House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., accompanied by Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., left, gestures during a news conference on saving Medicare as part of the Health Care Overhaul, Tuesday, March 16, 2010, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg) | Buy Journal Photos
Health care fight intensifies
3/17/2010
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — With time and tempers short, everyone’s playing hardball in the drive to pass — or stop — President Barack Obama’s massive health care legislation by the weekend.
Business groups are spending $1 million a day to depict the bill as a job killer in television ads in the home districts of 26 wavering House Democrats. A new ad barrage from supporters of the legislation went up Tuesday in 11 districts, some overlapping. And unions are threatening some of those lawmakers to come through for Obama — or pay the price in the fall elections.
Obama has summoned members to the White House one by one for private, face-to-face persuasion and also met larger groups. White House aides said he plans at least one more public health care event this week, including remarks in Fairfax, Va., on Friday.
Diverse administration resources are being employed: Even the Navy secretary is in the game.
“We here in Congress are giving a new meaning to March madness,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, an opponent of the legislation, said Tuesday.
At stake is a bill that would cover some 30 million uninsured people, end insurance practices such as denying coverage to those with a pre-existing conditions, require almost all Americans to get coverage by law and try to slow the cost of medical care nationwide. The comprehensive legislation could affect nearly every American, from those undergoing annual checkups to people facing major surgery.
Activists on both ends of the political spectrum are energized. Tea party volunteers, who rallied Tuesday in Washington, are planning to flood congressional offices with e-mails opposing the legislation as a step toward socialism. And some on the political left have joined in calling for the bill’s defeat because it leaves out a federal insurance option.
The sought-after Democrats — mainly moderates, but also a few liberals — are mostly trying to stay out of sight. They include 37 who voted against the bill last year and a smaller number who are having second thoughts after supporting it the first time. Walking briskly, lawmakers duck in and out of the House chamber during votes, avoiding eye contact with reporters.
Moderate Rep. Mike McMahon, D-N.Y., is feeling the push and pull. Elected with strong labor support two years ago, he voted against the bill in November, pleasing constituents in his Republican-leaning district on Staten Island who saw it as a government power grab.
Last week, McMahon received a visit from Mike Fishman, president of the Service Employees International Union’s local 32BJ. The blunt message: If you can’t support health care reform, we can’t support you.
The union is threatening to switch its allegiance if he votes against the bill. “Everyone will be looking very, very closely at this vote,” Fishman’s spokesman, Matthew Nerzig, said with understatement.
An estimated $200 million has been spent for political advertising on health care since the beginning of last year, with groups favoring Obama’s overhaul holding a slight edge. In the final stretch, however, opponents have gotten the upper hand and supporters are rushing to catch up.
A coalition of business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce went up with ads last week. The group is now spending an estimated $1 million a day, enough for 25 to 40 television ads, said Evan Tracey, president of Kantar Media-CMAG, which tracks political advertising. The ads frame the health care bill as a drag on the economy, raising taxes and saddling companies with expensive new mandates.
Liberal groups are hoping they won’t be too late. Health Care for America Now and several labor unions have announced a $1.7 million ad buy focusing on the districts of 17 undecided Democrats. Their ads portray the health insurance industry as a profit-hungry predator.
“The ads are designed to get people fired up, so that members feel it coming back from their districts,” said Tracey. “Members are on notice that they may be voting on this now, but their constituents will be voting on it in November.”
House Democratic leaders are still short of the 216 votes they need. While broad outlines of the $1 trillion, 10-year measure are well known, critical final details are still being ironed out. Lawmakers are awaiting a cost report from the Congressional Budget Office on compromises worked out with Obama to reconcile versions passed earlier by the House and Senate.
Democratic leaders are considering using a legislative procedure that would allow them to pass fixes to the Senate bill without taking a direct vote on the underlying legislation. The maneuver is a kind of legislative fig leaf to spare House Democrats from directly voting to approve a Senate bill many of them had bitterly criticized. While Republicans also used the tactic when they controlled the House, they are indignant that Democrats would employ it on legislation of such significance.
The crucial group of some three-dozen House Democrats is split roughly into two camps: those who possibly could switch their earlier “yes” votes to “no,” sinking the legislation, and those who might switch from “no” to “yes,” salvaging it.
Then there’s Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, who says he has a dozen lawmakers ready to vote against the bill unless it incorporates a tougher firewall against taxpayer-subsidized abortion coverage, although his numbers seem to be dwindling. Stupak said Tuesday he has received only gentle overtures from the White House so far.
Democratic leaders have assigned House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, a California liberal, to negotiate with Stupak, and the two men talk daily. Stupak said a few of his anti-abortion colleagues have been called by high-ranking administration officials. One, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, was surprised to hear from Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, said Stupak, who declined to identify the lawmaker.
Stupak said the members of his group have politely told administration officials they need to negotiate through him.
——
Associated Press writers Ben Feller, Charles Babington, Donna Cassata, Sam Hananel, Andrew Miga, Erica Werner and Ann Sanner contributed to this report.
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Visualize Impeachment says….
Obama’s Sick Plan promises to have the slowness of the DMV with the scariness of the IRS. That’s just how big government rolls!
3/27/2010
says….
Oh boy, it seems as though almost every comment is how unfair it will be to make us have medical insurance. I don’t mind that, where my problem is, what about the undocumented, illegals, does that mean we will be paying for them also? They are the ones that needs to go to jail, they are here illegally. They have broken the law. They are the ones at the ER for medical care because they don’t have insurance or probably ID. That is why our taxes are going up. But to say further what about civil, human, and constitutional rights? They are broken all the time. Sorry folks Barry Disney is one of them. He needs to be investigated for prosecutorial misconduct. That should go hand n hand with the civil rights and medical insurance.
3/27/2010
says….
If the Canadian health care system is such a point of PRIDE-then why did their own prime minister come to America for heart surgery?
3/26/2010
says….
If the Republicans seriously wanted health-care reform than why didn’t they do anything when they were in power for 8 years? Why have they historically always been against health-care reform whenever it was brought up? You can not seriously tell me that you believe they want any true health-care reform when they have done nothing but obstructionism every time. Take a look at history and you will find that the Republican party has never fully supported any social reform: Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, or even civil rights. Heck look at our own state Republicans and see how they have no problem giving away money to big businesses but yet want to cut deep into ALL social programs including Medicare and education.
Fox News, which is basically a talking box for the Republicans, started their anti-reform propaganda LONG before there was even a bill in the Senate or the House with their endless shows and commentaries about how horrible “other” countries health-care was while forgetting and neglecting to talk about the huge problems in our current system. All these stories about how bad Canadian care is when in actuality the Canadian Healthcare is the PRIDE of the people. All this talk about how someone was denied a medical procedure in Britain while never mentioning the thousands of people denied by their INSURANCE companies RIGHT HERE IN THE US.
So no….you will never, ever get me to believe that the Republicans want true health-care reform. I’ve seen how they have acted before and how they are acting now.
3/26/2010
my viewpoint says….
I am so tired of hearing that Republicans don’t want health care reform. We want a bi-partisan bill and one that the American people can understand. Can anyone read this bill and understand it?? Even some politicians who voted for it don’t understand everything that is in it. If it is so great, why were back room deals made to get it passed. How scary. Republicans also are not against immigration. I get tired of hearing that too. We are against ILLEGAL immigration. It is funny to hear people use the term “undocumented immigrant”. Call it what it is. If you are here illegally you are breaking our laws.
3/26/2010
says….
