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Democrats release draft health reform outline as divisions continue

June 10, 2009 by  

Democrats release draft health reform outline as divisions continueSenate Democrats have released a draft of a healthcare bill that would introduce sweeping changes to the current insurance system which many consider to be dysfunctional.

The proposal, sponsored by Ted Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, would require all Americans to buy health insurance and make it possible to buy affordable long-term care insurance from the government for about $65 per month, according to the Associated Press.

Other provisions include stricter regulations of private insurance companies to make it illegal to deny coverage for those with pre-existing conditions.

Meanwhile, as a similar bill is being fashioned in the House of Representatives.

"Our economic recovery and nation’s fiscal future hinge on fixing what’s broken in our healthcare system – lowering costs to families and businesses, preserving choice of doctors and plans, and assuring quality health care for all Americans," says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Commentators believe any final healthcare proposals are bound to pit Republicans and Democrats against each other.

Most Republicans, for example, tend to reject the notion of a publicly-run system saying it would drive private insurers out of business.

However, many Democrats counter this by stressing a government option would enhance competition and encourage cost-savings.

The costs of the reform are estimated at more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years.
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  • Eddie L Kemp Sr

    It Is Amazing!!!
    The answer is not increased taxes to support this Hillary/Obama Health Care Plan. The Answer is less taxes for bridges to no where so you can buy the insurance coverage you need for your family. The answer is voting out of office the Gods who want to tax and control every aspect of our lives, and replacing them with real citizens. These wealthy elites are out of touch with Main Street America and what they do destroys the America we know and jobs. Your ideas are great, but until we regain control of the 535, your ideas are wasted energy.

  • http://BobLivingstonLetter Born To Lose.

    Reply to William Passas. You have some strong points, but too many should s Here’s my should s Washington should stay out of our lives as much as possible. Their proven track records stand for what they can really do well……. NOTHING ! The last President that did anything for the people was John F. Kennedy 49 years ago!

    The way our Health Care should be handled is – Everyone that is comfortable with their plan isn’t affected . Only those that don’t have Health Insurance or is inadequate or are too cheap to get Health Care – not that they can’t afford it , but free is better – at yours and my expense – provide them with Health Care.

    Also get only one company to provide the Insurance instead of 5,000 different companies or someones brother’s company in Congress to get the gravy train as is usually the case . There is more than enough graft to go around – we don’t need anymore here. Dental- Eye – Hearing- Feet- Prescription’s- x-rays-Special Doctors and Hospital Coverages and injuries . with Co/ Pay set at minimum $20.00 for office visits – and eveything else that should be covered, but don’t fix my plan – and others that their Health Care is not broken and that system might work -

    • B-Man

      wow- is that your name? Born to loose. Hello there I think you need to re-think that one. I dont’ think your a looser. Be carefull what you say, what’s in our hearts will come out our mouths. Anyway to address your statement. The governments involvement at any level is very bad. Health care or how you go to any doctor or hospital is a privilage. You have to earn and pay for their services. You don’t get groceries for free? Where do you stop the line if people can recieve medical care paid for by someone else, then why don’t we just start buying cars and homes and stereos and clothes for people that we don’t know. You cannot ask people who have taken the risk and worked maybe extra hrs a week or gone to school and paid the price for an education to better their lives and their careers to afford health insurance and then expect those people to pay for you to. If they want to donate that’s their choice. Just because my daughter gets an A on her math test she now has to share that A with the girl next to her who got a C? Because She’s in the same class with the same teacher and the same book, she deserves an A. Now way in hell. Maybe she needs to study, ya think? Our society thinks that they are owed these services. I did’nt ask you to buy my house and I don’t want anyone taking my hard earned income and giving it to someone I don’t know for medical care. If people can’t seem to grasp that concept then we are more lost than ever.
      broke people cannot help broke people. Taking from productive people and giving to the lazy (yes i said lazy) people is absolutely wrong. Do I think that we should help everywhere we can? you better believe it. It’s our God given duty to serve. But you have to respect the fact that we should have a choice to give.
      We are the most giving country on the planet. Name on time Europe came here to our rescue. Nobody comes here to help, they come to take, take what we have and learn from us and then use it against us. But we just keep helping countries in trouble and sending our kids to the front lines. Now with the burdens being imposed I see charity’s falling through the floor. How will this add value to anyone. People are just trying to eat , there’s no extra to give. Hey did’nt I say broke people can’t help broke people? We’er getting close to it.

      • The Old Hippie

        B-Man,

        We are already paying for others cars, homes, tvs, and clothes. It’s called welfare and we who are working pay for it.

        As for your daughter’s “A”, just pray that the person who got the “C” isn’t a minority because soon, tests will thrown out unless all minorities get “A”s.

  • http://deleted Rayme

    What is good health? How can people achieve it? People get all concerned about healthcare, but fail to realize the people don’t have a clue thanks to Western Modern Medicine as to how to achieve it. Many poor people in the world live longer and have greater health than the American people, why, because they know that what you eat determines whether or not you will suffer from a lifestyle disease. With more than 90% of all diseases being a lifestyle disease most people can keep themselves healthy by eating a diet that has not been processed, filled with pesticides and high in meat. Preventative medicine is more important than having healthcare. Also Nancy Pelosi S–ks. Fixing Healthcare is not the most important thing that we need to do to fix our economy, that would be to shrink government and keep their greedy little fingers out of our pockets.

  • Ralph

    Read the following email I received about our prospects:
    I am a student of history. Professionally, I have written 15 books in six languages, and have studied history all my life. I think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is just a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes, these exist but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus.
    Something of historic proportions is happening. I can sense it because I know how it feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it. Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about 10 – 15 years. The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two.
    We demanded and then codified into law the requirement that our banks make massive loans to people whom we knew could never pay back? Why? We learned recently that the Federal Reserve, which has little or no real oversight by anyone, has “loaned” two trillion dollars (that is $2,000,000,000,000) over the past few months, but will not tell us to whom or why or disclose the terms. That is our money. Yours and mine. And that is three times the $700B we all argued about so strenuously just this past September.
    Who has this money? Why do they have it? Why are the terms unavailable to us? Who asked for it? Who authorized it? I thought this was a government of “We the People,” who loaned our powers to our elected leaders. Apparently not.

    We have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy. Why?
    We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth preserving. Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate. Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, school boards continue to back mediocrity. Why?
    We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election (now violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it wants marriage to remain between one man and one woman. Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago?). We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic. To what purpose?
    Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, Social Security is nearly bankrupt, as is Medicare and our entire government. Our education system is worse than a joke (I teach college and know precisely what I am talking about.) The list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth. It is potentially 1929 x 10. And we are at war with an enemy we cannot name for fear of offending people of the same religion who cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.
    And now we have elected a man no one knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, let alone a town as big as Wasilla , Alaska . All of his associations and alliances are with real radicals in their chosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary (Surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders? No? Oh, of course. The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it. Sarah Palin’s pregnant daughter and $150,000 wardrobe is more important.)
    Mr. Obama’s winning platform can be boiled down to one word: Change…radical change. Why?

    I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now. This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life. In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different power structure. Change is indeed coming. And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again.
    And that is only the beginning.
    I thought I would never be able to experience what the ordinary, moral German felt in the mid-1930s. In those times, the savior was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the average German knew next to nothing. What they did know was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory and promises. Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker. And he smiled and waved a lot. And people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his “brown shirts” would bully them into submission.
    And then he was duly elected to office, with a full-throttled economic crisis at hand [the Great Depression]. Slowly but surely he seized the controls of government power, department by department, person by person, bureaucracy by bureaucracy. The kids joined a Youth Movement in his name, where they were taught what to think. How did he get the people on his side? He did it promising jobs to the jobless, money to the moneyless, and goodies for the military-industrial complex. He did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe , and across the world.
    He did it with a compliant media – Did you know that? And he did this all in the name of justice and…change. And the people surely got what they voted for. (Look it up if you think I am exaggerating.) Read your history books. Many people objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and made fun of. When Winston Churchill pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker. He was right, though.
    Don’t forget that Germany was the most educated, cultured country in Europe . It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and universities. And in less than six years – a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S. presidency – it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors. All with the best of intentions, of course. The road to Hell is paved with them.
    As a practical thinker, one not overly prone to emotional decisions, I have a choice: I can either believe what the objective pieces of evidence tell me (even if they make me cringe with disgust); I can believe what history is shouting to me from across the chasm of seven decades; or I can hope I am wrong, close my eyes, have another latte and ignore what is transpiring around me.

    Some people scoff at me; others laugh or think I am foolish, naive, or both. Perhaps I am. But I have never been afraid to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what I believe – and why I believe it. I pray I am wrong. But, I do not think I am.
    About the author via Google…

    Pamela “Atlas” Geller began her publishing career at The New York Daily News and subsequently took over operation of The New York Observer as Associate Publisher. She left The Observer after the birth of her fourth child, but remained involved in various projects including American Associates, Ben Gurion University and being Senior Vice-President Strategic Planning and Performance Evaluation at The Brandeis School.
    After 9/11, Atlas had the veil of oblivion violently lifted from her consciousness and immersed herself in the education and understanding of geopolitics, Islam, terror, foreign affairs and imminent threats the mainstream media and the government wouldn’t cover or discuss.

    Since many of you enjoy senior citizen status or will sometime in the not too distant future, I thought you might be interested in this information.

    IN GOD WE TRUST

    Everybody that is on this mailing list is either a senior citizen, is getting close, or knows somebody that is.
    Most of you know by now that the Senate version (at least) of the “stimulus” bill includes provisions for extensive rationing of health care for senior citizens. The author of this part of the bill, former senator and tax evader, Tom Daschle, was credited today by Bloomberg with the following statement.

    Bloomberg: “Daschle says health-care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them.”
    If this does not sufficiently raise your ire, just remember that Senators and Congressmen have their own healthcare plan that is first dollar or very low co-pay which they are guaranteed the remainder of their lives and are not subject to this new law if it passes.

    Please use the power of the Internet to get this message out. Talk it up at the grassroots level. We have an election coming up in one year and nine months. We have the ability to address and reverse the dangerous direction the Obama administration and its allies have begun and in the interim, we can make our voices heard! Let’s do it!
    If you disagree, don’t do anything

    • http://jan-cor janice sheridan

      It is great to see an article such as yours. I am in total agreement with you. I think Obams is the anti-christ and out to destroy America.

    • 13th Gen. American

      Well most all of the people on the right smelled ,felt, saw this coming before the election. Its called shit. Big piles of heaping steaming bull shit.Apparently most dems and libs like the smell of it.

    • Robin, Arcadia, IN

      Wow! That was perfect. I really hope many people will read your post and heed what you said. It is scary… very scary. Ralph I wish you the best and hope you will be able to reach many with your message.

    • HopeforAmerica

      With all due respect, What a bunch of Bunk! God bless America and God Bless President Obama! Let freedom ring!

      • http://www.DonCanter.net Don

        What a load of crap you espouse,

    • http://www.DonCanter.net Don

      Excellent commentary.

  • http://BobLivingstonLetter Born To Lose.

    Marilyn – Did you ever hear of the word IMPEACH…. We The People – own this country. and Washington and Obama and all his criminals on Capitol Hill are our employee’s…… Did you know that.?And when employees work for the people they are Federal Employees , so they come under Federal Laws – and these circumventer’s of our laws- and our Constitution to benefit themselves – are supposed to be automatic removals and law suits against them by their Employers ——-That be You and me. So when will we wake up to the fact that law breakers – don’t get preferential treatments and hands off…… We must wake up and enforce the laws of our country and not allow Obama to destroy our country and take everything away from us , because the only way they can steal anything from us is when we let them. Then do nothing about it . That is the reason for our problems – we let them and do nothing about them. we must reverse that trend , and stop allowing Washington to roll right over us ……

    • Marilyn

      I do appreciate all this but it does take more than one or two of us doing it and so far no one has done anything except talk. The Tea parties were great and are great but as usually they chose to laugh at us and belittle us. As far as waiting for the 2010 and 2012 elections if Obama goes the way he appears to be going will we have the elections or will there be a dictatorship by then with only the liberals telling us how to live our lives. Yes we write letter, call our Congressmen and protest and anything else we can think of but with the lopsided current administration pushing as hard to do anything and everything to destroy the best government ever and the Congress supporting everything, the few conservatives that are there don’t really have much of a chance. My congressmen are all conservative and though I write and call and participate however I can, and they vote the conservative way, it’s like all of us are beating our heads against that brick wall. The questions still remains, what can we do now to stop them before we have no chance whatsoever.

      • 13th Gen. American

        The liberal media does this to keep people from going. They dont want the masses out there and others seeing it and joining in. I couldnt go last time but when I saw that woman reporter be so damn ignorant to the man with the baby she asked a question to I decited Im not going to let them win. Im going to be out of state on the 4th and already found a party in the area and Im praying they start that shit with me. Let it me motivation to piss them off and go and write and say and do. Obama and them could care less what we do and say but if things get really bad I dont want to be the one who did nothing to stop it.

      • Kris

        Marilyn,

        It starts with just one person and that person talking to others. Call your Representatives/Senators consistantly and write letters. GET MAD AS HELL AND STAY MAD!! I was and still am involved with the Tea Parties and me and my husband are going to Washington, DC for the 9/12 march. It’s going to cost us with the stay and travel but we are going to make it a little vacation also. It might be the only chance we see Washington, DC before Obama destroys this nation. Stand up and fight. Obama wants apathy from us, but we cannot just give up.

