Health care reform

[idlewind]

The fundemental problem today is that so many believe that they have a "right" to a house, to healthcare, to an education, to be taken care of in their old age, to a job, etc.etc.etc. The rights that we actually are promised is the the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In other words opportunity. It is up to the individual to plan for the rest.
Our national efforts to provide cradle to grave enefits have driven us to the point of bankruptcy. We cannot afford social security, medicare and medicaid, much less another entitlement.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Insurance Companies or People?

Litmus Test: The People, or the Insurance Companies?

Since 1945, health insurance companies have been allowed to collude to fix prices. The McCarran-Ferguson Act exempted them from the anti-trust regulations that normally prohibit such behavior. And in a country in which more than 80 percent of markets have only one or two insurers, insurance companies just haven't bothered to compete. Insurance is the only major industry in the United States, besides Major League Baseball, where such collusion and price-fixing is allowed.

 

[Lynnie]

Litmus Test: The People, or the Insurance Companies?

And in a country in which more than 80 percent of markets have only one or two insurers, insurance companies just haven't bothered to compete.

I looked at this article to see if there was any reference made to support this statement and there isn't......not surprising. I wonder which 80% markets have only two insurers? And, if this is the case, it is the responsibility of the respective States' Ins. Commissioners to ensure something like this doesn't happen.

Nice concept Darcy presents, but I don't believe this person knows what he/she is stating in the writings. In fact, the article is clearly slanted........to whose ideals?

 

[Matt J]

For all you folks that fall back on the constitution, let me point out that the Preamble of the constitution states:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I'm not speaking of Welfare in the sense of food stamps and unemployment, but the traditional sense "benefit: something that aids or promotes well-being; "for the benefit of all"". I know it's hard as conservatives or even as Christians to follow the basic tenants of humanity when it might mean giving on your part more than receiving, but give it a try, for Jesus's sake.

 

[Chickpea]

First of all, why do we need an overhaul of a system that has 70+% of the public covered. And thats through private systems. Dems and Reps better start paying attention to what the MAJORITY doesn't want. Let these inept buffoons fix whats broken first. Medicare, Medicaid, SS are so poorly run right now, why turn our lives over to the likes of Nancy "Take a Free Ride...with Family Members" Pelosi? Quit looking at this like it's a Right. Nowhere in the Constitution nor in The Bill of Rights does it say we take care of everyone. Geez!

If I hear another word about Europe and France having a better system, I'm gonna scream. Euro is tanking now. And we even may get caught up in that mess, too. Just got back from France, and let me tell you: try to see through your CNN tainted glasses. They "aint" in great shape at all!!

Line in Caddyshack: "Well...The world needs ditch diggers, too". And I know a lot of those guys (ditch diggers) that have their own Healthcare insurance. It's out there and can be purchased. So buy it and quit asking the 70% to pay it for you.

You are correct in stating that the economy in Europe is not in good shape, that the 'spoiled' europeans are mired in all of these promised benefits to their retirees, etc.. and that in the short and long term it is unsustainable BUT this country is not doing so well either AND health care in France is IMHO, much better for the average person BUT to me the most important thing is that - if you work all your life and happen to get sick and need care, you cannot be forced into bankrupcy the way so many families are here. ALL of your life savings can be drained in an instant if you are happen to need specialized care.

I moved here in 1992 when this debate was raging - now almost 20 years later it still is - and the only thing that has changed is that premiums are now multiples of what they were - absolutely pathetic - nothing ever will happen with so many people entrenched in their own positions and since most people know nothing different, they are fine with the status quo.....

 

[30ashopper]

I think we all agree on two major issues with our healthcare system - costs that rise faster than inflation, and exclusions / dropped coverage. What I don't understand is why the current bills sitting in Congress, both of which are over 2000 pages, do little to address the first problem? The CBO has researched these bills and they've been clear, costs are not being controlled, they are being subsidized. There's something very very wrong with that. It's certainly not a long term solution.

I agree with the reps on this one, scrap the current bills and go back to the drawing board. Work on a bipartisian solution, temper the special interests of both parties, and fix the core problems with minimal legislation.

 

[idlewind]

For all you folks that fall back on the constitution, let me point out that the Preamble of the constitution states:



I'm not speaking of Welfare in the sense of food stamps and unemployment, but the traditional sense "benefit: something that aids or promotes well-being; "for the benefit of all"". I know it's hard as conservatives or even as Christians to follow the basic tenants of humanity when it might mean giving on your part more than receiving, but give it a try, for Jesus's sake.

How is adding another trillion dollars in debt to pass to our kids "promoting the general welfare?" All we will be "giving" them is certain economic servitude.
The fundemental problem with our healthcare system is rising costs. The major factors in rising costs are defensive medicine and malpractice insurance. Tort Reform is the best way to attack both problems. Obama's bill does nothing to address tort reform. So we should scrap the bill and start over with a bill that attacks problems instead of paying off campaign promises.

 

[Matt J]

I think we all agree on two major issues with our healthcare system - costs that rise faster than inflation, and exclusions / dropped coverage. What I don't understand is why the current bills sitting in Congress, both of which are over 2000 pages, do little to address the first problem? The CBO has researched these bills and they've been clear, costs are not being controlled, they are being subsidized. There's something very very wrong with that. It's certainly not a long term solution.

I agree with the reps on this one, scrap the current bills and go back to the drawing board. Work on a bipartisian solution, temper the special interests of both parties, and fix the core problems with minimal legislation.

Who cares what the length of the bill is? 2,000; 3,000; 10,000 pages what's the difference? You're simply using right wing talking points about the length of the bill,. As usual conservatives are more concerned with length than substance.

How is adding another trillion dollars in debt to pass to our kids "promoting the general welfare?" All we will be "giving" them is certain economic servitude.
The fundemental problem with our healthcare system is rising costs. The major factors in rising costs are defensive medicine and malpractice insurance. Tort Reform is the best way to attack both problems. Obama's bill does nothing to address tort reform. So we should scrap the bill and start over with a bill that attacks problems instead of paying off campaign promises.

You can blame lawyers, doctors, and nurses until the cows come home. At the end of the day the true reason that health care cost so much is the actual patient. Doctors can turn blue in the face telling a patient to quit smoking, lose weight, or any number of common sense preventative measures, but if that person chooses not to do it, then in the long run their health care bill is going to be much higher than the person who does.

TAX the FAT!

 

[Lynnie]

SWGB for Prez. TAX the FAT!

Best slogan I've heard in a long time! Digg it~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Andy A]

SWGB, with your vast experience and knowledge, you may be able to understand and digest all the nuances and hidden agendas in a bill over 2000 pages but, unfortunately, our Representative and Senators cannot.