Isn't this how it used to work, decades ago?

If you don't have much money, you still have items of value. We just use money beause it's a nice way to easily translate value between disimilar items.

I want to learn to play the fiddle...maybe I can barter HR consulting to someone who can teach me.

UnrepentantApostate: Isn't this how it used to work, decades ago?

If you don't have much money, you still have items of value. We just use money beause it's a nice way to easily translate value between disimilar items.

pretty much yeah. It I find it funny how people always blame the evil insurance company but no one questions what the hospital is charging or what the Dr is charging.

To be fair, the insurance system we have right now is causing an awful lot of problems, but insurance reform is only a part of what we need to do to get health care in this country working properly.

So, yes, while the actual charges for care are a problem, I would say that insurance certainly isn't helping in many cases and could benefit from either reform legislation, or true economic competition more in the vein of car insurance.

/We could learn a lot from the Mayo clinic.

I've always paid with chickens. It's the most stable currency.

B-b-but...DEATH PANELSSOLCIALSTSEKRETMOOSILMWHARGGABLL!

Been around for awhile. My father is a surgeon and the family still gets corn, tomatoes, snap peas, okra by the bagful from the farmers that don't have insurance. They will bring by some deer/quail/hog during hunting season as well. Most of these people have been dropping stuff off at the house for 15+ years in repayment for a bill he just dropped because they couldn't pay.

I too barter. (Not for heath care yet.) But I cut and prune trees. In exchange, I've received help with stone work, tiling, metal work, general construction...probably some other stuff thats not immediately coming to mind.

And beer. Beer is always an accepted currency.

Good luck negotiating that while your in the middle of a heart attack

pkellmey: I've always paid with chickens. It's the most stable currency.

I prefer bacon. Everyone wants it, and I always have it on me.

We should have health markets/bazaars where sick people can go down to the town square and trade things for care.

sckonkh: I always have it on me.

Bacon shoes. Call them 'trotters'

/this partially-formed thought brought to you by alcohol

Glad to see someone working on the incentives side of health care. To quote from an article I wish everyone would read:

"Why ... has this technologically advanced hospital missed out on the revolution in quality control and customer service that has swept all other consumer-facing industries in the past two generations?"

/long article is long, sry.

Whatever happend to good old sex? People don't want that anymore?

StarshipPooper: Whatever happend to good old sex? People don't want that anymore?

See the picture in the article and get back to us on that.

IRS tip: Don't forget bartered transactions are taxable.

/The IRS: Trying to just put the tip in since 1862.

UnrepentantApostate: Isn't this how it used to work, decades ago?

If you don't have much money, you still have items of value. We just use money beause it's a nice way to easily translate value between disimilar items.

this. my Grandfather was a town doc in Indiana, got stuff like produce in exchange for services.

"You know something, Mr. Cunningham, entailments are bad. Entailments...Atticus, I was just saying to Mr. Cunningham that entailments were bad but not to worry. Takes a long time sometimes... "

I love how a bunch of guys with good jobs and good insurance are so quick to toss others to the flames because they can stay anonymous on the Internet. How many violin lessons or country eggs will it take to pay for an MRI or a barium test?

If you look at some other business news today, you will see that European countries which have centralized universal health care (like Germany and France) are already coming out of recession because their out-of-work citizens weren't drained of money by health care or other items during this recession, so now they have money to spend on things.

Private sector capitalism AND public sector social support networks. Two great tastes that taste great together.

Wild Eyed and Wicked: I want to learn to play the fiddle...maybe I can barter HR consulting to someone who can teach me.

Maybe you could refuse to allow posting that require 20 years of Windows 2003 server experience or MCSE and 20 years of Linux experience. Short of that, good luck with your bartering. You generally have to trade something of value. On the other hand, a desperate job-seeking fiddler might be able to hook you up.

/provides no value myself
//no money
///will never get to Carnegie Hall

sckonkh: I prefer bacon. Everyone wants it, and I always have it on me.

Good point, but when a doctor has incredibly greasy hands, I begin to feel uncomfortable. Maybe it's just me. Possibly, I have a bacon hands phobia of some kind.

minnesotaboy: I love how a bunch of guys with good jobs and good insurance are so quick to toss others to the flames because they can stay anonymous on the Internet. How many violin lessons or country eggs will it take to pay for an MRI or a barium test?

If you look at some other business news today, you will see that European countries which have centralized universal health care (like Germany and France) are already coming out of recession because their out-of-work citizens weren't drained of money by health care or other items during this recession, so now they have money to spend on things.

Private sector capitalism AND public sector social support networks. Two great tastes that taste great together.

A lot of our health care cost comes from the fact that as a country we are unhealthy. We are a bunch of lazy fat alcoholic smokers with a crappy diet. Those countries have a much healthier population. They wouldn't spend as much as us regardless of their system.

spacechicken170am: We are a bunch of lazy fat alcoholic smokers with a crappy diet.

This!

_{is me}

"Once there was a family that was very poor. The father was poor; the mother was poor; the cook was poor; the butler was poor..."

/and around it comes again...

roddack: UnrepentantApostate: Isn't this how it used to work, decades ago?

If you don't have much money, you still have items of value. We just use money beause it's a nice way to easily translate value between disimilar items.

pretty much yeah. It I find it funny how people always blame the evil insurance company but no one questions what the hospital is charging or what the Dr is charging.

I was charged $1300 for 6 stitches and an x-ray for my forehead following a four-wheeler accident. I wasn't in the hospital for even 45 minutes (including wait time). And because it was a head injury, I didn't even get Rxs for any feel good medicines, all I had was Aleve and Tylenol.

/no insurance at the time
//does that seem fair?

UnrepentantApostate: Isn't this how it used to work, decades ago?

If you don't have much money, you still have items of value. We just use money beause it's a nice way to easily translate value between disimilar items.

Yes! Barter also provided value for work, not just goods, and I believe it's harder to run afoul of the tax-man if goods aren't being exchanged.

sckonkh: pkellmey: I've always paid with chickens. It's the most stable currency.

I prefer bacon. Everyone wants it, and I always have it on me.