One of the Problems with Federal Government Provision of Health Insurance and Schooling in the USA

Here in the USA health and education are state Government issues not federal issues.

The state governments regulate the healthcare industry and run the schools including at the University level, so if he federal Government pays for most of the healthcare and education there is an incentive for the states to do what they can to push up costs because most of the money comes from other states.  And what do know, surprise, surprise, that is what we see. USA spending is much more than other countries on healthcare and schooling.

To address the problem of high costs of schooling and healthcare at the federal level the President and congress need to take over the regulating of healthcare and take over the running of the schools. Alternatively they could mandate that the states provide healthcare and college free and provide any funding proportionally to the population.

This would require that the Constitution be amended.

A Reply to Dean Baker on Social Security

Dean Baker objects to means testing Social Security here. 

 

But, why not do the sensible thing and give all citizens above some age the same benefit? If I understand their Government speak correctly, that is what the Government part of the pension system in Australia does.

Social Security is already progressive see here, so why try to keep the voters deluded, thinking it is not welfare?

You could set the payment at $200/week/person, that would give the neediest a raise. I think this would reduce the total cost by about 30% which would mean that you could lower the tax allowing the citizens to spend that money when they choose to rather than in their older years. My Grandmother told my father spend the money when you are young and can still enjoy it.

Social Security is welfare program that was disguised as a Ponzi scheme to make it past the voters. Time to admit to them that it is and has always been a welfare program.