Obama's Former Doctor Attacks Health Care Plan

[Aabra69]

I completely agree with this guy. What really needs to be done is to have the insurance companies completely abolished and 100% universal health care which is totally government run brought in. Unfortunately however - that would never have passed. What was done however was definitely a big step in the right direction.

[badtown88]

Good for this guy. I'm glad people can find a way to criticize people they disagree with without turning into whiny, screaming lunatics. Take a note, tea partiers.

[hopelessim]

Thank you Mr. Obama, I sure hope this health care works out. Since you been in elected I've lost my job, home, vehicle, health care and savings. You said you were going to make changes, and you did. Now when I crawl out of my cardboard box I feel a lot better knowing that I may have Health Care in the future. It won't be the Health Care plan that all you politicians have because we know that you people do such a great job and have to be rewarded accordingly. After all money is no object...

[scarletletterman84]

This man is a genuine doctor. Shouldn't the doctors opinions be the most worthwhile on this matter? You dont ask a bricklayer how to repair a book, and the healthcare and pharm corps have poured obscene amounts of money into advertising opposing universal health care. We're like the only top industrialized nation in the world that doesnt provide care for its citizens! Its absurd!

[NAGGERNUTZ]

If you continuously wreck your car, doesn't your insurance go up? Of course it does. If your insurance company finally cancels your policy because you obviously can't drive without having an accident, is that wrong? If you're costing them more in pay-outs than they're making in premiums, they'd go broke. Then can you cry when other insurance companies refuse to cover you? No, you're a bad risk. Why would health insurance be any different? Government would go broke trying to insure everyone.

[elnegrobembon]

so let me get this straight... single payer is PROVEN to work in many countries...people who have medicare in the US are happy with it, and yet it's still completely off the table and they're still thinking of ways to appease the health insurance companies, while still making it look like they're actually doing beneficial for the people???? lol!! that's ridiculous.. it's obvious what needs to be done. single payer! what other option can beat that?

[fendergibs]

You have rewritten economic law. When is a monopoly good for anything? , in the long-term it creates shortages, artificial price control which by definition leads to rationing and lower quality. It would also lead to more VIP health care where doctors would opt out of any public system and go private pay only, direct payment only.Over time you would have two systems, a private cutting edge system, and a public average system that may cover everyone but not utilize the state-of-the-art

[elnegrobembon]

if what you say really happens, then you could have a public national plan, and private health insurance companies as well...

that's not such a novel idea.. plenty of other countries have that system too..

but what we need right now is a national plan that covers everybody.. it's the only humane thing to do.

[fendergibs]

A public plan/national is good only for people that qualify, low income that are not covered. it should not compete with private plans. A public plan does not have to be efficient or run well b/c it always bailed out by the taxpayer. A public plan can artificially lower prices, take a loss , just to drive the private plans Its does not have to compete in the real world. A private firm goes out of business and therefore must survive by efficency.

[elnegrobembon]

so far, i don't think your theory has proven itself. private firms may be efficient in money-making, but not in providing the health insurance most people need.

and who says national plans are only good for the poor? do the rich not enjoy the same benefits?

the fact of the matter is that it seems to work just fine in every other developed country, and private health insurance apparently does NOT work here.

[fendergibs]

It is not a very, monopolies have been studied in every economic 101 text book. Exp include ATT, prior D. regulation back in the 70s you had one carrier ,fixed prices, poor service, no competition, no alternative to turn to, if you wanted a cheaper ,or a more extensive, elaborate plan. The gov recognized this long term issue in forced D. regulation which lead to lower prices more options and better quality in the long run. I understand medicine is different but still follows economic reality.

[fendergibs]

Nobody in United States wants socialized average health care for everyone. Use competition for the majority of people in the country and have a government backup system for those the fall through the cracks and need financial assistance in dealing with health issues. But do not destroy competition, inovation, free markets that drives the market place to improve and strive to be the best. USA has cutting edge healthcare, however access needs to be improved for those that need it.

[elnegrobembon]

fall through the cracks?? is that what you call dozens of thousands of people who die annually?

i'm not arguing for socialized health care. that's a false analogy and a republican talking point.

health insurance is not the same as health care.

EVERYBODY in the US wants affordable health insurance. single payer is a proven way to get there.

you can talk of how competition and free market is theoretically the best option, but that's not the reality.. it sounds like people arguing for communism

[fendergibs]

47 million uninsured, of that number 30% are eligible for coverage but have not, or will not fill out the appropriate paperwork to make them eligible. Another 25-30% are in between jobs and did not elect COBRA coverage .. So that leaves about 15 to 20 million people uncovered out of a population of close to 400 million or about 5 to 10%. that who u need to cover (fall via the cracks) not destroy the entire system with a single payer only option.

