Report: U.S. economy needs more money, health care fix

[OhioChick]

Source: CNN Money

Rate cuts and bailouts have helped, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the U.S. needs to reform its health care system.

December 9, 2008: 7:55 AM ET

PARIS (AP) -- The ailing U.S. economy needs more injections of state money to get better and should reform its health care system, a leading international economic organization said Tuesday.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development noted rate cuts and bailout plans have helped the economy, but said that growth will probably deteriorate further before improving and that more fiscal stimulus would be required.

The report by the Paris-based organization was finalized Dec. 5, a day before President-elect Barack Obama said he plans the largest U.S. public works spending program since the creation of the interstate highway system a half-century ago. That could bolster the economy by putting thousands to work building schools and other construction projects.

Obama also said he wants to expand health coverage, although the current recession may make the plan difficult to finance.

The United States has already been in recession for a year and may not be out of it until the spring of 2010 -- making for the longest downturn since the Great Depression, many economists say. Recessions in the mid-1970s and early 1980s lasted 16 months.



Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/09/news/international/oecd_support.ap/index.htm

[Idealism]

1. Health care would fix a lot of these problems

Single payer would make it about 20% cheaper for companies to compensate their workers, helping their profitability immensely and we should also raise the minimum wage along with that health care. They won't mind because they'll still come out ahead profit-wise, the the higher wages will spur consumption.

[area51]

2. k&r

Definitely, since U.S. businesses will never be competitive unless we switch to single-payer.

[asp64064]

3. Who Controls Health Care?

The Fat Cat's Control Health Care With The Help Of Our Public Officials & Legal System. All Health Care Needs Is Law Enforcement! www.MedicalSupplyChain.com/news.htm