Obama's health reform: No perfect plan

300,000 signatures from grassroots...ACORN, MoveOn!

That is just not going to work anymore.

No! to nationalizing healthcare.

No! to matrix and protocols that usurp the doctor patient relationship

Yes! to 24-7 days a week clinics with pharmacies to lessen burden of emergency rooms.

Don't meddle in the public's relationship with their personal physcian.

A sampling:

Need a CAT scan? oops the government protocol won't allow.

Your personal physcian will have to write a special letter to override the protocol.

After that, the form has to go to Washington to get approval. Wait time: MONTHS!

Ditto: surgery, appointments. Get in line.

Vote out democrats in local, state and federal elections.

No in 2010, then in 2012, watch the 58,000,000 who voted republican grow from those that cross backover to vote republicans an oust Obama.

Gone in 2012. Too rushed,too many Clintonites.

How much will it all cost? Another $3 trillion?

We're getting a lot of this "I don't have all the answers" stuff from Barry lately. Where's the confident swagger of that rabble-rouser we all saw on the campaign trail?

Americans are finally fully realizing that Rush Limbaugh is in charge of the Republican party. Next up for us is to help the American people understand that many of the conservatives who make the most noise about how government supposedly can't be trusted with their health care are the very people who have led criminal corporate enterprises that turned profits primarily by stealing money from American citizens.

"Former Columbia/HCA executive Richard L. Scott has launched a nonprofit group called Conservatives for Patients' Rights, which promises a $20 million multimedia ad campaign warning that the country is hurtling toward socialized medicine. Scott, who was pushed out of Columbia/HCA in the 1990s and now runs a chain of Florida urgent-care clinics, said in an interview that he has put up $5 million of his own money to kick-start the effort, with hopes of building a grass-roots campaign."

Richard L. Scott? As if the Republicans weren't already emptying their revolvers while pointing the barrel at their feet, now they tap this jerk to head up their opposition to Obama's health care plan. As Ezra Klein put it, that's "like Democrats getting Franklin Raines to run their economic messaging or Bush tasking Donald Rumsfeld with a comprehensive defense of his administration's legacy."

Why? Because Richard L. Scott is one of the all-time villains of American health care. He was CEO of Colombia/HCA during the period that it bilked the federal government of hundreds of millions of dollars:
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http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=03&year=2009&base_name=health_reformers_meet_their_en
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My experience with the system is taht no-one is policing it...The medical community is stealing Medicare blind, and no one is paying attention....Setup a system that requires a patient signature on a rated bill...
Employ Seniors to police the system@ very low cost, some will work for free just to keep everyone honest...

300,000 signatures from grassroots...ACORN, MoveOn!That is just not going to work anymore.No! to nationalizing healthcare
Posted by: Harry | March 5, 2009 2:43 PM
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You know, as much as I love watching Repuglicans like you waller in their minority status, could you guys a least come up with some new talking points?

I'm embarrassed for you, this stuff your using has been debunked on a nation wide basis over and over again...and yet here you are, using it again.

What's the matter, aren't Rush and Hannity sending you out the new talking points anymore? Geeeeeeeeze!

How do you argue with...I want him to fail?

Bill/Jeff

I think you're confusing a real leader (Obama) to the arrogant and clueless former president (W). It's pretty bad when a person can't state the obvious, in a conciliatory gesture, that no plan is perfect and no one has all the answers, without taking a cheap shot from you and those of your ilk. I guess you liked it better when W communicated directly with the Omnipotent One, then told us he had all the answers and other opinions were not welcome. Just another example why Pugs will never get the keys to the White House again.
BTW, Jeffrey, has Sarah signed you up for 2012? You did such a fine job for McCrazy, you've got to be on the top of her list.

The Messiah is preemptively lowering expectations for Obamacare nationalized medicine. Can you say "red flag"?

