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Daylife/Reuters Pictures used by permission
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| Obama addresses a meeting of millionaires |
Americans overwhelmingly support substantial changes to the health care system and are strongly behind one of the most contentious proposals Congress is considering, a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
The poll found that most Americans would be willing to pay higher taxes so everyone could have health insurance and that they said the government could do a better job of holding down health-care costs than the private sector.
Across a number of questions, the poll detected substantial support for a greater government role in health care, a position generally identified with the Democratic Party. When asked which party was more likely to improve health care, only 18 percent of respondents said the Republicans, compared with 57 percent who picked the Democrats. Even one of four Republicans said the Democrats would do better…
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Daylife/Getty Images used by permission
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| Congressional Republicans say “NO” |
Republicans in Congress have fiercely criticized the proposal as an unneeded expansion of government that might evolve into a system of nationalized health coverage and lead to the rationing of care.
But in the poll, the proposal received broad bipartisan backing, with half of those who call themselves Republicans saying they would support a public plan, along with nearly three-fourths of independents and almost nine in 10 Democrats…
They clearly indicate growing confidence in the government’s ability to manage health care. Half of those questioned said they thought government would be better at providing medical coverage than private insurers, up from 30 percent in polls conducted in 2007. Nearly 60 percent said Washington would have more success in holding down costs, up from 47 percent.
Why should anyone have confidence in insurance companies? Is there anyone left who hasn’t been screwed by their automobile insurance, homeowners coverage, medical insurance company? We all know these slimeballs would steal their mother’s purse if they could skive another 5% from a settlement.
# 70 Mr. Fusion, said, “Who said only those paying over $250K are financing it?”
O’Mama did as he promised no tax increases for those making under $250k/year. Bzzt, another box for you.
BTW – Why did you leave the Oberfurer thread after lying about his ratings?
#60, Now, one thing that socialized care DOESN’T do is kick you off when you get sick. You get treated. And then you get treated again if necessary.
Um, I hate to break it to you but Daschle and Biden have both stated there would be rationing based on who’s the most productive in society (i.e., “Old People will just have to deal with getting old.”)
First off, Obama is a politician. There has been precious little he has done as promised. All politicians are liars. You do realize that right?
BUT, BUT, BUT!!! That was one of his campaign promises — “spread the wealth.” Now you are saying it just going to take it?
Wow, the Conservatives and their ad hominem arguments about government health care. Amazingly misinformed, and mostly tied to pure ideological philosophy irrelevant of the facts.
When private insurance companies stop denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, or denying payment for stupid reasons in the name of “profit”, then I will trust private insurance. That isn’t going to happen unless the insurers are forced into it.
http://cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/16/health.care.hearing/index.html
Conservative talk all high and mighty that private for profit health care is the best, despite overwhelming evidence that it is not. I’ve seen a very vocal opponent of “socialized medicine” drasticall change his mind after an auto accident and an insurance policy that would not cover most of his injuries, and a $100,000 medical bill.
69 Paddy-0 (i made it a Zero! So clever)
“The other group wishes to have free choice as to H.C.”
You have choice insofar as your insurance company gives it. So, your insurance company has choice, you have a paycheck to write.
#70, Who said only those paying over $250K are financing it? Oh, right, You did so it must be a fact.
He did. If he isn’t going to raise taxes on those making less than 250k/yr (as he promised), then logically, only those above it are going to pay into it.
73,
“Um, I hate to break it to you but Daschle and Biden have both stated there would be rationing based on who’s the most productive in society.”
Good thing private insurance doesn’t ration, right? At least you won’t go bankrupt trying to survive an illness.
“BUT, BUT, BUT!!! That was one of his campaign promises — “spread the wealth.” Now you are saying it just going to take it?”
Very poor grammar, as you’re obviously very angry and rushed. What I said was that he failed to deliver on many campaign promises. Like EVERY POLITICIAN IN THE WORLD. Doesn’t mean socialized health care is bad.
I wonder if the few against universal health care here in this blog are not working for the Insurance companies?… or some other special self serving interest… it appears that even in this blog a mojority of the bloggers are for universal health care of some sorts…
Some comments:
1. Private health insurance is currently amazingly expensive if you’re not a member of a group policy.
2. Disclosure: my sister works for Golden Rule, a major healthcare provider. She might be out of a job if there’s public health insurance.
3. Maybe what we need is single payer public health insurance, but with some of the health insurance companies used to handle the insurance premiums, per government rules. The idea is that these companies know what is going on in healthcare, including possible scams (yes, some doctors and hospitals do attempt scams and often succeeed).
4.The companies get paid for their work, and the Gummint gets knowledgeable workers.
What 54 really boils down to Patrick is one group is ok with the rich getting treatment, normal folks going bankrupt, and letting the poor die.
