CNN

[...] hysterical" that healthcare, as a Senate Democratic "senior advisor" told CNN, is "on the [...]

"That says a LOT, isn't it?"

Yeah, says you fall in that uneducated demographic! It should be

"That says a LOT, doesn't it?"

While YOU crack on other people's intelligence! Amazing.

The poloticians of the United States of America are perpetrating the largest ponzi scheme ever, and we, the people, are the victims!!!!

Good!I'm glad it's on the rocks!If this thing passes it will be another giant step towards socialism!I hope Obama Bin Laden's presidency will be "On the rocks" soon!

The health care insurance industry is THE problem. Health care insurance executives have been making themselves filthy rich at OUR expense for years.

Republicans who oppose the public option do so because they support the executive's "right" to make $$$$$$$$ by overcharging US.

Health care should be for people, NOT for profit.

Why is it so many posters are unable or unwilling to give President Obama the respect due at least to his position.... The words used to refer to him are sickening and a disgrace. He is not Obama, Osama, Barrack, Nosama, etc., etc., – he is your PRESIDENT OBAMA

What a joke "the Republicans are gaining steam", the Republicans are frothing at the mouth on every issue like mad dogs.

There is NO plan! The American people who are expected to pay for this and die from this have not been furnished with any plan just a he says or she says and absolutely nothing concrete. Boy doesn't that make you feel like you are getting the wrong end of the stick!

Health care...NOW....for ALL AMERICANS...it is the right thing to do!

My insurance bill has doubled three years running. So when someone tries to scare me by saying that we will pay higher taxes for a public plan I know that I'm already paying higher premiums. At least with a government plan I can vote for the people who run it.

Sheridan June 19th, 2009 5:56 pm ET Wrote:

{WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?? I was amazed to find so many against a public plan!

Do you work for the insurance industry?? I can't imgaine any other reason why you would think our healthcare is NOT a right. We are the only civilized country that does not have public health care, and all THIS would be is an optuion for public health insurance.

This government is not the boogeyman – the Insurance Companies are screwing you and just because you employer pays for it, that doesn't mean when you get cancer, it won't be diagnosed as a "pre-existing condition."
SERIOUSLY!}

The Government has yet to run ANYTHING cheaply and efficiently – yet you want to entrust YOUR health to them? You are going to PAY, PAY and PAY some more (in taxes) just to see the "Boogeyman" piss that money away. Seriously, name 3 governtment programs that are financially sound AND performing it's intended service.

I , for one am totally against the healthcare program. It does not support middle-class Americans. We are tired of paying government subsidies, we already have to wait for two hours or more in the emergency rooms to cover expenses for the illegals. Enough is Enough!!! No more bailouts, No free healthcare. And on a personal note, I am now uninsured and I still don't want government sactioned healthcare.

@Carramea June 19th, 2009 5:51 pm ET
Watch the movie "Sicko" by Michael Moore. Showed France, Canadas, and Englands universal health care
-----------------------–
How about if we all watch "Land of the lost". There is a T-Rex chasing Will Farrell! What's your point??

I'm continually amazed by people who pretend to know it all about
Canadian Health Care. Let me inform you:
.... we have dedicated and extremely well-qualified physicians
.....we CHOOSE our own doctors (no HMO, no pressure)
.....we are treated in a timely and professional manner
.....seniors are covered for prescription drugs as well either free or for a maximum $100.00/year
.....we are losing ;physicians to the US, drawn by the high bucks
offered by HMO's
....we get all the diagnostic tests we require
....as citizens we are afforded quality health care through our taxation system and pay no more in taxes than you do
....Our health care cards have to be protected jealously from our south of the border cousins who would like to take advantage of our system.

This is just a primer....

Just saying......

Thank God! I love the over-priced health care option I have now and I love all the crazy prescription drugs my doctors shove down my throat cause they're all getting kickbacks. Also, I'd hate to have a public option for myself or my family if I lost my job! And, I'd hate to take a chance on capitalism and start my own business because I wouldn't be afraid I couldn't provide care for myself or my family if I did. I love being a slave to my job!

Sheridan, you're amazed so many of us don't want a public plan. The government can't run anything within a normal budget, our cost will go up, and our coverage down. The government doesn't do anything well. I have great insuance, how do I get it, I get up and go to work everyday. I worked hard to get a decent job with decent benefits.

There are actually people on this board that want poor people to die. Infants born to poor parents are now expendable, just throw them out with the trash? You wash dishes for 40 hours a week but your employer does not provide health care and you are somehow considered to be a dope smoking liberal with his/her hand out?

All of you arrogant self-righteous, holier than thou, "citizens" who have insurance now but will not when your laid off, may change your minds since death will be knocking at YOUR door.

For the record, I am white, have health insurance through my employer and make north of 65K and willing to do my share to see that all Americans have affordable health care.

This board makes me very sad for the condition of my country, that once cared for the less fortunate, but now they are just seen as a "drag on the economy".

It is indeed a sad day in America.

To Liberal and Proud od it: you had better take a hard look at what your Obama has done to the national debt compared to Bush and Reagon. I am a conservative and not once have I expected a free ride in life; I have worked hard for everything I have and so has every other conservative that I know. Liberals are the ones who spew hate; expect gov. handouts for everything. You can't even tell a liberal from a conservative. Obama is destroying this country will all his spending and you are to blind to realize it. Bush was bad; Obama is a disaster in the making.

Government can't do healthcare? who has managed to keep "six heart attack" Dick Cheney alive? give me a freakin' break. let every American get some of that sweet, sweet government health care says I! No business, large or small should have to provide healthcare. I pay 40% of my pay in taxes. the cumulative sums are staggering. we should have free college and free healthcare, not $500million tanks that nobody can fix. unfortunately it seems to be the priority of some of our elected officials to make sure we get those tanks and not the healthcare we already pay dearly for and should demand of our government. Also: Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto me. It's the golden rule in every human society in one form or another. As a human being, some of the truly heartless and short-sighted comments on this post shock me.

Congress is supposed to hash out the details. Do they really want Obama to just tell them what to do? Can't they come up with a plan on their own.

I think Obama is waiting to prove Congress is incompetent (or prove they aren't) before he comes in and saves the day.

What doctor is going to work under these plans? Most do not accept Medicare, for a reason. This Obama plan will be worse than Medicare. To save costs, Malpractice law suits and lawyers are the real problem, it's not all the big, bad insurance companies. Those on this board that think big corporations are so terrible, remember who provides jobs, if you want one. The bull about keeping your insurance if you want it, do you really think that is true?

To all gullible enough to think Obama is going to GIVE you health care, NOTHING the government provides will come cheap. We will be taxed to death for this latest give away program and still ALL will not have coverage. The elderly on medicare and the medicaid poor will have cuts to their programs to help fund this pipe dream. Like most Democrat ideas this does not make any sense. Obama wants this rushed through, before anyone can think about it, just like the Stimulus Package that no one in Washington actually read.

If the Health Care Reform issues for which the people overwhelmingly voted for in November 2008 is "on the rocks", than its is not because of President Obama's efforts. It is because of a WEAK and SPINELESS Democratic Congress. The same Democrats who cowardly waited (in fear of the Clintons) until the last primary on June 2008 to declare their electoral vote for President Obama.

What a bunch of fools and suckers on this board. You really think you will be provided with quality healthcare for free?? Or do you want those of us that work to provide it for you? Any idiot who believes a Michael Moore movie needs their head examined. The government does NOT owe you healthcare, you owe it yourself. You can either get a job that provides it or purchase it yourself. To cry your eyes out because nobody will give it to you. Quit crying and do something about it. What idiot actually believes the coverage will be good? Obama is already talking about cutting out "unnecessary" tests. What tests does he think aren't necessary for our well being? Get a clue people!

Anyone who thinks you are going to get the same medical sa the President, Congress, the Cabinet or civil servants, look at what has happened to medicne for the armed forces. You remember Walter Reed and the injured soldiers back from war waiting to see an orthopediac surgeon for 4 months. No, it was not Bush's fault either, Clinton created the HMO system the military is under.

To the guy that listed the pay of all the health insurance execs.

Nationalize it.
Govt takes over.
Then the execs quit along with talented doctors/nurses due to lack of incentive.
Finally, everyone gets crappy health care.

Sorry but I don't want a C+ student operating on my children...

It is heart breaking to me to see how hard those who oppose health care reform are working to destroy the dream before all the facts get on the table. I wonder if those who oppose new healthcare reform are without insurance. It is easy for opponets to oppose President Obama's new health care plan when they have insurance.

When a family have to choose between food and health insurance cost, what do you think they would choose? Food of course!!!

If the shoe was on the other foot, I wonder if they would oppose everyone having access to healthcare when a doctor tells them they have cancer and need treatment, what then!!!

kevin

Tort reform is a great idea. Corporations are clogging the courts with frivolous lawsuits against each other, against their customers, against the government, against competitors, etc. Most of these suits have no legal merit, they are just trying to stifle competition, like the big phramaceutical manufacturers who sue makers of generic drugs just to keep them off the market, stalling their competitors for years and years.

How about cranking up our medical schools and producing more doctors? It's basic economics. Lower the price by increasing the supply.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?? I was amazed to find so many against a public plan!

