CNN

Did he place a call to Obama to let him know we are out of money and can't keep printing it??

All the Public Option will do is give an overly expensive and inefficient health care system another pile of cash to suck from...the US Treasury. As with so many of the other programs brought in by the administration and congress, it just passes a worse mess along to future generations of Americans instead of taking the difficult steps for dealing with our problems now.

I'm glad the greatest generation of Americans took the difficult path in the 1940's and dealt with German aggression right away instead of finding another 'strategy' that could pass it off to someone else to contend with. I thank them.

We always had the constitution until Bush and his cronies trashed it.

NOW Greenspan wants to talk about deficit spending. Where was he when Bush was president?

OBAMA ————— vs. ————— BUSH.

To all those who Criticize Obama for the Chicago Copenhagen Effort:

Obama flew to Copenhagen to Canvass for Chicago.

Obama did Nothing Wrong in doing so.

Obama tried, just like all athletes participate in Olympics, not everyone wins.

Obama is Criticized by GOP for Canvassing for Chicago.

Obama tried sincerely, but did not lie to the Nation that Iraq has WMDs.

Obama did not cause 4300 US Troops to die in the Unjustified War.

Obama's effort to bring Olympics to Chicago is NOT A CRIME.

Bush Lied to the Nation causing 4300 US Troops to die IS A CRIME.

Bush should be in Jail. ———————————————————–

Poster: "Greenspan is absolutely correct. The health care reform being considered by Obama does not lower the cost of health care and costs too much for America" >>>>>You may be surprised what the effect of a competing public option would give. Insurance cos will need to look for efficiencies they would never pass on to lower premiums otherwise. Also, what is the value of the morality regarding health coverage?

All those criticizing "waste" in Medicare are nuts. As a healthcare worker, let me tell you that Medicare has the most stringent rules imaginable on the books when it comes to physician/hospital payments.

As a Medicare recipient, let me also tell you that it works just great. Especially the Advantage plans, which the government now wants to "rob" to the tune of more than $500 billion. There are numerous Advantage Plans from which a senior can choose - that is competition - and that keeps insurers on their toes.

Would this (competition) be the case with government-controlled healthcare? NOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!

What's wrong with Medicare (and Social Security, from which recipients pay for their Medicare coverage each month) is that the government continues to rob the Social Security Fund (money earned and paid by working Americans throughout their lifetime) - to pay for pet and pork projects totally unrelated to health care coverage.

THAT is the problem!

Burns NH said it all. If the Democrats would keep their greedy little fingers out of Soc Sec and Medicare thoes funds would be just fine.

Bottom line is they need to quit spending and start putting back the money they stole from all of us for their wasteful spending sprees.

I believe we should get rid of all of them and start all over again. We have the greatest Documents ever written to go by.

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights....................................................

funny how they never mention the fiscal black hole of two unwinnable , budget busting WARS!!! of course not, the war mongering , defense contractor loving repukes want to start another war! . can't spend any money on the citizens of the usa .

What was this Idiot doing in the last 8 Years.

Where were his Ideas, about what he is speaking now.

Why did he not prevent the Boat from Sinking.

Why is he speaking now when the Boat is Sunk.

Greenspan is a NUT JOB.

This Democratic controlled White House and Congress is going to bankrupt the nation.

Yes, I know that Bush spent and spent on what turned out to be a very unpopular Iraqi War effort with debatable results... Just because Bush made mistakes that we will dearly pay for – it doesn't mean that the Dems have a green light to make things worse.

Towards the end of his term – it seemed that Bush became no different than the Dems with his bailout beginnings – you Dems should be proud of his seemingly conversion to the dark side of big government controlling our lives vs. the freedoms that this country was founded upon.

But, just how many more failures from Obama must we suffer before people (Dems and the Media) begin to hold him accountable. While his failure with Chicago hosting the Olympics is a little more than an embarrassment – Obama's failures with the economy (unemployment near 10%) and with foreign policy (Iran and Afghanistan) threaten our prosperity and our very lives.

Obama is fast becomming outed as nothing more than an intellectual elitist with no true grasp of how to handle the job of leader of the free world.

At least Bush kept the crazies in Iran, North Korea etc. guessing.

It seems Obama has such an ego that he thinks all he has to do is deliver a teleprompted speech and everyone will be convinced.

It's a shame that so many have been fooled by him – only because he can give a good speech.

We're listening to Alan Greenspan again? Mr. "Selling mortgage debt as securities is a good idea?"

Let's not discount what reform needs to do for Medicare, as well, and stop playing games.

Fighting for a public plan is essential at this point; insurance companies, and various hotshots like Rick Scott of "CPR" are scared to death of it because it means their free ride in life is over.

Stop the $8 million per day drain on our treasury caused by Israel to commit war crimes and violate international law with impunity.