I have just about had it with “the government will pick up the tab, the government will help us, the government will pay for your healthcare”…where do you think the government get’s the money????? The government isn’t paying for anything! We, the tax payers, ARE! The government owes the tax payers 1.5 TRILLON DOLLARS for social security funds they have borrowed and haven’t bothered to replace! And how do you think they plan on replacing those funds?? By raising the social security tax! So they take our money for us, for safe keeping, to hold it for our retirements and THEY SPENT IT ON OTHER THINGS!!! Why should I be forced to contibribute to a fund for my retirement when it WON’T BE THERE WHEN I RETIRE BECAUSE SOMEONE COULDN’T STAY OUT OF THE “COOKIE JAR”! And you think government run health care will be ANY different?? The government SPENDS-the common american PAYS. The government WORKS FOR US!! And yet people are under this illusion that they are there to provide for us! They don’t provide for anyone! We do!! I am already forking over 34% of what I make for FEDERAL TAXES ALONE! I pay MORE in TAXES than WARREN BUFFET! And now I have to pay for 32 millon more people to receive healthcare??? How many of those people are strung out with needles hanging out of their arms?? How many WILL NOT work because that is a PAY CUT?? What kind of AMERICA is this that encourages it’s people to sit around and do nothing while those of us who have a desire to PURSUE the kind of life we’ve grown up beleiving we could have if we worked for it-and instead the money I should be taking home is being taken out of my paycheck and given to someone who doesn’t want anything more than to sit on their laurels and stick another needle in their arms!!!! Think about that when voting-how many junkies are you willing to pay for??? You can add them to YOUR medical insurance-I DON’T WANT THEM ON MINE!!!
3/25/2010
says….
Making it the law that you carry health insurance is very very bad people look at what happened with auto insurance yes its good to have but look whats happened the fact you have to have it enpowers the insurance companys just like auto lnsurance how much it costs is based more on your credit score than your driving record and there is nothing you can do about it because you by law have to have it and they use that to their advantage and do what they want and when it comes time for claims you need to hire an attorney to fight for what you pay all your money for I VOTE STOP MAKING THE INSURANCE COMPANYS RICH AND POWERFUL WHILE WE GET POORER!!!!
3/25/2010
Informed Individual says….
TO the individual who wrote this:
“says….
To We Were Free Once: you need to really read the facts that are in the bill instead of relying on some talking head from the far-right to do it for you. You will NOT go to jail if you do not buy insurance under this new bill. So no worries. What WILL happen is that you will have to pay an extra tax or fee to help cover the cost the rest of us will have to endure if you get sick while uninsured. That’s it. If you can not afford to purchase insurance, the government is now going to help. It is much, much cheaper for the government and ultimately tax-payers to help you get insurance and access to a regular doctor for checkups than to pay for a huge hospital bill if and when you get sick without insurance. And don’t say that you are now all of a sudden going to have to pay for someone who is not working – you were already paying for people on Medicaid/Medicare before this bill was even started.
And finally, please get this straight. This bill is NOTHING like the Canadian model. The Republicans, Insurance companies and talking heads want you to think that it is and then to scare you with how “horrible” their system is but that is not true. Canada has a single-payer system. That option was voted down from the beginning in our Congress. And as for waiting…..when my youngest son was 4 years old, we were sent to the ER by our physician and had to wait over 3 hours just to see a doctor because there were so many uninsured people there who were using the ER as their “regular” doctor since they didn’t have insurance.
And finally, are you sure you have a friend in Canada because many Canadians are very upset and fed-up in how their system of health-care is getting trashed by those who do not know what they are talking about. In fact, if you called 100 people in Canada and asked them which system they like the best (theirs vs ours) you will have over 90% say Canada.
Sir/Maam you are mis-informed yourself. When unlimited wants are meeting limited resources not everyone can have the good/service without rationing, which is what has happend with every country that has a universal health care system..I do mean every country. This is where this bill will lead to.
The second point of mis-information is that we will continue to pay for un-insured individuals, regardless of the fine. Reason being is that you will now be paying a higher cost of insurance for the same coverage, the article was in the Salina Journal this morning highlighting this point. Making everyone get health insurance does not fix the problem of high health care costs, but only shifts the cost elsewhere and exasperbates the problem. Reason being is now, the government is involved and thus the government will require more revenue to oversee the legislation imposed.
3/25/2010
says….
To We Were Free Once: you need to really read the facts that are in the bill instead of relying on some talking head from the far-right to do it for you. You will NOT go to jail if you do not buy insurance under this new bill. So no worries. What WILL happen is that you will have to pay an extra tax or fee to help cover the cost the rest of us will have to endure if you get sick while uninsured. That’s it. If you can not afford to purchase insurance, the government is now going to help. It is much, much cheaper for the government and ultimately tax-payers to help you get insurance and access to a regular doctor for checkups than to pay for a huge hospital bill if and when you get sick without insurance. And don’t say that you are now all of a sudden going to have to pay for someone who is not working – you were already paying for people on Medicaid/Medicare before this bill was even started.
And finally, please get this straight. This bill is NOTHING like the Canadian model. The Republicans, Insurance companies and talking heads want you to think that it is and then to scare you with how “horrible” their system is but that is not true. Canada has a single-payer system. That option was voted down from the beginning in our Congress. And as for waiting…..when my youngest son was 4 years old, we were sent to the ER by our physician and had to wait over 3 hours just to see a doctor because there were so many uninsured people there who were using the ER as their “regular” doctor since they didn’t have insurance.
And finally, are you sure you have a friend in Canada because many Canadians are very upset and fed-up in how their system of health-care is getting trashed by those who do not know what they are talking about. In fact, if you called 100 people in Canada and asked them which system they like the best (theirs vs ours) you will have over 90% say Canada.
3/24/2010
We were free once says….
I do not have a problem with them saying that kids still in college can be on their parents insurrance till 26, I do not have a problem with making insurrance companies except people with prior conditions.
I DO HAVE a problem with them saying I have to buy insurrance or be fined/ or go to jail. To be able to do this they are going to have to have a national database that will keep track of every person in the US. That is Communistic. I DO Have a problem with them cutting medicare and nursing homes just so they can add more people to the insurrance. I have a friend in Canada who has had to wait 2 years to have surgery because of the back log of people because doctors quit when they got their national insurrance and made everyone get it. It is already like that in the US Another friend who lives in Co has to wait 1 year to have shoulder surgery though the va.
cap·i·tal·ism
–noun
an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.
so·cial·ism /’so????l?z?m/ Show Spelled[soh-shuh-liz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1.a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2.procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3.(in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles
com·mu·nism /’k?my??n?z?m/ Show Spelled[kom-yuh-niz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1.a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.
2.(often initial capital letter) a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.
3.(initial capital letter) the principles and practices of the Communist party.
Communism
A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
The Marxist-Leninist version of Communist doctrine that advocates the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat.
3/24/2010
says….
To “midwest dude”…If you can’t afford a one-way ticket to Europe, I will buy you one. Since things are already so wonderful there, and you can see how beneficial that life style is-take yourself on over there. Don’t bother writing or calling once you get there…we’ll all assume you are doing fine…oh, and don’t worry a thing about the news that shows how poor Europe is, and how people from those counties (who can afford to) come to the USA to be treated because of waiting lists and inadequeate specialists. Give me your address and I’ll send you a one way non-refundable ticket on the first plane out…and for all of you out there who believe that other countries are doing so well with these programs, feel free to save your money and do the same. This is AMERICA and you have the CHOICE to LEAVE…once you get there, you may not have the choice to come back, but I’m sure that won’t bother you. I don’t want to change anyone’s opinon-I want you to get out of my country and go live in a society you’ll be more comfortable in. Me, I’ll stay and WORK to PURSUE the freedoms still left in my country and fight to get what’s been lost, back. V-I couldn’t have said it better. This can turn out to be a very good thing because true americans are waking up and ready to fight for what our fore-fathers gave us. I can’t quite figure out how anyone, with the knowledge that in countries like Canada, whose own prime ministers are coming to the USA for heart surgeries, think that implementing the same policies would be a good idea…my only thought is that the supporters are those who don’t work, don’t want to work, and are more than happy to sit around and let others foot the bill for their laziness…And I think there ARE places like that for you. China and Europe are two good examples. Use your AMERICAN right to move to a place where they will strip all that away and take care of you.
3/24/2010
says….
