points by qlte 17 hours ago | 0 comments
I love how increased healthcare spending always makes it into the top line of the strongest drivers of growth and example of consumer "willingness" to keep spending.
Less affluent Americans in particular have been squeezed by higher prices. But Wednesday’s data showed that on the whole, American consumers continued to splash out in the third quarter, with spending on healthcare, food and accommodation rising.[–] science4sail 17 hours ago
"Broken windows" economic theory applied to public health!
I imagine that soon we'll see recommendations for seniors to spend their last years in long-term care facilities rather than at home or with their families. After all, it's good for the GDP - we need a way to "mine" all of that Boomer wealth before their heirs can inherit it.
[–] SR2Z 16 hours ago
The "broken windows" approach would imply that the status quo got worse without good reason, and that bringing it back on track is accountable for growth.
Healthcare isn't like that. Human beings are born dying, it's not like the healthcare expenses could be avoided. It's not clean-up fees, it's genuinely productive economic activity by keeping people healthier for longer.
[–] zcw100 17 hours ago
I'm just finishing up the probate process for one of my parents and I'm convinced the banks do everything they can to sabotage the process so they can hang on to that money as long as possible. Taking forever to respond, lengthy round trips that could be avoided with an email, unnecessary serial processes, paperwork with account numbers mysteriously off by one digit, etc
[–] tonyedgecombe 16 hours ago