Obama’s Best-Case Scenario on Health Care Bill is Mid-Fall

By midifall, it will be the Waxman-Snowe-Demint “Take-Two-Aspirin-And-Call Me-In-A-Month” Bill. Stll, it will be hailed as an historic triumph for Our President.

That isn’t good enough. What we need is a solution that takes the insurance company bureaucrats out of the picture. Corporate health care means bureaucrats interfering between us and our doctors. That doesn’t happen in Medicare.

“Corporate health care means bureaucrats interfering between us and our doctors. That doesn’t happen in Medicare.”
LOL is this a joke? You are being sarcastic aren’t you?
If not, please refer to recent house debates on what medicare will and will not cover, regardless of what you have to say about it. You’re timing couldn’t be worse with such a statement.

Just another note, insurance won’t pay for something the doctor doesn’t recommend to happen, or isn’t covered in your policy. A government beaurocrat won’t pay for something regardless of what the doctor says. It’s a significant difference.
Just take a look at what the talking heads are saying already. If your obese or fat, you’re a burden to the system and you must change even if by government force. That just means if your fat, you’re not covered in government terms. You want diabetes coverage? Lose weight first. You’re too old for that procedure, leave the money for someone younger. These are all government decisions in a future with government control. They will start to put your life on a scale of importance.

KR, you never heard of recission? The insurance companies wont even pay for the things that ARE in your plan.

That isn’t good enough. What we need is a solution that takes the insurance company bureaucrats out of the picture. Corporate health care means bureaucrats interfering between us and our doctors. That doesn’t happen in Medicare.
Posted by: Flash Override | Jul 29, 2009 3:24:55 PM
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Medicare, which is broke.
Take the insurance bureaucrat out of the picture and costs rise because of no oversight. Rates go up. People complain more than they already are.
And last I checked it was a free country and a company can have as many bureaucrats as they want. You may be one yourself.

The dissonance between the polling data we both cited can only be explained one way: the American people are far to the left of Obama on health care.

–KR, you never heard of recission? The insurance companies wont even pay for the things that ARE in your plan.–
Yeah, govt’s never have money problems during recessions!

Medicare, broke? Not quite, but that is one of those thouroughly debunked talking points that just won’t die because there is always someone out there dumb enough to believe it.
The cost of supporting a private health insurance industry is unsustainable. Its not just the bureaucrats, but the salespeople, the billing specialists, the lawyers, the lobbyists, and all sorts of other parasites.
The only people who believe your nonsense are the DCI Group.

KR, You seem to misunderstand how the current healthcare industry works. Corporate health care has many scary aspects.As someone who worked in the group insurance, PPO and HMO industries, negotiating contracts with providers, and working closely on “messes” with customer service, there is a lot of bloated bureaucracy, a lot of waste, the oversight isn’t great in many instances– and there are many reasons things aren’t paid for beyond the doctor’s lack of a recommendation and the policy.
And this statement–
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If your obese or fat, you’re a burden to the system and you must change even if by government force. That just means if your fat, you’re not covered in government terms. You want diabetes coverage? Lose weight first. You’re too old for that procedure, leave the money for someone younger. These are all government decisions in a future with government control.
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is blatantly false. I don’t know if you’re stirring the pot, or authentically that misinformed. Read health care blogs rather than listening to Rush or Glenn Beck. I know they’re likely worried about the whole obesity thing, but they’re letting their paranoia over their weight problems get the best of them if this is what they’re telling you.
Also, some of you seem genuinely afraid of a “government run” program, but that’s not what is on the table. You get that right? The government won’t be providing care or running hospitals or physician practices. And there will be options. There is even talk about state co-ops which will directly compete with the public option.

KR, there is a big difference between a public option, and what is coming out of congress. There are basically four things that seperate it from what the people want:
1) It subsidizes private insurance, not just people buying into the public plan, thus driving costs higher.
2) It does not start with a large sustainable pool (the uninsured, Medicaid and SCHIP recipients) like Medicare did, thus driving costs higher.
3) It does not allow the government to impose the Medicare schedule, thus driving up costs.
4) It does not allow employees of large employers to join.
That is the difference between the public option of a month ago and the one we are looking at now.

