What is the problem, choir?

[vanbean]

The cost of health care in the country is a finite number, and we can refer to it as C. The amount of profit that insurance companies make is a finite number and we can refer to it as P. If you subtract the profit that insurance companies make from the cost of health care in the country (C-P) , you get a smaller number, which can be called the cost of health care minus profit, and we can refer to it as N (C-P=N). What is the value of the number being subtracted?
What is the value of P?
The high cost of executive salaries (E) can be defined and subtracted too. So can advertising costs (A). C-P-E-A=N and N has a new description too.

N continues to decrease in value.
We are spending C now. Let’s get to where we are spending N.

The number of people with health care (H) increases if N decreases.

I would like to see some actual values for these variables, but really, this is too simple to even be debated. However, since we must debate, what are the values?

[scheming daemons]

1. It's not a finite number.... it's growing at twice the rate of inflation

[Laelth]

3. It's a variable (it changes). It's not a constant.

But it is finite. The OP is right about that. You're not suggesting the cost is infinite, are you?

:dem:

-Laelth

[vanbean]

7. I don't think you would want to correct me on mathematics.

Unless we really would get into statisics or something.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Michael Steele? Is that you?

[vanbean]

4. What? Are you telling me Steele is for Socialized Medical Insurance?

How can we expect health care opponents to smarten up if we can't see the forrest ourselves? Dang it.

[TayTay]

5. Ah, we flunked algebra?

There has to be an easier set of notes for the choir to sing than this.

Maybe we can work on the melody and get someone in to attend to the lyrics. That would help.

[rucky]

6. You'd probably have to adjust N up a bit to count for all the people

who would get treatment otherwise denied by private insurance in the name of P. It would still be less than C, though.

[vanbean]

8. Very good! But who cares as long as H is huge? That's the goal anyway.

[rucky]

10. definately!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. Nice post. Thanks. nt.