      • Robin, Arcadia, IN

        Marilyn… I couldn’t agree more. If we don’t stay active and have a voice, we turn apathetic. And… apathy will be the demise of this great nation. As it is, it’s going to be a long terrible struggle to get things anywhere close to what they were. I wish the answer was simple. I even wish I had an answer! Pray… I am.. And I hope every concerned citizen is committing time to prayer. We can’t change their hearts, but God can!

      • Marilyn

        Prayer is the only answer and I know this but how many others really realize that God IS on our side. The left is all about abortion and homosexual rights and other such garbage. God deplores all of this and in fact calls homosexuality an “abomination”. Wonder what they think that means? So really aside from the simple things of staying involved, writing letters and making phone calls, prayer really really is the ONLY answer.

      • HopeforAmerica

        Wouldn’t you like to know how much money the conservative and repubs are getting from the insurance and drug industry??? Even a few dems.
        Well., here you Go!!

        Insurance (Health Care) Contributors:
        April 02, 2009- By: Health Beat, http://www.healthbeatblog.org
        Top 10 Senate Recipients of Top 10 House Recipients of
        Health Insurer Money Health Insurer Money

        Senator Amount Representative: Amount:strong text
        McCain, John (R-AZ) $251,834 Cantor, Eric (R-VA) $113,850
        McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) $200,200 Camp, Dave (R-MI) $112,923
        Baucus, Max (D-MT) $183,750 Pomeroy, Earl (D-ND)$104,500
        Lieberman, Joe (I-CT) $101,400 Boehner, John (R-OH) $101,200
        Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA) $98,600 Deal, Nathan (R-GA) $100,000
        Collins, Susan (R-ME) $96,500 Towns, Edolphus (D-NY)$87,750
        Kyl, Jon (R-AZ) $90,450 Rogers, Mike (R-AL)$74,000
        Warner, Mark (D-VA) $89,700 Blunt, Roy (R-MO) $72,800
        Hatch, Orrin (R-UT) $85,903 Ryan, Paul (R-WI) $69,000
        Nelson, Ben (D-NE) $83,300 Tanner, John (D-TN) $68,500

        **Top 10 Senate Recipients of Top 10 House Recipients of
        Drug Co. Money Drug Co. Money**

        Senator: Amount: Representative: Amount:
        McCain, John (R-AZ) $294,603 Barton, Joe (R-TX) $187,100
        Baucus, Max (D-MT) $229,020 Dingell, John (D-MI) $180,300
        McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) $225,200 Boehner, John (R-OH) $156,125
        Lieberman, Joe (I-CT) $196,5-40 Frelinghuysen, Rodney (D-NJ)$152,850
        Hatch, Orrin (R-UT) $186,900 Clyburn, James (D-SC) $145,514
        Spectre, Arlen (R-PA) $179,650 Buyer, Steve (R-IN) $141,350
        Mendez, Robert (D-NJ) $147,243 Cantor, Eric (R-VA) $135,600
        Enzi, Mike (R-WY) $134,500 Rogers, Mike (R-AL) $133,946
        Kyl, Jon (R-AZ) $118,350 Blunt, Roy (R-MO) $133,500
        Cornyn, John (R-TX) $115,900 Gerlach, Jim (R-PA) $131,660

  • Stephen Mapes

    I agree that the government cannot run anything efficiently, even the military. Look at the Post Office, Freddie Mac, Fannie May, FEMA, Amtrack, the Dept of Education.I don’t have a problem with the government offering a health care plan which is administered by a public corporation as long as Congress and Federal employees get this plan and not the cadillac plan that we taxpayers have to pay for. A national health plan that is mandatory will simply cost future generations money they will never be able to afford and will require rationing. The majority of money spend is in the last year of life so you can imagine how the bureaucrats will make life and death decision for you. Add 40+ million and there is no way there are enough doctors, nurses and allied health personnel to provide for these additional users. I am a retired Hospital CEO and I do know the pros and cons of the system. To reduce the cost of health care, we must have massive tort reform, we need to significantly improve the computerization of medical records to reduce duplication, we must eliminate free care to illegal immigrants, and we need to eliminate for profit hospitals. Profit from health care exacts a cost, lower staff to patient ratios and cutting corners by discharging patient too early.

  • http://BobLivingstonLetter Born To Lose.

    Wow ! Did you hear Uncle “Generous “Kennedy a whole $65.00 a month plan…. Whooppee………. That won’t pay for one of my medications let alone three… so do I have to pick and choose whether my heart or my kidney is more important while I lose weight? While “We The People” pay for all the Law Breakers at a rate of $2 thousand a month or more because they view themselves as Elites and their families are better than ours…. Who voted on Health Care being broken .. ? I didn’t get a vote on it , nor did my wife and so far 48.9 million folks say they didn’t get a vote either and if we did we would have said don’t fix anything that’s not broken, because anything big government fixes it turns into an Albatross of expenses and never works again no matter how much they pump into it…. just look at the midgets in Congress.. they can’t even read let alone fix anything .

  • warrior

    Sorry, but I just had to laugh when reading this article, now that I see Ted Kennedy is the one proposing our health care plan. Lets see Ted is first in line to AA if he ever shows up for meetings. The Government can not run this Country only Ruin it, and now they want to be in charge of our health! — what a joke. I wonder how much of the 65.00 a month goes into Teds pocket — I mean Frank Barney and his constituents were getting paid off by Freddy-Mac and Fanne-Mae to say everything was fine with them although they were going broke before everyones eyes. They were told on several occasions there were problems with both companies but all Frank Barney did was get mad and say they are fine…heaven forbid you get rid of his/thier golden goose to fix a problem with our Countrys economy. Now we have to fight for our health,,Yes sir this is exactly what we need a socialist health plan. And no this is not funny. Sooooo do all you can to stay healthy and fit on your own…

  • Marilyn

    All of us have good ideas of what is happening with our government and the currently administration that is leading us in the wrong direction but WHAT CAN WE DO to stop it?

    • B. Kimbrough

      Let’s see. WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR GOVERNMENT? I believe I know the answer. Come 2010 why don’t we all vote that bunch out that’s leading our nation into Socialism. Then, in 2012 ( if he’s not impeached first) we’ll vote Obama out, if we still have the right to vote.

  • http://internetexplorer Brenda Bowman

    We do not need the Feds operating any type of health care.
    Take a trip to your local Nursing Facility, check the care of the Medicare/Medicade patients, you will see for yourself why the government need to stay out of healthcare.
    Besides, is any part of this so called reform to benefit the American taxpayer??? Or is this just more graft for the deadbeats???

    • HopeforAmerica

      I have a health care background.. so I know what a SNF is. When you walk into a nursing home (SNF) it is the company and management… which has nothing to do with medicare or medicaid.

  • William Passas

    Yes! I agree that our Health Care system is good but it is not cost effective. We need to come up with positive ideas and drown our government with answers.

    Here are my thoughts on health care:
    A: The care and how it is provided:
    1. There should be a menu of health care plans both public and private insurance that people, government workers, Vets, seniors and non-seniors can choose from based on their needs. Public plans are like Medicare using non-goverment employees as providers.
    2. Everyone should be required to be in a plan that provides minimum required benefits.
    3. Premiums for all plans should be paid to the Government Single Payer agency by individuals based on the plan selected.
    4. Persons of low income or no income are covered by the public plan via a tax credit.
    5. Companies may offer supplements to plans but do not pay premiums for the basic plan. The cost of health care adds cost to company products that reduce our nation’s ability to complete globally where health care is part of their socialized benefits.
    6. All claims are paid by the Government Single Payer and accounted for by plan as Premium provided by enrollees and claims paid for enrollees. Private Plans would either receive a profit or pay for losses on a periodic basis. Enrollees that receive services not covered by a plan would either have to pay for the service or have a supplemental policy.
    B. How does it get paid for?
    1. Persons of low income or no income receive full or partial tax credit for the Premium paid into the public plan.
    2. Persons above the low income level will pay a Premium for the Plan selected.
    3. Government Single Payer costs in excess of the Premium received will be recovered from an annual Health Care Services tax adjustment as a percentage added to the then current income tax rate.
    C: How will costs be controlled?
    1. The current insurance for Doctors and providers should be changed into a Worker Compensation type state program to reduce the costs of services.
    2. Drugs approved by the FDA should not be subject to suits because care is provided to persons damanged. Damages should be determined by arbitration via a Workers Compensation type process.
    3. Drugs or processes approved by other governments with an FDA type agency that has been approved by our FDA as certified should be allowed in the US with out additional clinical trials and processes.
    4. All plans should provide for annual exams and preventative care. Persons identified as obese, prone to diabetes, cancer or heart desease will have higher insurance rates which can be reduced by following effective treatment programs.
    5. Additional medical facilities owned or operated by providers should show that the facility is needed because there is a lack of access within a reasonable distance before approved.
    6. Facilities that are underutilized should be consolidated.
    7. The Government Single Payer should be the central health database repository to which each diagnosis, treatment, service and drug should be recorded as part of the payment record. The data should be encrypted and made available to providers by permission of the patient via a RFID card.
    8 Providers would use the RFID card to record services being provided as part of the billing process. Providers may extract patient records and maintain a duplicate database in support of current treatment to support analysis..
    9. Analysis of the central database will review treatment on a historical and current transaction basis to detect treatment inconsistent with diagnosis and possible dangerous administrations.
    10. Providers should be guided by established checklists to help prevent errors in procedures.
    11. The Government Single Payer should have a fund from the Department of Education to provide scholarships to persons that get medical provider training based on the need for access to service in an area, geographic or facility, of need.
    12. Medical Research funded totally or in part where Government grants are provided will retain a patent interest in any discovery where a product results from licensing by the research entity or where scientists departed the research entity and used research knowledge to form a company to exploit discoveries.

    • freddie

      You have a lot of shoulds in your reply. Who is going to do all the things you are talking about and if it is not done what is going to be the penalty and who is going to adminster it? I wonder if we will have goosestepping brownshirts or hammer and sickle carring russians keeping a close eye on us.

      • NORM-CT

        freddie-
        Nazi’s, Russians…. ooh. Don’t forget the boogy man and the tooth fairy!
        You poor paronoid sob.

      • freddie

        You kind of caught me off gaurd when you called me a sob. I now realise that sob stands for son of a bitch. Really you think to highly of me. Oh well it does not matter. You can give your responsibilitay away if you want to. Just leave mine alone. -freddie

      • Robin, Arcadia, IN

        That was a cruel, uncalled for comment to Freddie. Remember, we live in the United States, where we can as of today, still have an opinion. How much longer we can enjoy this right has not been determined yet.

      • HopeforAmerica

        lol…lol..Again Norm-CT!

    • Dan

      Good Post. Thanks.

    • freddie

      By the way if you do not like being responsible for yourself, then why do you not move to where you do not have that option. I hate for you to be so un happy. Do you need me to help you pack.-freddie (sob)

      • NORM-CT

        freddie
        No, freddie I’m here for the duration. If I can do anything to improve the system I will.

      • freddie

        Glad you are staying. You have my most earnest well whises. When you say that you, and I emphatically stress you, not the goverment want to improve health care, then it will be ok. Just tell the goverment that when they can get medicare, medicade, and the VA fixed, then maybe I’ll change my mind. No I still want uncle sam to just leave it alone. Governments are good for blowing things up and killing people. Any thing the Goverment can do good Private interprise can do better. We are not in disagrement on the isue just on how to solve it.

      • HopeforAmerica

        Freddie; Sorry…. but when you spout crazy unfounded assertions, who deserve that kind of a response. Those types of statements make you and all of you sound as though you need some serious meds for paranoia.

  • John R Warner

    Frankly speaking the whole set up is dumb
    Yes I would like to pay their mere pitence but I have the best policy available and I do not want to be forced to subscribe to something that supports huge funds to governmental control The huge fees and interference while fine can be done by private indistry much better and for less money.
    Keep the government out of this issue and let private industry do the planning
    We could do better leaving the planning to private industry and leave the government go fishing
    John R Warner

  • Vorenious

    Having lived in countries with Socialized Medicine, I have found out first hand, what happens to the elderly and disabled.

    As they progress in age and ability to work, the government identifies them as not being a working part of the society, and therefore, as they progressively get older, their care is lessen, and lessen and it is not cost effective to the government.

    It, as it is in Holland, and many other countries, becomes optional to the patient, to have a government Doctor of Death come to the home and administer a lethal dosage of drugs to hasten the death of the elderly, handicapped or disabled in any way.

    In addition, to the Doctors of Death, the taxes required to sustain a massive health care industry for the nations has caused England to tax many taxpayers at a rate of 50%, Ireland is at 36% for health care, Holland is 40% and many other countries, such as Japan, as Socialized Medicine is not limited to Europe.

    Additionally, this past elections in Europe, has turned the tide on Socialism. No body wants those high taxes anymore and the people now want a choice in their health care. To even think, that a government employee is watching the dimes being spent on your health care and not thinking of you as a person is insane and anyone that espouses support for the government to run health care, needs to read the Constitution!

  • NORM -CT

    Other wealthy nations like Japan, Australia, Canada , and rich European nations spend between 8 to 11% of GNP in health care and enjoy superior service and universal coverage. America is the only rich country that does not provide universal health care coverage to its population.