I just looked at my paycheck for the week. Federal withholding, State withholding, Social Security, and Medicare add up to $149.42 per week out of my check. The BCBS deduction for the week was $167.58. That’s over $8700.00 a year I pay for health insurance and my employer has to pay that amount also. I don’t know how much this bill will change things but at least someone is trying to fix the problems with health care.
3/24/2010
says….
What next , more than three members in a household you will HAVE TO HAVE atleast one chevrolet? sounds fair to me , i open the debate to all supporters of this soon to be communist government. how is MAKING me have healthcare any different than MAKING me drive a chevrolet? HMMMM me not having car insurance i understand , me not smoking in public places i understand but HOW is me not having healthcare endangering you . And havent we had free healthcare all along , i know lots of people who have had surgeries and all and never paid a dime….oh and its because they dont have a dime to give. so i guess they will go to jail and face fines now? wow , if they dont have two nickels to rub together now doubt they gonna have any to pay big brother for health insurance .
3/23/2010
says….
i understand that you HAVE to have insurance to drive a car on public roads or face fines and jail. Also understand if you hunt game you HAVE to have a license or face fines and jail. ‘SEE WHERE IM GOING’? HOW HOW HOW do you MAKE me have health insurance or face fines and jail. Are you kidding me? Is by chance this a rumor? I hope its true….because we won’t have a homeless problem anymore , me and all the homeless and also poor i guess will have a free place to live. Hows the free healthcare in there going?
3/23/2010
says….
hey blah blah blah ! ThAT sure was alot of blah , the name fits . The crooked government (period)we live under comes up with so many rules and regulations and boundaries etc , they ALL involve money (or correct me with one that isnt)and i mean the taking of our money .
3/23/2010
Sick of the “Blah, Blah, Blah” says….
If nationalized healthcare supposedly doesn’t work, why are we one of only 2 or 3 other industrialized nations in the world that doesn’t have it? Why according to the CIA World Factbook, if we have such a great health care system, does our life expectancy fall at #49 and other countries with Nationalized Healthcare have longer life expectancy. Why do we have a higher infant mortality rate than countries with Nationalized Healthcare? Because we have a HIGH number of UNINSURED people in this country. Because our system is broken. Someone is trying to fix it. Give it a shot, maybe it will work. Now Kansas is trying to pass a law so that no one who is uninsured should have to get insurance. Guess who will end up paying for that in the end. You and me. When the hospitals write off their uncompensated care, you will pay for it. If you want to help solve these problems, get out there and help instead of complaining about what a bad job someone else is doing. Y
3/23/2010
V says….
This election era is no different than the last election erra. All of the people of the United States…yes ALL…have made this happen. Through neglect and apathy we the people have been handing over the government to corperations and tyrants since the 1930’s. No-one questioned the “Freedom of Information Act” no one questioned the tactics used to hide the truths of our own governments corruption from us.
You have had the change you seek. The Revolution began when Obama was elected. The people were tired of it and wanted change. The type of change was not questioned, merely the fact of chaging. I am glad to see the two sides going at each others throats like Muslims and Christians have for a millenia…Now, you seek more change…you have become aware of the true dealings of the governments habits. This is not the first time this is happened…just the first time anyone cares… CARE ON PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES! CHALLENGE YOUR GOVERNMENTS AND TAKE BACK WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY YOURS…your freedoms…
3/23/2010
Black Cross Blue Shield says….
I am continually delighted to see all of the conservative Glenn Beck Kool aid drinkers spouting on about all of the negative aspects of this bill. How many of you have read it? I tried to but my head nearly exploded it is over 1000 pages long based on the site i found it at. We can all agree that the deficit spending is out of whack but it is still a better investment than Bush’s 3 trillion dollar war venture. People paying $1000 per month for health insurance is a broken system. I don’t care what you say. Is this the answer? I don’t know. You don’t either.
3/23/2010
Midwest Dude says….
As this country and world gets more and more populated, society will have to migrate to a socialist form of government. Most of Europe is socialist and frankly, the quality of life there is much better than here in the USA. Total freedom might have worked in centuries past when population density was low, but as more and more people are vying for limited resources, it will be up to the government to effectively manage those resources. Myself, I’m a firm supporter of socialism.
3/23/2010
Vern says….
to ” city worker”. You dont get it. First, I’m not a Republican or a fan of McCain or Bush. The drive to put Obama in the white house was a one time deal. The number of lefties, first time voters and Acornites who voted in that election will not come out to vote in a mid-term election. That segment of the voting population wanted to make sure Obama got in. He did; now they will sit on the sideline. The excitement is gone. Many of them had no idea what they were voting for in the first place. That is fact, and documented. See it on youtube. It’s not just Republicans that Don’t like this health care bill. The fact is the Democratic party voted for this against the will of the people. This is also fact, and documented.Just because you likely voted for Obama doesn’t mean you have to follow him blindly. Use your brain and think things through for yourself. This bill is going to be very problematic for this country. Most people realize that. I stand by my earlier post. The Democratic party will pay dearly for this vote in November.
3/23/2010
says….
The sooner you dimwits ruin this country the sooner china can take over the sooner that happens the sooner my Lord and saviour will return .
3/23/2010
bush is bad says….
YES WE CAN
3/22/2010
city worker says….
Yes we have spoken that is why Mcain isnt in charge. And as for November I cant wait.Maybe then you will get it Vern, the good ol boy days are done. So is the gop.
3/22/2010
Reps. and Dems need to untied for all of us says….
The health care isn’t the issue here…think about it. How many people do you know that uses the system to not work and get free stuff paid by all of us? I know a bunch.I know people that don’t work, buy stuff they can’t afford, file bankruptcy because they can keep their new stuff, and have more and more kids. Why? Because no one stops them. We would not be in this place we are today, fight over healthcare issue, if we made those that can work, work. If they want something free, work for it. My grandparents lived in the 30’s. It was rough. They didn’t ask for handouts they worked whatever and where ever they could to take care of their families. Once we make people do their part, we can all together work on taking care of those that are struggling and deserve the help.
I think parts of the healthcare is wrong part is right, but the government refuses to work together to find a common ground.They don’t want to help each other out. I have a family member that is a level 1 diabetics. She works 2 jobs and still gets turned down for insurance or has to pay so much for it all that she makes from the 2 jobs go to it. This is where we need to fix the health care. Or for the person who works really hard all of their lives but can’t get on Medicare because they are too young, but can’t get healthcare because they have a pre-existing cause.
3/22/2010
Vern says….
to “city worker”. The people have NOT spoken, the liberal Democratic party has, and they will pay dearly for it in November.
3/22/2010
says….
It’s not over-the people have not spoken. The government has spoken and it’s time for a new one of those…apparently they feel like they are too good to listen to the people.
3/22/2010
Worried says….
I totally agree with the veteran who said they pay for their own healthcare specifically because they know how federal health care is run. My dad is retired AirForce, and I remember all too well going to the base bospital growing up. I am completely against this health care bill-the main reason being my daughter. She was a 24 weeker and spent several months in the hospital. If it hadn’t been for extremely good medicine and a doctor who did more than come to work for a paycheck, she wouldn’t be here today. So those of you who say “survival of the fittest’, you strike a very raw nerve with me. Will babies like my daughter fall through the cracks with this new system because they are “not fit for care”? Who will make the decisions about whose conditions are emergencies and whose are not?
3/22/2010
city worker says….
its over… the people have spoken… get over it republicans you lost.
3/22/2010
a former democrat! says….
Can someone put a sock in Ms. Pelosi’s mouth!!! Enough already!
3/21/2010
Confused says….
I don’t get it. The government has not been able to manage their own finances, they can’t provide for our schools to give quality educations, they can’t protect us from crime, what in the WORLD makes people believe they can provide health care?
Seriously.
3/20/2010
Internet Reader says….
