In August, liberals' worst nightmares were realized. Americans examined the health care bills being proposed and turned out in great numbers to voice their opposition.
They thought the American people were too stupid to understand health care reform. The American people did understand it. They realized the proposals threaten the good quality care that most people receive -- America's health care system going forward, but put it in a common sense way that it is in sync with our country's values. The states need to take the lead in figuring out how to proceed.
What Mr. Obama needs to realize is that this subject is not about him. It's about the country. And the country has rejected what he is proposing. The people understand.
Comments ... 36 found!
GovT better than for profit : 11/24/2009
I would rather a non profit government official tell me what health care options I have than some bimbo Cigna has hired at minimum wage.
65
Health Care : 11/22/2009
Lots of good stuff on here. Let's correct what one uninformed poster wrote. Rush Limbaugh is not a "drug abuser". He had horrible back pain and became addicted to pain killer probably Oxycotin which my wife takes and has to to have any comfort.
Yes, Clinton did fine with the budget and the economy. We did slip into a recession as he left office but that's the business cycle. Bush 2 had to deal with it, you know INHERITED it but he didn't complain. We came out of it in '03 and the cycle started down again in '08. Me thinks someone forgot the great economy we had under Reagan. The tax cuts resulted in a doubling of money into the treasury during the '80's. Look it up! You mentioned the debt. Why? Because the Democrats controlled the congress and wouldn't cut spending. If your income doubled and you wound up in debt, you probably spent too much. That's what our politicians do with our money. When will we all get mad enough, forget our political party and do something? I love my country and my grandchildren. Here's hoping.
Love America
Why separate plans for the powerful : 11/21/2009
Why separate plans for the rich and powerful? I believe sir that you do know the answer, and that's it. Who gets the best of anything? The one who can afford it. No one should expect this to change. In some cases it is proper. Our problem now is we don't know who to trust and healthcare is for life. If either party had a good answer, wouldn't that be the one for all of us. Look at the comments posted here: Middle class people hurling sarcasm and insults at one another. Now how long has that gone. Forever. I believe I heard some years back that government is the largest employer in this country. Could it be we already have socialism? None of it makes any sense. The Iranian people had to take to the streets to be heard and I fear that is how things finally get done. One final thought. How in the world can we trust insurance corporations when it is obviously the SAME people that run the finacial corps and Wall street into the ground. Who bailed them out? Please, they bailed themselves out with our money. Not democrates or republicans but Americans. Stop and think for a moment, political parties are not supposed to be religion. I assure you that if all things were equal, we could treat everyone in America as equals and humanely and the rich and powerful can continue to have their preferential treatment. The more you pay, the better the golf course. Wsdell one more thing.
I was diagonsed with lukemeia in 95. insurance for that as it was existing. KOBRA wa $400.00+ then. It took 2 years to get SSec.. The Docter said they don't know why I survived. Lucky? I guess. Just one more story that few people really hear.
God bless you one and all. but hasn't he already?
hum-m-m-
Right To Care : 11/21/2009
Even as a registered independent (conservative), I can agree with comments here from BOTH sides. I will agree that healthcare is something that everyone should have access to. However, it is not a 'right' anymore than a nice house or a car is a right. You have a right in this country to anything you care enough about to go out and work for. I am all for reform, but not this government takeover version. If we as Americans truly wanted reform, we would all sit down peacefully (democrats, republicans & inds) and respectfully come up with some real solutions. For starters, that can't happen because the democrats are meeting behind closed doors (thanks for the 'transparency' Obama!) and the republicans are shut out because they disagree. You have really 'united' us Mr. Obama! I know the party in power always rules, but I do not recall the republicans every just completely shutting out the democrats on any major issue. This is the dawn of a new era of socialism (or communism) in America and I don't think there is any denying that. Regardless, Fed Up is right on one thing: no one gives a #@$! until it happens to them! Then it is the most important thing on earth. That is narcissism at its finest. Nothing positive will ever come from any of this until all parties sit down, put aside personal biases, and push for TRUE reform. Start with tort reform - don't allow ignorant lawsuits to occur and, when they do, make people who file them pay when they lose. That will stop 75% of it. Allow insurance companies to compete across state lines like auto insurance. Then you will see health insurance ads on TV saying "switch to us for better rates and benefits". Set some common sense guidelines (legislation - there, I said it) for insurance companies like not denying you for pre-existing conditions or dropping you when you get sick. Deny benefits for illegals. I am sorry liberals, they do not deserve benefits in OUR country! If you want to feed and care for the world, take a good look at California and see if that is how you want our country to end up. When you are broke, can't afford college tuition for your kids, and the govt. is taking 60% of your earnings, just remember that you voted for it! Also, PLEASE vote out nationally embarassing idiots like Alan Grayson. What a moron! There is a common sense approach to all of this but I am not optimistic we can all see it.
