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[...] care reform in the past are now backing it. Both of these trends can be seen in the analysis of a poll from CNN. A new national poll indicates that most Americans are receptive to having more government influence [...]

[...] care reform in the past are now backing it. Both of these trends can be seen in the analysis of a poll from CNN. A new national poll indicates that most Americans are receptive to having more government influence [...]

[...] Read the original: CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive ... [...]

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So most Americans want lower costs and more care and want someone else to pay for it.

'Government bueraucrats' you hear so often. As opposed to private bureaucrats who make a profit out of denying me services? Somebody tell me WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE???

After some more of them face personal financial challenges trying to protect their families' health, the republican base will wake-up from their Rush-induced coma and realize that a not-for-profit health insurance co-op makes a lot of sense. Whether the federal government runs it or just keeps it honest doesn't really matter.

We're paying insurance premiums so that we can get our prescription drugs, operations, emergency care at a somewhat reasonable cost. We're not intending that a hoard of insurance company execs drive the latest imported German sports coups using those premiums. Health insurance is not like auto, home or even life insurance- let the sellers fleece the unwitting buyers in those markets- no one dies. No, health insurance is a life-and-death transaction, and a small cabal of greedy executives should not be allowed to enrich themselves with no limits in that market. Ask yourself, what is the only purpose of a for-profit company? To MAXIMIZE profits. How does one do that? Maximize sell price and minimize costs. Sorry, kids, grandma can't get that pacemaker, the health insurance CEO needs a new Beemer!

Registered republican

Let's use Medicare and Medicaid as our model for single payer healthcare.

Those fine government programs are doing great, right?

Let's expand failure....good thinking.

Come on fellow Americans....free health care is the way to go, it works in other countries...regardless of the lies put out by the Republicans/Conservatives. What I cannot figure out is WHY my fellow Americans do not want this to happen, I still believe Americans are for Americans, and still have compassion for their fellow man/women. So your taxes may go up a little bit....get over it, your taxes will go up anyway, and for some stupid reason that does not even help people.

Chi Town May 29th, 2009 5:34 pm ET

Canadian health insurance is compulsory, monopolistic, and administered by the various provincial governments under strict control of the federal government.

Hate to burst your bubble but I know someone from Canada who has Parkinsons. He had brain surgery to relive his tremors and it really did wonders. He said he never could have afforded it in the USA even with insurance. Copay will get you every time. He didn't pay anything but taxes like everyone else. And no they don't tax you to death. The only people in the USA with full coverage are the rich and the government. Like I said, the rich.

#1 Obama has NEVER said he is trying to create a fully government run health care program. That is NOT what is happening or in any way being planned. His entire plan is to make insurance available to more people with better affordability and disallowing the rejection of people with previous conditions. Try getting insurance with asthma sometime if you think it is so easy.

#2 Most people without insurance WORK. They work and struggle and live in bad neighborhoods because it s all they can afford on the unlivable minimum wage that most places give people have nowhere else to go.

#3 Illegal aliens are the least likely to go to the hospital at all, the debts are run up by the same struggling white folk that are dependent upon welfare and food stamps and every other program that is lied about constantly by the far right who simply keep repeating the same lies until people believe them because they prefer rhetoric that feeds into their existing racism.

For the person who says that in Canada "you have to wait months to see a specialist" --- when is the last time you saw a specialist???? The vast majority of the time it takes two months to get an appointment with a specialist here in the U.S., sometimes longer!! Waiting for a hip replacement? What about not being able to GET ONE because you don't have insurance and aren't poor enough to qualify for government assistance? The fact is we are the only industrialized country that has a FOR PROFIT healthcare system. The insurance companies only care about your health to the extent that it improves their bottom line. Government run healthcare wouldn't be any worse than what exists now and it would help middle class (and lower income) families by decreasing the amount of money that has to paid for insurance premiums.

It's funny how the arguments against a single payer system all sound the same, almost word for word. And you know why? Because this propoganda is generated by the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. We are the only industrialized democracy that doesn't have universal health care. And no one I know who lives in England or Canada or Norway or France is willing to trade their system for ours. The horror stories about long waits, rationed health care and hidden costs are bogus. Warehouse hospitals? Scare tactics. Lies drummed up by the folks who want to keep reaping their obscene profits off of a scared and misinformed public.

Heaven forbid you actually get sick in America. Get too sick and your insurance company will drop you. Heaven forbid you have a chronic condition. You'll either be denied health care or pay dearly for it. It's time for a better way. And let's not kid ourselves. If events of the last few years have taught us anything, it's that the big corporations are anything but paragons of efficiency. Greed has no place in health care.

My sister and two brothers lived overseas for several years and they said everyone was happy with their healthcare. Not everything is perfect, but they really had no complaints. They had money for other things rather than worry constantly about going broke over healthcare. I heard France is #1 and Americans who live there are very happy with healthcare there.

This is just the insurance company lobbyists who have gotten to the politicians trying to keep the money rolling in. Of course they will find anything to say to stop public health. It is big bucks.

I am from Nebraska and why do you think Ben Nelson is against it, BIG INSURANCE COMPANY who donates to his campaign.

I love my socialized police, fire department, libraries, roads, streetlights and teachers. I'm sure I'd be even more overjoyed with nationalized health care, especially if it made the evil HMO's go away and made the Republicans look even more incompetent than they like to show us on a daily basis. Keep up the great job, Obama! Now is our time for nationalized health care!

I'm not one of those, in agreement!

Ed May 29th, 2009 5:58 pm ET

Uhmm NOBODY I know is ok for more govt, less cost and really piss poor health coverage. Dems if you really want that, move to Canada.

I guess you believe that BS ad the "conservatives" are running. Oh yeah, 3 people complain. Have you checked the rest of Canada to see what all the others think? My former employer paid over $6K per year per employee for BCBS and the coverage stunk. But the CEO of BCBS isn't getting poorer, thats for sure.

Tim in Seattle, while sipping your little girlie Latte, google – Government Healthcare – denied – surgeries – medicines.

When your done, come back on and say how much smarter an actual Doctor is than unemployed I love handouts like you.

What about forcing physicians to accept whatever payment the government deems fair for their work without the ability to negotiate or opt out. Sounds like the quality of healthcare may be changing too. Interesting that the articles on this subject don't mention that as a part of the plan.

Some one needs to explain Health Care in plain English!!!
First off, the cost of health care is not the problem, it's the insurance industry!
For every dollar we pay for healthcare, roughly 60% goes to healthcare insurance companies.
These are the same people who get highly paid for denying claims, who decide which treatments you're eligible for and who essentially have nothing to do with your care.
With public health...
You would still be able to see the same doctor, go to the hospital of your choice, and in the long run have more freedom and better care.
That's right,
It's not a "Communist Plot" or for that matter anything other than pure propaganda campaign presented to the American media by:
Your friends The Insurance Companies of America

Single-payer would be so much cheaper, more efficient and get way more people taken care of... It's time for us to catch up with the rest of the developed world and recognize that private health insurance just plain doesn't work. Why are President Obama and Sen. Baucus blocking single-payer advocates out of the discussion?

I think that we're missing the real problem about health care in America and that's the runaway costs. In 2003 we spent 15.2 % of our GDP on health care compared to 7.7% for Japan, 7.8 % in the UK or 9.2 % in Australia just to name a few. It won't matter if individuals continue pay this via private plans or taxpayers pay it via public plans the bottom line is that we have to get costs under control or we'll go broke either way.