    Surprisingly, Americans, the citizens of the wealthiest country in the history of the world have a lower life expectancy rate, higher rates of heart disease and cancer, and an infant mortality rate that is twice as high as other rich industrialized nations. Even Cuba has a lower infant mortality rate than the United States according to CIA Fact Book .

    Per dollar America spends much more and gets much less in return than other affluent Western nations when it comes to health care spending. It is time for the American policymakers to stop bragging about their health care system and start acting on their hollow promises to find real solutions to health care crisis. It is expected that the United States health care spending would reach nearly 20% of GNP within next 10 years, which is unsustainable.

    The above facts are well known amongst the policy makers but are not really known amongst the general population in the

    • Jim

      You have no clue, what do you base your superior service and higher quality? I have been treated while working abroad in several of those countries you quoted and if it wasn’t for my American insurance getting private service over there I would have waited. I have seen those wards and waiting lists so without proof you are spouting nonsense. As for the differences in life expectancies it has nothing to do with quality or cost of care and all to do with personal responsibility. Overweight negligient people will be sicker. Health care is not a right and I am sick of liberals espousing it. There are plenty of nanny states, go live there and leave ours alone. For those of us who do work we are sick of carrying the freeloaders.

    • freddie

      Why don’t you move if they got it so good?

    • B-Man

      You know what NORM, shut the hell up you lazy stinking bum who can’t take care of himself so he needs a buch of scum bastards to now take over and give to who has’nt earned the right to medical coverage the right to use mine. Go get your own, you piece of crap. I am so sick and tired of people thinking they are intitled to everything given to them. Shut the hell up and go find another country that takes from the working people and gives to every lazy punk. We don’t need anymore government intervention. These a-holes are destoying this country and all the great people that laid the foundation that you live under, and now you think we have to give our hard earned money away? ———– you

      • NORM-CT

        B-Man
        First of all I’m a graduate Engineer(retired this year). I have a company medical insurance policy, medicare, and I am in good financial shape. My ass is covered.
        Your stupid assumption that I’m a “lazy stinking bum”, and trying to somehow screw you out of something, is simpleminded and totally BS.
        If you used your pea-sized brain for logical thinking, instead ranting like 2 year old, you would do yourself and everyone else a big favor. The only people destroying this country is you and others like you.

        freddy- Your comment belongs with you – in the second grade.

        U.S. government economists predict that public and private health spending will hit $2.5 trillion this year, taking up a 17.6 percent share of gross domestic product.
        Americans spend more per capita on healthcare than any other country at $7,421 per person, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports. Yet studies suggest Americans get poorer care than people in other industrialized countries that have national healthcare plans.

      • B-Man

        So your all about having the mob run everything? Health Care never should have been touched by these jerks. The Government is not the answer. ot in America not ever. All they do is mess it all up and then we can have the same experience at the doctors that we have at the DMV. Just because your medical is inplace and my medical is in place now all these guys need is one crack in the door and that’ll change. By the way Im also an Engineer Grad.
        I own an HVAC company and thanks to this jerk in office it’s all but gone. The private sector is finished if they get their hands on the kind of money that flows through the medical world. They will do everything but medical with that money and when that’s tapped then what?

      • 13th Gen. American

        Mostly the cost is coming from all the illegals gong into hospitals etc. Who’s going to pay for that? US How many cubans and mexicans and others do you see flocking to these other countries you seem to hold so high? The money they are spending is going to their own people. Not to millions who come here like locus and suck up all our resources. I have MANY countries represented in my family but they all got here legal and work their asses off. Even in their broken english, which they all learned, they are pissed off at those getting what they have without going through the right way.

      • Robin, Arcadia, IN

        People assume a lot through comments that isn’t necessarily true. You are an educated man. This is what blows my mind. There are so many educated people who stand behind our current administration. I do not understand. Norm I am glad to hear that you are covered. But, I don’t think the government getting involved in national health care is a good idea. I don’t agree with most of what is going on in WDC. I hope you understand somewhat where the right is coming from. This is what I don’t understand is how educated people are not seeing what is going on right in front of them. If you can explain this to me, I would be grateful.

      • jeanie

        Just had to throw a fact in here. I am sure it probably won’t matter much to anyone but the truth is that until medicaid became so attainable and medicare available, our health care costs were not unaffordable. Who brought those government ran programs into the picture? The government! What I am saying is that even if it were a good idea to let government run health care, which it certainly is not, it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL! The Constitution is very clear on the lines drawn where infringement on the personal rights of the people are concerned. For years, these fundamental facts and the Constitution have been ignored. It is time that people stop looking at polls and watching the tube when trying to gather information and just simply starting looking around them. Use some common sense. Believe what YOU see and not what anyone else tells you that you see.

      • HopeforAmerica

        *Thank you Norm-CT ! *

    • Kris

      Then move to Japan, Australia, or Europe NORM and see how great their Socialized Health Care system is. Don’t bother coming back when you need a good doctor.

      • NORM-CT

        Robin, Arcadia
        I’ve been a Republican all of my adult life. The neocons have stolen my party. Traditional conservative goals liked balanced budgets, avoidance of war unless absolutely warranted, separation of church and state, honor, responsibility, etc. have all but vanished.
        Obama inherited the largest deficits in US history, an economy headed for depression, 2 wars, and an arrogant country despised by most of the world.
        He is a very intelligent, well educated, articulate man who made it to the presidency despite incredible odds. His dad didn’t make a mega donation to Yale or Harvard.
        In less than 6 months he’s prevented a complete meltdown of the economy and is on his way to fixing a broken, inefficient medical system. Is it expensive? Incredibly. But what are the options?
        My party has none. The cry, lie, scream socialism, and come up with conspiracy’s in the news media, the government, and the courts. If the government is too dumb to fix medicine, how can they be smart enough to conspire. As far as the news media, there is plenty of right wing news. Tune into Fox, Rush, Sean, etc.
        Obama is not a socialist. If fact, most of the wacko far left are mad that he is to centrist.
        If the Republican party continues to pursue the right wing extremist unfounded scare tactics it is doomed.

      • jeanie

        HOW COULD YOU BE ABLE TO READ AND COMPREHEND AND YET SAY THAT OBAMA IS NOT A COMMUNIST? UNLESS YOU THINK HE IS MORE OF A FASCIST? OR A MARXIST? HE IS A HATER OF AMERICA. THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION ARE NOT ARROGANT, BUT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE U.S. CERTAINLY IS. MAY I SUGGEST YOU STOP WASTING YOUR TIME TRYING TO JUSTIFY YOUR UNKIND FEELINGS TOWARDS AMERICAN LIFESTYLES AND INSTEAD START SPENDING MORE TIME READING THE CONSTITUTION AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AS WELL AS THE MANY OTHER FOUNDING DOCUMENTS. I BET YOU ALSO BELIEVE THAT SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION MEANS FREEDOM FROM RELIGION. NO IT DOES NOT. READ THE PREAMBLES FROM ALL 50 STATES. GOD IS IN THERE, SORRY YOU MAY NOT AGREE BUT THAT DOES NOT CHANGE HISTORY. I THINK YOU ARE DEFINITELY WASTING YOUR TIME HERE AS WE ARE INFORMED AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. AS AN ADULT, DO YOU REALLY WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO TELL YOU HOW LONG YOU CAN SHOWER, OR WHAT COLOR VEHICLE YOU MAY DRIVE, OR WHETHER YOUR LIFE OR THE LIFE OF ONE OF YOUR LOVED ONES IS VALUABLE ENOUGH TO WARRANT LIFE SAVING HEALTH CARE? OR DO YOU CHOOSE TO IGNORE OBAMA’S OWN STATEMENTS HE MADE ABOUT RATIONING CARE AND JUST TELL YOURSELF THAT CARE WON’T BE RATIONED? YOU REALLY SHOW A LACK OF SELF STUDY HERE. PLEASE I URGE YOU TO GO BACK AND ACTUALLY READ SOME OF THE LEGISLATION. I HAVE READ IT AND I AM TELLING YOU IT IS COMMUNISM OR WORSE, FASCISM. YOU SHOULD DO SOME FACT CHECKING BEFORE YOU REPEAT THINGS YOU HAVEN’T VERIFIED.

      • Norm

        jeanie
        Let me guess – your a evangelical bible quoting, pastor whipped individual from “Gods Chosen Christian” flock.
        What has Obama said or done that would qualify him to be a communist?
        I see a lot of ranting and raving, but no facts or logic to support it.
        Fachists, incidently, are right wingers, much more akin to Bush and Cheney(and Hitler).
        I have read the constitution and Jefferson, Franklin, Washington ETC. Most were very fearful of a united church and state. It failed in Europe and it would fail here. Our founding fathers were a talented and savy bunch.
        I don’t remember Obama suggesting what color car I should drive or how long I should shower – do you??
        Read on the difference between communism and fachism. The far left and far right actually have some commonality.

      • HopeforAmerica

        Finally, an educated, honest and rational voice! How Refreshing!
        I’m thoroghly enjoying your posts Norm-CT.

  • John

    I think the solution to the problem starts at the bottom.
    1) Make reforms to how people sue and how they currently stand to lose nothing if they do not win a case against health care providers. As it stands I can sue anyone for anything, if I do not win I do not pay.. Everyone has seen the TV Ads. This would correct frivolous lawsuits like a Crackhead suing hospitals because their baby was addicted to Crack when born. It should be like this… If you sue anyone for anything and you lose the case, you have to PAY for the other persons Legal fees and any other fees they incurred because of Loss of pay or any other loss associated with the suit. Ultimately this would reduce medical and hospital costs, ultimately lowering the cost of Insurance. because Doctors & Nurses would not have to pay unreasonably amounts of money in malpractice insurance, so they could lower their prices.

    2) DO NOT allow the government into anything private, The government will never have enough, and will always want more, they say that it will lower the premiums for health care insurance, when we have hundreds of companies doing that already. Insurance will only go UP if they are forced to take on people with existing conditions. They can estimate all they want, but all they have to do is implement it and it will never go back, it will ALWAYS be there, ALWAYS a tax, ALWAYS a burden. They will estimate low, once they get in the door they will realize that it is more expensive and have to raise the rates, it is typical Obamanomics.

    3) ANYONE thinking that this is going to be a free ride, think again, they will have to print more money to pay for it, ultimately increasing inflation because the dollars that are currently printed will be proportionately worth less than before and ultimately the price of everything will go up. Remember that inflation only helps the Government as they can collect more taxes without raising taxes…

    The problem with the US is the idea that we expect something for nothing. Some people get a free ride with grants to get a masters in Political Science and then complain that they only make $12,000 a year. They complain that they should not be fairly taxed, but when asked about why they went into the field they reply with “I do not want to be Rich” ANYONE WHO SAID THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE RICH IS LIEING, I do not care how you feel, but there is no reason why anyone would want to go to School for 6 years and make nothing more than minimum wage. In the end “we the people” end up paying for bone-headded decisions that only drain the morale of the people due to over-taxation of those who want to be successful and actually work for their achievements. . Some want something for nothing and then get disappointed because they do not get a fair shake. They want handouts and free homes & cars, they want to be given everything without ever trying to make something of themselves because they are lazy. I am not talking about those who have no choice due to circumstances beyond their control, but a healthy human that does nothing but sit on his butt wanting top pay when they never lifted a finger in the trenches seems to be always complaining.

    I have to remember that I did not vote for the Obamanation… When he spoke of Change I suspected all I would end up is with Pocket Change.

  • JIM

    lets get serious , we are turning into a socal state. We will someday soon be a 3rd world country without anything much like African nations. The Demo’s in charge are making sure of it. I’am a proud REPUBLICAN and it is killing me to see what Obama is changing this country into. Hopefully soon the American public will figure it out before it is to late. Obama , Pelosi and Reid shoud be tried for treason as the continually broach the Constitution. IN GOD WE TRUST

    • Eva

      Even after living here for more than 20 years, I am still shocked how bad education is in this country. Well, at least, nobody is opposing Obama’s plan to provide better education. Too bad, too much money was lost for going to Irak instead of spending it here (on health and education)

  • Pete Burlington

    What makes these SOCIALIST COMMUNIST pukes obama etc… think that they are capable of running a healthcare plan when they have ruined Medicaid, Medicare and the greatest PONZI scheme ever Social Security?

    Wake up AMERICA before it’s too late. Once you lose your freedom you can never get it back. Thomas Jefferson was correct in saying that a revolution every 25 years would be good for the country I am beginning to think he was correct.

    For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security. For you liberal pukes read your history.

  • Deanna

    I am sick of this administration and Obama. They are dishonest and the working class of people are going to pay for all of this crap the democrats are going to do. People are so blind that they cannot see what he is doing to this country. All the democrats want to do is tax the working people in this country and promote their social agenda. They really think that people should spread the wealth.

    • Patricia Henson

      The problem is that most of the wealth will go to the illegals who have never spent a cent in taxes. They come over heretake our jobs and send the money back to Mexico. They use up our welfare, our medical,housing social security, and everything else the government gives them.I’m all for closing the border completely until we get our problems fixed, even to the ones doing it legally. All we are doing is weakening our country.

