Why do Republicans hate Hawaii?

Published on October 19th, 2009

Posted by Eideard in Health Care, Politics

Paradise for Hawaiians

Imee Gallardo, 24, has been scooping ice cream at a Häagen-Dazs shop at Waikiki Beach for five years, and during that time the shop has done something its counterparts on the mainland rarely do: it has paid for her health care.

“I wouldn’t get coverage on the mainland?” Ms. Gallardo asked. “Even if I worked? Why?”

Since 1974, Hawaii has required all employers to provide relatively generous health care benefits to any employee who works 20 hours a week or more. If health care legislation passes in Congress, the rest of the country may barely catch up.

Lawmakers working on a national health care fix have much to learn from the past 35 years in Hawaii, President Obama’s native state.

Among the most important lessons is that even small steps to change the system can have lasting effects on health. Another is that, once benefits are entrenched, taking them away becomes almost impossible. There have not been any serious efforts in Hawaii to repeal the law…

Paradise for Republicans

But perhaps the most intriguing lesson from Hawaii has to do with costs. This is a state where regular milk sells for $8 a gallon, gasoline costs $3.60 a gallon and the median price of a home in 2008 was $624,000 — the second-highest in the nation. Despite this, Hawaii’s health insurance premiums are nearly tied with North Dakota for the lowest in the country, and Medicare costs per beneficiary are the nation’s lowest.

Hawaii residents live longer than people in the rest of the country, recent surveys have shown, and the state’s health care system may be one reason. In one example, Hawaii has the nation’s highest incidence of breast cancer but the lowest death rate from the disease…

With nearly 90 percent of the populace given relatively generous benefits, patients stay healthy and health providers have the money and motivation to innovate.

Why do Republicans prefer solutions designed and administered by beancounters to cost more than necessary? Isn’t capitalism supposed to be about competition?

Thanks, Mr. Fusion

46 users responded in " Why do Republicans hate Hawaii? "

Subscribe to this post comment rss or trackback url

# 1 Alfred1 said, on October 19th, 2009 at 5:10 am

You are the establishment…Democrats control both houses, and the White house…

Why are YOU denying this…why is Obama and Congress?

They want kick backs…just like they get from wall street…now they want 1/6th of our economy to buy them property overseas…and stuff cash in secret bank accounts…

# 2 Alfred1 said, on October 19th, 2009 at 5:12 am

Why do you Democrats hate US?

If Hawaii’s system is so good…why all the bs…why not replicate it for the entire country?

You have total control of both houses, and the white house?

Why do you hate America….why are you bankrupting it…why are you socilizing it…why are you trying to destroy Fox News…

Why why why?

# 3 Killer Duck said, on October 19th, 2009 at 5:28 am

Its amazing how reasonable health care costs can be when you don’t have hundreds of thousands of people walking across a border and taking advantage of the system.

# 4 Alfred1 said, on October 19th, 2009 at 5:35 am

#3 If this was really about health care…they would not be reinventing the wheel…to establish themesleves as power brokers…

No doubt, for kickbacks.

They ran the economy into the ditch taking bribes to look the other way…

They got rich bailing out the rich.

Now the fascists want to control us…have us beg them for medical care…while their cronies sell medical supplies at inflated costs just like they do in Medicare…and bankrupt us all…

We need a complete cleansing, the bastards gotta go…all of them.

# 5 leonardino said, on October 19th, 2009 at 5:38 am

Ethnic cleansing has always been a Republikan solution.

# 6 Alfred1 said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:00 am

#5 Incorrect…progressives…leftists, like Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Castro, etc…do the ethnic/political killing…

Republicans believe in the rule of law…not the cult of personality.

Your Obama cult is positioning itself against our constitution…we gotta vote them out before its too late.

# 7 Brian said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:01 am

This cracks me up. AS pointed out a few times here and a million times elsewhere, the Dems do not need any Repub help. You are the rulers, just do it.

# 8 smartalix said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:02 am

What a cop-out. Right-wing obstructionist asshats.

# 9 Alfred1 said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:07 am

#7 100% correct…they ARE the establishment…they rule…anything they want to do…they control both houses and the white house.

They are behind closed doors, subverting our constitution, for filthy lucre….

The most corrupt regime in this country’s history.

