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December 7, 2009

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

For health care reform? Stand up, be heard

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 | 2:03 a.m.

So Sen. Joe Lieberman, a few “blue dog” Democrats and all Republicans have decided they will not vote for the final health care bill if it contains a public option. Do these politicians not understand that a majority of citizens now support health care reform with a public option, and by a sizable increase since August?

If nothing else, these legislators have motivated me and presumably many more silent supporters to remind them to heed the public demand for health care reform unless they wish to suffer the unintended consequences that will surely befall them in the midterm elections. Perhaps instead of criticizing them, we should thank these officials for saying they will vote against a public option.

While all other advanced nations provide universal health care to their citizens, and at significantly lower cost than what now we pay in the United States, we are like lost sheep, seemingly unable or unwilling to see the forest for the trees.

After 60 years of talking, it is time for all Democrats, independents and Republicans who want sustainable, affordable and accessible health care to take action. Now is the time to contact our representatives and insist on health reform with a strong public option.

Discussion: 64 comments so far…

  1. "Do these politicians not understand that a majority of citizens now support health care reform with a public option"

    Michael L. Corbett would actual have you believe that people know what a public option looks like, how it would work, how much it would cost, and who would have to go under it.

    He does not know, you do not know, I do not know. Even Harry and Nancy do not know.

    This is 1/6th of the economy and nobody knows nothing.

    So there is a moving poll which shows the whitehouse PR is nugging the result just over 50% so the Democrat want the vote today. Just remember those 50% of the people who pay no taxes today and are looking to get free health insurance will alway vote for it.

    But we still do not know what we should know - real facts on the cost and details.

    Our grandkids would like to know what kind of check they will have to write in the future so we can live large today.

    Whitehouse PR here is what that is about.

    At a campaign rally on 9-12-2009, in Minnesota Obama said "They can't stop us!"

    John Podesta said, In the coming weeks, the president and the extensive resources he commands will be used to lavish attention on two groups: Democratic lawmakers and middle-class Americans who are anxious about how the cost of extending coverage to tens of millions of the uninsured will affect their own health insurance and finances. "You have assets you can deploy to make the case and bump up individual members" of Congress, said Podesta.

    Mean while ACORN, SEIU, Community for Change, and Organizing for America are also using taxpayer money and selling Obamacare.

    Obama, Reid, and Pelosi are tone deaf. They do not respond to our phone calls, e-mails, townhalls, or rallies. They refuse to listen to us because we are lairs to them, because we do not believe them or trust them.

  2. The Great Unwashed elected Obama. He appointed all these hacks. Eveybody in the White House is happy. When this whole thing goes in the toilet the same dopey people who told you he was good will tell you he was/is bad.
    During Bush's regime I could not find anyone who said they voted for him. Especially after 911. Don't worry we're not here long enough to worry about it. Just enjoy what you have and get ready to kiss it all goodbye.

  3. No one knows what this disaster will look like when it hits the street squealing like the pig that it is. The braindead citizens who are promoting this are blinded by a fantasy--the greatest and most miserable mistake in a lifetime as a domestic policy. It will slash half a trillion from Medicare and tax the middle class and cripple small businesses who create jobs. "advanced nations", please! These are nations that are no where as great as America. We have an outstanding health care platform.After the "great new plan" is rolled out there will still be 25 million that is does not cover. If our elected leaders cram this plan down our throats--look out in 2010 and 2012.

  4. People keep (either they are dumb or lying) getting polls confused.

    http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_c...

    57% Say Health Care Plan Will Increase Costs
    53% Say It Will Reduce Quality of Care
    45% Favor Passage
    23% who Strongly Favor the plan
    40% who are Strongly Opposed

    As for the public option it depends on how it is asked.

    If it is asked that public option will caused many employers to sign-up their employees for the public option and drop the private option then only 29% support the public option.

    http://www.gallup.com/poll/123782/in-u.s...

