CNN

GOPers are very good at drawing lines in the sand....terrible at drawing them straight tho.

To paraphrase several comments:
"healthcare by the people who deliver your mail and make your driver's license."
Don't know who these idiots are, but the DMV and USPS have nothing to do with health care, however they do a fine job at what they are doing. The government has experienced people running Medicare, TriCare, and VA health care. Why aren't you ditto heads using these as your examples?

For those of you who don't think that government employees can do their jobs, try to get along without them. Even better, why not insult them to their faces the next time you are at their counter, rather than spout your hatred on these blogs.

Anyone on here who says Obama is pushing for nationalization, single pay, or any other kind of govt run healthcare is spreading LIES. During the campaign he explicitly stated many times he does not want to mess with anyone who gets their insurance through their employer and that those individuals that take advantage of the new coverage will have to pay for it. Right now there is no insurance company that will make affordable coverage available and when they do they nit pick every claim so they don't have to pay what they are supposed to. If you are buying into the BS that is getting advertised by the so called "patients rights" groups then shame on you for not doing your due diligence and researching what they are claiming. It is very simple to see what the tactic is. The GOP is just throwing out a bunch of baseless claims to cloud and dilute the dialogue.

The only reason the Democrats in congress want government health care is for the votes the issue garners them. Do not be fooled into believing the Democrats are trying to push through health care to better individuals or this country. They are only looking to grow the Democratic Party. The money money the Democrats promise the more votes they get!

The government is not going to be able to lower the cost of health care. If 634 billion is a down payment over the next ten years what is the real cost and how does spending all that money that the government does have save anyone or the government money? It doesn't! It helps some individuals, hurts other individuals, and does nothing to put this country in a better economic place.

It puzzles me that we can afford $10 billion a month on our little military adventure in Iraq, multibillions for aircraft carriers, 220 million for jet fighters, etc, but universal health care is an unnecessary luxury.
If I had the power I would take the lavish health care from our representatives that think it is un-American.
No one in Canada, Australia, England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, as well as every other industrialized country, has ever had to declare bankruptcy because of medical bills.
They may have to wait for some medical procedures but the more than 40 million uninsured Americans will wait forever.
When I go to any Doctor's office invariable the clerk is engaged in determining and verifying the insurance or payment plan for any service.
Tell me again how rich we are.......

To be "blunt," I've sadly begun to expect little more from the Party of NO. No ideas, no cooperation, no starter, no support, etc.

Are these so-called "conservatives" paying any attention??

President Obama made it clear there are NO MANDATES in his healthcare plan. If Americans like their current coverage, they can stay with it.

We are ALREADY PAYING for national coverage, considering huge medical expenses have become one of leading causes of bankruptcies in the US, which falls back on the taxpayer.

Insurance companies are making OBSCENE PROFITS off the backs of working Americans. They put our life & death decisions in their interests of shareholders over the best care for patients.

Something needs to change with our misguided system. Compassionate reforms are needed NOW.

It's not like the Dems are even pushing for a real public option (thanks to Obama and Sen. Baucus). Nonetheless, Blunt is totally irrelevant and not in any position to call anything a "non-starter".

The insurance companies run our health care system, dictating to doctors how patients are to be cared for. The drug companies rape us with their prices and the hospitals have no limit on how much they can spend on new parking lots etc. The clause in the prescription plan penned by the republicans that there can be no bids, seeking competitive prices on drugs has to be eliminated.
The American people are sick of the republican actions and tactics.
They continue to and always will put big business over our welfare.
America, we have to do something to stop these politicians before they totally destroy our country. E-mail, call, write, blog. We have to
take the United States of America back from these hypocrits. We can do so in the voting booth but they can do humungous damage until time. Any suggestions??

Right on, Peejay!!!

The republican operating credo of: "Why do anything different if it doesn't benefit the rich?" is alive and well. I know they all believe our current health care system is working SO WELL, in spite of the fact that 60% of bankruptcies in the US are due to health care costs. That doesn't matter if you're a congressman or rich.

And we all know the idea of a deadline, of actually getting something accomplished in a realistic amount of time (without having big business in the back room writing the policy ala Cheney) is anathema to the republicans. But as they say, "There's a new sheriff in town!"

Last night I sidled up to a hottie in my local watering hole and asked her if she'd like to discuss healthcare. She gave me a puzzled look but didn't respond otherwise. I then asked her if she'd like to see my stimulus package. She slapped me !!!!