If we can turn this around, I will clamor for prosecution of every one of these bastards…

# 10 dusanmal said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:07 am

“Why do Republicans prefer solutions designed and administered by beancounters to cost more than necessary? ” – Messed up statement on it’s own. Republicans as far as I can see oppose Govt. beancounaters administering medicine, because it costs more.
Hawaii is actually excellent example of the plan some (if not many) Republicans would support.
It has Govt. not providing anything. Just regulating.
Also, it is excellent example of what article doesn’t mention: as soon as Govt. steps in to provide healthcare, that part of it goes into the costs exponentially and can’t be sustained. Earlier this year Hawaii needed to stop its Govt. funded mandatory health care for all children. Because costs went out of control. Because, same as current Dem. plans, it is utopian. It covered great moral cause: health for the children (we all want that don’t we?). But ignored what Govt. CAN”T do: Run everyday things on cost.

# 11 Hmeyers said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:25 am

Hawaii is Democratic and so is Detroit.

http://blog.taragana.com/n/detroit-youth-jobless-and-facing-crime-see-dead-end-on-road-to-adulthood-in-distressed-city-198883/

Both parties like to point to an example with a cherry on top, while ignoring their failed policies.

# 12 wirelessg said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:39 am

I think Hawaii funds their healthcare program with an added 18% sales tax on flower-patterned shirts and dresses.

# 13 Just Say No To Fedcare said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:42 am

Sure federal government run health care will save us. Joke. Ever try to go on disability? Talk to someone who has tried it. Talk to someone who can’t work, is in pain, can’t leave the house, and the federal government denies them disability. They go broke, lose everything, go into debt to see a doctor, and the feds say “sorry you don’t qualify”. They routinely deny benefits no matter how bad a shape someone’s in. They have to get a lawyer and fight for benefits while they are in pain and can’t work. That’s what you will get with FEDCARE a bunch of bureaucratic denial while they all pay themselves very richly and get unlimited health care coverage, the best disability coverage in the universe, wine and dine at the most expensive restaurants on your dime, you pay for it, and when it’s your turn to get help, you suddenly realize you are sitting in the toilet bowl while they take a dump. Sending it all back to the states is a better solution.

# 14 RTaylor said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:49 am

How much money is dumped in Hawaii from tourists? Norway is a wealthy nation with universal health because it skims off North Sea oil and gas profits. If you’re sitting on a ducked taped bar stool at the local diner in Podunk AK, you don’t get cash thrown out of passing cars. Many local economies do not scale. Any real health plan out of Washington will skim off your net income. Who else is going to pay for it? Republicans will not embrace reform because it competes with and dictates to the private sector. So we have an half-assed mess being signed into law before the midterms, all funded with monopoly money.

# 15 LibertyLover said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:51 am

Hawaii is the perfect example of a State doing what it’s citizens want, as per the Constitution.

I applaud them.

Now, if we can just get the altruists to realize this is NOT a federal government responsibility, perhaps the other states can follow suit.

# 16 Dale said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:55 am

I’m convinced Alf1 is a plant to stir the DU pot. It isn’t possible that a real person so ign.. no, stupid is able to steal a breath of air, much less voice a political opinion.

# 17 chuck said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:57 am

So why do Democrats need 1100+ pages of legislation for a health-care (insurance?) bill?

Why not just cut-and-paste the Hawaiian bill, if it’s what they want?

Democrat majorities in the House and Senate. Democrat President. What’s stopping them?

# 18 Alfred1 said, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:59 am

#16 And I’m convinced, if we put your brain on top of a razor, it would look like a pea rolling down a four lane highway.

# 19 MikeR said, on October 19th, 2009 at 7:02 am

Dear Alfred1 – If you are so hot and bothered about Dems controlling your country, why don’t you move up here to Canada? We have a good old-fashioned Conservative government now. PS – Don’t worry about health care, we’ve got ya covered.

# 20 Alfred1 said, on October 19th, 2009 at 7:06 am

#19 I prefer the Dems move to Cuba, or Venezuela…so they can be all they can be…in commie land.

Take the Black National Caucus, Fidel’s buddies, with you.

# 21 Alfred1 said, on October 19th, 2009 at 7:09 am

#19 Actually, only about 20% of the Demos are loons…and a few of them are patriots…so…I’ll rephrase….Obamanation should move to Cuba…to be all they can be…in the radiant light of maxism…and leave us to our free market…and freedom, and prosperity…we will send them free toilet paper at least once every year they are gone.

# 22 Alfred1 said, on October 19th, 2009 at 7:13 am

#17 U wanna bet Eideard doesn’t reply to your questions?