Do you work for the insurance industry?? I can't imgaine any other reason why you would think our healthcare is NOT a right. We are the only civilized country that does not have public health care, and all THIS would be is an optuion for public health insurance.

This government is not the boogeyman – the Insurance Companies are screwing you and just because you employer pays for it, that doesn't mean when you get cancer, it won't be diagnosed as a "pre-existing condition."
SERIOUSLY!

Some posters here say that Liberals love taxes, but nothing could be less true. However, Liberals love fiscal responsibility.

While Conservatives believe that the world owes them a free lunch, Liberals know that the bills have to be paid.

Conservative administrations led by Reagan, Bush, and Bush have followed a spend and borrow strategy. Reagan doubled the national debt. Bush increased it by half. Bush2 doubled it again. Reagan added $2 trillion. Bush1 added a trillion. Bush2 added $5 trillion.

Sooner or later, we have to pay the bills – lthough Conservatives have never learned that.

Most of the Conservatives in Congress who are complaining about the debt voted for deficit spending every time a Republican President asked them to.

Watch the movie "Sicko" by Michael Moore. Showed France, Canadas, and Englands universal health care ...... No huge lines...... medicine is $10 no matter what it is in England. Look the states are drowning with medicaid. I do agree that we have to have tort reform for this to have a chance in hell of working

American medicine wants to treat you once your sick. Preventative health care could save this country billions

As for Medicare why not start paying for IV services in the home. Rather than a nursing home that costs 8 times MORE per day

Remember all you suckers who think Obama is going to GIVE you health care, NOTHING the government provides will come cheap. We will be taxed to death for this latest give away program and still ALL will not have coverage. The elderly on medicare and the medicaid poor will have cuts to their programs to help fund this pipe dream. Like most Democrat ideas this does not make any sense. Obama wants this rushed through, before anyone can think about it, just like the Stimulus Package that no one in Washington actually read.

How come Barack wont start some Tort reform and stop all the frivolous law suits. How about capping the payoffs and stopping the madness. That will cut 25% of health care costs.
That is Change I can believe in.
Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth barack. Stop lying.
Stop paying for illegals. That will cut costs.
Stop allowing people to use ER has their doctor.
Limit the number of visits.
That will cut costs.

The rapidly escalating health care costs are from Medicare. In the private sector we have to make up the difference between what Medicare pays and the doctors/hospitals charge. If there is a public plan we will not be paying the difference any longer...because our employers will bail on providing a health care benefit...and we will all be on the government plan. Ask the CBO, 15M people who currently have health insurance through employer sponsored plans will end up without them. The US government seems determined to emulate California in providing more and more free entitlements. The entire country will go bankrupt if Obama has his way.

The bill wouldn't be on the rocks if Democrats would grow a pair, and stop dreaming about their tax payer expensed summer junkets. We all know no matter what the plan is, Republicans will vote no and spend the next two weeks on TV complaining. Nothing new. It's not like a trilion dollar check will be written next week to fund health care. Like everything else out of Washington, if it's help the little guy it happens at a snails pace.

I am now in Canada, in a Prairie province. My family had quite a number of serious surgeries in the last few years, and we would have been homeless now if we were in the U.S.

I go to any doctor I wish, see specialists when necessary. There is a wait if it is not urgent. But - my taxes cover my medical costs. Hip replacement, back surgery, aneurism, seriously broken bones, etc. etc. Did not even see the bill. The taxes are higher that in the U.S., but all of us, ALL of us are covered. There is no tier system. If someone wants immediate service (if not an emergency), they do go across the border - and they pay for it, pay highly. I waited a few months for my serious surgery, and am just fine now.

I know a couple in Minnesota who are still paying off their 4-year-old daughter's birth.

If you can afford it, you're fine. But the HMO will decide which illness you should not have gotten, and they won't cover that one. Really humane, eh?

Health care reform is an issue that must get done. The United States spends roughly 13% of GDP on health care, and this figure will continue to rise if reform doesn't take place. Clearly the status quo is not sustainable nor can it be defended. The fact is not everyone having health insurace coverage is costing everyone more money. Health care costs have to be covered whether you have insurance or not. So health care providers employ a process called "cost shifting" to cover these costs. What this means is those with health insurance are charged higher than cost prices for their health care to cover the costs of the care for those who don't have insurance. This is why prices listed on hospital bills seem so high. Not only are you paying for your health care but the health care of others as well. Talk about socialized medicine. Of course, you're not paying the bill, the insurance company is. However, what does the health insurance company do? They pass on the higher costs to consumers in the form of higher premiums.

Actually, health care experts today believe "cost shifting" is minimal which may be true. Those who have health insurance today are typically on managed care plans which negotiate with providers for discounted prices for their "subscribers". So maybe today, cost shifting is minimal. However, reverse cost shifting is on the rise. Since providers can't necessarily shift costs to the insurance companies, they try to stick it to the patient. The price for a procedure is vastly different for those who have insurance and those who don't. Those who don't are charged a higher, non-discounted price and if the uninsured can't afford it, they declare bankruptcy. We're back to cost shifting again, and the bottom line is we all pay more year after year either in the form of higher premiums or higher costs to the government which of course is backed by the taxpayer.

This has to stop. President Obama has a good plan for reform. It may cost quite a bit initially, but maintaining the status quo will cost us more over the long haul. Don't let the fearmongers scare you with tales of health care disasters from Canada or Great Britain. Look to Japan. Japan has a system in place pretty close to what the President is proposing, and they spend about 6% of GDP, the lowest of any industriallized country. In Japan, health insurance is manadatory. You either have it through your employer or you have government insurance. Prices for all citizens regardless of insurance plan is set by the government, so there's no cost shifting. The sytsem isn't perfect and isn't without it's critics, but it works fairly well for their society. Everyone has health insurance coverage so no one has to worry about pre-existing conditions. Let's take a page from Japan and get this job done.

Lets see, a possible tax on health care benefits for your job! I said possible but we all know the libs have never met a tax, they did not like! Tax increases just to pay interest on the debt! You libs always point to England, and Germany as prime examples of universal healthcare. Just once have you EVER taken a good look at their tax rates? It's not just the rich who are paying a healthy (excuse the pun) tax rate! People need to be protected, I agree and most of the most they need protection from themselves!

And by the way, what would you Dems be saying if the roles were reversed and Republicans were threatening to use "reconciliation" to pass legislation that even some Republicans were against? You'd be through the roof. To not feel the same way now is incredibly hypocritical.

Most folks (Republicans and Democrats and others) like the idea of developing an approach to health care that includes as many people as possible. Look...most of us are pretty good people and we DO care about each other. But this is among the most complex challenges we've faced as a nation in a long time, and RUSHING it through Congress for political reasons (e.g., midterm elections) is politics at its absolute WORST. EVERYONE (Repubs and Dems alike) will end up suffering for it.

TAKE THE TIME TO GET DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS AND WORK TOGETHER.

Neutralizer, you are wrong. Over 70% of Americans want real healthcare reform. Surely you are a billionaire who can afford 600% mark up and you must be able to pay someone to haggle with the health care provider you have so you can GET the healthcare you pay for. Big insurance and big pharma aren't interested in the average Joe. They rip us off and most of the people in DC, Dems and Repubs are in their back pocket, despite the fact that we the people pay for THEIR socialist health care plans.

For those arguing that Social Security is an example of a poorly run system, look no further than W to see who looted a previously viable system. Get your heads out of the sand and into some research.

Of course the Presidents health care bill will cost a ton of money. Everyone with a brain realizes that because healthcare is very expensive. But, the Republicans want the country to believe that their plan will cost so much less with the same options. Who are they kidding? Some of us were born at night......but not last night!

To Kate in SW Florida,

I agree with your assessment 100%. The Republican party has rejected President Obama from day one. They are irresponsible and they do not care about all Americans. It is a shame!

As usual, the liberals have little common sense and less intelligence. But of course, they do contiue the hatrid . . . and we all know that hatrid is a requirement to join the democratic party and be a follower of BO. Then you add the continued lies and you have the ideal democrat.

Lila wrote: I figure some massive health insurance corporation lobby group must keep us from doing what would save the USA tons of money in the long run while covering every American with top of the line health care.

Ding ding ding! We have a winner. Have a nice day!

@ Allen:

I'm sure you're a likable person and you care about people, and they care about you. I'm very much the same. Another way we're similar is that neither of us have time for "ultra" views on the "other side". In my case, I have NO time for ultra-liberal views.

For every one of you, there is one of us. While you might say "Obama won by a landslide and has the mandate of the people", that is hardly the case. Obama won the election but it was HARDLY a landslide victory (try looking at the actual numbers of votes cast and the larger number of Republicans that stayed home). And there are a large number of historical examples where a leader won an election by telling the majority of people, in essence, "elect me and I'll give you money". Recent examples include Venezuela.

I'm very much in favor of finding affordable health care, as I DO believe it eliminates downstream problems. But there are MANY issues that need to be considered (lifestyle, diet, etc.) so simply making it easier (and at no cost) for someone to go to an emergency room for a non-emergency is HARDLY the answer.

Last but not least, we differ in that I don't believe that health care is a right. Nor is happiness. Nor is food. We have the right to PURSUE happiness but it is not a guarantee.

Allen, I'm sure you're a nice guy. I think you're also essentially a Socialist, and that is not what I (nor many others) want for our country. So expect a VERY significant fight from us, because our beliefs are every bit as strong as yours.