Citizen Kane, I believe one of the “house rules” on commenting is to “be civil”. Your response was nothing if not outright rude, crude and unacceptable. I don’t know what I’m talking about when it comes to federally funded healthcare? Sir or Madam (for I’ve no idea which you are) for twenty-two years I was in the service of this country as a Marine. As a retiree I am still receiving federally funded healthcare. So are members of my family, as well as many friends who are still active duty military or who work for the federal government. I, sir or madam, and my current and former comrades in arms who gave years of our lives in the service and defense of our country are NOT idiots because we support federally funded healthcare. It is one of our benefits. It may not be perfect, but it is so much better than nothing at all. You may also rest assured that there is no “hole in my head where my brain fell out”. My brain is firmly intact and has enabled me to earn my Bachelor of Science degree as well as a Master’s Degree. I won’t ask for or expect an apology, but you are excused all the same. After all, as a United States Marine I put my life on the line to defend your Constitutional right to say whatever you think. Just try not to be rude when you do so.
3/20/2010
peasant says….
This is NOT health reform this government CONTROL.The gov. is now going to MAKE you get insurance,or be fined,go to jail.NEXT they are going to put ILLEGAL immigrants into the program.So we can pay for them and the abortions AND all the rest that is being promised that is NOT in this bill YET. KEEP CALLING AND OPPOSING THIS BILL !!!!!!
3/19/2010
Citizen Kane says….
“Internet Reader”, Someone could drive a truck through the hole in your head wear your brain (I assume you had one)fell out! You have no idea what your talking about when it comes to Federal Employees healthcare. Stop reading your Liberal propaganda for a change and find something with some truth in it!
3/19/2010
says….
Who has borrowed 1.3 trillon dollars from medicare? Our own elected officals. Who pays into the medicare program? Working taxpayers. You and I. This is not an entitlement program. This is a program that people who work fund. In fact, the government uses our money interest free. We have social security. Who funds this program. The tax payer. How much has our elected officials “borrowed” from it. Would it be in the black if they had left their hands off of it? We have medicaid for those people who need help. Who funds medicaid? All of us that pay taxes. The regulations obviously are not working. Why don’t we overhaul medicaid? Last but not least, why would we allow elected officals to ram a bill like this mess of a health care bill down our throats when the elected officals don’t plan on participating in it? They are NOT kings and queens. They are Americans, just like you and me. Why would you even think about letting people WHO WORK FOR YOU dictate that you should have a health care program that THEY WON’T participate in. THIS SHOULD BE A BIG CLUE that this is not something that is good for us! Last but not least, what happens to the 1.3 trillon dollars that our government owes to the taxpayer funded medicare? Is this just going to go away? How can anyone in their right mind not be livid at what is going on?
3/18/2010
says….
I am a veteran-and I do not utilize that federally conrolled portion of my benefits and I’ll tell you why I choose to pay for insurance to be able to go to a regular doctors office…first and foremost, you get what you pay for. There is no quality of care at the VA-now there are SMALL clinics that offer very limited sevices such as screenings, that have a wonderful staff, but the hospitals are filled with 8 to 4:30ers who are just there for the paycheck…and the doctors are no exception. If you take a trip to the ER, plan on being there for a couple days before you’ll get seen. Have a cold and need an antibiotic? Plan on at least a one day trip. Just to get your prescription filled often takes more than 4 hrs. If you don’t want to wait, they will mail it to you in 7-10 business days. I have had to have several tests for various medical issues and have not one time been able to get my results. I get a nurses assistant who tells me they aren’t authorized to hand that info out, and the doctor is too busy to return my call, but in their opinion, I shouldn’t worry. I had a stress test done on my heart-I lost a days wages to have this test done. I drove 60 miles one way to get my results and was told the test had not been done correctly and I was more than welcome to re-schedule. That is when I decided to pay for my healthcare. Had there been a serious issue with my heart, I may not be sitting here today. And I promise you that I have NEVER seen ONE government official in any facility I’ve been to. They do not use the same facilities that are utulized by the public-don’t kid yourself into thinking they are receiving the same quality of care as they see fit for our veterans. And here is the kicker-WE pay for them to have fabulous healthcare, and they see fit to use our money sparingly on public facilities. No, I am not for this plan. I’ve seen first hand what that looks like, and I choose to pay my own way. I am absolutely sick that in a couple days, I may no longer have that option and will be stuck going to places like the system in place for Veterans for the rest of my life. And not just for me, for my children and grandchildren who will never know what it’s like to be free and make their own decisions. I believe we’ve forgotten that we have the right to the PURSUIT of life, libery and happiness-we have the right to pursue those things-that is an action word. Nowhere does it say that I have the right to be given those things. I have the right to go after them and they should be attainable. That is a huge difference. I have the right to get them myself…
3/18/2010
says….
If universal heath care is such a great deal, then why haven’t those people who want to live that way moved to Canada? Sure the cost of living is astronomical, and if you get sick you are put on a waiting list of a year or more…now that’s a comforting thought-cancer? Can you start chemo March 2011? So those people come to America to be treated…I agree, hospital costs and insurance premiums are outrageous. Have you seen the salary of a hospital administrator?? Or how about your local insurance administrator’s?? How many premiums does it take to cover those costs?? And that’s just one person on the payroll. However, the answer is NOT having our federal government get in the business of healthcare. Look at every other government run program-Social Security. Do you know the government owes 1.5 TRILLON dollars to that fund? They take money to support their “pet” programs and special interests to get re-elected and they have us in a huge mess. 6.2% of my paycheck goes to fund this program for MY retirement and the government has spent the money…and you really want these people running your healthcare? Medicare/Medicade…Can you think of one government program that has not gotten so complicated and mismanaged that even those people running the show know what’s going on? FEMA, Welfare-I have no problem with people who need help, but they usually don’t qualify-It’s the ones who feel like getting a job would be a pay cut that that money is being dished out to. I don’t suppose I’m going to change anyone’s personal opinion, and that’s ok…In theory, health care for all sounds great-but in reality it won’t look anything like what’s on paper. There’s a miconception that the government will pay for this-as a nation I think we’re forgetting that we the people, as individuals, fund the government. They are supposed to work for us and they’ve grown out of control. Raising taxes, adding new taxes-the death tax, inheritance tax, the list is too long- and every new program they come up with is a horrible mess. It bothers me that this will be yet another insurance that I will be required to carry. It seems to me that it would save way more money to cut out the middle man-yet they are not only not cutting the middle man out, they will be giving the middle man an additional 30 million customers-something doesn’t sound right. And if this is such a great deal, why will government officials be exempt from this wonderful program?? Doesn’t the saying go-“What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander??” I believe our fore fathers would be rolling in their graves to see what is going on in the nation they fought and died for. They fought for our freedom. The very freedoms we are handing back, one personal opinion that becomes law, at a time. Who was it that said, “The only thing to fear, is fear itself”…and how true. We have become a nation guided by fear and we are creating our own destiny…
3/18/2010
Internet Reader says….
Citizen Kane, if, as you state, only an idiot would support any kind of federally controlled healthcare then the following would hold true: the President and ALL former Presidents, the members of the House and Senate and ALL former members, all current members of every branch of the armed forces and all retired members of every branch of the armed forces, all people over age 65, all federal employees from the Secretary of Defense down to your local mail carrier ARE ALL IDIOTS. Each and every one of those people are covered by a federally sponsored (and thereby federally controlled) healthcare program. Every man and woman in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and every other branch of military service along with their spouses and children rely on a federally funded, and thereby federally controlled, healthcare system. I’m sorry, but a person could drive a truck through the holes in your statement.
3/18/2010
Context says….
So Humanity is Sick…How do you explain the babies that don’t have any rights to life? 33% of all women have an abortion at some point in their life. The simple truth is that no mammal has the right to life. It is survival of the fittest. As bad as the world is now, why would anyone want to prolong their life anyway? Isn’t heaven a far better place? Besides, the actual quote from the Declaration of Independence is…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The key word is Creator….not fellow Americans.
3/17/2010
Angry Uninsured Person says….
$200 million on Ads for it? Why didn’t they just use that $200 million to help people that don’t have insurance get insurance. Idiots.
