Town Hall with Rep. Pete Sessions

[TheFlex21]

ABOLISH THE FEDERAL RESERVE

then we'll go on to other issues

until then, shut the fuck up

[TheFlex21]

a bunch of old white folks who think it's cool to support israel

[jedmarum]

Here, before God, in the presence of these witnesses, from this time, I consecrate my life to the destruction of OBAMACARE!

[jilsy99]

It's too bad this is not about Health reform. this is about government take over of health care.

the funny thing is my sister who is union teacher and my brother and friend who are chicago union labor think they will not be a part of the government program. they all said their union said NO we are keeping our current private insurance.

In response to that Hey Robots Hahahahahaah you will be the first ...........good luck with that

[bigc028282]

It's ok, Mr CHANGE OF FACE, says over and over SINGLE PAYER. All anyone has to do is, type it into utube. He didn't change his mind. Take a look at the cap in trade/carbon tax bill. 1300 pages, 300 last min. They changed the bill number at least twice so it was hard to follow. Of course, shoving it through the day after MJ died didn't hurt. What happened to "enough time to read the bill before a vote"? What's the rush for a bill that doesn't go to work for years? Wake up sheeple!

[BrandyDLady]

If you think you have a right ask yourself "what do I do" fix hair? Repair engines? Does someone have the right to free hair cuts or free auto repairs? No? Why? Because that would infringe on your rights. Your labor is finite. Their is only so much of it you can utilize in your lifetime. That is why it is so bad that our taxes are so high. If you pay 66% in taxes it is the equivalent of working three days a week only for the government. That is indentured servitude. VERY BAD!

[joshwuh88]

Just so we're clear: Obama isn't getting rid of your insurance company. He's just providing an alternative for people like me, who can't afford that insurance. Now I can get the same coverage as you but it's through the government. It might have some drawbacks, but I can't afford what you have. LET ME HAVE HEALTHCARE!

[Watcher3223]

watch?v=fpAyan1fXCE

With Obama talking about instating a single-payer system gradually, that usually entails the abolition of private insurance. It's hard to believe what he says if he's flip-flopping.

In addition, you're free to have health care, but it's YOUR responsibility to get it and pay for it as that's part of your responsibility of taking care of yourself.

A government system isn't free as taxpayers must pay for it. In effect, other people are paying for your health care.

[Watcher3223]

As for how health care can get so expensive in the first place, look at medicare and medicaid.

These are not really alternatives for low cost health care; they're essentially the only choices for people who can't afford anything else because the government will undercut a private practice trying to provide low cost care every time. Nobody can compete against the government.

No competition = no incentive to improve quality and lower costs.

[joshwuh88]

Obama stated in his speech today that he IS NOT in favor of a single-payer system.

And I know it's my responsibility to get and pay for it but with my education level, I CANNOT AFFORD IT with all the other bills I have to pay. And I CANNOT AFFORD to go back to school right now to get a better education to get higher pay.

But everyone has a right to "LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS"; the government is helping to ensure that by giving us another healthcare provider option: themselves.

[Watcher3223]

So, he's changed his opinion?

First, he said he was (and even goes so far to explain that it won't occur immediately, but they must do it gradually), now he's not?

Which is it?

As for not affording, unfortunately, things work out like that for everyone once in a while. But it doesn't change the fact that it's immoral to force other people to pay for you.

[CribNotes]

Immoral to force other people to pay for you? But that's exactly how our status quo insurance works today right? I pay $1400/yr for insurance, then I get run over by a car, and the $20,000 bill is paid for by other people's premiums. The idea of insurance is the pooling of resources. Biggest problem now is that Wall St rates the performance of insurance co. stocks by measuring how many people paying premiums are DENIED coverage. Youtube search Wendell Potter, formerly top PR dog from CignaHealth

[Watcher3223]

Not exactly.

What can compete with government?

And what if the government denies you on the same basis as an insurance company that is acting in breach of your agreement with them?

A private insurance system isn't perfect, but at least there are options. What is your recourse to suing the Federal Government if they fail?

[Watcher3223]

As for your example, it's not exactly immoral for the people responsible for injuring you to pay for the damage they had done (if you were hit by a car, and the driver had auto insurance, that policy covers your medical expenses at the driver's expense).

[Watcher3223]

As for insurance versus government, the money that's pooled in an insurance company was paid for by people who willingly paid money specifically for that purpose in exchange for coverage and you choose the coverage you can afford. You can choose to close your account and go with someone else.

A government system, however, gets its revenue from taxation; you must pay or your wages get garnished, assets confiscated, or you can go to jail.