    • Eva

      What are you afraid of? I doubt that you are that wealthy in the first place. If there was any type of sharing, I am sure you would get more under the current administration than the previous one. Don’t forget, we are where we are because we had a President (Bush) who lied to us (and not only once). You can’t possibly think that President Obama was able to create this mess in 6 months when we had a President for 8 years with the highest unemployment rate we have seen since the last depression (the one before this one, even though Bush never admitted it).

      • minnie

        Actually u r totally wrong, the difference is I would rather pay for an item than have u or the government GIVE it to me. I still remember when I was getting my NET pay every 2 weeks 125.00 but by then they had already deducted for my health insurance and life insurance with 3 children to support then had a part time job that would give me 75.00 each week. But health insurance came first, that is why I cannot understand why u say under the dictator obama I would get more. You should learn to fish so u do not have to beg for the fish. You should care what people think about you. Don’t go thru life pretending to be a VICTIM. I MAY NOT HAVE ALOT OF MONEY BUT I PAY MY OWN WAY. Sometimes people go thru that, they go thru generations never caring to breaking the cycle. ALL the liberals sound the same, they should change their name to either DAME DAME or GIVE ME GIVE ME.

  • http://donthaveone Mark

    These left wing liberal pacifist appeasers wont be happy until they screw up the best health care system in the world. I am 51 and have never been in want or need of receiving the health care I need, neither has any of my family of 6, or my friends that I know and have run around with since childhood. I guess maybe thats because we ALL WORK FOR A LIVING. Pretty soon, Ill get to the age where Im having a heart issue, and Ill go to the doctor, and its free now because we have national health care, and they will put me on the list and say come back in three weeks when its my turn, then Ill go home and have a heart attack and die. Thats now this national heath care system works people. No thanks. If I need a professional doctor, Ill pay to see one, thank you very much. If you cant afford one, but down the nintendo controllers or the remote, drop the bag of doritos and put down your cigarette and beer, and take a shower and go apply for a job, you lazy bum. Democrats want to take my hard earned money and give it to shady characters like I just mentioned. That is the problem I have with them, well, along with the thing where they want to sit down and talk turkey with those that want to kill us. I got a problem with that too. I got a problem with our president not being a citizen of this country, and him being a muslim also. I got a problem with Biden and Pelosi not being able to tell the truth, or to be smart enough to tell the difference between the truth and a lie. Wheres Ted Kennedy when I need him, I need a drink. But give me the keys Ted, Im driving.

    • HopeforAmerica

      You are terribly ignorant. Most people work for a living and the rising costs of health care makes it unaffordable. Those you don’t work are a small percentage in comparison to the rest of us!

  • Scorpion

    Government Health Care -

    Obama took over the auto industry, my local Dodge dealer was cancelled, my Dodge lost the transmission, found a dealer to do the warranty work, car is in a dealership in a neighboring state, Dodge backordered parts, been there going on five weeks!

    Local transmission shop said they could fix it in 3-5 days complete!

    Government Healthcare – Another Royal Cockup!

    • http://donthaveone Mark

      But I saw all those commercials during the election where those people were jumping up and down, and saying that Barrack was going to pay their mortgage, and they wouldnt have to buy gas anymore because Barrack was going to take care of it. He wont pay for your car repair. Man, your gettin hosed.

    • http://donthaveone Mark

      Probably because when they were putting it together, one of the parts bins got empty, and rather than stopping the line and getting the parts, the guy sat there and said “its not my job to fill the parts bin”, so they let the damn things be built missing parts and they break. Thank you local UAW for your quality built Dodge. My Honda is going on 300,000 miles, and its tranny is humming along just fine.

    • B-Man

      Brother Scorpion, You and alot of other people agree that this is a very bad deal and we need to pound our congressmen, our senators, letters everyday to the white house and absolutely refuse to cooperate with this and all of his plans. Palosi and Reed and the anointed one need to get the message. We need to deliver THE message that we are done and that they have come waaaaayyy too far over the line. This I’m sure was not what all these people thought they were getting and just like the men and women back in the 1700′s we need to take our stand today. I never thought I would live to see America under attack but here we really and truely are with our backs to the wall. It’s time to step up and prove that our way of life adds more value to the majority of people than their system. We have to prove this to the masses. Failure is not an option for America and for the world. We have been tough but we have been far more great a contributor to personal freedom around the world, with care programs, putting our men and women on the lines for other countries and supporting them afterwards, donating money and rebuilding, and on and on. Be proud if your conservative and teach people why our system adds mor value than theirs.

      • http://yahoo sheila

        I certanly agree, If we don’t take a stand! Obama won’t be happy until our country is destroyed, ruined, I sincerely believe that is what he wants. We are in warfare right here at home in America and if we don’t choose to fight, it will be too late! We have got to write letters to our senators or whoever will listen but. we can’t just lay down and do nothing. The next thing will be that our constitution will be changed to what Obama wants it to say. Our founding fathers wrote the constitution and we have lived with it all of our lives. It was God inspired,it’s our foundation! He won’t stop until he rules everything, our religion, our wages, our health care needs,when will this stop? He appologized to the muslims in another country for beleiving that they are terrorists,did we have a say in this?

      • Jo Ann

        I have never seen so many robots in my life. Health Care needs reforming and fast. Do any of you think for yourselves? Please let’s be respectful and address President Obama as President Obama instead of Obama. Whether you like it or not he won the election get over it. Now do you thing President Obama wanted to come into the office with the mess that was on the plate waiting for him. You don’t even have to decency to back him while he attempts to fix the mess. Yes there should be a government backed option in health care reform after all the ones complaining the most has the best the government has to offer plus getting paid by health care lobbyist to fight against it. Do any of you watch the news? Our puppet Republicans are quoting word for word from a memo sent to all of them by a gentle with the last name of Lutz on how to beat health care reform. None of them forming an intelligent thought. Don’t be stupid why would President Obama want to destory his house, because if he destorys the country is it not where he lives? Where were all you of you the last 6 years when Ex President Bush ran the economic in the ground, lied to go to war; hid the cost of said war; turn most of our allies against us. Now if that is not destoring a country I don’t know what is. Why don’t we shutup with the racist rethoric because all of us know that your talk is stemming behind President Obama being black and research out things before you open your mouth and make yourselves look like a**.

      • Marilyn

        JOANN, YOU are an IDIOT! I am not a racist. I did not vote for OBAMA (I give him the same respect you gave President Bush) because I saw thru his lies and propaganda.I KNEW he would flip flop on the issues, his on the job training is not going so well. I knew he would take this country down the socialist road, that’s exactly what he is doing. How dare you presume to know why I did or did not vote for someone? I do not trust the man, I do not trust his love of this country. Now if Collin Powell had run for president, I would have voted for him in a heartbeat. I don’t care that he is black. If you want to get technical Obama isn’t black he is biracial, half WHITE and half black. So your argument that we didn’t vote for him because he is black falls flat, just like your other arguments. Get a life and open your eyes instead of following him just like the little lost sheep that got him elected. I think for myself, I vote my consience and I’m glad I did because it’s proving to be the right decision…again!

      • Smilee

        So did Collin Powell vote his conscience and he voted for Obama because he believed he was the best man for the Job and many other big wig republicans did too and I’ll bet a lot of them did that would not admit it

      • Patricia Henson

        You are correct. I write to all of my representatives daily. I send them E-mails and call too.Join your local teaparties as they really are making some headway. They can also give you ideas on what else you can do.

      • Lee

        I have been reading all the posts. I am a Disabled Desert Storm Veteran, so I look at this from a different angle. First off, The downfall began when the Supreme Court threw away the Constitution and “Appointed” Bush/Chaney in to office, Then they quietly planned how to attack saddam,While doing this, they gaveaway the surplus to corporate contributors as tax cuts, and while companies were celebrating and spending like they won the lottery, then 9/11 happened, bingo, they got their reason, Even thought It was Bin Laden and Al-quida that did it. But that did not matter to Bush. So we went after Bin Laden, Al-Quida, and along with the Taliban, However, Bush Let them go free, He allowed them to regroup, He abandoned our troops, and the afghan people, to go after Saddam which he did without allies support and on tampered Intelligence, in violation of the International War Crimes Act, which lays out rules of pre-emptive strikes on other Soverign nations, Basically it is a crime to attack another country unless they are an immediate threat. Iraq wasn’t a threat, and Bush did not have any evidence to warrent his attacks.
        As a solider, I and many of my friends were in shock that our president would abandon his mission. I served under Bush Sr., and why do you think that we didn’t follow Saddam back to bagdad? Because Bush Sr, and our military knew what would happen if we did. Too bad Bush Jr, didn’t learn anything from his dad, 4600 lives might have been saved. The military is a brother and sisterhood, and we look at the situations differently than regular people.

        So lets address Health Care, The solution is simple, Congress needs to re-establish the Regulatory Commission, to oversee the Health Industry, placing a maximum on the fees they could charge, by doing this, it would make Health Insurance affordable for all people. The fact remains that former president Bush also Deregulated Corporate America, which allowed them to do as they please, to charge whatever they want, knowing that there were no Checks and balance systems that could regin them in. so the Drug companies and Credit Card Companies followed their lead, raising their prices so high many people had to chose between their mortgage or medicines, Then they would have to chose between paying their Credit Cards bills or mortgage, medicines, etc, all because the Intrest rates being charged are out of line, 21% to 30%, Ridiculous.
        Fact remains that until we re-establish a system of checks and balances which worked great until Bush took office and it was discontinued to allow ‘freedom” this very “freedom” from government has put health insurance, and medicines out of the reach of the people.

        Time has come to stop all the bickering, and fighting, and if the Republicans are really serious about fixing our problems, then they need to work together instead of Purposely Obstructioning, and spending their time plotting on how to get President Obama to fail. And even Praying for him to fail, That is not very Christian.

        You can say whatever you want about me, but when I raised my hand and swore to protect and defend the United States and the Constitution against both foreign and Domestic enemies. and even though I am not active, I still hold that oath close to my heart.

        In closing, It’s the Industries that needs reform. We don’t want government run health care, We want Congress to go back to regulating industries, providing a system of checks and Balances. We want Congress tyo stop fighting like 8 year olds on the school yard. It’s time to be adults, to stop calling people names, to stop insulting people, It’s time to show Respect even though we may not agree with everything that is said, Without respect you have nothing, only thing we have in this world that is ours is our name, our word.

        We can rehash the last 8 years, but what we do know is that many Laws were violated, many lives were lost and changed forever,(I personally lost 4 good friends in Iraq) and in their e-mails I could hear their cries that this is wrong, and we shouldn’t be here, We failed, We did not complete our original mission, of capturing bin laden and al-quida, and permantely disbanding the Taliban, So yes, I do have a different insight, and information, That while all this was going down Ex-President Bush let N. Korea and Iran build up their nuclear programs, especially N.Korea who has a mentally Ill dictator.

        So I will end here and ask that many of you think about how we treat one another, how we respond to one another. And that Time has come to stop Partisan Fighting, for the betterment of our Country. We are the Strongest Country in the World, and we have proved that we don’t always have to saber rattle. It’s time to start rebuilding. just to be brief, I am a Katrina Survivor, I watched as my city was sunk, and the federal government provided levees failed. so I want to Thank those of you who helped by sending money, clothes, and maybe even your time helping.. I ask you to just think about what I’ve posted, and I know some will disagree with me, and that’s ok, that’s America.

      • Smilee

        Lee I salute you and thank you for your service and thoughtful ideas you espouse here

    • HopeforAmerica

      Actually, Bush orchestrated an agreement with the Auto makers that is they were to receive Fed $$, they would have to come up with a viable plan. Obama worked with the Auto makers to give them every opportunity to turn their business around. If you recall, many people were begging the administration to bail out GM and Chrysler in order to avoid job losses and the indirect job losses associated with the companys’ suppliers and all the other businesses which thrive within the companys’ surrounding communities.

  • S G VOIGT

    Gov. might not be the answer, but Health Care Insurance Companies are ripping off the American people. Stock owned companies not the answer to health care for americans. Maybe, a contractor, hired by the government and monitored closley. The US should not be at the bottom of the list of countries with health care for their citizens.

    • Paul Rose

      Dear Mr. Voigt:

      You are partially right but about 85% wrong! What makes you think the Government is not already doing what you are proposing??

      Are you aware of Medicare? of Medical? of County Hospitals? of V.A Hospitals? of other programs sponsored by the Government and funded by your taxes??

      If not, you need to take your head out of the proverbial “Government sandpile” and wake up!!!! You should investigate and find out what impact these present programs have upon a)private healthcare doctors, b)access to the best medical care facilities, c)competitive health insurance marketing, and c)your taxes!!

      Socializing medicine and medical insurance is just another steep slide into larger government control of our lives and liberty, including loss of being able to develop better medical care and research.

      WAKE UP!!!!! Do you really think that everyone should be going to County Hospitals and to doctors that arte simply assigned to you?? If so, you are free to go to China, Canada and any other socialized medicine country. Believe me, you waouldn’t like it!!!

      Paul R.

      • Bob

        I lived under the Canadian system for 2 years while working in Canada as a landed immigrant. More precisely, it was in Alberta, the best of the Canadian insurances (they are administered by each province). I had serious surgery while there and hand to out of pocket expenses. My family paid Blue Cross a small monthly payment to suppliment the national insurance, and that covered everything. I just talked to a resident of Saskachiwan, who also said that she is very content with her insurance in that province. I think most of the horror stories in Canada are coming out the eastern provinces.

