Keith Olbermann Special Comment Healthcare 10/07/09

[TheToughCrowd]

FIRST... I think it is tooooo funny that he bags on FOX for not telling the news....

This guy tells anything but the news.

SECOND...

You trust the GOVERNMENT...to spend OUR money on health??? Since when do they EVER spend money correctly??!?!?!?

[dghkdghkdghk]

If you're in any way in favor of any war the US is waging, i.e. against "terrorism", you must at least think they know where to spend the money.

Now if instead of spending that money to kill people, they spent it to save lives... what do you think could be wrong about that?

And there is no news on FOX, I don't know how to put it without a sophism, but you're litteraly a tool if you think otherwise.

[TheToughCrowd]

NO they dont spend money well in the war. Don't you remember hearing about how so many soldiers who didnt have the proper armor? Or when the military "misplaced" millions of dollars"?

There are other ways to "save lives". A public option is NOT the answer. I like my health care and if I lose my job, I don't want to be force to use a government plan. Which if you READ the bill, once it goes through you MAY NOT switch or change your private health care. If you lose it, you MUST use the government.

[cronos225]

You say that he tells everything but the news. Ya, this is an opinion show. He is telling you his opinion. Fox news has opinion shows too, but they also claim to have legitimate news. The only thing is the news is dripping with the same bias as the opinion.

[surgewakefield]

People might be more convinced the government would handle health-care properly if they hadn't bailed out billion dollar corporations first. I support the public option but I understand why so may people fight it - they don't think that the government will stay good on their word.

[ocelot814]

The government IS the problem. The reason free clinics are so remote is due to regulation, licensing, and other government meddling making it arduous for voluntary services.

[jiggajag02]

For those right wing hate mongers who always like to talk about 'FOX' ratings. Let me tell you i watch FOX because there's nothing like a good Retard Parade, keep it up tea baggers. And if you really want to talk numbers, then tell me why Olberman's contract pays him much, MUCH more than Bill O'Reilly. (how does Beck make money with no sponsers :)Olberman's not going anywhere. but FOX Noose might have their press credentials pulled very soon. Good night and Good Luck.

[slickmatt82]

free speech liberal here^

[slickmatt82]

I love how these free speechers love it when they are in the minority, but want to quash dissent when in the majority. Let's see if there are any anti war protests this year, I bet you few and far between.

[slickmatt82]

Also, there is provision to protect insurance companies from lawsuits in the current bill. So for those of you that believe the Dems are fighting the good fight against the insurance companies, see Van Sustern's interview with Rep. Hoekstra (R) as to what happenned when he asked Baucus why a provision protecting insurance companies was put into the healthcare bill.

[slickmatt82]

I have been to various countries in Europe. People that I have spoke with said it sucked. It is probably great while you are young and healthy. I am for healthcare reform as well, but the government taking it over will result in no net gain.

[BeanieBasstard]

Heres somebody from Europe telling you that the NHS is one of the most precious things we have, I wouldnt be here without it.

[slickmatt82]

Yeah, but I wonder where Europe will be getting its advanced treatments and medications from when the U.S. stops producing them if it goes to socialized medicine.

[km6xz]

Which countries? Who told you that and did they have any experience with other 'systems" like the US and Nigeria? I bet they would have ran home if they need care in the US.

[slickmatt82]

Germany and Bulgaria, I have visited personally. There was also a foreign exchange student somewhere from Czech or Poland that said it sucked too.

[classicallady]

slick visiting is not living. Big difference here

[slickmatt82]

I totally agree with you. I was visiting. They lived there, and had to live with the horrors of government run healthcare. Thanks for making my point classical.

Also, let's not forget kids, if centralized government planning and control was ever going to work. It would have worked in the U.S.S.R. They were wayyyy better at math and science.

[classicallady]

Kid I really don't have time for you.I am European have traveled the world and if you think some words in any language makes you a poliglote you are wrong. Everybody knows a simple google translation will do.Whilst I ACTUALLY studied and am fluent in 6 languages. Last comment here. Don't bother to reply. I will dismiss it like I dismiss all the bullshit coming out of Ron Paul's - your demi-god - mouth.For me you are just trash

[slickmatt82]

I have no idea what this rebutted or meant, so you CAN have the last word. I am glad you can speak six languages, but I have no idea what that has to do with anything. But since you brought it up it's thanks to the U.S. that it wasn't just one: German, or Russian. Imagine health care in Europe without the benefits of advancements made in the U.S., should it go socialist. Imagine how weak the militaries of different Euro countries would look without US backing.