"That is a problem that is virtually insurmountable because we just don't think that it leads to real competition," Blunt said Monday.
What he really means is that there will be less pigs at the trough filling their bellies.
Whether people like it or not, he government is already in the business of running health care benefit systems – they're called Medicare, TriCare, and VA, for the three biggest. People on these systems receive sufficient health care, without breaking the budget. The only reason most people don't want the government involved in health care is because they are afraid they will have to wait in line with the "low lifes". But nothing will stop them from paying for insurance above and beyond, so what's the problem?

The itsy bitsy party climbed up the Hill to pout
Down came the votes and washed the party out...

@ BigPoppi, who said "Instead of constantly bashing one party why not tell us why the push for a Nationalized Health Care system is needed. While most of you are quite good at name calling I get the feeling most of you have no idea what that means."

The facts and evidence have been laid out on the tabel time after time after time after time after time. You can find it ALL quite easily on the internet. Give the propensity of GOPers to shut down and simply not listen when they're hearing something they don't want to hear (and then subsequently pretend it's not been said, like you have), most of us feel no need for it to be repeated upon request. And yes, we have every idea of what it all means...it means people who can afford private insurance can keep on paying for it or not as they choose and that those who are too poor to afford it might finally be able to get some. If you paid as much attention to those who are spouting facts and evidence as you do to meatballs like Rush who spout only ideology and fabrications, you wouldn't be so scared.

The similarities between the GOP and Al Qeada are uncanny. Both work in cowardly ways and diligently to attack americans and want americans to fail.

Both are willing to commit suicide (politically for the GOP and literally for Al Queda) in the name of thier twisted ideology.

How are you going to force doctors to accept your as yet unfunded single payer plan? Our clinic is trying to cut down on all Medicare patients. We accept no new ones. We haven't accepted Medicaid for years, unless by referral from another doctor. Simply put, Medicare & Medicaid don't pay the bills. We would like to take care of them, but we can't afford to. If all patients go to this mismanaged program, then we opt out if we can, or look for cosmetic procedures to pay the bills. To assume that we want to see 30+ patients a day to make big profits is ridiculous. Obama had better make medical school shorter, cheaper and more available, because the doctors we have can't do what he's asking–work longer for less.

Health Care Professionals make the most Money in USA.

Why?

Because Health Care Services in USA are Monopolistic.

This is Socialism not Capitalism to let some have a Monopoly.

At least there is no Monopoly by Health Services in Socialist Countries

Wake up America........................

The insurance system does not work the way it is now. That is why there is a movement to reform it. Republicans are delusional in thinking that the solution is to tax all insurance benefits. A tax credit of $5,000 is going to do exactly squat when the average plan costs $12,500 a year. I laugh when they say people want their own health care plans. Sure the people who can AFFORD insurance. What about the people who can't afford insurance?

Phoenix86,

You must be the life of the pity party. I have never read such doom and gloom in my life.

Life is too short to be filled with such vile.

Have a better year!

really pheonix86? I take you for one of those knuckle dragging types... Neanderthalish.

You can't be more wrong about Judge Sotomayor. Breaking an ankle and heading back to work immediately is a huge accomplishment. When I broke my ankle, I was off for one week. This just proves to me that she one tough cookie and will be very dedicated to her new job.

Now, put a few band-aids on those skinned up knuckles.

The republican health care plan is what we have today, great care for the rich and run away costs for the rest of us.

The republicans have been controlling the health care industry and the result of their conservative leadership has given us a plan that is third world care for the vast majority of Americans.

The republicans want to be invited into the room to "help" with crafting a new and improved health care system but, all they want to do is delay and change because in reality, they love the system we have today.

Abomination has called out his legions of followers with the threat that the congress might, fro once, deny them a free ride on healthcare. Work is not in their vocabulary, handout is all they know.

Blunt was elected in 1997. Even though he does not mention health care among the list of important issues, he has had ten years to think about it. Doesn't he have ANY ideas ready to go?

His issues, by the way, are methamphetamine, lower taxes, border security, growing small businesses, and free flow of ideas around the world. Nothing about overpopulation, global warming, the economic crisis, regulation of corporations, etc. etc. See for yourself.

Does this mean I won;t have to pay my current $3200 per year family plan for the best healthcare in the world??

The GOP's plan is to confuse, object, delay and they hope that their tactics will lead to failure for the Dems.

We see through their spin. They have made it easy for us to ignore what they think. That is not good, but it is the lesser of two evils.

