Obama Town Hall 1st Question? Single Payer

[davidbreitzmann]

We have a shared, urgent domestic need and the Constitution expressly protects the general welfare.

We are at a point where there is very little union activity, public opinion has no role in policy. This is not the expressed will "of the people."

We have shared investment for roads, schools and social security. Is there any difference?

Let's have a respectful conversation but instead of negating everyone come to the table with an alternative in mind.

Change indeed.

[connecticutman1]

I agree. And the fact that the Constitution provides not just for "PROMOTING the general welfare" but to "PROVIDE for the general welfare" is pretty darn clear.

Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution (Taxing and Spending Clause) "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States;"

[heyjenknee]

At 6:12, he says if I don't have insur they will give me choices. Really, I heard I will HAVE to have health insurance where as it stands now I have the freedom to take the risk and not have insur. I do not want my freedom of choice to go away.I am not poor enough to get a freebie, yet spending 450bucks a month on health insurance is really going to hurt me. Again, who gets screwed, the middle class!!!

[connecticutman1]

Problem with you going without insurance? Everyone gets screwed when you go into a hospital and can't afford an expensive treatment. We all end up paying for it.

[heyjenknee]

Connecticutman1- Why do u assume I can't or don't pay my bills. You're wrong , it could be expensive but I will pay and have a zero balance.I typed I'm not poor enough in my previous comment. Do you realize with reform we will be paying electronically in real time? I wonder what will happen to the people who don't have the money in their accounts at the time to pay ? Will they get turned away? This reform will kill us, literally.

[connecticutman1]

You can honestly say you have a couple of million lying around for when you or someone in your family gets seriously ill? Because many injuries and illnesses quickly run up into the six and seven figure costs. Even catastrophic insurance of a million bucks is not enough and will run out before treatment is done.

[Trob92]

@heyjenknee

u wont pay more than 8 percent of your income if it cost more you'll be subsidised

[UASRT99]

2003 speech to the civil, Human, & women rights conference he is saying to get rid of private ins. that is the goal and it would take time to get the single payer system. So, he is talking out the side of his mouth. The devil did the same thing with Eve...told a half truth. Our health care needs improved, but not government involvement.

[mrb244]

I worked in the accounting department of a hospital Obama is correct. People go to the ER for treatment because hospitals cannot deny someone treatment in the emergency room even if they do not have insurance ;) Hospitals create their own prices for treatment and makeup the money spent treating people for free via the patients who actually have insurance or have money. The US health care system needs a major overhaul. However a government run health care system is not the answer.

[ronin2167]

Alot of those people wouldn't qualify for health care anyway. Why? Because they are illegal aliens. Why should I, you or anyone else have to pay for their health care if they aren't here legally?  Now...a real emergency...I am at odds with myself there. I admit.

[lizardtongue1970]

We could close our TRUE deficit gap over time, IF we trimmed unnecessary spending and offered incentives for companies to come here with jobs for American citizens.

[lizardtongue1970]

Also our infrastructure is very brittle and requires a great deal of money. He could offer a tax amnesty with a sunset clause and bring our industry back home. If we were to bring back 10-12 million jobs, people could go back to work and be able to afford healthcare on their own. He could suspend federal support for illegals and save billions. He could remove funding to foreign dictators and save billions.

[lizardtongue1970]

Our gov't can't manage the programs they have in place now. Now they want more tax dollars to start a program they know nothing about. Look at Medicaid & Medicare, look at Social Security & Education.

[fortsmith1]

He lies. No single payor. No Communist health care.

[gimmeAfuknName]

All other industrial nations have National health?

There are 195 countries in the world and only 17 have national health. Most of these are seeking ways to make it more like the US, with open market involvement and competition. Quit screwing around with healthcare, and other such diversions and create some jobs, rather than put bills out there that will kill millions more jobs.

[wyrwulf69]

so you are saying we are free to get raped by our insurance companies? free to be slaves to our hmo's? wise up!

