by Mark Silva
With the White House this week gearing up a campaign to dispel "misinformation'' about the healthcare reform that President Barack Obama is promoting, the president today says that it's important to quell the "outlandish rumors'' circulating.
Such as the notion that the government will force the elderly to make end-of-life decisions, or that the government is taking over healthcare. A "broad consensus'' for reform is growing, Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address today, predicting that the overhaul he is seeking will take place "by the end of the year.''
"There are still differences to be reconciled. But we are moving toward a broad consensus on reform,'' he says today. "Four committees in Congress have produced legislation - an unprecedented level of agreement on a difficult and complex challenge
"As we draw close to finalizing - and passing - real health insurance reform, the defenders of the status quo and political point-scorers in Washington are growing fiercer in their opposition. In recent days and weeks, some have been using misleading information to defeat what they know is the best chance of reform we have ever had.
"Lnd let me start by dispelling the outlandish rumors that reform will promote euthanasia, cut Medicaid, or bring about a government takeover of health care. That's simply not true,'' the president says.
"There are those who are focused on the so-called politics of health care; who are trying to exploit differences or concerns for political gain. That's to be expected. That's Washington. But let's never forget that this isn't about politics. This is about people's lives. This is about people's businesses. This is about America's future. That's what is at stake.''
See the address above and read the text below:
This is the text of the president's radio address:
"On Friday, we received better news than we expected about the state of our economy. We learned that we lost 247,000 jobs in July - some 200,000 fewer jobs lost than in June, and far fewer than the nearly 700,000 a month we were losing at the beginning of the year. Of course, this is little comfort to anyone who saw their job disappear in July, and to the millions of Americans who are looking for work. And I will not rest until anyone who's looking for work can find a job.
Still, this month's jobs numbers are a sign that we've begun to put the brakes on this recession and that the worst may be behind us. But we must do more than rescue our economy from this immediate crisis; we must rebuild it stronger than before. We must lay a new foundation for future growth and prosperity, and a key pillar of a new foundation is health insurance reform - reform that we are now closer to achieving than ever before.
There are still details to be hammered out. There are still differences to be reconciled. But we are moving toward a broad consensus on reform. Four committees in Congress have produced legislation - an unprecedented level of agreement on a difficult and complex challenge. In addition to the ongoing work in Congress, providers have agreed to bring down costs. Drug companies have agreed to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors. The AARP supports reform because of the better care it will offer seniors. And the American Nurses Association and the American Medical Association, which represent the millions of nurses and doctors who know our health care system best, support reform, as well.
As we draw close to finalizing - and passing - real health insurance reform, the defenders of the status quo and political point-scorers in Washington are growing fiercer in their opposition. In recent days and weeks, some have been using misleading information to defeat what they know is the best chance of reform we have ever had. That is why it is important, especially now, as Senators and Representatives head home and meet with their constituents, for you, the American people, to have all the facts.
So, let me explain what reform will mean for you. And let me start by dispelling the outlandish rumors that reform will promote euthanasia, cut Medicaid, or bring about a government takeover of health care. That's simply not true. This isn't about putting government in charge of your health insurance; it's about putting you in charge of your health insurance. Under the reforms we seek, if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.
And while reform is obviously essential for the 46 million Americans who don't have health insurance, it will also provide more stability and security to the hundreds of millions who do. Right now, we have a system that works well for the insurance industry, but that doesn't always work well for you. What we need, and what we will have when we pass health insurance reform, are consumer protections to make sure that those who have insurance are treated fairly and that insurance companies are held accountable.
We will require insurance companies to cover routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms, colonoscopies, or eye and foot exams for diabetics, so we can avoid chronic illnesses that cost too many lives and too much money.
We will stop insurance companies from denying coverage because of a person's medical history. I will never forget watching my own mother, as she fought cancer in her final days, worrying about whether her insurer would claim her illness was a preexisting condition. I have met so many Americans who worry about the same thing. That's why, under these reforms, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage because of a previous illness or injury. And insurance companies will no longer be allowed to drop or water down coverage for someone who has become seriously ill. Your health insurance ought to be there for you when it counts - and reform will make sure it is.
With reform, insurance companies will also have to limit how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses. And we will stop insurance companies from placing arbitrary caps on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or a lifetime because no one in America should go broke because of illness.