By the way, perhaps you could help the Mr. Gibbs answer the question put to him at a recent press conference: "Can you tell me of a country in which a government-run health care system works well?" Give us the answer, and let's see how many people from other countries go THERE for treatment. It won't be anything at all like the number that come here.

Why do conservatives think their tax dollars are personally earmarked for social/welfare type programs? There is NOT some special office in D.C. that divvies up our tax dollars based on your voter registration or political philosophy! Free or at least affordable health care is not a welfare hand-out for the needy...it should be a moral obligation for our government to provide health care for every citizen of this country.

How do you pay for it? Adjust your priorities...find a way to make it work. Contrary to what Neo-Con teabaggers might hope for, big government ain't going away...may as well make it work in the best interests of our country, rather than the special interests that now control it.

Stop removing my post CNN. I have said nothing abusive.
What's the republican alternative to our health care crisis? Make it so all size companies no longer have to provide health insurance to their workers. Give the workers a $5000 tax break so they can buy their own insurance. But wait one moment,,, how about if we want to cover our family? Too bad. The cheapest family rate is $11,000. That's an extra $6000 bucks out of my pocket.
I lived in London for a short time. I had to go to a walk-in government health clinic (they are everywhere.. with in blocks no matter where you go) I was out in less than 15 mins with the meds I needed and it cost me 6 bucks total. I had to go to the hospital once.. and the food was bad.. beans and rice... but the medical care was top of the line. I was seen in 5 mins from the time I walked into the emergancy room. I got better care there than I have ever gotten in an American emergancy room. And it was all free. No bills. None. That is how it is for all people in the UK.
You would think that it would cost the UK a fortune but England spends half of what the US spends now on their health care coverage for all. Why can't we do that? How can we be spending twice as much for the same amount of people and we have nothing, nothing like the full health coverage for every citizen like they do.
I figure some massive health insurance corporation lobby group must keep us from doing what would save the USA tons of money in the long run while covering every American with top of the line health care.

Good!! Government run health care would be a change for the worse not better. We need health care reform to center around lower insurance and medical costs and getting everyone covered by private insurance. No government control of health care.

Mark in Vulcan Town. You hit the nail on the head. I totally agree with your viewpoint.

Try moving out of daddy's house and get a job or better yet quit waiting for someone else to take care of yuor needs and get a job and pay your own way. If the free loaders would work and attempt to help themselves folks that really need help could get it.
The real problem is that the welfare lifers have become such a burden on all social services that the working class can no longer carry them.
It is time to hold the lazy and the unwilling accountable and make teem earn their way.

Stacy from Leesburg, VA – What have you been smoking? And the Democrats haven't been fear-mongering? Have you even been paying attention lately? What do you think Obama's been doing? That's ALL he's been doing! And calling anyone who disagrees with Obama's Master Plan unpatriotic is beneath contempt. You Dems are supposed to be people of tolerance. Sorry, I don't see that at all.

geecee are you serious?

Do you honestly think for a moment that if all the people who receive emergency medical care for FREE (because they don't have insurance and the hospital is required to treat them) suddenly stopped getting treatment that the hospitals & providers would go out of business?

HELLO? pretty basic micro econ 101 here... expenses without a stream of revenue LOWER your bottom line. Erase that problem... bottom line goes UP.

Trust me... there's plenty of sick people with coverage and it doesn't take being wealthy to afford coverage. I'm middle class at absolute best and I have excellent coverage... completely paid for by my employer. They pay my premiums, deductible, and co-pays... not a penny out of pocket. It's called shopping around for an employer who cares about their employees and wants to attract the best.

But... then you've got to BE the best

Let's investigate the Dems who are against sharing the government plan they get with the rest of the country. All senators, Gop and Dem receive GOVERNMENT healthcare. If it sucks so much, as some claim, then give it up and go get some of that awsome private insurance so many of these crooked politicians want us to struggle with.

Anyone trying to protect the private greed model of healthcare is on the take. Greed is party blind. Baccus, I'm looking at you!

Something stinks in the senate.

When nothing changes and the almost 50 million people who have NO health insurance in this country remain uninsured let's all remember just where the blame lies...with the Congress of the United States who knows their butts are insured and to hell with the rest. Don't blame the President for it....this lies squarely with Congress and any right thinking person recognizes this fact.

TO JAE,

What are the Republican ideas? I have not heard any new ideas. Just the same old policies. Please enlighten all of us.

The illegal war in Irag has cost us over a trillion dollars. Thanks to the last administration. It also cost us over 4,000 men and women. Many more men and women with severe injuries....
It has cost hundred's of thousand deaths of Irag men, women and children. It has cost millions of Irag men, women, and children who left the country.
Let us not forget the economic problems caused by deregulation, tax cuts for the rich, and big businesses. When are you going to understand that taxes need to be paid or you will lose your city, state and federal services. WAKE UP.

Please do not preach unless you and your Republican party can admit to mistakes (they cannot) and have ideas that will help all Americans.

Skyhawkdriver, ya ever hear of Medicare?

Allen,

HEALTH CARE IS NOT A RIGHT! IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY! In this day and age, people should begin to take responsibility for themselves!

Laurie,

Just because someone doesn't want government run health doesn't mean they want children to die. And liberals blame Republicans for scare tactics. Health care is available to anyone, you just have to pay for it. In that way, when some whiney liberal has a runny nose and goes to the doctor for a bag of antibioticsm, I and you don't have to pay for it.

What happened to the good sense of people when they think the government will run something well? Didn't they try to run GM and Chrysler? Now, buying a Hummer is buying a Chinese truck.
Heck, let Wal-Mart run the health care system. At least they figured out how to offer $4 prescription drugs and still turn a massive profit.

On the rocks because the Repugs don't have a clue, and the dems don't have a pair. We will remember this come election time.

I don't know a single person who thinks that healthcare in this country is good. I have never been without insurance thanks to my employer but I have been saddled with enormous co-payments for what the insurance carrier calls a "specialist", an outrageous prescription deductible of 1500.00 to meet before I can get anything filled. I have a primary care physician that is so overbooked with patients it takes weeks to get an appointment, then once I do get in to see her I wait a minumum of two hours for the privelege of a five minute visit.

Healthcare needs an overhaul now not later!

It would be a significant day in history, poor muslim, white hater, smoke screen blower anti-christ didnt get his way and lost because people can see through his smoke screen. Obama's health care will ruin this country and make America like Russia and Obama would then be Osama the antiu-christ or the new Hitler .

Compare history and the bible.

Allen – Healthcare is NOT a right, it's a privilege. Too many people don't understand that.

Laurie...

I think you conveniently skipped over the part where I said I'm ALL FOR my tax dollars going to help those who can't help themselves. Let's see, that would include people with physical and mental disability... CHILDREN.... and those who TEMPORARILY fall on hard times through circumstances beyond their control.

It is in society's best interest to act as a safety net... not as a bottomless ATM for laziness and greed.

I will concede the point that... if you work your tail off and there is NO affordable option available to help defray the cost of healthcare... then no I wouldn't want to see that person left to die. But if someone is too lazy to get out of bed in the morning and put in an honest day's work... and he get's sick... well that's one less leach bleeding our tax revenue dry.

It's having a Heart Attack...

"Hello,I'm from the government and I'm here to help"..the scariest a person can hear..the cost? Triple it..the government has never proven it has the ability to run anything..everyone it runs now is bloated and out of control..cost overuns in everything from military hardware to toilet seats..do you really want a person like ted kennedy telling you which doctor to see??..or how long you have to wait for surgery??..we are already saddled with gm and chrysler and aig and who knows what else..enough is enough..sink this sacred cow now

Of course this will be enormously expensive. Of course Obama and the Dems have no plan on how to pay for it. That would be responsible government, and oxymoron when speaking of Democrats.

How about no health care coverage for anyone. It isn't actually a basic fundamental human right, it's a privilege. So, if you can't pay for it out of pocket, then you don't get it. It's that simple. All sick people will just have to die, all poor people better not get sick. A lot of medical personnel (both doctors and nurses) will not have jobs and hospitals will go out of business for lack of patients. But best of all, insurance companies will be out of business too. Sounds good to me.

The Senators and congress don't care if all americans get health care as long as they continue to get theirs.They get the best that money can buy and they get it for life.

ALLEN,
Sounds like you had a lobotomy. Weather you'd like to believe it or not, Obama is a worthless egotistical maniac that if left unchecked will destroy all that is good in this country.

Hey Greg...I can safely assume that you would allow someone to die if they didn't have insurance and had a life threatening emergency. Am I correct? How about that little child who doesn't have health insurance? He/she would also just have to die? If we subscribe to your way of thinking than only certain people will be entitled to avail themselves of health care and any life saving treatment they might need. All the rest may have to die. Am I reading your comment correctly? If so I can only hope that you never get cancer or any other life threatening disease or injury that might not be covered by your so called insurance. Because, if that happens I wonder how you would feel if that the response to you is go over there in that corner and wait to die.

Any health care reform that doesn't include universal coverage and limit health insurance profits is a sham and a rip-off of the taxpayer. There are lots of good ideas on controlling costs long term – and limiting profit on providers of health care services should not be on the table. But why on earth should the US Taxpayer subsidize payments to for profit insurance companies whose profits then depend on KEEPING THE MONEY AND NOT PAYING CLAIMS. Why would we trust an insurance company to do anything else. The focus needs to be on making coverage universal and finding ways to control costs and increase efficiency – not on subsidizing insurance company profits so they can screw over millions more people each year.

