Obama calls for honest debate on health care

Sunday 23rd August, 05:28 AM JST

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mtimjones at 01:35 PM JST - 23rd August

If Obama, nor any of his chronies, cannot easily explain how this health reform will be paid for other than "savings", then it doesn't deserve 1% of the discussion that it's getting. Obama's desire is to turn the U.S. into a nation of slaves (including our children, ad infinitum)...

If there's one thing that we've learned, it's that the Govt managing anything is a serious mistake. Look at social security, medicare, tax system, etc. There's no benefit for the Govt managing it correctly, since fixing it is as easy as running deficits and raising taxes.
skipthesong at 01:53 PM JST - 23rd August

I've heard all the fair and balanced commentary about health care from Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingrahm and Sarah Palin" well, why in god's name would you be listening to them for?
GJDailleult at 02:24 PM JST - 23rd August

I'm against the nationalization of any industry

A little late to worry about that. The USA already has the world's largest government run health care system and spends more government money on health care per person than the UK. They then load a private sector health care and insurance system on top of that, which sets the prices and takes its cut, running health care costs up to 16% of GDP.

Obviously a perfectly logical system, and anybody who wants to reform it must be a socialist out to destroy America and freedom.
smithinjapan at 05:41 PM JST - 23rd August

skipthesong: "well, why in god's name would you be listening to them for?"

I hear music in the background, but I'm not listening to it.
TheQuestion at 09:45 PM JST - 23rd August

So in other words, while you're accusing people of listening solely to the media, you yourself are simply listening to those who profit from the current system.

So what you're saying is that I shouldn't listen to health care professionals when it comes to health care? Sorry buddy, but I've known my insurance agent for a long time and my doctor even longer and both have treated me well over the years so I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt that they know what they're talking about.

Why not ask a few of the tens of millions of uninsured, or those who were turned down by their health providers (after paying into the system for years) when they needed them?

Yeah...let me get right on that.

Obama wants honest debate, but those on the Right aren't willing to engage in one,

Alright here are a few talking points like Section 113 Subsection 2 "REPORTS.—Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall submit to Congress and the applicable agencies a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1). Such report shall include any recommendations the Commissioner deems appropriate to ensure that the law does not provide incentives for small and mid-size employers to self-insure or create adverse selection in the risk pools of large group insurers and self-insured employers. Not later than 18 months after the first day of Y1, the Commissioner shall submit to Congress and the applicable agencies an updated report on such study, including updates on such recommendations."

Maybe thats just me imanining it but it sounds a lot like the government discouraging large group and the self-insured which may involve invoking penalties on those individuals even though this bill comes under the guise of offering more options to taxpayers but it sure seems like they want everyone under their plan. That kind of sounds like a one way trip don't you think.

Then theres a slew of questions I have about Subtitle E section SEC. 1741. PAYMENTS TO PHARMACISTS. Which sounds quite a bit like it will be 'encouraging' doctors and pharmacists to listen to what the government thinks is best for the patient over what the doctor does.

But I guess just because I took time to read a heafty chunk of the bill I must still have no idea what I'm talking about and couldn't possibly have any thoughful concerns about how the bill would effect my lifestyle.

A little late to worry about that. The USA already has the world's largest government run health care system and spends more government money on health care per person than the UK. They then load a private sector health care and insurance system on top of that, which sets the prices and takes its cut, running health care costs up to 16% of GDP.

I never said I was happy with it before, just that I am even less happy with it now than I was before.
TheQuestion at 09:51 PM JST - 23rd August

Then theres a slew of questions I have about Subtitle E section SEC. 1741. PAYMENTS TO PHARMACISTS. Which sounds quite a bit like it will be 'encouraging' doctors and pharmacists to listen to what the government thinks is best for the patient over what the doctor does.

Sorry I should have elaborated more. That section is about reimbersment limits (sounds like a cut off point), and exemptions of coverage for drugs if a hospital or doctor perscribes a drug that "is an inhalation, infusion, or injectable drug". In addition to more 'incentives' to put government reccomendations over the unique needs of patients.
sailwind at 10:27 PM JST - 23rd August

Send this plan back to sender.

The American people do not want health care reform with the efficiency of the post office. The sustainability of Social Security and all the compassion of the I.R.S

What we can do and it would be supported by the Republicans and most moderate Democrats is this. Health insurance reform for Doctors. Medical liability insurance costs all of over 200 billion dollars a year in inflated costs. Doctors order more more tests because if they don't they are going to face a lawsuit. Tort reform is needed and needed now. It would have an immediate effect and it would lower every ones premiums almost immediately.

An OBY-GYN in Florida pays almost 200,000 dollars a year in medical liability insurance premiums. Of course he has to pass that cost on to his patients. This is pure nuts. I like for everyone to have a job but this is one area where I sure wouldn't shed a tear if a bunch of trail lawyers were out of a job because we passed tort reform and get these vultures out of the health care system.