In the end, the debate about health insurance reform boils down to a choice between two approaches. The first is almost guaranteed to double health costs over the next decade, make millions more Americans uninsured, leave those with insurance vulnerable to arbitrary denials of coverage, and bankrupt state and federal governments. That's the status quo. That's the health care system we have right now.
So, we can either continue this approach, or we can choose another one - one that will protect people against unfair insurance practices; provide quality, affordable insurance to every American; and bring down rising costs that are swamping families, businesses, and our budgets. That's the health care system we can bring about with reform.
There are those who are focused on the so-called politics of health care; who are trying to exploit differences or concerns for political gain. That's to be expected. That's Washington. But let's never forget that this isn't about politics. This is about people's lives. This is about people's businesses. This is about America's future. That's what is at stake. That's why health insurance reform is so important. And that's why we must get this done - and why we will get this done - by the end of this year.
Thank you.
Comments
gee. no comments. such a pain now. go back to old sun sentinel format.
Posted by: marie Aiello | August 8, 2009 8:31 AM
When the press doesn't step in and put to rest stories like "President is a Marxist born in Kenya" and such, is it any wonder the right wing gets traction from outright lies about the current insurance debate?
Posted by: ornery | August 8, 2009 9:06 AM
I thank God there is some one in our White House, President Obama, who is fighting for our, we, the people's, rights and that does mean healthcare, decent, affordable healthcare.
I ask the Republican Party to disavow the disrupters and hired shills, that are attempting to thwart democratic processes, in the name of greed. Allow our elected officials to hear from all of the people, not just the loudest and the intimidators. That is not democracy, that is fascism, that is hooliganism and that is anti-democratic !!
I ask the Healthcare Insurers and Providers to call off their bought dogs and allow our nation to conduct its business in an orderly and democratic way. Haven't you made enough money off of our sicknesses and illnesses and accidents ? How can you sleep at night, knowing that, in your bureaucratic role, you denied a life-saving procedure, so you can save your company's bottomline ? Have you no heart, no conscience, no compassion ? May God help you to see and understand the damage that you and your policies are inflicting on average American citizens.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | August 8, 2009 9:15 AM
Not sure how the president can compete with the utterly false but undeniably loud anti-health care rhetoric being generated by the insurance industry, the GOP and their violent tea baggers.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | August 8, 2009 9:42 AM
What in the hell is this guy talking about?. His own doctor from Chicago doesn't like the plan, doctors from Canada have been all over the television denouncing the plan, the people all over the nation are up in arms over his plan, and their all not mobs, as the spin doctors(no-bun intended} would have you believe.
Posted by: Paul | August 8, 2009 10:17 AM
So that we can decide for ourselves ---- does anyone have a link to the actual 1100 and some odd pages to the proposed house bill that came out of committee now? If so --- please post same.
Posted by: Perch Rapala | August 8, 2009 10:48 AM
There will be a gov't takeover of health care. A public system that allows to employers to buying out their health care benefits to their employees will be pounced upon by private industry.
As health care costs increase, the gov't will have to turn to rationing, as they do in other western socialized countries. France is already starting to cut back on their gov't pays for everything healthcare.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124958049241511735.html
A gov't run health care plan will blow the annual deficits out of the water - even adding 50% to the BO' long-term annual deficits of $500 billion per year
Posted by: Terry | August 8, 2009 11:14 AM
IS BO worried? You bet - time to call out the union thugs to put down those "unruly GOP mobs"
http://www.stltoday.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=7424491
Posted by: Terry | August 8, 2009 11:24 AM
How can the Republican Party disavow the "Shills" sent from ACORN and SEIU to shore up the leftist politicians at town hall meetings?
Have you not seen the videos on the meetings in St. Louis? The "Shills" are being let in on the side door while the actual constituents are made to wait in line out front. One of the conservatives was attacked for trying to pass out buttons that said "Don't tread on me".
There are many other examples of this type of thuggery but the left leaning media won't show the truth.
IMHO, if the American public wants good health care, then they should demand the same health care that Congress gets. Why should the elected officials have it any different?
Posted by: Debt | August 8, 2009 12:47 PM
"There are still details to be hammered out. There are still differences to be reconciled."
How can ANYONE tell us that this reform is god or bad, if the details and differences haven't been clarified. Why not wait until a final bill has been hammered out to try to persuade us of its quality.