We already have socialized medicine; it's just that instead of the govt making healthcare decisions on your life and health, we have the Republican backed insurance companies making such decisions...and they want a profit. That's why you see so many tax cuts for the rich, big corporations and big oil Repukelicans on here crying about it.

In the addled Repuklican brain, any way that the rich and powerful can screw the average American is a good thing...for their rich Wall Street overlords.

As usual, the dopes at MoveOn.org got it wrong. They confuse health CARE with health INSURANCE. No one is denied health CARE in this country. The Obama thrust is to provide health INSURANCE. It's doctors, nurses and hospitals that provide health CARE. Or is Obama thinking about taking out an appendix on the side?

This is sad- this administration continually blames everyone save government. Why is health care cost so expensive in the first place? Insurance lobbyists? Hardly. Ask President Obama why certain groups cannot gain access while others can? Or why a group of investors cannot build a hospital in a certain area because of local, state and federal mandates that prohibit it.

This "Health Reform" will be, no doubt, as carefully vetted as his Cabinet Appointments.

But who will actually PAY the increased taxes required by this folly?

Certainly NOT any big shot democrat. Or anyone here illegally or anyone on welfare, such as his illegal aunt.

After all "Taxes are only for the little people". Certainly NOT for the chosen ones.

Yep, BO opens his mouth and the stock market is down the crapper once again today!!

And we are stuck with this hopeless mope and Daley machine hack, Obama, for four more long years.

The Messiah is preemptively
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | March 5, 2009 3:19 PM

oops...can you say red flag?

They could do this very inexpensively, set limits on lawsuits. At the rate we are going we won't have any doctors left because of stupid lawsuits that are allowed by our congressmen (crooked lawyers) who run our country. This really runs up the cost of our healthcare and then get the government out of our healthcare, we know what is best for ourselves.

He doesn't have all the answers because our government was not designed to be a healthcare provider/overlord.

There are problems with the system, but the solution to the problem is not a singular type of action. It is a series of smaller ones that can be accomplished at a much smaller level.

The OA needs to reset the parameters of how the Healthcare industry should operate. Then sit back and see how the industry reacts.

Nationalizing healthcare is not the solution because we need competition amongst the providers in order for them to stay on top of the service that they provide. If they're not competing for our dollars, where is their incentive to provide quality care?

Apparently the market is confused, too, because it's done nothing but dive since dear leader took command.

One must question the writer's motives for concocting this story! It seems all semblance of what once was objective journalism has disappeared. Now, we have writers creating stories for readers.

Ha! "MoveOn.org, the grass-roots powerhouse" Do you really think the masses will believe the George Soros funded, extreme left group is a grass-roots organization?

"Health Care for Americans Now, a leading consumer advocate" HA! this is an AFSCME (union) organization!

Where in the world do you get your facts for your story?

We do not need or want a Canadian/British/ or Sweedish managed healthcare system in the US!

Heck, where would the wealthy Canadians, Brits, or Sweds go for health care, then?

Actually, Obama's healthcare plan was NOT one of the things that I liked about his campaign (just going on record that I don't expect him to be turning water into wine any time soon...). I wasn't comfortable with the way it was working vs my employer health plan, such that it'll probably be disadvantageous FOR ME. Still, I agree that healthcare for all is something we do need in this country.

The Rushets are out in force today to let America know they hope America fails.

How about boycotting doctors? I have for the last 45 years. Not one red cent to medicine. I'm free from Satan's agents.

Apparently the market is confused, too, because it's done nothing but dive since dear leader took command.

Posted by: Jeff | March 5, 2009 4:00 PM
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Yeah, because we all care so much about what the rich trust fund babies and the compulsive wall street gamblers think about what's going to happen to the economy.....NOT!

Some facts: In the last eight years, premiums have grown four times faster than wages, and an additional nine million Americans have joined the ranks of the uninsured. The cost of health care now causes a bankruptcy in America every thirty seconds. By the end of the year, it could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes. And even for folks who are weathering this economic storm, and have health care now, all it takes is one stroke of bad luck – an accident or illness; a divorce or lost job – to become one of the nearly 46 million uninsured or the millions who have health care, but can’t afford it.