    This poll says that the overall support for ObamaCare is 44% in favor and 49% against.

    These numbers are why their is a split in support by Democrats in DC. Democrats in tough states or districts that are running in 2010 really do not want to vote on this matter.

  5. People like this wailer scare the crap out of me. He is for a major Health Care Reform Bill that has not been published and read yet.

    For some people it doesn't matter because they think it contains a special provision that they can relate to; FREE!!!

  6. All of Europe and especially Scandanavia are not advanced nations. They are backward immoral welfare states. It is much like the sharecropper system that existed in the United States after the civil war. You lived on the massa's land and tilled it, planted it, grew the crops, harvested the crops and then took the crops to market and sold them. Then you had to give the massa half the money you worked so hard for for the priviledge of working on his land. After you paid the general store for the food and supplies you bought on credit you had very little left. Now the government here is trying to do the same things the evil governments in Europe are doing. They will let you work, then confiscate most of your money, waste it and you will have little else. Don't be fooled by Obama's constant lies. The road to serfdom lies directly ahead.

  7. I certainly agree with LarryVegas. I bet if you sat this Corbett fool down and asked him to explain what "public option" actually is he would just stand there and look stupid. Of course if you asked most politicians the same thing you would get the same response.

  8. It is unfortunate but true that the vast majority of people arguing about health reform have no personal experience to base their opinions on.

    If you are happy with your current insurance......fine. The likelihood is that you have never had to make a major claim against it. Insurance is the only business model I can think of where the happiest customers are the ones who never used the services they paid for.

    I haven't seen one, single, politician say that the system isn't broken. The debate centers on how to fix it, and how to pay for it.

    When insurance companies can deny policies to newborn infants for being too fat, or too thin, and then reverse those decisions when they become public talking points, just shows how unfair and arbitrary their decisions are.

    The whole concept of insurance was to provide a pool of contributors so that those unfortunate enough to have major illness or injury would not be devastated financially by having the bad luck of wretched circumstance. That was the idea anyway. Then the insurance companies changed the rules. Now you are only entitled to benefits as long as you are profitable. If you pay in more then you take out. If that has become the case, why have insurance in the first place? Most large corporations are self insured for this very reason.

    Small business is the backbone of this country, yet big business has all the advantages and makes most of the money. With all of the "contributions" going to our elected officials (well over a million a day now, just on health care alone) I doubt that ANY plan passed will adversely effect the profits of large corporations. When all is said and done the most likely outcome will be the same as always.
    The rich get richer and the rest of us get..........

    The only good thing I can see about the current debate is that it has brought to light just how corrupt the Washington beltway has become. Sometimes I think we would be better off picking our representatives with a dart and a phone book.

    Of all the reforms that are needed, the first should be campaign finance and congressional ethics reform. Without that, any other "reforms" will be meaningless.

  9. Sgtrock and jb101...The govt. now pays half of all medical bills and almost 80% of hospital bills. Private insurance pays almost nothing because they dump the sick. United, Anthem, Aetna and Cigna are the largest insurers insuring over 100 million people. According to their published reports they paid 200 billion out of over 2 trillion in aggragate medical bills. They also denied 200 million claims for medical services.
    If insurance companies won't pay medical bills they are useless.

  10. "The govt. now pays half of all medical bills and almost 80% of hospital bills."

    If what you are saying is true plus I believe you believe that healthcare is broken.

    Let's see...

    You say...

    Healthcare is broken

    Government is the main force behind healthcare.

    Then why do you want to make things worse.

    According to your facts and beliefs it seems that the government is causing the problems.

  11. zippert1-so what? Even if the insurance company drops some from their rolls it is not my resposibility to pay their doctor bills. It is up to the person dropped to figure out what they are going to do. I don't especially care, as long as I don't have to pay for it.