Funny you mention Medicare,but not sos.Sec. as both have been used by Congrees as a slush fund or petty cash since their inception.
If Congress would keep their greedy hands off of the peoples man-
dated funds they would be a lot better off. WE have only Congress
to thank for the deficites in both.

Dad in NH

Hey wasn't Greenspan who said , he never saw this economic collapse coming??so why should we believe him now.. I have come the the conclusion that not a one of them knows what the hell they are talking about..Like " the fundamentals of the economy are strong", and then the bottom fell out..Lets face it this country is screwed unless rules and regs are put "back" in place so this doesn't happen again..but if that happened the rich couldn't rape the American people. Close all LOOP holes, I wish we, as common American people< had as many loop holes as these corporations do..Loops holes are only for the richy rich.

Mr. Greenspan is saying what we've all been saying–stop the spending madness! Maybe he'd like to join us at a Tea Party.

Greenspan should just Shut Up.

He Screwed up in the Past.

We have more learned Economists and Professionals to take care of the Mess created by Greenspan and Bush.

When Greenspan had a chance to do something and show his worth, he did Nothing.

It is too late for him to speak. A person who Failed does not have any right or standing to advise others.

If he has any Shame, he should just Keep his Mouth Closed.

Why are the Republicans and so-called fiscal conservatives against a public option? Cutting the profits out of the insurance end of things is the easiest way to lower costs.

And we are listening to this man, why? It seems the meltdown last year will have long lasting effects. And who do you think helped get us here?

How about we end those 2 farce wars we're presently engaged in so all of these private defense contractor, war profiteering parasites,(KBR/Halliburton, Blackwater/Xe and the list goes on) will stop STEALING money from this country or better yet, how about we outlaw the Wall Street standard practice of "naked short selling" of counterfit stocks from failing financial institutions and reaping huge winfalls betting on those institutions failure, which is basically just a fancy way of manipulating the market? How about that Mr. Greenspan? Care to adress that one?............Didn't think so!

Greenspan is probably the most culpable single individual in the economic downturn, so taking his advice on anything should be avoided at all costs.

The problem is that Washington does not want to take any PROFITS from the insurance industry. But its not possible to reform healthcare while you allow the insurance companies to siphon off more and more PROFITS each year. The current Baucus bill does nothing to keep the insurance industry in check.

This man needs to shut up. He has been way way off, I was in the banking industry and had he raised rates along time ago, money when have been more expensive and lending when have been cost more and home prices would have not ballooned the way they did. He is to take a lot of the blame here. How house prices going up by 10-20% a year is not inflation I don't know what the hell inflation is. He is irrelevant and CNN needs to call this out. I am fed up with this country. This man is a wall street insider. 3% growth only for the wealthy, not for us normal folks. And you idiots out there voting in support of your economic victimize-rs need to get a clue. I am fed up with this country. I am no socialist but I am no fascist either and that is what its called when corporation run a government in simple terms. And sadly Obama is turning out to be just one of them. Indoctrination doesn't take long.

Hey Alan. Zipit. We don't care what you have to say. You did enough damage Mr. Oh Gee I Guess I Was Wrong. Pffft

Anyone not rich enough to do without health insurance would be stupid to not want a public option. Profit from death can not be moral or just. Right now, the republican reform is "marry a Canadian". Somebody somewhere needs to speak the truth regarding public option. As an american, I can travel to 38 different countries and get free medical care. Why can I not get it at home? Because they wouldn't get rich off my health. Sad day when life is sold, slaves to the insurance companies.

It's interesting how the argument against the public option by the republicans are based on fears it will run private insurers out of business instead of how it could very well facilitate a significant drop in healthcare insurance costs benefiting the American people. Funny how their concern is focused the corporate interests and not on the betterment of the average person.

Like I care what this quack who helped put us in this financial crisis thinks about health care. I'm sure he's already 108 years old and rich, he doesn't have to worry about things like him or his family contracting serious diseases or getting injured. The only thing he has to worry about is his funeral costs which will be paid in full. I'm sure his health-care is rock solid because of his age and former position.

Remember that Alan Greenspan, with his lifelong devotion to Ayn Rand-inspired supply-side economic theory with its' unregulated "free market" philosophy, is one of the major players who got us into the economic we're currently enduring. By his own admission, he is now abandoning those very same theories and currently seems to be in a state of personal economic limbo. I'd take any financial advice coming from him with a grain (or a pound) of salt.

I do not agree with the republicans that a public option would drive private insurers out of business. I think it will make them more competitive, and more service oriented to the American people. On the other hand, I think Greenspan has a point. How do you make the public option available without increasing our debt? We not only have to pay for it, but we have to ensure that it will actually lower costs. Budget neutrality is not good enough when we're in debt up to our eyeballs. I think that the republicans have some good ideas that need to be considered. At the same time, many of their ideas simply cater to corporate wish lists. For example, I think tort reform is a good idea, but it needs to be adjusted not to run rampant all over the rights of people who have truly been harmed by the medical system. Doctors and hospitals need to be held accountable, for example, if the amputate the wrong leg. I don't know how we can make the necessary changes without one form of sacrifice or another, but it has to be done or we will be even worse off in a few years. A great analogy for America is that we're like the people out there with no insurance who waits until they are so sick they they have to go to the Emergency Room at the expense of others. Unfortunately, I don't know who's going to pay our collective hospital bill.