      • Smilee

        Most of them are coming out of the far right conservative fiction mill in this country, you know those who are experts at telling lies like the congressman for SC you know “you lie” when he knew what he said was a lie.

      • Eva

        Are you aware that many US citizens are already going overseas to get the medical attention (or surgeries) they need because they cannot afford it in this country? VA is only for veterans, Medicare only for the elderly. We need a new healthcare plan to PREVENT disaster and nobody will force you to go with the government sponsored plan. You can continue paying to the insurance and drug companies, so that they continue to get richer without making peoples healthier.

      • Smilee

        Many are also going to Canada but the press does not cover this except some of the local papers, Just one example and she wrote to the editor herself on this one and she lived in International Falls MN (a stones throw from Canada) she was pregnant and had no insurance and the birth had to be by C-section so she went to Canada for prenatal and C-section birth and it cost her $10,000.00 less than in International falls and she was happy with the care, there have been other stories by Iv’e not seen them in any of the Networks or big newspapers though but here in MN it is a common thing.

    • Brent Swick

      I work for a company that provides health care and my experience with the government bureaucrats who run these programs makes me cringe at the thought that they could be running our healthcare system. Our previous company President was from Canada and he hated their system. Before you think the government is the appropriate solution to the health care issue, you should talk to those in the health care industry and I think you’ll find most of us want the government to have as little to do with our health care as possible. Only the government can screw something up so bad and then make people believe that more government control is the answer to the problem. You DO NOT want the government to be in control of the healthcare system.

      • Smilee

        I’ve talked to many in the health care business and they all tell me the exact opposite of what you tell me and I myself before I retired worked a lot with the insurance industry and the problems we had were with the insurance companies. I’m now on Medicare and have none of these problems

    • http://donthaveone Mark

      I think you are mistaking us for someone else. You see, the United States of America has the best health care in the world. If they didnt, do you really think, I mean do you really think for one minute, that quite a few of these people from these national health care countries, come here to get different surgeries quite often. Now why do you think that is so? And they are all not rich people either, quite a few common joes amongst them? Its because they dont care to have to wait 3 to 4 months to be seen, because they might be dead or crippled by then. And did you know it is also rationed, so like when your parents get elderly, they dont get their hearing aids if they need them, or a walker, because they are deemed on their way out and are eliminated from consideration. No thanks, Ive fared just fine for 51 years with what we have here, and I would like to keep it, thank you very much. No one can compete with us, not even close. Ours is much better and it blows away the competition. If you dont agree, then I suggest you move out of the country so you can sign the list and wait to see your doctor.

      • 13th Gen. American

        Oh I know. People from all over the world come HERE for the best Doctors and hospitals yet that douche bag Mike More made money on a bull lie to say how Cuba has it so nice. CUBA? Isnt that the country where people are tying themselves to duckie floaties and inner tubes swimming and pilling themselves in boats like sardines to get here? Miami and new york are full of cubans for why? Better shopping malls? I bet he has the best coverage of us all here. People who do not have health care can get temporary coverage for emergencies. Also the doctors and hospitals have to charge toy 15 bucks for a asprin to cover all the illegals who go to the emergency room. But now they will all be legal and get the same healthcare as you and those people who worked long and hard will be sitting in line with those who havnt.

      • Eva

        You obviously never lived in Europe. I was born in Germany and lived there for 18 years before moving to France where I lived (and worked) for 12 years. I have always been able to see any Dr. I needed without paying anything (and with a simple appointment). Of course, French peoples could also teach you how to live and eat well. May be you would not be that angry, if you enjoyed healthy food and took daily walks. If healthcare is so great in the US, how come everyone is sick and the drug companies are getting richer by the day?

      • http://donthaveone Mark

        You can keep your dirty smelly French girls and the pacifist nations of France and Germany. If I were the US, after they refused to stand by us when we were attacked, I would have closed all our bases there and removed all our investments and watched them fall. France is rapidly being overun by the muslims, and soon they will cry like the little girls they are for us to come save them. If the French and the Germans eat so healthy, why are they so smelly? You are wrong, give me a T-bone steak, mashed potatoes and gravy with a side of corn anyday of the week. Im not angry, you are. I back my country, while you turn on it you geek. By the way, talking of health, Im a bastion of health you little twit. Im 51, and 6′ tall, 190 lbs with no fat on me. Ive never been on a diet, I eat meat and potatoes, drink whole milk, use real sugar and all the natural things. You eat your french sissy food, and Ill see youll be dead way before me. Everyone in my family lives to 90 plus. Thats a full life. Meat and potatoes will get you there.

      • Smilee

        Judging from these stupid statements you sound like a real jerk to me

      • Smilee

        Somebody’s filling you full of it Mark

    • freddie

      I work in health care at a large hospital and you would not belive the govermental Red tape now. I parrish the thought of what will be required if lord GOD oboma gets his MISGUIDED hands on the short hairs of Health Care Insurance Co.

      • Patricia Henson

        I agree. It will be a mess. Payments will be delayed if paid at all, there will be wall to wall patients and mistakes will be made. I know healthcare in America isn’t perfect but I think it’s the best thst any country has. I sure don’t want to be told what test I can have or what medicine that they will pay for. I think alot of people will die as I feel the older people will be judged by who they claim are viable, the real reason though is most older Americans are Christians and Obama sure don’t need any of those people around since he fancies himself the Messiah.

      • Smilee

        Medicare pays within 10 days, none of what you fear will occur, It is not true of Medicare and that has been in place for over forty years. By law Medicare can not get between you and your doctor so
        the government has no say so in your medicine, what tests you get, have nothing to say about end of life issues, I am a christian and your take on Obama is just your fantasy and looks like an expression of hate to me. WE are ranked 37th out of about 190 countries in quality of care and the highest costs for medical care weather it is paid for by taxes, premiums or a combination of the two. Canad, Uk and all the European countries are ranked higher with France ranked number one.

        I agree. It will be a mess. Payments will be delayed if paid at all, there will be wall to wall patients and mistakes will be made. I know healthcare in America isn’t perfect but I think it’s the best thst any country has. I sure don’t want to be told what test I can have or what medicine that they will pay for. I think alot of people will die as I feel the older people will be judged by who they claim are viable, the real reason though is most older Americans are Christians and Obama sure don’t need any of those people around since he fancies himself the Messiah.

      • Smilee

        If you really do work in the hospital, then you must also work with the private insurance companies and know they have a lot more paperwork and cause a lot more problems than the federal plans, each state handles medicaid now so I suppose there are 50 different ways and not familiar with all them, You sure you are not just BS ing us

      • Smilee

        Oh by the way Medicare pays within 10 days

    • Dan

      This is how Medicare is operated. The Government contracts with BC to operate it. Most people are satisfied.

      • freddie l barnett

        No they are not satisfied they are Complacent. They don’t care no skin in the game or nothing to lose etc…

      • Smilee

        BULLSHIT, we paid into for years before we used it and now when we use it we pay a $96.40 premium each month plus at out option a supplement plan and we pay that premium for that as well as well and in addition to that a Part D premium, costs a little over $300.00 month, No skin in the game Bullshit and you are full of it

    • Jenny

      Why can we not have health insurance like life insurance ie…risk based…you get a physical once a year and your insurance is determined this way. Yes it would be more expensive if you are too heavy, or have a chronic illness…but it would still be reasonable to pay for…or you could opt to get insurance for catstrophic illness only such as cancer or a car wreck..and pay for the strep throat stuff out of your pocket…why can’t we do it this way? This is how all other insurance is done.

      • freddie l barnett

        It is called freedom to make up my own mind and so can you if you choose. So please choose to choose.

      • Jenny

        Yes…I think that was what I was saying in my comment..I was just wondering if there was a flaw in my idea about a risk based way of doing health insurance, like life insurance… with private companies…this seems to be the most “free” way of going about it…one is free to be fat, skinny, fit, unfit, a smoker, a drinker etc…but you will pay for your habits with your higher insurance premiums…it’s called natural consequences…naturally…you can choose to have no insurance and simply make payments to the hospital etc…

    • jeanie

      Where do you find that America is at the bottom of the list on health care? WE are not at the bottom but at the top. That is why others come to our country for treatment. We do have problems with the delivery and the costs but government is not even looking at those issues. If they truly wanted to fix the costs of health care and make insurance affordable for all, they would abolish insurance mandates on the people and employers. By putting these mandates in place, they have managed to decrease the quality of care, increase the cost of premiums, increase the costs of care, and totally disrupt the free market which had previously helped to put America at the top of the chart for quality health care. Their mandates have the market upside down. Instead of people being able to choose their insurance company and shop for the best service, it is the insurance companies that are doing the choosing of who they will insure. Why? Because our government determined that all should have health insurance and started these mandates. There are approximately only 6 million people that do not have health insurance so why should we allow the government to disrupt what we have in place for millions and millions of Americans for a few 6 million. I am sure there is a better solution than to take over the health care decisions of the American people. One more note that is overlooked—why does the federal government pretend to care about the dangers of smoking? If they really were concerned about the negative effects of smoking, they would demand that the tobacco companies take out the chemicals that cause your body you crave another cigarette every fifteen minutes. Those same chemicals that are causing so many illnesses and diseases. The federal government will never do that because they enjoy an unbelievable tax base from smokers!

      • Smilee

        WE are ranked no 37 out of 190 or so countries and our per person medical costs are the highest in the world by almost double. For your information US citizens go to a lot of other countries for medical care and surgery, one insurance company will pay if you go to India and the cost is about 40% of ours and that includes plane fare and hotels etc which the insurance company pays as well including a family member. Your whole post is full of half truths and misinformation which tell me you know little about this issue.

  • Judy

    BEWARE THE ” GOVERNMENT” IS ON A FAST TRAIN TO COMMUNISM, WITH OBAMA AS IT’S CZAR. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP, SINCE OBAMA HAS BECOME PRESIDENT ” DICTATOR”, GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN OVER BANKS, AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY, APPOINTED CZAR’S TO TO DICTATE SALARY’S, ” THE NEXT WILL BE YOURS. NOW THEY WANT TO TAKE OVER HEALTH CARE, AND DICTATE WHO WILL GET LIFE SAVING HELP AND WHO WILL NOT. THEY WILL DRIVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR OUT AND ONCE AGAIN WILL TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL OF YET ANOTHER PRIVATE SECTOR.
    MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, AND THE POST HAVE GONE BROKE UNDER THEIR WATCH, NOW THEY WANT TO CONTROL HEALTH CARE. WAKE UP AMERICA BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

    • talkiebarb

      Judy it is to early to drink that much. Please put the bottle away!

      • Judy

        IF YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY, THEN YOU ARE STUPID. WANT TO KNOW WHRE THE MONEY FOR BAIL OUTS ARE GOING? GO TO THIS WEBSITE AND WATCH THE MEETING THEN WRITE BACK. GOVERNMENT HAS NO CLUE WHERE ALL THIS BAIL OUT MONEY IS GOING. http://dailybail.com/home/there-are-no-words-to-describe-the-following-part-ii.html

      • Judy

        GOVERNMENT CANNOT COMPETE WITH AND REGULATE AT THE SAME TIME. IT WILL DRIVE OUT PRIVATE INSURANCE. HAVE YOU SEEN THE CHART THAT GOVERNMENT PUT OUT YESTERDAY? IT IS A JOKE. WHEN PRIVATE COMPANY’S ARE FORCED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY EVERY WORKERS HEALTH INS. THEY WILL EITHER CLOSE THEIR DOORS OR AS THEY ARE SAYING RIGHT NOW. IF OBAMA DOES THIS THEY WILL CUT BACK WORK FORCE DRASTICLY. THERE GOES THE JOBS. UNEMPLOYMENT IS GROWING DAILY. THIS IS NO LONGER BUSH’S ECONOMY, IT BELONGS TO OBAMA, IT IS STUPID TO KEEP BLAMING WHAT IS HAPPENING ON HIM. THIS SHOLD NOT BE FORCED DOWN OUR THROATS, THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING OVER OUR VERY LIVES AND IT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED.

      • Smilee

        Another far right propaganda site to lead people like you astray and in your case it apparently worked. Propaganda = lies

      • Dennis

        Lies or truth. you’re right…lies are propaganda. Take a good look at whick side you’re on…the lier or the receiver of lies.

      • http://donthaveone Mark

        I dont know about that. The more I hear about what these pacifist appeasers are doing, and how they keep going in the corner to wet their pants in front of the terrorist nations, I think the drinking lamp is getting lit earlier and earlier all the time. I do hope nobody ever tries to take Obama out though, no matter what he does, because there sits Joe Biden. OMG, It could get worse. OMG, then there is Nancy Pelosi after that. We are in a world of hurt. Please God, make 2012 get here quick.

      • Patricia Henson

        I only hope people are scared enough by this administration that we vote in totally new people and get rid of all the idiots in office. It’s time they learn that the people ARE the government.

      • Smilee

        The people did, that’s why we voted this bunch in

      • minnie

        You r right now there is so many buyers remorse. So I am sure they will do the right thing in 2012.