It's OK when I'm down and out for my neighbor to buy me lunch. It's quite another thing for me to ask him to pay for my health care services. Isn't it even more unreasonable for me to demand by the force of law that someone on the other side of the country who has no particular connection should pay for my health care expenses?

Those that say that poor folks get their health care for free??? I say Bullhocky!!!!!!!

A few years back, my girlfriend who suffers from a degenerative joint disease, was told she was a candidate for back surgury. I took her to the specialist and paid the bill. He told her to come back in two weeks, and he would set up a date for the surgery. A week later she was accepted for medicare, and determined to be disabled by social security. We were happy, as she had been trying for 2 years as her condition kept declining. The next week when she went for her appointment, with her new medicare card, the doctor did an about face, and said surgery wasn't an option in her case. So health care is already being rationed, if you don't pay cash. The current healthcare system is broken, unless you are wealthy.

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

I don,t know where some of this people got the information regarding health care in uk from . I live in london and i can clear stated that some the information on this issue are untrue about the National Health Service(NHS) though it is not perfect but with all have heard about the cost of health care in America it is not encouraging or better than what we have here at all because it shows that it is a money making machine for the insurance companies and their shareholders
Couple of months ago i was feeling some in one my breast i quickly booked an appointment with my GP for the same day ,my breast was checked and i was told there is nothing to worry about , i was also given a refferal to a breast screening centre where i was given all clear all these was done within 14 working days no dine was paid.
To all remind you guys that there are lot of health aweraness and educative advertisment and announcement on our television radion and newspaper s by the NHS.

It is obvious the right-wingers pillorying European healthcare models have no first hand knowledge of them whatsoever. They either rely on partisan media sources for their bad information, or are being actively disingenuous.

I am a New Yorker living in Barcelona for 6 years now. My girlfriend is Czech and is completely provided for. She has had to make several doctor visits recently and has naturally complained about having to wait a few days to get in to see the doctor (it's human nature to complain) but overall is very satisfied with the system. Before I typed this I read aloud for her several comments by Republican posters decrying the plight of the Europeans with their socialized medicine. At first she was laughing, then actually angry at the fantastic ignorance. After I read for her Chi Town's pathological ramblings (elderly being denied, dirty warehouse hospitals) she asked increduously, "But where do they get this from?"

Good question.

Turn off Fox, walk out the door and see; the rest of the world's not as treacherous or horrid (nor is America so perfect) as you seem to think.

listen, only way we get lower costs is put these PAs (Physician Assistants) in rural practice in just General Medicine...lot of nations are doing the same...more so, our PAs are treating their patients very well....in fact my doctor is a PA....a wonderful doctor....and more generic medicines need to be made by manufacturing sector...on USA Soil...American Soil only....then Government need to take care of health care insurence...not these private ROGUES....PERIOD...enough is enough...republicans do not play politics...period...

Govt has done such a good job with our social security funds, the electric grid, dare I mention the intervention policies overseas, now we want to trust them with our nuts? Where are our brains?

Will all of our dearly loved corrupt criminal politicians have this pitiful excuse for a health plan as they expect their citizens to have. You can bet your life they won't have it! AND if you are for this criminal health care plan, it IS your life you are betting.

Here is the biggest problem with our society,we want all this government control and nannying, but we dont want to pay for it. Of course most americans would rather cheaper, better healthcare. BUT GUESS WHAT! THAT COSTS ALOT OF MONEY THAT WE DONT HAVE. It is so scary that most americans fail to realize this elemental truth, and this poll backs up that. If you want to go down the road of big government and big spending, you HAVE to accept big taxes, or else we go broke! And yes, it really is that simple, theres no way around that FACT.

Then there are way too many people in America who cannot think for themselves, or who want something for nothing, or who are illegals. The largest portion of all health care goes to taking care of illegals. The best and cheapest cure for our health care situation is – CLOSE THE BORDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a pile of nonsense you people are spreading about the Canadaian system. I had some health issues and saw THREE soecialists in a period on ten days as well as three series of blodd test, an X-ray, ultra sound, a set of two prescriptions and will be going in for iodine radioation in two weeks. This happened over a period of six weeks...bit you won't listen because you are under the false impression that America is the best at everything...what a crock.

I would much rather have a government-run option for healthcare coverage than to entrust my life and health to any insurance company.

Insurance companies run on the greed proposition and care nothing about their clients who pay high premiums for minimum coverage. We also have to constantly fight with these greed machines to get standard procedures covered. They run a monopoly than needs competition from a solid government plan alternative.

I personally deal with Medicare, Social Security disability and other government-run health groups. They are far easier to work with, are honest, and work to do what is right and best for the patient.

Don't be fooled by the sudden "compassion" commercials insurance companies are trying to fool you with. They have no intention of changing anything – they are greed-based and have absolutely no interest in the health or welfare of any American.

An alternative goverment plan for healthcare – I am all for it. Nothing can be worse than the current insurance company-controlled healthcare system!!!!

If the government runs health care it is not going to cost less. In the long run it will cost more and there will many more restriction on what services you are allowed.

All you people who are afraid of the government being in charge of health care, ask yourselves who is in charge of it now. The insurance companies! And what would their primary motivation be? Profit! They make money by taking money from us (and our employers) and then denying claims and refusing payment for preventative care.

Is this who we want to be making our health care decisions? The people who benefit from NOT giving us health care? I'll take the government over them any day.

It is obvious the right-wingers pillorying European healthcare models have no first hand knowledge of them whatsoever, but are relying on partisan media sources for their information, or are being actively disingenuous. Sad really. I am a New Yorker living in Barcelona for 4 years now. My girlfriend is Czech and is provided for under EU law. She has had to make several doctor visits recently and has naturally complained about having to wait a few days to get in to see the doctor, but overall is very satisfied with the system. Before I typed this I read aloud for her several comments by Republican posters describing the plight of Europeans are with their socialized medicine. At first she was incredulous, then actually angry at the fantastic ignorance. Get out of the echo chamber, actually go abroad and speak to people before you speak such utter nonsense.

Turn of Fox, walk out the door and see; the rest of the world's not as treacherous or horrid (nor is America so perfect) as you seem to think.

America is held hostage by business no matter the industry, without the government everyone would be issued credit at birth and commence paying. The government right or wrong tempers business somewhat because as we know from experience business must be regulated or the greed makes them unmanageable. The people supposedly regulate government with our votes if we vote. Who knows if our nation can survive at this point???

Not sure where anyone gets that notion. What we "AMERICANS" want is better health care at a cheaper cost for all "AMERICANS"and exclude those non-citizens that could also be called aliens, illegal aliens, etc. Stop making the American working taxpayers foot the bill for everyone.

I'm all for guaranteeing health care for Americans, but not for guaranteeing it to every illegal that sucks our system dry. They have no right to be in this country, they have no right to have even basic access to our medical, education or any other system that average Americans can't even afford.

Look around you. Look at the chaos our country is in right now. Haven't you already seen the results of greed? And haven't you already begun paying for it?

It is like every other poll cnn runs it is slanted to the left so bad the crack of their ass is sideways. The nobama goons will have taken over everything by the time the dumb dem lemmings wake up it will be too late.

A government health care plan available as an option to choose from is necessary – if for no other reason than to provide competition and keep the private insurance company providers honest with rates competitively priced.

