Obama invites Republicans to health care talks
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26 Comments
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0
memyselfI
The talks are frivolous because the Health Insurance & drug companies bought out the Republicans.... These are rich people who do not care about the poor or anybody that does not have Health Insurance.
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memyselfI
Medicare was also an idea, many people tried to reject that idea. Good in CLuck Obama helping out idiots. If anybody disagree with my statements then why old people in waves buying up medication in Canada and Mexico ??? Explain that to me !!!!
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Alphaape
memyself,
That is the same old "leftist" tirade that really doesn't bring much to the table. FYI, a lot of the Dem elected officals are rich also, and if you were to stack the net worth of the Dems vs Reps in Congress, you would be surprised to see that the Dems net worth would be higher.
Just like the trial lawyers bought out the Dems so there is no chance of tort reform that can cut some of the costs of health care.
Like it or not, the very poor in America do get health care. That is what medicare is there for. How do you think all of the illegal aliens who come to America are able to get treated. The problem is, that the working classes in America who may need to get medical treatment, are told that becuase they may have income, they do not qualify for medicare so they are forced to go without treatment, or loose their jobs in the hopes of getting on the medicare rolls. Also, the fees that medicare pays are low and many doctors/hospitals find that they do not cover the cost of care.
Want to get health care to Americans, redo medicare, since every working person has to pay into it to make it better and more responsive. Restrict those who are in America illegally from getting services (since they are not US citizens and are not contributing to the medicare taxes), and institute tort reform so doctors can reduce malpractice fees and lower costs, and hold the insurance companies accountable and stop their dropping people who get sick.
But to go on the rant that Reps are rich and Dems are poor shows you are only repeating talking points that someone else has said.
0
TumbleDry
Alphaape:
oups... you missed your target. Super rich or less, help the poor.
Good health care is a human right, poor, less poor, middle class, wealthy or super rich.
Health care in the US is not a right.
0
yabits
Hopefully, there will be enough Republicans who listen to the health care experts and take on some of the responsibility to reform a system that simply has to change.
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Alphaape
TumbleDry, We do help the poor in the US. As I explained above, I pay medicare taxes. But I have not used any of the services since I have been blessed with a job that allows me to have a more privae health care plan.
The problem with the US system is that everyone is currently paying into it that works, but the way the benefits are given out is not equal. The worker at McDonald's who brings home a paycheck has medicare taxes taken out. But, if that person tries to get some type of help from medicare, unless they are over a certain age they will be denied benefits because they will be making too much money in some cases that cuts them off from free aid. But those in America who do not produce (I am not talking about those who have had a job, but lost it due to economic reasons) but those who simply either wait for the welfare handouts (I know I have some in my family who say that it is their right to get welfare while I am really taxed well above what I should pay) and those who are in the country illegally who are taking from the system.
Many people think that we don't pay medical insurance in America, but just looking at my statements, I have paid over $26,000 in medicare taxes over the past 20 years. Though I have not used any of the services, why now am I going to be required to pay another tax?
My suggestion, redo medicare so that people who are working and paying into it can receive benefits, and cut down costs of insurance and make tort reform would work.
That is correct. It is not in the Constitution that it is required, and I imagine that it is not in the Japanese constitution either.
0
Odogma
The medicine Americans buy from Canada should be called 're-imports.'
US companies ( 'Big Pharma') spend billions to bring these to market, and when the patents expire Canadian companies are allowed to manufacture knockoffs. This is just one of the unexamined, unimagined, unintended consequences of the Democrat attempt at 'reform,' and punishing companies for 'excessive profits' will mean a sharp reduction in medical innovation.
0
WilliB
yabits:
I thought the Republicans had pointed out over and over again that they too want to change it -- just not the way the Democrats want. It is funny how the Democratic party gets away with defining "change" as "my type of change". I guess if you repeat a talking point often enough, it sticks...
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adaydream
I believe that Obama told Reed and Pelosi what he wanted (health care reform) and left it to them to get accomplished. They blew it. Obama said it would be transparent and it wasn't. The list goes on.
I think Obama is going to get the leaders together and try to restart this process. < :-)
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Odogma
A year wasted. Obama has about as much credibility as do the false prophets of global warming.
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yabits
The results of the elections of 2006 and 2008 were clear enough. Americans rejected Republicans and elected Democrats to lead. In his first year, President Obama has reached across the aisle more than his predecessor did in 8 years.
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ca1ic0cat
If you look at all the stuff big pharma and the insurance companies get in Obama's health care package you realize that they own all of DC, not just the republicans.
In the meantime it's now incumbant on the republicans to shut up and do something constructive. This is what they say they wanted. If they blow it there won't be much of a change in congress this fall.
I'd say "put your money where your mouth is" but we all know how that works in politics.
Am I being too cynical?