And the conservative response:

REP. ZACH WAMP: Listen, health care is a privilege.

"Each of us must accept that none of us will get everything that we want, and that no proposal for reform will be perfect,"

Whenever the President says "each of us" what he is really saying is "everyone who disagrees with me"

I thought this was the guy who reached across the aisle, it turns out his idea of "compromise" is giving up all your values and doing what he says

Obama has no clue how to reform healthcare, that is why he has released no specifics, and is all but admitting his campaign health plan was never to be taken seriously. He is doing what he is good at - politics. He is going around banging the drum about how dire the situation is, we need to act now, etc., even though he has no plan in place. It's similar to Obama trying to convince people the economy would never recover unless we pass the stimulus bill right this second. How many times is he going to play this card?

The issue is cost. Lack of coverage is a symptom of that. If health care were affordable, anyone who wanted it could get it. There are probably more, but I see three reasons for spiraling costs:

1) No price competition. Whether you have Medicare or an HMO, it is still a third party paying your bills. If I need to see an orthopedic surgeon, I don't shop around like I would for a TV, e.g., this guy is $300 an hour, this guy is $150, etc. Why? Because I'm not paying it directly. Since people don't shop, there is no reason for providers to compete, and they don't. Thus, there is no downward pressure on price. I have heard no rational plan to correct this from Obama or anyone else.

2) Over-prescription of tests/med mal lawsuits. A person presents to the ER with headaches. The on call neurologist is called. After reviewing plain films and clinical symptoms, the neuro is 99.9% sure there is no bleed, but the only way to be absolutely certain is an MRI of the brain. This costs several thousand dollars. In socialized medicine countries, the MRI would not even be an option in this situation. In America, the neuro is going to order the test. Why? One, it costs him nothing. Two, in the small chance there is a brain bleed, he is going to get crucified in a civil lawsuit f he doesn’t order it. Why risk not ordering it? Answer - they don't risk it, and we have a ridiculous amount of over testing. Obama will never touch this because it would require tort reform and taking on the trial bar. Don't hold your breath.

3) Prescription drugs. This is a hairy one and I don't pretend to have any answer for it. Basically, the problem is a company developing a new drug has a few year window before the generics come in, copy their formula, and eat their lunch. The brand name thus charges huge prices to recoup investment/research, pay for failed drugs that never made it to market, and to line their pockets with a profit. We want drug companies to continue coming up with new drugs, and we want price competition so they can be affordable. Under the current system, it's just not happening. I have heard no plan that appreciates the competing interests, and that would actually reduce costs.

I will listen to Obama's team's plan with an open mind, and hope they can come up with something that addresses the underlying issue of cost. I just wish in the meantime he would can the fear mongering "we have to act now!". He’s starting to sound like a used car salesman.

Bubba, I know class warfare is your stock and trade, but certainly even YOU realize that every American that has a 401k or other retirement plan has seen the value of it plummet since January, don't you? You're really not that naive, are you? Do you believe the talking points your masters give you that much?

Do you believe it's a right, Flo? Because I see nothing in the bill of rights pertaining to it, at all.

I don't know about the costs and the effects of government health care (even though I know the gov't never does anything cheap), I worry about the type of worker that will be responsible for my health care. Can anyone honestly tell me that the people who populate government offices instill confidence in you that they are the right people to be making decisions on this important matter? I don't want the government anywhere near my 'health.' No Thank you.

"The Rushets are out in force today to let America know they hope America fails."


Sorry Billy boy, you're wrong as always. We hope OBAMA fails because if his policies succeed America is finished. If Obama fails, America survives.