Just as no one in the White House will respond to Glen Beck’s questions…

# 23 Honest Abe said, on October 19th, 2009 at 7:38 am

I gotta a better title for your post.

“Do you still beat your spouse?”

Nahhh, you’re not trolling…not one bit.

# 24 Olo Baggins of Bywater said, on October 19th, 2009 at 7:39 am

#16 Dale: I’m convinced Alf1 is a plant to stir the DU pot. It isn’t possible that a real person so ign.. no, stupid is able to steal a breath of air, much less voice a political opinion.

You ever watch Glenn Beck? aka Life According to Bozo. This is typical for his fans.

# 25 qb said, on October 19th, 2009 at 7:45 am

I hear they put fluoride in the drinking water in Hawaii.

# 26 smartalix said, on October 19th, 2009 at 7:46 am

The GOP is rapidly becoming the trailer-trash racist white guy party.

# 27 Mr. Fusion said, on October 19th, 2009 at 7:51 am

Why do Republicans prefer solutions designed and administered by beancounters to cost more than necessary? Isn’t capitalism supposed to be about competition?

Yup. Just look at all the right wing nuts deriding the very idea that Hawaii can have good health care and the other 49 States can’t.

Single payer is still the best solution. Anything less is simply a comprise doomed to fail in the very places health care fails today. And I don’t give a sheet if it is called “socialism”. The majority of Americans want it and deserve it.

# 28 Honest Abe said, on October 19th, 2009 at 7:54 am

The problem with you and smartalix’s comments is you fail to recognize that Alfred1 and Beck *have* an opinion, reguardless of its ’stupidity’.

You guys just go straight for the Liberal Fascist approach, don’t you??

# 29 Honest Abe said, on October 19th, 2009 at 8:07 am

No the majority of Americans don’t want it Mr. Fusion. They’d make their voices heard but are being shouted down by the people who are pushing this as a solution for everybody.

So for those of us who have healthcare (and are paying for it out of our middle class pockets mind you) are going to have it taken away to pay for those who don’t.

The majority (that you are so familiar with) wouldn’t have any opposition to getting the un-insured, insured if it wasn’t for getting our coverage scrapped in the process.

The backers are so busy trying to ram-f***ing rod this down the throats of the public that they are unable (unwilling?) to listen to the rest of us. I don’t hear them asking for public debate, instead we’re being told what a great deal this is for *US*

# 30 GF said, on October 19th, 2009 at 8:14 am

It’s the Häagen-Dazs ice cream.

# 31 Olo Baggins of Bywater said, on October 19th, 2009 at 8:46 am

Abe, does intellectual honesty count for anything?

# 32 Breetai said, on October 19th, 2009 at 8:47 am

Wow are you serious?

There’s the Republican answer, the Democrats answer and the truth. Democrats blame Republicans and the free market and Republicans Blame Democrats and Socialism, but the Truth is Democrats are looking for their kick backs before they allow anything forward just like when Bush paid off the corrupt Republicans to pass the tax cuts.

# 33 LibertyLover said, on October 19th, 2009 at 8:49 am

#29, And if they DID want it, they would have to change the Constitution to get it.

This whole federal mandate to buy buy something is such a violation of the Constitution, I am surprised I’m not channeling Jefferson right now.

# 34 LibertyLover said, on October 19th, 2009 at 8:59 am

“The construction applied … to those parts of the Constitution of the United States which delegate Congress a power … ought not to be construed as themselves to give unlimited powers, nor a part to be so taken as to destroy the whole residue of that instrument.”

–Thomas Jefferson

# 35 Thomas said, on October 19th, 2009 at 9:26 am

What a BS caption on this article. The real question is why do the DEMOCRATS hate the US? Furthermore, why are not all of the universal health care proponents aghast at the fact that people that work less than 20 hours a week are not covered and that the people that do have coverage only have it through employers?! This entire article is a testament to a market driven solution in combination with regulation which is what the Republicans have proposed and which the Democrats have adamantly opposed.

#15
Could not have said it better.

#27
WTF are you smoking? The fundamental Republican position is to make legislative corrections to insurance law (as opposed to completely tearing down the system at the Federal level) and allow the States to come up with a solution. It is the Democrats that would destroy Hawaii’s system with an all encompassing Federal solution. So why do the Democrats hate Hawaii?

# 36 Honest Abe said, on October 19th, 2009 at 10:22 am

#31

Well I’m afraid Intellectual Honesty these days gets you coffee. But at least you can’t be sued for it.