  12. SgtRock...all the govt. does is pay bills that are sent to them. The problem is the bills are sky high. Some medicines like Avistan cost 50k per year. Hospitals are charging over 200k for routine heart surgeries and cancer treatments in Nevada and other states. I became involved in health care in the 70s when prices began to spike. It has gotten so costly individuals and insurance can't afford these costs. The govt is the only payer that can foot these bills. It's a lousy system but better than just letting millions die.

  13. zippert-

    "The govt. now pays half of all medical bills and almost 80% of hospital bills. Private insurance pays almost nothing because they dump the sick. United, Anthem, Aetna and Cigna are the largest insurers insuring over 100 million people. According to their published reports they paid 200 billion out of over 2 trillion in aggragate medical bills. They also denied 200 million claims for medical services.
    If insurance companies won't pay medical bills they are useless."

    How very true. The insurance companies operate near monopolies in their respective markets...

    http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/...

    And they deny coverage to whomever they want and already flip so much of the health care costs on us the taxpayers. And for what? For them to post record profits while we suffer?

    And btw, most Americans recognize this and want real change. That's why the public option is so popular.

    http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2...

  14. jlb101- it's not just people being dropped but overall cost as stated above. In Nevada almost a third of our population have nothing. Hospitals, trauma centers, burn centers are on the brink of going bust. These centers need a source of revenue to stay in business. The govt. can provide the revenue. Most everyone will need costly health care services before they die. You pay into the system today and collect benefits tomorrow. Everyone benefits from good health care services eventually in their life. It's just way to expensive.

  15. The average cost for employer-provided insurance has doubled since 2000. These days , the average for an individual with employer-provided insurance costs an average of $4,824 a year, with the employee paying $779 of that amount. For a family plan, the premium is $13,375 with the employee paying $3,515. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that in 2016 the average premium will be about $7,500 for a single policy and about $19,000 for a family policy. GO To: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/arti...

  16. Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics.
    Pick your poison... the right and the left both have their spin doctors working 24/7 right now to convince you that THEY know what is right for America!
    We're going to have Health Care Reform. It's a DONE DEAL. It's just a matter now of what the final product will look like. The only thing you can do now is contact your Representatives in Washington and let your own personal voice be heard. Who cares, Democrat or Republican? What matters is that people that are in need of health care will receive it, and those (the vast majority) that PAY for health-care through their Employer will not be disproportionately &/or unduly charged for their services.

  17. I love how everyone against healthcare reform say it's free... Uneducated buffoons! You know those poor people that will get this public option for "free"? They are now getting it for free through Medicaid! The public option will work exactly like the Post Office and last I checked they wouldn't let me mail any packages or letters for free...

  18. Lieberman likely gets a substantial contribution from some corporation (say AETNA) and therefore, his opinion about health reform isn't worth squat. When are people going to see what the opposition is worth? Republicans consistently get more contributions from health-based corporations (insurance, pharmaceutical, etc.) than democrats. They aren't concerned about the average citizen; they are concerned with lining their pockets. When are there going to be scare tactics about the rampant monopolies of private corporations determining who lives or dies? I'm not saying that a completely socialized system is better, but there are extremes at either end. Republicans seem to think privatization of everything is the key. Deregulation and privatization have caused their fair share of disasters. Look at the major bullet we dodged by not having Soc Sec privatized. We will always need a balance of public and private entities to keep us out of trouble.

  19. And, for those who will only want to pick my post apart: I know Lieberman is an Independent, but he acts like a Republican.

  20. Here are three questions for those who think that senior citizens will not lose quality of medical care under Obama's health care:

    1. Where do you think 500 billion in medicare cuts are coming from?

    2. Where do you think 500 billion in medicare cuts are coming from?

    3. Where do you think 500 billion in medicare cuts are coming from?

  21. djeco... Your post is right on.
    Speaking of Repub's in Independant's clothing...hello Larry.