We can't afford the 15 million American without insurance now, so how are we going to afford the millions of more Americans laid off or under employed in Obama's new socialistic republic??

Americans leveaging their pay checks is what got us in this mess. And now Obama wants too over leveage 46 cents out of every dollar to pay for his agenda??

Sure..., that's going to work.

A pure clear sign that Republicans don't even listen to their own constituents.

Come on peole, we need to stop the healthcare companies from making healthcare decisions for our doctors and us, while linning their pockets.

Of course it is. To the Republicans. They care more about their greed than they do about peoples lives.

@ Sue Dubya, MI, who said "single-payer systems are doing much BETTER than we are in health outcomes"

Those stats are interesting (I would have thought it reversed), but they tell very VERY little of the story. Cultural/population differences can play a huge difference in life expectancy tables: what we eat (and how much), alcoholism/drug use incidence rates, genetic makeup of the population, i.e., factors like race and its correlation to congenital diseases (the classic example always being sickle cell), etc. It's not just the access to and quality of the available medical care that's determinative. That being said, there are sites out there with great fine-tuned stats showing why this is necessary and it's appalling that CNN and other media outlets are so addicted to controversy as the means for generating viewership/subscriptions to justify their ad revenue that they purposefully neglect to cite statistics and information that pretty much resolves the issue.

Sotomayor broke her ankle walking through LaGuardia. So I guess that although a Latina woman has better judicial talents than white males, they can't walk as well that them.

The president has 3 criteria for health care legislation: Reduce Costs, Ensure choice (including the choice to stay with existing or other private coverages), and Availability of quality, affordable health care for everyone.

The Republicans and the Insurance Companies want to make sure that there is NO public option to compete with the private companies. The liberals want to have a single, public payment model, and get rid of the private insurers.

The President is taking the middle, and what seems to me, the logical ground - introducing a public option for those who cannot get or afford anything else, and in this way allow choice and encourage competition as a means of driving quality up and costs down. That sounds reasonable to me.

GB in Kansas

Oh, Snap!!

[...] See the original post here:  Blunt: Public health care option a non-starter [...]

Here's what's a non-starter: The Republican Party!

GB in Kansas,

At least you recognize that you do not have the capacity to take care of yourself without government help.

Trouble is! They won't admit what they have done. Electing Obama.

They will crawl on their kneese first. Poor suckers.

Now all of a sudden, the repubs are concerned about heath care for the people, just like they are now concerned about the budget? Yeah, right! They had their turn to prove how much they cared for the ordinary person and guess what, THEY FAILED MISERBLY! So, now all of a sudden we are suppose to believe they’ve had a change of heart? How dumb and gullible do they think the American people are? Where were they eight years ago? Where was all this display of concern then? Now that we have someone in office actually doing something other than blowing a lot of hot air, the repubs are putting in their two cents. Like the saying states, “action speaks louder than words”, and for eight hard years, there was no action on behalf of the average person. If it didn’t occur to them we needed a health care reform and a balanced budget eight years age, how are we to believe anything they say anymore? Well, I don’t and anyone with any amount of sense shouldn’t either.

I don't care about competition. I don't care about profit. I care about health care.

We most certainly need a universal health care plan that will address the needs of all citizens. I just don't get what the issue is?! Oh, that profit/greed thing....yeah, that always seems to be an issue for the
G(nO)P.

American families are losing their homes because of inadequate and expensive insurance! Bankruptcy! Students are forced to leave their parents' plan at the ripe age of 23.......coincidentally, around graduation......but, since jobs are slim, they have no coverage.

Senator: Get over it! The citizens spoke loudly and clearly the last election. We no longer want your failed policies!

Carry on, Progressives and let's get the job done!

Way to go, Mr. Blunt. If you rummage around in your brain (assuming you have one) you'll no doubt recall the GOP's plan to allow workers to manage their own retirement plans via the stock market. Had that boneheaded idea become reality, just think what would have happened to those who chose that option over Social Security.

Letting the "free market" "competitive" system we have now continue to "manage" our health care system is a really great idea, right? One could argue effectivel that your thinking so demonstrates that you have the intellect of a Tic-Tac!

Living up to the Grand Obstructionist Party legacy, keep it up, lets see if Dems can pick up one more seat in the senate and then you can cry your poor insurance companies woes oll the way to the smoke rooms.

Why are the Repugs always crying and whining that they want to come to the table? When they come to the table they have no ideas and nothing to offer. They can't stop this train so it will have to run over them. The only work they want to do is the kind that continues to make the rich richer and the country whiter.

