Post a commentThe freedom to make our own personal [re: health coverage] choices makes for great philosophical discussion, but it can't always be applied in a functioning society. If we all decide whether or not we want to pay taxes, the socially responsible among us will fund the roads while others use them regularly for free. Needless to say the cost to a handful of people will be far higher than spreading that cost around and soon it will become unaffordable and the roads will crumble. People are denied routine healthcare in this country, and those without coverage must wait until they are seriously ill to seek help. When someone does show up at the emergency room with a heart attack, that person will receive care––maybe not the best care but even minimal care in that situation is expensive. Those of us with coverage pick up those costs. Did you ever look closely at a hospital bill? Why do you think a simple aspirin costs so much? It is the hospital's way of making up for indigent patients. Furthermore it is simply actuarial fact that if you are going to require insurance companies to cover everyone, you can't allow people to forgo coverage until they are sick and need it. That would make coverage unaffordable and drive all private companies out of business. If you are willing to forgo coverage and sign a waiver that says you will not seek care for a life-threatening injury or illness, I can go for that.
nancee: the bill just passed in the house does nothing to change any of the problems you discribe. In fact, it will only make it worse. For instance, because the bill ban pre-existing condition exclusions will allow individuals to wait until they are sick before they buy insurance. It actually incents people to go without insurance. They can still go to the emergency room for initial care, then sign up for public or private insurance without penalty. Under this scheme, private insurance will become to expensive. The Liberals know this and see it as a way to force people into govt subsidized options. If you want people to become responsible for their health care costs, then make them pay for the service they receive at the emergency room now. Don't force them to buy insurance unconstitutionally. Furthermore, this bill forces those who are socially responsible to continue to pay, and even pay more, for those who aren't. The wealthy will pay an additional 5.4% tax on income and you and I will pay higher private insurance premiums because of all the new taxes and fees on insurance plans and medical equipment. So those who have insurance will be further penalized and those without will be incented to stay without. And this is on top of the taxes, fines, and penalties on companies who offer group insurance plans for their employess. These companies will reduce staffing levels and possibly go out of business. This is not reform. This is plain stupidity. How is that hope and change working?
Let the democrats know that they have committed political suicide. Visit your local offices and make them listen to you. Remind them that they are our employees. We can fire them next November! Socialism will destroy America as we know it. I wonder which Chicago thug tactic was used to strong arm them last night? I am sure he had ACORN and the SEIU thugs with him. They are always nearby!
We need individuals like p.e.poole to get involved in shaping public policy in DC. I am very impressed by his analysis. What happened last night, in the wake of Tuesday's election results. The partisan health care reform bill that passed will damage the economy and undermine the quality of US health care if passed. Why didn't Obama, and his allies after they took over the Congress in 2006, attempt to reduce the massive fraud, waste and abuse they claim exists in Medicare? I predict that if this bill passes it will become as wildly expensive and budget busting as those grand liberal experiments known as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. What we need to do is attack the massive fraud, waste and abuse that exists in Medicare and Medicaid, allow individuals to purchase insurance across state lines, allow for insurance pools to be created to help individuals (especially those with preexisting conditions) and small businesses get premium leverage for coverage, and impose tort reform measures. The cost will be a lot less than what we are looking at now.
If this insane bill passes in the Senate 10% unemployment will seem low. More jobs offshore is the first step corporations will take. The Goverment just significantly increased the cost of hiring an American. Idiots.
What is it about their constituents that the Boehner Bachman Brigade is so obscessed with the "number of Pages". To Mr Holstein, may I politely suggest that the there is no better proof of the Dumbing down of America than those opposing the Health Care bill's OBSCESSION with reading 2000 pages. Most of those pages are original pages from a bill they complained about the number of pages in the Summer - It is now almost mid-November, and those wanting to hold on th the pocketbooks of the Country are still obscessed with using the number of pages as their biggest complaint. Remember when Christie"1" got in, it was all about toilet paper then.
janann - maybe I don't understand the point you're making, but let me try this: many of us object to bills of this length and complexity because it is clear that none of those in Congress who vote in favor of those bills actually read and understand them. Here's one small example - when the Dems passed Porkulus early this year, no one seemed to realize that Chris Dodd had slipped in the provision about allowing for bonuses for AIG executives. And with this sham of a healthcare reform process it is very obvious that language in the bills is very deceptive. For example, why did provisions prohibitng health care spending on illegals have to be added after Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) called BHO out on this subject. One of the problems with bills of this length is that their consequences are recklessly damaging to America's future.
Let's be honestt. This is not about health care. It is the major means to have the government take ocer every aspect of our lives! Wake up and smell the coffee folks. Your freedoms are slipping away! Start investigating this man and those that surround him. You will see his true agenda. Before you write me off as a right wing nut, take the time to delve into this administration. God knows there are no longer any genuine journalists left to do it!
Let us pray that the Senate is smarter than the House. Get involved folks. The only way to stop this socialism is to fight it. Visit, e mail, call , and write your representatives. Keep the pressure on! It is one of their own "rules". Do not let this great country become Europe!
Janann: 2000 pages of socialism! These clowns haven't even read this bill! Tort reform, insurance sold across state lines, Medicare left alone. This can be done on 1 page. Without all of the gibberish and "shalls". Let me know how you enjoy Pelosi becoming your health care provider. Let me know how the rationing is working for you. Let me know how you will enjoy the loooooong wait to see a doctor. It is coming if this debacle becomes law. Do not fool yourself otherwise. The government has proven time and again they cannot run anything!
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