Obama's Uphill Battle on Healthcare, Economy

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There is a HUGE failure in Washington to face reality.
Mr Obama has ignored the crisis that he partially inherited and has made WORSE. He has instead chosen to pursue HIS personal agenda in lieu of dealing with the needs of the American People.
The Democratic Congress is behaving like children in a candy store trying to grab all they can before 2010.
SAD state of American Government.
We are the only ones who can correct this mess and when the Republicans get back in office,
WE must keep their feet to the fire as well.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Chris Petty of GA 10:58PM September 19, 2009

The comments of the people before me are all cuckoo. Ideology has been the problem why Congress is balking at healthcare, cries of "socialism" and "quid pro quo", and people buying into those lies about "birthers", "deathers" etc. If Congress will do nothing, a pox on both parties, and let's form a centrist, independent third party that pays no attention to being reelectd and does not honor quid pro quo.

Jack Golding of KS 6:11PM September 09, 2009

I have one comment, It does not matter if it's government ran or private sector. The more complex issues is do any of the plans give you choice well the answer is "NO" The "Take a Stand People" post I speak to people like that everyday..I can afford it I'l take care of my own, but unless you are in the field of medecine and now how much thngs really cost, your just blowing smoke. I quote and prices to people every day who claim to say I don't care how much it cost I can afford it and once I drop a number so does their attitude. Healthcare is expensive. Every hospital is not the best and neither is evry clinic office. So like I asked before nio matter the cost , n matter the plan and no matter who runs it, If the plan does not give you choice it worthless anyway.

Bryan P. of NJ 11:02AM September 09, 2009

Here's why health care costs are going up:
1. The AMA sets standards too high, in order to limit the number of doctors, a practice that has worked way too well on the supply of family doctors.
"I am myself persuaded that licensure has reduced both the quantity and quality of medical practice. . . . It has forced the public to pay more for less satisfactory medical service."
--Milton Friedman
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=1105&full=1
2. The McCarran-Ferguson act has allowed the states to set their own standards for medical care, prevent competition from other states, and made them responsible for breaking up monopolies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarran-Ferguson_Act
3. The ERISA law, which affects the majority of the privately insurance, protects private insurance companies from most civil lawsuits, even for breach of contract.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ERISA#ERISA_pre-emption
4. The tax penalty for buying your own insurance instead of through your employer. Employment and medical care aren't related, so there's no good reason to tie them together.
5. Drug prices are held artificially high by preventing people from buying their medicines from other countries, and because Medicare part D can't negotiate prices.
6. Providers don't publish their costs and ratings, which makes it difficult to shop for medical services.
7. Farm subsidies for grain and sugar products keep these unhealthy foods artificially cheap. It also hurts the family farmer because these subsides go mostly to commercial farmers.

ProfElwood of IN 11:24PM September 08, 2009

You know, I’m just about as sick as one person can be over this whole health care issue. I’m tired of seeing our country go the way of these wicked and evil socialistic, communistic, populistic systems that are being forced upon all of us good clean living and only semi-selfish capitalists. I say let’s get rid of ALL the socialist institutions that are plaguing our country in one decisive sweep.
First of all, why should I have to pay taxes for other people’s kids to go to school? I make enough money to send my children to private school and get them best education money can buy. Is it my problem that so many other people have lived their life so recklessly that they have to sponge off of me and others like me? I think not. I say no down with the public school system if you can’t afford to send your kid to school for twelve years that’s your fault not mine. We always need people to work in the service industry.
Secondly, why should I have to finance law enforcement for everyone? I live in a great neighborhood, with a gate and private security I might add. Crime only happens in the “bad neighborhoods” where minorities and poor people live. Why is it my responsibility to insure their safety and security? I say, they are on their own, let’s build a wall around them and after a year or two whoever’s left, put them to work digging ditches or something.
And finally this whole “Medicare” fraud that has been forced on us honest hardworking people who have saved their money and can take care of our own parents and grandparents. This is one of the greatest scams ever. Why should I care if some “gangbanger’s” grandma has Diabetes and is going blind, not my fault. Why is it my concern if some inbreed Appalachian redneck’s mother has gone crazy with Alzheimer's, not my problem. Or some useless elderly liberal has developed cancer, one less person pay for.
Public parks, free clinics, prisons, and so on, the socialistic agenda of the liberal hordes has marched on long enough. It’s time to draw a line in the sand and make a stand here and now on this health care bill. Say this out loud to yourself; “Somewhere, someone is going to die just because they can’t afford to pay for the treatment they need to live.” Not so bad is it?
Why is my hard earned tax money being spent on the weak, lazy, and illiterate “bums” of this country? Stay out of my pockets you liberal scum while pretending to be all “noble” and “compassionate”. I don’t know what it is your trying to pull here, but I don’t like it one bit. I will take care of me and mine so the heck with the rest of you losers. That’s just my opinion take how you want to take it.