3/17/2010
Citizen Kane says….
Fed up taxpayer, I agree with your comments, but remember, the Governor is a Democrat and he signed the smoking ban. He could have refused, but that would go gainst the Democratic agenda of controlling everyone!
3/17/2010
Fed up taxpayer says….
And Citizen Kane–Some of the very people who are railing on the federal government wantint to be in health care, are the very same nanny state Republicans who are hailing the smoking ban as some sort of victory to freedom. What a crock!
3/17/2010
Fed up taxpayer says….
humanity is sick–You are guaranteed the right to life, but it is not gauranteed that someone is going to help you. The federal government is refusing to attack the root cause of the problem and instead is looking at insurance companies as the demon. Try looking into why the hospitals are charging outrageous sums for common everyday items. Stop the hospitals from charging $1000.00 for a toothbrush, and insurance companies will not have to icrease premiums to cover these highly inflated prices!
3/17/2010
kansas says….
I don’t know the best solution. I know plenty of folks who pay 800-1000/month for health insurance premiums and then still get no coverage due to a ‘pre-existing condition’ or the insurance will only pay 20%. It is absolutely ridiculous to pay an insurance company to provide a service and then get denied for any and all reasons.
3/17/2010
Citizen Kane says….
Only an idiot would support any form of federally controlled health care!
3/17/2010
humanity is sick says….
I thought our country operated under the pretense that one of our Unalienable Rights was Life. I do not understand why anyone would deny someone the right to live regardless of their income level, any “pre-existing health issues”, or their employment status. We should all be happy to share the cost burden to ensure that our fellow man has the opportunity to be seen by a doctor and to be able to receive the care they deserve as a human being. Anyone opposed to this needs to be able to look at an ill family member who has lost a job and thus their insurance due to a stroke or heart attack; or a person who works a minimum wage job who gets cancer and cannot afford the treatments and medications needed; or a child who happens to be born into a poor family who contracts the flue and say to them “sorry, you are sick and do not deserve to have health care”.
3/17/2010
Salina.com
doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here. Read our
full online terms of service policy.
says….
To Says: First, it was NOT the premier of Canada but rather the premier of Newfoundland (kinda like the difference between President and Governor). Secondly, it was not because he could not get his care in Canada or didn’t trust the Canadian system but rather because it was very technical and required a specialist who happened to be an American doctor. Furthermore, if he would have received his treatment in Canada, he knew that there would be some political fallout because in Canada, you don’t get special treatment just because you are a politician or famous – you have to wait your turn like everyone else and he didn’t want to wait his turn. The surgery was a life-enhancing surgery. Not having it would not have caused his death or for him to get ill. And finally, he even is quoted as saying “”I have the utmost confidence in our own health care system in Newfoundland and Labrador, but we are just over half a million people,” he said.
“We do whatever we can to provide the best possible health care that we can in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Canadian health care system has a great reputation….”
And finally, if the Canadian health-care system is so bad – than why did Sarah Palin admit to using it as a child when she was in Alberta Canada given a speech in March?
3/28/2010
Visualize Impeachment says….
Obama’s Sick Plan promises to have the slowness of the DMV with the scariness of the IRS. That’s just how big government rolls!
3/27/2010
says….
Oh boy, it seems as though almost every comment is how unfair it will be to make us have medical insurance. I don’t mind that, where my problem is, what about the undocumented, illegals, does that mean we will be paying for them also? They are the ones that needs to go to jail, they are here illegally. They have broken the law. They are the ones at the ER for medical care because they don’t have insurance or probably ID. That is why our taxes are going up. But to say further what about civil, human, and constitutional rights? They are broken all the time. Sorry folks Barry Disney is one of them. He needs to be investigated for prosecutorial misconduct. That should go hand n hand with the civil rights and medical insurance.
3/27/2010
says….
If the Canadian health care system is such a point of PRIDE-then why did their own prime minister come to America for heart surgery?
3/26/2010
says….
If the Republicans seriously wanted health-care reform than why didn’t they do anything when they were in power for 8 years? Why have they historically always been against health-care reform whenever it was brought up? You can not seriously tell me that you believe they want any true health-care reform when they have done nothing but obstructionism every time. Take a look at history and you will find that the Republican party has never fully supported any social reform: Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, or even civil rights. Heck look at our own state Republicans and see how they have no problem giving away money to big businesses but yet want to cut deep into ALL social programs including Medicare and education.
Fox News, which is basically a talking box for the Republicans, started their anti-reform propaganda LONG before there was even a bill in the Senate or the House with their endless shows and commentaries about how horrible “other” countries health-care was while forgetting and neglecting to talk about the huge problems in our current system. All these stories about how bad Canadian care is when in actuality the Canadian Healthcare is the PRIDE of the people. All this talk about how someone was denied a medical procedure in Britain while never mentioning the thousands of people denied by their INSURANCE companies RIGHT HERE IN THE US.
So no….you will never, ever get me to believe that the Republicans want true health-care reform. I’ve seen how they have acted before and how they are acting now.
3/26/2010
my viewpoint says….
I am so tired of hearing that Republicans don’t want health care reform. We want a bi-partisan bill and one that the American people can understand. Can anyone read this bill and understand it?? Even some politicians who voted for it don’t understand everything that is in it. If it is so great, why were back room deals made to get it passed. How scary. Republicans also are not against immigration. I get tired of hearing that too. We are against ILLEGAL immigration. It is funny to hear people use the term “undocumented immigrant”. Call it what it is. If you are here illegally you are breaking our laws.
3/26/2010
says….
I have just about had it with “the government will pick up the tab, the government will help us, the government will pay for your healthcare”…where do you think the government get’s the money????? The government isn’t paying for anything! We, the tax payers, ARE! The government owes the tax payers 1.5 TRILLON DOLLARS for social security funds they have borrowed and haven’t bothered to replace! And how do you think they plan on replacing those funds?? By raising the social security tax! So they take our money for us, for safe keeping, to hold it for our retirements and THEY SPENT IT ON OTHER THINGS!!! Why should I be forced to contibribute to a fund for my retirement when it WON’T BE THERE WHEN I RETIRE BECAUSE SOMEONE COULDN’T STAY OUT OF THE “COOKIE JAR”! And you think government run health care will be ANY different?? The government SPENDS-the common american PAYS. The government WORKS FOR US!! And yet people are under this illusion that they are there to provide for us! They don’t provide for anyone! We do!! I am already forking over 34% of what I make for FEDERAL TAXES ALONE! I pay MORE in TAXES than WARREN BUFFET! And now I have to pay for 32 millon more people to receive healthcare??? How many of those people are strung out with needles hanging out of their arms?? How many WILL NOT work because that is a PAY CUT?? What kind of AMERICA is this that encourages it’s people to sit around and do nothing while those of us who have a desire to PURSUE the kind of life we’ve grown up beleiving we could have if we worked for it-and instead the money I should be taking home is being taken out of my paycheck and given to someone who doesn’t want anything more than to sit on their laurels and stick another needle in their arms!!!! Think about that when voting-how many junkies are you willing to pay for??? You can add them to YOUR medical insurance-I DON’T WANT THEM ON MINE!!!
3/25/2010
says….
Making it the law that you carry health insurance is very very bad people look at what happened with auto insurance yes its good to have but look whats happened the fact you have to have it enpowers the insurance companys just like auto lnsurance how much it costs is based more on your credit score than your driving record and there is nothing you can do about it because you by law have to have it and they use that to their advantage and do what they want and when it comes time for claims you need to hire an attorney to fight for what you pay all your money for I VOTE STOP MAKING THE INSURANCE COMPANYS RICH AND POWERFUL WHILE WE GET POORER!!!!
3/25/2010
Informed Individual says….
TO the individual who wrote this:
“says….