Go to the table with something constructive rather than insults and attitude and you might learn what is going on – people don't like you and they aren't voting for your party!

So how come only the Repub Party gets to have non-starters? And why do insurance companies see the government option as a threat? Surely the grossly inefficient, wasteful, bureaucratic Federal govenrment couldn't compete with a private sector insurance company. Could they? And no one would want to put the government between them and their doctor. Oh wait, the alternative is to have a friendly efficient and understanding insurance company between you and your doctor. Too bad such an institution doesn't exist.

Dear Mr. President, Please let us into the conversation about the health care plan so we can tell you that we don't want a health care plan. We demand a seat at the table so we can criticize your efforts to create a health care plan and put forth no ideas of our own. Then we will call you a failure. Love, The GOP

Enough,

No, I don't think that it will be free, but I do believe it will be afordable for people like my sister and her husband who, because he was laid off and they didn't want to use COBRA (because of my sister's heart pre condition they were afraid that after coming off COBRA they would never be able to get any insurance) ended up having to get a loan against their home to pay for their health insurance. Talk about stress!

It is not right to let them slip through the cracks because of something they had no control over.

Our people deserve better.

Yawn. Another Republican stooge for the merchants of misery, the Health Care Industry and Big Pharma. Can anyone guess which special interest group spend the most money lobbying our legislators at the Federal and State level?

Why are the Republican apologists for the Health Care Industry so worried about people being able to opt into a government run program? If private insurance is so great, people will be able to stick with their provider. The President's plan, as articulated during the campaign, was to offer a government program as an alternative to those who don't have private insurance. If a government run program is truly as awful as the Republican fear merchants make it to be, people won't buy into it except as a last resort. If people decide they want personnel at a for-profit enterprise deciding what health care is best for them versus someone at a non-profit entity, then they can stay with a private insurer.

Methinks thou doest protest too much, Rep. Blunt. Perhaps your true fears are an end to big campaign contributions and all expense paid junkets by Health Care and Big Pharma lobbyists. Money prestige and power are being taken away from a politician. Of course it's a non-starter for him.

In other shocking news, the sun will rise in the East and set in the West tomorrow.

Enough, nobody said it would be free. But a public option WOULD be cheaper and more efficient. The main Republican argument against it is essentially "but then private insurance companies would be unable to compete". Don't you get it? THAT'S THE POINT. Health care should not be a for-profit venture. It is about the well-being of us all.

ANOTHER red state GOP CONGRESSMAN , who family is set for life w/ insurance and doesn't have to worry about his familly and the cost. just another [red] plantation state where if you are republican chances are extremely good that you got good health care due to the fact that persons of their ilk are the first hired and the last fired. red state republicans don't care about no one else suffering its a gene identified as a INDIFFERENCE GENE its just their nature. its the nature of the BETTER HALF.

Yes, and under Republican rule our health care system has been excellent! Come on, Republicans. If you couldn't improve our system in 8 years, do you think we believe that you actually have all the answers now?

Enough wrote: Gotta love the lack of intelligence on this blog. Looks like most of you could use a brain transplant, since you don't really understand how bad the Democratic proposal for health care reform really is. You really think you are going to get great Health care for everyone and it will be free?

I was supposed to get a brain transplant, but my private insurance doesn't cover it. Have a nice day!

It is clear that Mr Blunt is in the pockets of the insurance companies, To believe for second that the GOP is going to look out for the best interest of middle class americans is laughable.

BTW, why should'nt the for profit heath insurance companies have to compete?

I am constantly amazed at how many individuals are eager to turn their lives over to the government. They must be at the very bottom rung of intellectual capacity.

Why is it that people like Sue Dubya in MI can provide facts and statistics while CNN who claims to be the best in all things news is unable to provide these?

Better just to fan the flames no matter what inaccuracy is being pushed like Senator Shelby with a straight face declared America's health care is the best in the world.

@ obamavictim,

I guess the private sector has NEVER made a mistake....remember Enron, MCI, AIG, GM, Chrysler, Shearson Leaman, oh wait, I forget thats all the fault of those terrible liberals who like to beat up on mulit-millionaires....

No system is perfect. Its how we correct the mistakes that is the real issue, and doing solely market-based approaches does not work.

Can you believe Blunt ? When do the Republicans realize they were voted into office by the American people and not the insurance companies ! This party should be de-certified for Crimes against the American people ! How can a public option be bad ? The increase in medical costs has outpaced inflation, how can this be possible Mr. Blunt, I will tell you, IT IS GREED ! Thank GOD we can pass a bill without you idiots !!!

