More Obamacare fuckups

[Methais]

ghwauigharogha

How would more competition not cause prices to drop?

[Warriorbird]

How would more competition not cause prices to drop?

All the self gratifying Republican notions don't mean that companies don't see when they hold the whip hand. Sure, it might look like things were better off at first but the power of a company that holds the majority of national insurance policies would be intense. This "competion means reduced prices" notion doesn't always play out in the real world.

[Latrinsorm]

How would more competition not cause prices to drop?

Competition by definition means one party wins, and the economy does not reset to 0 at the beginning of each fiscal year (because nobody can figure out when the heck it is). The inevitable outcome of a free market of many equals is an oligopoly of a few. Car manufacturers, operating systems, unofficial Gemstone forums.

Consider also that the top 5 insurance companies in Singapore comprise 40% of the market share, indistinguishable from the United States' figure.

I hope this gives you pause the next time you consider believing what someone tells you just because it's what you want to hear.

[Candor]

All the self gratifying Republican notions don't mean that companies don't see when they hold the whip hand. Sure, it might look like things were better off at first but the power of a company that holds the majority of national insurance policies would be intense. This "competion means reduced prices" notion doesn't always play out in the real world.

More competition almost always means reduced prices. Admittedly not always, and especially if you have a product with only 2 or 3 sources prices will sometimes stabilize on a longterm basis. But add more competition, and things tend to change - either the price will go down or the service standard will go up (or both).

[Warriorbird]

More competition almost always means reduced prices. Admittedly not always, and especially if you have a product with only 2 or 3 sources prices will sometimes stabilize on a longterm basis. But add more competition, and things tend to change - either the price will go down or the service standard will go up (or both).

This is far from textbook. There's lobbying poised to make this happen because people think they can make it a situation with minimal competition.

[Methais]

You're right. We should just let the government run everything, both because they're so competent and can just print money instead of worrying about being efficient.

It's a good thing WB and Latrin are here to keep people like me informed.

[Warriorbird]

You're right. We should just let the government run everything, both because they're so competent and can just print money instead of worrying about being efficient.

It's a good thing WB and Latrin are here to keep people like me informed.

Sometimes, just sometimes, maybe they're slightly more trustworthy than business. Just because you think companies are naturally benevolent doesn't mean they are. You have a FEW chances to sway government.

[Thondalar]

Singapore is far more willing to slap down monopolistic companies than we are. The comparison doesn't really work. I know you think that companies can do no wrong. I'm quite sure that it'd just be another excuse for prices to rise and consolidation to happen.

I've never once said Companies can do no wrong. Quite the contrary, they do wrong quite often. My position on that would be that governments have done FAR more wrong, historically. If it's just another excuse for prices to rise and consolidation to happen, why isn't it happening in Singapore?

[Warriorbird]

I've never once said Companies can do no wrong. Quite the contrary, they do wrong quite often. My position on that would be that governments have done FAR more wrong, historically. If it's just another excuse for prices to rise and consolidation to happen, why isn't it happening in Singapore?

We would never do price controls. They actually use their antitrust laws. If you go this route, why can't we do all of Scandinavia's options?

"Libertarian ideas or NOTHING."

[Atlanteax]

Sometimes, just sometimes, maybe they're slightly more trustworthy than business. Just because you think companies are naturally benevolent doesn't mean they are. You have a FEW chances to sway government.

How about neither government or business, and we just rely on local practices?