Posted by: A Once and Future Skeptic | August 8, 2009 1:04 PM
The Republican party is not only shrinking, it's having a very public mental meltdown.
(R)-John Cornyn thinks fact checking is pretext for domestic espionage. Which he's suddenly against. (R)-Chuck Grassley uses Ted Kennedy's medical condition as propaganda for his own false and nonsensical claims about "socialized medicine" killing old people -- and this is who Max Baucus is "negotiating" with to bring us his version of health care?!?!.
Rush Limbaugh pretends, out loud, to think Obama is like Hitler. Glenn Beck muses about poisoning Nancy Pelosi.
The Wingnut birthers are going strong, and the Wingnut teabaggers are trying to shut down healthcare reform by making town halls on the subject impossible.
Dick Morris and John Bolton agree: we should have left those two journalists to rot in North Korea, because Clinton going there to secure their release made the U.S. look weak, and now other countries will steal our lunch money at recess. And Lou Dobbs never met a conspiracy theory he didn't like, as long as it was about brown or black people, but after people got angry that he peddled false nonsense he says he's now reflexively going to oppose Obama on everything.
It's all so disgusting and pathetic that you just have to laugh at it. Between Cornyn, Grassley, Limbaugh and Beck, between Dobbs and Morris and Bolton, between birthers and "socialized" medicine but keep-your-hands-off-my-Medicare, the Wingnut stupid is overwhelming. It's become a tidal wave of Wingnut stupid. It's a giant Noah's Ark of Wingnut stupid, in which two examples of every kind of dumbarsery known to man have been loaded up to be set adrift on a sea of their own drool. It's the "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" gameshow of stupid -- loud, with big flashing lights, and on every damn day of the week.
It's the result of Wingnuts drinking conservative bong water and eating the paint chips flaking off Bill Buckley's lead-encrusted casket.
I'd be afraid for the future of our country, but I know that if these goon Teabagging Wingnuts ever actually armed themselves and tried to take over they'd all have accidentally shot themselves in the groin within the first ten minutes. Then they'd all limp to D.C. to hold a Big Healthcare Industry Sponsored Astroturf rally demanding free government healthcare for crotch-related injuries.
Idiots, all of them...
Posted by: sok | August 8, 2009 1:15 PM
The right wing wacko crackpots will resort to ANYTHING to further their obstruction: lies, distortion, and disrupting town hall meetings.
Unfortunately, there will be just enough gullible people to go along with it, because most conservatives are like sheep. Stupid and lazy. They need a daddy figure like Limbaugh Hannity to tell them what to do. Most don't even realize Medicare IS a government program.
Then the press falls for it. They should not report these dangerous activities, as it just fuels the fire.
Posted by: gibster | August 8, 2009 1:40 PM
It’s funny we hear Republicans say that they do not want “faceless bureaucrats” making medical decisions but they have no problem with “private sector” “faceless bureaucrats” daily declining medical coverage and financially ruining good hard working people. And who says that the “private sector” is always right, do we forget failures like Long-Term Capital, WorldCom, Global Crossing, Enron, Tyco, AIG and Lehman Brothers. Of course the federal government will destroy heathcare by getting involved, Oh but wait, Medicare and Medicaid and our military men and women and the Senate and Congress get the best heathcare in the world, and oh, that’s right, its run by our federal government. I can understand why some may think that the federal government will fail, if you look at the past eight years as a current history, with failures like the financial meltdown and Katrina but the facts is they can and if we support them they will succeed.
How does shouting down to stop the conversation of the healthcare debate at town hall meetings, endears them to anyone. Especially when the organizations that are telling them where to go and what to do and say are Republicans political operatives, not real grassroots. How does shouting someone down or chasing them out like a lynch mob advanced the debate, it does not. So I think the American people will see through all of this and know, like the teabagger, the birthers, these lynch mobs types are just the same, people who have to resort to these tactics because they have no leadership to articulate what they real want. It’s easy to pickup a bus load of people who hate, and that’s all I been seeing, they hate and can’t debate. Too bad.
Posted by: Paul | August 8, 2009 1:51 PM
Paul, You are an outright liar...par for the course for the wingnuts. Obama's Dr. was on Maher's show last night and criticized the right for taking his words out of context. He's not against Obama's plan. What he really wants is a single payer system. He also complained that the right is using his words to disparage health care reform in America. His words Republithugs not those of some fake astroturf group financed by the health care industry.