[slickmatt82]

And one last tip, I hope you at least learned Farsi, Arabic, Turkish, or some other Asian language. Your western European since of entitlement and culture are dying. It's about to be there time.

[panthera50]

Well slickmatt82: from another european: it does not suck.

Been on the operating table 6 times, and never did I have to pay for it.

How would you be, if your insurance said it was a pre-condition and turned you down ? Broke perhaps ?

I am not, because they cant turn you down here, you are insured of that.

[slickmatt82]

Olbermann "Count Down to No Ratings" should have stuck to boomshakalaka to Shaq dunks.

[combat1856]

Olberman is a fuckin treasonous cancer on this country. I hope he hangs himself.

[billthebutcher2]

For wanting his fellow citizens to have health care? lol I wish you good luck in that padded cell.

[panthera50]

Combat: Yeah,sure: and you can afford to get sick and hear: sorry, it was a pre.condition, leaving you with a bill for 30.000 dollar or more ?

Good luck !!

[classicallady]

They insist on combating us but don't bother to do a little research as how we Europeans are way healthier than them. Same goes for Canada.

[castleblanca]

How much would it cost to buy one hour of prime time on Fox and repeat the entire hour of Keith Olbermann's "Special Comment" on the health crisis in this country for Fox viewers?

I'll give the first $100.00.

[panthera50]

Thanks for a SANE comment from an American. :-)

Greetings from someone in "Socialist.lol" Europe, where I did not have to pay ANYTHING for the 6 times I went in for surgery. =)

And not get broke in the progress.

Now aint that evil ? ;-)

[classicallady]

From another socialist European living in the States let me tell you most of the imbeciles posting negative comments about our health system have never even set foot outside the US

[nitsky416]

pretty much.

[panthera50]

You are right, some of those imbeciles I've seen, think Amsterdam is the capital of Denmark.

Go figure. :-((

[classicallady]

And mos Americans believe Argentina is the capital of Brazil.

[km6xz]

That is surely true, until recently only 18% of US citizens had passports, that included millions of immigrants who had to have them to get to the US in the first place. I have been in 86 countries and now live in Eastern

Europe and the health care is very accessible. When I was not covered by insurance(which I have now for $400/yr) I paid $5700 for a full hip replacement. Before in the US after paying in $120,000 my only claim was denied.

[classicallady]

Km6xz Most of the comments here are coming from ignorants paid by the isn. companies to raise hell - bunch of trolls.

[km6xz]

I am afraid you are right Classicallady. The whole society glorifies ignorance and revels in it, takes the word of Beck, Hannity, Rush and corporations but never think that it is not difficult to dig deeper and find that is all propaganda and that they are willing pawns. When asking any one of them for context or the basis for their beliefs, it never comes from knowledge or experience, it comes from "I heard it somewhere" or that some bit of propaganda happens to fit one of their biases.

[Fringe111]

subscribed

[Fringe111]

Anyone who saw this and dissagrees has no heart. Keith is right when he said that we are slaves to the insurance co. for what can we do about it. If you protest then they drop you. That's midevil. The strangle hold they have on us is complete and yet there are still people out there who still dones't believe it.

[okiedragonlady2]

My mother is frantic to stop healthcare reform - she has Tricare and Medicare - both gov run but she doesn't want the gov to run healthcare for others - amazing selfish bitch. And she calls herself a christian - spits - save me from the selfish - save America from the selfish.

[mike1111qq]

what do liberals have in common with liberty??  NOTHING.

[mike1111qq]

this ass thinks its an ACCIDENT OF LIFE that some people make more money than others....well i do think he is right on his being an accident... other than that he is a democrat shill....

[Euroman25]

I live in Scandinavia and here we have socialists medicin. But we still have to pay for our medication, and have several month of waiting for simple operations! And if you are old doctors can easily say you are to old for the operation etc.

What do you say to that?

[liberalshavenospine]

Euroman25, I am glad somebody will tell the truth around here. The people in the U.S don't believe rationing of health care happens. It mostly happens when the government finds out the staggering cost of health care, and they care afford to pay for it. That is when the rationing starts. The young get preference over the old. You get treatment according to how much you contribute to society. If you are old and retired. i feel sorry for you under this form of health care.

[cronos225]

Don't want your health care "rationed by the government"? Fine, then don't take the public option, its as simple as that. It is called an option for a reason. But don't deny people who can't afford or don't qualify for private insurance the chance to get it because you are paranoid. We have rationing now. There are lines now. The insurance companies are driven by profit, not your well being. They have an incentive to deny you care, and they do it more often then should be legal.