  22. "In psychology, "authoritarianism" refers to the idea of the "authoritarian personality"--an old concept that originated in the 1950s to describe people who are for one reason or another easily submit to authority. So these are not people who are authoritarian themselves, but people who easily accept authority." S.J. McCann

  23. "Do these politicians not understand that a majority of citizens now support health care reform with a public option, and by a sizable increase since August?"

    Only the slow, dumb, and lazy want more freebies from those of who choose to get up and work for a living and provide a better life for our family. Most Americans support healthcare reform without a public option.

    America is becoming a cesspool of illegal immigrants and should this become law, America will lose our credit rating and our economy will become a full blown depression. The markets will crash, unemployment will reach 50% plus, most banks will close, and the Democrat gene pool will increase 10 fold.

    If this is what you want for America then support the bill, if you want to create your own destiny without relying on the Government then don't support their bill.

  24. Lieberman should hang with the republicans and the likes of Sean Insannity or get a job as a wiesel at the Hartford CN zoo.

  25. Hey gmager... How about that New York House race?
    The Republication dropped out because of the conservative movement. Now we need more Republicans to understand that their days may be numbered.

    Wouldn't it be great if there were enough Independents in both houses to make both the Republicans and the Democrats worry about getting legislation passed without the votes of the Independents?

    By the way there gmager... Can you inform me as to where the 500 billion in medicare cuts are coming from?

  26. The GOP has been mounting a Full Court Press. A Prevent Defense.

    The GOP is not interested in helping Americans. Not interested in protecting seniors and only partly interested in saving big bucks for HMOs and the Drug Industry. Their primary aim is preventing Obama from completing his promise to provide all Americans access to Health Care. Killing the program would result in enormous political advantage. Millions of Americans hung out to dry, but JOY would reign amongst Republicans.

    That's just sick.

  27. Again I ask what is the mechanism in the bills that will keep the ever increasing costs of a visit to the doctor or a medical procedure in check. If those costs continue as they have been, any savings from this health insurance reform will be swallowed up in a year or two. In fact, it is more likely that the cost of this reform will skyrocket. Why is this only about insurance when there is so much more that contributes to the problem? As far as I know things like tort reform and onerous government regulations aren't being considered. We seem to have gone from health care reform to insurance reform and once again, unintended consequences will be the result.

  28. The Democrats and "Move On" don't care about the uninsured, the unemployed, the economy or our troops in the field.

    Their complete attention is on a federal government takeover of our health care system. Nothing less...

    They are trying to sell their version of health care reform just like they sold the country Barak Obama. Tell them anything, promise them everything but renege on them all...

  29. "The GOP has been mounting a Full Court Press"

    Democrats have absolute control of the Senate and the House and they do not need one single Republican vote.

    It is the Democrats that are not willing to vote for ObamaCare because they are fearful of the 2010 election. They should be for according to almost all polls over 55% of likely voters against ObamaCare.

  30. Compassionate Conservatives will soon reveal a bold initiative that will provide Medical Coverage for all Americans!

    Americans will select a preacher, rabbi, minister, etc of HIS OWN FREE CHOICE, to pray for his good health each year. If, despite these prayers, he should fall ill, he would once again ask his religious leader to intercede with God on his behalf. To make absolutely certain his prayers are heard, he will pay $100 for each prayer. Any citizen who cannot afford the $100, would not have to pay a dime! The American Government will pay the $100.

    ONLY poor and middle class Americans would be eligible. Those earning more than $125,000/yr must utilize secular programs such as HMOs and PPOs, relying only on so-called "scientific", rather than spiritual ministrations, God help them.

    Republicans are certain their program will receive bipartisan support. Democrats will vote for it fearing the attacks from Fox that would surely follow their rejecting a program related in any way to God.

    Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson, Sun Myung Moon, and Billy Graham have all blessed the program. Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Baker each said, "If the people need me, I will be there for them."

  31. Lol @ WordofGod. hahahah!

    Such a great post.