A few notes for the record.

1) I am not a democrat. Typical democrats are far too conservative for me.

2) This is my country. This is probably your country too, but far too many of you have forgotten that our nation was founded upon a certain set of beliefs. Many republicans have a contorted version of those beliefs so that they may use them to justify their faulty views and control more and more parts of other people's lives.

3) While wishing someone's children to be banished to hell may seem quite rude, please understand that I have absolutely no more time in my life for people with ultra-conservative views. They poison our nation and I will not tolerate it. Further, I'm not so sure that I believe in the 'hell' that you believe in so please consider that I may just have been using it figuratively. As for the commonly conceived 'endless suffering' that comes with 'hell', take that as you will.

4) I am quite a likeable person IRL. I love people and people love me. I do anything that I can to help others when times are tough. I simply will not stand for someone who will say that quality, available health care shouldn't be a human right in this day and age. If the American people want something bad enough, they will find a way. People who attempt to scare others from the thought of a better health care system citing overwhelming cost are far too closed minded to have an opinion in the first place.

I don't understand how anyone is rolling up their toes in glee that the status quo might win the day. The status quo SUCKS. Seriously, our costs for health care are 50 percent more per capita than the next costliest nation, could dwarf Social Security and MILITARY SPENDING (?!) in 20 years, our coverage is what it is and the only people who seem to be thriving are private insurers?

On yer bike, Congress, and FIGHT FOR REFORM!

pres. obama is 100 percent right...it is the time to fix health care....listen....it is true..........americans are suffering without it....God bless, usa...

We have two choices:

1. Create a system that can provide appropriate preventative care and medical treatment to all our citizens, or

2. Some of us are going to suffer unnecessarily and die younger than we otherwise would.

I think Conservatives are right when they admit that America doesn't have the brains, ingenuity, and guts to take on this challenge – even though other, apparently more advanced countries have done it.

But...
If old people die early, that will decrease demand for medical services and the free market will reduce the cost of medical care. And, if children die unnecessarily, it will actually be cheaper for their parents to have another kid to replace the dead one than to keep the first one alive in many cases.

So, our national health policy should be: "What, the poor have no medical care? Then let them eat cake."

Kill it. Now.

Barack Obama. "The Star with no Points"... Going round in circles.

As a taxpayer, I should not have to pay for your liver transplant because you are an alcoholic, I should not have to pay for your heart transplant due to the illegal drugs you put in your system, I should not have to pay for your STD due to you promiscuity, I should not have to pay for your lungs from smoking cigarettes pot, or crack, and I should not have to sacrafice anymore for you who should be paying for health insurance instead of going partying, having a cell phone, I-Pod, computers, gas guzzling cars, and putting bad things in your body because it makes you feel good. You need to be responsible for yourself, your health, and your actions.

Considering how wonderful a job the gov't has done with social security, better to keep out of healthcare. Medicaide and Medicare are so filled with fraud and abuse the best move would be to do away with them altogether.

If they want to do something worthwhile, end the ridiculous punitve tort lawsuits, that hamstring the medical profession and drive up costs Punitive awards should be totally eliminated. Lawsuits should only provide for actual damages.

Another problem...hospitals which receive any federal funding can't even ask if a person is a legal resident/citizen...so we end up footing the bill for 12 million illegals...

Healthcare reform will pass, but it'll be really watered down because congress obey their corporate masters. They will never bite the hand that feeds them. Everything is now a commodity. Everything. Isn't capitalism great? Have a nice day!

I want a tax break if I maintain a healthy weight, exercise, and all that good stuff.

It is such a shame that "the window of opportunity" is closing. The problem is the continuous campaign. This election, there was not even a few months of a break. They never stopped. McCain is still acting like he has a chance to win, for pete's sake. It is hopeless, thinking anything can get done anymore. Hopeless. The Republicans have promised to obstruct anything and everything the Democrats want to accomplish – ALL FOR POLITICS. It really is sad. If I live another 100 years, I will never vote for another Republican EVER. Not even Charlie Crist.

NeverScared – You're totally clueless. If Corporations have the choice between healthcare they have to subsidize and a government-run plan that costs them nothing, which option do you think they're gonna take? They'll do whatever takes costs out of their bottom line, pure and simple. Anyone who thinks they won't is delusional.

JP,

Work hard??? I would like to see the hands and backs of those multi-million dollar insurance executives...Work hard? You try telling the brick layers, construction workers, janitors, maids, and small business owners they don't work hard. The lobbyists and congressional members opposing health care reform have people like you just where they want them...and they are laughing all the way to the bank in route to their posh vacation resorts. In the mean time if a they or a member of their family gets ill they plenty of options to choose from without going broke.

Good grief, this is tiring.

Ok, if you don't support OUR President's plan, have you at least read it or are you just looking at summaries from GOP leaders? I watched Mitch McConnel discuss this last Sunday and all he said was how bad President Obama's ideas are, but nothing else, even when asked what his ideas on Health Care Reform were.

So, say OUR President's plan is not agreed on. Do any of you have a problem with Congress making the insurance companies are more responsible, caring, and less greedy? Or is that restricting your idea of a 'free market'? I get so angry with the posters who say 'get a job and you'll have insurance'. I HAVE a job and I HAVE insurance but I can't afford to use it! Most Americans work their tails off – whether liberal or conservative, so cut that crap out. God Forbid I have a serious illness. I'll have to cash in my retirement early to pay for it. I guess it doesn't matter either way – I'm not likely to live long enough to retire.

It is such a shame that "the window of opportunity" is closing. the problem is the continuous campaign. This election, there was not even a few months of a break. They never stopped. McCain is still acting like he has a chance to win, for pete's sake. It is hopeless, thinking anythng can get done anymore. Hopeless. The Republicans have promised to obstruct anything and everythong the Democrats want to accomplish -

People, if this is such a great democratic plan, why isn't it good enough for the Congress and federal workers? Maybe you are going to be the EXPERIMENT!

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Our right to health care is guaranteed in these words. How can you have life without healthcare, how can you have liberty if you are shackled by the chains of paying for (profit driven) healthcare, how can you be happy when you are sick or dying?

The right to healthcare is guaranteed in our constitution.

I'm a Canadian and as far as I can tell it comes down to a simple decision for my American friends. Would you rather have a partially "socialized" healthcare system which insures everybody, or would you rather keep the privatized system that leaves nearly 50 million people in the dust?

I love how the GOP is quick to claim the moral high ground but when it comes to helping the poor, they're nowhere to be found. They seem to think that government is incapable of running anything effectively, which is true, when they are in power.

Why should I not receive the same free healthcare that my Congresspersons receive? I still cannot understand this. They are not that special, yet we foot the bill for them. We need the country to foot the bill for everyone. It is such a mess, how can it be changed without a major overhaul and sacrifices on everyone's part.

Our real problem is a financially illiterate population that has forgotten the definition of “insurance”. What the weak-minded call “insurance” is really nothing more than a medical payment plan. Insurance is for covering unexpected and catastrophic events, and is readily available for a fee. That is not the same as a routine visit to the doctor. We do not expect our auto insurance to cover oil changes and routine mechanical work. Lets re-define some more words so our Washington thieves can fight over them.

Bill Sampson,

Thank you! I am with you.

Mr. President,

Do not COWER. People in this country need a national health care plan!!!!!

I imagine it's on the rocks because the Insurance & Health care industry doesn't like to have competition & they are threatening to without campaign support for anyone in favor.

It's high time to get campaign finance limits in place & eliminate the PACS - fat chance of this too. It's so disgusting what we have representing us!!!!

i didnt realize we had another trillion to spend? Oh thats right, if this passes, a massive tax increase will fall on business owners, who wont pay it and then the only ones who will be able to afford health care are the republicans who we voted out, who by the way have the power to stop this. Oh, thats right we as a country hate republicans i forgot.

I hope everyone enjoys their money now cause this time next year all the working class will be broke

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve (the Real One), recent history has proven out the GOP as the fear mongers. Be it with Iraq, passage of the Patriot Act in the post 9-11, TARP, and so on. Create or take advantage of fear, then they pounce. Besides, I thought the GOP was Pro-Life..meaning they are for life. You cannot have family values when your mother is sick and your dad is dead because he could not get healthcare at an affordable rate.

In this case, they can spread outright falsehoods and they don't have to be correct, they just have to get misinformed people upset enough to write a congressman, who is more worried about being elected than doing the right thing.
Is this program being proposed the best? I don't think so, I will concur with you. But to spread fear and falsehood in order to accomplish nothing for something that many many Americans need more than another bullet or bomb is simply unpatriotic. My message for both sides is to find a solution and find a compromise.

We can afford it because we can't afford the Republican Alternative that just gives a windfall to the Insurance comapies that refuse to cover us anyway, or lie about the coverage they will give and try to weasel out on technicalities, Leaving the taxpayer with the expense!

America needs health care, not health insurance. Obama needs to stop pandering to the right.

A trillion or even 2 trillion dollars over ten years is nothing compared to what we are already spending on health care in the US. The many people (repubs) just don't seem to understand this.