There is even talk about state co-ops which will directly compete with the public option.
Posted by: Alyson | Jul 29, 2009 4:06:58 PM
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That’s kinda the point Alyson. HR3200 has morphed into who knows what, run by the Democrats doing who knows what behind closed doors. What happened to TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND BRODCASTING ON C-SPAN promised by the President? Just words.
As I continue to rail, this was supposed to be a different administration and it is just business as usual. You get that right? We knew it all along but you bought the lie, not us. Now you can’t even defend it.
And to drive my point home a bit:
“Vice President Joe Biden has another full day of secret closed meetings in Washington.
“…he’ll have a closed briefing on whatever the Recovery Act is or is not doing. Then, for the remainder of the entire day, Biden will have hour after hour of meetings with unidentified people on unidentified subjects.”

“m.. no your poll is from Jun 17th. The Gallup poll is from July 25th. The people have changed their mind about this bill as they have learned more about it.”
This Gallup Poll?
“The good news for the Obama administration: 7 in 10 Americans would advise their representative in Congress to pass a new healthcare reform law — one of President Obama’s major domestic priorities. The not-so-good news for Obama is that less than half (41%) favor passing such a law this year, with 30% favoring a new law but saying it is not necessary to move that quickly. About a quarter of Americans, the majority of whom are Republicans, would advise their representative in Congress not to pass a new healthcare reform law at all.”

The Gallup poll of 7/27 shows that 66% doubt that Congress has a grasp of health care issues.
So what’s the point of touting that the majority of Americans want reform when it’s Congress doing the reforming? We’re going to have a group of politicians reforming something when we don’t trust them to do a good job. How does that work?

“We have a system today that works well for the insurance industry, but it doesn’t always work well for you,” the president said.
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What The One does not seem to understand is 80%+ of Americans are happy with the healthcare they receive.
Another day, more lies, more hyprocrisy.

I know you understand what is going on behind closed doors. The result could be better – it could be worse. We just don’t know yet.
My previous point being that Alyson should not be supporting a bill that is still behind closed doors. And yet Alyson confidently criticizes:
“Also, some of you seem genuinely afraid of a “government run” program, but that’s not what is on the table. You get that right? The government won’t be providing care or running hospitals or physician practices. And there will be options. There is even talk about state co-ops which will directly compete with the public option.”
And to make matters worse:
The Gallup poll of 7/27 shows that 66% doubt that Congress has a grasp of health care issues. We’re trusting a group of politicians that polls show we don’t trust or think is capabale to do a good job reforming HC. It’s insanity.

Are Obama’s plans for insurance based on legislation in Congress, or is he just making this up because it sounds good?
The President doesn’t draft the legislation – all they generally do is provide pointers to Congress beforehand. Obama didn’t really do that, though, did he?

My previous point being that Alyson should not be supporting a bill that is still behind closed doors. And yet Alyson confidently criticizes:
“Also, some of you seem genuinely afraid of a “government run” program, but that’s not what is on the table. You get that right? The government won’t be providing care or running hospitals or physician practices. And there will be options. There is even talk about state co-ops which will directly compete with the public option.”
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Traffic Cop Timmy, I don’t know if I support the bill yet, and I disagree that my criticism means I’d support a bill I hadn’t read yet. I will likely be disappointed in some aspects. I’m actually to the left of Obama on health care reform. I DO support reform (single payer and/or a much stronger public option but not government run providers) and, yes, I’m willing to support compromise it moves us in the right direction. I was confident in my criticism because the President and no other reasonable person actually involved drafting the bill has suggested that a “government-run” program is on the table. In fact, we’ve been told over and over again, that’s NOT the plan. I do believe that. A government run program would never get passed through Congress! It seems silly to me to be paranoid over it. But to each their own. Everyone has the right to worry about whatever they wish to worry about.