Today, my daughter came from her piano lesson and her teacher admitted to her that he had voted wrongly for Obama and that Obama is a liar. What did my 10 year old daughter do? laughed. I laughed as well because many of that 51% who voted for the knucklehead are having buyers remorse. The guy is truly a "liberal loon." We could not afford the ponzi schemed pork spendulus package of $800 billion and we certainly cannot afford to give free healthcare to everyone and certainly not to those who are on every entitlement program offered by the govt. Why not? It is not fair to those who work and to those who have a business and not fair to those of us who support our families and are not millionaires.

"Each of us must accept that none of us will get everything that we want, and that no proposal for reform will be perfect," the president said as he welcomed more than 150 forum participants. When President Hussein makes a statement that nothing is going to be perfect-it's like whoa stop don't do it then. He is doing exactly what he stated on the campaign trail that he will lead by trial and error. Learn on the job! America needs a real leader not an unqualified community organizer from supposedly the south side of Chicago or Indonesia or Hawaii. Whereever he is from. He probably doesn't know. He is arrogant to force the American people to accept his imperfect plans. So far he is making a complete mess of things.

Pluto, why would anyone think he would reach across the aisle? Because he said so. He's never done it before at any level of government. I find it hard to feel sorry for someone who believed David Axelrod's lies. Consider the source.

The Obama administration and the Congress -- all of them with no experience in business, health care, banking or anything else -- are like the blind leading the blind. Except that that is really an insult to people with sight problems.

Most people feel it's a right Jeff, whether it is specifically enumerated or not; it can be inherent. Wamp went on to say it's a right for some and not others, whatever that means. I recall a debate where McCain said it's not a right and Obama said it is, and we know who won the election. But I'm not ready to get into a constitutional law fight over it tonight; but the Constitution is more than the Bill of Rights, Jeff; and your boy Rush doesn't even know the difference between it and the Declaration of Independence.

Polls show Republicans are losers on the issues...again.

CNN: 72% Want More Governmental Involvement With Health Care

More proof that Republicans are out of touch with Americans from CNN:

"Seventy-two percent of those questioned in recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey say they favor increasing the federal government's influence over the country's health care system in an attempt to lower costs and provide health care coverage to more Americans, with 27 percent opposing such a move. Other recent polls show six in 10 think the government should provide health insurance or take responsibility for providing health care to all Americans."
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http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/05/poll-do-americans-want-government-health-care-reform/

I encourage the President to take into compensation for holistic practitioners and those of who live a holistic lifestyle. We carefully choose
foods that contribute to our optimum health each day. We also incorporated daily stress reduction and live for stree free and peaceful lives. I spend on an average $400.00 a month on holistic therapies and nutritional supplements. Please open the day for good nutritional supplementation and body therapy to be included in medical care along with other affordable health.
Thank you!

Dow Jones Industrial Average

11/9/2007: closed 14,164.53
11/4/2008: closed 9,625.28

Hey Jeff - tell me again who was President from October 2007 through November 2008 ...

'Do you believe it's a right, Flo? Because I see nothing in the bill of rights pertaining to it, at all.
Posted by: Jeff'

And where does it say you have the right to post stupid comments on blogs, smart boy?

"We already have socialized medicine; it's just that instead of the govt making healthcare decisions on your life and health, we have the Republican backed insurance companies making such decisions...and they want a profit." Huey Dewy

Huey - you couldn't have hit it straighter on the head if you tried. The Drug and Insurance companies in this country are LOBBYING and making multi-millions. With the huge economic downturn (depression) and massive unemployment (Cobra avg cost $800/mo - unemployment check $12-1500/mo - on the middle class), the Health Care system is a ticking timebomb that will explode.

The insurers and drug companies are the oil companies of 2009. The massive profits and bull*)*& that they write to cover their profit margins is ridiculous. Like it or not, health care reform will come.

Nationalized health care - so bad? Why? Oh because instead of the $500,000/yr exec having a proctologist oncall, he'll have to roll the dice and wait in line. Guess what - thinning the heard is like the Lottery baby - you ain't gonna live forever anyway, and if you do, you're pooping in a bag?

