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Hospitals that make profits should pay taxes

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Re: Hospitals that make profits should pay taxes

#191

Post by lotsoweiners »

maxerickson wrote: post #183
mdasen wrote: post #77

This strikes at an issue we haven't really addressed enough in non-profits: how much community benefit do they need to offer? A non-profit simply means that there are no investors who can profit from the business. However, I think we haven't really thought enough about how much community benefit they need to offer to justify being tax exempt - and it's a hard problem. For example, let's say I run a non-profit hospita…

For profit corporations should also be held to the standard that they are a net benefit to society. Otherwise, why bother? Of course it's hard to measure that benefit.

> For profit corporations should also be held to the standard that they are a net benefit to society. Otherwise, why bother?

Aren’t the profits the end goal? I’d like Bezos or Musk’s money and wouldnt really care if I’m benefiting “society” one bit to get it.

Re: Hospitals that make profits should pay taxes

#192

Post by maxerickson »

lotsoweiners wrote: post #191
maxerickson wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For profit corporations should also be held to the standard that they are a net benefit to society. Otherwise, why bother? Of course it's hard to measure that benefit.

> For profit corporations should also be held to the standard that they are a net benefit to society. Otherwise, why bother? Aren’t the profits the end goal? I’d like Bezos or Musk’s money and wouldnt really care if I’m benefiting “society” one bit to get it.

Sure, I'm not talking about your attitude, I'm talking about what society should tolerate from you. If you use incorporation in a way that is harmful to society, we should dissolve your corporations.

So ideally you'd be working for your profit with an awareness that there are probably some other things that you should consider.

Re: Hospitals that make profits should pay taxes

#194

Post by nradov »

trust_bt_verify wrote: post #189
nradov wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your expectations are unreasonable. The medical system is extremely expensive to operate. Highly paid physicians should be reserved for delivering the most complex care. If consumers need guidance on making healthier lifestyle choices then doctors aren't even the best source. Utilize cheaper professionals for that stuff: therapists, counselors, social workers, dieticians, personal trainers, etc.

You are really extrapolating on what you think my expectations are. I never said everyone is entitled to a 3 hour conversation with a surgeon about the benefits of organic foods on their diets. Do you not discuss your lifestyle choices with your doctor at your yearly physical? That is as far as my expectations went for my previous comment and I believe that should be provided to every citizen of a modern society.

I don't get a yearly physical. While I do get a few periodic screenings there is no proven benefit to a yearly physical for asymptomatic adults.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK82767/

When I do see a doctor I don't waste time discussing lifestyle choices with them. Doctors have minimal training in that area and it's largely a waste of time. I rely on physicians for medical issues only. There are far better sources for other topics. Instead of telling us what you believe, stick to evidence-based medicine.

Re: Hospitals that make profits should pay taxes

#195

Post by wesselbindt »

nradov wrote: post #174
wesselbindt wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very poor unsubstantiated viewpoint. The epitome of socialized healthcare would be healthcare in a communist state. And Cuba, in spite of completely inhumane and unreasonable sanctions imposed by the united states, still beats the US on metrics such as life expectancy. This proves the falsehood of the idea that state-run healthcare is inherently less efficient.

False. Cuba has shorter life expectancy than the USA. But beyond basic stuff like immunizations, antibiotics, and trauma care, healthcare has a very small impact on life expectancy anyway. Once you have a serious chronic medical condition, even the most advanced healthcare system can generally only give you a few extra years.

What are you talking about, it's there clear as day, cuba beats the US on life expectancy: https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/CUB/cub....

Re: Hospitals that make profits should pay taxes

#196

Post by mlrtime »

maxerickson wrote: post #192
lotsoweiners wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> For profit corporations should also be held to the standard that they are a net benefit to society. Otherwise, why bother? Aren’t the profits the end goal? I’d like Bezos or Musk’s money and wouldnt really care if I’m benefiting “society” one bit to get it.

Sure, I'm not talking about your attitude, I'm talking about what society should tolerate from you. If you use incorporation in a way that is harmful to society, we should dissolve your corporations. So ideally you'd be working for your profit with an awareness that there are probably some other things that you should consider.

We have this already, laws and regulation.

It may not meet your current form "harmful to society" but society mostly has this figured out already.

Re: Hospitals that make profits should pay taxes

#197

Post by Almondsetat »

gumby wrote: post #185
Almondsetat wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because a non profit cannot keep the profits (duh), thus all the extra money has to go back into the economy. Since every purchase has VAT they are effectively already paying a tax on their profits and shouldn't be further taxed

Whey shouldn’t they be further taxed? And if they lose money, as most do, they won’t owe any tax anyway. The special category doesn’t add anything to a legit charity but does help out fraudsters.

Do I need to repeat verbatim my reply to you?

Re: Hospitals that make profits should pay taxes

#198

Post by maxerickson »

mlrtime wrote: post #196
maxerickson wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, I'm not talking about your attitude, I'm talking about what society should tolerate from you. If you use incorporation in a way that is harmful to society, we should dissolve your corporations. So ideally you'd be working for your profit with an awareness that there are probably some other things that you should consider.

We have this already, laws and regulation. It may not meet your current form "harmful to society" but society mostly has this figured out already.

Sort of. There's an awful lot of conversation that tends to ignore it, treating profit as the only thing that merits consideration.

Re: Hospitals that make profits should pay taxes

#199

Post by trust_bt_verify »

nradov wrote: post #194
trust_bt_verify wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are really extrapolating on what you think my expectations are. I never said everyone is entitled to a 3 hour conversation with a surgeon about the benefits of organic foods on their diets. Do you not discuss your lifestyle choices with your doctor at your yearly physical? That is as far as my expectations went for my previous comment and I believe that should be provided to every citizen of a modern society.

I don't get a yearly physical. While I do get a few periodic screenings there is no proven benefit to a yearly physical for asymptomatic adults. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK82767/ When I do see a doctor I don't waste time discussing lifestyle choices with them. Doctors have minimal training in that area and it's largely a waste of time. I rely on physicians for medical issues only. There are far better sour…

Well that is quite the charmed perspective on life you have, a specialist for every question available when needed. Many don't have the access you do and a yearly chat with their primary care doctor goes a long way for their health.

Re: Hospitals that make profits should pay taxes

#200

Post by sarchertech »

cmiles74 wrote: post #186
sarchertech wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The CEO is an employee of the board. From a non-profit perspective that’s no different than spending $20 million on a building.

LOL! At least a building can hold beds.

Again CEO salary usefulness isn’t relevant to the claim that “Non-profits can’t distribute profits, but they can pay salaries.”

The people in control, the board, can’t pay themselves crazy salaries. That is the relevant point.

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