A Conservative Who Cares
Healthcare a Right? : 11/20/2009
I think to comes down to this. I think a human being in this country should have a right to health care without having to go to the ER to get it. Not everyone has the capability to have the best job to get the good health insurance. Some people have to work at the Burger King or the Mom and Pop restaurant. Most of those employers do not provide benefits. So these people should get a better job yous say? Well who makes the burgers who sweeps the floor. There has to be some compassion. It shouldn't be only the people who have the best jobs for the best employers get the best benefits. There's not enough of those jobs to go around.
Bill
To "Proud"... : 11/20/2009
I think you hit upon one of the differences between your typical Republican and your typical Democrat. A typical Democrat can have empathy for someone in a given situation without having to experience it themselves, whereas your typical Republican has to have it happen to them to get it. There's plenty of evidence... the Republican Party is against gay rights, but Dick Cheney is for them. Why? Because his daughter is gay. The Republican Party is against stem cell research, but Nancy Reagan is for it. Why? Because her husband had Alzheimer's and stem cell research is a possible avenue to a cure. Rush Limbaugh has been on record repeatedly saying that drug abusers should be thrown in jail and have the key thrown away... that is, until he became a drug abuser. Then somehow, miraculously, those people need understanding and support. I have no doubt that if anyone on the Right railing against nationalized healthcare actually had to go through what your family has, they'd be singing a different tune. Upwards of 700,000 people a year have to declare bankruptcy from medical issues in this country (for all you economists out there, those are people that aren't buying cars, that aren't putting their money into the local economy, that aren't starting businesses, that aren't creating wealth). Why? Because they were unfortunate enough to have a medical catastrophe befall them or a loved one. But I guess getting cancer shows a "lack of personal responsibility". We are the only industrialized country in the world where "medical bankruptcy" even exists.
Fed Up
Ok, Love America... : 11/20/2009
Since we're "telling it like it is" (which should go without saying, because I have no intent to deceive anyone), I'll point out that Clinton RAISED taxes and we had the longest sustained economic boom in our nation's history. Coincidentally, he's the one that came closest to balancing the budget. I am aware of the fact that receipts can go up when taxes are lowered and the economy is booming, but you have to have a booming economy for that to work. If you don't, your deficits increase (but, if you agree with Republican Dick Cheney, "deficits don't matter"). The Rebublican response to every economic issue is to cut taxes, yet our federal debt since Reagan has skyrocketed. Nobody before Reagan imagined that our debt could explode like it did after 8 years of him being in office, and it shot through the roof. I hear all kinds of Republicans saying they thought Bush's spending was wrong, but they pine for another Reagan. It is complete nonsense because they both did the same thing. Anyway, this has become a non sequitir. If you really want me to tell it like it is, to get our montrous debt under control taxes will have to be raised and spending will have to be cut. But anyone who proposed that would be commiting political suicide because we have been conditioned by the Right to believe that the answer to everything is "cut taxes".
