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Many people living in the 'Diabetes Belt' are plagued with medical debt

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Re: Many people living in the 'Diabetes Belt' are plagued with medical debt

#11

Post by snarf21 »

standardUser wrote: post #2

"Seventy-nine out of the 100 counties with the highest levels of medical debt are in states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA" Who benefits in these 10 states that have still failed to expand Medicaid? What is the upside, to either the populations of these states or the politicians who run these states and make those decisions? Because the downsides are obvious and seem to directly harm a lot of people.

A lot of these states have big problems with gerry-mandering and there tends to be huge wealth disparity between the few small wealth centers in the state and the rest of the state is extremely poor. The money just isn't being distributed with any sense of equity.

Re: Many people living in the 'Diabetes Belt' are plagued with medical debt

#12

Post by hello_computer »

zhxshen wrote: post #10
StrangeATractor wrote: post #5

[flagged]

If you look at recent layoff numbers, their coastal brethren will be joining them soon. It's America! One man copes with food, another with money, another with sex. You are all degenerate!

Haha. We are.

Re: Many people living in the 'Diabetes Belt' are plagued with medical debt

#13

Post by yoyohello13 »

prottog wrote: post #8
thinkingkong wrote: post #6

This is as much a cultural problem as a financial one. Somehow we've convinced ourselves that in spite of the fact that we can afford to provide everyone with good food and access to medical care, that we'd rather give you bad food which causes health care issues and then treat those because it contributes to GDP.

> This is as much a cultural problem as a financial one. I live in one of these Diabetes Belt counties. I'd like to add another aspect to the "cultural problem", which is that the median person here eats absolutely horrendously and doesn't exercise at all. > we'd rather give you bad food I'd like to believe that people have the agency of choosing what they eat.

> I'd like to believe that people have the agency of choosing what they eat.

They do, but they need to know how to eat a healthy diet. I don't know about you, but I've never once seen a commercial about eating whole foods with vegetables. I am however bombarded on a daily basis with adds for fried chicken and burgers. Some people just don't have the access and education.

Re: Many people living in the 'Diabetes Belt' are plagued with medical debt

#15

Post by hello_computer »

thinkingkong wrote: post #6

This is as much a cultural problem as a financial one. Somehow we've convinced ourselves that in spite of the fact that we can afford to provide everyone with good food and access to medical care, that we'd rather give you bad food which causes health care issues and then treat those because it contributes to GDP.

Industry caters to consumer demand. If consumers wanted white meat, fruit and vegetables, they would have been provided as cheaply and abundantly as red meat and corn syrup.

Re: Many people living in the 'Diabetes Belt' are plagued with medical debt

#16

Post by HlessClaudesman »

prottog wrote: post #8
thinkingkong wrote: post #6

This is as much a cultural problem as a financial one. Somehow we've convinced ourselves that in spite of the fact that we can afford to provide everyone with good food and access to medical care, that we'd rather give you bad food which causes health care issues and then treat those because it contributes to GDP.

> This is as much a cultural problem as a financial one. I live in one of these Diabetes Belt counties. I'd like to add another aspect to the "cultural problem", which is that the median person here eats absolutely horrendously and doesn't exercise at all. > we'd rather give you bad food I'd like to believe that people have the agency of choosing what they eat.

Broccoli, right now after reading this, I'm choosing broccoli.

Re: Many people living in the 'Diabetes Belt' are plagued with medical debt

#17

Post by nielsbot »

standardUser wrote: post #2

"Seventy-nine out of the 100 counties with the highest levels of medical debt are in states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA" Who benefits in these 10 states that have still failed to expand Medicaid? What is the upside, to either the populations of these states or the politicians who run these states and make those decisions? Because the downsides are obvious and seem to directly harm a lot of people.

Some guesses: - It benefits corporations and the wealthy (whom the government actually work for) in some way - Politicians think running on "rugged individualism" works - Same politicians truly believe in trickle-down economics and austerity.

Re: Many people living in the 'Diabetes Belt' are plagued with medical debt

#18

Post by hello_computer »

standardUser wrote: post #2

"Seventy-nine out of the 100 counties with the highest levels of medical debt are in states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA" Who benefits in these 10 states that have still failed to expand Medicaid? What is the upside, to either the populations of these states or the politicians who run these states and make those decisions? Because the downsides are obvious and seem to directly harm a lot of people.

[flagged]

Re: Many people living in the 'Diabetes Belt' are plagued with medical debt

#19

Post by TOMDM »

hello_computer wrote: post #18
standardUser wrote: post #2

"Seventy-nine out of the 100 counties with the highest levels of medical debt are in states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA" Who benefits in these 10 states that have still failed to expand Medicaid? What is the upside, to either the populations of these states or the politicians who run these states and make those decisions? Because the downsides are obvious and seem to directly harm a lot of people.

[flagged]

It's a good thing we can address problems on multiple levels then, the personal responsibility level and when that fails with a social safety net.

Re: Many people living in the 'Diabetes Belt' are plagued with medical debt

#20

Post by yoyohello13 »

hello_computer wrote: post #15
thinkingkong wrote: post #6

This is as much a cultural problem as a financial one. Somehow we've convinced ourselves that in spite of the fact that we can afford to provide everyone with good food and access to medical care, that we'd rather give you bad food which causes health care issues and then treat those because it contributes to GDP.

Industry caters to consumer demand. If consumers wanted white meat, fruit and vegetables, they would have been provided as cheaply and abundantly as red meat and corn syrup.

Industry can also steer demand via advertising.
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