Quote:...I don't think so, Eric. Maybe I'm not understanding your point. But there were no subsidies for health care prior to the aca...
Medicare was state ran insurance for poor people. The problem was pre existing conditions.
Quote:Name one instance where government has made something cheaper and more efficient.
The government of Sandy Oregon offers 100 mbps broadband for $40/month. They also offer 1gbps for $60/month.
Quote:The government of Sandy Oregon offers 100 mbps broadband for $40/month. They also offer 1gbps for $60/month.
Isn't that on the city owned network? If it the same story in remembering the city built it's own communications network. Id be curious what was the cost to build said network because you have to factor in the tax payers cost of building the network in addition to the monthly charge to get a fair comparison.
Quote:Fixed.
Thanks I always mix them up
Quote:Isn't that on the city owned network? If it the same story in remembering the city built it's own communications network. Id be curious what was the cost to build said network because you have to factor in the tax payers cost of building the network in addition to the monthly charge to get a fair comparison.
Actually the network wasn't paid for with Taxes at all. They paid for it with a revenue bond, which was paid back from revenue generated from the payments.
Quote:Actually the network wasn't paid for with Taxes at all. They paid for it with a revenue bond, which was paid back from revenue generated from the payments.
We do some truly great stuff here in Oregon. Auto registration to voted when getting a DL, legalizing mj, not pumping your own gas.
No one move here, it's an awful, ugly place to live. :thumbsup:
Quote:Thanks I always mix them up
Lol, no worries, I made the same mix up in this thread too. :-)
But I think it's a big point that Medicaid, while I agree is a subsidy, is not offered to the entire population. That's why there was a gap of uninsured prior to the aca.
It may seem like a small detail, but it meant millions of Americans were not getting healthcare services...
Quote:Lol, no worries, I made the same mix up in this thread too. :-)
But I think it's a big point that Medicaid, while I agree is a subsidy, is not offered to the entire population. That's why there was a gap of uninsured prior to the aca.
It may seem like a small detail, but it meant millions of Americans were not getting healthcare services...
Correct there was a sector not covered but wasn't that mostly do to pre-existing conditions not financial ability to acquire healthcare? For the record I'm not arguing it was at all efficient or even decent coverage just that it was available for those who couldn't afford healthcare.
Quote:Actually the network wasn't paid for with Taxes at all. They paid for it with a revenue bond, which was paid back from revenue generated from the payments.
You have more information on it I honestly don't know much about it? Just thought I've heard about it in passing
Quote:The government of Sandy Oregon offers 100 mbps broadband for $40/month. They also offer 1gbps for $60/month.
I have a friend from London, UK.
Broadband is as free as public water fountains over there. He was surprised I had to actually pay for it in the States.
Quote:I have a friend from London, UK.
Broadband is as free as public water fountains over there. He was surprised I had to actually pay for it in the States.
That would be nice. We charge an excessive amount here and internet it slow compared to other countries. Capitalism working for us again!
Quote:That would be nice. We charge an excessive amount here and internet it slow compared to other countries. Capitalism working for us again!
Wait until they find a way to convince the courts to overturn the FFC's Net Neutrality rules. It's gonna get even worse.
Quote:"There's no free lunch."
There is not, but we are slacking when it comes to internet speed and price.
Quote:There is not, but we are slacking when it comes to internet speed and price.
True, we are slacking when it comes to speed and price, but it's not for the government to solve.
Quote:True, we are slacking when it comes to speed and price, but it's not for the government to solve.
Worked pretty well for Sandy Oregon. Didn't even cost the taxpayers there anything if they didn't use the service.
Guess most of us will have to wait... well forever for the Free Market to solve things.
Quote:Worked pretty well for Sandy Oregon. Didn't even cost the taxpayers there anything if they didn't use the service.
Guess most of us will have to wait... well forever for the Free Market to solve things.
I haven't had time to look into this yet, but I'm curious how a city/town can own a broadband system, offer it at higher speeds with lower cost and it cost the taxpayers nothing to build? That old saying about it being to good to be true comes to mind.
Quote:I haven't had time to look into this yet, but I'm curious how a city/town can own a broadband system, offer it at higher speeds with lower cost and it cost the taxpayers nothing to build? That old saying about it being to good to be true comes to mind.
I'd imagine the same way other countries offer lower prices for internet and higher speeds than we do? It only sounds too good to be true because we're used to what's here.
They run the internet service to break even, and that's it too.
Quote:I'd imagine the same way other countries offer lower prices for internet and higher speeds than we do? It only sounds too good to be true because we're used to what's here.
They run the internet service to break even, and that's it too.
According to this article and what I think I'm reading, it sounds like they started out using private built lines in 2001 (which would mean someone else paid for the infrastructure) for DSL. Then they upgraded to fiber network with a service bond which is paid by the revenue they generate with the new fiber optic system? Couple of things here, it also says they get the capacity by purchasing through nearby Portlands network (again sounds like a piggyback on private sector networks).
http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/08/...subsidies/
Of course if you don't have to pay for the initial cost of infrastructure you're going to be the cheapest and best in town, but someone has to pay for that infrastructure.
It would be like Jacksonville going to Comcast tomorrow and saying were going to now offer DSL and we're going to use your network lines to run our DSL to the customers, how's that fair at all to Comcast?