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My previous point being that Alyson should not be supporting a bill that is still behind closed doors. And yet Alyson confidently criticizes:
“Also, some of you seem genuinely afraid of a “government run” program, but that’s not what is on the table. You get that right? The government won’t be providing care or running hospitals or physician practices. And there will be options. There is even talk about state co-ops which will directly compete with the public option.”
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Traffic Cop Timmy, I don’t know if I support the bill yet. I disagree that my criticism means I’d support a bill I hadn’t read yet. I will likely be disappointed in some aspects. I’m actually to the left of Obama on health care reform. I DO support reform (single payer and/or a much stronger public option but not government run providers) and I’m willing to support compromise IF it moves us in the right direction. I was confident in my criticism because NEITHER the President NOR any other reasonable person actually involved drafting the bill has suggested that a “government-run” program is on the table. In fact, we’ve been told over and over again, that’s NOT the plan. I do believe that. A government run program would never get passed through Congress! It seems silly to me to be paranoid over it. But to each their own. Everyone has the right to worry about whatever they wish to worry about.

An as far as a single-payer system goes, in spite of what Washington says, in my mind I can’t help but think they are just itching to get their hands on all the money.
Somehow I see it eventually ending up in the general fund like everything else and we’ll be having the same discussion in 20 years about the HC fund going broke as we are with Medicare and SS.
You seem much more trusting than I am, Alyson.

NOT ONLY WILL OBAMA’S PLAN BANKRUPT US, IT WILL BE A DISASTER FOR SENIORS, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS. CANADA DOESN’T HAVE MEDICAL LOTTERIES FOR NO REASON (Where the winners get moved up the wait list for medical service).
I SEE THAT CANADA AGAIN MISSED IT’S GOAL OF BRINGING DOWN WAIT TIMES TO “EIGHTEEN WEEKS” FOR MANY COMMON MEDICAL PROCEDURES. WONDERFUL!!
AND OBAMA WANTS TO GIVE US A PLAN SIMILAR TO THEIRS???

“I SEE THAT CANADA AGAIN MISSED IT’S GOAL OF BRINGING DOWN WAIT TIMES TO “EIGHTEEN WEEKS” FOR MANY COMMON MEDICAL PROCEDURES. WONDERFUL!!”
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The American system is so far behind Canada’s it doesn’t even have a record of what its wait times are.

danita – If our system is so far behind Canada, then why doesn’t some enterprising entity start health care lotteries down here? I recently had a heart ablation. Doc scheduled it for three days after I initially saw him. SAME PROCEDURE IN CANADA – THREE YEARS!! WHERE IS CANADA’S MAYO CLINIC, JOHNS HOPKINS AND CLEVELAND CLINIC? THEY DON”T EXIST! ALL THOSE RICH GUYS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST DON’T GO TO CANADA FOR THEIR PROCEDURES!! I THINK THAT YOU LIBS ARE RUNNING OUT OF GOBBLEDEGOOK, AS THE BLUE DOG DEMS ARE DISCOVERING!! IN THE END IT BOILS DOWN TO WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN’T WORK – BETTING IS “NOT” ON OBAMA’S PLANS WHEATHER IT BE THE ECONOMY OR HEALTH CARE.

Whatever passes will be a Trojan Horse. Democrats will dangle increased benefits as voter bait in upcoming elections in their predictable pandering manner.

drjohn – your comment on lack of facts (or inductive reasoning) among the libs, is the number one reason that lib talk radio has been a dismal failure. Lib radio does not hold up to in-depth analysis and is soon exposed as bogus = no bucks from advertisers. Good people with good intentions, but lacking in rational thought. The only avenue for lib talk radio is public broadcasting which is paid for from taxpayer dollars. That really irks me!! Pathetic!!

“The American system is so far behind Canada’s it doesn’t even have a record of what its wait times are.”
It must be delightful to be so free of the need for facts.
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Exactly, show me the facts of American waiting times.

Seems to me that the PARTY OF YES wants Obama to fail.