[elnegrobembon]

like i said.. the proven way to ensure that all these people get covered, regardless of the reason, is single-payer.. it's not just me saying it.. the majority of doctors and americans advocate this. and it's proven to work in europe and canada.

you can have all the theory in the world for private insurance, but reality says different, especially when you see the practices of private companies and how they handle the people who ARE insured.

and 15 million people is not a small number..

[fendergibs]

40% of current practicing physicians stated they would quit if a single payer Monopoly dominated the American sceen. How would they argue with a single payer system? what incentive what they have to improve their office care with expensive state-of-the-art equipment & techniques if the reimbursement was the same for average care? answer they couldn't they would go out of business. A single payer Monopoly is never good for the long run and should be used to cover those that qualify economically.

[elnegrobembon]

seriously, where do you get these numbers from? that's totally false. 60% of physicians SUPPORT single payer.

and i don't know if you're aware, but your theory has been proven false by plenty of countries where single payer actually works, and the people would revolt if they didn't have. the US is the perfect example of how privatized insurance DOESN'T work.

again, your theory cannot compare with reality.

even obama has stated he KNOWS that not everybody could be covered without single payer

[fendergibs]

thousands also die in canada and other countires that have a single payer waiting for key screening test, such as a colonoscopy ,which takes on average 3 months in Canada, here I can order one in 3 weeks. Higher death rates for colon cancer in these countries despite having the same frequency difference is later detection and more limited chemotherapy options and socialized countries that do not pay for or delay these expensive treatments. no dies in the street, emergency rooms care for all.

[elnegrobembon]

the waiting list is NOT that long in canada..just another republican talking point and misinformation..even if it were, the US could tweak the system to prevent that.

at least the 47 million uninsured would have a CHANCE at getting a colonoscopy with a national plan, instead of knowing that they'll NEVER get it with privatized insurance system.

counting myself among those 47 million, and assuming you're not, i daresay only the minority of people who can afford healthcare don't want single payer

[Kevo7598]

if it works fine then why is Germany getting rid of it? and why do people always come to America to get procedures done that their countries healthcare wont cover?....and why is America at the very top of new drug and medical technology production?

[elnegrobembon]

germany doesn't have a true single payer, but even still, i guarantee that they won't be trading in their system for ours... no country in their right minds would do such a dumb thing..

and the only reason RICH people from other countries go to the US to get health care is because they can AFFORD it.

you don't see very many poor people from ANY country going to the US to get medical attention...

don't get confused, the problem isn't health CARE, it's the costly and inadequate health INSURANCE..

[Kevo7598]

actually Germany pretty much is trading in their system for ours, so dont guarantee what you dont know.

also, its not just the rich who come here to get procedures done, its plenty of middle class people who's Nationalized healthcare system prohibited an operation, procedure, or test of some kind.....on the contrary...how many people from america do you see going to other parts of the world to get healthcare? (excluding those who leave to get extremely dangerous high risk procedures done)

[Kevo7598]

costly and inadequate are words that are much better used to describe the Government, rather than insurance companies. I challenge you to name me one department of the government which is efficient in what it does. you think it would be a breeze to get a cat scan or an MRI with a government run system? why dont you first go to the dmv and see how long it takes for them to change the address on your drivers liscense. U.S. govt is one of the most fiscally irresponsible entities in the world.

[elnegrobembon]

1st of all, dmv doesn't take all that long, depending on where you're from...

2nd of all, you're bringing up an irrelevant argument. gov't wouldnt be running health care... they'd only be paying for it.. there's a difference.. even if republican talking points don't suggest it..

3rd.. seriously, single payer is PROVEN to work.. private insurance is NOT working for us.. it's not difficult..

4th... explain how the current system could possibly be more effective or efficient than single payer

[Kevo7598]

idk where you're from...but private insurance is working just fine for millions of Amreicans. there have been a bunch of polls done which all show more than 80% of Americans are happy with their health insurance. Sure, there are plenty of ways to make private insurance better...but throwing our irresponsible government (which is increasing our debt by the nanosecond) is certainly not the answer.

and im not answering your question until you answer mine. lets have some common courtesy here

[elnegrobembon]

again, you confuse health care with health insurance, and you misquote the facts.. 80% of americans are happy with health CARE (you mistakenly said health insurance), which is not the problem.

private insurance companies do not provide you with health care. in fact many times they do the opposite.. they try to DENY care. the bottom line is that for-profit health insurance systems do NOT work for most people.

again, the gov't would NOT give us health care, only providing a way to pay for it.