Posted by: Neal | August 8, 2009 2:22 PM
"There will be a gov't takeover of health care." Posted by Terry.
Just one example of the inaccuracies claimed by the right. Not as nutty as Palin's "death panels" claims, but just as untrue.
Posted by: doc | August 8, 2009 3:11 PM
Who will rescue us from Obama's rescue? 2.9 million jobs already losdt on Obamna's watch, with more to come.
Since The Swamp (doing what the White House wishes) gives Obama's weekly address but not the official GOP response, I spent 30 seconds finding what the Swamp reporters can't--or won't. It's here at http://bearingdrift.com/2009/08/08/mcdonnell-gives-republican-radio-address/
Listen to it. Read the transcript, and you'll see why the White House and its media supporters don't want both sides heard.
Posted by: Bruce | August 8, 2009 5:10 PM
It is good to see many posters, not accepting the lies and the distortions of the Republicans and their sponsors, The Healthcare Insurance and Provider Corporations. These bought and paid for patriots, are sabotaging the debate, to save their supersized greed. So they can continue to bilk the sick, the elderly, the hurt ! They don't care where their huge profits come from, as long as they get our money into their pockets.
I just hope none of these hired "dissenters", have to use their healthcare insurance, because they will find out, very quickly, how cheaply they were bought !! Healthcare decisions in the the hands of Insurance bureaucratic workers can be a death sentence for some patients. Lets, stop playing American roulette with our citizen's lives. Stop the Healthcare Corporations from deciding who lives and who dies ! Support President Obama's healthcare reform proposals, with a government-sponsored program, to pressure the Healthcare Corporations to be fair and honest, again !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | August 8, 2009 5:11 PM
Guess if Obama can lie about his birth he can lie about Health Care or Obama Care.
Posted by: Inky | August 8, 2009 5:20 PM
Here's some must-see video from Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor's speech yesterday at the Tampa, Florida town hall co-hosted by the SEIU and State Rep. Betty Reed:
If you know anybody who's got doubts about the true nature of the anti-health care wingnut goons (that JakeD supports) trying to disrupt health care town halls, have them watch this video. Let them see for themselves the truly infantile behavior of these angry wingnuts. They aren't interested in dialogue, debate, or discussion. All they want to do is hear their own voices scream, shouting down anybody with whom they happen to disagree.
The full speech is about fifteen minutes long. You can watch it here. The wingnut goons were trying to shout Castor down for almost the entire speech, and for at least five minutes of it, they made her nearly impossible to hear.
.
http://www.dailykostv.com/w/002029/
.
Ha Ha Ha! - the Wingnut Teabagger cretins are to stupid to know that they're hurting their own cause.
Posted by: former Republican | August 8, 2009 6:21 PM
Neal,
You are correct, sir. There is a lot of criticism of BHO and the Dems. plan coming from the left. You just don't hear about it in the MSM.
See;
Krugman
The Nation
Ted Rall
Counterpunch
Many others are pointing out the huge shortcomings of all the current bills.
The main complaints; This bill won't control costs without a robust public option, Medicare negotiation of drug costs, or a single payer plan.
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | August 8, 2009 7:03 PM
former Rep,
Well, hats off to Rep. Castor for keeping her cool and poise under fire.
Sad part is, if they had keep their stupid pie holes shut they may have actually 'learn't something.
But my God, the idiot wind is blowing across this land!!
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | August 9, 2009 12:05 AM
Quack,
If you knew anything about economics, it will eventually lead to BO's ultimate goal of a one-payer system.
Many corporations will jump at the chance to buy ouy of health care. Eight % of total salary is a small price.
Posted by: Terry | August 9, 2009 7:45 AM
Just make sure you send anything thats "Fishy" to;
Snitch@whitehouse.gov
Posted by: Dave | August 9, 2009 9:55 AM
Speculation, Terry, speculation from the right. Actually the health care industry is thrilled at the millions of new customers they will have. Ever read Business Week?
Posted by: doc | August 9, 2009 10:36 AM
"What in the hell is this guy talking about?. His own doctor from Chicago doesn't like the plan, doctors from Canada have been all over the television denouncing the plan, "
Paul,
Well, yes, there is a lot of criticism of the Dem plan, from the left. I have criticized it too, from the left.
"Many corporations will jump at the chance to buy out of health care. "
Terry, yes, a single payer system would greatly enhance US companies competitiveness.