    Our health system sucks and so do our providers.

  32. Our government system sucks and so do the Democrats.

  33. No, Republicans do. :)

    It's all about the Communist Party baby.

    Republicans would be liberals in Europe, hilarious.

  34. jlb101, Go on, take your money & run! Woo hoo hoo!
    Larry... As to the first line of your last post;
    I'm a Democrat, and you could not be more wrong.
    In fact, I take personal offense to that.

  35. gmager... Let me change the first sentence to:

    The Obama Administration and "Move On" don't care about the uninsured, the unemployed, the economy or our troops in the field.

    I should not have said "Democrats" in my previous post because I know the great majority of both Democrats and Republicans care about their fellow man.

    Don't forget that I used to be a Democrat and a Republican. Now try to put principles before any party affiliation.

    Interesting development in upstate New York...

  36. That is interesting. I assume the candidate that dropped out is doing so in an effort to save the seat for the Republicans. I also see that the NEO-CON WING of the party has kicked out the centrist-leaning Repub... so much for inclusion as an effort to try to save the party from becoming completely irrelevant. Regardless, it'll be interesting to see if the dem can unseat a 100 year-old red dot.

  37. For the benefit of SgtRock:

    If you go to the Rasmussen web site you will see the big banner ad for Aetna right at the top of the page. If, however, you go to other lass biased sources,

    http://www.pollingreport.com/health.htm

    you will find the following:

    NBC News/Wall Street Journal found that 72% of the American public thought that the choice of a public option in competition with private plans was either "extremely important" or "quite important."

    CNN found 61% supported a public option.

    ABC News/Washington POst found support at 57%.

    The Kaiser Family Foundation found support at 57%.

    CBS News found support at 62%.

    ISOS/McClatchy found that 53% thought a public plan is necessary.

    Quinnipiac found that support for a public option stood at 61%.

    Last I checked, all those numbers meant "over half." Barack Obama also received more than 50% of the vote, and during the campaign he told us health care reform was his #1 priority. Health care reform is why we put him in the White House and it's why we elected such a large majority of Democrats nationwide.

    The Republicans and blue dog Democrats who are blocking this are clearly standing in the way of the will of the people.

    Joe Lieberman was blunt about it. He said he was standing up for the interests of his constituents, and then defined his constituents as the large insurance companies headquartered in Hartford.

  38. You can quote all the poll numbers on public option until your face turns blue. If ObamaCare was just the public option then those polls would matter. ObamaCare is more than that (Obama really could give any poop about the public option anyway).

    Anywho......there were two public option questions in the NBC/Wall Street poll...just to show on how wording changes the outcome of the poll....in the 2nd question 48% were in favor of the public option and 42% opposed.

    Just to give JohnF a test of his polls that the cited, here it the overall Obamcare:

    NBC/Wall Street
    Only 38% think ObamaCare is a good idea

    Not one single one of those polls show any strong support for Obamacare.

    "Health care reform is why we put him in the White House and it's why we elected such a large majority of Democrats nationwide."

    You are right.....Obama could give a rat's ass about the economy or jobs......all he cares about the greatest expansion of government in a very very long time.

  39. My Question to you is Do you remember when The Welfare Assistave Program was implemented in the 1960's? And what party pushed it through?Do you remember what its original intention was for?
    I was a child during this period and only know the answers because I wondered how it got started and where were may hard earned tax dollars were going?Now if you believe the lies that Harry Reid;Nancy Pelosi and our President have created a blind fold and have not told you what we would be facing 20 years from now and how much its going to cost 20 years from now but I will say to you Look at the Welfare program at its original passing into law and what it is today.And the cost 40years later and you will see that the goverment healthcare bill will be the same result in the future.Guys Please do not support something that you have not throughly investigated and if you see what I do write you politcian and let him know your feelings

  40. I'm supporting it to oppose Republicans, they say no, I say Yes!

  41. jlb101,
    I noted your comment of 0800 Oct 31st, but I refuse to get involved with an ignorant moron.