[Kevo7598]

you dont have any facts to back up your bogus arguments. insurance is a numbers game, if you make a ton of claims and lead a dangerous/unhealthy lifestyle, insurance companies wont want to cover you because you cost them too much money. they dont just try to get out of paying claims for any average joe.

look this up. "70% of insured rate health INSURANCE as good or excellent."

and im still waiting for an answer on what government programs are efficent......

remember cash for clunkers?

[elnegrobembon]

your question of efficient gov't services is irrelevant. like ive said, gov't would NOT be providing service..only a way to pay for health care. if you still want to see the efficiency of that system, you can look at canada, britain, france, etc.

but you basically argue against your own point. basically, you make the case that if you're too sick, or cost the insurance company too much money, they won't cover you. do you not see the problem there?

[fendergibs]

monoply are never a good idea

[elnegrobembon]

which is what the health insurance companies have... which is why they don't want to pass the anti-trust law...

[fendergibs]

no its TORT REFORM, but Obama & the Dem get too much lobby money from the lawers to dare do anthing about it. When the lawers are not complaing about the heath bill u know its a bad bill. just like big tobbacco held off tobbacco laws for years until the pressure was overwhelming.....obama is too smart , he know better but cant spaek the truth in the face of all that cash comming in

[MrDustandechoes]

tort reform = more money for private insurance, doctors not having to worry as much about screwing over patients through malpractice.

[fendergibs]

maybe on Pluto, but here on Earth it means reducing junk law suits , lower malpratice cost, reducing defensive medicine tests, which means lowering the cost of medcine for all. It also means reducing the number of sleaz bag lawyer with those 1-800-sue-you Tv adds & billboards across the land. If obama could only rise above the tort lobby money.

[MrDustandechoes]

Luckily we have a justice system that determines which law suits are "junk" and which are legitimate and deserving of compensation. All I see caps on malpractice suits doing is incentivising doctors to be careless and increasing profits for big insurance.

[fendergibs]

yes but it cost money to defend those junk law suits which should never go to trail & the law firms should know better but instead scatter shot 10 suits, if one or 2 wins they make alot of money for themselves, yet the hospital still have to pay for the other 8 junk suits even if they won. Tort refrom would copy other counties where the loser pay all legal fees to defend. Thus the good law firms would only take on legit claims, self filter the bullshit & save millions a year.

[fendergibs]

MD are never " incentivised" to be carelss, that is a idiotic stament, if not law suits they could lose hosptial privalges, lose their state licence, lose patients if they act that way.

[fendergibs]

free maket, well I think it still is?

[dakurler]

Scheiner hit the nail on the head. Obama's plan is basically a band-aid and the proposed public option will be far too small and weak to generate any significant savings. Single payer would not only solve the major problems in the current system, it would aid the economy in several ways, among them are making American companies more productive by lowering costs, making the workforce healthier and more productive and ending the crimp in innovation stemming from employer based health insurance

[sugabuga72]

Of all the things that people can fight over, why Health care??? Who on Earth would not support Universal Health care??? I guess it must be all you morons who get their world's eye view from the Reliable sources at Fox News and Lou Dobbs. America your lucky that you finally have president who is actually going to do something about Health care, it may not be perfect, but it's at least something, which at the moment is more than what you have right now.

[mwenzel21]

AND.. what is going to happen to all the peoples jobs that work for those shitty insurance companies? Since were all gonna switch to Medicare

[MeyerG4Indiana]

Look, You and I could write a 4 page healthcare reform bill that would make things 500% better than the current situation.

It's the 1000+ pgs of fine print that we don't want.

This is a complete reform of the American way of life not a health care reform.

Each time Congress votes we risk losing hard won freedoms. That's what America is about...

Freedom. Not communal handouts.

[mwenzel21]

I completely agree! I would feel okay with free health care for people who actually work for money and don't get covered. I dont want to provide health care for a person who uses crack and gets sick and they get saved? they put themselves in that situation, America CANT bail everyone out. This is like what he did with the car companies.Instead of making a plan, he throws them money and expects it to get better?They should have been more up to speed with the foreign car companies instead of brag

[thirdshift47]

But aren't crackheads,for obvious reasons,in even more need of health care than the mythic 'hard worker'?