“As I tried to research American wait times, I found that they are not studied because there’s really no point, apparently, as they are not a problem.”
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You don’t know if there is a problem because you cannot access information of wait times.
The Canadian system is organized so they know almost exactly.
That you as an American would presume there are no wait times when you have no data is ludicrous.
Of course there are wait times – the problem is you don’t have any idea what they are!

moderate . .. .
I have already (for you) posted some wait times just to get to see a specialist – these were rare finds I dug out from research and showed significant wait times.
That the information is not documented and easily available to the public speaks to the weaknesses of the current system.
Everybody has to wait some length of time to see a specialist, have a hip replaced and so on . .. publish the wait times and let us judge for ourselves whether those wait times are significant – not have somebody you imagine hidden somewhere saying ‘we have no data because our results are so good’. That is nonsense.

I think that the wait times of people who don’t have insurance must be factored in too. What is the point of arguing the overall merits of the two systems by comparing the wait times of all Canadians with the wait times of only those Americans who have insurance when one of the most important issues regarding these proposed programs is the fact that millions of Americans don’t have insurance? It’s a little too conveniently selective to just ignore such a big part of the problem is it not?

@Skip – thats why you can’t calculate wait times in the US – you can’t make an average using infinity as one of the factors. Its mathematically impossible.

“thats why you can’t calculate wait times in the US – you can’t make an average using infinity as one of the factors. Its mathematically impossible.”
And here I thought that they were being sneaky or neglectful in their assertions only to find out they have a real reason to be unable to furnish the actual numbers. I should have given them the benefit of the doubt.

CURRENT HEALTH PLAN IN HOUSE – I HAVE TO GET “END OF LIFE” COUNSELING EVERY FIVE YEARS BEGINNING AT AGE 55? WHAT IS THAT A JOKE? TALK ABOUT STUPIDITY AT ITS FINEST. KOOLAID DRINKERS HAVE INDEED REACHED THE HEIGHT OF THEIR INCOMPETENCY. (PETER PRINCIPLE).

DAVE – MRI IN CANADA? FORGET ABOUT TWO DAYS.

Dave . ..
What we are looking for is STATISTICS on wait times in the United States. Not some story about one guy’s wife.
Emergency medical procedures in Canada are delivered on a triage basis, same as pretty much any other emergency ward in the ‘western’ world.

Flash, yeah, I listened with interest to an NPR story this weekend on the RAM health clinic in the “third world” region of southwest Virginia. I was fascinated because I was actually born near Wise, Virginia, the place where they held the fair and people waited for more than a day to get in for free health care. And as a former resident of that area, I can tell you that not everyone in the region is poor and/or lacking health insurance. I can also assure you that we– both current and former residents– are a little touchy about the stereotypes about that part of the country that seemed to bleed into the NPR coverage.
I am not going to argue that Appalachia, a region I know well and where I have numerous (distant) relatives, is devoid of major economic and social problems. I am not going to argue that health care is as easily accessible for every person in Wise County, Virginia, as it is in Manhattan. However, the health fair brought out a strange mix of feelings in me– pride that so many volunteers were willing to donate their time and services to help others, sadness that so many needed that help, and irritation at the attitude of the RAM founder, who was interviewed as part of the report.
However, mostly I was confused about why so many people were here. Many in Wise County and surrounding counties live in poverty and thus easily qualify for Medicaid. (I used bing to confirm that, as I suspected, 25% of the county’s 40,000 people have Medicaid). There are three good hospitals in the county, two in the country seat of Norton, which is just a few miles away from the fairgrounds. One of these is a not-for-profit hospital that also runs 4 clinics in the county and has 80 physicians on staff. There is a cancer center, a hospice, and several home health service providers in the county.
What I am trying in my long-winded way is that there are doctors and hospitals in the county and there is government assistance to pay for their services. So I am honestly confused about the big numbers of people showing up at the health fair. Of course, many were not from the immediate area– the NPR story said they came from 16 states, according to statistics from the fair.
So, yes, there was a RAM medical fair that drew large crowds and involved long wait times for medical, dental, and optometric care. That is not proof that the people in the town where the fair was held ordinarily have difficulty obtaining medical care.
It’s never a simple story– our health care system is not perfect but neither is it dangerously broken. We need to work together to find practical ways to improve access to health care for those who need it, because they are underinsured or “uninsurable.” But a public option is not the way to do that, in my opinion. Pooling uninsurables, guaranteeing portability of health care, tort reform, etc. — there are a lot of important steps to be taken to improve our current system of health care and health insurance.