Gee, How about a ‘popular vote’ on it?
Nate Silver’s got some good analysis on recent HC polling (at fivethirtyeight.com).
Warning- if you’re a Rasmussen fan, you won’t like it. Looks like they’re the outlier again.
Why should or can anyone say yes to a plan that doesn’t exist yet?
# 78 Insurance man…NOT said, “it appears that even in this blog a mojority of the bloggers are for universal health care of some sorts…”
Yes, the majority of ess productive people wish to take from those more productive. It has always been thus. That’s why theft exists in this world.
Majority of people have no idea what the problem is – especially the republicans.
The GOP is brainwashing people to think Obama’s plan calls for the government to render medical services – WRONG.
WE NEED A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM TO CUT COSTS.
The insurance companies are leaching $600B a year on producing nothing but profits. These profits are paying for GOP lobbyists.
#54 – PatDick,
I want free choice of health care. That’s why I want a government plan. Right now, if I decide to stop working, I have no health care. If I change jobs, I may have to change doctors to one not of my choosing. If my company chooses to change coverage, I may lose my doctor or lose coverage for some aspects of my diabetes care.
I want choice in health care.
I want a government plan.
Doesn’t anyone think about the implications of our current systems on our corporations? Even our CEOs are too stupid to recognize that right now, not only are we unable to compete with China and India, our corporations are unable to compete with any of the industrialized nations as well.
Why?
Simple, long ago, our corporations thought they were fighting communism and voluntarily picked up the tab for social welfare. Now, they’re too busy paying health care and contributing to 401Ks and pensions and administering all of the stuff we call “human resources” to be able to compete on a level playing field.
Other countries let their governments deal with social welfare thus freeing their corporations to compete in their fields of business.
Why are we hamstringing our companies like this?
#77, Good thing private insurance doesn’t ration, right? At least you won’t go bankrupt trying to survive an illness.
I never said private didn’t ration. Every business rations. It’s how you stay in business.
as you’re obviously very angry and rushed. What I said was that he failed to deliver on many campaign promises. Like EVERY POLITICIAN IN THE WORLD.
Rushed, not angry. I think with my brain and not my emotions.
Doesn’t mean socialized health care is bad.
Which is one of the stupidest things I’ve heard. “Yes, Obama, lied but he isn’t lying about this.”
They man ain’t exactly batting a thousand these days, Scooter.
So, no one has argued against my basic premise as posted earlier. Thanks.
#87, So, basically, you want the option to freeload on those who aren’t?
Brilliant! I want that, too!
# 24 jbenson2 said,
NY Times poll – unbiased?
Does anyone, except for the far left, really believe anything printed by that rag.
I don’t have quotes from others, but apparently Sean Hannity decided to quote the NYT.
http://members.cox.net/ditto-busters/blogger.html
March 17th posting.
# 42 mike said,
Yea; it is not like the government runs any other program poorly. They are wonderful at Medicare, Medicaid, Post Office, NEA, FDA, etc. This cannot possibly fail…
Why do you hate our troops?
J/P=?
89, LL
Obama is not socialized health care. He is the President of the United States. Just in case you forgot that.
90, Paddy-0 (Again, a zero. So VERY clever)
Yes. I did. Twice. But, you have comprehension issues.
# 93 Named said, “Yes. I did. Twice.”
Nope. You simply think that the words “wish” & “have” have the same definition…
Alfred 1 keeps arguing speculations. Let’s ground this idea: If the government is formed to assure the common defense, then find the right way to have that edict cover the defense against disease and trauma.
It’s not a detailed notion; it’s a basic principle for having government in the first place.
The arguments that the solution will end up looking like this or that deficient legacy agency, department or previous governmental program are pure bogus offal. There’s no reason, for instance, that the DMV analogy or metaphor would apply. Right now there are good DMVs and bad DMVs, depending on your state or whether or not you bother to make an appointment for services.
Around the world there are many examples of health programs, hosipitals and government-supported health care systems that flat out work just fine.
Republicans love to point out the negatives and ignore the positives because that tends to make them look more dramatically powerful and right, but it just ain’t so.
All their durm und strang ignores the factoid that in the industrialized world, protection of the population from exterior armies is not the only function of governance.
So instead of having a system that prevents health issues from eating every ounce of savings, we have a system that makes insurance companies and Big Medicine rich. Do you really like paying $700 – $1100 per month for family coverage? Do you really like having a cap on that so when an automobile accident ends up draining all your coverage, they come after your house and savings?
Republicans do. It’s good for business.
You and your kids would be a helluva lot better off moving outside the USA from a health care standpoint. And the population is pissed that congress and past administrations have failed so miserably on this issue.