[Watcher3223]

As for insurance companies themselves, of course they're going to try to make as much money as possible; that's the problem with a necessary evil.

However, if it were truly free market, insurance companies would have to work to make the premiums lower cost to get and retain customers and find practitioners who provide good quality service at reasonable cost.

[purechaos2000]

I have to reply to this... Since you mentioned lowering insurance premiums... One of the biggest contributing factors insurance premiums being unnecessarily high is state mandates on base coverage. For example, I am a man, but in Texas it is required that my insurance cover breast reduction surgery as part of a base insurance package. On my old plan that came to 1%. In Texas over 30% of your premium is for things like this, in some states it is higher than 50% of your premium.

[Watcher3223]

In other words, an example of government interference keeping the system from working sensibly.

[Watcher3223]

As for government, the problem is that you can't trust them to ensure you have a choice as they're just as bad, if not worse, than the businessmen in the insurance companies.

How can you trust government so easily with something so important? At least with a business, you're paying for their service and if they don't deliver, take your business elsewhere. With government, what choice? (Again, I don't buy what Obama just said because of what he has said in the not too distant past.)

[Watcher3223]

As for the "right," you have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness all right. But, read that more carefully. Your life is your right. Your liberty is your right, but you must pursue and earn your own happiness. No one else can provide you that or even really give you help beyond giving you a chance if you prove yourself worthy of that chance.

The rewards of a happy life are hard to get and take time and work to earn.

[muffinblighter]

health care is so expensive because a different pharmeceutical firms own patents on all of its drugs (so they can charge what they want), insurance companies, just like the banks, strategize and price set. The pharm/insur comps are already in congress stifling competition in their favor.

and the funny thing is, our tax dollars in the BILLIONS already go to subsidize and fund these pharmeceutical companies who then overcharge the citizens who enable them.

[Watcher3223]

1. A patent doesn't necessarily mean they can charge what they want just because they have a patent on a product; a competitor can do their own R&D and make their own competing version of a drug. Plus, again, the only reason some of these drugs get made is because there is a market where profit can be made. Take that motivation away, and what's left to act as impetus for the R&D?

[Watcher3223]

2. The drug and insurance companies are there because they were given a way in through government intervention; many interventions occur with compromises that create loopholes, which is what has given rise to lobbyists and special interests. Expand on this with the health care reform and you're only going to make the problem worse. Reduce how far the government can interfere and you reduce the influence these businesses can have over government, forcing them to compete with themselves instead.

[CribNotes]

Reducing influence by reducing gov't sounds good, but that's now what 's happening in the health insurance biz. They're lobbying the gov't with millions of bucks to make sure the gov't will NOT intervene in insurance company gross profiteering. Big insurance and big banks are now so powerful they've been screwing us all at will, especially escalatiing over the last ten years. This is all a result of gov't paid to look the other way, thus not interfering.

[Watcher3223]

Actually, the government does interfere for the benefit of the businesses in defiance of free market dynamics.

They buy out government and can use who they have on the take to make things happen that can't occur in a healthy free market system, such as creating legislation that serve only their interests.

What America has now is actually not a good example of the free market system at work in the health care segment.

[joshwuh88]

1st, yes, it seems Obama changed his opinion on the single payer system. It's better to change your mind than stick with the wrong view.

2nd, I'll still be earning my right to the insurance because I'll still have to pay for it. It's not a hand out.

3rd:"the U.S. government should not be running death panels, it's far too big and out of control to effectively run something that important. That responsibility should remain where it is now, with private insurance companies."

LET ME HAVE HEALTHCARE

[Watcher3223]

1. I do not trust politicians who have changed their opinions. They may just as easily change back.

2. Expansion of government that can threaten private enterprise is not good.

3. Re-read no.1.

And I'm not stopping you from getting health care, but trying to get you to understand that you're looking at two sides of the same coin.

Look at the history of what government has done and how it is now, not its promises of the future.

[joshwuh88]

Well, sorry but I wouldn't trust a politician who WASN'T willing to change their opinion. I wouldn't trust ANYONE not willing to change their opinion. You have to be open to the fact that maybe your views are wrong and you need to respond accordingly. The world would be a terrible place if no politician ever changed their mind. Slavery, segregation, women's suffrage, etc. etc. etc.

[Watcher3223]

Specifically, you shouldn't trust politicians, PERIOD.

And, real change never starts with politicians; they start with the People and politicians merely follow that change for the sake of their political careers and power.

[Watcher3223]

But, a big problem with politicians is that they are in a position of power that can corrupt, which may make them exceed their bounds and expand government beyond its intended role of enforcing the law, upholding the freedoms of the constituents, and honoring limits to government power.