A government plan option will give we health care consumers a better chance of an apples-to -pples comparison of pricing, coverage and the available options. The private health insurance companies will have to be competitive or their potential customers will flock to the government plan option.

Uh, I am sory for my previous posts. My alzheimer is getting worse and worse, and my wife just told me that I forget to take my medication for today. Sory folks, please!

I can see where NHC would work. It does in Europe, but they consentrate more on preventative care as opposed to treating the aliment once is has already occured. If we here in America focused more on being Healthy and using the doctor for only annual visits. Health care cost would drop and insurance companies and drug companies would have no choice but to fall in line.

It was nice to hear from a Canadian or two. Yes, what we hear about the system in Canada and England is distorted. It's good to get the opinion of someone from those countries. I have friends and relatives in other countries and they all think we are nuts if we think our system is better than theirs.

Enough May 29th, 2009 5:44 pm ET

My mother died under the Medicare coverage. The universal socialized version will be even worse. Quality over Quantity. Too many people think the Government should take care of them, that's why they vote Democrat. It would be like going to the Post office for your health care coverage!!

Not to sound uncaring but please use your head; your mother was over 65. Everyone over 65 in the US dies under Medicare coverage. Unless they're Dracula.

And frankly, I'd LOVE for US healthcare to work as well as the Postal Service. I put a 44 cent stamp on a letter to my sister in Chicago, and it arrives a day later. If healthcare worked even HALF that well witht aht much consistency, then please sign me up on the dotted line.

If you're going to make the Post Office to Hospital comparison, at least be honest: If you translate it, it would cost you about $1,000 to mail a letter – $900 for the insurance-spiked stamp, and a $100 co-pay for using an envelope.

I certainly would rather have government involved in my healthcare than corporations who make profits by denying me services.

Oooh, I'm a big scary socialist.

Anyone who has ever been in the military knows that Motrin and Cepacol cures everything. Looking forward to government run healthcare.

Insurance companies have been the ones making the decisions on what care a person receives, what medicine a person takes, how long they can stay in the hospital and what follow up treatment they receive all along and with an eye for profit only. Waits to see a specialist can be 2-3 months . Treatment for illnesses can be denied if a person can't come up with at least a down payment for their care. Those of you who think you can receive care for an illness by just going to an emergency room have never been in the position of needing ongoing medical care without having insurance. They stabilize you and dump you off where ever they can. Many hospitals in this country have been known to dump homeless people in shelters or on the street.

Despite what Republicans want you to believe, the Medicare system has worked for seniors and the eligible disabled. They choose their doctors just like anyone else. They pay their premiums and the co-pays. Part D prescription drug coverage would have worked much better and been cost effective if the Bush administration had negotioted the cost of the prescription drugs but we know that would have taken profits away from the pharmicutical companies.

Just returned from a 10 day trip to Ireland and the folks I talked to all thought their health care was excellent.

Someone on this blog posted the listings and while I cannot vouch for all of them I do know that France is #1 in satisfaction. Ireland appears at 19.

We are at 37?

How about we keep the insurance companies as is and employer provided health care. However, if you make minimum wage or a company that does not supply health care the government will subsidize you so you can purchase a policy from an existing insurance company. The unemployed could be subsidized 65% and keep stay on COBRA until re-employed. Every one else not covered could be moved to Medicaid.

Not a perfect solution but if we all work TOGETHER we ought to be able to get something going that will cover everyone.

What is the cost of no elective coverage? What is the cost of a Washington burearocrat determining what treatment you get? What is the cost of age profiling to determine treatment?
________________________________________________________
This is the most amazing thing about this discussion. People repeating these sort of myths like they knew what they are talking about

Question...Why did Natasha Richardson have to come to the U.S. for care?

@patriot

I'm glad you cleared that up about the private sector being the problem. Many people may have thought the problem withSocial Security, Medicaid and Medicare is that there are alot of baby boomers now and there are not enough people paying into the system, or that the government has used S.S. funds for other purposes than what it was originally intended. Some might even had thought that medical bills are high due to the cost of research and development of drugs and other treatments, or frivolous lawsuits or something like that. I appreciate you enlightening us all on the true reasons. I am looking forward to government healthcare and I'm sure it will be as fast and efficient as the Postal Service and as cost effective as all other government entities.

The government has not demonstrated that it can effectively run any program it is currently responsible for. The absolute last thing we Americans should do is hand more money over to a government that has mismanaged the programs, responsibilities, and money we have entrusted to it.
If Americans truly want coverage for the uninsured I think someone should start some type of nonprofit organization for health care. If the nonprofit was run well I'm sure many Americans would be more than willing to donate money to helping others.
But believing that the inept government politicians will effectively run a national health care systems is just naive.

If you complain about your health care now, what do you think the government is going to offer...do you really believe the government is going to give you more and better care? Please, don't be so naive.

For those who think they have control over their health plans, think again. If you buy your own insurance, you probably have some control. For most, it is our employers who control our health plans and pay most of the bill. If you think they aren't trying to squeeze every dime out of their plans, you are delusional. Employer provided health care will be a thing of the past unless the government mandates it, and then these companies won't be competitive because no other country requires employers to provide insurance. When you are at the bottom of the heap, you need to look at what those ahead of you are doing, because obviously you are not doing it right.

Of course the Republicans will cry like babies.

The Republican health car plan is very simple, "get sick and die.

I have a friend who has type 2 diabetes and she is about 180 lbs overweight. she refuse to change her eating habits everything has to be fried because that is how her grandmother did it and she refuses to exercise because why should she and she is pissed because we don't have national health care so she can have her medicine for free and we have to pay for it because she is to lazy and selfish to help herself

Jimbo – How efficiently run is the Post Office? You want your Healthcare system run like that? Wrong mail, wrong medicine, what's the difference? Break time!

When I lived in the U.S. I was paying $300.00+ per month just for my asthma and allergy prescriptions and an additional sum each time I ended up in the hospital when I couldn't afford my prescriptions (AND I WAS INSURED)!!! I now live in Canada and pay very little for health care and have not had to wait in any of those dreaded lines that the Republicans keep scaring everyone with. It is about time we stopped listening to the tactics of fear from the Right or "wrong" as I would describe it.

In a just society health care is a right, not an elective for those who a) are just plain rich and can afford it or b) can work and happen to have an employer pay for there care.

Even with an employer paying for their care the deductions, exclusions, co-pays etc are so out of hand that you can still go broke if you have a dependent in need of care. If you happen to become disabled, forget it, you'll end up in bankruptcy even with a good disability package.

The French have the #1 health care system, the Germans #2, and the U.S. has #37. We should be looking to those two countries now. They get it right, and the people that live there wouldn't trade their system for ours for anything. Ex-pats living in those two countries who know both systems well say they don't care to return to the U.S. until the system is fixed.

We need to wipe the slate clean and forget how we did it in the past and get going on a system that works. We know the French and German systems work, so we need to emulate them. The money is there; our employers are paying the tab now. The French pay about $0.60 on the dollar for better care than Americans get.

Let's get it right this time.

It's about time that people start to come around on this issue. I have several Canadian friends that love their health care system. It will save money for all of us and the care will increase.
RIP / GOP

I am very fit and healthy, with no serious pre-existing or ongoing conditions. I pay $6,000 a year for an IPO with a $5,000 annual deductible that allows me one doctor visit every three months, with co-pays that have ranged from $48 to $188, depending on whether the doctor actually had to do anything while I was there. I recently put a Bandaid on a cut finger that probably should have had stitches because a dermatologist required a followup visit to refill a prescription for a minor skin problem and I didn't want to go three months without the medicine.