We have money for war, but not to care for our citizens.

Democrats -you are spineless!
You are allowing the Repugnants to railroad you.
If you don't grow a pair and step up to the plate the opportunity to reform health care will be lost. YOU ARE IN THE MAJORITY NOW – ACT LIKE IT, FOR GOD'S SAKE!

Wow. Looking at some of these comments makes me sad for America. I don't know how Allen's comments made it in but they are definitely inappropriate. I work in healthcare across each the Provider (that's the Docs), the Payer (that's the insurance companies) and Pharma (that's the pills) industries. There are many, many causes of escalating costs. Everyone that takes a view that there is a definitive cause in one portion of the healthcare equation is only, at best, partially right and at worst, ridiculously wrong. It's an emotional issue but you have to stop thinking emotionally. Government is not the answer. Government is responsible for Medicare, Medicaid and the VA and all have had critical problems for years. Giving goverment more responsibility for healthcare will just magnify existing problems and create new ones. Do you want to fix healthcare? Then do these basic things: Hold insurance companies to specific "Medical Cost Ratios" and penalize them when they are inefficient, do not let employees opt out of employer-provided health insurance so risk pools are kept large (that is, share the risk), invest more in fraud detection and prosecution, remove incentives for doctors to over-prescribe tests and procedures and enact legislation to prosecute unethical behavior (like accepting kickbacks for referring patients), enact tort reform on a large scale to limit awards to something sane and thus limit the cost of malpractice insurance, don't let emergency rooms tak the place of primary care Docs, and perhaps most importantly, invest in wellness programs to keep the healthy from becoming sick and understand that if you are overweight and smoke, you should be paying more for health insurance than everyone else. These are only a few suggestions but they would have a significant impact on cost. Please take the time to educate yourself on the issues and contribute constructively to the national debate. Don't just flap your ignorant lips.

To Allen @3:47

Lighten up! If you truly believe ANY of the statements you posted, you may need professional help. But you better hurry, because if this health care sham is passed, you may never get the help you need.

Seems like the first good news I have seen on this ticker in months. I like the idea of government staying out of some small piece of my life.

Good day, Comrades!

Allen – this is your country? really? I don't recall see your name in the Constitution or recall you being sworn in as President. Or does Mr. Obama take his orders from you? Your comments are just about the dumbest thing I've ever hear anyone say. You make Rush Limbaugh look rationale. I am a Republican who is pro-choice, completely not religious, don't own a gun, and I don't like Rush L. HOWEVER, I pay taxes – lots of taxes given my income bracket and I am not in favor of paying your healthcare bills. Pay your own bills by working extremely hard as I do to get a good job in a great company which is very profitable and can afford to partially pay my healthcare costs. Or if you are too dumb, we have a public option already – it's called Medicaid.

John H – "Oh, reform's cost is estimated to be about 10 – 15% of our military's yearly cost. Does anybody see the irony of this? If the U. S. quit playing world cop and avoided unnecessary military engagements, we could pay for health care easily. But oh, excuse me. Terrorists are just around the corner and we need to spend a TRILLION dollars a year defending ourselves"

You're a typical Liberal whiner. What do you propse we do? Scap our military entirely? Not arm or defend ourselves? When are you Libs gonna wake up and realize that freedom isn't free?

They want Obama to work? Really? If it's not another celebrity tour, they can forget about it.

This is odd. The problem is that this bill does not cover all 46 million and still cost over a trillion dollars. But somehow Obama getting more involved changes that?

It seems it will still not cover all 46 million and it will still cost over a trillion dollars!

Of course we can afford it! The Democrats think the American tax payer is a bottomless ATM machine. They will not care so long as the majority of their voter base does not have to pay the tax increase to cover the costs!

OMG so I guess that everyone here has Health Insurance, you pay out right or have it trough your employment or husbands employment.

I agree with Kevin Luby, but go abit farther, have the Doctors and Nurses give better care and leaving things inside the patient...

There has to be a public option. It's the only way to keep the private companies from robbing us. The Rebublicans have already proved that whenever left alone the corporations in this country will rob you blind. It sucks but we have no choice.

Allen,

You're a moron. Why don't you take the same advice you gave JAE. CNN shame on you for printing such nonsense.

What happened to Nancy? Why isn't she doing the arm twisting? How about Harry? If they won't vote for their own President's plan, then it must be fatally flawed.

So the government is trying to tell my doctors what to do and this is going to cost $1 trillion?? I can't even begin to think how ridiculous this is. My healthcare isn't going to be as great as it is now and my costs are going to rise?

For the people that are un-insured, why do we have to pay higher fees for them to receive insurance? This administration is also talking about raising welfare benefits to an all time high. Enough is enough! Instead of just giving people money, how about you offer tax credits to businesses that offer medical insurance to their employees? More business will begin to offer insurance which means more WORKING Americans will have health insurance.

This whole bill is a BUST. A trillion dollars?!! are you serious?

Why can't they fix Medicare first before trying this national public option experiment?

I have lived under three countries' healthcare systems, Germany, England and the USA. USA is the worst! England was the best. Okay, once I had to wait a few months in England for a procedure that was not urgent, but no big deal. But I never had to fear job loss and health coverage loss in England! In the USA I have to jump through the hoop to get approval and all kinds of other paperwork with the insurance. And you try to get to see some specialists here in the US. when you need to, if you can find one that will accept your insurance! And the amount of time and effort involved to get taken care of is ridiculous and a total waste! One can chose to buy a car or house and pay for car and property insurance, but one cannot chose if one becomes sick. The word PROFIT should be taken out of healthcare.

The Kennedy version exempts Congress and all federal employees. If the Democrat nationalized health care is so wonderful, it should exempt no one. If Congress and ALL other citizens are not participants in the SAME plan, then it must be trash.

I have to laugh at posters who think part of any of the plans in consideration is going to mean they will get to cancel their private insurance and won't have to pay $400 a month for their coverage. The plans aren't talking about cutting costs at hospitals and doctor's offices; they don't talk about universal coverage; they don't even have a real government monthly plan you can pay premiums for. They are pretty much talking about covering the uninsured. Try increasing your deductible to lower your monthly cost. If you are almost at retirement age check with your state's health services department to see if you quit work if you qualify for state assistance.

Where do you get the money? Tax the wealthy. What an outrageous idea.
Is it blasphemous for someone to work hard for a good living? The current administration thinks so.

Just step back and let 'em go.

Please people but down your crack pipes...find a job...pay your taxes...the only people who really think your going to it free are stupid or already a free loader!

Good, it should be on the rocks. It can't be paid for, it puts the government in competition with private industry, the going rate for a government run organization is double that of the private sector, and on top of all that it's not a right to have medical care – it's a service that has to be paid for so the people that have made an investment in that career can pursue life and liberty like the rest of us. 50 years ago health insurance barely existed, what's changed that provokes the need to carelessly and quickly spend money we don't have?

There should be a way to estimate the total cost for America hospital over the last ten years, that to much, the last four years, to treat unensured people and give that cost to congress. I bet it would be well over $1 trillion, should be a way. Don't rush to past anything, if you are happy with your health plan keep it. Nothing like needing surgery or medication and the insurance company want pay for it

Ya our health care system is GREAT!
Nothing like paying into a system for years and then getting dropped when you get sick and really need it the most.
Sounds just perfect to me.

It seems to me that the losers of the last election are winning the battle.

If the American people are silly (or gullible) enough to allow the insurance lobby to kill health care reform again, then they deserve everything they get (or, in this case, don't get). The top 20 reasons there is so much opposition to universal health care are listed below. The opposition is well financed (for obvious reasons), but very misleading. Those listed below and their pawns in Congress are not on your side! Speak up. Now.

ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY EXECUTIVES (2006 and 2007 figures):

• Ronald A. Williams, Chair/ CEO, Aetna Inc., $23,045,834

• H. Edward Hanway, Chair/ CEO, Cigna Corp, $30.16 million

• David B. Snow, Jr, Chair/ CEO, Medco Health, $21.76 million

• Michael B. MCallister, CEO, Humana Inc, $20.06 million

• Stephen J. Hemsley, CEO, UnitedHealth Group, $13,164,529

• Angela F. Braly, President/ CEO, Wellpoint, $9,094,771

• Dale B. Wolf, CEO, Coventry Health Care, $20.86 million

• Jay M. Gellert, President/ CEO, Health Net, $16.65 million

• William C. Van Faasen, Chairman, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, $3 million plus $16.4 million in retirement benefits

• Charlie Baker, President/ CEO, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, $1.5 million

• James Roosevelt, Jr., CEO, Tufts Associated Health Plans, $1.3 million

• Cleve L. Killingsworth, President/CEO Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, $3.6 million

• Raymond McCaskey, CEO, Health Care Service Corp (Blue Cross Blue Shield), $10.3 million

• Daniel P. McCartney, CEO, Healthcare Services Group, Inc, $ 1,061,513

• Daniel Loepp, CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $1,657,555

• Todd S. Farha, CEO, WellCare Health Plans, $5,270,825

• Michael F. Neidorff, CEO, Centene Corp, $8,750,751

• Daniel Loepp, CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $1,657,555

• Todd S. Farha, CEO, WellCare Health Plans, $5,270,825

• Michael F. Neidorff, CEO, Centene Corp, $8,750,751

If people think providing health care to the aging population is an inevitable financial crisis now, wait until these younger generations who have been weaned on horrible diets and denied school exercise programs come of age. Diabetes will be, of course, through the roof, and that's just a place to start. To AVERT that, there needs to be a LARGE emphasis on physical fitness education and practice in the schools. The JFK Presidential Fitness program in the 60's was effective in raising awareness throughout school systems nationally. We are raising generations of obese, malnourished, over-medicated and illness-prone kids who will have a tough time of it far too early in their adult life.