To We Were Free Once: you need to really read the facts that are in the bill instead of relying on some talking head from the far-right to do it for you. You will NOT go to jail if you do not buy insurance under this new bill. So no worries. What WILL happen is that you will have to pay an extra tax or fee to help cover the cost the rest of us will have to endure if you get sick while uninsured. That’s it. If you can not afford to purchase insurance, the government is now going to help. It is much, much cheaper for the government and ultimately tax-payers to help you get insurance and access to a regular doctor for checkups than to pay for a huge hospital bill if and when you get sick without insurance. And don’t say that you are now all of a sudden going to have to pay for someone who is not working – you were already paying for people on Medicaid/Medicare before this bill was even started.
And finally, please get this straight. This bill is NOTHING like the Canadian model. The Republicans, Insurance companies and talking heads want you to think that it is and then to scare you with how “horrible” their system is but that is not true. Canada has a single-payer system. That option was voted down from the beginning in our Congress. And as for waiting…..when my youngest son was 4 years old, we were sent to the ER by our physician and had to wait over 3 hours just to see a doctor because there were so many uninsured people there who were using the ER as their “regular” doctor since they didn’t have insurance.
And finally, are you sure you have a friend in Canada because many Canadians are very upset and fed-up in how their system of health-care is getting trashed by those who do not know what they are talking about. In fact, if you called 100 people in Canada and asked them which system they like the best (theirs vs ours) you will have over 90% say Canada.
Sir/Maam you are mis-informed yourself. When unlimited wants are meeting limited resources not everyone can have the good/service without rationing, which is what has happend with every country that has a universal health care system..I do mean every country. This is where this bill will lead to.
The second point of mis-information is that we will continue to pay for un-insured individuals, regardless of the fine. Reason being is that you will now be paying a higher cost of insurance for the same coverage, the article was in the Salina Journal this morning highlighting this point. Making everyone get health insurance does not fix the problem of high health care costs, but only shifts the cost elsewhere and exasperbates the problem. Reason being is now, the government is involved and thus the government will require more revenue to oversee the legislation imposed.
3/25/2010
says….
To We Were Free Once: you need to really read the facts that are in the bill instead of relying on some talking head from the far-right to do it for you. You will NOT go to jail if you do not buy insurance under this new bill. So no worries. What WILL happen is that you will have to pay an extra tax or fee to help cover the cost the rest of us will have to endure if you get sick while uninsured. That’s it. If you can not afford to purchase insurance, the government is now going to help. It is much, much cheaper for the government and ultimately tax-payers to help you get insurance and access to a regular doctor for checkups than to pay for a huge hospital bill if and when you get sick without insurance. And don’t say that you are now all of a sudden going to have to pay for someone who is not working – you were already paying for people on Medicaid/Medicare before this bill was even started.
And finally, please get this straight. This bill is NOTHING like the Canadian model. The Republicans, Insurance companies and talking heads want you to think that it is and then to scare you with how “horrible” their system is but that is not true. Canada has a single-payer system. That option was voted down from the beginning in our Congress. And as for waiting…..when my youngest son was 4 years old, we were sent to the ER by our physician and had to wait over 3 hours just to see a doctor because there were so many uninsured people there who were using the ER as their “regular” doctor since they didn’t have insurance.
And finally, are you sure you have a friend in Canada because many Canadians are very upset and fed-up in how their system of health-care is getting trashed by those who do not know what they are talking about. In fact, if you called 100 people in Canada and asked them which system they like the best (theirs vs ours) you will have over 90% say Canada.
3/24/2010
We were free once says….
I do not have a problem with them saying that kids still in college can be on their parents insurrance till 26, I do not have a problem with making insurrance companies except people with prior conditions.
I DO HAVE a problem with them saying I have to buy insurrance or be fined/ or go to jail. To be able to do this they are going to have to have a national database that will keep track of every person in the US. That is Communistic. I DO Have a problem with them cutting medicare and nursing homes just so they can add more people to the insurrance. I have a friend in Canada who has had to wait 2 years to have surgery because of the back log of people because doctors quit when they got their national insurrance and made everyone get it. It is already like that in the US Another friend who lives in Co has to wait 1 year to have shoulder surgery though the va.
cap·i·tal·ism
–noun
an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.
so·cial·ism /’so????l?z?m/ Show Spelled[soh-shuh-liz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1.a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2.procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3.(in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles
com·mu·nism /’k?my??n?z?m/ Show Spelled[kom-yuh-niz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1.a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.
2.(often initial capital letter) a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.
3.(initial capital letter) the principles and practices of the Communist party.
Communism
A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
The Marxist-Leninist version of Communist doctrine that advocates the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat.
3/24/2010
says….
To “midwest dude”…If you can’t afford a one-way ticket to Europe, I will buy you one. Since things are already so wonderful there, and you can see how beneficial that life style is-take yourself on over there. Don’t bother writing or calling once you get there…we’ll all assume you are doing fine…oh, and don’t worry a thing about the news that shows how poor Europe is, and how people from those counties (who can afford to) come to the USA to be treated because of waiting lists and inadequeate specialists. Give me your address and I’ll send you a one way non-refundable ticket on the first plane out…and for all of you out there who believe that other countries are doing so well with these programs, feel free to save your money and do the same. This is AMERICA and you have the CHOICE to LEAVE…once you get there, you may not have the choice to come back, but I’m sure that won’t bother you. I don’t want to change anyone’s opinon-I want you to get out of my country and go live in a society you’ll be more comfortable in. Me, I’ll stay and WORK to PURSUE the freedoms still left in my country and fight to get what’s been lost, back. V-I couldn’t have said it better. This can turn out to be a very good thing because true americans are waking up and ready to fight for what our fore-fathers gave us. I can’t quite figure out how anyone, with the knowledge that in countries like Canada, whose own prime ministers are coming to the USA for heart surgeries, think that implementing the same policies would be a good idea…my only thought is that the supporters are those who don’t work, don’t want to work, and are more than happy to sit around and let others foot the bill for their laziness…And I think there ARE places like that for you. China and Europe are two good examples. Use your AMERICAN right to move to a place where they will strip all that away and take care of you.
3/24/2010
says….
I just looked at my paycheck for the week. Federal withholding, State withholding, Social Security, and Medicare add up to $149.42 per week out of my check. The BCBS deduction for the week was $167.58. That’s over $8700.00 a year I pay for health insurance and my employer has to pay that amount also. I don’t know how much this bill will change things but at least someone is trying to fix the problems with health care.
3/24/2010
says….
What next , more than three members in a household you will HAVE TO HAVE atleast one chevrolet? sounds fair to me , i open the debate to all supporters of this soon to be communist government. how is MAKING me have healthcare any different than MAKING me drive a chevrolet? HMMMM me not having car insurance i understand , me not smoking in public places i understand but HOW is me not having healthcare endangering you . And havent we had free healthcare all along , i know lots of people who have had surgeries and all and never paid a dime….oh and its because they dont have a dime to give. so i guess they will go to jail and face fines now? wow , if they dont have two nickels to rub together now doubt they gonna have any to pay big brother for health insurance .
3/23/2010
says….
i understand that you HAVE to have insurance to drive a car on public roads or face fines and jail. Also understand if you hunt game you HAVE to have a license or face fines and jail. ‘SEE WHERE IM GOING’? HOW HOW HOW do you MAKE me have health insurance or face fines and jail. Are you kidding me? Is by chance this a rumor? I hope its true….because we won’t have a homeless problem anymore , me and all the homeless and also poor i guess will have a free place to live. Hows the free healthcare in there going?
3/23/2010
says….
hey blah blah blah ! ThAT sure was alot of blah , the name fits . The crooked government (period)we live under comes up with so many rules and regulations and boundaries etc , they ALL involve money (or correct me with one that isnt)and i mean the taking of our money .
3/23/2010
Sick of the “Blah, Blah, Blah” says….