Repugs say health care reform a non-starter.
Ergo, GOP's chances in 2010 and 2012 are likewise a non-starter.
Repugs oppose a public plan option which would require CONTRIBUTIONS by the policy holder.
Isn't better for everyone to have people paying something for their health care instead of the current system where uninsured go to the emergency room for everything????
According to the GOP if no company wants to offer insurance, you are just out of luck. That isn't reform, it is our current system. Repugs offer no solution at all to the highest-cost health care in the world which is a drag on our economy and the competitiveness of US business.

Can you name one thing that insurance companies ADD to healthcare in the US besides cost?

They are just a level of administration that pushes money around. And keeps a tidy sum for themselves (Their admin costs run about 20% of the medical costs.) They are, in essence, middlemen.

They do not provide healthcare.

Afraid that if we change the healthcare system, your treatment options will be limited? The insurance companies are already limiting what procedures you can have (check your policy for coverage).

Afraid that if we change the healthcare system, your choice of doctors will be limited? The insurance companies are already limiting which doctors you can see (check your insurance company’s list of credentialed health professionals)

Anyone who complains about healthcare reform obviously has it paid for through their employer otherwise they would be singing a different tune. Healthcare is a universal problem and we all pay for those who don't have it one way or another. My healthy family of four pays $15,000-$18,000 a year in premiums and copays for our private health plan because my husband is self employed, god forbid someone actually gets sick. You have to be completely ignorant or uniformed to argue that reform isn't needed, obviously the vast majority or Americans are fairly smart about it because we voted overwhelmingly for Obama and he is doing his best to keep his campaign promises.

WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WITHOUT THE PUBLIC OPTION. Why? Because the health care lobbyists keep congressmen like blunt fat and well paid. Not because those like Blunt have the American peoples best interest in mind. Read last months time magazine article on health care and you'll understand we are all being given the short end of the stick while those in Europe live healthier and happier lives.

Gotta love the lack of intelligence on this blog. Looks like most of you could use a brain transplant, since you don't really understand how bad the Democratic proposal for health care reform really is. You really think you are going to get great Health care for everyone and it will be free?

The G NO P (Dante, that is brilliant!) plan:

The wealthy can have all the healthcare they can afford.

The middle class and poor are just sol if they can't afford any.

The savings for the government – plenty.

The profits for the insurance companies, drug companies and other wealthy Republican cronies – immense!

Who cares that the repubs don't want a public health care option? We do. Come on dems, don't let these guys get their way, again. Or all of you will be out a your jobs come 2010 elections, not just the repubs.

What has competition in health care gotten us? Higher costs, more personal bankruptcies due to health care costs, and 45 some million uninsured? It only makes the rich richer, and the poor and middle class poorer and sicker. Time to reject once and for all this Republican scare tactic. Get into the real world where every major country and many minor ones provide health care as a right–not as a privilege.

"That is a problem that is virtually insurmountable because we just don't think that it leads to real competition," Blunt said Monday.

************************************

If this is all about competition, why is the health insurance industry so frightened of competition from a government run payor system?

Unless they realize that they cannot compete, because of their bloated administrative costs and their failure to add any value to the entire process.

Let an insurance company process claims as a third party administrator, but don't continue the industry oligolpoly which has an inherent conflict of interest since serving the policyholder means decreasing shareholder's profits.

What is needed is good affordable healthCARE, not good affordable health INSURANCE.

And the GOP plan will come in the form of tax credits, requiring very little actual restructuring of our broken health care system. Can't wait for this one!

phoenix86

You are an idiot. You don't have a clue about what the Democrats and Obama what to do. Instead of actually reading the facts you choise to mouth off without one bit of truth.

You know what's gonna be a non starter for Republicans? The 2010 election cycle. If you thought you lost a lot in this last election cycle...
We want universal health care. WE WANT IT NOW!
We live in a country where if ya get sick, you can get bankrupt!
EVERY OTHER ADVANCED NATION HAS UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE and we the leaders of the free world cannot overcome cooperate greed to provide for our citizens?!?
Thank God the GOP can't stop us.