Fed Up
To: Proud Democrat : 11/20/2009
"Proud to be a Democrat" should change their name to "Proud to be a Self-Centered, Dependent Narcissist". You say have no problem making the rich pay for your healthcare because you deserve it. That's pretty classy. How about being a decent person and paying your own way like most of us around here do? Is that a totally foreign concept to you? What else do you "deserver"? A new brick house and a CTS in the driveway? How about a big screen TV - do you "deserve" that too? Can't afford it? No problem! Let me and other hard-working Americans pay for it because, after all, YOU DESERVE IT!! California is a perfect example of the effects of long-term liberalism. They believe that everyone "deserved" everything. Free healthcare, free education, free housing, free education, etc, even if you are here illegally. That worked out great until the bill came due and now they are BROKE so who pays for it now? Maybe Seam Penn or michael Moore will give up some of their millions to house and educate more illegals? Now, the liberal moron students are protesting at UCLA because they raised tuition 31%. I think it's hilarious. These brainless liberal students don't seem to understand that their "give it all to everyone" approach has left the state penniless and now the state cannot subsidize the college system as it should. They can march and protest all they want to but, just because they believe that they "deserve" it, won't pay the bills! Maybe some of these illegals and lazy welfare recipients that they funded will go to work and pitch in......hahahaha! Yeah, right! Also, by the way, the figures given here are wrong. The top 10% wealthy pay roughly 90% of the texes and the 90% of the people pay the other 10%.
No Handouts For Me!
A Few points : 11/19/2009
In 1873 a bunch of Texas farmers got together and started a union of sorts called "The Grange". The Grange led to the regulation of the Railroad Monopoly in Texas. The result was that farmers stayed in business due to cheaper shipping rates charged by Texas railroads. In 1975 the Public Utility commission was created and for 20 years the P.U.C. typically gave the utility monopolies raises of about 1/7th of what they asked for. If you are a Democrat you know that without regulation greedy things happen in our proported free market economy. Like a utility going to the P.U.C. and seeking a $150 million dollar raise and the party in charge saying here's $210 million..."You might run a little short next year."
What about all of those coal plants that the Republican controlled P.U.C. and T.U.electric said that WE needed for TUGCO to stay in business? Have you forgotten how much your bill went down since TU sold out? Had any brown outs or black outs in our cities during the last couple of years?
We are already rationing healthcare. It is a monopoly for which there is no alternative but government regulation.
one more point
Healthcare : 11/19/2009
Proud, sorry about your parents but it's obvious that you have bought into the class warfare theme promoted by liberal Democrats. Tax the rich! Well, the rich are being soaked now. Go to the IRS website and see who pays the taxes. The top 5% pay something like 50% of all income taxes leaving the other 95% paying 50%. If people with money don't invest and create jobs, there won't be any. Your attitude makes me ill and it's this kind of thinking that is sinking America. Question? Do you expect to pay for your health premiums?
Love America
Proud to be a Democrat : 11/19/2009
Bless you. You have told the truth of it. Why any poor person cannot see how close each of us are to it is beyond me. We should all wish you our best.
Good day
Reform Now! : 11/19/2009
I don't know how anyone could not want healthcare for everyone in America. I heard a very snooty Republican woman say on TV last week, "I don't want to pay for someone else's healthcare. Let them get their own health insurance," she said hatefully. This, in a nutshell, is the selfish reasoning of Republicans. It looks to me that Republicans feel if you don't have the money to pay for your own health insurance coverage that you don't deserve to have health insurance. That is the selfish and sad way these idiots think. I have mine, the hell with you. And as for healthcare reform not being paid for, here's some news: the President has said repeatedly it WILL be paid for by increasing taxes on the wealthy and with a small cut to ONE AREA of Medicare. If the very wealthy don't want to pay for my healthcare, tough, because thanks to Obama, you will. We poor middle-class folks have shouldered the burden for years with tax after tax under Republican administrations while rich people get tax cut after tax cut, and by God it's high time the poor people reap some benefits, too, from the government. It's not going to hurt these rich people one bit to skim a little off their big salaries and profits to provide poor people with some basic healthcare coverage.