  42. Why do doctors charge so much? Why do hospital corporation show huge profits? Can't a doctor live in only 1 luxury home and drive only 1 Jaguar?

  43. mr__meowington
    Are you closed minded or just tunnelvisioned and wrapped up in political parties and not what is the best for the country.Both parties Republicans and Democrats have trully allowed this country to end up where it is today.
    I have learned over the years to look at what would be best for the country.I do not see the Healthcare Bill as it is proposed to trully benifit this country down the road.I see it as being a liability to the taxpayers down the road.
    As I stated in an earlier comment look at the original Welfare Bill and now look at where it is today.
    Yes we should have some sort of concesions from the Doctors and the Hospitals but I must say that the insurance industry needs to lower malpractice insurnce rates to help the doctor and hospitals begin to lower their charges.When this happenes you will have true healthcare reform and the personal insurance rate drop at the sametime.The new medical technology has also driven up costs and the developers need to give a break in what they charge for this equipment.
    I believe that the Federal Administration needs to give the medical community a wake-up call.But a the state of this countries economic state and unemployment,this should be the biggest focus at this time.
    I commend the blue dog dems and the republicans have trully looked at the long haul of this plan and are trying to protect the people of this country.What happens 10 years from now when your taxes go up 15,20 25 percent to keep the healthcare bill going.Once again look at Welfare and what it has done and is today since the 1960's.
    I fear for my children and what this country will be 20 years from now.We as citizens have a habit for falling for the sugar coated ideas of our political leaders and not realize what the long term implications.
    I used to consider myself a Repuplican voter but no longer.I consider myself as an American Citizen who has a right to vote in this country.
    My concern is what will be best for this country as fars as political parties they both have their faults.People blame President Bush for the economy and how he allowed things to happen but remember one thing the House and senate both were watching the samething as ourselves and both parties allowed things to continue on a collision course with collaspe.
    Now what I see is the politicians in Washington have refocused and are wanting to make sure what they put into bill is a benefit not a liability.
    Oh by the way who controlled the Senate and House during the last 4 years of Bush.
    Thank God I live in a country that we have the right to speak our views.

  44. The majority of citizens don't want government control over health care. It may not be great right now, but why would anyone think the government could run it better?

    And this proposal comes from the people who brought you the post office, Amtrak, Social Security (bankrupt and reducing benefits by the day), and Medicare (filled with fraud and also bankrupt), not to mention the SEC (who sat idly by while Madoff made off with billions).

    The government takeover of health care (which is what they want) will increase costs and reduce service levels.

    One has to go only as far as the DMV to see "efficiency" in action. You will have lots of time to observe as you wait hours for your 'turn'.

    I am not surprised that the uninsured want the rest of us to pay for their medical care, but we all just cant afford to do it.

  45. There is no free lunch in America.

  46. Oh but there is free lunch :)

    "One has to go only as far as the DMV to see "efficiency" in action. You will have lots of time to observe as you wait hours for your 'turn'."

    I agree, the Nevada DMV does a terrible job. I have lived in Washington and their method is very efficient and have small offices.

  47. Good point mr_meowington. The idea that a public service can work in one state that supports it and fail in another that does not is important to note.
    Personally, I've never had a bad time at the DMV in Las Vegas. But I'm not the typical Vegas "must get to the red light before you to prove I'm a man" type.
    This town would make a mockery of any public option, just like it has of the current state. Las Vegans are just too transitory, uneducated and selfish to ever really pull off the coordination and patience it would take to successfully create a better life for themselves health care or otherwise.