34 out of the 35 developed nations in the world created a Government paid Healthcare plan.
How many of those nations switched back to private only healthcare?
ZERO

But I guess the GOP are right, its not like the heathcare corporations would take financial advantage of poeple that are willing to PAY ANYTHING to save thier loved ones.
American corporations are NEVER greedy.
LOL

I still have no idea of the connection between insurance and health care. It is stupid. The drug companies make a profit – fine, they create a valuable product, and do a lot of research. The doctors, nurses, therapists, hospitals- fine, they actually provide valuable and necessary services. Not to mention the medical appliance companies, and people who sell everything from bandages to heart monitors – fine, fine, fine. But Insurance companies? What do they contribute? Nothing but obstacles. But they keep a huge part of health care dollars. For NOTHING!!!! There is absolutely no rationale for them being the "middle man," deciding who gets what and how much it should cost. It is absurd and we need to cut these moochers out!

Every person on a health care plan is now paying just over $1 000 into paying for the uninsured. Where is the coverage on the socalled health care plan of the Republicans which would give an inadequate tax credit and then tax the rest of people's health care coverage??

The Republicans are effecting throwing 45 million citizens under the bus.

Phoenix86: America is presently ranked 34th in health care in the world with the greatest cost. I wouldn't exactly brag about that standing. You should read up on universal health care plans where the DOCTORS who decide on the treatment for patients; presently in America it is the bureaucrats of for profit health care comapnies who are rated/rewarded on a scale of keeping costs down who make the decisions.

Republicans love to wail about the evils of government. But the VA Hospital in my area is dearly love by Veterans who come from a hundred miles away for health care that they do not pay for. The local VA center is a model of efficiency and customer satisfaction. Republicans simply don't care about the poor, the sick and the needy. They have emotiona blinders that tell them other people aren't real and don't matter.

Of course the Republicans are complaining loudly about the health plan proposal that President Obama wants Congress to pass. Tell all those Republicans in Congress that I want the same health care they receive.

Let's have public care, the argument is that we will put private carriers out of business. SO LET IT BE! They have robbed the American people long enough and they have received profits off the backs of the poor and middle class everytime they reject a claim. I do not feel sorry for them, let them go bankrupct!

You Republicans and some elitist Democrats are being served financially from the health industry and there is no incentive for you to look out for the common good of the American people.

I repeat, LET THEM GO BANKRUPCT, they have stolen enough of my money.

Why are Repbulican lawmakers against the average American having the same type of health care that they get? And make no mistake, the health care that our elected officals enjoy is "public" in every sense of the word.

So why can't we have the same?

Mr. Blunt and his family, as well as all Congressmen and Senators, Democratic and Republican, benefit from public financed healthcare. Does Mr. Blunt have a problem with his healthcare options? Are he and all Republican House members willing to surrender their taxpayer financed healthcare?

Maybe Congressional Republicans should join the great, private insurance bureaucracy they seem so enamored with. Fill out never ending forms, get denied, get rejected for coverage, etc., etc.,. It's great. Only someone who doesn't deal with private insurance directly can image it actually works well.

Here's what Blunt and the rest of the Republicans, and those who believe them, refuse to acknowledge: WE'RE SPENDING MORE ON HEALTH CARE IN THE US AND GETTING WORSE QUALITY THAN THE REST OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD!! Just look at these 2007 World Health Organization data:

Infant mortality:

US: 6.4 deaths per 1000 live births
UK: 5.7 deaths per 1000 live births
Canada: 4.6 per 1000 live births

Life expectancy (both genders):

US: 76 years
UK: 78.7 years
Canada: 80.3 years

So I don't know about you, but it looks to me like Canada and the UK with their single-payer systems are doing much BETTER than we are in health outcomes, not worse as the anti-health care crowd would have you believe. So wake up, America and don't let the conservatives once again lie you into working against your own self interest!

My aunt gets aricept in the US for $6.00 per pill

She gets the generic Donepezil from Canada for 60 cents per pill.

The US recognizes Donepezil, but won't allow it's sale here. Gee, wonder why. INSURANCE and PHARMACEUTICAL Companies are making a fortune from our hardship and sicknesses.

Republicans are bad... Republicans are evil... Wow time to sing a new tune. Instead of constantly bashing one party why not tell us why the push for a Nationalized Health Care system is needed. While most of you are quite good at name calling I get the feeling most of you have no idea what that means.

First of all, the health care system is so messed up we are not getting competition even in the private markets. There are way too many market failure situations in health care for things to run efficiently through the free market on its own.

Second, if Blunt thinks public options are a "non starter" then he should get rid of his government, PUBLIC, health insurance.