Wasn't he around during bush's administration. WHY IN HADES DIDN'T HE TELL THE PUBLIC THAT BUSH AND HIS REPUBLICAN ENABLERS in congress were ruining the economy...Why didn't he say we would have a mess absolute mess. Oh I get it, only the Democrats are held accountable if the spend to bring something about for the public. When the republicans bring something about to benefit big business it's A OK>

So the left says the government needs to create a public option to provide competition for the greedy private insurance companies so they will be forced to lower premiums. The left says they need government to force private insurance companies to insure those with pre-existing conditions and to not drop coverage on those who get sick.
This is America!!!! Why have the left been spending the last several decades waiting for the government to do this for them? This is America, the left could have and still can create insurance companies that charge lower premiums, cover those with pre-existing conditions, and pay unlimited benitits without dropping coverage on those who get sick. Why have they been wasting their time waiting for the government to do this for them? They could have and still could do this for themselves. That's the wonderfull beauty of a free America. Free, can do, hard working Americans don't have to rely on the government to solve their problems.
So why have the left not done this? If health insurance companies like this existed they would put the current bunch of greedy ones out of business or force them to compete. I believe it is because the left will always look first for what government can do for them and not what they can do for themselves.

Greenspan is absolutely correct. The health care reform being considered by Obama does not lower the cost of health care and costs too much for America, regardless of how they say it will end up being deficit neutral. By the way, this whole deficit neutral argument is fantasy. Get real. Our economy is too important as we all see now to get caught up in fantasy.

It,s amazing to me that when in office no everybody had any solutions for Bush and he wouldn't take any. But want to give Obama all the solutions.

Sit back and watch the new president work and shut-up. Nobody can be any worst then Bush.

Why do we even listen to this guy, when he participated in helping to create this mess.

"Obama has made health care reform his top domestic priority this year."

I'm sure that's a big consolation to the 3 million who have lost jobs on his watch. Why isn't an economic recovery his top domestic priority? He keeps saying this is the worse financial crisis since the Great Depression. The artificial health care 'crisis' didn't cause the recession.

Mr. Greenspan,

Where was your concern for our nation's indebtedness when you signed off on the Bush tax cuts that failed to stimulate the economy or create jobs. But they did contribute to doubling the deficit over the previous 8 years. You sold us out then by endorsing the cuts and now you have the nerve to ring the alarm on future deficits. You rank just behind Bush and his team as most responsible for the nations current deficit issues.

I work in healthcare. If the general public realize the gross waste that is currently taking place in healthcare we would hear mouths hitting the floor aound the nation. If they cleaned up the chronic waste...health reform could pay for itself. There needs to be more specifics about how waste takes place. For example: the ridiculous amount of paperwork required by Medicare/Medicaid. Extra staff is hired just to meet the paperwork requirements. Or a nurse who would otherwise be useful in patient care is up to his or her nose in government required paperwork! Another example is the lack of coordination of services....xrays, MRIs, lab work...is duplicated a hundred fold. I could go on and on! I agree with Congressman Gray...it appears the opposition to healthcare reform simply wants people to go away and die.

Where was this concern when Bush was starting the needless war in Iraq? Why is there always plenty of money for war, but none for the needs of US citizens?

How many people has the insurance industry KILLED by denying coverage for treatments(getting between doctors and their patients)
(does that sound familiar, cons)

And we care about them!!?!!??

Greenspan – the person who supported deregulation and helped create the loss of accumulated wealth for millions of people – and he has the nerve to go on national tv and give his opinions?

Alan Greenspan? Is'nt that the guy who slept during the Bush years
and is responsible for the disasteres economics in the USA?

I thought Greenspan had retired. Bad form, Allen, undercutting your successor. Just can't stay out of the limelight, can you? Other Fed. Chairs have. How would you have liked the same treatment from your predecessor?

This was the same guy that said he was surprised that the banking system couldn't police itself which led to to the recent giant recession.

I will never cry if the Insurance companies do go out of business(which they never would, they would just have to live with smaller bonuses)!
They never cared how many people they bankrupted, did they? Why should we now care about them?? Turn about is fair play!!
John Cornyn is lying. He is a mouthpiece for the insurance industry. A better question for him.... how much money did the insurance industry give you, John??

Well, be sure to ask DOCTOR Greenspan why and when the spending went out of control. Also, why didn't he speak up before he was 'retired'?
Why are we asking him about healthcare, anyway?
His is paid for.