  48. Robert and I have been fortunate to travel and when we do we always ask questions of our tour guides.
    On a recent trip to Northern Europe, Amsterdam specifically, we asked our tour guide about their social services system.
    She smiled at us Americans on the bus and explained to us how their taxes fund their health and education systems. Needless to say there was a gasp on the bus when she proclaimed, still smiling, that they pay 37% of their income in taxes!
    Then she went on to explain how when their children pull better than average grades in school, the student doesn't have to go to a bank and BORROW MONEY FROM THE BANK TO FUND THEIR EDUCATION!! Thats right, if they pull the grades they don't come out of college in debt!
    Their helath care system is ranked as one of the finest in the world. BUT HERE'S THE CLINCHER:
    She asked us what she thought WE paid in taxes to our government! She explained that although she understood that an American's taxes may vary from state to state the average american PAYS APPROX. 34% of our income in fees and taxes!!!
    Then she gingerly asked why we didn't feel ripped off (my words) paying all that money and getting so little in return.
    You could see the reflective, almost stupid look on us traveler's faces as we absorbed what she had just said to us!
    Sometimes they know more about us than we know about ourseves!!
    Oh, and by the way, for all of you so concerned about budget busting... correct me if I'm wrong..but aren't we about to invest a COUPLE MORE BILLION DOLLARS to pay off crooks in Afghanistan to do a little "nation building"? BILLIONS, upon BILLIONS of our dollars!!!
    How dumbed down have we become?!!
    Stuart & Robert Wyman-Cahall
    Las Vegas, NV 89142

  49. Howdydostu, we have heard this before from you. To be exact, on 8/6/09 at 4:15 p.m.

    Robert and I have been fortunate to travel and when we do we always ask questions of our tour guides.
    On a recent trip to Northern Europe, Amsterdam specifically, we asked our tour giude about their social services system.
    She smiled at us Americans on the bus and explained to us how their taxes fund their health and education systems. Needless to say there was a gasp on the bus when she proclaimed, still smiling, that they pay 37% of their income in taxes!
    Then she went on to explain how when their children pull better than average grades in school, the student doesn't have to go to a bank and BORROW MONEY FROM THE BANK TO FUND THEIR EDUCATION!! Thats right, if they pull the grades they don't come out of college in debt!
    Their helath care system is ranked as one of the finest in the world. BUT HERE'S THE CLINCHER:
    She asked us what she thought WE paid in taxes to our government! She explained that although she understood that an American's taxes may vary from state to state the average american PAYS APPROX. 34% of our income in fees and taxes!!!
    Then she gingerly asked why we didn't feel ripped off (my words) paying all that money and getting so little in return.
    You could see the reflective, almost stupid look on us traveler's faces as we absorbed what she had just said to us!
    Sometimes they know more about us than we know about ourseves!!
    Stuart & Robert Wman-Cahall
    Las Vegas, NV 89142

  50. Gee LarryVegas, you don't ever repeat postings do you? You're like a broken record some days.

  51. You may be eating a free lunch but somebody else is paying for it. Enjoy!

  52. Yup, learning to cut and paste my thoughts on any issue is one of the GREATEST inventions ever!
    As long as it's relevant to the topic at hand and it's thought out, it doesn't mean that it's less sincere. These are my experiances, I stand by them.
    I certainly hope that we'll wise up as a country and get our priorities straight.
    We're getting ripped off with our billions of taxpayer dollars lining the pockets of criminals, while hard workng TAX PAYING citizens go bankrupt and are denied access to health care when we get sick!
    Stuart & Robert Wyman-Cahall
    Las Vegas, NV 89142

  53. I don't care to be patronized by anyone who talks down to people as if we are a bunch of idiots. Fosimmons excluded of course.

  54. I applaud LarryVegas for being smart and providing a good environment in which one can intellectually disagree, not.

    Wow Larry, all your posts are full of ignorance and echo Faux's news point of view. good job.

  55. Thanks, mr meow...

    It's guys like you and your political rants from the left that keeps me going.

    I am glad to be of service...