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Posted by: Flo | March 5, 2009 7:49 PM
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Flo,
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Constitutional rights aren’t created by an edict from the party in power. The only constitutional rights are those: (1) which are explicitly enumerated in the Constitution, (2) un-enumerated rights which are nevertheless deeply rooted in this Nation's history and traditions and implicit in the concept of ordered liberty, such that neither liberty nor justice would exist if they were sacrificed (see Washington v. Glucksberg, 521 U.S. 702, 720-721 (1997)); or (3) which are added by amendment. Health care is not a right enumerated in the Constitution. Nor has it been considered a right that is “deeply rooted” in the history and traditions of the country, much less implicit in the concept of ordered liberty. That leaves for those who wish it to be a constitutional right the choice of amending the constitution or living under the influence of self-inflicted delusions.

John W, I guess we largely agree; I never said it was stated in the constitution; "privacy" isn't either. We also have statutory rights, natural rights, human rights, and--if you believe in right to life--you have to include liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which are not in the "Bill of Rights" either. We don't need to amend the Constitution, John, it's in Amendment IX.

“We don't need to amend the Constitution, John, it's in Amendment IX.”
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Posted by: Flo | March 6, 2009 8:21 AM
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Flo,
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You are correct in asserting the Ninth Amendment is where an un-enumerated constitutional right will find textual support, if at all. You are also correct in suggesting there would be no need to amend the Constitution if “health care” turned out to be such an un-enumerated right. However, as I (ineptly) tried to point out, constitutional protection for an un-enumerated “right” is limited to those “rights” that are “deeply rooted” in our Nation’s history and traditions and implicit in the concept of ordered liberty, “such that neither liberty nor justice would exist without them.” This is the Supreme Court’s current litmus test by which un-enumerated rights are judged. I will admit that this is not the test the Court has consistently applied. However, it is the current state of the law.
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The “privacy” cases that started in the ‘65 with Griswold v. Connecticut and culminated in the ’73 decision in Roe v. Wade did not employ the current test. Those cases were based on the theory that the right of privacy was included in the Constitution based on the “penumbras” or shadows of other, enumerated constitutional rights. As far as I know, the “penumbral” theory of constitutional interpretation has not been employed for more than 30 years to define a new, constitutionally protected right. Nor does the penumbral rights theory square with the more recent, above-quoted (“deeply rooted”) test. That’s why I am not as certain as you that “health care” is either a “right,” a “constitutional right,” or that it will eventually be recognized as one. The fact is that “health care” has never had the status of a “right” in our Nation’s history or traditions, and it still doesn’t today. Tens of millions of people have no access to adequate health care (and we wouldn’t expect a right to be a right unless it was adequately accommodated). If they have been denied their “right” to health care, they would have a right to sue. I have yet to hear of any such lawsuits - and I watch for that kind of stuff. So, if it’s to be a “constitutional right” (as opposed to a “right” created by statute) it will likely have to be created by amending the Constitution.

I think it might be "deeply rooted" John W. given the hippocratic oath and the existence of hospitals who will treat anyone regardless of whether they have the ability to pay. Regardless, I hope Congress will eventually codify it.
Now I bet you can't explain Congressman Wamp:

"Listen, health care is a privilege."

Good lecture, Professor.
-- Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN), 3/5/09

VERSUS

"[F]or some people it's a right."
-- Wamp, 3/5/09

Obama brought in "industry leaders" to discuss the new plan, huh? Is that what we call lobbyists now? Nice.

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Posted by: Flo | March 6, 2009 2:38 PM
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Flo,
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You have to be kidding me if you expect that I will ever figure out politicians. I have my doubts that many politicians - Republicans, Democrat and others - know what the heck they are talking about when it comes to the Constitution, laws or even plain old common sense.

How much will this cost us taxpayers please?