If nationalized healthcare supposedly doesn’t work, why are we one of only 2 or 3 other industrialized nations in the world that doesn’t have it? Why according to the CIA World Factbook, if we have such a great health care system, does our life expectancy fall at #49 and other countries with Nationalized Healthcare have longer life expectancy. Why do we have a higher infant mortality rate than countries with Nationalized Healthcare? Because we have a HIGH number of UNINSURED people in this country. Because our system is broken. Someone is trying to fix it. Give it a shot, maybe it will work. Now Kansas is trying to pass a law so that no one who is uninsured should have to get insurance. Guess who will end up paying for that in the end. You and me. When the hospitals write off their uncompensated care, you will pay for it. If you want to help solve these problems, get out there and help instead of complaining about what a bad job someone else is doing. Y
3/23/2010
V says….
This election era is no different than the last election erra. All of the people of the United States…yes ALL…have made this happen. Through neglect and apathy we the people have been handing over the government to corperations and tyrants since the 1930’s. No-one questioned the “Freedom of Information Act” no one questioned the tactics used to hide the truths of our own governments corruption from us.
You have had the change you seek. The Revolution began when Obama was elected. The people were tired of it and wanted change. The type of change was not questioned, merely the fact of chaging. I am glad to see the two sides going at each others throats like Muslims and Christians have for a millenia…Now, you seek more change…you have become aware of the true dealings of the governments habits. This is not the first time this is happened…just the first time anyone cares… CARE ON PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES! CHALLENGE YOUR GOVERNMENTS AND TAKE BACK WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY YOURS…your freedoms…
3/23/2010
Black Cross Blue Shield says….
I am continually delighted to see all of the conservative Glenn Beck Kool aid drinkers spouting on about all of the negative aspects of this bill. How many of you have read it? I tried to but my head nearly exploded it is over 1000 pages long based on the site i found it at. We can all agree that the deficit spending is out of whack but it is still a better investment than Bush’s 3 trillion dollar war venture. People paying $1000 per month for health insurance is a broken system. I don’t care what you say. Is this the answer? I don’t know. You don’t either.
3/23/2010
Midwest Dude says….
As this country and world gets more and more populated, society will have to migrate to a socialist form of government. Most of Europe is socialist and frankly, the quality of life there is much better than here in the USA. Total freedom might have worked in centuries past when population density was low, but as more and more people are vying for limited resources, it will be up to the government to effectively manage those resources. Myself, I’m a firm supporter of socialism.
3/23/2010
Vern says….
to ” city worker”. You dont get it. First, I’m not a Republican or a fan of McCain or Bush. The drive to put Obama in the white house was a one time deal. The number of lefties, first time voters and Acornites who voted in that election will not come out to vote in a mid-term election. That segment of the voting population wanted to make sure Obama got in. He did; now they will sit on the sideline. The excitement is gone. Many of them had no idea what they were voting for in the first place. That is fact, and documented. See it on youtube. It’s not just Republicans that Don’t like this health care bill. The fact is the Democratic party voted for this against the will of the people. This is also fact, and documented.Just because you likely voted for Obama doesn’t mean you have to follow him blindly. Use your brain and think things through for yourself. This bill is going to be very problematic for this country. Most people realize that. I stand by my earlier post. The Democratic party will pay dearly for this vote in November.
3/23/2010
says….
The sooner you dimwits ruin this country the sooner china can take over the sooner that happens the sooner my Lord and saviour will return .
3/23/2010
bush is bad says….
YES WE CAN
3/22/2010
city worker says….
Yes we have spoken that is why Mcain isnt in charge. And as for November I cant wait.Maybe then you will get it Vern, the good ol boy days are done. So is the gop.
3/22/2010
Reps. and Dems need to untied for all of us says….
The health care isn’t the issue here…think about it. How many people do you know that uses the system to not work and get free stuff paid by all of us? I know a bunch.I know people that don’t work, buy stuff they can’t afford, file bankruptcy because they can keep their new stuff, and have more and more kids. Why? Because no one stops them. We would not be in this place we are today, fight over healthcare issue, if we made those that can work, work. If they want something free, work for it. My grandparents lived in the 30’s. It was rough. They didn’t ask for handouts they worked whatever and where ever they could to take care of their families. Once we make people do their part, we can all together work on taking care of those that are struggling and deserve the help.
I think parts of the healthcare is wrong part is right, but the government refuses to work together to find a common ground.They don’t want to help each other out. I have a family member that is a level 1 diabetics. She works 2 jobs and still gets turned down for insurance or has to pay so much for it all that she makes from the 2 jobs go to it. This is where we need to fix the health care. Or for the person who works really hard all of their lives but can’t get on Medicare because they are too young, but can’t get healthcare because they have a pre-existing cause.
3/22/2010
Vern says….
to “city worker”. The people have NOT spoken, the liberal Democratic party has, and they will pay dearly for it in November.
3/22/2010
says….
It’s not over-the people have not spoken. The government has spoken and it’s time for a new one of those…apparently they feel like they are too good to listen to the people.
3/22/2010
Worried says….
I totally agree with the veteran who said they pay for their own healthcare specifically because they know how federal health care is run. My dad is retired AirForce, and I remember all too well going to the base bospital growing up. I am completely against this health care bill-the main reason being my daughter. She was a 24 weeker and spent several months in the hospital. If it hadn’t been for extremely good medicine and a doctor who did more than come to work for a paycheck, she wouldn’t be here today. So those of you who say “survival of the fittest’, you strike a very raw nerve with me. Will babies like my daughter fall through the cracks with this new system because they are “not fit for care”? Who will make the decisions about whose conditions are emergencies and whose are not?
3/22/2010
city worker says….
its over… the people have spoken… get over it republicans you lost.
3/22/2010
a former democrat! says….
Can someone put a sock in Ms. Pelosi’s mouth!!! Enough already!
3/21/2010
Confused says….
I don’t get it. The government has not been able to manage their own finances, they can’t provide for our schools to give quality educations, they can’t protect us from crime, what in the WORLD makes people believe they can provide health care?
Seriously.
3/20/2010
Internet Reader says….
Citizen Kane, I believe one of the “house rules” on commenting is to “be civil”. Your response was nothing if not outright rude, crude and unacceptable. I don’t know what I’m talking about when it comes to federally funded healthcare? Sir or Madam (for I’ve no idea which you are) for twenty-two years I was in the service of this country as a Marine. As a retiree I am still receiving federally funded healthcare. So are members of my family, as well as many friends who are still active duty military or who work for the federal government. I, sir or madam, and my current and former comrades in arms who gave years of our lives in the service and defense of our country are NOT idiots because we support federally funded healthcare. It is one of our benefits. It may not be perfect, but it is so much better than nothing at all. You may also rest assured that there is no “hole in my head where my brain fell out”. My brain is firmly intact and has enabled me to earn my Bachelor of Science degree as well as a Master’s Degree. I won’t ask for or expect an apology, but you are excused all the same. After all, as a United States Marine I put my life on the line to defend your Constitutional right to say whatever you think. Just try not to be rude when you do so.
3/20/2010
peasant says….
This is NOT health reform this government CONTROL.The gov. is now going to MAKE you get insurance,or be fined,go to jail.NEXT they are going to put ILLEGAL immigrants into the program.So we can pay for them and the abortions AND all the rest that is being promised that is NOT in this bill YET. KEEP CALLING AND OPPOSING THIS BILL !!!!!!
3/19/2010
Citizen Kane says….
“Internet Reader”, Someone could drive a truck through the hole in your head wear your brain (I assume you had one)fell out! You have no idea what your talking about when it comes to Federal Employees healthcare. Stop reading your Liberal propaganda for a change and find something with some truth in it!
3/19/2010
says….
Who has borrowed 1.3 trillon dollars from medicare? Our own elected officals. Who pays into the medicare program? Working taxpayers. You and I. This is not an entitlement program. This is a program that people who work fund. In fact, the government uses our money interest free. We have social security. Who funds this program. The tax payer. How much has our elected officials “borrowed” from it. Would it be in the black if they had left their hands off of it? We have medicaid for those people who need help. Who funds medicaid? All of us that pay taxes. The regulations obviously are not working. Why don’t we overhaul medicaid? Last but not least, why would we allow elected officals to ram a bill like this mess of a health care bill down our throats when the elected officals don’t plan on participating in it? They are NOT kings and queens. They are Americans, just like you and me. Why would you even think about letting people WHO WORK FOR YOU dictate that you should have a health care program that THEY WON’T participate in. THIS SHOULD BE A BIG CLUE that this is not something that is good for us! Last but not least, what happens to the 1.3 trillon dollars that our government owes to the taxpayer funded medicare? Is this just going to go away? How can anyone in their right mind not be livid at what is going on?