      • B-Man

        You know what Judy, all these people like talkiebarb and all the other complete ignoramases ( is that a word? – it should be) that are proof positive every day that when they even open their mouths they don’t have the mustard to make it on their own. They’er little babies that need someone to take care of them and there’s enough stupid ass politicians that will vote themselves a pay increase by shoving liberal policies down our throats so we can all pay their way. We true Americans will go out with a plan, educate ourselves and work extra hours and come in early and get the promotions and eventually start our own companies and actually take part in the free economic system that made America great. We work 80 to 100 hrs a week and hire people and take all the risk to be free. But no, these lazy peices of crap sit infront of the TV an average of 40 plus hrs a week and fill their heads everyday with the sick rotten actors and actresses that live in fairy land. You know the ending to a movie where they ride off into the sunset happily ever after? Has any one ever seen them the next day when their fantasy is over and they have to now live real life? Just stand in a grocery line. Garbage in Garbage out. What a life. the most powerful influence in our lives is association. Hello? Concider the source, what do you expect from these people. “Oh take care of me”. There are other islands that they could take all those poeple and start their own rat hole. Lets give them a ticket– one way.

      • Robin, Arcadia, IN

        Are you sure you are on the website you wanted to be on? Talkie Barb, if you can’t see what is happening, you simply aren’t looking. Judy is among those who see it clearly. Obviously you are not one of those people!

    • http://yahoo sheila

      Obama thinks that he is God, he doesn’t even have to ask permission, because the rest of our goverment are asleep! Obama is using his power as president to fire CEO’s or to press others to do his will, the last time I checked this is called extortion!!! Everyone that he appoints to run the treasury and other jobs, don’t even pay their taxes! If we didn’t pay 100.00 we would be sitting in jail and they owe thousands or millions, they are the ones keeping up with his frivalous spending. Where do you think the money is going to come from to pay all this back, two guesses the american people! America needs to repent that they even voted for someone that was never even heard of until he appeared on the Oprah show. We need to get our country back to where it was founded on God!!!!!!

      • RUTH

        you are so right; he does think he is GOD; lord help us all, law abiding
        people. where is this going to stop?

      • Patricia Henson

        Amen to that! That was when the trouble began in this country. We took prayer out of school, the 10 commandments out of public buildings, and even nativity scenes off the public square. We all know that when the Israelites turned their backs on God, God turned his back on them and scattered them all over the world. We as a nation need to turn bck to God. I’d like to see some of the biggest revivals this country has ever seen. I,m tired of Jesus Christ being a dirty word while the name of Allah brings cheers..

      • PAT

        YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!!!

    • Lora

      I believe it should be MANDATORY THAT ALL POLITICIANS need to
      purchase the same coverage as they are throwing down our throats.
      The Prez. seems to be on television daily and this reminds me of a dictatorship.
      We are slowly but surely having all our freedom taken away and our children
      our being infiltrated with filth via TV; Computer; movies, etc. etc.
      Let’s get this nation on track and put “GOD” back in to our constitution.

    • RUTH

      I WILL AMEN THIS, SO TRUE

    • HopeforAmerica

      Not true Judy! The economy tanked starting Dec.2007, hence the bailouts were started by Bush. Moreover, the deficit was also started by Bush of which he hid from us. And finally, in response to another outlandish and ridiculous statement is that Medicare and social security has been in trouble for years and Bush and the Repubs Refused to do anything about it.
      Obama was handed a multi-faceted Catalysmic Mess! And it was probably Worse than Bush let on it was.
      And your ignorance is showing! Anybody who knows Economics 101 understands that Bush and Obama had to bail out the Freaking banks! No one wanted to, but we had to. The banks are heart of the economy, and too many were in trouble to allow them to fail. And be assured, Nobody regardless of political affiliation, wanted to bail out the same greedy crooks who helped push our country into disaster.

      • Patricia Henson

        Bush might have been in office but the demacrats ran the house. Obama has made the deficit 3 times worse in 6 months than Bush did in 8 years. Don’t you people get tired off pointing fingers? Obama is purposely trying to sink this country and he’s not even trying to hide it anymore. I really beleive he thinks he’s the Messiah. He scares me and I know I’m doing everything I can to stop him and his minions.

      • Smilee

        Takes both houses to pass a bill and as the senate had only a majority of democrats by one vote they were unable to block the filibuster and the republicans used it a record number of times for that two year period the effect was nothing the democrats wanted passed got passed to in effect the entire eight years of the bush era was under republican control so you are wrong agian

      • http://www.DonCanter.net Don

        Hopefor America,

        You are the one who needs to get his facts straight. This whole mess was started when ha pushed for everyone to own a home. Barner Frank, Chris Dodd and Harry Reid fell in line and along with the two crooks who were running Fannie and Freddie who were Clinton appointees put this country in a horrible position credit wise. I am a REALTOR and have seen properties that were financed at 120% of value. I have sold many at bargain prices since all of the foreclosures began and there are many yet to come. Obama doesn’t understand or just doesn’t care since he was getting loads of money from Fannie and Freddie. He is leading us straight to hell by being a limp-wristed leader woh is known as President Pantywaist abroad. Bowing to a King., bah.

      • Eva

        Thank you. Anyone with education would know that you are right. We will not give up hope for America.

      • Smilee

        That is the problem Hope few on here have the foggiest idea how the economy works and what is worse they think they do and that’s what accounts for all the dumb statements they make

    • http://www.DonCanter.net Don

      Judy,

      You are 100% on target. Keep telling it like it is until the liberals awake or get out of their stupor.

      Don

    • Judy

      HAVE YOU SEEN THIS ONE? I SAW IT ON ANOTHER LIST, SAD BUT TRUE.
      Obama’s plan:
      Energy cap & tax – check
      Raise utitlity rates – check
      Pay for corporate bailouts – check
      Own and regulate Auto industry – check
      Own and regulate Financial industry – check
      Own and regulate Healthcare industry – check
      Give unions more power & money – check
      Grant millions to ACORN – check
      Grow executive power with 32+ czars – check

    • Eva

      Being from Western Europe (you should go sometimes to check out how peoples really live!), I am always amazed how “Republican” Americans don’t understand the difference between communism and socialism (which of course you have plenty of in the US, i.e. social services etc.) I am glad that most Americans have learnt that putting fear into peoples doesn’t work anymore (“they” want to take “complete control of the private sector?) If you do want to fear anybody, check out North Korea (Bush was too busy with other things while they were building nuclear weapons!). I am happy to see that the US is finally getting educated and although I have been here for over 20 years, this is the first time I feel compelled to become a US citizen. Also, do you really believe that Medicare and social services have gone broke under “their” watch? How do you expect anyone to fix social security after 8 years of Bush? (certainly not in 8 months!)

      • Smilee

        BRAVO!!

  • Connie

    Our state tried this approach with workers comp ins a few years back! Needless to say, all it managed to do was run other ins co. that provided this service out of the state. Then once the state wwc ins was all that was left, they raised rates and cut benefits to the injured worker! And as of this date, they are still cutting benefits to workers! Anyone wants to see how a government healthcare system would work, look at those countries that have it! Ask those people in Canada or England how its working for them? I know of a person in England that broke a hip and waited 6 months for surgery! Because of having to wait for so long, the person now walks with a limp!

    • http://donthaveone Mark

      I met a guy fishing up there, whose dad had heart trouble, went in, they told him to sign the list and come back in 3 weeks, and he died before he could get back in. If its free, there is a list to sign and you wait your turn. Do you know how many people we will have in lines here to get free drugs to go out and sell them on the street. I dont want my wife with asthma to have to die of an asthma attack while waiting for an emergency breathing treatment that ususally 2 or 3 times a year will pop up and we have have to run into the emergency room. What my insurance doesnt pay I do. Im fine with that. We have the best health care in the country, and we dont need these clowns screwing it up, because they havent a clue of what they are doing with anything. Its like going out drinking and giving Ted Kennedy the keys to drive us all home. Holy cow man, we dont want to go there, and we sure as hell dont want to go here, to national health care. I say no.

      • Smilee

        Can the BS and try telling the truth for a change

    • Patricia Henson

      You are absolutely right. In fact the government of Canada and England is warning the US not to do it. That’s why so many people from out of the country come here to get treatment, but that only works if you are rich enough to afford it. Not many of us are.

      • Eva

        You are right, Canada probably doesn’t want the US to get a government sponsored healthcare plan. That would get into the way of THEIR profit, since many US citizens are buying medicine from Canada for less than what they would pay if bought in the USA!

      • Patricia Henson

        Eva reply, That under your theory may be true but how or why would England and every other country that has government controlled healthcare be saying the same thing? I as an American citizen Don’t want to pay for healthcare for illegal aliens who have never paid a penny into the system. I don’t want to have to pay for abortions both here and overseas, not to mention sex- change operations that this bill would cover. Obamas healthcare bill will pay for expanded coverage for the young and healthy and throw our senior citizens under the bus by denying treatment and medications to older and sicker Americans who have paid into the system all of their lives. The chronically ill, and physically and mentally disabled will have rationed healthcare in hopes that they will die before receiving their treatments. Do me a favor and read what’s in the bill and then make your own decision. I’m sure you will find it as frightening and as appalling as I did. Thanks, Patricia Henson.

      • DixieConnie

        Eva, please before you decide, please read the bill HR 3200. Do you want to pay for illegals, do you want your personal bank account taped into, do you want to pay 45% of your money to the Gov?

        Please look at the bill. Don’t just listen to the Democrates or Liberals.

      • Smilee

        I read it and HR3200 does not say any of that unless you read it on some of the far right propaganda sites and I read them there as well and guess what they had been rewritten to say that and that is why they are propaganda sites Propaganda = lies

      • Smilee

        More lies, no country is telling us this, this BS comes from the far right conservative propaganda mill. Propaganda = lies

    • Eva

      I am wondering, if the person you “know” in England is actually English …

  • s c

    Once again, America must learn the hard way that government is not to be trusted. This shell game is all about power and control. If America had consistent standards, elected officials would have access to the same cess pool that will be created in
    the name of “reform.”
    What will it take for Americans to admit that low standards always produce substandard results? When the controller (the government) is allowed to police itself, there is no reason for anything to change. Our elected swine know Americans have no practical way to hold them accountable. Forget constructive health reform.This is a continuation of a generational textbook swindle. The return on this investment is utterly predictable. P T Barnum never had it so good.

  • Chris

    I have a very strong abhorance to the government getting involved in healthcare. I have yet to see anything the government does well with what it already controls and further involvement into additional areas means deterioration of what we already have, all in the name of improving existing structures. To say it would provide competition among existing insurers is very true, who can compete with taxpayer subsidized business no matter how inept it is run. Certainly Congress will not have to subscribe to the plan as they have their own elite healthcare package.

    • http://donthaveone Mark

      And to further agree with your statement about the government not doing well with the things it controls, look at the beautiful job they have done with the school system. Our property taxes keep going up and up, and they keep setting records for spending on the educational system, but dumping money into it isnt the solution, just like the money they are dumping into the banking system and the auto makers. The solution is running things correctly. The banks have not been run correctly for so long, full of greed and millions of dollars of bonuses, finally brought down by the democrats through Bill Clinton setting up and running Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, with old Franklin Raines and Jamie Gorelick paying themselves and their demo friends millions upon millions of dollars, while having the banks lend money to people with no way in hell to pay it back. Bill Clinton called it letting people live the American Dream. The American Dream came with a price Bill, you perverted idiot, its called hard work and applying yourself, not the government giving you a handout you cant payback. The auto makers got fat and did three things wrong. One, they did many, many bad contracts with the unions, and mortgaged their future giving all the stuff they did in the retirement packages. Now they cant pay it, and I think they should be shut down and sold off and give these guys their money. They signed the damn contract, make them uphold it. Two they let the unions runs these places, with too many lazy guys standing around doing nothing day after day, and wanting more more for it. “It aint my job” is prevalent in union shops, I know, I worked in them for 13 years of my life. I watch companies lose millions because of “it aint my job” attitudes. And finally three, they got so fat on the corporate side also. They hired more and more assistants and assistants to the assistants, and they all got million dollar bonuses because things were going so well. Yeah, the greed done went and consumed you. You forgot about quality, started flooding the market with junk because both the corporate and the union didnt care about their product and quality, just about making more and more of the allmighty dollar. Meanwhile, after World War 2, we rebuilt Japan and taught them the American Way, that if you make a quality product, and price it good, people will buy it. Hey Detroit, guess what? They listened. Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Subaru and the rest of them put out the top quality automobiles, and people buy them. Their workers actually care about their company and their quality of their product, it reflects on them. Union workers dont care, well not all of them, but a good 75 percent of them, and now they are reaping what they sowed. They put out junk for years, made them cheaper and sold them for more, until we got tired of being screwed by the big 3. Competition came and kicked your ass, because of your simple greed. Thats all it was, greed. Now that the government owns GM, I look for that to get even worse.

      • DAMON

        MARK. YOU MUST HAVE ALSO HAD SOME CARPENTRY EXPERIENCE,BECAUSE YOU HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD. THE MORE YOU HAND OUT.THE MORE HANDS ARE PUT OUT.

      • Tom Vermette

        Mark, you are right on the mark!! Our current government (tops down) can even manage themselves let alone our country. There number agenda is getting reelected, then fighting for the illegal aliens.
        I tell my so called Senators and Congress Reps weekly if they don’t start representing the Citizens of this country as well as they represent the Illegal Aliens, that they will understand who we will represent in the upcoming election.