Indeed,the issue of drug rehabilitation(in a country which is the largest consumer of illegal drugs on the planet) has been,curiously enough,not even adressed in the debate.

The fact of the matter is,that crackhead can be either a short term or long term economic liabilty by choosing to either rehab in the short run,or to put in prison for the long term.

[bigphreaking]

Rehab does not work for most crackheads. Let's spend the healthcare money on those patients who want to live productive lives, little kids and those with real needs. Crackheads go to rehab and light up the day they get out of rehab.

[senyah5]

Yeah, we can't bail out everybody, we'll just have to remind the 45,000 who die each year from lack of healthcare, that their death is not in vain, they made the ultimate sacrifice to make sure that government doesn't provide healthcare for crackheads.

[mwenzel21]

Since the car companies crumbled that is the only jobs in these high industrialized areas. I do not believe that we should provide health care for someone who won't even try to find a job. This plan is going to help all the people who are on welfare and who won't get their asses off the couch and find a job instead of getting pregnant and having the middle class tax payers pay for useless crap. I live in cleveland and I see people with food stamps that buy donuts and cookies instead of groceries

[mwenzel21]

we have great hospitals, and you can't save everyone. Because it is the middle class that is gonna be fucked up in all off this. No its not because my "mommy" is a nurse, its because we do have the best hospitals in the world. The doctors will not get the pay they deserve. More people will get layed off because the hospitals won't be able to pay everyone. The jobs in hospitals are fluorishing more than anything in Ohio.

[mwenzel21]

If you look at the best hospitals in the world, there are a lot of great American hospitals. We do have really good hospitals. Im not saying organization Im saying hospitals. I meant to say before that the new health care plan is going to ruin the great hospitals we have. I know the insurance sucks, but we can't insure everyone in the U.S, there are way to many people, it would take months to get appointments. People waiting to get transplants will have to wait longer than they already have to.

[ScarBro2006]

What's the point of having the best hospital in the world if millions of American's are not even able to get inside the door. Countless millions of $ was wasted on ADs to fight reform which could have been used to treat over 40 thousand people for a year, and countless billions were wasted on war which could have treated millions of people for years. It's ok to spend money to fight for oil, but it's not ok to spend money on US citizens health care:P

[OrmEmber]

The insurance companies have won. I know; I work for one. They have succeeded in scaring Americans away from their right to free universal healthcare for all citizens. They have spent millions of dollars, spread false information, hired thugs to scream down politicians at Town Hall meetings so they can't be heard, and convinced Americans that

government-run healthcare is Socialism. My insurance company drops hundreds of customers every day, when they become expensive; I watch it happen.

[Sam26100]

Of course he wants all healthcare to be paid for by government. This way patients will flood through the doors of his hospital, waiting for days, weeks, months, years to get treatment. They won't have to worry about budgeting or economizing, since somebody else is paying. He's not concidering what will happen to people economically, he's just saying that under universal care everybody will get care regardless of any fiscal responsibility or concideration. This guy's opinion doesn't matter

[ANGRYMAPLE]

The only ones who benefit from America's shitty healthcare system or the companies who run the hospitals. If people are too stupid to see that then i hope that you guys don't wake up one day with a $10000 bill because a family member died whilst still in debt to the healthcare system.

[MrTabby5000]

especially bill frist.

[dannnynieves]

watch?v=uqd9XIeCK2c

[mwenzel21]

This is not a good idea. All of us will have to pay more because it will put us more into debt. We will all suffer from this. Obama is not helping our economic debt at all by proposing this. He should cut budgets instead of messing with the only good jobs we have in America now. We have one of the best healthcare systems in the world. That will all be ruined if the government controls it.

[NoTalentSucks]

we have one of the worst in the industrialized world, ranked 37th by the world health organization. who told you otherwise?

[mwenzel21]

the cleveland clinic is one of the best hospitals in the United states. People fly to the cleveland clinic for specific help. What is free health care going to help anyways? Its not going to make our health care system anymore, there are way to many people in America to provide free health care to EVERYONE. I know that we have a good health care system because my mom is a nurse and she works in hospitals.

[NoTalentSucks]

your opinion is more valid than the world health organization's because your mommy is a nurse? we are ranked NUMBER 37TH IN THE WORLD. that's terrible, it's probably the worst out of all the modern industrialized democracies. everyone deserves healthcare. how good the technologies are within the hospitals is irrelevant when millions and millions of people can't have access to it. you can't really be satisfied with the tens of thousands dieing ever year due to no coverage...