# 37 Glass Half Full said, on October 19th, 2009 at 10:27 am

“Isn’t capitalism supposed to be about competition?”

No. Not even close. Captialism at it’s extreme is ideally representing by monopolies and ‘company towns’. Competition is an aspect of the free market that MIGHT help drive down costs and provide innovations for the customers. But that’s never required. The ONLY function of capitalism that is required is profit. The only requirement of a CEO to his/her shareholders is to increase company value. If they can do that via competition and lower costs…great they will…if they can do that via monopolistic practices and raising costs…they will. ALL that matters is making the MOST profit possible. The method to making the profit doesn’t matter. It might matter to the consumer, but not to the corporation.

Companies, say insurance companies, don’t WANT competition and lower costs, they want LESS competition and higher consumer cost…it makes them more money/profit. That’s their only legal required motivation.

# 38 Freud said, on October 19th, 2009 at 10:56 am

#37 you sound more like half empty…

# 39 Named said, on October 19th, 2009 at 11:09 am

37, Glass Half Full,

Thank you for straightening that out… If someone out there can actually say, as a business, they LIKE competition, they’re full of horse shit.

It’s only through GOVERNMENT protection of the vulnerable (i.e. the people) from the exploitation of the powerful (i.e. business, foreign nations, etc) that “competition” exists. That is their raison d’etre.

# 40 Named said, on October 19th, 2009 at 11:17 am

19 MikeN,

Please, never invite Alfred1 to Canada again. Well, I guess he can go to the backwoods of Alberta. Everyone there is mentally deficient.

Did you catch the video of Harper playing piano? What a tool.

# 41 sargasso said, on October 19th, 2009 at 11:47 am

Living on an island, changes people. They behave like they’re on a very big boat.

# 42 LibertyLover said, on October 19th, 2009 at 11:56 am

#40, It’s only through GOVERNMENT protection of the vulnerable (i.e. the people) from the exploitation of the powerful (i.e. business, foreign nations, etc) that “competition” exists. That is their raison d’etre.

That’s the way it SHOULD work.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t. There are too many special interests buying our reps and sens. When both parties are on the take, we end up with what we have now — a mess.

# 43 smitthbc said, on October 19th, 2009 at 12:03 pm

Eideard, did you even read the article that you reference?
From the article: “Why is Hawaiian care so efficient? No one really knows.”
Oh but the Democrats on the hill seem to know. Maybe Obama knows but isn’t letting anyone else know. Eideard do you know?

So you want to replace a system that seems to be working fine but you don’t fully understand why it works, with something that nobody is certain will work? This passes for informed thought on the left today. Amazing.

How about this from the article: “Indeed, many in Hawaii are worried that legislation moving through Congress could, if it supersedes Hawaii law, allow employers to reduce the quality of care provided. So legislators in Hawaii have pushed for provisions exempting the state.”

So you put up a headline titled “Why do Republicans hate Hawaii” presumably because they have a program that works. But the Republicans don’t want to destroy this program, the Democrats do, the title should have been “Why do Hawaiians hate the Democrats?”. I agree with Hawaii, how about we grant every state an exemption from the Obamacare nightmare? It’s sad that the Democrats can get so many people that don’t think to do their bidding for their massive power grab.

# 44 LibertyLover said, on October 19th, 2009 at 1:55 pm

#43, I agree with Hawaii, how about we grant every state an exemption from the Obamacare nightmare?

There are States now passing laws exempting their citizens from any federal mandates concerning health care.

It will be interesting to see that run through the court systems.

# 45 Angel H. Wong said, on October 19th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

“Why do Republicans hate Hawaii?”

Because like in Puerto Rico, it’s full of Asians and brown-skinned folk.

# 46 Wightout said, on October 19th, 2009 at 3:30 pm

I think the reason this was passed in Hawaii was due to the number of people who work in the entertainment industry. I think it would be rather difficult to try and work a 40 hour week dancing or juggling fire.

The cost of living out there is atrocious. There are three classes of people living on that Island. The rich, the poor, and the military.

Leave Your Reply Below...

Comment Moderation is Active, so if your comment doesn't
show up immediately, please don't submit it again.

Special Deals 4U

25% off eHarmony subscription with code EHTECH
12-percent discount forever with code TECH
10-percent discount and free month using TECH10
10-percent or 30 dollars off weekly car rental!
Get 10-percent discount on car rental!
Get 10% off rental cars!
Get 10% off Dollar rentals!
Discounts on domain names!