      • 13th Gen. American

        Mark is the man. He says what we think and he has the ability to type it all out in clear thought. I however think it all but dont have the patience for stupid anti-american, anti-God liberal wackjobs. It great to have a debate and discussion on details but when we get the likes of “Roden” There is no debate. Just hate spewed at everyone. Im to old for that crap.

      • Ralph

        Mark, I agree with you on every statement. Also, I think America is going down because of all the greed of Washington politicans and the Corporate CEOs.

      • Mike

        Corporate CEOs and board members took home millions every year while their companies turned no profit. Meanwhile the union members demanded more benefits… and got them.
        The financial balance sheets were atrocious, yet they were able to hide these losses in many cases and get mutual funds to invest in their stock. Where is the oversight on these publicly traded corporations? Everyone’s 401K is dependent upon these companies to suceed. Politicians had to have been paid to keep this quiet for years, and then to “bail them out” and subsequently to take them over. Board members and inside traders got obscenely rich while the American people’s money and retirements were ROBBED.
        This is Enron all over again except the government swooped in to keep it going costing us even more. Where are the Ken Lays in this scandal?? You won’t hear about them.

      • JoAnne

        Good job…. You said it all!

      • Jacomus/ He is knowledge

        Mark -While you hit on some points your opinions to a great deal is greatly flawed . It’s true the government screwed up the school system – It started with listening to students and what they wanted to do and they wanted Computers/ Printers /Calculators / fewer subjects . Black History- so they took out American History- Ancient History, Geography, Literature, Chemistry, Health , English Classes – Scratch Paper to figure out various equations and have buttons to push to find the answers quickly, but retain nothing , because nothing is done by them anymore . No Child Left Behind is a joke – that has never worked in the schools where it was meant to work – minorities – because Illegal Immigrants aren’t required to learn English or become American Citizens. and The Civil Rights and Reorganization Act / Acorn / Obama allowed all of these people to use the system for their benefits while the actual graduation classes went down . You’d get 500 to 1,800 seniors and the ones that graduated were Eleven out of 250, 210 Out of 500, 795 out of 1,800- which is pathetic – In my class of 394 in 1960 in Pennsylvania 392 out of 394 graduated. I was in the Naval Reserves in 11 th grade and my major in High School was Electronics/ Advanced Theory. Not Hip – Hop like today. Let me be in charge of our schools making it mandatory to be inducted into the Army/ Marines if one wants to quit school and take away the computers/ Calculators – build more Libraries and force our students to start using their God given brains . Using scratch paper or counting on their fingers if need be… No phones allowed in class or Blackberries, or IPODS or anything that rings or makes noises . school is for learning .

      • Jacomus/ He is knowledge

        Also Mark Unions are being beat up unfairly- especially the workers – rank and file . They are not the problem, but I can understand you’re thinking. I too was a Union Shop Employee in the Jet Engine Industry UAW – Republican’s are notorious for beating up on unionized employees and taking their wages away from them anyway that they can. increasing taxes , more and more of their insurance, health care , increasing their wage taxes, importing more and more illegal immigrants , to take over their jobs in H-1/H-2 Visa Programs . Lowering their taxes and Capitol Gains while dumping o0n Unionized workers who created the High Standard of Living that All Unionized and Non Unionized Workers enjoyed for nearly 75 years . You don’t remember like this Pennsylvanian does of my relatives and Family for eight generations now earning 5 cents an hour back in the late 20′s early 30 ‘s working 12 hours per day 7 days per week, with no weekends off or vacations – they were more slaves – than the African Slaves until they unionized and got a half day off on Saturdays. Republicans love money and love to keep it – They trashed the Constitution before the Democrats – hiring more and more illegal immigrants in place of American’s – people like John Mc Cain loves Mexican’s and hires them on all seven of his homes and never wants to see fences in Arizona – neither does Pelosi, Reid, Napolitano , Obama, Reid, Clinton’s and the entire Senate/ Congress – just keep laying off American’s and replacing them with illegal immigrants and have free trade and take over all private Enterprises. Unbeknown st to you The Automakers did exactly what the Senate / Congress/ Acorn / Bill Clinton / George H.W. Bush forced them to do 25 years ago . Our motor vehicles were far superior to Japanese – in safety/ reliability / gas thrifty, but big oil controlled by Republicans removed all the gas sippers like the Pogue Carb that got 235 mpg and two other ones that got 326 mpg and the other that got 460 mpg . My 2000 Buick Custom Le Sabre V-6 Fuel Injected sedan gets Highway mileage 34.7 mpg – far beyond any comparable Japmobile of the same age or newer – but few Cars – of any MFG can get any impressible mpg when the avg car is driven at 90-140 mph on any road – be it highway/ interstate or country back road or city streets – Jacomus .

      • Patricia Henson

        We forgot the most important thing that the govrnment took outof schools and that is Prayer and the 10 commandments off of the wall. Without God none of us are anything. The trouble began when we turned our back on God.

      • Jacomus He is knowlegable

        Mark I can’t dispute that at all. But I didn’t turn my back on God . Obama has turned his back o n the American people – to change our country in to a fundamental whatever – sounds like fundamentalist , which is Muslim and his brothers appear to be Iranian . We are in for some dark days ahead and prayer might be a good thing to embrace right now . Just because a president and administration want to remove all traces of God and Christian Religion in our lives and instill Allah – the will of the people have power over him – and we resist by saying silent prayers – God will hear us … Obama has no control over Our Christian God ……… he can only rant ….. threaten, but he can’t control us or our thoughts or our prayers , only a defeated people will allow him to defeat us …… only if we let him… don’t let him …… say your prayers because OUR GOD IS GOOD – PRAISE GOD IN THE HIGHEST ……. OBAMA GO TO HELL!

      • Marc M

        All I have to say are five little words

        One Big Ass Mistake America

      • Grover

        I must ask, what drugs are you on.
        While much of what you say is half right, the persons you blame is totally wrong. The problems with the auto industry was managment, not the workers. It was the unions that built this country. If it was not for the unions the wages would so low that none of the business in this nation would have grown to any where near where we are.

        The source of most of our problems is as Peroe said, the big sucking sound of our jobs leaving for foreign countries. The only source of wealth is from manufacturing, and the free trade agreements have destroyed our manufacturing base. Competition did not ‘kick our ass’ management greed is what wrecked things.

        If health care reform does not pass, the insurance companies and the drug companies will ‘rip off our economic arms and legs’

        A final question, what did your response have to do with the release of the health care plan.

      • Smilee

        Interesting Mark, my company had four manufacturing locations in our division and only one was Union and it was year after yeat the most efficient of the four and many times if the other plants screwed up they would send it to us to fix it, the sales force loved our shop because it was the most dependable. I doubt you know much about unions and for that matter we got paid more that the non union and better benefits. Our Pensions pay about $1000.per month more than the non union pensions, I get about $1200.00 more per month now and because we made more money out social security is more as well, I get almost $1800.00 more between the two than the non union. Go on the Dept. of Labor site and you will find out union employees make about $200.00 a week more than non union employees on average. You know nothing about unions and when companies pay living wages and benefits then their employees do not need government services like many today do, including medicaid and food stamps , child care etc and that is because the companies today do not pay living wages like they did us and we could never qualify for government benefits of any kind. Bring back the unions and welfare costs will go way down and you who constantly bitch about government should love that except you seem to hate everything good and love everything bad.

    • http://personallibertyiswhatimon Kathy

      I agree. Personal health care is and should stay exactly that because they screw to much up and have to much going on in government now. They cannot even keep track of islamists terrorists and continue to let them in through immigration. Ignorance of danger will get them all killed and all their lineages, and they cannot see it.

      • Rich

        Would someone please explain why the American voters are so stupid as to keep voting this bunch of idiots back into office then sit around whining about the way or country is being run. This dude we have as president is a down right discrace and this country is headed into communism and why hasnt the people wanted to know if Obama is really qulified as a citizen to be president,no one has been able to produce his birth records or are we to convert to islam,wake up people this dude is going to ruin this once great nation.

      • http://yahoo sheila

        I don’t know what it’s going to take to wake up the american people. don’t you see that Obama and his appointed henchmen are taking us right into communism? Obama has already told his attorney general to do whatever it takes to shut the people up that are keeping the country informed about his antics, he’s calling it hate crimes. When have you ever heard of a president buying banks and automobile businesses and firing the CEO? Canada and England has already tried to tell Obama that health care reform run by the government does not work and gave him numerous examples, but he is the only one that knows what’s the right thing to do. Have you noticed that he pushes things threw as fast as he can, this way nobody can object.

      • Patricia Henson

        He’s doing it at amazing speeds too. Join a teaparty in your area as they are slowing things down and you can find out what you can do to help.

    • kay

      Chris, I totally agree with you. How do we get a grassroot notices out that the American people are against all this spending and now the healthcare reform?? The Americans need to meet in Washington Labor Day weekend protesting. If 2 million can show up for Pres Obama’s inauguration why can’t 3 million show up protesting what is going to make our country forever different. What do you think?

      • Chris

        Kay, Showing up to protest is a very good start as it forces the networks (who have lost importance) to hopefully cover the event. Our country is changing and for the worse. It seems that no one likes to think critically of what will be a direct result of their actions. They want ideals without thinking whether they could possibly work and then claim divisiveness when their ideas are picked apart. The other day MSNBC was on the air at the gym and all the commentators could say was how bad Cheney was, that his comments were bad, Republicans were bad and how THEY were dividing the country. It seems that in order to be one of the left you must first discard reason and logic. Ronald Reagan said it best when he stated that “It is not left or right, it is not republican or democrat, it is what is right and good for America.” (loosely quoted) So I do think we are headed down a spiral and where we end up is anyones guess.

      • kay

        Chris, how do you get the word out to get people to DC over Labor day? This needs to get out and then a date set for people to be able to make it. Can you help?

      • Patricia Henson

        The teaparties are planning a march on Washington. So are alot of religious organizations. Ckeck-out teaparty.org for times.

      • Marge

        We definitely need to get the word out to wake America up! We are definitely being led down the garden path by the Obama administration.

      • Smilee

        What have you got against gardens?

      • HopeforAmerica

        Because Kay, 75% of the American public WANT a public Option!! And the majority of us Love our President!! God bless America and God Bless Obama!

      • http://boblivingston David Westall

        Actually, over 85% do not want Obamacare! Rationed health care is not where any of us want to go. It doesn’t work in Canada on England. Do you really want the Government telling you how to kill yourself so they don’t have to cover your medical problems anymore?

        GOD Help America.

        Hopefully, we won’t have to put up with Obama for 4 years!

      • Smilee

        Well unless he dies before then he will be your president for four years, hope you have no ideas to cause that to happen. Remember many of us think he the greatest president in any of our lifetimes maybe since Lincoln

      • minnie

        Do u even know what the public option is? what happens, Do u have a parent or grandparents. Older human beings are paying for their insurance, and it is okay with you to take it away from the oler people so you do not have to work as hard or not at all to get what is theirs now, That is not morally right. Do u even have a CLUE?

      • bad finger

        TO hope for America, United Socialist State of America( USSA) ,Do you really think you will get away with it. WE THE PEOPLE WILL DECIDE WHO WE WILL ELECTED IN 2010 AND 2012!

    • Larry

      Bill Clinton??? get real. Bush was president for 8 years after Bill Clinton. Bush had a republican congress to back him. Bill Clinton had a republican congress for most of his term. How can you blame this on him and the democrats?

      • Chris

        Larry I think you replied to the wrong person, I did not include anything about Bill Clinton. Partisan politics aside there is enough blame for ALL members of congress to share. Congress has no constitutional authority to nationalize healthcare, to run schools, to provide charity and relief, or any other number of measures that they fund. They have ceased to represent me and you a long time ago. Now they represent their own interests and the interests of those that got them elected. We need to get people in office who do want to serve instead of be served. What do you think?

      • Dana

        You are so right! That is why we need to have TERM LIMITS in Congress. We only allow a Pres 2 terms, that is all we should allow Senators and Resps.

      • Smilee

        I think you have been listening to the far right conservative propaganda mill and it has filled your head full of baloney. Propaganda = lies

      • Jacomus He is knowlegable

        Larry. / Everyone else save your breathe and blaming. The real reason behind what is going on can be traced back to 2001 Alan Greenspan as he tried to head off a bear market in 2001- by slashing interest rates to keep the party going . So now you know who is to blame The Federal Reserve. It created the biggest credit bubble the world has ever seen. This not only put off the recession , it also pushed consumers , Investors , and business people to borrow more money that they couldn’t afford. It’s being called ” the largest leveraged asset bubble and credit bubble in the history of humanity.” The bubble burst May 2008 but no one noticed it …. when Mc Cain / Obama ran back to Washington on their campaign trails – it was too late…… But then Obama added insult to injury with over spending when we were already way over our heads in red ink and in debt – bankrupt . and too much in debt to spend – spend – spend – us into a spiral cess pool of printing money out of thin air and not even addressing the economic areas of our country- which any idiot should have known that it has always been American manufacturing – and not Wall Street…. now CEO Private Hatchetman is destroying the only aspect that represents our true Economy – the Auto/ Makers / Unionized Manufacturing that raises our standard of living in our country for everyone ….. Unless he dismantles Nafta / Free Trade and throws Red China out of controlling our markets and saturating our markets with their products we have no chance for recovery and will have more massive unemployment and as more people lose their jobs and the end of their compensation runs out…. We will go down in a death spiral and no amounts of spending will have any positive results – Ceo Obama / Senate/ Congress Democrats and Union busting Republican’s must just let the economy take care of its’s self with no more interference after they dismantle Nafta / Free Trade and take our markets back.