#88, Scott, employer provided healhcare, like 401(k)s and paid vacation, is a fringe benefit that is part of an overall compensation package meant to attract desirable workers. That is all it is. Somewhere along the line, people have gotten this idea that employers are under some kind of obligation to provide these things – they are not.
And now we have a proposed plan floating around Congress that actually wants to enact a statutory obligation of employers to either provide health benefits, or pay an additional tax so the government can.
Neither of these is going to do anything about increasing the competitiveness of American business. And as Greg Mankiw noted on his blog, the CBO also came to the same conclusion about any proposed healthcare reform
http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2009/05/healthcare-competitiveness-fallacy.html
94, Paddy-0 (I’m trademarking this 0)
You’ve got two problems in your life:
1, comprehension.
2, admitting defeat.
You’re almost as bad as Alfred1… the difference being that I don’t think you’re a lunatic…. yet.
And your link in your name? CLEVER! Its a perfect link for a fascist.
We don’t need “socialized medicine.” But we do need socialized health insurance. Even here in Amerika.
Private health insurance doesn’t work. Greed will leave YOU out in the cold. Simply human nature.
AMERICA’S NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY!
It’s official. America and the World are now in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. A World EPIDEMIC with potential catastrophic consequences for ALL of the American people. The first PANDEMIC in 41 years. And WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES will have to face this PANDEMIC with the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed World.
STAND READY AMERICA TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
We spend over twice as much of our GDP on healthcare as any other country in the World. And Individual American spend about ten times as much out of pocket on healthcare as any other people in the World. All because of GREED! And the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare system in America.
And while all this is going on, some members of congress seem mostly concern about how to protect the corporate PROFITS! of our GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT NATIONAL DISGRACE. A PRIVATE FOR PROFIT DISGRACE that is in fact, totally valueless to the public health. And a detriment to national security, public safety, and the public health.
Progressive democrats and others should stand firm in their demand for a robust public option for all Americans, with all of the minimum requirements progressive democrats demanded. If congress can not pass a robust public option with at least 51 votes and all robust minimum requirements, congress should immediately move to scrap healthcare reform and demand that President Obama declare a state of NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! Seizing and replacing all PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance plans with the immediate implementation of National Healthcare for all Americans under the provisions of HR676 (A Single-payer National Healthcare Plan For All).
Coverage can begin immediately through our current medicare system. With immediate expansion through recruitment of displaced workers from the canceled private sector insurance industry. Funding can also begin immediately by substitution of payroll deductions for private insurance plans with payroll deductions for the national healthcare plan. This is what the vast majority of the American people want. And this is what all objective experts unanimously agree would be the best, and most cost effective for the American people and our economy.
In Mexico on average people who received medical care for A-H1N1 (Swine Flu) with in 3 days survived. People who did not receive medical care until 7 days or more died. This has been the same results in the US. But 50 million Americans don’t even have any healthcare coverage. And at least 200 million of you with insurance could not get in to see your private insurance plans doctors in 2 or 3 days, even if your life depended on it. WHICH IT DOES!
Contact congress and your representatives NOW! AND SPREAD THE WORD!
God Bless You
Jacksmith – WORKING CLASS
#89, Liberty Loser,
I never said private didn’t ration. Every business rations. It’s how you stay in business.
So if private business rations, it is good, BUT if government rations, it is bad.
… I think with my brain and not my emotions.
Doesn’t mean socialized health care is bad.
Which is one of the stupidest things I’ve heard. “Yes, Obama, lied but he isn’t lying about this.”
Gee, isn’t that an emotional response? No argument, no rational thought, no counter point, no analysis, no critiquing, no discussion on the merits, no refutation, no intelligent idea, no explanation. Nope, just an emotional knee jerk response about it being stupid.
How typical of those who don’t like Obama. It doesn’t matter what the issue is, just because it is a Democrat / Obama idea, it must be bad. No plan of their own, just more NO !!!
#90, Cow-Patty,
So, no one has argued against my basic premise as posted earlier. Thanks.
It was unanimous, you’re a jerk.
#100, So if private business rations, it is good, BUT if government rations, it is bad.
Correct. It is doing something not in it’s constitutional mandate.
How hard is that to understand?
Gee, isn’t that an emotional response?
Dang, you’re slick. You got me. You are correct. I was laughing my ass off 😛
How could you tell?
How typical of those who don’t like Obama. It doesn’t matter what the issue is, just because it is a Democrat / Obama idea, it must be bad. No plan of their own, just more NO !!!
It’s not Obama. It just so happens he is the messenger here. If McCain was up there spouting that crap, I’d be carping on him as well.
And just so you know, I did think the Spy ROTC thingy was a good thing from what I could find on it. But it wasn’t posted here so I couldn’t comment.