I can't blame the insurance company–to stay profitable they have to provide the absolute minimum service I will tolerate with the highest premium. It's the American way–profit, not people. If you want better health care, just work harder, get luckier, and for God's sake, choose your parents wisely.

If government run health care is such a crazy, outlandish idea – maybe we should get rid of other socialist, government run systems like the postal service, libraries, national defense, police and fire services, national parks, parks and recreation, public education, ...

Its not hard to guess who in the industry is making fortune on these posts.There the ones screaming the loudest.

"Chi Town, just shut-up, will you?" LOL i guess words hurt more than sticks and stones LOL. Such a sensitive person you are.

Count me out of the 63%. The less the gov. has to do with me the better off I am as far as I am concerned. I've watched the gov. screw up everything they put their hands on and then taxes go sky high to pay for the so called improvements.

Republicans will be kicking and screaming about this. Of course they have offered no solutions for the past eight years!

"With the government's proven track record of inefficiency, wasteful spending, lax controls, and layers upon layers of useless bureaucracy, why would anyone want to put government in charge of their health care"

Gee I wonder who created this big mess? People have short term memory. When Bill Clinton was in charge everything was good except for healthcare. When George W. Bush was in charge the whole country turn to crap. He is not running the show anymore so Government will be responsible now and efficient thanks to Obama.

The president of UnitedHealth made so much money, that one of every $700 that was spent in this country on health care went to pay him.

- This is what is wrong.
- Healthcare money is funding an entire industry that is for profit not for healthcare and this industry tries every trick in the book to cheat both doctors and patients out of the care or payment they need.
- If you wonder why the GOP turns a blind eye to this look no further than their main campaign contributors.

CNN must be polling all of the unemployed democrats again while the republicans are at work.

I am a retired Veteran whose main insurance is medcare now. I don't see anything wrong with the Government having control as long as they do not cut our benefits as they have done with the Veteran Administration. If they do then you'll be left hanging. I spent 28 years and three wars for my country and Feel I earned medicare. no so for all the illegals that are now exhausting the Social Security and Medicare for the elderly.

Uhmm NOBODY I know is ok for more govt, less cost and really piss poor health coverage. Dems if you really want that, move to Canada.

Odd..Whenever I am watching FoxNews they always say " Americans don't want government in our healthcare".

It's like one of their mantras.

Are you saying that FoxNews is lying?? SHOCKER!!!

in Canada where the government runs healthcare, you have to wait months to see a specialist and it might take you 2 years to get a hip replacement. You may have lower costs but you won't have healthcare.

Do the math–with 40 million people being added to health insurance rolls and the number of doctors decreasing every year-how will you ever get to see a doctor????? Answer: only the wealthy will, because they will be able to pay the "access" fees which doctors are asking for in their new boutiques.

Only the rich can be assured they will be medically treated. Sad day for America.

VA Hospitals, County Hospitals.......nope. Something needs to be done but be honest people (seriously, be honest), if the govt is in control of our healthcare it will be horrible. They can't run anything right. It is always wasteful spending, greasing palms, giving their buddies the contracts, etc., etc. (both parties). That won't stop. You are lying to yourself if you think it will. No thank you. No govt control of my medical services. I don't know the answer but maybe we can control the prescription industry and their over-inflated prices, med-mal lawsuits, abuse of the welfare system, illegals in the ERs.....just some ideas. Anyone?

doctor docter said
Problem solved and one of you Obama sheep who are going to hammer me, because well uh, uh, uh, uh you are sheep, name ONE thing your "gubment" is good at running?
-----------------------–
This country into the ground

It is a gross misconseption that Europeans and Canadians do not like their health care. That is exactly what opponents want you to think. I have traveled extensively and have talked to people in England, Denmark and Canada, without exception, they are pleased with the care they recieve. I have relatives in Denmark and they are able to e-mail their doctor with a question. Try doing that here in America. It is absolutely a travesty that we have the best health facilities in the world and so many of our tax-payers have no access to them. AND by the way, there is no mention of Socialized Medicine in President Obama' plan. Stop being scared by the Republicans and people who do not want better healthcare.

My mother died under the Medicare coverage. The universal socialized version will be even worse. Quality over Quantity. Too many people think the Government should take care of them, that's why they vote Democrat. It would be like going to the Post office for your health care coverage!! Good luck, hope you are healthy. We can only hope the Universal plan includes a suicide pill.

If Europe is socialist, then give me SOCIALISM anytime! The Europeans are far more civilized than we are!

Health insurance is like public utilities in that they should be public domain. Enron, rolling black outs, energy shortages that did not exsist, medications that are a 1000 times of the actual value, profits made on insurance by denial. Yeh. I know the republicans are frustrated and totally concerned about the almighty dollar over the middle class major investment and maintainance of the government. It is just so frustrating to the republicans that wealth is derived from employees that deserve only the minimum to subsist. Frustrating to the republicans that there is a consitution, civil liberties and actually a Christian society that recognizes the arrogance and greed of the republican party to align with the middle of America. All I can say, it is about time.

Are people really serious about age profiling? Really, are you serious?

What is the one group in this country who has single payer healthcare? THE ELDERLY.

And, what group is overwhelmingly conservative and likely to believe this load of scare tactic crap? That's right, older people.

If you think that you're going to be denied healthcare into old age, then answer this question: In Europe, where they have socialized medicine, why is the life expectancy rate at least 5 to 6 years longer than life expectancy rates in the US?

My cousin lives in Canada and she laughs at us here. She sees those ridiculous conservative patients rights commercials on CNN and says that her system isn't perfect but she wouldn't trade her healthcare system for ours at all. We do need a change to our healthcare system b/c it is a disaster. I agree with President Obama and our need for healthcare reform.

@ all the robotic GOP-ers harping about "Socialized health care in Russia, in Cuba, in Nicaragua, in England, in Canada. What a joke "
-----

Just so you can see how moronic you are.... the ranking of Healthcare (from the World Health Organization) of the United States is #37. Thats right America's Healthcare system is ranked 37.
Countries ranked higher than we are:

1. France
2. Italy
3 San Marino
4 Andorra
5 Malta
6 Singapore
7 Spain
8 Oman
9 Austria
10 Japan
11 Norway
12 Portugal
13 Monaco
14 Greece
15 Iceland
16 Luxembourg
17 Netherlands
18 United Kingdom
19 Ireland
20 Switzerland
21 Belgium
22 Colombia
23 Sweden
24 Cyprus
25 Germany
26 Saudi Arabia
27 United Arab Emirates
28 Israel
29 Morocco
30 Canada
31 Finland
32 Australia
33 Chile
34 Denmark
35 Dominica
36 Costa Rica

Those that trade liberty for security deserve neither….
_______________________________________________________

You're on the wrong thread. The Bush defending his policies post was two pages down

Canadian health insurance is compulsory, monopolistic, and administered by the various provincial governments under strict control of the federal government. It is illegal for a Canadian citizen to carry private insurance coverage for any health care services covered by the government. Physicians are told by the government how much they can charge for their services; drug prices are set by the government. The supply of medical services in Canada is completely rationed, with no significant private alternative.

Canadians may not pay the price in dollar terms ... but they pay a steep price indeed in terms of care denied or delayed and the poor quality of service provided by unhappy medical practitioners whose incomes do not match their skill and training.