[NoTalentSucks]

it is safe to say neither of us are experts on economics, but i can say spending on health care is incredibly insufficient in the u.s. a thrid of the money spent on medicare ($77 billion) goes to chronically ill patients with less than 2 years to live. doctors also spend more than they need to on medicine to avoid law suits, and us fatass americans could avoid getting sick by eating salads. we spend way too much than we need to, and a reform would be affordable if these issues were addressed.

[strange3141]

That doctor is a big fat liberal, and as a doctor of presidents, he does not at all have a 'typical' doctor experience. He is an advocate of (government paid via citizen taxes) Single-Payer. That is government health care.  Obama is for the same thing, and said so during campaigning, but Obama knows the only way to sell it to the American people is to try to 'appear' less 'Big Brother' initially, and burn the bridge afterward. Once we have government health care, it will grow and be forever.

[TerryEFV2]

eg, Canada pre-negotiated with big pharma ensuring vaccines produced in Canada for epi/pandemics would only be available to other countries after adequate supplies set aside for Canadians. A few tax breaks for pharma to set up shop here, on-shore jobs for us, quality control we regulate and now no worry about supply. Preplanned over a # of years with the buying power of a govt and the system proves itself with the h1n1 crisis looming. Think of the power the US brings to the table.

[kirbygp2002]

if i got healthcare from the government, then i could pay $6000 more in income taxes and come out even. my health insurance sucks hardcore right now, so i would very willingly trade it for health insurance as good as medicaid or medicare.

[shortyboy48035]

The fact is it will cost more than the proposed budget of one trillion dollars. Obama says he will get 2/3 of it through budget cuts. But that is rediculous. this Healthcare reform is going to cost everyone way more in taxes. You can rest assured that your federal taxes are going to sky rocket.

[NauticalFILMS]

When do we change American flag to marxism?

[Chubearishere]

... and he's NOT attacking Obama's proposed plan but rather saying he's not doing enough by having a public option cause he wants us to have a single payer system.

To be honest that's the very best for this country. With over 150mill working people in the country, we would truly have the best health care on the planet but ofcourse corporate interests and their lackies won't permit that at all so for now, baby steps - we'll take the public option.

[quizerry]

Think about this the two most heavily regulated entities Healthcare and Education are what cost taxpayers the most. That alone should when Government take control we the people pay a big price. The bigger Government the lower the wages, high taxes stagnet economy. Less Government means higher wages, lower taxes, economic growth and freedom to choose. All you have to do it look at history of the U.S.

[TripperLV]

Excellent posts. Thanks for sharing! I replied and realized I need to correct my grammar and now I can not repost the comment. Thanks. RJ

[SpiroLee]

Are you saying public education has inhibited the U.S. economy?

[TripperLV]

The government spending on healthcare and education is enormous and "yes" and has a "negative elasticity", which means "the more money you spend, the worst the results. There are too many administrators and non productive focus in our education system, but that is a separate issue. You might to want to query "True News 50" on YT and watch the video. He explains very well what quizerry and I are suggesting. True News 46 and 47 are excellent on healthcare Thank you.

[SpiroLee]

Do you think literacy rates would be higher without a public option for education?

[TripperLV]

Yes, very much so under economic theory. Our education system would be much better if the Federal government left it to the states to manage. The Dept. of Education is too large and complex to effectively manage. Agencies can operate effectively when they are that large.

[SpiroLee]

So you're not against public schools (or libraries?) on the state level, just the federal level?

[TripperLV]

No, I am not against public schools or libraries on a state level. My arguments are based on business management and economic theory. They're some services the Fed government needs to provide, but that should be kept to a minimum. Organizations can become too big to be managed and will become internally focused. That is why they are so inefficient. You can study this in economic theory or business management. I'm an accountant and did government audits. The are always pretty messed-up . Thanks

[SpiroLee]

"Organizations can become too big to be managed and will become internally focused. That is why they are so inefficient."

That's a good point. Thanks.

[SpiroLee]

One more question, if you'll indulge me. You said, with regard to public health insurance "This is about liberal YUPPIES wanting to expand government control and opportunity so that can have a cushy job " When it comes to public schools and libraries (museums?parks?) where is the line crossed from conservative to liberal- is it a matter of principle or scale?