      • minnie

        Bush had a democrated congress and democrated senate his last two years so the democrats controlled everything. And now the democrats controls from the president to house speakers , senate and CONGRESS. That is why the country is spiraling downhill at a very FAST SPEED. As soon as obama became president the deficit went up more than ALL THE PAST PRESIDENTS PUT TOGETHER. He was trying to correct freddie mac and that gay guy whatever his name is. obama gave $800,000.00 to ACORN to help him on campaigning. Oh yea, I almost forgot I wonder if they r going to prison now that some of them have been indicted. CHICAGO THUGS.

    • ruth lane

      MARK,I agree with you, the things,that government try to run, ends in a mess’
      they should leave healthcare alone, get after the insurance companies,for
      risin cost to people, after being in healthcare for 50 some years, I
      have seen the best to the worst, another thing need s to be done is put
      a cap on doctors and hospital charges;

    • HopeforAmerica

      Chris; Would prefer a fat cat insurance company CEO who is for profit and is more concerned about his multimillion dollars compensation package and the Big Fat Bonus he/she will get from denying life saving procedures for you or you loved ones?? It happens everyday…. and people die.
      At least the public Option is Not for profit.

      • Betty

        Guess you would like a fat Democrat giving the orders to your doctors

      • Smilee

        Medicare has been in effect for over forty years and the government has never told the doctors what to do so what this fear fantasy you have when the reality has proven this is not true.

      • http://PersonalLibertyWebSite Lonnie Jager

        HopeforAmerica: You are a ding bat!!! The only hope for America is to get Obama and people like you out of this country! I am a senior citizen and I for one do not want a government run health care plan and them telling me that I am too old and need to die!! God is my creator and He is the one that will determine my time to go home. Not some government agency! I am now recovering from breast cancer and if Obama has his way, I wouldn’t have gotten the wonderful care that I got from my doctors and my insurance company! We DO NOT need government in our health care! I will choose my doctor and my health care. Obama is the worse thing to happen to this country!! He is an arrogant ass and if I have my way, he won’t have a second term as president. As far as I’m concerned, he is the anti-christ and he needs to go where the sun doesn’t shine!

      • Smilee

        I’ll just bet you are on that terrible government health plan called Medicare, you did not have one bad word to say about that. Fact is if you told the truth you would have to tell us it is superior to the private plans.

      • minnie

        YOU DO NOT HAVE A CLUE, Plain medicare is not all that good, but then you purchase the medicare advantage plan where it has other benefits and neither is free. Then there is another the gap plan you also have to buy if u want it, not free. The less you pay the less u get. So when u hear people complain about medicare, it is because they did not take the time to go to seminars from different insurance to find out which is best for them or what prescriptions it covers. So obama wants to take away everything from the seniors and leave them with plain medicare. He does not care that the seniors are paying for it because he is determine to let the illegals get insurance free. You cannot blame the seniors for being pissed off, and the seniors that are going along with obama is because they do not know exactly what the public option. The gov. wants to tell the doctor not to give a colonscopy to seniors to find out if they have cancer or take away when they have to go to a specialist for the eyes to check on the retina. a pace maker, a heart valve replacement ETC.. My husband had a heart valve replacement in 2001 at the age of 69, IF IT WAS UP TO OBAMA HE WOULD COME BETWEEN THE DOCTOR AND HIM AND NOT APROVE IT. HE would be dead since 2001. That is the what you call DEATH PANEL. yOUNG PEOPLE ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD 2 JOBS TO AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE, i KNOW i used to have 2 jobs in my young years. My husband is in perfect health now. By the way the BHO insurance is not the same as what the Federal government employees, senate,congress has, can’t even start to compare.

      • Dorothy arnold

        Thank you Lonnie and God bless you.

      • Responsibility Man

        To HopeforAmerica, June 16th,
        It is difficult to know if private CEOs or government bureaucrats are the greedier group causing many of the problems we are dealing with in healthcare. However, numerous details of bills under consideration have been revealed concerning how the cost of proposed reforms would be kept below a certain threshhold. In most cases the method described involved reducing or eliminating payments on care that is presently covered, and/or rationing the amount of care that would be covered for new patients. Either way it sounds like someone is going to be denied coverage for some conditions in order to cap costs, just like Canada and Britain do in order to cap costs. It certainly sounds like the present type and amount of services delivered will decreased.
        One major apparent flaw with government programs is that even though they are non-profit, they are usually basically a monopoly, which rarely leads to efficiency & higher quality, since they receive all their income to pay for the program services delivered simply by confiscating it via taxes. Since there is no other competition for that revenue, little concern is shown by the bureaucrats to evaluate efficiency or value delivered, and there is no choice for the taxpayer on whether or not to fund the program.
        Therefore, the Gov’t has almost no incentive and little pressure from those providing the income (under threat of prosecution) to be frugal and diligent in producing the service, unlike free market businesses whose customers can usually give their business to a competitor. The fact that government bureaucrats are always spending other people’s money, not their own, seems to be antithetical to generating quality & efficiency since next year there is nearly always more of “other people’s money”, involuntarily paid by taxpayers to fund the program.
        Private businesses probably need to have some kind of regulation besides free market competition, yet gov’t oversight is hardly the magic cure-all for potential fr. mkt. abuses, as they clearly demonstrated in failing to discern what Bernie Madoff was doing despite repeated warnings from financial brokers. Testimony that I saw by the main whistle blower stated that after studying Madoff’s financial performance record, it took him about five minutes to realize that he must be running a Ponzi scheme since his monthly returns were the same every month, which simply does not happen in high yield real market returns.
        I have also been puzzled by the often-stated desire of people to be able to get QUALITY, AFFORDABLE healthcare. That sounds like an unrealistic oxymoron, like more affordable Cadillacs, BMWs, Ferraris, or private jets. If we want the benefits of free market quality, which results primarly from the profit opportunity & incentive, we are going to have to pay close to the free market price. Any attempt to get the same product at a cheaper price can only be accomplished by enslaving someone to some degree in the course of production by reducing the primary incentive. There is simply no free lunch that can be given out by government without confiscating a portion of or reducing the compensation for some producer.
        Due to their constant pandering for votes and campaign money, often by distributing as much tax payer money as possible to potential voters, I have rarely heard politicians tell constituants that if they want something, they need to work to earn it. This welfare state promotion of expecting the gov’t to deliver more and more of ones needs, or even desires, seems to be leading the country toward bankruptcy at an increasing rate.
        British member of Parliment Daniel Hannon, in warning the U.S. from going down the road to gov’t controlled health care, stated that after nearly 60 years of existence, the British National Healthcare Service has grown to a massive bureaucracy of over 1.3 million people, and is now the 3nd largest employer in the world, after the Indian National Railway and the Chinese army.

    • Eva

      I don’t understand why anyone would be against a government sponsored insurance plan that would cost $65 a month. Those that are, can continue paying their $500 a month contribution to the pharmaceutical industry that will only make them sicker and more dependant!

      • http://PersonalLibertyWebSite Lonnie Jager

        Eva, you need to wake up and smell the coffee! Do you really think it will be that easy? Get a grip!

    • http://www.cep911.org Gary

      Well, Chris, you are short changing yourself by not being a part of the process of democracy. No matter where in the world you live, whether your government is a republic, a constitutional monarchy or even a communist state, the government is always in fact YOUR government. The degree to which your government does what you want it to do is directly proportional to the degree to which you are involved in the process of government. To say “I don’t trust my government to do anything for me” is the ultimate cop-out. If the people do not insist in accountability, there will be none. The USA is the last of the developed world to provide universal health care to its citizens. Why do you suppose that is? Could it be because so many of you have thrown up their hands and decided to hell with it? You know, whether you participate in the democratic process or not, government is not going to go away. My government, the Canadian Government is not particularly outstanding, but it is quite capable of providing universal medicare. I have been in the hospital a few times in my life and never was asked a single question about my finances. Not once. I was asked to show my health card, which my government provides me free of charge. I work for a company that produces the cards under contract to the government. We never check out anyone’s credit rating. They simply request a card and it is sent to them in the mail. I have changed doctors numerous times and was never asked any questions about it. I can go to three doctors a week if I want to, and there are no questions asked. All the baloney you are reading in the media about Canada’s horrible wait lists is just bunk. And, no, I am not a mindless socialist who can’t think for himself. I have lived under Conservative, Liberal and Social Democratic governments, in Canada, and have never felt the need to watch what I say or worry that my rights might be threatened. That is because i constantly watch out for my rights and participate in the democratic institutions of my country. As a famous American patriot, Frank Zappa once said, “Question Authority”. It’s all you really need to do.

      • judy

        I was in Canada a few years ago and picked up a Vancouver newspaper and found a eight page insert on your health care system. I read it with much interest and decided I was glad I didn’t have to be put into that kind of system.. I’ve had serious medical problems since then and if I lived in Canada I would be dead now..I like my doctors and I like my country but you are right we have to so a better job selecting who represents us . My husband and I have visited many countries, .We would not trade ours for any of them..

      • Smilee

        Apparently the people in Canada do not agree with you, two polls where done this summer by two newspapers up there asking which system they would the prefer if given the chance, theirs or the US system in one they preferred the Canadian system by 81% and the other by 82%, all the people that live in Canada that I know personally love their health care, One person who grew up in the US and was transferred there over forty years and is now retired and had always planned to retire back in the US didn’t because of the Health Care he stayed there, he was not eligible for our Medicare here and the cost was out of site for other plans and he loves their health and has used it for over forty years.

      • minnie

        Those people are in the right country FOR THEM, In this country MOST PEOPLE DO NOT WANT IT, the SOCIALISTS just want to screw most of the people for a few AMERICANS AND ALOT OF ILLEGALS, and more to come

    • Eva

      What President Obama proposes is a good “option”. If you have another insurance and don’t want the government sponsored one, you can continue to make your insurance company richer (may be you work for one!) Also, since you are so opposed to any plan that is run by the government, what about Medicare?

      • Dennis

        I’ts broke. Do you not know that? It’s broke because the government cannot stick to a budget….they don’t have to…..and they NEVER have. Please show me one time when they said something would cost $x and it actually did.

    • http://www.generationtalk.coom Miguel

      Chirs, I agree in part with what you say. I don’t like to be forced to buy health care insurance, public or private. However, in my view, the problem is not that the government is inept and it is unable to do anything right. The real problem is that private interests have permeated too deep into the government that policy is mostly dictated by big private companies, most of them multinationals who do not care about the well being of the common people of any country. All their attention, resources and efforts are focused on making their profits grow as much as possible, regardless of the consequences to other people. Just look at the $300 million plus the American Chamber of Commerce is spending every day to kill health reform, energy reform, and reform of the financial system.

      The present health care system, run by private insurers and medical conglomerates is becoming more and more monopolistic, because they are the only business exempt from anti-trust laws. Yes that is wrong, without fair competition, they amass too much power and they dictate our health policy. They will fight with all their might against anybody who tries to change the system that works well for them, but is a disaster for the rest of us.

      I find it interesting that Republicans and people who like to call themselves “conservatives,” believe the hollow schemes of the global economic powers and support them. Of course they are the main sponsors (and in many cases the owners) of most of the main stream media, and they can brain-wash peoples minds. Contrary to what conservative politicians (Republicans and democrats) are saying, this country no longer has a real free-enterprise economic model, and it is not even a real democracy. How can you call a free-enterprise, when more than a $trillion is given away to big businesses in the form of subsidies? Extremely wealthy oil and coal companies receive public subsidies, how is that fair to the rest of us? Since 1922, tax laws were changing to benefit big companies and make common people pay more. Andrew Mellon, Secretary of the treasury (1922-1931) proposed that businesses who paid taxes in other countries should not pay taxes to the U.S. government. Congress passed such legislation, which allows investors to evade taxes. Mellon also introduced a law called the liquidationist law, which allowed big banks to merge and small banks to die. This way, this country has created global financial monopolies, which like parasites suck the real wealth created by the working classes, and threat all of us that if we do not support their form of existence and indefinite growth, they will drag us to economic misery.

      Please take a fair look at the current political system, can’t you see that corporations are setting policies in the government? not only this administration, but all of the previous ones for many decades. When Obama and other progressive people in the senate try to bring even small changes to the system they are attacked as communists, socialists, and as trying to take away the freedom of the people. There is no health freedom when private monopolies run the whole system, there is no financial safety when these sharks in the financial industry steal our resources with insatiable appetite. There is no freedom when oil and coal companies buy out legislation in order to prevent the country from investing and developing green technologies. There is no economic safety when corporations dictate economic policy for the world through the WTO. The WTO was not created by a democratic process; its rules and nature was designed by private corporate representatives, and given to compliant politicians, like Bill Clinton who signed the charter that gave birth to the WTO. I believe in fair trade, where nations are free to set economic policies and agreements as they see fit for the well being of its people, not to satisfy corporate demands.

      If people do not open their eyes to reality, and continue to believe and support the fallacies of corporate representatives, we are doomed.

    • Likely_Suspect

      All the efficiency of the post office with the compassion of the IRS.

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