Moderate – well said. As we speak there is movement in the Senate to do exactly as you are referring to – WITHOUT THE PUBLIC OPTION!!!!!! BEST ESTIMATES STATE THAT AT THE MINIMUM A PUBLIC OPTION HEALTH PLAN WOULD CREATE THIRTY PLUS NEW LEVELS OF BUREAUCRACY!! JUST WHAT WE NEED!!

Timmy . ..
Don’t get me wrong, I read Dave’s story about his wife, but you seemed to have missed the general drift of the conversation – where we were looking for actual STATISTICS about wait times.
My comment in return is just as much fair play as Dave’s – something you ignored.

Evidently, wait times statistics are are a lot more important in Canada than here in the US. Why? Isn’t that obvious? THIS IS WHERE ONE NEEDS TO USE DEDUCTIVE REASONING!!!!

My comment in return is just as much fair play as Dave’s – something you ignored.
Posted by: danita | Jul 29, 2009 11:33:38 PM
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Please. You assumed he was responding to you and simply dismissed him out of hand. Since he did not quote any of your comments, I don’t even think he was responding to you or your request for wait time statistics.
Just ignoring his post wasn’t an option? Or was his Canada comment (which you assumed was directed at you) just too much for you to ignore?

How does this compare to Canada? How long does it take to get an MRI in Canada?
Posted by: Dave | Jul 29, 2009 11:04:38 PM
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I’ve never had to get an x-ray or MRI in Canada, but I have to say the health care in France was quick, efficient and inexpensive– and a friend of mine who has lived in France for a few years assures me that my experience wasn’t an aberration. She loves the health care system. Her take is that the French system gets better results for less money and everyone is covered. You may already know how the French system works, but, if not, it’s works similarly to Medicare for the entire population. I don’t recall the specifics of the co-pays and such, but they’re pretty low, and supplemental insurance policies are available.
Of course, that doesn’t address wait times in the United States. But not every country with a different health care payment system has long waits. Just an FYI for anyone interested.

This issue isn’t about healthcare for the uninsured its about power for the jokers in Washington. What is it about these politicians contiue to emmulate failed policy. Mediocure healthcare for all is not better than what we have now.

If you have ever had to sit in an emergency room, you will understand the need for health care. The costs for the uninsured who are there are being paid by all of us. It will not be a government controlled health care program despite what some want us to believe. The president has said this over and over. If you have ever seen a family member fight for their coverage, you will understand that the insurance companies are in it for the money, not for our care. They can and do drop people off their lists with little or no notice. To have an illness like cancer and not be able to get coverage is not what we should have in America. Hopefully, the democrats will get their act together and pass a health care bill for all. We cannot depend on small business for our health care as it is getting too costly for them and while they are providing some care, they cannot give raises so it kind of white washes itself. Besides, the plan is to not tax any small business making under 500,000. Something needs to be done and for those who were in power the last eight years, you should be ashamed to criticize the president for wanting something better. You neglected it and it takes courage to try to achieve this task and I think he should be praised and not ridiculed.

Alyson wrote: “Also, some of you seem genuinely afraid of a “government run” program, but that’s not what is on the table. You get that right?”
A “government run” program is certainly not within the RHETORIC. But the REALITY is that the private sector CANNOT COMPETE with the public option.
If a private insurance policy has exactly the same coverage as the public option, the private insurance policy must factor in profits when determining the price of the premium. The public option does not. But the federal government will also be implementing new rules which will ADD even more to the private sector’s costs (i.e. prohibiting the discrmination for pre-existing conditions, no dropping of coverage for serious illness, no annual or lifetime caps, etc.) all of which may be desirable, but they nonetheless ADD to the cost). The end result WILL BE the elimination of the private sector.