[wigglethemiddle]

I cannot believe that we are talking about putting healthcare into the hands of the government. This is the single most important element of freedom. How is any opposition to government have any steam given that the government controls the tendrils of your access to care. Oh, well, it's just going to be a public option. But it is just like fannie and freddie: that was a "public option," too - that just so happened to eat up 50% of the mortgage market

[johnrehman]

With all do respect Mr. President, Single Payer will reduce cost by at least 50% taking a massive burden off of our economy. If all other industrialized nations have Single Payer (Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) so can the United States. Interestingly, over 60% of Americans support a National Health Program!

[lizardtongue1970]

That depends on which poll you regard as credible. CNN and many other polls rank it about even across the board. The country is split on this matter.

[jbosso79]

Johnrehman, I don't know where you're getting the number 60%, when every single poll shows that the majority of Americans are NOT in favor of the "public option." People do not trust the government to handle health care - and for good reason. You heard the president himself..."medicaid and medicare are going broke. That's the single biggest driver of our debt." His words, not mine. BTW, the cost has skyrocketed because of the pay schedules determined by who...the government, that's who.

[kevinpaulharper]

If Health care is driving us down, go single payer, countries with single payer pay 50% less per person on health care then we currently do. 60% of the money we use for health care, already comes from our taxes.

[connecticutman1]

Thanks of the comments. :) I am a single payer supporter but I would be happy with an honest public option. Honest enough that out congress critters had to be on it too.

[jkerouac02]

LMAO at 5:20 he was about to say "that's the kind of system you have in FRANCE" and then changed course when he remembered southerners don't like France

[Davidmeimers]

The US has the most expensive health care system in the world and worse health care outcomes than any other industrialized nation. There is something worse than Government Run Health Care - it's called Health Insurance Corporations the US way.

WIth a system so broken it's time to start from scratch - time for SINGLE PAYER.

[Modeltrainguy]

I Agree! Max Baucus is an Idiot!

[johnrussellCD5]

Nope he has willingly subjected himself to being extorted!

He is complicit in the corruption that is Washington. Pull Baucus and LEAD! SPHC is the MOST cost effective means of addressing this problem. EVERYONE knows it including Obama, but are I say he is "owned" too. 

My website has had the plan for the past 6 years.

John Russell, MS/ARNP,MBA/HCSM Dem Nominee Congress 5th District Fl 2006-08.

[Modeltrainguy]

Let me get this straight: Obama Smokes. He's covered!

Smokers are not as easily covered.

How much is it costing to cover Obama's Medical Care? AND for his Family?

Notice Health Insurance is STILL the "Buzz Words" on TV?

I DON'T WANT "Affordable Health Insurance". It's Extra income for CEO's as Bonus Pay! Obama KNOWS this!

I WANT Healthcare. I want a Medical ID Card I can use at ANY Hostpital. The ID Card has Basic Info including Medical History/Allergies.

[vnylbean]

Obama did not address the very important issue of the fox guarding the henhouse, aka Sen. Max Baucus who receives tons of money from Big Pharma, insurance companies, as well as other companies with interests in both industries. The government is trying to make us shape ourselves around it, instead of the way it's supposed to be, the government shaped around what WE THE PEOPLE WANT. I will vote against everyone, including Obama if he does not step up to the single payer plate.

[johnrussellCD5]

The PTB (powers that be) will appoint the most fluid fibbers and glibbers to try and con US into believing that they have "Done the Best that we can" and expect us to believe it. However we are waking up on the whole and the BS is not going to fly as far or as well as it has in the past IMHO. So pols , in particular elcted Dems wjho are backtracking BIGTIME.. LOOKOUT!

[DigitalArtsSociety]

This was an exellent question. That lady pulled it straight out of my mouth. At first Obama was slow to answer it but eventually he did answer the single payer side but opted not to touch on the marx bacus subject which is understandable yet remains a huge problem

[connecticutman1]

Baucus and other Senators are the biggest problem with moving real reform ahead.

[DigitalArtsSociety]

Its hard to fathom the fact that baucus is a democrat.

His behaviour on this issue has been reminiscent of the last 8 years of republican rule.

[connecticutman1]

As good as he is on other things, Connecticut's Dodd is no better on this issue.

[kanani717]

And so is Obama! Don't exclude him from the blame!