I watched my mother battle cancer for ten years, and I saw firsthand the struggles, the tears, the baffling paperwork, the denials of care over and over and finally, the dropping of her coverage because her policy "maxed out". I saw my daddy cry at the breakfast table with his little checkbook in front of him, his shoulders heaving and his head bowed as his tears fell onto his newspaper, wondering how he was to pay for my mom's hospitalization without insurance. Shortly after this, my mother died, and people still called the house wanting us to pay tens of thousands of dollars for my mama's care. I told them to screw off, my mom's dead, you idiots, leave my daddy alone. A year later, I was dealing with cancer again as my dad was diagnosed, and again, here come the bills and tears. Watching someone you love go through something like this rips your guts out, and it changes your outlook on so many things. So I have no problem saying yes, we will tax you rich people to pay for poor folks' health insurance. Mark my words, after this health reform is passed, Republicans are going to look like fools for fighting against reform, and we Democrats will be in office for a generation because of the good work we did bringing health insurance to all Americans. God bless President Obama for taking the heat and trying to change things for the better. He will go down in history as being one of the best Presidents ever, as opposed to Bush, who is already pegged as one of the WORST! Look back to the unnecessary war in Iraq, the pitiful way he treated Hurricane Katrina victims, the stupid way he sat in that school room when told a plane had been flown into the World Trade Center towers, deciding to torture human beings in the name of America, shall I continue???
Proud to be a Democrat
Healthcare : 11/19/2009
Fedup, many of us on the Republican side were upset at Bush for the excess spending and his stand on immigration so let's tell it like it is. When DEMS took over the Congress in '06, he should have vetoed those bills and let the DEMs override him. Anyone with knowledge knows DEMS think increased taxes and spending is the answer. Look at history. JFK cut taxes and the economy boomed, Reagan cut taxes and the money into the treasury DOUBLED during the '80's. Bush 2 cut taxes and we had a boom from '03-'07. Anyone should know that our business cycles go up and down every few years but cutting taxes is the best way to go. We have the second highest tax or businesses in the world and we are supposed to compete?? Bottom line, our politicians on both sides have let us down. These, BTW, are not Fox talking points. They are mine and I grew up in a Democratic family.
Love America
I Wanna Know... : 11/19/2009
...where all these people who are talking about "spending us into oblivion" were during the Reagan and Bush Jr years. It's laughable that the "Tea Party" starts right after the guy who has run up the largest deficit in US History leaves office (how many of you realize that the "bailout" to Wall Street started with the Bush administration?). Why not during his term? Oh, because a "tax and spend" Democrat is in office (as opposed to the "cut taxes and spend every bit as much" Republicans, which is really sound economic practice). You wanna know where the Democrats have gone wrong? They need to disguise this bill as money used to invade and bomb the everliving #### out of people instead of help them, because nobody ever seems to count that as money that is "spending us into oblivion". As to your question - I don't recall anyone talking about how "good" it is. Is that a FoxNews talking point? Here's the thing - when you have nothing, getting ANYTHING can pass for "good" in comparison.
Fed Up
To: Good Neighbor : 11/19/2009
The 'loser' party? The way these idiots are spending us into oblivion, let's see who the 'loser' party is in 2010! Let Obama pass his healthcare "plan" and that 18th place will be looking pretty good! I agree healthcare needs reform and that insurance companies are a bunch of crooks, but having the government run it is NOT the answer! Nothing they have done yet is in good shape. Also, I have STILL never received an answer as to why congress and the president exempt themselves from their own 'plan' if it is so good. Can someone PLEASE tell me? Skip the name calling and whining - just answer the question!