“You neglected it and it takes courage to try to achieve this task and I think he should be praised and not ridiculed.”
This is rediculous to assert. How old are you? This same EXACT arguement was fought in 1993. Everything, all of the urgency, all of the doom and gloom predictions of uninsured yada yada is exactly the same rhetoric that was floating around in 1993. I was in college then and remember it well.
“It will not be a government controlled health care program despite what some want us to believe.”
How is that the government will be paying the bills but not be running it? Do you seriously believe that the government is going to pay for care and not control what they pay for? Please.
Looking at these boards the last few days, compared to two weeks ago, I’m guessing some of you posters got an email from the Obama campaign email spam to go out and start arguing for the health care plan, probably because public support for it has dropped so dramatically.

“I know how the health care system works there as well as in Canada. You can wait up to 2 yrs to get a doctor. Clinics are closed on weekends, and you can not go to a hospital ER and be treated without a doctors consent.”
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Waiting 2 years to see a doctor – untrue.
You cannot go to an emergency room without a doctors consent – untrue.

“I’ve never had to get an x-ray or MRI in Canada, but I have to say the health care in France was quick, efficient and inexpensive–”…………………..
Absolutely true and it is the same in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Lynn SAID “I have been reading the Health Care Bill (HC BILL) and all the information I can obtain on it, and I find it to be unconstitutional and unfair to Senior Citizens. From what I have read the President is saying Down with OLD PEOPLE, do not waste time or money on them as they have lived long enough. Let’s just euthanize them.”
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I don’t know what you have been reading but it is definitely not the health care bill. All your claims are false fear mongering by the opposition led by FOX commentators. Here..go to factcheck to get the truth on this.

mertgm, actually, some of us who are less than enthused at the prospect of a single-payer government-run plan get some of our information about health care in Europe from personal experiences as well, and some from anecdotes from friends and acquaintances, just like you. Trust me, on this issue, people’s mileage may vary. I am certain that you are telling the truth when you enthuse about your positive experience living in two different countries with such a system and about your friends’ positive opinions. I am equally certain that my sibling who lived in France and my other relative who lives in Canada are telling the truth about their very negative experiences with those systems. I am equally certain that the students and colleagues I have at the university who come from such countries are truthful in their responses to those health care systems– some have been mostly positive, some have no strong opinion, but MOST have a strong preference for the American system and negative anecdotes about their own countries’ systems. I know many scholars in Europe and elsewhere who are equally split, trending negative, even though academics, as you doubtless know, tend to be a fairly liberal-leaning group, no matter the country.
So, let’s just agree to disagree that anyone’s personal experience is the final word on the relative merits of the various systems.

A “government run” program is certainly not within the RHETORIC. But the REALITY is that the private sector CANNOT COMPETE with the public option.
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Okay, as someone who worked in the private sector in health insurance and managed care, I respect that there are differences of opinion on this, however, if a company, or several companies, in the private sector can’t compete then good riddance. They weren’t doing their job well in the first place. I admit I’m biased to believe this because of my experiences. I could name a few companies that I think should be the first to go. A lot of these companies in the private sector waste a lot– A LOT– of money and create a lot of red tape and bureacracy. I shudder when I remember some of the claims and provider issues I had to detangle due to inefficiencies and incompetency. Unlike others, I absolutely want competition from outside the current industry in the form of a public option and private and state co-ops, and so on. I don’t think it will mean the end of the Private Sector. I think it will mean a much needed shake up for the better and finally, finally doing something about the bloat and baloney that goes on in the private sector.
I’ll admit this: ultimately, as I’m pro-provider and patient care, I’d love to see some version of a single payer system.
Also, to me a public insurance option IS different than government-run health care or government-run pharma. A lot of factors seem to get conflated in these discussions, and I disagree with the conflating. We may just have to agree to disagree, while we all continue to think we have the better understanding of the situation.

impeach obama hillary bill clinton and pelosi needs life time in prison say hell no to the health care dont need his typ of care on enything need to impeach obama put in prison the democrates needs to be fired and put in prison for violating the rights of the people of this country they will destroy this country and take all your rights away dont need a goverment take over nothing they broke the laws of our country we the people needs to stand togeather take our country back from this dummys

Alyson wrote: “The bill aims to provide seniors with information about drafting a living will or the options surround end of life care…”
The person providing this information should be an independent legal aid, not someone affiliated with the public option. Otherwise there may be a temptation to coerce the patient into willing some or all of his or her assets to the federal government.