[Plutonwolf]

And right here it is defined for all to see why the raving right so despise Mr Olbermann. They want the fog to remain, they want us to only have access to their distorted view, their utter falsehoods, their mean spirited warped view of what America is. Keith replies with the passion we who are sane feel when we are confronted with the reality of Reagan's insane dream time made real. And this is just one facet of anarcho capitalism, far worse is yet to come.

Bravo Keith, Bravo.

[Hinashou5]

This was truly his best special comment yet. Blew my mind. Keep up the great work Keith.

[HulksHeroes]

Hard to argue with that. What kind of a nation are we? I think I know what kind of a nation we HAVE BEEN....but where do we want to go? Call it what you want.....socialism, communism, fascism, nazism, or whatever derrogatory name you paste on it....I would rather refer to it as "compassionate". What would Jesus do?

[mike1111qq]

old tom lives under a bridge down town and drinks wine.. i go to work every day and pay for a better life. if you are going to take MY earnings buy force or threat of jail to pay toms bills if he gets sick. then you should force tom to go to work buy force or threat of jail.. kind of like a SLAVE...

[HuxleyWasRight]

You want a compassionate system like ours (UK) where drugs are kept back because of red tape issues (herceptin) where health care is rationed and people get prioritized depending on their age, which will happen in the US, where waiting lists are months long.

the moment you nationalize your health care system you'll see standards slip dramatically .

[km6xz]

Every country settles for what they do, for any faults in the UK system, it is still far far better than in the US where the health and financial security of the country is teetering on collapse due to control by corporate interests. Although we pay twice as much as anyone else, we get less for it than any developed country. We pay over 18% of GDP for health care that is substandard and accessible for even those who ARE insured. Why do we have to pay 20 x as much for medications as EU?

[liberalshavenospine]

km6xz, I found out why we pay more for our medications than the E.U .This is an except from the New England Journal. High U.S. prices are said to be necessary to cover the costs of research and development for new and better drugs, given the price levels in Europe and Canada. Americans are increasingly asking why they should subsidize the development of new drugs that are also used by Canadians and Europeans. In short the U.S subsidizes the cost of medicine, and the other countries benefit.

[km6xz]

Unfortunately that is not true regardless of how many industry sponsored articles are published. How many drug companies are even registered or incorporated in the US? Not many, but the Bahamas and other off-shore tax havens have many . The basic R&D is paid for by many different governments and universities, mostly in the US and Europe and less comes from the companies themselves than even their ad budgets. They spend more on promotion and lobbying than all the research combined.

[km6xz]

Con't:

Major research facilities are also in Europe and always have been. These are multinationals for the most part and most do not even pay taxes in the US. Some US based facilities relocated when the Bush years prevented certain types of research due to religious objections.

No, the real reason for the high prices can be traced to the massive lobbying efforts and buying congress which makes laws to their advantage, such as banned price negotiating for government programs(except VA)

[classicallady]

liberal NOT TRUE. The reason is because in Europe and Canada advertising drugs on the media is forbidden while here the spend over 100 billion in ads/year.Most of the labs are EUROPEANS, remember?

[liberalshavenospine]

The U.S does spend a lot of money on advertising. That is very true. In the top 50 most profitable pharmaceutical companies in the world. The U.S has 20 on the list. If you look at how much they spend on research and development. The top U.S company spent 4 times what the top European company did on R&D. On the average the U.S spends 4-10 times as much on R&D than all the rest of the world.

[HuxleyWasRight]

Read the book "lives at risk", i really highly recommend this book, it not only offers a critique of single payer systems it also offers credible alternatives.

People in the UK love the NHS, actually let me rephrase that, they love the IDEA of the NHS, the concept of "free" health care is obviously attractive, but if you ask anyone about the efficiency they'll readily admit it's poor. I'm pretty sure i have two relatives who were allowed to die when they could have been treated.

[km6xz]

Come on, why don't you state the source of this book. It has been throughly discredited at a hack job funded, at the sum of over $2,000,000 by the insurance companies and uses very poor methodology and just plain false propaganda. The authors are with the right wing fanatic group intent on privatizing all services in the US: National Center for Policy Analysis.

Please THINK, not repeat the paid for propaganda by the health for-profit industry. They ALWAYS lie!

[MoronOfTheDayAwards]

Keith, not kieth.

[FlyingArmbar1971]

-- Kieth Olbermann, a real American!

[TPAUSA]

Keith you are truly a Patriot!

[bnk384]

This is so true, why are some people aganist reform?

[shorbmountain]

excellent.