I dont' get all the anxiety over Government Sponsored Health Care? Our Canadian Medicare Program has been providing Canadians with Health Care for decades and ensures that every citizen is entitled to Medical Care when they need it regardless of their bank account or class. It may not be the top echelon of Health Care but when a Canadian needs a Doctor, treatment, or hospitalization they don't have to take out a loan to pay for it. or do without care because they don't have the finances to pay for it. And we still have the option of buying into Corporate Health Care Plans for extra coverage if a family or individual feels they need it.

I doubt any Canadian could afford to pay the Costs of American Health Care.

Recently my employer instructed us to hire only part-time help in our stores in an effort to cut costs of the employer shared expense of providing health insurance to employees. What does that say when employers no longer want to carry this so called benefit?

"Chris S, if you're working 65-80 hours a week and "really can't afford" health insurance? I only work 40 hours a week and can pay for mine just fine. Did you not pay attention in school or something?"

Yes I did pay attention in school, yet do not understand where your first question is.

Dan, the point I was intending to drive home is, at our current rate we will all soon be paying COBRA rates for coverage as the insurance companies in question are trying to cut their losses due to the ever increasing costs of healthcare. It is not a matter of not being "able to afford" insurance, but not seeing the value in paying co-payments and deductibles with an "up-to" cost. If you are not a sickly person, there is no real value in maintaining the exorbitant costs – hence value.

Oh and Dan, you stated, "I only work 40 hours a week and can pay for mine just fine." I am glad you are still able to maintain coverage for yourself (your operative word being "mine") but, try covering a family with individual deductibles of $2500, and then 40% of cost above that. A tragic accident or illness can now more quickly bankrupt the average family, unless of course they work where you do.

Only the insurance and drug companies, hospital corporations, trial lawyers, HMO's and the American Medical Association seem to benefit from the current system. It can't get much worse to let the government have a crack at it!

Count me in for National Health Care!

Brian

My bad.

If the government starts raising our taxes (yet again) to pay for health insurance how much disposal income are you going to be left with? A lot less!

Each and every year, more and more Americans are making the conscious decision to forgo healthcare coverage. Recently a report was issued (cannot remember by whom) that stated lack of healthcare is not solely problematic with the poorer classes of society. Where is the value in maintaining health insurance anymore when you pay roughly $250 (employer subsidised) a paycheck for family coverage, turn around and have to cover $2500 in deductibles per person on a family plan per year, and then let your insurance company decide for the doctors if a procedure is necessary. Myself, I work between 65-80 hours a week with a descent salary (by most standards) but really cannot afford insurance as it is becomming more costly with lesser value. I believe you are on the right track with your arguement, but you missed the mark a little bit. BTW, I do not have cable or sat TV, I use that money to pay for gas to get to work.

I have to say from the bottom of my heart a big "thank you" for the love you have for this nation, many may say your wrong, but I say " It you Mr, Bush who has defined history." A single man who we looked too, as a nation to feel safe, Yes, you did it! I am extremely grateful. How others seem to forget, I do not. See , I live very close to flight 93. May you also remember , you gave the soul back to our nation.

you and the liberal media have fought this presidency since day one.

Finally a president than stands up for something

You have to be kidding, global coverage?

To Amy,
If the founding fathers intended there to be global medical coverage at the cost to the rich they would have created it. However shock of all shocks Social Security, Medicare, and other government programs weren't created until advocates of big government and the idea that somehow the rich should pay the bill for the poor. Of course none of the brilliant people who seem to think that healthcare is a right ever take the time to read the writings of our founders but rant and rave and claim it is somehow guaranteed by the Constitution along with government financed abortions.

Of course how many of those who can't supposedly afford healthcare have cable TV among other luxury items. There is also nothing stopping many people from getting a second job. This country was founded on the principle of hardwork. Not whining and complaining about not getting everything you want and expecting someone else to pick up the check.

Anyway, I still remember the first time Bush vetoed the $35 million expansion. Jon Stewart's Daily Show discussed it, and he joked around saying "and the Republicans couldn't possibly have a logical and cogent reason for rejecting the expansion, right?" only to soon play a clip from Sen. Trent Lott with a fairly reasonable response. The senator said something like this:

"The Democrats plan to fund the $35 million expansion by raising cigarette taxes. They even argue that higher taxes might convince some smokers to quit. And that's all fine and good. But if smokers quit, then we lose their tax dollars and we're left with an S-CHIP that's unfunded."

Jon Stewart feigned surprise at how a Republican could be logical. Then he joked that perhaps we should hook children on cigarettes, cuz then they'd be paying for their own healthcare.