This could pass, this has populist appeal across the political spectrum and Obama should not let this pass by. If he had real leadership instead of a nanny state agenda that he really wants he'd be all over this.

After Tort reform was passed then he could crow (and rightfully so) I lowered your rates and now that part is down, now lets start to tackle the un-insured and see if we can't get the rates even lower so all can afford a basic plan.

Start with TORT reform first Mr. President. It's doable and it's way overdue.
SushiSake3 at 11:44 PM JST - 23rd August

"Obama calls for honest debate on health care"

That's just not going to happen if the Republicans and their conservatives supporters are involved in the debate.
Wolfpack at 12:41 AM JST - 24th August

An honest debate would start with President Obama admitting that his goal is a government run, single payer health care system. He has stated that this is his goal even if it takes 10, 15, or 20 years to achieive. Obama has made contradictory statements where on the one hand the government will not get between you and your doctor and at the same time he says there will be a panel of government "experts" that will decide which treatments doctors will be allowed to provide for their patients.

The reason that needed health care reform is in serious trouble is because Obama is doing a terrible job of communicating his policy objectives causing consternation among both the far Left and the Blue Dog Democrats. Obama has no interest in working on a bipartisan plan simply because his ideological inclinations do not permit it. For Repulicans, as-long-as Obama pushes for greater government/socialist control of the health care system, they have no reason to support him. 85% of Americans have health care. Of the remaining 15%, most either choose not to get health coverage although they can afford it, or are illegal aliens and are the obligation of their own governments, not that of the U.S. The government run health plans of Medicare and Medicaid are subsidized by those that are privately insured to the tune of 15~20% of actual costs and has therefore increased the health care costs for most Americans. Medicare and Medicaid have unfunded future obligations in the trillions of dollars. These entities would be considered bankrupt if they were privately run. Government health care in the US has proven to be tremendosuly expensive and cannot continue without signficant future reductions in future costs. What we need is less government control, not more.
Molenir at 12:44 AM JST - 24th August

That's just not going to happen if the Republicans and their conservatives supporters are involved in the debate.

lol, not going to happen at all as long as Obama and the Democrats keep lying to the American people.

Start with TORT reform first Mr. President. It's doable and it's way overdue.

Very true, however you know as well as I do that Obama is in the pocket of the trial lawyers. He will never support anything that undercuts that.
Wolfpack at 12:47 AM JST - 24th August

SushiSake3 says:

That's just not going to happen if the Republicans and their conservatives supporters are involved in the debate.

The fact of the matter is, Democrats do not need Repulican support for President Obama's health care policy. He has yet to obtain solid Congressional support for it among Democrats. Obama spoke a great deal about bi-partisanship during the election but he has not had any serious health care negotiations with Repulicans. He is banking on strong-arming his overwhelming majorities in the House and Senate. He has the bully-pulpit but the more he speaks the less support he gets from the public. His message is consfusing and contradictory.
seijichuudo9sha at 12:50 AM JST - 24th August

I think this is the hill Obama falters on. There are just too many rallies across the country. Maybe the only hope is SEIU, ACORN, and MoveOn coordinating enough false flag sabotage of town hall protests.
tungincheke at 02:14 AM JST - 24th August

what our cancer stick puffing hypocrite in chief can do for starters is to have Pelosi and Reid include in the legislation making it mandatory for all elected officials and appointees of all all three branches of government, federal, state, county, city employees and union members to abandon their current health plans for the government option.
Molenir at 02:38 AM JST - 24th August

what our cancer stick puffing hypocrite in chief can do for starters is to have Pelosi and Reid include in the legislation making it mandatory for all elected officials and appointees of all all three branches of government, federal, state, county, city employees and union members to abandon their current health plans for the government optio

Agreed. If they want to foist this boondoggle off on the American people, they and their families should all be under the public option and have to wait for rationed, managed care like the rest of us. No special perks merely because you are the President or a member of congress!
SuperLib at 03:48 AM JST - 24th August

smithinjapan: Why not ask a few of the tens of millions of uninsured, or those who were turned down by their health providers (after paying into the system for years) when they needed them?

Sure. Then balance that against the hundreds of millions who are covered now and are worried that they'll get less care at a higher cost.

SushiSake3: That's just not going to happen if the Republicans and their conservatives supporters are involved in the debate.

One might agree with Obama that reform is needed but not necessarily agree that his method is best. But people such as yourself seem to think that any disagreement with anything Obama does is a purely political move and evidence of Republican evil. I happen to support a lot of his plan, but one thing I'm concerned about is the fact that his plan doesn't account for rising costs overall. I think that's a legitimate concern, yet you'll ignore a legitimate concern, one that you might even agree with, and pretend that all opposition is formed by Limbaugh and Palin. So instead of asking how we can create a plan to help reduce costs, you turn the debate into "let's see what crazy Palin said today."