Long waiting lines are the worst flaw in the system. The Fraser Institute, a Canadian think tank, calculated in 2003 the average Canadian waited more than four months for treatment by a specialist once the referral was made by a general practitioner. According to the Fraser Institute's work, the shortest median wait was 6.1 weeks for oncology (cancer) treatment without radiation. In some provinces, neurosurgery patients waited more than a year. A simple MRI requires, on average, a three-month wait in Canada.

All I have to say is:

Every......... 30 seconds........ An American files for bankruptcy........ due to the high cost of healthcare.

And.....

You can bet that the fear-mongers will be out in force with their misinformation and lies.

Please America do yourselves a favor do your own thinking and research!

It is the right thing to do for all Americans! Do not let the far right conservatives tell you differently! They only care about their wealth and donot care about 40 million Americans without health care! And unfortunaltey growing.

Once again, CNN, where do you do these polls? There is NOBODY that I know of that is in favor of government intervention in health care!! Medicare is a farce but, since that is all the elderly have, it will somewhat do better than nothing. I do not want the government telling me what I can and cannot have done in the way of medical treatment! Like Nobama knows anything about it.

They don’t even have a plan yet? I think everyone can agree that something needs to give. We need a bipartisan approach this time.

Those who cannot afford health care already get it for free. Others don't have it because they would rather spend the money to improve their lifestyles. These folks should not be rewarded.

So typical. People want the benefits without paying the price. The money has to come from somewhere...this is the sort of thinking that got America this deep in debt.

With the government's proven track record of inefficiency, wasteful spending, lax controls, and layers upon layers of useless bureaucracy, why would anyone want to put government in charge of their health care?
________________________________________________________

Because with the current system's proven track record of inefficiency, wasteful spending, lax controls, and layers upon layers of useless bureaucracy things will only get worse.

@ Doctor, Doctor
"You think I am full of it, DO SOME HOMEWORK, it is happening all around the world where this stupidity was tried.
-------
Yes, you are full of it
Typical fear mogering, flat-earth republican. Your visions of denied surgeries and momth-long wait times are absurd. You dont have to look any farther than the corporate HMO's that already limit your choice and deny procedures, so your assertion that this will be introduced with health care reforme is just stupid. DO YOUR HOMEWORK

And since you can keep your present health plan under Obama's reform plans, why should you be affected? Are you afraid your private health plan cant compete along with a government-sponsored alternative? Or are you just afraid...period?

i really dont know why you Americans are so in fear of a single payer health care plan like we have here in Canada. Yes its true that we pay higher taxes to pay for it and yes sometimes you have to wait for non emergency carre (our emergency care is run on a triage system). I have a family doctor of my choice and I can call him up and see him anytime I want and the visit costs me nothing. I had a heart bypass operation about 12 years ago. I was operated on right away and the whole operation cost me $0. If I now enter the emergency room of a hospital with anything related to my heart I am seen immediately. It is really sickening to see citizens of the richest country in the world going bankrupt because they cant afford to pay for their medical expenses. No system is perfect but yours is way beyond that. My Medicare card has saved me way more than what I have paid in taxes and as I get older I am sure I will have to use it more frequently but I also know I wont possibly lose my house to pay the bills!!!

Medicine should NOT be big business. ANYTHING related to human welfare (like fire and police) should be government controled.

@bill meade

For anyone whom has worked with (NOT FOR) large academic institutions, with large corporations, and large government institutions find one consistent trait: they are ALL highly inefficient and filled with wasteful bureaucracy.

The criticisms in this country toward government inefficiency are well-founded, but there is the lacking criticisms of corporate inefficiency. Considering they both will do an inefficient job, I would much rather have elected officials (or those appointed by such) and a democratic election process managing my health care, rather than corporations which are not democratic in the least and are entirely based upon profit. At least the former conveys an image of usefulness, in the name of votes, versus the later.

phoenix86 May 29th, 2009 4:31 pm ET

What is the cost of no elective coverage? What is the cost of a Washington burearocrat determining what treatment you get? What is the cost of age profiling to determine treatment?

That is the cost of Obamacare.
------------------------–
You hit the nail on the head. It is amazing that the sheeple are still buying the anti-christ's line of bull.

The government has already influenced the health care industry under the Bush/Cheney administration, they let the industry take whatever they could get from us in return for donations.

We need to regulate health care and manage it with the same urgency as we maintain our defense department.

The republican congressmen are so quick to criticize American workers for getting wages of less than $100K/Year but, refuse to say anything about Doctors, Lawyers, Executives, etc making tens of millions of dollars each year. The income disparity in this country is outrageous and we need to get back to a progressive income tax to tax the wealthiest few and give tax breaks to the rest of us. It's time for the rich to pay their fair share!

RobK May 29th, 2009 4:57 pm ET

Why should people who live healthy lifestyles subsidize those who don't? That will be the result of government-run health care. It already is to some extent. Insurance companies are so saddled with rules that they are no longer really insurance companies, but middlemen and paperwork managers.

It will be less costly to you in the long run because of preventative care. People "unhealthy lives" potentially affecting you happens because of two reasons:

First, lack of education, poverty. You are not going to have a healthy populous when Monsanto has decided that manufacturing nothing but corn syrup and other derivatives fattens people up, destroys their joints and stops their hearts. More healthcare available to more people would lead to better education by doctors, not just a quick zip-in-"lose 15 lbs, Joe"-zip-out that we have under HMOs.

Second, preventative care would reduce the number of emergency room visits and hospital stays that bankrupt those with no healthcare. When you have to go into thousands of dollars of debt for a broken leg, then that just criminal.

So the net result would cost you LESS in the long run. LESS money would have to be devoted to each person, and LESS critical resources would be taken up. Personally, I will gladly trade off for a minimal tax increase as opposed to a 4 hour wait at the emergency room.

And that's how single payer healthcare can help you. "Me first" mentality is not the right, just, nor frankly fiscally responsible thing to do. When you break it down past the "I don't wanna pay taxes" it becomes crystal clear.

Brian in AZ: So, "Medicaire, Medicaid and Social Security are teetering on bankruptcy now and never have been the sweeping advances in health care quality they purported to be."?

Why do you suppose that is? Medicare and Medicaid simply pay rates based on what providers charge–it is the private providers who set their rates. Unless we are talking about Medicare and Medicaid managed care plans: Again, the private sector determining who gets what and how much, not on what the patient needs, but according to what the "market" will bear. And, as well documented by both liberal and conservative economists, the health care market is a flawed one. But even if the flaws were removed (we simply go to a pure laizez-faire market) should the market be determining which and how much US citizens should get regarding such a vital necessity as health care?

To: Chi Town May 29th, 2009 4:31 pm ET

scare tactic

you must work for the health industry

I have had health care in "socialized health care" systems in different countries and it is nothing like what you are writing

who are you writing for… who pays you to spread these talking points
-----------------------
You lie like a rug.

Polar Bears Against Palen do you ever actually post anything thoughtful about the artical your posting under or do you just keep up with the same old anti repub dribble?

The ones that are telling us that health care reform/single payer health care is a bad idea are the same right wing voices that have been so wrong countless times in the past.

And think of what a boon this would be to small businesses across the US if they don't have to worry about health care coverage for their employees no where near as much as they do now.