Third, Phoenix86, a single payor system (if done correctly) is the best system for health insurance for consumers because there is only one buyer of health insurance. It is the opposite of a monopoly. A single seller can dictate prices, so can a single buyer. As far as your DMV comment, that is already being done by HMO's and PPO's. I gaurantee you that if you have a huge health bill your insurer will fight tooth and nail to find a loop-hole so they don't have to pay it.

Actually, Obamavictim, last time I went to the DMV I had to change from an Illinois to a Georgia license. I was in and out in a half hour. The U.S. postal service has never let me down. Last year, I shipped a very large, fragile item USPS and it arrived in one piece in a timely manner. And it was cheaper than Fedex.

So we should continue letting HMOs and insurance companies determine what treatment we get and when? Get a clue, these people do not have your best interest at heart. Have a nice day!

Republicans never had solutions for eight years!

Of all people claiming that they are there for the small businesses when we all know what hurts the businesses are the healthcare costs. The longer the delay the longer the recovery will take for small businesses to get back up again...but then again the republicans can claim that nothing is done for small businesses...pathetic political games!

The door has always been open, Blount, you just have to walk through it. If you have ideas, bring them with you, but don't lay conditions on an issue like this.

@ phoenix88, I would rather have a single-payer system then the one that forced my wife and I to go through a bankruptcy. I was fortunate enough to find a job that pays well enough so I could emerge from the bankruptcy 2 years ahead of schedule, but I will never accept a market-based approach that forces families to be worked to death to pay for healthcare. As it stand now, private bureauocrats determine who gets covered and who does not, so your DMV analogy is amusing at best and worst, insulting.

Its mind-boggling that you willingly accept private insurers deciding what you will get, yet the thought of having government coverage scares you? Private insurers are no more responsive than any government program, and in many cases, less so. Neither solution is perfect, but to dismiss one out of hand ignores the simple fact that we need viable alternatives, and the health insurers have more than enough money! They get their cut in my pay stub every week, and I never see my coverage improve, or my premiums go down.

WE NEED HEALTH CARE LIKE IN ENGLAND.

Healthcare in England is mainly provided by England's Public Health Service.

So what if it will cost less or more? The point is: WILL IT WORK OR WILL IT RELY ON DISPROVEN AND DISCREDITED ECONOMIC THEORIES AND "FREE MARKET" IDEOLOGY?

Sure, competition is a good thing when it's between businesses trying to provide the better mouse trap, but the health care industry is significantly different than regular commercial enterprises. When it's just the mouse traps, consumers don't end up dead or with cancer or birthing still born babies because the corporate side cut corners or invented something shoddy (then forced you to mortgage your home to pay for it). Name another industry in which selling crappy products and services generates even more need for people to buy more of your products and services or, worst case, removes you entirely from the pool of protesting consumers.

The G NO P would rather have "competition" to let the "free market" profit off of the people who need healthcare but don't get squat for health care coverage because of all of the administrative overhead that these so-called health care providers covet.

They'd rather see corporations profit than the most valuable assets of this country–the People–get good health care coverage.

It's time to vote these losers out of office one by one. Stand up for what you want. Vote them out next election.

Republicans never had solutions for eight years!

"interesting that the same people who went crazy over the abuses and poor management at Halibuton and the Pentagon……….and who perpetually condemned the in-efficiency of government…….are so eager to turn their health care over to the government……have you been to the Post Office or DMV lately…………………..right, I want those people planning my operation"

Interesting that the same people who idolize and blindly trust the military to kill people don't trust the government to provide health care.

For all those complaining about a government health care plan...how many senators have you heard complain about their coverage?

Yea...we need real competition, like "you gotta compete to live america. We, the republicans don't, we don't have to because us politicians have GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE...but not for you, you all should die! You gotta be a republican politician to have government health care, so go die all the rest of you"

Thats why I vote for republicans, because they are so moral and looking out for the american citizen rather then just the business of america and corporate america. And their stance on this PROVES they are not just about Corporate America. They care for all of us, as long as we are paying too much for the goods we get.

Blunt is not in the position to say what is a non-starter.

Whether it's a non-starter for House Republicans strikes me as entirely irrelevant.

Like House Republicans.

The GOP want to privatize as many government fuinctions as possible because 'private industry is more effecient'. So why are they affraid that big fat incompetent ineffecient government will out compete private health insurance?

Blunt contradicts himself twice in the course of this conversation – if you get the full version, and not the parsed version shown here. I think a government plan would facilitate competition and lower prices – he's just looking out for his buddies in the insurance industry. The republicans never fail me...Party and lobbyists first, country somewhere down the line.

