Obama and health care reform

[SarahFaceDoom]

Stop the war in Iraq.  Stop the war in Afghanistan.  Reinstate the old tax rates that Bush et. all, let the richest 10% of the nation get out of paying.  Legalize marijuana, let the people out of jail who are serving time for it, and tax the sales of it.  Do that and you'll be swimming in cash.  All you need, and even more and more than that.

All of those things are favored and supported by the American Public in majority numbers.

And none of those things can get through congress without people losing their minds.

[tekla]

As far as I can see they already are losing their minds, I'm just going to help them complete the trip.  And California is going to legalize pot, in the next few  years I bet, they need the money too bad.  The majority of people want the wars over with.  So that only leaves taxes.

[LordKAT]

I still think that when the cost of a med in the US is $258 and I can get from Canada for $35 that there are issues to deal with on drug costs to consumers. Someone told me that the difference is from advertising etc. Does that mean that the US is paying for all advertising costs and Canada is paying none? I don't think so.  If I go to a hospital and have to pay $5 for one aspirin tablet but can buy a whole bottle in a store for less than that, something needs to change. Cheaper to stay home and take aspirin since the hospital won't let you buy it and bring it in unopened for your own use. I was charged for a surgery I never had because the hospital charged the insurance which paid for it because the hospital said they had it ready for me, even if I had already told them I wasn't going to do it.

These costs can be controlled and should be.

[daisybelle]

But know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than to improve it. (Applause.) I won't stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are. If you misrepresent what's in this plan, we will call you out. (Applause.) And I will not -- and I will not accept the status quo as a solution. Not this time. Not now.

This kind of rubbed me the wrong way.  If you are for it then fine... if you are against if then you must be one of the above.   Forget having a good reason.   But if the Dem's have the majority then put it in place. What is the hold up???

Secondly,  the Healthcare bill in Congress now is radically different than what he described.  Are those changes in effect.  An example :

THE PRESIDENT: It's not true. And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up -- under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place. (Applause

and yet the bill states... depending on which version and possible amendments raises the question through the following links.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/08/04/does-house-healthcare-bill-fund-abortion-depends-on-whom-you-ask.html
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=16559
http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/08/04/top_stories/doc4a785d9abf7d1586719268.txt
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/51370

My point is if you write a 1100 page BILL that the are going to be parts that need amending.   Abortion will probably be taken out.  BUt by doing so, the Dem's will have something favorable to their side added in.  So now who is politicing?

Back to the statement from Obama , The President's power over a bill is his ablility to sign or veto.   If it never reaches his desk, then how does he think he can ramrod it through if the opposition is holding it up.   And if the Current Majority is the DEMS, I ask again who is holding this up.

D

[arbon]

And if the Current Majority is the DEMS, I ask again who is holding this up.

It is not that simple. Even though they are the majority there is not unanimous support for the bill among them. For example my states only Democrat in Congress has opposed it and stated he will not vote for it. Many Dems  that have large numbers of republicans in their districts need to consider how their vote on this bill will impact their bids for re-election.

[lisagurl]

Someone told me that the difference is from advertising etc. Does that mean that the US is paying for all advertising costs and Canada is paying none?

What they really mean is marketing. First big pharma spends big bucks lobbying congress to keep the FDA from understanding their drugs and the safety. Then they spend big bucks wineing dining and rewarding doctors to push their drugs. The result are 27 million on antidepressants, millions on statins and many millions on other drugs. Then there are the research costs put on the U.S. citizens to present that elusive documents to pass the FDA. You know about the ghost writers that make them not even the doctor that that was suppose to write the research paper. Finally the Public marketing. If the U.S. was serious about reforming health care they would start with the FDA the Big Pharma the Big Food corporations. They also might want to change the way corporate charters give special advantages to corporations. 

[Princess Phoebe]

Someone said their brother didn't have insurance and chose to die rather than stick the tax payers with the bill of saving his life at the emergency room?

Really?

REALLY?

I guess that makes me the world's biggest coward because you can bet your sweet a** that if I didn't have insurance and was dying, I'd be all up in that public hospital whining "save me, save me!."