Congress is all behaving like children, no kidding its on the rocks. Why don't you all just push through national health care? You have the majority, after all. Its time to stop caring about the Republicans and what they want and start doing whats right with or without them. Thats what they did to us.

I have a way to pay for the health plan. Let's give all the repubs and tratior democrats the same coverage, in other words the coverage we get is same as the one they get. I bet those morons will stop fighting our President then. They are set for life with good coverage and so is their families, these clowns don't have to worry about coverage they have the best, hyprocrites.

The truth of the matter is in Canada and in Europe free health care does work. it does come out of the tax payers pockets but not in a wasteful way that would eliminate the middle class (which is what has happened to AMERICA under the Bush REGIME ). In this country it could be so doable if we quit overtaxing the middle class and let the rich pay their fair amount of taxes ( which is why the rich voted in the Bush regime). We the People need to let our representatives in Washington know how we would like our taxes invested. If that takes up to much of an investment of your time then just do as FOX NEWS tells you to, which is dont support any party that wants to incorporate policies that might help your quality of life. Instead just support the party that caters to the rich: the Rethuglicans. The middle class grew poorer as the rich got richer under Dubya's & the GOP's rule. Do you actually think it happened by accident? Morons!

If "government-run healthcare" is so bad, why does every member of Congress choose to have it? And the President?

There needs to be a system that allows every American some measure of care, that doesn't have people clinging to jobs that might not be right for them simply because they're afraid to lose their insurance.

The insurance companies will pay tens of billions, maybe even hundreds of billions of dollars to kill any plan that might diminish their ability to profit from the suffering of others. Compared to the potential profit loss, it's chump change to them.

Cnn what a bunch of crap. Are you Fox News. I am reading a book on industrial plant creating and organizing a business model. Good articles have come out this week that are framing a discussion. Stop preaching from the David Iche Sam Kinison Assembly of Reich and Baptist God party of No. M

Many of you dummies can't seem to understand the difference between an OPTION and a REQUIREMENT.

Obama said you that you can CHOOSE either a Federally funded, privately run program or what you currently have NOW. It's that simple.

Politicians are shouting this nonsense rhetoric about SOCIALISM and COSTS because the "healthcare" industry keeps them employed...COLD, HARD, TRUTH.

Dems getting scared of Mr. Obama...LOL...This is funny...You should have thought about this before the election. If you would listen to some people because they were trying to tell you this man is TERRIBLE and has NO clue how to run a country.

Obama should talk to New Yorkers who already have access to (state) government sponsored health insurance plans. I'm sure he'll hear that the plans offered are far inferior to what the average person considers quality healthcare. He plans to finance this by "rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid". Hello, if he could accomplish such a feat that itself would provide significant reform to our healthcare system. Fact is he cannot and will not which means more money will be coming out of the taxpayers pockets to finance a plan that will fail. In NY State these government sponsored plans are farmed out to private insurance companies to administer because state government does not have the proper expertise or updated technology to manage the these plans or monitor fraud and abuse. And guess what? The private insurers don't do this for free (more of your tax dollars up in smoke). State government cannot manage this and neither can Federal Government. One would be foolish to think otherwise.

@Allen June 19th, 2009 3:37 pm ET

You are a republican, therefore you regurgitate every g.o.d d.a.m.n.e.d thing that you hear from your party. ...... Go to hell and take your children with you for there is a chance that they may grow up to be just like you and I cannot afford that in my country.
-----------------------
Aren't you suppose to be the tolerant one?? That's what your party keep spouting!!! Or does that apply to gays and illegals only??? No regurgitation from you, ever, right? You are very sad a and lonely person! We certainily don't want your kids to grow up like you either! I AM A CONSERVATIVE!

Allen,
wow, you sound like a friendly guy... so because JAE's opinion on the matter is different than yours, you want he & his kids to go to hell?? people like you are the reason this country has gone to hell... maybe you should leave. i hope you're not procreating. wow. rude!

What is the big deal on giving all Americans a chance to be insured? They don't really care about this health bill simply because they are covered for free. I am covered with health insurance and I'm please with my current insurer. But, if everybody can have some kind of health insurance why not. Come on, after all this is America. Quite being selfish.

donttreadonme wrote: "Americans are waking up to realize that socializing Healthcare is not really a fix. The Republicans plan is just a better plan and the dems know it!"
___________________________

The Republican "plan" is a sham and you know it.

More than 3/4 of Americans (76%) want a public option. But, because congresspeople of both parties (who enjoy free government healthcare for life, of course) are owned by the insurance companies, a public option is in jeapardy. It's wrong. Lobbyists are too powerful. They are more powerful than American voters and this is ruining our democracy. This is not a partisan thing.

Private insurance wouldn't go anywhere. A public OPTION is a compromise and you can make your own choice. In fact, competition with a public option would make the insurance companies better. I'm not swayed by bogeymanism over "socialism" or whatever. Americans deserve better.

it's about time the american people learned the details of everything o'bama is trying to do to this country ! for those who want socialism all you have to do is pack for a trip abroad and your wish is granted, just pray that you don't get sick! when the sun shines on the rest of his agenda it will all start going down in flames and the sooner the better for all of us – dem o republicans!

Spend a trillion dollars on health care, when we have a trillion and a half deficit? Whatever political side you are on, we cannot do this and survive as a nation. We need to get back on our feet before this type of commitment again. Health care is important, so are the police, fire and schools that are disappearing in my neighborhood....

Overwhelming support to invade a country. because.why?.........billions upon billions to feed the dogs of war and supply them with the machiniations of their craft....billions upon billions to bail out the "free market" because the free market really can not handle "free part" on the flip side.........See...people, the money has already been spent...How do you like the purchase? We bought these lies.........So why not that it's just to expensive to provide for the health and well being of the citizenery? It's not like other countries do this right?

So Emma...you want us to carry the financial burden of universal health care so that you can retire early??? Give me a freakin' break!

Got a question for the rest of you. Do you think Teddy Kennedy would be getting near the level of treatment as he currently is if he were relying on a government administered and funded health plan for an average citizen? If he were in Canada, he would still be waiting for the first of his ongoing treatments after his initial hospitalization.

A public option needs to be there, especially for the underinsured or non-insured. Folks medicare is a public plan. No one wants to get rid of it. Republicans talk of government bureaucrats getting between doctors and patients. What about insurance bureaucrats looking at the bottom line and not covering conditions because it affects the bottom line. P:rivate insurance looks to the bottom line for profits and the needs of the patient may not fit the bottom line. Maybe the insurance companies need some regulation. Health care is a basic human right, not a privilege.

Health insurance is NOT a fundamental right!!! Where do you people get off acting so entitled? T

hat's NOT how this Nation was founded and that's NOT the direction we should take if we ever want to return to the days of prosperity. If you want nationalized healthcare move to Europe or Canada,

OR... get a job. It's not my fault you didn't plan well. I'm all for my tax dollars going to those who can't help themselves or who temporarily fall on bad times due to circumstances BEYOND their control. But lazy (jobless / uneducated by their own valition) , drug addicted, or selfish individuals (who don't think they SHOULD have to pay to be healthy) have NO God given right to health care or health insurance.

The rest of us planned our lives a little... went to school... worked hard... got a job with benefits... you can too! Nothing was handed to us... nothing should be handed to you.

@@@@@Stacy........you said NOTHING but the good to honest TRUTH about the matter. It's incredible seeing people defend the party that is largely to blame for why THEIR healthcare costs are through the roof!

Those very politicians who scream about COSTS aren't telling you that THEY have the SINGLE PAYER option. Insurance companies will be forced to charge actual COMPETITIVE rates. The GOP is always screaming "competition", well............................................... let the insurance companies COMPETE!

UPS and FedEx didn't put the Post Office out of business, even then Republicans were hollering "it'll put XYZ industry out of business". That's bs and they know it!

For all the naysayers (you know who you are), I've got a couple of questions:

1) For those people who say we can't afford health care reform - that's patently stupid. Of course we can afford it. It just means that we have to either redirect existing streams of money away from what they currently fund to fund this. Or, taxes can be raised. There are choices - it is time for our elected officials to make those choices.

1a) And by the way, doing nothing about this doesn't mean that we save money - the current system and its costs will continue to skyrocket. Most everybody believes something needs to be done.

2) For those people who say that the government can't effectively run health care, and that private competition is the only way, let me ask this - our current health care system is private now, and if you reference question 1a above, everybody believes it needs to change. So what specifically can you point to that says the private sector is doing such a bang-up job that we should trust them to fix health care? Don't give me theory, give me facts. The fact is, there is no true "competition" in today's health care market. Republicans are scared that if there is a government option, then the insurance companies are out of business. If private industry cannot provide a service more cheaply than the government, then they should be out of business. Isn't that why there was so much push to "privatize" government jobs - private industry could do it better and cheaper? Why isn't the reverse true?