I remember when Jindal gave a response to President Obama's semi state of the union speech. There was a running theme in Jindal's response and that theme was "American's can do Anything". He repeated that phrase as if it's his party's mantra.
Now we approach the issue of Universal healthcare and the right is saying "Americans can do anything...except provide healthcare for its citizens.
I read the posts on this board and I see a lot of fearful people afraid of the future. They don't know if we can or if we should do this. Some people are worried about paying for somebody else's bad decision.
To them I say, YES WE CAN!
Countries all over the world have Universal healthcare. Sure, their system may have its flaws, but nobody said we have to do it exactly like everybody else. We can do it better.
And none of us can foresee the future, so why are you trying to predict the worst?
WE CAN DO THIS! To doubt ourselves, our country...would be wrong

Sounds like allowing the government to have population control. There is going to be a lot of "you don't have enough useful life left to make it worth the expense to cure you."

From the article it sounds like the entitlement population wants their "cake" but don't want to pay for it.

bill meade your just wrong

fact: something has to be done REGARDLESS. Bush signed the prescription drug addon for medicare which completely the government within the next 5 to 7 years, since he did NO negotiation for purchasing medicines, all analysts have looked at the information and Dem's and Rep's alike all say it will take 110% of the governments COMPLETE income...that means no school funding, no military, no police......you get the idea. So these people that whine and aren't for changing the health care in this country, if we continue the same approach we have, it will implode.....it allready has for almost 40% of the country, when you lose your insurance maybe you will stop defending a failed policy.

Don't let the conservative anti-goverment fearmongers scare you on this blog. What they ironically fear is that solid bastion of capitalism..... competition

The Health Care industry including physicians, health insurance companies, unions and businesses (especially small ones) all agree we ned to fix it. It was different 15 years ago when no-one could see evidence of the damage the high costs are taking on the economy. Now thgey do and they get it. They are on board, although there will have to be some compromises worked out.

Glad to see a solid majority of the American peeople see it that way too.

If it lowers healthcare costs for everyone, then why should you be afraid of a competing government plan to entice more competition and choice, therby drivingh down costs..
Whats the matter, GOP, scared your private health plans can't compete with a government one?...lol

pheonix86: ObamaCare – is that a term that Rush or G. Gordon coined for you? People like you, who suck up the swill these two spew out, are retarded. There's no need to challenge the likes of you with facts and figures – you wouldn't understand them any way. Simply put, you are probably another clueless bigot who types with two fingers, one of which you use to pick your nose.

Apparently 63% of those polled have been duped into thinking that healthcare will be better. Sure, you won't have to pay as much, but you'll die waiting for the govt. to get around to getting you medicine you need. Here's a question. If places like Canada and the UK have such awesome healthcare systems, why is it when people there need something really important done they come to America?

Corey...

I don't disagree with a word you said.
If the plan is new and good... great.
If it's like Europe.... not great.

From the comments very few have a clue of what Obama is talking about. Most of the negative comments must have someone elses healthcare system in mind. And for those of you who say they don't want to pay for those who don't have a healthy life style when they do really don't understand what they are talking about. How many runners, etc need medical care or have an earily heart attack. Get real and stop listening to Rush and others who are deliberately lying.

For all of the opponents of a single payer system, I think a public payer option is the best of both worlds. You or your employer can choose to buy into governement healthcare at presumably a lower cost with decent benfits or you can maintain your beloved private healthcare. If the governement healthcare plan is as poor as naysayers predict it to be it will easily be beaten out of the market by the private insurers. I dont understand what the Republicans and Conservatives are so worried about given their own logic. I thought competition in the marketplace was ALWAYS good thing. Maybe competition only matters if the corporate overlords make more than their fair share.

I swear some of these comments are outrageous. People who have never been in the health care system spout off the rhetoric they have heard on Rush Limbaugh or from the Health Insurance industry, or maybe they just dream them up.

People really at this time in our history need to get real. If you do not know the facts you should find out, and not from Rush or Blue Cross. There are too many people and not just the poor who are suffering and/or going broke under our present system. Find out the facts before you post "Oh I am a red blood American don't take my health care away, blah blah blah."

Finally, Single payer system or God help us.

Socialized health care in Russia, in Cuba, in Nicaragua, in England, in Canada. What a joke and a yoke Mr. Knows everything Obama wants to discharge on the shoulders of all Americans.Beware, the end of our country as we know it is near. Once slaves, slaves for ever. And do not cry like for missing what you did not have the courage of defend and protect.If this is the land of the Braves, show you are one of them...

Schools,fire departments,and police are all socialism and they work.Republicans dont complain about those programs.Fear is the dish of the decade for the few republicans left over.They claim to be for less spending and smaller goverment.Failed and Failed.They claim to be Pro Life yet Bush and Dicks war killed more innocent lives than all the abortions in that same time period.Lesson to be learned.Someone has been lying all this time becuse the proof is in the pudding.Its time for the republicans to fade away like slavery.

Anyone opposed to nationalized health care, do me a quick favor. You're already on your computer – pull up Google and run a quick search for people in countries with a national health care program complaining that they'd like an employer-funded system like we have in the US. When you don't find any, ask yourself why that might be.

Yo' Chi Town and Steve – Get your facts straight Chi, whatever was your source for your scare tactics numbers, a bit more real next time... it remainded me of that study that some idiot from NRA tried to use to prove that having a gun in your house is a good thing, he overdid so grossly the numbers that even researches made by pro-NRA people were suspicious of him, and he in the end he couldn't prove that he had did a research in the first place!
Neither British nor Canadian are 100% for their National Health Care service because it has some flaws that appears in any research or news story that anyone decides to do about the theme. So why do they do? Pressure the government to fix the problems WITHOUT giving up health care for all...

Why is it that the American Taxpayers aren't offered the "low cost" health insurance that is offered to our Politicians (House of Reps and Senate)?

It's so funny that "A Real American" thinks we get in our cars, race down the (FEDERAL) government built and maintained "John P Murtha Highway to Nowhere", protected by a (LOCAL) government run police force, in a country defended by a (FEDERAL) government run military with their $600 toilets, to get to their homes, which they probably bought with (FEDERAL) government backed loans before Freddie and Fannie collapsed, and to which– in case the darned thing ever caught fire– they look to a (LOCAL) government run Fire Department to keep safe.

Yeah, the FEDERAL government really has things under control...not.

Pee Wee: You are the most intelligent person here! No one could have said it better! Kudos!

In your face republicans. Now shut up and let the adults do their job.

To: Chi Town

Google European health care system and it's costs...

I also lived in Oxford England for 4 years...

60% of your income goes to tax in one form or another... the healthcare only covers 80%... the rest is on you... up front.

Most have sup insurance to pay the difference... cause 20% can break you. etc... but don't believe me... just do the research

Just ask anyone in Great Britain how socialized health care is working there. Months and months of waiting to get in for chemo treatments, women being turned away for breast cancer treatment, etc. Keep it up people – we'll be Cuba soon!

more welfare..thats all it is

Chi Town!

PS. Live in the U.S....get sick...have to declare bankruptcy....

Stop and think before you talk.

What?

This just in, Wall Street has the best 3 months since October of 2007?

Darn, looks like Wall Street is also on board that "runaway train to socialism"!

hehehe

People who say it can't be done are ignorant. Argue for your limitations and so they shall be yours. Over and over, I was told the changes I suggested in my job were not possible. Yet over and over, instead of simply taking their word, I tried it myself. Now all the suggestions I wanted implemented are implemented because I did it and I did it at half the cost they were spending.