Naysayer of SC 8:43PM September 08, 2009

I would like that state that the best health care system in the world is not ran by the US government. It is ran by the private medical industry. Vets that get free care do so because they are a small select group. If you enlarge that group, the cost goes up. Hence medicare and medicaid. Why not read all about social health care Mass. The link to the Boston Globe is below. If you do some more searching you will see that they also had to cut benefits this year because of cost on their public plan with would only unsure the 200,000+ plus people. While I would agree they have some good ideas like requiring health care coverage, they fall short of providing a health care affordability.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/03/02/mass_healthcare_reform_is_failing_us/
As far as people stating that war is profit..Well it is. So is peace time. So what is your point? If weapon suppliers do not make money, why would they be in business? To have the strongest military in the world is something to be ashamed of? As far as peace time, money goes into development for technologies for war and defense. I personally do not see an issue with companies that make money legal and moral ways. Are their bad companies out their like Enron? Of course there are. That does not mean that all or even most companies are like that. If your sibling went to jail for fraud, do you do down with them if you had nothing to do with it? That would be insane on a personal level, however we seem to make the big companies our personal enemy and therefore they must all be evil if they make too much money. Who cares if they provide trillions a year in taxes.
As far as Civil Rights teaching, get over yourself. I bet I could graph the Vietnam war and a tend of cancer and say that it must be related. Better yet I could graph the rise and fall of oil prices and the rise with the rise and fall of the mating habits of the African tea frog and say they must be related. Point is that their were social consequences of that war, and yes poor people had little choice when they were drafted because they could not go to college. But to think it was done just merely for profit is a radical idea at best. By the way, let me know when you find the gunman on the grassy knoll.
I am sure I have offended some people by stepping on their agenda. After all know that most people do not like to be challenged. However I do because if my ideas are not sound then I cannot stand by them. Before you start your name calling and bickering, you need to know something about me.
I am a Mexican male of 31 years. My parents were illegal when I was young but became residents and then citizens. I was that 'anchor baby'.
I am not rich, I am a high school teacher so that does mean I am college educated. However I also did not take an oath of poverty and I do various things to enhance my income whenever legally can. However that is hard when I regularly work 12 hours a day. I make 51k a year

Roger C. of TX 7:29PM September 08, 2009

Why must everyone in the press characterize those who disagree with the Administration's methodology for healthcare reform as "anti-Obama"? There are plenty of people who have valid concerns that feel as if they are being marginalized by partisan politics. The smartest people in Washington who work at various economic and policy "think tanks" have offered solutions that are extremely valid, and have a scholarly grounding. These and those who prefer to turn to them for information (rather than talking heads on popular media) will not go slowly into obscurity when spoken of as anti-Obama or un-American. These are serious people, whose economic ideals have stood the test of time. This is not a campaign, but a serious crossroads. The President and his friends in Congress would do well to listen to what they have to say, and not campaign against them, as if it is some epic battle that must be won. They are not enemies, they are proud, loyal citizens who have real concerns about decades of deficit spending. The checkbook has been in the red for years. Social security has been plundered, as have other streams of support. Any fool can demonize someone else, but a real leader seeks to inform and debate the merits of all concerns. As I recall, most voters chose Obama for his "ability to fix" a failing economy, not to socialize medicine. The approach that those take in making this a fight is divisive and damaging for the entire country.

John of VA 6:43PM September 08, 2009

If you wish to unbalance the “How do we pay for it?” detractors, as an option when in heavy disagreement, use the following Hosea Williams’ Civil Rights teaching:
Dr. King’s favored Field Lieutenant, our friend, Rev. Hosea Williams taught us: Early on, Dr. Abernathy, Dr. King, he and others, in the Civil Rights inner circle could see the horrific consequences the Vietnam war poured on the Poor. As their thoughts evolved, it became clear: war profits motivated the carnage. Studying the economic beneficiaries (follow the money) of war profits showed an endless flowing of Federal dollars; quietly funneled to an influential wealthy few. Here, poor folks suffer immeasurably while rich military/industrialist along with their ilk, without compunction and with complete impunity, slop up blood soaked dollars by the barrel full.
Rev. Williams would go on to teach: A Civil Rights consensus was developing whereby war profits must be prohibited in order to stop this primary war generator. Without war profit: dollars wasted on war would be utilized for health care, education and other constructive measures.
An assassin’s deadly aim ended this philosophical train of thought for many years. However, just before Rev. Williams left us to again be Dr. King’s Lieutenant, he gave us this answer for ending war for profit.
Amendment XXVIII
Sec. 1. War profit is hereby prohibited.
Sec. 2. Congress will enforce this article
with strong legislation.
Tell the detractors: “Together we can ease health costs with war profit savings.” Here, truth will stymie the doubters to the point of distraction.
Not even a conservative Republican can justify war profit over health care.

Steve Swimmer of GA 6:27PM September 08, 2009

The best health care system in the world is controlled by the U.S. military, is completely socialized and overseen by the United States government.
And, to think the people of the United States cannot do as well for our general population is ludicrous.
But, ludicrous we are: Here, we send billions upon billions in war profits to the pockets of the military/industrialists. Billions more go to Israel to buy weapons from the same war profiteers while Israelis build "settlements" on disputed land certain to create more profits for the same merchants.
Oh yes, plenty of loot for war profiteers; however, no dollars for our general population when it comes to universal health care.
We could prohibit war profits and use the savings to end the needless loss of 20,000 Americans each year for lack of health care; but, Republicans won't allow that. Will you?

Steve Swimmer of GA 6:25PM September 08, 2009