[TripperLV]

Good question, I think that is a matter of opinion. For myself, I believe in solving problems locally and only using government if necessary. I am a Libertarian and see government as force and control. Like most Libertarians, I am fiscally conservative. "Conservatism" is actually a way of looking at "social order," and is not about specific policies. If you want to learn more about conservative thought, I would suggest reading Edmund Burke and the Tenets of Conservatism. Regards, RJ

[cliffw77]

wow doc he has a good memory thus he is a genius? Elephants have good memories should we back an elephant for office?

[ABABIE22]

Obama's health care plan is gonna save thousands of people. Kids that don't have health care are going to be saved and be able to go to the proper doctor. WE NEED THIS!!!! Health care being run by goverment is gonna save us because private insurance people today are JACKING THE PRICE to just make money and refuse to serve children that need it such as kids with AIDS. SAVING PEOPLE WITH AIDS!!!! how can you deny that?! and whoever says liberals suck, clearly is conservative. LIBERAL ALL THE WAY!!

[brianrhg]

It's a novel idea, but health care isn't free. Obama's plan would cause inflation to run rampant, reduce the quality of care overall, and cause the prices to go up. America is all about self sufficiency, don't have kids until you can pay for them.

[TripperLV]

It will not play out that way. At first it will be "ok", since there is still private sector staff who are patient oriented, but that will erode as new staff comes into the organization. The new staff will be focused on the organization, not the patient because the patient will have "no rights". Read the bill, the government panel will decide services with no "objection rights". This exactly what happened in Canada. Their system has very serious issues and many seek treatment in the U.S.

[Chubearishere]

... you're so full of shit

[TripperLV]

No. I suggest you read an economics book and study the issue. I have a masters degree from UCLA on the subject and graduated top of my class. I know the issue. This bill is a nightmare for America. We can't fund every entitlement. You need to stop acting childish and research the issue True happiness and productivity comes from not being dependent on government and believing in one's own capability.

[Chubearishere]

Oh shut the fuck up already with your bullshit. What, you're the only one with a degree that can read and comprehend the English language?

You attaining a degree of higher learning simply means you have the brain capacity to absorb enough info to pass an academic test.

Applying that knowledge is a different scenerio for some too. I should know, I have employees that parade their masters like peacocks but lack on common sense and it drives me batty at times.

You're full of shit.

[TripperLV]

You're the one who is full of shit and I have a zero tolerance policy for idiots like you. You're too stupid to have a discussion, so you come in here and start calling names pretending to be "so compassionate". Well, no one is buying your bullshit! It is obvious that you're just an angry little man who is looking for an entitlement and is jealous of those who have worked hard to obtain an advanced degree. The data and results are on our side. You need to get off your lazy ass and research!

[Chubearishere]

lol, you're obviously an insecure self centered petty being. Won't be wasting my time with an utter fool like you.

Pull your pants up dumbass, I'm done with you.

[TripperLV]

Just what I thought! You got your ass kicked little girl! Now go play.

[bertly71]

Intellegence is a relative thing. Common sense is not as common. I do not think Obama and his enablers have much common sense.

[Ballismylfe41]

its cuz of people like u that we have this problem...its not our fault u cant afford health insurance...go get a job and make some money so u can get covered...ur taking our hard earned money as a hand out cuz ur fucking lazy!!! and ur probably an illegal on top of it wich makes it even worse

[Ballismylfe41]

sooooo....since when do we put a communist healthcare plan in america???? lol...i hope this doesnt go through but if it does i hope its not around when im old cuz ill be fucked like every other old person!!!

[elnegrobembon]

when will people stfu with all this communist bs.

fire dept, police dept., post office, etc.. this is all gov't run

do you suggest privatizing the fire dept? lol! because if you do, you know you're fucked whenever your house catches fire when the private fire dept decides that it's not going to put out your fire to cut expenses.

privatizing health care only guarantees that people won't get covered. single payer guarantees coverage. call it socialist if you want. idgaf as long as i get covered

[TripperLV]

Come on! No one believes that Liberals have compassion for anyone else but themselves. Liberals give far less to charity than conservatives, that's a fact. Go look up the stats. Hell, you people are the most hateful group on the planet and even went after Palin's children. This is about liberal YUPPIES wanting to expand government control and opportunity so that can have a cushy job and free healthcare at the expense of someone else. It is about liberal greed, nothing else. Stop pretending!

[elnegrobembon]

1st of all, i'm not a liberal.

2ndly, it's not about liberal vs. conservative. it's about healthcare for EVERYBODY..