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | August 9, 2009 11:14 AM
Quack,
When it comes to business publications, I like one that publishes daily, not weekly. Also, I like a business publication that is worth more than a dollar. I trust the WSJ and Investors Business Daily. If I look at a weekly magazine, it would be Forbes.
It's not speculation, its taking facts to their logical conclusion. When has a major gov't plan ever cost as much as the gov't said it would? The gov't does not forecast well. Social Security taxes started out at 2% (including employer match) of an employees' first $3,000 of payroll. Now it is 15.3% of an employees first $106,800. So if the gov't says this will only cost a Trillion over 10 years - go ahead and double that estimate.
CM,
Make US companies more competitive? Have you seen the great economic engines of France, Germany, and England?
Posted by: Terry | August 9, 2009 4:04 PM
Hardly a "government takeover" Terry. When it comes to econ, you're the quack; glad you love those Rupert Murdoch publications. You probably watch his TV stations as well.
Posted by: doc | August 9, 2009 5:02 PM
I'm going to send my elected officials and our president, who I didn't vote for, a message. I'm going to change my voter's registration from the democratic party to the republican party. Politicians always look at the polls and percentages. Lets start by having a mass exodus from the democratic party on paper. Then we can hit them at the polls. The president and members of Congress are taking over to many parts of our lives. Our government needs to stop bailing out the private sector and they need to stay out of our health care decisions. If enough people change parties it will send a very strong message to all politicians. They need to be reminded that they work for US.
Posted by: Debbie Danish | August 9, 2009 6:09 PM
Terry,
They are modern, wealthy democracies. No one denies we won't continue to have a cyclical economy. According to conservatives, that's good. But at least people wouldn't lose their medical coverage.
If we had single payer in the late seventies we would still have Bethlehem steel building destroyers and ships and structural components, a large textile segment, a thriving electronics manufacturing industry and the auto segment would be in much better shape.
And oh yes; We wouldn't have one of the worst infant death rates and one of the lowest life expectancy in the modern world.
Talk about 'death panels'; just see your private health insurer.
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | August 9, 2009 8:15 PM
Funny, Terry, how the people in Europe--Belgium, Denmark, France, etc.-- are the happiest; that the USA hasn't universal health care is a disgrace. Nice that you like stewie's stuffed animals, T-boy, but please don't cuddle me.
Posted by: rupert | August 9, 2009 11:02 PM
Quack,
Was reading WSJ long before Murdoch bought the paper.
Once again, you make a statement "When it comes to econ, you're the quack" and offer no support.
In a competitive market if one suppluer has a competitive advantage - scuh as having not to pay income taxes and has no cost of capital, that suypplier will be able to crowd out the other suppliers that have to pay these costs. That's economics.
CM,
We, like the western Euorpean socialist democracies, will have economic cycles - nothing will ever change that. The difference is our cycles have higher highs and shallower lows. Our unemployment rates are generally much better than those of the EU also.
If you think single payer would have saved the industries you mentioned, think again. Who do you think would have paid for the single-payer? The tax payers - be they individuals or corporate. the taxes paid by individuals, such as Bethlehem employees would have been covered in a negoiated union contract. This would add cost to Bethlehem bottom line. Likewise any cost born by the corporation would add cost to the bottome line. Either way, added cost to bottom line sinks Bethlehem.
As far as live birth rates, the difference is due to the reporting of low-birth rate babies. The article talks baout Canada, but applies to the US as well.
http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/health/infant-mortality-rate.aspx
Stewie's stuffed animal,
Sure they are happy - if I was a lazy socialist and didn't have to work for everything, I would be in hog heaven too. As far as cuddling - I'll just kick you to the curb.
Posted by: Terry | August 10, 2009 8:03 AM
There are, however, no examples of successful health care based on the principles of the free market, for one simple reason: in health care, the free market just doesn’t work.
Posted by: doc | August 10, 2009 9:21 AM
Quack,
Once again, another statement with no support.
Here's an example - I have health insurance thru a the free market - it works fine. I have no complaints. I guess I just ruined your theory.
Posted by: Terry | August 10, 2009 10:15 AM
The point is the overall system sucks, Terry; not your individual situation. You can't have universal coverage thru the free market, and it's a national disgrace that the US doesn't have universal health coverage. You and a quarter of the country can disagree if you like, but why not be polite about it? My "theory" by the way is shared by far better economists than you.
