The Limits of Power - Andrew J. Bacevich - Part 1

[Veltanschaung]

....and Canadian patients outlive their American counterparts....seems their social democratic system is not only less costly, but HEALTHIER. Except, perhaps, for the insurance vultures down south....

[Veltanschaung]

64% of ALL personal bankruptcies filed in America are due to "medical bills". That percentage is 0 Zero in Canada where a far more efficient system produces more egalitarian results, better mortality and longevity.

AND less expensive. Only 11.5% of the GPD expenditures vs the horrific American 18% because of middle-men Insurance Companies making the Profit$ at the expense of patients! Google Tommy Douglas.Need 3rd Party politics!

[ThePassionCoach]

Congress is truly a haven for narcissistic acts. The amount of money they get paid for speaking, book deals and when they retire (or get caught up in a scandal and quit) a talk show, is insane. We are truly puppets on string when it comes to these people. They have taken self promotion at the expense of the American people to a new high. Many run for office knowing that they will lose, but will get major national attention-which leads to the same cycle aforementioned.

[floods89]

Fantastic interview, discussing a fantastic book.

Please keep conducting these interviews Mr. Velvel, they are extremely informative and enjoyable to view!

Thank you!

[Veltanschaung]

Excellent interview and the book is more than insightful!

Of course, Bacevich is right! If it weren't for fact that Canada has 3 (actually 4 counting Greens) Big Parties. And if it weren't for the NDP third Party's Tommy Douglas who religiously fought in the 60s for Single Payer Universal healthcare for Canadians, they'd be where the Americans tragically are currently. Douglas is the Father of Canadian national Medicare. 64% of Americans file bankruptcy due to med.bills. None in Canada!

[marcostar57]

@Veltanschaung Oh Canada! .. Yes, I admire you progressive folks up North...

[rebirth24]

@Veltanschaung

Just a small question: when you say "64% of Americans file bankruptcy..." do you mean that 64% of the Americans who file bankruptcy do so because of medcial costs?

[youmichaelmouse]

@Veltanschaung They can't file for bankruptcy after they die from their illness!

[YRebBugleman]

The health care legislation, and all that surrounds it, are indicative of what Prof Bacevich has written in his book. Neither party has a clue as to how to properly address this matter. We have been, and will be continue to be, spent into oblivion by both parties. Just as we are spending dollars aimlessly on defense as the professor indicates in his book on militarism in the USA. Andy, I too served in Vietnam and made a career of the Army. I agree with you. Keep up the

fire. COL, USA, Ret.

[Nmber6]

Mr. Bacevich alerts us to our dysfunctional American government and the political implications of our historical "warts", obvious as they are. But I fear most Americans prefer to avert their eyes and not listen, as evidenced by the few comments on this video. I suppose most are too busy with inconsequential concerns.

[JanLievens]

Excellent interview, Andrew Bacevich can be trusted upon to deliver serious analyses.

[metavoice]

Excellent

[deadman12078]

ism's are bad. :/

[utubehayter]

@deadman12078

Ever see an "ism" hurt people? It is often idiots who take their "ism" to be the "right way" and use force on others who are the "bad".. not the ism itself. Even cannibal-ism did not kill anyone.. its just idiots who decided to act upon it in violation of the property rights of other people in their body.

[deadman12078]

Thank you for replying. Gave me a chance to watch this video again. I really do enjoy Velvel's interviews.

Sure cannibalism isn't bad as long as your the majority and not the guy being eaten. Religion, race, politics, culture all have minorities.

Not sure if one could say ims's are not bad when the majority limits the minorities liberties and historically this always happens.

I do agree with you it is the people/leaders that corrupt beliefs to their benefit.

[utubehayter]

Still missed the main point.. an ism is just an idea. It is the believers that perpetrate all the damage. Its not at all about minority or majority.

Heck, there are some isms that are self-destructive regardless of whether in minority or majority.

[jereuter01]

@utubehayter You make no sense at all parsing language the way you do. Take the ism Cannibalism. It's etiology is based on West Indies tribe well known for their practice of cannibalism, the Caribes and is also called anthropophagy. Cannibalism is the ACT or PRACTICE of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. Perhaps you "ism" distinction (ain't bad) works with some "isms" (I'm not taking the time to find out) but it sure ain't going to work with Cannibal-ism. LOL

[utubehayter]

An ism is an idea.. or a set of ideas. They don't hurt. However, it is people who take up those ideas and decide to implement them without considering whether they are good or bad - is what causes damage. And people certainly don't need ideas to cause damage..

[jereuter01]

It seems an utter waste of time given the plethora of interesting and debatable comments made by the Col. but you are mistaken - "ism" is nothing more than a suffix with NO MEANING in and of itself, wholly dependant upon what it suffixes; thus "ism" is neither constructive or destructive in and of itself.