I Wanna Know
A rose is a rose : 11/19/2009
A rose is a rose, by another name is still a rose. Sorry for that. Just thinking of when we were having the discussion of the Iraq war: if you spoke against that war you were accused of being against our soldiers and unAmerican. The parallel I am seeing now is someone for 'insurance reform' is promoting socialism, communisim and thus is unAmerican. I find these catch words as slogans to influence ignorance. I won't presume that I know any answers, but calling me childish names will not convince me of anything except identify the writer as a follower. Now I have not personally attacked any individual, but some of you are offended. Am I right? Oh, and FYI, this country is and never was a true Democracy. Ask women, and your black and Indian brothers. A great deal depends on being educated about the subject and then hold the crooked politicians and (businessicians) feet to the fire until the we get the best compromise we can. I have more to say but must stop.
Sometimes I think it is pointless.
The best? You have got to be kidding? : 11/17/2009
Seventeen years ago "60 Minutes" had a report about healthcare in America and showed how the Cubans were successfully treating "Retinitis Pigmentosa" and that an Australian doctor named "Barry Marshall" had taken on the "Acid Mafia" (American Medical Association) by coming up with a cure for ulcers. Even when Marshall had tested his cure on himself, his family, and long after the eventual adoption by all of the "socialized medicine countries" The AMA still balked resulting in the organization being labeled as the "Acid Mafia". Incidentally, at that time Mike Wallace reported that we were ranked ELEVENTH in the world in infant mortalities.
Today we are 18th in the whole big happy smiling baby world.
The last time I checked in a FREE MARKET economy you raise your rates when you are able to provide a better product or improve upon an existing product. However, in this closed, limited access, limited production, only show in town, even if it stinks medical market...
You can stink til the cows come home to graze at the foot of your patient's graves.
Medicine is an exclusive, limited access MONOPOLY!
Healthcare for people making little money is not socialism anymore than accepting the current blowed up system is Nazism. (Interestingly enough an obvious point would be that the Nazi's were National Socialists.)
How about a cheer for unborn U.S. babies?
We're number 18!
We're number 18!
We're number 18! OOH RAH!
Hang in there baby, Fridays coming
Outsiders not needed : 11/17/2009
If you are a member of the party in power then you should know that competition among insurance providers is not on the platform or program. If you desire reform you need to be a member of the loser party! Competition is not productive and will lead to money wasted on advertising. Texans are happy with the current rates and the costs have proven to be something they are willing to bear time and again. If you want to run insurance out of business then encourage this whole competition theory. The truth is that we can figure the odds and that is why we are in the business of providing the state with a healthy industry with homegrown coverage options.
Like a good neighbor
Tort Reform passed two legislative sessions ago! : 11/17/2009
Why not run insurance out of business?
If I get snake bit will my policy or coverage suck the poison out?
What is insurance if it isn't a false economy that drives up costs for everyone.
Why can't I just pay my doctor the money I pay for insurance and the tons not covered by the scam and then she could use the former profits of the insuroworms to treat the poor.
Ever heard of Tom's shoes? (you buy a pair and poor people get a pair)
Well instead of Tom's shoes you could have Frank, Jim, Inez, Priscilla or Larry's healthcare?
Right now I am paying poor people to go to the emergency room where all of the real expensive medical toys, gizmos, and specialists operate. I am paying through the nose and out the Wazoo!
What does insurance have do do with healthcare?
You want healthcare? Get rid of insurance.
Fleeced and no steel wool
Medicare IS welfare! : 11/17/2009
Glad I got that pointed out.
Sounds like someone is telling the others that they can't have any chocolate cake because he licked the spoon that spread the icing.
Well with the crappy state of healthcare in this country, it's no wonder that we are about ready to share needles. Especially if it means that someone will fork over the 200 grand needed for a down payment on a transplant. Or, the impossibility of getting coverage or keeping coverage for just being human.
You've got coverage? Just don't get sick...were not in Canada Toto.
I pay taxes and have for 50 years...Give me some Medicare! I am sick of the millionaires that feed off of the sick, old, and invalid.
Faith Healer
Must See TV : 11/17/2009
I'd like to encourage everyone interested in this issue to go to pbs.org, spend an hour and watch the Frontline episode "Sick Around the World". It compares the US healthcare system with those of 5 other industrialized nations - both pros and cons (because, as I've stated before, no system is perfect). It was an eye-opener for me.
