Or maybe you're the one who has an insulated existence. Every advanced industrialized country in the world (more than 30 total) has a national health care plan except the United States. These are countries with a variety of political systems and a variety of plans. They are united only in the common-sense realization that when it comes to health care, it makes sense to tackle it on a national level and assure that everyone gets the help they need. It is just bizarrre that in an advanced country ordinary citizens still have to worry about potential financial disaster if a family member comes down with an illness when (1) the breadwinner is between jobs, and hence between health plans; (2) works a job where no plan is available and there isn't enough salary left over after food and rent to buy one out-of-pocket.

Krugman's comnents are perfectly rational. And by the way---do you see the citizenry in any of those 30-plus industrialized countries clamoring to back out of their national plans and adopt the kind of bizarre setup we have in the United States?

If you want to see a great example of Paul Krugman's "flexibility" on problems and solutions, (depending on where he wants the money spent) check out this smackdown by Ruth Marcus:

Marcus cites these "money quotes" form Krugman:

"[B]ecause the baby boomers' contributions were used to provide
generous benefits to earlier generations, there isn't enough money in
the system to pay the benefits promised to the boomers themselves." (June 21, 2000)

But now that the Boomers have actually started to retire, the problem has apparently evaporated, since Krugman insisted, just a couple of weeks ago, that

"the whole Beltway obsession with the fiscal burden of an aging population is misguided."

Could that be because he now would prefer to see money spent on nationalized health care?

How much are you getting paid to post this crap?

We need a better class of troll, here. 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

"...After the country gets sold off to pay off our debt, the same plutocrat criminals will buy up public resources for pennies on the dollar. Wait until all the bubbas here have to pony up for privatized water and energy, then the sh*#t will really hit the fan..."

Have you checked out the price of fuel in Socialist Europe?

Months ago it was near $6.00 a gallon for "petrol" in England.

You and I agree the country is in debt, but your answer is more government programs?

I've watched you work yourself into a frenzy over things you can't control. Venting is healthy. Vein popping anger is not. I would suggest, rather than grapple with the many problems you perceive in the world, focus on only one or two at a time. Even if you only put a slight dent in them, you've done good. If you fail to dent, say "so what" and move on to the next hurdle in life. No one will think the less of you, in fact, just the opposite would be true, and the health and well being of you and your family will benefit greatly. I mean this in only the kindest way. God bless and have a peaceful Thanksgiving Day.

edhenry

Bravo algoa.

And to professortruth, your economic analysis is way off (and insulting with the "Bush cronies" hyperbole).

Too tired to pick apart your comments one by one, and too easy. GDP growth since 9/11, home ownership (especially by minorities), job growth, government revenue growth with tax CUTS, an on and on. 

But if you post here, do it with facts. This is a cut way above other blogs in smarts.