Why don't our representatives want us to have access to the same health care they're lucky enough to participate in?

I'd rather see health care go to reconcilliation than accept a watered down option with republican participation.

If the Health Insurance industry had provided a reasonably priced, workable service that met the needs of their customers, we would not be having this discussion. The fact that we want something else is a direct result of their own actions. They have priced themselves out of the market and produced results inferior to 36 other countries, now they are facing the consequences. I have observed that in the previous administration consequences were seldom considered. Now we have no choice. If we screw up, sometimes we just have to take responsibility and accept the results. That is what this is. I don't feel sorry for the insurance companies. They did this to themselves. The Republicans talk about self responsibility, but apparently they only believe in it under certain circumstances.

He wants to be 'in the room' but he is already dictating what would be a 'non-starter'. Convenient of him to let the President know up front what he is willing to discuss, and what is a waste to time. Now the President knows whether or not to invite him at all.

Phoenix86,

Give me a break. We already have universal healthcare for the poor (Wis. has badgercare), we have universal healthcare for those undocumented, it is called the emergency room and all they have to do is ask for Charity Assistance, and we have universal healthcare for those over 65 and/or disabled. It is called Medicaid and Medicare. What we DON'T have is insurance for those people who fall through the crack, you know, the guy who's company doesn't offer medical insurance and his wife or child has a pre existing medical condition and cannot pay for the premiums because he doesn't make enough money and is too "rich" to be able to get the state run programs.

You all just don't get it unless, unfortunately it happens to you.

Republicans always talk of an alternative but never give any details. Please, give me a hint at what you're suggesting Mr. Blunt. Frankly, be blunt.

Obama Victim says "interesting that the same people who went crazy over the abuses and poor management at Halibuton and the Pentagon……….and who perpetually condemned the in-efficiency of government…….are so eager to turn their health care over to the government……have you been to the Post Office or DMV lately…………………..right, I want those people planning my operation"

So then don't pick the government option!!!!!!

What are you afraid of?

interesting that the same people who went crazy over the abuses and poor management at Halibuton and the Pentagon..........and who perpetually condemned the in-efficiency of government.......are so eager to turn their health care over to the government......have you been to the Post Office or DMV lately.......................right, I want those people planning my operation

Blount, are you dumb or just an idiot for the GOP? Without a strong public option to give the insurance companies competition they will never lower their prices. You also seem to forget that this is one of the many reasons the American people rejected the GOP policies.

Republican health care plan would be for rich people only. Anybody that does not realize that is just crazy.

The GOP's idea for health care is to deregulate the insurance industry and "don't get sick." With a plan like that, of course it's cheaper. It also doesn't do anything to improve our health care. Deregulation was a disaster for the banking/financial industry and would be an even bigger disaster for health care.

Put Congress and their families on whatever plan they come up with for us.

Maybe THAT will get the job done right. In the meantime, no healthcare for them - until we have healthcare that is reasonably priced.

Real competition is what got us in to this mess.Get a clue and get folks the health care and they need and stop pandering to the rich lobbiest that now entrench our health care system.captitalisim and health card do NOT go hand in hand.When you have millions without health care but the boards of thies huge health care companys making millions of dollers pofits that somehow just don't add up.

"Pushing for a public option in health care legislation is a non-starter for House Republicans." Gee, why don't the Republicans want to hear about OUR opinions? Guess that's why they're out of power and look like a bunch of fools, since our country was founded BY the people and FOR the people.... not for the greed and incompetence of the GOP.

Figures. Blunt and his Repug allies all have wonderful health care.
They can afford to be ideological about it.
The rest of us have to suffer. We, the people, are paying for their health care. We should make them go through what we live every day, then they'll have a different outlook.

Could someone please tell me what ISN'T a non-starter for House or Senate Republicans?

Republicans sure know how to make a difficult time/situation...that much harder ^_^

Well duh!! Of course she didn't reply, the dinner isn't all about her.

Sorry Blount, but for those of us who don't have the superb public health care that we give YOU, the GOP is a non-starter.

Roy Blunt. Just another member of Congress owned by the healthcare industry.

Democrats and Oblama are trying to ram through a Health Care Nationalization bill that will take away everyone's current health care benefits and force all into a single payor system.

In other words, someone who now works at the DMV will be in a position to determine if you or your family "deserve" or "need" certain types of treatement.

Thanks Oblama, Zimbabwe here we come!!!!