Of course that cost just gets passed on by doctors and hospitals to the government and the privately insured through increased premiums anyway. Six or one-half dozen or the other, it all comes out in the wash.

[SarahFaceDoom]

Someone said their brother didn't have insurance and chose to die rather than stick the tax payers with the bill of saving his life at the emergency room?

Really?

REALLY?

I guess that makes me the world's biggest coward because you can bet your sweet a** that if I didn't have insurance and was dying, I'd be all up in that public hospital whining "save me, save me!."

Of course that cost just gets passed on by doctors and hospitals to the government and the privately insured through increased premiums anyway. Six or one-half dozen or the other, it all comes out in the wash.

No you are not a coward.  You're a rational human being.

It just goes to show how messed up our system is that people would even get it in their heads to make this kind of decision.

He may have cost taxpayers one one millionth of a penny at his worst.  Hardly worth dying over.  Idiot guy.

[Princess Phoebe]

Matt Taibbi of The Rolling Stone reminds us that Obama is doing way more for those who have no problem getting health care than he is for those who can't afford it.

Here is a series (three) of videos wherein he points out Obama's failures to those of us who voted for change but in reality are getting the same thing Dubya gave seniors by refusing to let the government negotiate with Big Pharma for bulk purchases of meds:

http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2009/08/19/matt-taibbi-on-health-care-reform-sick-and-wrong/#

As Tekla said, they should be thrown out if they don't learn the lessons history should have taught them. I won't waste one damn tear on the backstabbers.

[daisybelle]

It is not that simple. Even though they are the majority there is not unanimous support for the bill among them.

Then I would say this is not an issue with Republicans blocking as the Dems can not even get the support for this amongst themselves and they are the majority.

Many Dems  that have large numbers of republicans in their districts need to consider how their vote on this bill will impact their bids for re-election.

Pandering through politics -- Term limits may solve this issue.  If you eliminate the worry about re-election then the representative can vote your way.   The constituients can not control you, the lobbyists can fund you.... Honesty in Washington - Never happen!

And yet you now see a mobilization on constitiuents opposed, marching ...  interesting 

D

[Susan]

Here's what real doctors have to say about our health system. Watch it

http://www.blip.tv/file/2266267#id2278671

Doing nothing is not an option. I also think private insurance and for-profit hospitals are major contributors to the health care crisis.

[lizbeth]

Pandering through politics -- Term limits may solve this issue.  If you eliminate the worry about re-election then the representative can vote your way. 

we already have term limits, they happen every 2 years for our reps, every 6 for senators and every 4 for presidents. if you limit them to 1 term why would an elected official even care if you think they are doing a good job or not? they don't need your vote anymore and can just worry about lining their pockets. the only thing that keeps them honest (does that word mean the same when talking about politics? hmmm)  is the fear of not winning relection. term limits limit good politicians' terms as well as crappy ones.

Matt Taibbi of The Rolling Stone reminds us that Obama is doing way more for those who have no problem getting health care than he is for those who can't afford it.

I have such a crush on Matt Taibbi!! 

[tekla]

Pandering through politics -- Term limits may solve this issue.  If you eliminate the worry about re-election then the representative can vote your way

Could I have half a hit of whatever you took?  States that passed that nonsense are far worse off then there were before.  You demand more professionalism in your nail tech then in your government, and be careful what you wish for, you might get it.  Like I said, those that have are at the mercy of the lobbyists, who don't have term limits, or limits on money to spend.

You eliminate the need of people to face re-election, they are then free to vote for whoever pays the most for them to run for the next office.

[daisybelle]

ABC suprised me... never in a million years would I have expected this report:

[LordKAT]

Both videos emphasize the points I have raised before. I do not think single payer government health care is the answer but health care costs do need to be controlled. What good is insurance that makes you wait til you die or refuses to cover needed procedures, or even refuse to cover you due to pre existing clauses or because it is not profitable to do so?

[tekla]

The bill as released is as bad as it could be, it raises cost, provides less, and has no public option - real bad.  Turn it down, and try again, try introducing single payer and argue that.

[lizbeth]

H.R. 676

come on (so called) liberals! support medicare for all!!!