Posted by: doc | August 10, 2009 10:49 AM
Good Terri, insult the Europeans. Glad you're happy as a miserable capitalist.
Posted by: rupert | August 10, 2009 12:06 PM
Quack,
Your quote "There are, however, no examples of successful health care based on the principles of the free market". I gave you an example.
My example is that of millions of people throughout this country.
Here's some FACTS
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/august_2009/on_health_care_51_fear_government_more_than_insurance_companies
Guess what - Americans do not want gov't in charge of their health care.
Your theory, which you keep stating, but have yet to share. Either put up or shut up.
Stewies Stuffed Animal,
Actually, I'm quite happy as a capitalist. I'm proud that I can live and thrive off of my OWN achievements and don't have to worry about others to care for me.
As far as insulting the Europeans - soemtimes facts just do that.
Posted by: Terry | August 10, 2009 1:00 PM
Okay Terry, just keep lying about the government takeover; meanwhile all the private health insurance companies are just licking their chops over the millions of new customers they will have (I suggested Business Week which has reported on this, especially United Healthcare, but you only read your own fave publications and rightwing polls such as Rasmussen). You're a typical selfish person who cares about himself but not the overall system, which eventually which is a growing percentage of GDP while leaving more and more people out.
Posted by: doc | August 10, 2009 2:02 PM
"soemtimes facts just do that."
And sometimes they don't. Some of the social democracies do quite well and most of the citizens (even the ones who aren't lazy) enjoy universal health care. You could try disagreeing without insulting them, but that doesn't seem to be in your nature.
Posted by: rupert | August 10, 2009 4:52 PM
Quack,
Once again you fail to provide this great economic analysis showing a single payer is better. And now, you can read my motives.
I prefer the saying "give a man a fish, feed for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime" While the flatliners want to handout everything (with other people's money) to people, conservatives want to create opportunities for people to come to their full potential.
I'm not expecting you to understand this, since you believe that compassion begins with how much the gov't handsout.
Posted by: Terry | August 10, 2009 5:29 PM
Terrance, I never once mentioned a single payer system. Nor govt. handouts. But in order to claim a govt. takeover, I guess you have to assume so. Apparently you can't read. Or you choose to see what you want. Numerous economists have stated that free markets won't work in health care, because free markets like healthy people not sick people.
But I wouldn't expect you to pay attention to someone like Krugman; Nobel or not. And I don't see the support for your erroneous statements other than a Ratsmussen poll and the Bible.
"One of the most influential economic papers of the postwar era was Kenneth Arrow’s Uncertainty and the welfare economics of health care, which demonstrated — decisively, I and many others believe — that health care can’t be marketed like bread or TVs."
Posted by: doc | August 10, 2009 6:53 PM
Quack,
Just because healthcare isn't marketed like bread or TV's, does not mean that health care can and should operate in a free market. Has Krugman ever had a free market thought rattle thru that Kenseyian grey matter of his?
It seems free market health care works for the vast majority of this country. Could it be improved? Sure Does it need to be tossed out the window? Absolutely not.
I mentioned that BO's plan would lead to a single payer system - which is his ultimate goal. Which he agrees it will also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-bY92mcOdk
Posted by: Terry | August 10, 2009 10:01 PM
Don't waste your time, doc; he's the smartest of the Swamp, in his mind. Don't argue with a boy in denial, "quack."
Posted by: stewies stuffed | August 10, 2009 10:22 PM
Whatever, Terry. We disagree.
Posted by: doc | August 11, 2009 8:27 AM
Stewie's Stuffed Animal,
"he's the smartest of the Swamp," - I see you are finally getting it
Posted by: Terry | August 11, 2009 7:31 PM
The problem is no one is actually talking about the plan.
Obama is making a lot of promises on what it will do, but no explainations of how? What the end cost is going to look like?
Meanwhile those opposed to the plan are screaming Doomsday scenarios (or at least protrayed as doing so) and no is really discussing the issue.
The other thing that makes this whole mess even stickier is Obama's desire to get this pushed through yesterday.
I can appreciate that you're anxious to get this pushed through, but the problem is when you say it must happen now no one has a chance to look at it, think about it, or discuss it.
Let's just slow down, stop the name calling, and discuss is like the adults we all are.
Posted by: johnny Weak | August 13, 2009 12:06 PM