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WilliB
yabits:
Which Americans? Isn´t the electorate split just about in the middle? And even among the democratic voters, most did not expect Obama-care in the form they the Democrats have produced, and certainly not the way they produced it (remember the promise of open-debate on C-Span?).
If the whole country wanted this, it would have gotten it by now.
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yabits
No. When you consider the drawing up of districts after the 2000 census, under the control of Republican House led by Tom DeLay who tried to skew things as much in the G.O.P.'s favor as possible, the Democratic comeback was amazing. In actuality, when looking at population, Democratic-controlled districts comprise pretty near 65% of the American people.
It only takes a committed minority to defeat what is good for the vast majority. This describes the Republican Party today. Case in point: "Last week, after nine months, the Senate finally approved Martha Johnson to head the General Services Administration, which runs government buildings and purchases supplies. It's an essentially nonpolitical position, and nobody questioned Ms. Johnson's qualifications: she was approved by a vote of 94 to 2." But the reason it took nine months was because Republican Senator Chris Bond of Missouri put a hold on her appointment to pressure the government to approve a pork project in Kansas City. (Quote from the NYTimes' Paul Krugman.)
If the Republicans deal this way on a relatively innocuous government position, consider what they do with something that insurance company lobbyists are paying them big bucks to defeat.
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yabits
All Americans have a vital stake in access to health care for all others in the United States. All Americans have a vital stake in the containment of rising costs of health care.
Doing nothing is a terrible option, yet the one that Republicans seem to want to force on all Americans.
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zurcronium
the republicans will just say no again to any real progress. They want to take the country back to the 50s, the 1850s. If you get sick its your fault so just die quickly, that is the republican healthcare program.
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Odogma
The Republican Party did not exist in 1850.
And in 1850 the lifespan of the average American was half of what the free market system - the single most effective system to bring to humanity the benefits of science and the industrial revolution - has raised it to.
Is it ideological disdain for history and progress, or is it simple ignorance that makes for some of the opinions here?
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RomeoRamenII
That's why the democrats want to force everybody to buy insurance at higher premiums or go to jail, right? We definately need to say no to their socialist agenda and destruction of freedom.
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taj
Buy insurance or go to jail?
???
Do you believe the things you type?
0
RomeoRamenII
Obama invites Republicans to health care talks
Translation: Obama's been shamed into keeping a campaign promise.
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taj
"And in 1850 the lifespan of the average American was half of what the free market system - the single most effective system to bring to humanity the benefits of science and the industrial revolution - has raised it to."
What happens when you compare lifespans of average Canadians, Brits, French, Japanese, etc. over the same period?
Coincidence does not equal causation.
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Odogma
What happens? I'll tell you what happens. Since all the nations you mention either had free markets or adopted them, you confirm what I wrote about the best system mankind has yet hit upon.
0
SuperLib
Well I do give Obama credit for seeing the writing on the wall. The recent election in Massachusetts was an indication of Americans being uneasy with one party having too much power. He's gotten the message and is now acting accordingly.
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USAFdude
SuperLib - Good boy.
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adaydream
California's Blue Insurance Group just raised premiums by 40%. But I'm sure that the users will be many more benefits, NOT!
Insurance companies are going to do what credit card companies are doing currently. Upping charges and rates to really screw America. But please tell me my republican posters how this is so appropriate.
People can't afford it, then it's pushed even more out of reach. < :-)
0
yabits
This meeting will finally put the Republicans in the position of actually presenting a plan that will meet the goals of health care reform: put a stop to insurance company abuses, extend coverage to millions of Americans, get control of skyrocketing premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and reduce the deficit.
Republicans want to make this event--and, indeed, this whole debate--a referendum on the Democratic health care reform plan. Obama wants to make this a referendum on what to do about the nation’s health care problems, with each party putting forward its ideas. And it looks to me like Obama will get his way.
If the Republicans don’t post a plan, everybody will see that the GOP isn't serious about health care reform. If the Republicans do post a plan, they'll have to defend it. That might look even worse, given how unpromising their ideas are, although I realize that's a matter of opinion.
Here is how one "insider" analyzed the situation: "I think the White House is calling the bluff of leadership for both parties, in both houses. The Democratic leadership has consistently said they are quite close to finalizing an agreement, at least among themselves, so this forces them to finalize or cede the power to the White House to make final calls. The Republican Leadership constantly suggests they have ideas for thoughtful reforms that would constrain costs and expand coverage, but their policies to date do neither well or at all. In fact, there is an argument that they would make things worse, particularly for those who need the help the most–older, sicker American citizens. Insisting the Republicans lock in a particular vision forces their hand more than they want and makes them show the world they are divided or show that they are the obstructionists or show their unified policy vision doesn’t do much on the key issues." -- The New Republic
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