There are ways to get this done that are budget neutral that will also improve our health care delivery. Congress doesn't want to make those tough choices. We should be pressuring Congress to make those choices, not waste time on the "should we or shouldn't we?" debate. We should. Let's get it done.

I understand the philosophy behind expanding access... but why does Congress and Obama assume that the rest of us (with health insurance and steady jobs) would be willing and able to support the cost of this insurance program through higher taxes and taxes on the health benefits we receive? What's the benefit to us? I don't find it very beneficial to think that my "reward" for Obama's health plan is higher and higher taxes!

Do not be fooled by the Repubs or the media... America CAN and WILL provide healthcare coverage for all. It isn't a political issue... it's about basic human rights.

Do not let the insurance giants continue to carve America up into an unfair class system

Quick. Blame it on Bush. All because Obama doesn't have the cojones to stick it to the trial lawyers or otherwise seriously attack costs.

One way to reduce health care costs without spending a dime.......Tort Reform. That is, if a lawyer brings a suit against a doctor / hospital / clinic, etc and loses the case; he pays for all legal bills of the winner. Ambulance chasing trial lawyers will be kept at bay, and physician malpractice insurance will drop thus reducing cost.
Does Bo Bo have the coconuts to propose that? Doubt it. His lawyer contributions would dry up.

The only thing this president is good at is being a celeb & picking sports brackets. Get back whats left of the pork bill before its to late. Government bank, Government Motors, Now the Dems want Government Healthcare. South Carolina forced to take redtape money. Hostel takeover anyone? then Dems complain about Gitmo terrorists being treated unfairly and turn around and do nothing about fair elections in Iran. Don't forget about the inspector general getting fired. This guy reminds me of Chavez

donttreadonme,

I know what you mean, anything that works in France, England Germany and the rest of the industrialized world would not work for the US.

Brilliant donttreadonme, you speak like a true moron.

If they don't get it done, we should take away their "Public Option" health care plan! Then you'd see some real action in the Senate.

Good!!!! I don't want to lose my rights on choice of doctors or when to see them. Enough government control, too much as it is.

I'm a Dem but I didn't support this health care initiative. It's not that I don't agree that overhaul is needed, it's just too broad an issue. Listen, most of us don't even understand our health insurance. It's so convoluted that the biggest proponents cannot tie it into a nice little package for the public to analyze and rally behind. Big insurance doesn't even need to campaign to stop the proposed overhaul either – the overhaul itself is and will be DOA. This happened with Clinton. People said Obama's team is smarter and will come at it from another angle. There is no other angle – this thing is a huge albatross.

Let's take some small steps. Let's push out some initiatives for prevention so that we all stay out of medical trouble. Let's push some initiatives that make medical billing and insurance coverage more transparent. Let's create a medical site that gives market values for common procedures, medications, etc. I can price auto's, houses, etc online but I have no idea if a simple IV drip should have cost me $1,238 or $56. Let's push to empower us, the medical CONSUMER, instead of insurance companies or medical providers.

No one is against universal health care. But we have to be able to afford it and more importantly it has to work. For instance, if it passes, I'll lose mine immediately and have to go on it, which I don't want because mine is better. Someone needs to take the checkbook away from these idiots quickly and we need to slow down right now. They're multiplying the mistakes of the last adminstration and making too many of their own.

"Our health care system is great, it's insanity to think that the government can make it better."

You can say Mississippi is great too, Mike, but that dosen't make it so. Your head is buried in the sand, or somewhere worse.

Get rid of the frivolous lawsuits and eliminate insurance companies from having ridiculous restrictions on what they will pay for. Many people have insurance that is so poor it is almost like having no insurance. Eliminate the fraud from medicare and other areas and you would be amazed how much more affordable it is to cover people. Of course the lawyer lobby would protest any tort reform at all. And nobody in Washington would certainly want to alienate any potential campaign contributors.

If the Obama provides a socialistic plan, which will be paid by higher tax and insurance premium or by taxing the benefits to average taxpayers, or by robbing Peters to pay for Pauls, then half of the current insured holders may simply to drop their employers' sponsored plans and switch it to the Obama plan. It is so simple because it is the way how it works in socialist countries around the world.

JAE

You are a republican, therefore you regurgitate every g.o.d d.a.m.n.e.d thing that you hear from your party. You are a republican, therefore you are scared to death of anyone who isn't a good old fashioned hillbilly. You are a republican, therefore you go to church so that you can judge everyone else. You are a republican, therefore you believe in your party more than the ideals that this nation was founded upon.

Go to hell and take your children with you for there is a chance that they may grow up to be just like you and I cannot afford that in my country.

We can only hope they put this healthcare reform on ICE for a long time, until they can work out a plan that won't destroy the quality of care.

How can it possibly pass when we are spending trillions of dollars to put people on a govt run healthcare. we don't want no more debt. Find ways to reduce costs an everyone is onboard.

This is far to important to let the special interests in Washington pay for the outcome they want. Any Senator that votes against a health care system that views health care as a human right is clearly in the pocket of the insurance companies. When will we stop believing this garbage that the US has the best health care system? We pay far more for far less then the rest of the civilized world. We are the only one to use Insurance. Its a bogus pyramid scheme that has been bankrupting America and Americans for 40 years. It's time to WAKE UP AMERICA! Tell your Senator to stop accepting money from the special interests and vote based on your best interest and that of you neighbor. We can not let this fail.
And please CNN and the other MSM outlets, start telling the truth about the healthcare system in this country. Your sister company Time magazine did an article on it and clearly showed how the rest of the civilized world has got it right. Why aren't we seeing more about it in this light? If it fails to pass, you are partly responsible for it.
WE NEED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN NOW!

Good–I am glad something is finally NOT going his way!! We can't get stuck into his socialist policies....quit while you are ahead Prez.

I would like to see health care reform – first off I would like to see hospital and doctor's bills which don't give you a heart attack when you get them. Then I would like an explanation as to why the bill that came to me for a hospital stay and procedure was over $45,000 but the insurance company I have my insurance with settled for $13,500. Health care reform needs to start some place a lot closer to the care and farther away from Washington. If the governement is going to pay the going rate right now for everyone – no way we can afford it.

Fear is always the dominating factor in health care reform...fear of high cost, fear of diminished care, etc. etc. Conventional wisdom says that a government-sponsored program will be bloated, inefficient, expensive and corrupt...the private, for-profit system we have now is already exactly that – not to mention immoral – yet nobody seems to have a problem with it?

Why don't we drop all the "socialist" fear mongering and admit that most of our choices in health care are already dominated by a corrupt and greedy insurance industry...has the private sector really proven that it can do health care better than the government??? Gimme a break...

One way to start lowering cost is to do away with all the advertising from the pharmacutical companies. This has to cost a small fortune that is passed on to consummers. Personally tired of hearing how many ways you could die from taking these drugs. Let our physicians decide what is right or wrong. That's what we pay them for.

Americans are waking up to realize that socializing Healthcare is not really a fix. The Republicans plan is just a better plan and the dems know it!

The ability manage your own plan, not your companies plan, will allow you to pool together with more people and will help drive down costs for the self employed and unemployed a like.

There will also be new regulations to protect the little guy from being dumped when they get sick.

No more excuses. The USA has the WORST healthcare system in the developed world. The World Health Organization ranks the US's healthcare system # 77th in affordability, accessibility and efficiency. Not very impressive for the Greatest Country in the World, is it?

Tens of millions of Americans have no coverage at all. This is a disgrace. The insurance companies have made a "healthcare industry" out of ripping people off and dropping them when they get expensive diagnoses. It's too expensive. We pay more than anybody in the world and we get nothing in return.

We deserve a public option. There wasn't reform when the economy was good, so that's just a cop-out and a lame excuse. Act now. Act for real and let Americans have the choices they deserve.

All I see here is "we can't afford it". I am sure these comments are from folks who already have a good health care system. Good for you all, I am happy for you. As long as we have a health care system based on profit, regular folks are going to get screwed. I believe that congress' health care perks should either be the basis for all health care or else they should lose that perk and be like the rest of the world. The health care system is broken and the spineless yokels in congress are too bought and paid for by BIG INSURANCE and BIG PHARM to ever do anything about it. The congress is all a bunch of self serving moronic idiots.

Hillary Clinton got stalled on her health care reform way back when she originated it. Obama slammed her for making enemies and not reaching across the aisle.

Now that Obama is stalled on some of his initiatives and has made enemies and is not reaching across the aisle, what does he think about himself?

Messiah meets Reality.

Kill the plan. It's too expensive and won't cover all of the uninsured. A bad bill is a bad bill!

It has NOTHING to do with spending. NONE of them (R, D, I) give a crap about spending, (see the crippling results of a manufactured war spendfest???

Politicians are beholden to their corporate masters. With the "healthcare" industry being one of the most increasingly profitable....it'll never change.

There is no way any of you lib morons can blame the GOP for this... Dems control the House, Senate, and White House. They don't need any GOP support support to do anything.

The Democratic lawmakers need to ratchet up their courage. They are the ones caving to an intellectually bankrupt political opposition whose only solutions are either status quo, or one that will only benefit the insurance companies that are part of the current problem.