You give them an inch, they will take a foot.

A problem with government is that, when acting outside of its intended functions, they tend to do too little or too much, neither of which presents a good outcome.

[joshwuh88]

Well, I agree with the first paragraph of your last comment, at least.

Let's agree on that and call it a day. Great converstaion, my friend, thanks.

Hopefully we just demonstrated what makes America great and rather than tearing us apart it brings us together.

[Tom6472]

March on Washington September 12, 2009

[ronheri]

No to national healthcare. No to Cap and Tax. We are up against a criminal, rogue government. We want our country Back!

[HoRuSHoRiZoN]

If it is true that they do not care, don't you think they will prepare candidates in 2010 that also do not care ... note that voteres do not choose who runs for office .... that is the crux

[Conserve912]

Actually, if you want to get involved in finding good candidates to put in for office - get involved at the precinct chair level.  That is a position that can help influence which candidates are chosen, and help guide the party platform. We do have a say in who runs.. we just have to be more involved.

[ATAINC23]

Those politicians don't give a damn what you say and how well you articulate it. They have been bought off, blackmailed or both. They will do what their master thieves at the top tell them to do or they'll suffer the consequences.

[Conserve912]

This could be true... if it is, then it is our responsibility to vote them out in 2010. That means we need to be voting in March 2010 in the primaries to get in good candidates.

[TheFlex21]

"good candidates"

in the whole USA who qualifies as a "good candidate" besides Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich, Cynthia Mckinney & possibly a few more?

[ATAINC23]

politicians are not where I'd put my trust. If all you look forward to is voting in the next corrupt smooth talking person, you're the fool they want you to be.

[blockthis08]

I've read it...Its bad. Well articulated.

I like how they don't solve anything. God bless them.

[Conserve912]

There were plenty of people there who could articulate specifics about why the bill is "bad".

I think we all know it will tke a long time to come up with good solutions to our health care issues. That is why most of us just can't understand why the government thinks they can solve it in such a hurry.

[BrandyDLady]

The Irving town hall meeting location may end up changing in order to accomodate the number of people showing up so be sure to check before you go.  Hope to see you there!

[kcjakedozer]

I am so proud to be an American when I see all these people standing up for our rights, it just makes me so damn proud. We will win this battle. The left is saying that we are MOBS, racists. This clearly shows we are neither. Heck, when we protest, we make sure we leave the place cleaner than it was when we got there. BUT, We do get mad when they will not listen and hear what our concerns are. Can't wait till the next protests. Aug 14, 22, 28 and the big one Sept 12 in Fort Worth. JOIN US

[mctarmac10]

I wonder how Maddow and Olbermann explain the English man, maybe Rush Limbaugh flew him in?

[goldenequity]

Rep. Sessions voted for the bail out.

Vote him out.

[tbradleytx]

No Brooks Brothers in that room. And contrary to Pelosi, no Swastikas either. Fancy that?

[apachemountain]

If Conservatives wear Brooks Brothers,do liberals wear Hart,Shaffner and Marxist?

[1beinki]

I am starting the new HONK TO IMPEACH OBAMA grassroots campaign. This Friday and Every Friday until Obama leaves office, I want you to honk your horn for one minute at noon Central daylight time to show your displeasure with our so called Commander in Chief. I need your help in getting the message out, so pass this on to everyone you know, It is now or never . We are losing our freedom and I am sick and tired of it.

[ablejohnson]

This was a an awesome display of ordinary Americans fighting against the government takeover of the healthcare system. Out of over 1000+ people there, I only witnessed *maybe* 4 or 5 people for the marxist healthcare proposal. I am proud to have been there for this historic event.

[gthottie7up]

Now this is PATRIOTISM

God Bless them all!

[ablejohnson]

Awesome video, thanks for posting this.

[cptryno]

Pete Sessions

Irving Town Hall Meeting

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

7:00pm 8:30pm

Irving City Hall

825 W. Irving Blvd

Irving, Texas 75060

[Awskeetskeet09]

Will there be another Dallas town hall meeting?

[cptryno]

Michael Burgess

Denton Town Hall Meeting

Saturday, August 8, 2009

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Center for the Visual Arts

400 East Hickory Street

Denton, TX 76201

[Awskeetskeet09]

Wish I was there..

[zeezrom]

Many of these leaders have no clue what our Constitution requires of them nor what to do about it - nor do they have the courage to do what it takes if they did have a clue - and they continue to take the path of destruction for us. Encourage Principled people to take office; those who will stand and deliver; pick out leaders among our groups who choose PRINCIPALS over PARTY and encourage them to take office; at all levels of government. Principals over Party; People over Party.