Alyson, actually I’m not kidding. I don’t trust the federal government (or state government for that matter).
President Obama has already stated, “We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded.”
What are the national security objectives that require a civilian national security force of at least 1.2 million individuals with a budget of at least $500 billion? The only thing that makes sense to me is that President Obama needs a thug-army to intimidate and coerce individuals, small businesses and corporations to fall in line with his agenda. How better to pay for this force then by letting the force loose on America and trying to get Americans to give to their cause–either directly or indirectly.
If an organization like ACORN is recruited to perform these “end-of-life” consultations who knows what shenanigans will result?

In the previous comment, James Danley says, “The end result WILL BE the elimination of the private sector.”
But surely private health-care sector will not cease to exist, it will simply adapt or cease to exist.
Right now, the threat of losing health-care insurance due to job loss, etc., is killing Americans.

Alyson:
President Obama spent 5 years during his teenage years being mentored by Frank Marshall Davis–a Communist recruiter. President Obama studied under the principles of Saul Alinski–a Marxist. President Obama spent 20 years under the pastoral leadership and being mentored by the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.–a Black Liberation Theologist. Not to mention the other radical associations!
I don’t believe that President Obama has thrown all of the lessons and principles that he has acquired under the bus. I believe that at the very least, President Obama is a Socialist. But he may also, based on some of his rhetoric, and in spite of public denials to the contrary, that President Obama is an anti-Capitalist.
I strongly believe that it is Capitalism, the Free Market and Individual Freedom that has made this country the great nation that it is. I see all three being destroyed by the extreme Left in Congress and by President Obama through their wealth redistribution plan, a single payer healthcare system (controlled by themselves), and pushing for major changes in the guise of saving the planet from global warming.

Alyson (and others):
I strongly believe in the First Amendment. Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion; and that the federal government should not prohibit the free exercise of religion. I strongly believe that the Supreme Court errored in their ruling that there should be a separation of Church and State because that places a limitation on the “free exercise thereof” clause. I also believe that prohibiting prayer in school (specifically student initiated and private prayers; but also prohibiting invocations and benedictions and the mentioning of Jesus Christ during school ceremonies) and the prohibiting of religious symbols in government buildings also violates the “free exercise thereof” clause of the First Amendment.
As a staunch supporter of the First Amendment, I believe all viewpoints should be heard. I certainly appreciate hearing other people’s opinions and thoughts.
I really don’t consider myself a Libertarian. Instead I am a “card-carrying” member of the Religious Right AND the “Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy.”
I am both a social and fiscal Conservative. I believe in small government, Individual Freedom, self-determination and personal responsibility. I am also a strong supporter of the Fair Tax. Finally, I believe individuals and local organizations (including faith-based organization) do a better job of helping the needy. These organizations are better prepared to fulfill physical, emotional, psychological and even spiritual needs while treating the needy as human beings, and with the utmost respect. Unlike the federal government who treats these individuals as strickly numbers in a database.

I am a Disabled American Veteran. I use the VA Medical facilities regularly. I would say after reading all I can about the health bill, The VA is close to what they are proposing. Trust me YOU DONT WANT IT!!. When I go to an appointment I had to make at least 3 months in advance, I can expect to stay all day at the hospital. The problem is that people who other wise would not go to the doctor (for lets say a common cold) dont have a problem going to the doctor when it dosnt cost them anything. This creates a huge back log for the people who really do need the care.
If you think there would be anything short ofthis on a much grander scale, you are seriously mistaken.
I do agree that something has to be done, but not like this