From: Cliff Asness
Date: Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Subject: New version of health care essay at www.stumblingontruth.com and attached here.
Dear Friends (and bitter rivals),
If you have already read it, it’s probably not worth rereading, but this is the version to pass on if you’re so inclined. Among other things:
- A new section on comparing US to other countries on cost/GDP added (perhaps the most common thing I have been asked about after my draft)
- it is a little nicer (a little!)
- some logic made tighter
- some grammar cleaned up
- a few new jokes about a serious topic
Thanks.
Cliff
dear friends, bitter rivals, cock suckers, hookers I killed down by the docks,
This is cliff asness
@1 that’s actually how he starts all correspondence
beth, you’re now on ass’s mailing list?
Cliffy needs to STFU.
A Mexican Coke Shark would come up with a better analysis.
The face says “Joe The Plumber,” while the reality says “Failed Hedge Fund Manager.”
I read the original. It was actually pretty good, and for all the trash talking it got on the boards here, it was still significantly more sound than the majority of arguments posted here let alone about him personally.
@7 Hey, Cliff
@7 I know i’m taking the bait here, but how the fuck can you make a comparison? obviously someone’s going to take more time on a piece of writing that he’s sticking his name on, about a serious subject matter, than a 1-line anonymous comment.
What I need in the morning is CA explaining fixed cost vs variable cost to me. It sounds like Gene Fama is speaking to me.
“Anonymous comments” were the beginnings of our United States of America, pal.
Obviously @7 isn’t anonymous.
Asness says Canada is a “parasite” for buying drugs at lower costs. If your competitor is dumb enough to leave money on the table, you’d be stupid not to take it off. Isn’t that what hedge fund managers do all day?
@13…..probably not good to use “stupid” and “hedge fund managers” in the same paragraph.
“The only possible response a gentle author like myself can have is that they can bite me.” Genius…and it sounds like a dare, or DB reward??
It’s “Dr. Asness”…………..
His argument about costs won’t bear close examination. The problem with it is that the cost of many if not most things has been declining in real terms even as the value received increases (think computing), while the cost of healthcare is rising in real terms. It’s also not been demonstrated that we are a healthier society today than in years past. Again, I do believe his true calling is as a hedge fund manager. I’ve heard he’s really good at it.
Cliff, care to write about how to make money in the market? have you finally given up?
@17
Actually, I think the reason we may not be any healthier besides access to better medicine is that we live more unhealthy lives, thus offsetting improvements in medical science, etc.
Don’t call me Assnes, Cliff.
Is this guy talking his book? Just saying.
Guest, Ph. D.
7 here again,
@8, Hey there.
@9, The statement was saying the logic of the argument wasn’t flawed. Your response doesn’t even address this. Thanks for calling.
@17, the point he makes is that real cost of healthcare “isnt” rising. The fact that our life expectancy is higher demonstrates perfectly well that we are a healthier society actually.
@19Analyst, please refer to above.
This guy’s ass is gonna exploded. He’s too full.
@22: the fact that our life expectancy is now considerably less than in Europe and Canada demonstrates what, relatively speaking??
@24 – I would address how your argument proves less of a point than you think, but its irrelevant since your statement is false. I know Europe’s are hardly better than ours and doubt Canada’s are.
Okay, i’ll take the bait; are you implying that Canada and Europe’s ‘considerably longer life expectancy’ demonstrates that its universal healthcare is the cause, rather than lifestyle choices like not being obese? Regardless, Having a one or two year longer life span is hardly a case for universal healthcare.
-22
@25 yawn