Obama Appeals to National Morality in Healthcare Reform Speech

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Stay in school until you graduate at least high school, no children until you are married (staying married to one person very helpful) and work full time. You too will be lucky. And if you are the least bit smart you can build a good life for yourself and your family. Your medical care is not your responsibility unless you are my wife or children. You have no right to my hard earned money. If you want something get off your butt and earn it. If you are truly in need through no fault of your own I will be pleased to help you but freeloaders need to quit crying for my money and go earn your own.

Redleg of OK 12:50PM January 19, 2012

Anyone against health care reform is really lucky, cushy cozy. They weren't born gay in an age that looked the other way in the 80's while 70 % of their friends were dying ignored. Joe Wilson has his head so far up his butt he's eatin puddin. Respectfully, RW.

Richard Wold of IL 2:10AM September 13, 2009

Nice attack bub, I must have hit a nerve. I'd love to have heard your VIEWPOINTS, unfortunately you did nothing but attack. So sad.

Donna of TX 1:06PM September 11, 2009

Hey Donna, has a logical thought ever passed through your thick skull? You may have been somewhat educated but that is one of the biggest loads of insanity I have ever heard. Learn to think for yourself and quit allowing Rush Limbaugh and Fox news completely consume your soul.

Matt Moraine of KY 12:24PM September 11, 2009

Mr. Partial-Birth Abortion President,who lets babies who survive abortions lay on tables until dead ... your audacity and hypocrisy know no bounds. Morality? This president doesn't know the meaning of the word. Innocent life is to be sacrificed for the holy grail of univeral HEALTH care??? Which will only ration health care to all, again leaving out the most vulnerable in our society? Again I question - morality? Universal health care is IM-moral - to choose one's own life over another, innocent,defenseless life is the most immoral action one can take. The audacity of so-called Christian leaders that back this administration - is murderously tragic.

Enough cannot be said of their betrayal of innocent life.

Donna of TX 6:30PM September 10, 2009

Yes we need health care reform so we can care for those who need care. But, I find it interesting that the "liberals" say that providing health care is a moral issue. Yet they do not say that individuals have a moral duty to live a healthy life style. This is typical left paternalistic thought. You can eat all the junk food you want, smoke five packs of cigarettes a day, sit on your butt and the rest of us will pay for your cancer and diabetes. Don't worry you can do whatever you want and we will take care of you.

I'm not suggesting that we punish those who have a genetic disorder or have an accident but 70% of all doctor visits would be eliminated if people would stop eating junk, get 45 minutes of exercise each day, maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking and limit their drinking and get connected socially. If Americans would adopt a healthy life style the health care costs in the US would crash and we could easily afford to provide health care for those who don't have insurance.

But no one is willing to address the real problem which is that the average American is over weight, eats junk, gets no exercise, drinks to much and sits in front of the TV instead of belonging to a group.

For example lifestyle changes could prevent 70,000 cases (40%) of Breast Cancer in the US (see http://health.usnews.com/blogs/on-women/2009/09/03/4-steps-to-take-now-to-lower-your-breast-cancer-risk.html?s_cid=et-0909). What would that save in health care costs, billions?

We are cutting gym classes from school and then wring our hands because our children are fat. I would suggest making the school day from 8 to 5 and add 2 hrs of structured gym and unstructured play time (the ratio would vary depending on age, more unstructured play time for the younger children). For the younger children sprinkle the unstructured time through out the day (and watch as the number of children with ADD drops) and have larger blocks of structured gym for the older students.

Put the responsibility where it lies, on the individual who chooses to live a unhealthy life style. If you smoke, are over weight or engage in risky activities you pay higher life insurance rates, why not do the same for health insurance. Fix the real problems and then there will be enough money to take care of those who through no fault of their own need care.

Dan in Colorado of CO 5:15PM September 10, 2009

I have been the recipient of health care through the Medicaid system in California, a government run program. It was the mercy of this program that paid for one of my two year-old's three needed heart surgeries. Yes there are faults in Medicare, but they were diligent in providing care for my son, and I never paid a dime, while my husband was unemployed and we used one of the best heart centers for kids in the US. Not one cent was I asked to pay. Truthfully, since we've had insurance, it's been increasingly more difficult to pay for care. I've got copays that are roughly 50% of total allowable costs, and huge deductibles, plus premiums that are killing our low middle class income, and the insurance company tells me all the time what I can and cannot have. I've had to fight for coverage for some of the medical tests needed for my son. I've watched this get worse every year while I pay more and get less coverage. I presently pay 400-600 dollars in copayments PER MONTH, on top of premiums to get the care needed for my family.

It is not so bad to have government involved in health care, especially for about the 5% of the population who might have a public option. Honestly, I'd like to see more, but I know there will be someone to catch me there if I fall. How about that, someone to help if you really needed it, if you lost your job, lost your house, lost your savings or lost your wits. I understand Medicare is a very good program too, from my parents who are participants in it.

Tiana of CA 12:55PM September 10, 2009

And this is a BIG difference.

The "insurance industry" (comprised of CORPORATIONS) does not need "government help", as you allege. The PEOPLE need the help.

The Republican habit of filtering public money through corporate nets with the argument it will "trickle down" to the little people is precisely the problem.

Muser of NM 12:37PM September 10, 2009

I am all for healthcare reform. I think it is a national duty.

I am opposed to this bill, which does nothing for healthcare, and threatens to wreck the insurance industry at a time it could use some government help rather than threats to kick it's legs out from under it.

If competetition were all that was needed, the marketplace would be full of competitors.

Sternberg of SC 12:11PM September 10, 2009

Funny how the one repeated twice is blurb that refers you to positions spawned by a corporation's group. Morals, you say? Corporations are inanimate objects. They do not have "morals".

Muser of NM 12:08PM September 10, 2009

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Dan Gilgoff covers religion for U.S. News & World Report. He is the author of The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War, and is a former politics editor at beliefnet. E-mail Dan at godandcountry@usnews.com.

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