3rdly, a sinlge payer system, like the majority of doctors recommend, is a system where everybody has to pay. nobody is living off the expense of somebody else... everybody pays for their health care through their taxes and everybody gets health care.

i have no idea how that can be seen as being about greediness or as a liberal vs conservative issue..

[TripperLV]

1) You are arguing a Liberal position.

2) No, that is a lie. It is very much is a political issue and this is the use of "force", not free choice. People choose not have health insurance.

3) I have a MPH in Healthcare management from UCLA. Your statement is false. Many will receive benefits who do not pay. We have a progressive income tax structure.

4) Well you need to think harder. Why do think they are forcing on the American people. It is about "power" and "control".

5) Study the issue

[elnegrobembon]

like i said, i'm not a liberal.. not everybody falls under the categories of "lib" or "con".

2nd. healthcare is a right for everybody. whether or not you choose to exercise your right to use it is your decision. we all pay for services we don't use through taxes, but everybody uses health care.

i don't use the public school system anymore, or drive certain roads, and i've never needed the fire dept.. that doesn't mean i should pay less in taxes because i don't use those gov't services..

[elnegrobembon]

the only way that you can guarantee that everyone has access to their right to health care is through a system like single payer (which most industrialized countries seem to understand, bar the US).

and if the rich have to pay a slightly higher %, so what? it won't hurt them. this is the best tax system we've got currently.. and it works if rich people pay their share. a millionaire won't starve if he has to pay 30% in tax.. but 25% is a lot if you only make 15K. it makes perfect sense

[elnegrobembon]

you can argue that single payer is socialistic.. but people don't care.. it works. capitalism and the health insurance business don't mix if the purpose is to serve the people..

even people that pay health insurance struggle to get proper coverage because the point of a health insurance company in a captitalist market is to reduce costs and make profits by denying coverage.

so you can stick the "socialism" label on it if you want, but bottom line is, works...at least in the healthcare system.

[TripperLV]

Actually it doesn't work well Do your homework and don't just spread propaganda. That is all your doing.

[TripperLV]

Bullshit! 9 out of 10 people enjoy "gang rape" and it probably makes sense to them, but that's missing the point. Force is being used! You seem to think that people who have done well have committed some sort of crime. Maybe they just worked harder than those who are poor. Is it fair to "stick it" to those who work hard"? Ever think of that asshole? This country has a constitution and Bill of Rights to stop assholes like you from imposing their will on others. Read the Articles of Freedom!

[elnegrobembon]

nobody is sticking it to the rich. it's the other way around. the rich are sticking it to us. the health insurance companies, credit card companies, banks, etc... are getting filthy rich at our expense..

idk why you're arguing on their behalf when they're financially raping you, and they probably have more rights and freedoms than you or i have...

like i said, they won't starve if they have to pay a few % points more in taxes.. it's perfectly fair and it helps everybody..

[TripperLV]

I am not sticking it up for the large corporations. I believe in "free markets" or near perfect competition (many producers/buyers in the market) which is not our healthcare system. In the private sector, it is "oligopoly" competition (few very large firms completing). These large firms collude to create restrictive markets to protect their interests. This was illegal in America and was considered "restraint of free trade", now it is the status quo. This has happened in other sectors as well.

[quizerry]

The health insurance Co don't have huge profit margins they make alot of their money on investing your premiums. Yes thay are to high but the reason is no competition. There are 1300 insurance co. in th U.S. Your City probably has less then a handfull to by health insurance. If you could shop The 1300 accross the U.S. that would be true free market competition and drive prices down. Who's fault is it for decreased competition? The industry and lawmakers who've lined each other pockets.

[Chubearishere]

... you work or run a Private insurance company don't you. You guys are repulsive. You live off the death and pain of Americans. You people are vile!

[MeyerG4Indiana]

Thanks for hitting it right on the head. What you said is news to most Americans. And since the media got out of the news business and into the political support business we have to read think tank articles to inform ourselves.

You conveyed alot of info in a few lines- very persuasive.

[TripperLV]

Read your posts!. You either a liar or too stupid to realize your liberal. Ever heard of the "matching principle" ? Basically, ALWAYS want to match "revenues" with "expense" in order to understand the economics of the entity. If not, you'll get "tragedy of the commons". You're arguing for "tragedy of the commons". Europe has started back w/ market healthcare. Canadians are moving away from their system. You simply do not know what you are taking about and it is obvious you will say "anything".

[elnegrobembon]

i never studied accounting and i don't see how it's relevant anyway... single payer works. we're the only industrialized country that doesn't have it and that's why we have millions of people uninsured..

do you really think that our system actually works?? do yo think EVERYBODY else is wrong?

like i said, who cares if it's socialistic? everybody gets covered and it's cheaper for the nation as whole.