Democratic Senators and Representatives; The people are with you on this, show some courage and make some real reforms. Don't sell your office to the insurance industry like all the Republicans have, and like several of your own have (Baucus, Daschle).

Well if nothing done, healthcare cost are going to skyrocket no matter what. Private health care is increasing every month with or without govt intervention. More and more are without healthcare and employers are constantly increasing their preimiums on employees. All this is happening w/o govt care.

If govt care can do anything, hopefully it will help cut costs from employers.

if anything, make govt healthcare an enlisted option. make a check box saying 'yes' to govt care and they can pull extra out of COBRA

Lets be clear, its about time we took the Healthcare system and gave it back to the people who need it... not the RETIRES on Medicare... goodbye old people you had your time.. now its OBAMAS time...

Will Congress use the same Health care as the rest of us?

President Obama we need universal health care for all Americans whether they realize it now. I have delayed retirement because I will lose my medical insurance if I leave my job now and I am not quite 65 years of age.

Lastly, the Democrats are falling all over themselves, so scared of the Republican Party that many Democrats have become afraid of their own shadows. They like guts to do the right thing.

I need universal health insurance and I need it now!

Reid is a slimeball. He and Pelosi should get married, they are perfect for each other.

This country CANNOT afford Obama mama's B.S. I knew this clown and his cronies would be a disaster. He and they proving it on a daily basis.

Thank goodness, 3.5 years to go and he's out of office. YAY!!!!!!!

Everybody can obtain health care-they just have to pay for it. This idea that the Government has to provide this (most folks expect it for free) is absurd. The Government requires you to pay into Medicare and when you become eligible they want to limit (prevent treatments) what they will cover. The Government mandated Medicare is a sad, sad program and now our Senators and Congressmen want to run another health-care system. Wake-up, the Government is terrible at running health-care and should only try to make it easier for citizens to obtain reasonably priced health care from insurers.

That is an oxymoron.... I'm a Republican, therefore I think. Now that is one funny and crazy statement. Republican policies caused our economic problems. We do not need any Republican thoughts or plans for health-care reform.

How is not being able to pay for a health care plan, already having two disastrous plans being run by the government and the world's best health care system in place as reasons for not wanting the government to take over health care "fear?" It's common sense. The federal government is doing a lousy job with medicare and medicaid, why expand those wasteful, ineffective programs? We are in a recession, does increasing government expenditures and levying the corresponding taxes really make sense right now? Should we take the world's best health care system and scrap it because illegal immigrants and the self-employed aren't fully covered?

This isn't about healing the trodden down massess, it's about controlling the most important industry in the economy. Our health care system is great, it's insanity to think that the government can make it better.

We may just as well forget about health care reform until the entire system collapses. Imagine – inviting the very people and groups that are totally responsible for the greed and corruption in our health care syatem – to participate in a discussion of changing health care is a total joke and a slap in the face of every American.

Oh, reform's cost is estimated to be about 10 – 15% of our military's yearly cost. Does anybody see the irony of this? If the U. S. quit playing world cop and avoided unnecessary military engagements, we could pay for health care easily. But oh, excuse me. Terrorists are just around the corner and we need to spend a TRILLION dollars a year defending ourselves. This is the sum total of money spent by

The Only "Dems" who fear the plan is "on the rocks" are the ones who've taken too much insurance, big pharma, and medical supply campaign money. The GOP and BLUE DOG democrats are sabotaging this effort at every turn.

We need to DEMAND a single payer OPTION. Yet again, politicians both democrat and republican, are outright ignoring the need of the CITIZENS! We need to march and rally until they KNOW that if they don't recognize the will of the people of this great country..................we'll vote their *sses out in 2010.

America, you need to call your representatives, congresspersons and DEMAND that they do the job WE, voted them in to do! Stop letting turning what's supposed to be a democracy over to the ever growing corporatocracy.

my healthcare costs nearly $400.00 a month. Does anybody really think that my taxes would increase by that much if we had a publiclay funded system? It's such a lame argument that we can't afford it, when the status quo is so clearly sucking the life out of our economy.

Well to anyone who gets sick, OMG please do go to the nearest holistic healers, cuz that is all you can afford. Heaven help you all...

Health care has been on the back burner for thirty years, 1 in 5 are not insured, how many women have mentally challenged children. Most women enters Planned Parenthood to go to get prenatal care, but those Right-wingers will scream that they are going to get ab abortion. Not all women who go there is seeking an abortion, It is for low income women to get their yearly examine. Sic.

How can low income families pay for high price medical insurance. What go for Medicaid? So please tell me?

@@@Stacy from Leesburg, VA June 19th, 2009 3:13 pm ET

The insurance companies are not going to fix a system that benefits them. The doctors, drug companies and insurance companies are a junta that peddles out a fundamental human right to those who can pay their premiums. The GOP is funded by this junta to ensure their power…
__________________________________________

I AGREE WITH YOU 100%, YOU ARE RIGHT 100%....

So Do you Agree with me, that Some of our Systems are most Corrupt in the Whole World. I would say our Healthcare system is more corrupt, than Government systems in Zimbabwe, Somalia, North Korea, Libya, India, Pakistan and other third world countries.

@Stacy from Leesburg, VA June 19th, 2009 3:13 pm ET
It is so funny that whenever the sacred cow of healthcare is questioned in this country, the GOP throws the "fear card" out to stop it.
--------------------–
Stacy, in your bias you are not understanding the dems own the House, Senate, and WH. In that environment, why can't the Dems pass it!? Maybe they actually know garbage when they see it! A sacred cow is only good for one thing... a barbeque!

Gee....how shocking.

This nation is in the midst of the biggest economic calamity since The Great Depression.....and nobody wants to pay attention to partisan politics.

How about Obama gets rid of the banksters running the Fed like their personal expense account??

How about Obama actually lets capitalism....instead of cronyism.....decide who wins and who loses??

How about Obama actually puts some folks charge who are not Wall Street bagmen??

NOBODY CARES ABOUT HEALTHCARE WHEN THEIR NATION IS BEING DISMANTLED!!

NO matter what happens NOT everyone is going to be satisfied!!! EVER! There are folks WITH college degrees who are UNEMPLOYED just like there are people without degrees unemployed... so don't stick your nose too far up in the air!

With 60 million American without health care, we can't afford not to pass a health care reform bill. Uninsured Americans are costing us all more on our health care anyway.

Just say NO to Obama HealthCare Reform, it will cost this country into bankruptcy.

Obama stepping in doesn't change the fact that we can't afford it, or we can't afford to insure everyone. We'd be better off looking to lower costs so that more people can afford coverage rather than gov insuring everyone and going farther in debt

Lets be clear, the Republicans are against this thing from a philisophical perspective so they won't be on board anyway. The truth is the Dems are getting cold feet because they realize that the spending is way out of line. The estimates we hear is that even with all that spending, there will still be 30 or so million not covered and we still don't know all the details.

This will collapse under its own weight because they aren't being honest about costs and the ramifications of it. The stimulas taught us that for all the scare tactics about pass it now or the sky will fall when, so far, only 8% has been spent.

Lets take our time and learn all the facts before rushing into it.

Ok, the establishment wins....and so does the fear factor being amplified by the press...be happy GOP...and CNN .you are getting just what you wanted...nothing

MOre Americans without insurance
More businesses going under because of Health Care costs
HealthCAre costs increase as % of GDP
People going without health care due to pre-existing conditions
TAx cuts to buy your own care gurantees Health Plans will continue to let premiums rise.. But if you are out of work, how does a tax cut help?
TAx breaks for big Inurtnce and Pharmaceutical companies.

CONGRATULATIONS AMERICA, WAY TO TANK HEALTH CARE AGAIN!!
Morons....

Thats right who cares if we run up the deficit for a illgegal war or provide corporate welfare for big banks and insurance companies but when it comes to providing health care for everyone it is too expensive.

What happened to a the government...'for the people, by the people'. It is just a government to protect big business, banks and the extremely wealthy.

Neutralizer:
You should take some SERIOUS spelling and punctuation classes, geez.

Obama and his policies are taking this country down. Among many other things, more government is NOT the answer. Thank goodness I didn't vote for him.

I'm a Republican, therefore I think.

It is so funny that whenever the sacred cow of healthcare is questioned in this country, the GOP throws the "fear card" out to stop it. The same thing happened in the 1990s and it is happening now. The insurance companies are not going to fix a system that benefits them. The doctors, drug companies and insurance companies are a junta that peddles out a fundamental human right to those who can pay their premiums. The GOP is funded by this junta to ensure their power...

Let's ask the UN for ideas on how to provide health care. A story just came out about how they wasted $196,000,000,000 trying to do it. Bloated government bureaucracies are the perfect way to deliver the world's finest health care. C'mon, everyone knows that.

There are less support now for Obama and Democraps health care reform than during 1993 – time of Bill Clinton. 53% of college educated people and professionals are against this healthcare reform of Obama while those with high school diploma or none at all are in support of Obama.

That says a LOT, isn't it?

I try not to think of our huge and massive deficit as "just a bump in the road" and pray that "party officials" are reminded by the voters in a strong way that right now, the costs for this plan are simply out of the question.

It would be pure irresponsibility to saddle the American people with this expense after satisfying all the other whims of this president. Who cares if it is his signature program – WE CAN'T AFFORD IT!

They fear it is on the rocks... If it is for real it is their fault..