Fed Up
Yaaaaawwwwwwwnnnnnn....zzzzzzzzzzzz : 11/17/2009
I want to pay 50% more for my insurance. In fact, I feel like that since insurance companies don't make enough money now that I would like to pay 70% of everything I "make" for insurance. I am going to do this just as soon as they don't pass healthcare legislation. Man!!!I feel better already! I have a policy! My teachers always said "Honesty is the best policy." And honestly, I think I will give up feeding the cat, the dog, the kids and the lizard because insurance companies are so misunderstood and treated in such a tacky fashion. Insurance is the answer forget healthcare what we need is more policies. Millions of them..."No Doc!!! I don't need any pain medication for my missing leg. I'll just sit here and bite down on this old toilet seat lid while I calmly read my policy." "Hey Doc!!? What does party of the first party mean?"
Ahhhhh...Policies always have that new money smell.
Fakesurance
Oh, and SMR.... : 11/17/2009
Since you shared a little bit of your story, I thought I'd share a little bit of mine. My wife and I make a six-figure income combined and we live paycheck to paycheck. We never take vacation (not even a honeymoon), rarely eat out, live in a modest house and have no idea how a flat screen TV would look in it. I drive a car that's going on 10 years old and we get our kids' clothes at consignment shops. Where does all our money go? Well, my wife has a rare condition that the doctors don't know how to fix and she's had 10 surgeries over the last 2 years, which has cost us close to a quarter of our income out of pocket. Did I mention that we have insurance? Sixty percent of the bankruptcies in this country last year were due to medical bills, and seventy-five percent of those people had insurance. I know better than most how that's possible. I'm seeing up close how rotten the current system is.
Fed Up
SMR... : 11/17/2009
You say you don't have insurance and haven't most of your life. Have you been able to pay for any and all of your medical costs out of your pocket during that time? If you get in a car wreck tomorrow and are seriously injured, will you pay your whole bill or refuse care? If not, you will be living off the money of the people who do pay for insurance, which, in its own way, is a form of socialism. As for your other points, there are many again so I will cover what I can. I agree with you on a lot of what you wrote. Do I trust politicians? Nope, but I don't trust CEOs of insurance companies either. At least politicians can be voted out. I am all for tort reform, insurance crossing state lines and prosecuting fraud. As for the trouble that the current programs are in, that's due largely to costs that are spiraling out of control, which, for me, is the entire point of healthcare reform. If you are referring to Social Security as well, that's remedied easily - get with the times, realize that people live and work longer than they did 70 years ago and raise the retirement age. Of course, you have to get the AARP on board, and good luck with that. As for allowing people the choice to sign up or not, it would do nothing to control costs as we'd still have the uninsured getting care at the expense of the insured, which is why the universal part matters. No system will be perfect, but we have to do better than what we have.
Fed Up
Our Right To Disagree Goes Both Ways : 11/17/2009
You have a point on one thing. Costs are passed on. That is called free market. It is what this nation was founded on. Before you get too judgmental I don't have insurance right now. Most of my life I have not had it. But that does not mean I expected it to be provided for me. I am also not well off. Even with insurance it can get expensive on a fixed income and you may still find yourself without the care you would like. If the government were to provide another government plan designed to fail because it does not go by profits but raising taxes and they run the private sector out of business the government then it becomes a monopoly and can do whatever it wants and you have no other options if you find you don’t like it. Yes it can happen. I think there are reforms needed but not what I have seen in this plan so far. But I also do not want the government taking more and more authority over my life. The government should be smaller and not larger. Just think how much it costs to run the government. They make nice salaries and nice retirement for the most part. And from what I have been reading there is rationing and long waits in these other developed nations with a national health care in spite of what most people think. The main thing I want to bring forward at this point is do you trust your government to do right by you...we are talking politicians here? The U S government has a history of messing things up. And I did address the rationing that is already going on with our socialist plans we have now. Plans that are in deep trouble I remind you. Where is tort reform? Where is opening up insurance sales across state lines? Where is finding and prosecuting fraud in these other plans? A real choice would be if those who want national health care sign up for it and money is taken from only this group and not tax or fine or put in jail those who don't want to be part of it. If you don't do this it is still forced redistribution of wealth and freedom of choice is taken away.