  56. The single biggest reform that could be made would be to lift the restrictions that prevent shopping across state borders for insurance. This rule is placing an enormous burden on tele-commuters and small companies with multi-state operations.

  57. Hey Larry, I bet you don't know anything of politics, or how to define it.

    That's a nice Harvard Political science degree, wait..it's not yours!

    LarryVegas, commenting on politics (a la Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh is like telling a doctor he's wrong because you read something online or a book. People misinterpret when they read Karl Marx or another Political Ideology. If it's not your field, don't comment on it unless you know what the hell you're talking about, rather than repeating yourself from a TV channel. You tell the doctor he's wrong and he's going to tell you "I went through more than 8 years of school so you can't tell me I'm wrong? What's your qualification, going on webmd or reading a book about a certain symptom?". Although he might be wrong, it's his opinion that counts, not yours.

    :)

  58. Meow...

    It's not my job to know anything and it's not my job to try to educate you. My job is to counter the rhetoric coming from the far left and the far right.

    So meow, are you telling me you are an expert on politics? Or, better yet, are you a politician?

    If my doctor tells me something that I think is wrong, I will ask him...

    All of our opinions count, even yours...

    Come on, tell me the truth. FOX News just drives you crazy doesn't it. You, nor the President can silence truth no matter how much you bad mouth them...

  59. Counter with stupidity that is.
    I'm not saying anything.. ;)

    You will ask, but the doctor will still stand on his opinion.

    I used to watch Fox News back when respectable people still were the main guys such as Colmes. Now they have Hannity who has no idea what he's talking about and can't give a good interview of an opposing person without always being "right", just tries to bully them. That's not right. Perhaps in the future Fox will take those idiots away and put actual educated people who can disagree with the President in an intelligent matter rather than putting out emotions in front (Glenn Beck crying) and I'm sure there are a few but they don't get the spotlight they deserve.

  60. If I don't get a good answer, I would change doctors. I can do that now, but maybe not under single payer health care.

    Now hold on... I will agree with you about Hannity. I used to watch when it was Hannity and Colmes, but don't watch much of it anymore.

    Alan Colmes is a weekly guest on Bill O'Reilly lately. I like him.

    Glenn Beck is out there a little too much for me. I think he has a good heart, but he kinds of reminds me of my mother in law.

    I usually watch the FOX morning news programs and end with Neil Cavuto. I check in on Bill O'Reilly to see who his guests will be.

    My wife is an avid viewer of Greta Van Susteren.

    So, now you know all my secrets...

  61. I am finally enlightened. Thank you. I'm glad we can agree on something.

    Glenn Beck...is not a good source, I'd take Bill O'Reilly any day, but still not good enough. I felt that with Colmes (even though I disagreed with him on a few things) was the type of guy we need for these commentary stuff, relaxed, doesn't talk over people excessively. We really don't need this divisive stuff in our country, another example is Olbermann who I don't like.

    But hey, we got the crazies and it's freedom of speech so we have to not listen to them.

    I am sure you could change doctors under single payer health care as I've lived in countries with government run health care (Great Britain, France, and Mexico) and I was able too.

    Their perspective of health care being "socialized" is completely different than ours, probably due to their more accurate sense of Political ideology. Funny thing is how in America we're so divided when in Europe we would be Classic Liberals and I assure you nowhere near Conservatism (Classic that is, not to be confused with American Conservatism) since that's closer to Facism and on the left we'd be naturally inclined with the socialists (who are the other side). I've realized that "social" medicine has been misinterpreted by many and an example of this is Ronald Reagan's "coffee" club LP's and other "red scare" things from the Cold War. I highly doubt we'll become communists and if we do give a hint of that, I'll be sure to take arms against the government, but I doubt it.
    I hope there aren't some things on the bill such as health insurance being mandatory, we must have a choice at least.

  62. I am against this health care reform bill, I'm more interested in seeing the gubment tackle unemployment...

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