheap. An additional plus is that many doctors have US training, meaning that you can get US care at Taiwan prices. There are downsides — but many of them stem not from the system but from traditional practices of Taiwanese doctors — but on the whole almost every American I know prefers Taiwan’s national health care system to the disaster we have in the US.

Michael

By: Rachel Godsil

Rachel Godsil — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:36:21 +0000

Frank,

Thank you for your extremely thoughtful discussion of the challenges of facilitating health care coverage for all in our market based system. I am also an Obama supporter, but have struggled some to reach a position on the health plan. Your analysis solidifies my respect for the Obama position and provides a helpful discussion for any one who is wrestling with this extremely complex problem.

By: Maryland Conservatarian

Maryland Conservatarian — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:43:29 +0000

re Taiwan: “…currently 27 percent is paid by the government, 35 percent by employers, and 38 percent by employees.”

…and for the employer, this is just a cost of doing business – its share is simply part of its overall cost of employing its employees. Meaning it could just easily have made those payments to its employees and let the employees pay 73% of the costs. (kind of like the employer’s share of FICA)

…and where does the government get the money to pay its share?

By: KipEsquire

KipEsquire — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:00:57 +0000

I can't see why taxpayers generally should allow, say, a single person making over $75,000..." Who do you think "taxpayers" are? In any case, in a free society my taxes would not be a claim on your liberties. But you have long been on record as being opposed to a free society. No new news there.