Republicans, instead of sitting on your arses, if it can't be done...why not come up with an alternative that can be done and saves money?

hey...Real America thank you for that! People really need to get their heads out of the sand sometimes.

I am not. Wolf Blitzer. I am Pro Obama. Do not comment any further.

You are just a Bigot????

Why should people who live healthy lifestyles subsidize those who don't? That will be the result of government-run health care. It already is to some extent. Insurance companies are so saddled with rules that they are no longer really insurance companies, but middlemen and paperwork managers.

Could Chi Town tell us where all these facts he/she has offered came from. How does Chi Town know all this. Or is this just a good example of fear mongering. That is my guess.

Personally I feel something must be done. There is no excuse for people to go without health care in our country. I believe Obama will get it done. At least he will try.

Sounds like what we're getting now with the current system, Mr. Chi.

We don't believe you. Your description of socialized health care sounds just like for-profit health care. How long have you been a millionaire? What are you trying to hide?

Those that trade liberty for security deserve neither....

Could Chi Town tell us where all these facts he/she has offered came from. How does Chi Town know all this. Or is this just a good example of fear mongering. That is my guess.

Personally I feel something must be done. There is no excuse for people to go without health care in our country. I believe Obama will get it done. At least he will try.

I favor a Single Payer system. I believe this is the best plan for covering all Americans at affordable rates and assuring dependable health care. Those people below the poverty line can be given insuraance, those who can afford to pay will be charged a minimal monthly payment.

This plan would out of necessity shut down the private health care insurers. They have gotten rich enough already, I would not worry about them.

I wish that they would take are real sample of America, instead of only peolple living in New York.

OK so here it starts.

ANYTIME ANY OF YOU SEE A ARTICLE LIKE THIS, ASK YOURSELF.

Do you really believe , in your heart of hearts, that the Govt getting ivolved in anything is going to reduce the cost and increase efficiency of anything. Go to the post office, go to the DMV.

This is a false choice, I bet 85% of Americans would favor more govt interaction if it helped them win the lottery. Its a rediculous, impossible question. because its outcome

Obama knows fundamentally Americans shy away form Govt intervention in private lives, and for good reason, so he is now trying to convince you Health Care is the key to saving the economy.

Im sorry, I missed the part that Health Care was what caused the mortgage crisis , or the credit crisis, or the inability for our car companies to compete because they were paying union labor twice the going rate for non union workers.

Don't fall for it. I get why you like Obama, but dont allow this to destroy what you know in your head, Govt involvment doesnt reduce costs. Let them try to work on costs medications and perscriptions, but to establish a Govt Health plan is nuts and to try to justify it by all the money it will save is going "all in" on crazy.

Get rid of health insurance altogether, especially employer provided insurance. Make people cost compare. Competition will drive down costs.

The problemn is there will be more government intrusion, lower quality, lower everything, and you might get a smaller charge, but that isn't really true, either, since this incompetent president is going to raise taxes across the board for it.

I'd much rather have the Republican Ideal of healthcare for myself: Make boatloads of money by investing in insurance companies that screw over Americans and have a private doctor on retainer.

But since I cannot do that I would be happy to be in a better regulated more affordable healthcare system that is available in America and happens to be socialized. It's called Medicare! Too bad I have to wait till I am 65 to have it.

CNN Poll. Love, Borack Obama. We have to live! The Greatest News Media on the Planet. In other words: we bend in a breeze, just like the Guy we helped Elect..

single payer.....what part of that don't you understand???? All of these folks claiming they know so much about health care in other countries....do they actually live there and use their system or are they just regurgitating what they hear from the right wing no sayers?????

This poll was pretty badly worded if it said "lower costs and great coverage". Of course people are for GREAT or IMPROVED coverage. Ask the respondents if they would like "the same costs and long wait lists for care". My guess is that the results would be somewhat different.

Really, a grade schooler could have come up with less leading wording. A professional worded this survey???

Any time the government gets involved in anything, the cost goes up.

What liberal college did this sampling come from? No, hell no, we don't want more government control of our daily lives. That particular government in power now will destroy the private, independent thinking and responsible citizenry of this country. The idiots on the left who think any of this is good will be just as deprived of rights as those of us who oppose this crap.

No one asked THIS taxpayer-no way–I want my health care to be like it is, not nationalized like European nations or Canada has. Keep the mitts off my health care!

@A Real American

There are some things government does well (and that ONLY government should be entrusted to do–like defend the country), and there are things it does VERY poorly.

Obviously, healthcare is in the latter category given the fact that Medicaire, Medicaid and Social Security are teetering on bankruptcy now and never have been the sweeping advances in health care quality they purported to be.

Conservatives only love governement when there is something in it for them. Screw helping the common good and lending a helping hand. Plain greed and selfish. They can't get enough goverment when it comes to the military and moral issues, though.

Well, well, well all you neo-cons. It looks like almost two thirds of America do NOT think "big gubermint" is as bad as you knuckle dragging rednecks think!

@Chi Town

Where did you get this information? From my research, this is unsubstantiated rhetoric.

Whom do you think maintains the massive and bloated private health insurance infrastructure we currently have? The individual. So the salary of every employee, the profits the board receives, ect... of these for-profit companies is stuck on the individual. Moreover, payment for all hospital services on someone whom either (i) doesn't have insurance, or (ii) can pay their medical expenses is left to the individual (i.e., those who can pay). In this twisted scenario, we have socialized medicine of sorts; however, one that is extremely wasteful in the most horrific sense by building up completely unneeded institutions.

My friend, the number cause of bankruptcy in this country is health care related expenses. Not only is this a moral outrage, for the richest nation on Earth. It is also the most extreme determent to our economy!

Another Obama lie.........Healthcare for everyone....but your taxes won't go up. 100% of everyone's taxes are going up with this empty suit President.

I doubt that poll result.. we have lost enough liberty from
the USA.. government wants to rule and they will! Not enough
people who tink for themselves these days.. all want a free
handout instead of working for it!!!

That's because there are too many people out there that put little to nothing into our system and little into their thinking, being the sheep that they are.

Just wait till your Mom or Dad get sick and the percentages of their survival are a little passed the threshold of what big "gubment" wants to pay for and they don't get their operation or medicine as it would not be worth the costly risk acording to the preset numbers that are used.

You think I am full of it, DO SOME HOMEWORK, it is happening all around the world where this stupidity was tried.

Make it less costly for businesses to purchase it for people that actually uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh work and for the people hat don't work or make real little as they chose to not get an education, charge them a pittance, but then they wil feel part of the pain by actually paying into it and not just running to the Doctor as it costs them NOTHING now to do so.

Our LEGAL elderly and our Veterans, should pay NOTHING as they have uh, uh, h, uh earned that right.

Problem solved and one of you Obama sheep who are going to hammer me, because well uh, uh, uh, uh you are sheep, name ONE thing your "gubment" is good at running?

And since when has more government involvement in ANYTHING ever resulted in better quality, lower prices or increased efficiency?

they didn't ask me.

It's so funny that yahoos objecting to single payer health care always yammer about how awful government is... Then they get in their cars, race down the government built and maintained freeways, protected by a government run police force, in a country defended by a government run military, to get to their homes, which they probably bought with government backed loans, and to which– in case the darned thing ever caught fire– they look to a government run Fire Department to keep safe.

But God forbid the government ever gets involved in health care!