3/18/2010
says….
I am a veteran-and I do not utilize that federally conrolled portion of my benefits and I’ll tell you why I choose to pay for insurance to be able to go to a regular doctors office…first and foremost, you get what you pay for. There is no quality of care at the VA-now there are SMALL clinics that offer very limited sevices such as screenings, that have a wonderful staff, but the hospitals are filled with 8 to 4:30ers who are just there for the paycheck…and the doctors are no exception. If you take a trip to the ER, plan on being there for a couple days before you’ll get seen. Have a cold and need an antibiotic? Plan on at least a one day trip. Just to get your prescription filled often takes more than 4 hrs. If you don’t want to wait, they will mail it to you in 7-10 business days. I have had to have several tests for various medical issues and have not one time been able to get my results. I get a nurses assistant who tells me they aren’t authorized to hand that info out, and the doctor is too busy to return my call, but in their opinion, I shouldn’t worry. I had a stress test done on my heart-I lost a days wages to have this test done. I drove 60 miles one way to get my results and was told the test had not been done correctly and I was more than welcome to re-schedule. That is when I decided to pay for my healthcare. Had there been a serious issue with my heart, I may not be sitting here today. And I promise you that I have NEVER seen ONE government official in any facility I’ve been to. They do not use the same facilities that are utulized by the public-don’t kid yourself into thinking they are receiving the same quality of care as they see fit for our veterans. And here is the kicker-WE pay for them to have fabulous healthcare, and they see fit to use our money sparingly on public facilities. No, I am not for this plan. I’ve seen first hand what that looks like, and I choose to pay my own way. I am absolutely sick that in a couple days, I may no longer have that option and will be stuck going to places like the system in place for Veterans for the rest of my life. And not just for me, for my children and grandchildren who will never know what it’s like to be free and make their own decisions. I believe we’ve forgotten that we have the right to the PURSUIT of life, libery and happiness-we have the right to pursue those things-that is an action word. Nowhere does it say that I have the right to be given those things. I have the right to go after them and they should be attainable. That is a huge difference. I have the right to get them myself…
3/18/2010
says….
If universal heath care is such a great deal, then why haven’t those people who want to live that way moved to Canada? Sure the cost of living is astronomical, and if you get sick you are put on a waiting list of a year or more…now that’s a comforting thought-cancer? Can you start chemo March 2011? So those people come to America to be treated…I agree, hospital costs and insurance premiums are outrageous. Have you seen the salary of a hospital administrator?? Or how about your local insurance administrator’s?? How many premiums does it take to cover those costs?? And that’s just one person on the payroll. However, the answer is NOT having our federal government get in the business of healthcare. Look at every other government run program-Social Security. Do you know the government owes 1.5 TRILLON dollars to that fund? They take money to support their “pet” programs and special interests to get re-elected and they have us in a huge mess. 6.2% of my paycheck goes to fund this program for MY retirement and the government has spent the money…and you really want these people running your healthcare? Medicare/Medicade…Can you think of one government program that has not gotten so complicated and mismanaged that even those people running the show know what’s going on? FEMA, Welfare-I have no problem with people who need help, but they usually don’t qualify-It’s the ones who feel like getting a job would be a pay cut that that money is being dished out to. I don’t suppose I’m going to change anyone’s personal opinion, and that’s ok…In theory, health care for all sounds great-but in reality it won’t look anything like what’s on paper. There’s a miconception that the government will pay for this-as a nation I think we’re forgetting that we the people, as individuals, fund the government. They are supposed to work for us and they’ve grown out of control. Raising taxes, adding new taxes-the death tax, inheritance tax, the list is too long- and every new program they come up with is a horrible mess. It bothers me that this will be yet another insurance that I will be required to carry. It seems to me that it would save way more money to cut out the middle man-yet they are not only not cutting the middle man out, they will be giving the middle man an additional 30 million customers-something doesn’t sound right. And if this is such a great deal, why will government officials be exempt from this wonderful program?? Doesn’t the saying go-“What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander??” I believe our fore fathers would be rolling in their graves to see what is going on in the nation they fought and died for. They fought for our freedom. The very freedoms we are handing back, one personal opinion that becomes law, at a time. Who was it that said, “The only thing to fear, is fear itself”…and how true. We have become a nation guided by fear and we are creating our own destiny…
3/18/2010
Internet Reader says….
Citizen Kane, if, as you state, only an idiot would support any kind of federally controlled healthcare then the following would hold true: the President and ALL former Presidents, the members of the House and Senate and ALL former members, all current members of every branch of the armed forces and all retired members of every branch of the armed forces, all people over age 65, all federal employees from the Secretary of Defense down to your local mail carrier ARE ALL IDIOTS. Each and every one of those people are covered by a federally sponsored (and thereby federally controlled) healthcare program. Every man and woman in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and every other branch of military service along with their spouses and children rely on a federally funded, and thereby federally controlled, healthcare system. I’m sorry, but a person could drive a truck through the holes in your statement.
3/18/2010
Context says….
So Humanity is Sick…How do you explain the babies that don’t have any rights to life? 33% of all women have an abortion at some point in their life. The simple truth is that no mammal has the right to life. It is survival of the fittest. As bad as the world is now, why would anyone want to prolong their life anyway? Isn’t heaven a far better place? Besides, the actual quote from the Declaration of Independence is…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The key word is Creator….not fellow Americans.
3/17/2010
Angry Uninsured Person says….
$200 million on Ads for it? Why didn’t they just use that $200 million to help people that don’t have insurance get insurance. Idiots.
3/17/2010
Citizen Kane says….
Fed up taxpayer, I agree with your comments, but remember, the Governor is a Democrat and he signed the smoking ban. He could have refused, but that would go gainst the Democratic agenda of controlling everyone!
3/17/2010
Fed up taxpayer says….
And Citizen Kane–Some of the very people who are railing on the federal government wantint to be in health care, are the very same nanny state Republicans who are hailing the smoking ban as some sort of victory to freedom. What a crock!
3/17/2010
Fed up taxpayer says….
humanity is sick–You are guaranteed the right to life, but it is not gauranteed that someone is going to help you. The federal government is refusing to attack the root cause of the problem and instead is looking at insurance companies as the demon. Try looking into why the hospitals are charging outrageous sums for common everyday items. Stop the hospitals from charging $1000.00 for a toothbrush, and insurance companies will not have to icrease premiums to cover these highly inflated prices!
3/17/2010
kansas says….
I don’t know the best solution. I know plenty of folks who pay 800-1000/month for health insurance premiums and then still get no coverage due to a ‘pre-existing condition’ or the insurance will only pay 20%. It is absolutely ridiculous to pay an insurance company to provide a service and then get denied for any and all reasons.
3/17/2010
Citizen Kane says….
Only an idiot would support any form of federally controlled health care!
3/17/2010
humanity is sick says….
I thought our country operated under the pretense that one of our Unalienable Rights was Life. I do not understand why anyone would deny someone the right to live regardless of their income level, any “pre-existing health issues”, or their employment status. We should all be happy to share the cost burden to ensure that our fellow man has the opportunity to be seen by a doctor and to be able to receive the care they deserve as a human being. Anyone opposed to this needs to be able to look at an ill family member who has lost a job and thus their insurance due to a stroke or heart attack; or a person who works a minimum wage job who gets cancer and cannot afford the treatments and medications needed; or a child who happens to be born into a poor family who contracts the flue and say to them “sorry, you are sick and do not deserve to have health care”.
3/17/2010
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