SMR
Healthcare : 11/17/2009
Good reading folks. There are those who still think the current bills out there are great for America. Remember, our legislators didn't write these bills, special interest groups did. The DEMS would have us believe that they don't have any special interest groups. Well, they do.
My thing is I do not want my grandchildren to grow up in a Socialist country and this just isn't about healthcare. There will be no competition when the government sets prices, says what can be done...BTW, did you see the news today about Mammograms for women and what a "government panel" has proposed. Private insurers can't compete against a "public option" as they can lose as much money as they want and print even more. When will people start looking at this objectively? We are all for reform to get those covered but not blow up what we have now. Anything our government runs is broke...except the military where judgement, decisiveness, training, are a way of life. You won't find this among our politicians...they just worry about the next election.
Love America
educate yourself : 11/17/2009
First things first. The desire to reform a system does not translate to Socialism. listening
The United States of American has the most expensive health care in the world. Every year its cost exceed inflation.
Mark these words in ten years half the people who posted will not be able to afford to purchase health insurance. It will be only for the rich. I want reform because it will reduce the growth rate and cost. Only four things need to be done.
1. A single payer system will be able to negotiate cost. An individual does not have the same power as the single payer. How do you think that Wal-Mart gets a low price on goods.
2. Everyone has to be insured. This spreads the cost out over a larger group of people which translates into a lower risk for the insurance company's. OH and by the way the way several evil socialist European nations use a an insurance based health care(like the US).
3. No one can be denied coverage.
4. Profit is removed from the equation.
Every developed nation in the world follows these rules which gives them affordable and excellent health care outcomes. None of these nations have a perfect system but they are better than ours.
The U.S.A may have some of the best heath care but the system is not even close the others.
The free market is not the answer.
twinoakchef
I have another question... : 11/17/2009
...For those of you against nationalized healthcare. How is it that every other industrialized nation in the world can somehow afford nationalized healthcare, but we can't? This is supposed to be the greatest, most powerful country, right? You guys talk about fears of rationing and all that stuff, but it hasn't happened in other countries. In this country, 33% of repsondents to researchers that they could get a same-day appointment when sick. In New Zealand, that number is 60%. Did you know that the country with the lowest patient satisfaction is ours? And we pay a lot more than everyone else for that lowest satisfaction. Again, those systems aren't perfect (after all, we aren't living in a fantasyland) but with one notable exception - cancer treatment - people in other countries for the most part get better care faster and more cheaply. All this cost that everyone is talking about - France spends 10.7% of their GDP on healthcare. We spend 16.5%. Per capita, we spend almost twice as much as them and they are happier with what they get. Again, nationalized healthcare is not perfect, but our system is unsustainable financially.
Fed Up
To SMR... : 11/17/2009
You have a lot of questions there and I have thought about this a lot more than most (so your idea that "I really need to think" is off-base, simply because I don't agree with you) so this could take a while. On one of your points (and I'm sure we'll get to the others) - about being robbed - IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING. Federal law states that hospitals MUST treat anyone who comes to an emergency room, insured or not. Those people that come in without insurance, any guesses on who pays for their care? Not the hospitals. The person who pays is the next guy who comes in and actually has insurance. That's why you see the famous $100 Tylenol on the bill. The hospital passes the cost to the insurance company, who then passes it on to the insured in the form of higher premiums. Somebody in another thread said something about the fairness of making people buy insurance - well, where's the fairness in the current system? Also, the government is already involved in healthcare, to the tune of $250 billion a year in subsidies to employers so they will provide healthcare to their employees. Do you have any idea how much the average worker's premiums would go up if not for that? Look, I'm not saying government is foolproof and that there wouldn't be problems (especially after special interests get their hands on any legislation), but it isn't nearly as cut and dried as you people want to make it sound.