Much better to leave that to for profit corporations. You know, the caring folks the likes of whom brought you the current economic meltdown and ongoing foreclosure nightmare.

I don't know what Chi Town is smoking, but it must be awfully intoxicating. Sounds to me like he is quoting from a Republican supported lobbying effort. At one time some thought that ships that sailed to the horizon would fall off the edge of the earth. At one time a large portion of the American people thought global warming was a hoax. Hell, at one time most people probably didn't believe in evolution. But we do get smarter with the passage of time and experience. Chi Town will learn the truth, but he'll never admit that he was wrong. And then he will go on down the road, not having learned his lesson, and he'll try to spread some false BS on another subject, because THOSE WHO KNOW THE LEAST KNOW IT THE LOUDEST.

63% of Americans approve of "socialism" as instigated by the main "socialist" himself, President Obama.

If we are going down the road to "socialism" then almost two thirds of Americans agree we took the right road!

Looks, like that takes all the wind out of the limbaugh lemmings "white noise" rants!

It is good to know that the majority of americans can see that the current health care delivery system is set to benefit private and public insurance companies and not everyday americans.

For all of the fear and hype about socialized medicine, look at what the current system has wrought. You already have corporate beauracrats making life and death decisions based on if it makes them more profitable or MD's denying diagnostic testing to save the HMO's money.

This time a sensible approach to healthcare is in the offing and the corporate ran republicans can not stop it. It is great day for americans.

And do Americans think that gov't control of health care with actually RESULT in lower costs?

I think that's the next question CNN should ask.

Also, Americans should be asked whether they mind waiting 3 years to see a dentist as the Brits do under their gov't run health care.

What people don't realize is that we already have a form of socialize medicine. Any person that goes to a hospital's ER must be treated and not turned away due to lack of insurance or inability to pay. What the problem is, is that there is no guaranteed "payor" for their treatment. I work in a hospital and we must give care regardless of patient finances but I'll tell you, I don't work for free and some one or some program needs to pay these bills or risk closures of more medical facilities. In the first quarter this year alone my hospital was over $3.6 million in the red and we are a large non-profit regional facility. Our closure would be devasting to the surrounding communities.

Chi Town, just shut-up, will you?

I'm DEFINITELY ok with more government involvement in my life to lower health care costs! You can always throw a governing political party out of office if they step over the line. But it's far tougher to throw out an entire corrupt and profiteering industry once they get too big for anybody's good. Once health care is cleaned up, I hope the government will step in and clean up the piggish pharmaceutical industry! A little industry housecleaning is LONG overdue! Corporate America has been raping us for years!

FOOLS!! Just wait until they and their loved ones are waiting two and three years for a bypass.

"Democrats overwhelmingly support increased government influence over their health-care coverage in return for lower costs and great coverage for more Americans. Six out of 10 independents feel the same way, but only one in four Republicans agree. "

Of course Dems love the idea... they aren't paying for it...

PS: Love how they said GREAT coverage... cause it will be anything but that. Live in England... get sick... you will see what I'm saying

Actually, $10K/year would be cheaper. I first want to see employer provided health care taxed as income – that's where we need to start this discussion. People need to be aware of how much it actually costs. If you get employer provided health care it is part of your salary package and needs to be acknowledged as such. Once that is done we will see a LOT more support for lowering health care costs.

Looks like Boss Limbaugh and the right-wing lunatic fringe is on the wrong side again. Hey! I know you conservatives love money and insurance compaines. But, the jig is up. Time to get tossed off the gravy train. The ride is over. A change is gonna come.

PRESIDENT OBAMA, I SALUTE YOU!!

Be careful what you wish for people! Ask the Canadians and British if nationalized Health care is worth it! You are looking at the carrot and not that giant stick behind it!

With the government's proven track record of inefficiency, wasteful spending, lax controls, and layers upon layers of useless bureaucracy, why would anyone want to put government in charge of their health care?

Another CNN push poll.............................

No surprise about these findings. Straight private-sector healthcare has failed Americans for over 30 years. Government "interference" in the health care sector seems likme a reasonable way to go. It's not either/or. The devil is in the details.

What is the cost of no elective coverage? What is the cost of a Washington burearocrat determining what treatment you get? What is the cost of age profiling to determine treatment?

That is the cost of Obamacare.

scare tactic

you must work for the health industry

I have had health care in "socialized health care" systems in different countries and it is nothing like what you are writing

who are you writing for... who pays you to spread these talking points

I guess it really depends,......right now the insurance companies are the ones running healthcare. Approving a doctors orders or not.

If the government gets more involved in health care will the medical decisions be made by our doctors instead of insurance companies?

I work in the Medical Field and everyone is worried about this National Healthcare. Its going to pay docs less money there for they will need to make up the lost revenue in adding more patients, less quality equipment, and cut backs on everything else. Its a nightmare. America needs to get INFORMED!

They didn't poll me. I do not trust the U.S. government to run health care any more efficiently than the current system.

Sure would be NICE is CNN linked their raw poll data here to us here, instead of giving us bite sized morsels of reporting (just big enough for us to choke on).

And 63% agree with increased gov't influence because that may be (I can only assume since CNN HASN'T posted the exact wording of the question or the actual data) because some are confusing the idea of policing against predatory healthcare practices with proactive price controls. Everyone wants a policeman. Nobody likes it when he becomes a taskmaster.

It may also be an indication that 63% of the population is very blind to the most basic economic principles. Perhaps this demographic spells "gov't sustained low costs" with the letters "p-o-s-s-i-b-l-e".

It's been tried. Again and again, political expediency has prompted the shortsighted and/or the power hungry to engage is such single payer fantasies...to the suffering of all in the long run.

seriously, health care costs are insane and they are completely incapable of regulating the costs themselves

whether they complain or not, absolutely, government intervention is needed

those who cry socialism must have an incredible health care plan

we have a health care plan, a good one, but costs are off the chart

when we had our kids costs of 26,000$ was not unusual from the hospital for the birth (and that was one bill – they are "contractors" and each bills separately: doctor bill, hospital bill, anasthesiaologist bill etc)

completely wrong and insane

This country doesn't even understand responsibility anymore. The generations before us would be ashamed.

I agree with Lower health care costs and availability for everyone. But I do not think the government should provide free coverage for anyone. We buy auto insurance for our cars, we should buy Health coverage for our bodies. The Government should only regulate insurance costs and keep insurance companies from canceling coverage. Everyone should pay the same price, even the rich, even the poor. Everyone needs to take responsibility for themselves, it is not up to the Government to take care of you. But Please do not socialize medicine and destroy the quality of care. Obama needs to be very careful how he handles this.

Me personally working in the healthcare field, I feel that not only is the patient getting stiffed, but also the provider. An example of what I mean is for the past 3 years I've monitored Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reduce their reimbursement to the provider and at the same time increase patient liability whether it be in their deductibles or copayments. Anthem BCBS is not the only culprit of this, but all insurance companies are. The system is seriously flawed and needs a complete overhaul.

If you like no new medicine, or new treatments, paying 20% of the cost, being limited on visits, long waits and waiting lists for anything specialized, no coverage for elderly (age limits on procedures), paying 10K per year per person for it, (don't forget the 20% sup insurance you will need anyway to cover your co-pay)… warehouse hospitals with 40 to a room and one janitor…. then hey… national healthcare is for you.

If you have a job… it's no cheaper… just far less quality