[elnegrobembon]

oh... and btw.. i'm not a liberal. i have a mind of my own. i don't make decisions based on the category you want to put me in. just because i'm for single-payer doesn't make me a liberal, just like i'm not a conservative just because i'm against abortion. on some issues i'm "conservative", on others i'm more "liberal".. i don't make a decision based on these stereotypical ideologies before actually hearing the argument. so i'm really an independent with a mind of my own..

[medicatedsaint]

I second your comment.

[TripperLV]

Ok, I apologize for my rude comment. As you know, posting in political channels is a "contact sport" and I have gotten use to playing rough. However, I should not have made that assumption. I understand what you are saying.

[TripperLV]

Yes, accounting is relevant because the GAO is telling us "we don't have the money to pay for all these entitlements." We have 53 trillion in "unfunded Social Security" and Medicare benefits. That is in addition to our current debt. We simply don't have the money! I am not going argue with further. If single payer is what you believe, then that is your choice. Take a look at the V.A.., that is going be your service level. Given the fact that "we have no money", don't expect much service.

[TripperLV]

Our system is not a free market system, but a mix of GOV and Private (regulatory induced oligopoly). The rise of the "Managed Care Organization" has limited choice. Much of the regulation was done by lobbyist to create conglomerates and protect markets. This needs to be corrected. I am suggesting the status quo, but the proposed system goes too far and is not true "socialism", but "corporatism". It will have the worst of both systems. The closest comps are England and Canada, see for yourself.

[quizerry]

We could learn something from France there private market Insurance is the lowest in the world due to little or no Government regulations. A true free market system. Think if we did that for the whole system!

[integral]

your paranoia is one of your least attractive features

[TripperLV]

Now that is really a strange post.

[Seansafk]

He says Obama's plan is too expensive, yet he wants even more government intervention in healthcare? Where does the money to cover that come from? This government is off killing over a million people overseas and we want these people in charge of our health? You gotta be kidding me.

[motorolarules]

First time I saw this guy was on DemocracyNow. I does matter who interviews these people. DemocracyNow allowed a far superior interview then did this mainstreamer Lou. I notice a lot of interruptions when good people with a valid point are interviewed by cable or network TV wannabe 'policymakers'

[TinaFunk]

Major insurance companies`are top fortune 500 companies, making ungodly profits. I am all for giving the gov't the monies to pay off the Nat'l Debt over lining pockets of those who work at denying care and payment for care that is necessary for the patient's well-being. Corporation hospitals base their ability to profit over the care of the patient. Dr. Scheiner is right in his statements.. Lou, what are the 3 major corporations paying you to distort the truth and put words in the Drs. mouth?

[TinaFunk]

I am an ICU RN, and I have 2 sons who are pharmacists, so this is a common subject we talk about when we get together. No longer are tobacco products or liquor corporations allowed to advertise on TV. The same needs to apply for Pharma. The cost of advertisement is passed on to the consumer, and people also pay dearly until the patent ends. Elimination of patents in leui of taking donations (yes, folks.. most of the charitable contributions are passed on to Pharma).. TBC

[TinaFunk]

In other words.. Medicare lets the physician treat patients, instead of the insurance companies mandating a patient's treatment from afar. The main reason medicare is so exoensive is because elderlypatients are trying to buy food, shelter, and medicine on limited budgets, and frequently forego buying medicine to survive, and end up being frequent flyers in the hospitals. This is trickling down to much younger people in the present economy. (To be continued)..

[tarheelnkorea]

This doctor knows what he is talking about people need to listen the president needs to have him on the board for healthcare!

[jahguy7]

great memory, good speaker, young does NOT equal great president

[Aerodeth]

The proper term would be 'figure-head'.

[junkforkaryn]

so...he's basically saying that the watered down version that the corporate whore politicians want isn't enough. lou must have been greatly disappointed in this guy..lol.

[IndiMusicLover]

What kind of Christian would want healthcare for the poor? Real Christians are concerned about losing their guns and getting breast enlargements to win beauty pageants.

[DantarBlade]

So do you enjoy being religiously bigoted, or are you just ignorant?

[jahguy7]

I can only assume you are joking, or are you really that bitter?

[stme2008]

who cares

[cagedtigersteve]

I would now like to hear from Michael Jackson's doctor on health care.

[Manikstor]

hmm..

1st