Fed Up
reform : 11/17/2009
I would like to make a couple statements. I am poor, my family is poor, everyone i know is poor. Poverty is the winning majority in this country behind seniors. We are the only andvanced country left without a natl healthcare plan. Now for all of yal that already have care and make "better" money than we do, why cant we get some healthcare too? you wont have to change providers and your benifits wont change. the people in washington wont have to use the care bc they already make millions and afford it themselvs..do you really think our governor lives off $5,000 a year salary? or our reps live off that amount too? theyre all lawyers and trust families. so hey lets all try and be american and try to help eachother yall
needin some help here
Health Care Reform? : 11/16/2009
For those of you who want government run health care. Who do you want to pay for it? All? Isn't this one of those redistribution of wealth things also known as socialism-one step from comunism issues? Do you really trust the government to run another plan correctly when it has ruined those already in place and won't fix them? Where are choices? Opt out? Do you think you or a state can without repercussions? Will you not have to pay taxes for someone else? Do you like being robbed? Where is the real reform? It is not being done. There is a difference betwee reform and health care. Also how many of those that died without insurance? Are they more than those that died with it? I would like to see some statistics and some particulars on why they didn't have insurance. Do you think the governemtn won't ration? They already are with Medicare and Social Security Disability. Do you have any idea how many can't get disability because they are not one step from the grave? It doesn't matter they cannot work. The government is getting very good at deny coverage and services and want to rob Medicare even further. Do you really think this will not put this nation further into astronomical debt in spite of the hype? Since when has the government not lied to you on things like this? You really need to think. It is a bad situation either way you go. I can't help but wonder how many people would reach into their pocket and say "Here you go, this will pay your premiums for this month. Come back next month for the next payment." I also can't help but wonder if they will take out the outlandish parts for the final bill. We also don't know what they will attach at the last moment. They are famous for these late night votes. I don't trust the government because it has given little reason to trust it. Shenanigans every day is the rule-lies and deceit.
SMR
Not a good thing : 11/16/2009
Let me ask a simple question about credibility? Would you buy a Chevrolet from a car dealer that drives a Ford? How about encouraging a person to buy a health care system that our dealers (government) will not enroll themselves or their family. In fact, the question was asked at one meeting and later the new health care bill had the prevision; they wouldn’t be required to enroll in it. We definitely need reform in our system we now have but driving the system into a mud quire that will resemble our welfare system is not the answer.
Old Medicare patient
I'll tell you what's "sad"... : 11/16/2009
To Love America... what's sad is the number of people who die in this country because they have no insurance. What's sad is people who have a pre-existing condition and can get no insurance. You just keep on with your cries of "socialism" and "government is bad" without any acknowledgment of the complete failure of our current system. If you don't want the government involved, what is your proposal? To leave everything as is, where people in this country spend more and more of their incomes on insurance, if they can get it at all? As for the original letter to the editor, the rhetoric here is tired - "liberals' worst nightmare" blah blah blah. The political atmosphere in this country is toxic and that, as much as anything, is why we are headed the wrong way. Nobody cares about solving problems, they only care about getting their way.
Fed Up
Health Care : 11/16/2009
To Joss: So you want a government run health care program. They have already taken over banking, auto, want to control energy, tell companies how much to pay their employees. You want Socialism and that is very sad. America, we are losing our liberties and will be living under tyranny. BTW, Joss wants you and me to pay for abortions. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Gone, let the government take care of us. That will be the end of our great country as we have known it.
Love America
reform? : 11/16/2009
to reform something you have to have it in some form already....
StRiDeR
And what about the rest of us? : 11/15/2009
The "Tea Party" protesters certainly don' represent the majority of us. I'm an American. I want healthcare reform. I want healthcare reform without the Stupak amendment. If I'm to ever be insured, I'll need healthcare reform. What about us? Talk about tyranny of the minority.
Joss
LOCAL AND WIRE 
RSS Feeds 
