Barack Obama on Health Care Reform

[resutoran]

This is exactly what he said he would do on Libya Love Bombings. <3

[Wilone328]

Citizens opinions have to be shared!! Will you support Barak 0bama's health Care reform?? Go over to my utube profile to see just why Americans thoughts matters !

[Ranlon]

You lied to get elected now it stealing time to kill of the american people for good. What have they got on you to make you do all this Barry?

[plum26754]

We saw your transparency and found it to be opaque.  You are owned by SEIU...What does Andy Stern know about you that you kiss his ass so hard so often? Mr. President you are fools gold.

[Crustydraw]

they have been having closed door meetings,,,,,........then he forgot to mention he was gonna let the congress push a plan that would lock people up for not buying insurance

[roscoe85cj]

Better get ready to add 10 Million Hatian refugees to Obama's socialized medicine plan .. dig a little deeper into those pockets people !

[vindicatedsoul07]

"What they did is, they went behind closed doors without including key members of congress." hmm. sounds like your plan so far. "And they didn't listen to the American people." Well Obama, did you know that 60% of Americans didn't want your stupid healthcare plan? "They just won't be able to buy every chair." But you'll be able for buy votes, won't you? "I welcome everybody else to the table." you mean except those who oppose you right? WOOOW what a liar! who knew. oh wait the repubs knew he was

[OMGGUITARHERO]

Hey Im watching C-SPAN and I cant find this debate he is talking about. It must be there. No way he would be lying about this...

[AUBSisere]

The vitriol & scare tactics being thrown at America's proposed Health Care reform is spilling over even on to English T.V. News. It's really scary. The rest of the world knows that President Obama is addressing a valid issue & can't understand why so many Americans don't have common sense !

[funkbrother216]

[The Obama plan would leave a third of those currently uninsured lacking coverage."

-Washington Post 6/9/07]

That 15 million will go to Medicaid. Medicaid will be much more prosperous when only having to deal with 15 million people. Clinton's plan will leave 20 million people uninsured and penalized with a fine for it.

[ChiGuy1978]

How Is Obama's Plan Different?

"The Obama plan would leave a third of those currently uninsured lacking coverage."

-Washington Post 6/9/07

"Outside experts agree that Mr. Obama's plan would leave 15 million people without insurance."

-Wall Street Journal, 12/04/07

"Over all, the Obama-type plan would cost $4,400 per newly insured person, the Clinton-type plan only $2,700."

-New York Times, 02/04/08

[Darusdei]

The gross national product includes air pollution and advertising for cigarettes and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and jails for the people who break them. GNP includes the destruction of the redwoods and the death of Lake Superior. It grows with the production of napalm, and missiles and nuclear warheads... it does not allow for the health of our families, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play.

[Darusdei]

It is indifferent to the decency of our factories and the safety of our streets alike. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, or the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.

[Aussie3774]

Well, yes, that's why its used in economics and not in the arts, or literature.

And I would argue that without all the trappings of the modern, civilized world, the people would have less time to prance through the meadows and hug trees. Think return to a simpler way sounds enticing? Check out the Dark Ages.

[Darusdei]

its because thick minded like your self why the US is doing so bad today... try 100 wrong things and then hopefully you will get it right... do some research why europian countries are doing better

[Darusdei]

Finland finland finland thats the place to be.

our government has good transparency thus making it the least corrupted countries in the world and yes we have a universal healthcare and it works... your american media is just fearmongering what that kinda system would do... only ones who would be losing money is the insurance and medicine corps

[funkbrother216]

@ Darusdei

We had better wake up. Like I said, this isn't merely a campaign, this is a movement against the old political paradigm. That paradigm isn't going quitely. GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[funkbrother216]

Now that's what i'm talking about! Government transparency, who would have thought? This shows that Obama is not only a candidate of substance, but represents a much more evolved way of government.

Etsneroj, good point as well. Obama isn't in this to villainize the people whom we rely on. Fighting only stagnates the process, as Hillary has shown. You must know how to work with people, that's how you get results.

[Aussie3774]

So, he's apparently anointed himself with the divine right to snatch even more money from my already pathetic paycheck? Im guessing that, like HRC, I won't be able to turn down this coverage, and its accompanying tax hikes? Wow...Where'd my freedom go?

Course, since its MY fault that people let themselves go and require massive medical care, I should pay for them. Its also MY fault that some people can't afford medical care, so its only FAIR that Obama steals my money, and gives it to them.

[funkbrother216]

Prevention programs that teach the public about netrition and excorsise is also part of Obama's Health Plan. He is the only candidate who discusses prevention and healthy living as part of the solution. That's more of his "from bottom up" approach.

[Aussie3774]

The fact still remains, why should people who can afford to have healthcare have to pay for those who cannot? People won't be given an option as to whether or not they want to pay into this program, correct? How is that moral at all?

I'd be the first to admit that its unfortunate that not everyone has healthcare, but that's it: Unfortunate. Its not my fault that they don't, and its not my responsibility to make sure that they get it. Yet, B.O. is planning on forcing us to do just that. Freedom?

[funkbrother216]

Obama's plan does not force anybody to purchse health insurance, Hillary's does. The only mandates in Obama's plan are for parents to puchase health care for their children. Also, Obama's health plan will only increase the tax on your paycheck by $1.00. For me, that is worth the dramatic reduction in health care cost that Obama's plan would result in.

[Aussie3774]

I would take any current estimate for costs, and their accompanying taxes, with a massive grain of salt. But that's besides the point.

What is the point is that such a tax increase would be ok, WITH YOU. What of the many people who are going to be against UHC? Do we really need to create more massive government departments? What of the thousands of ppl that work for healthcare companies? Health insurance companies? Guess their just casualties of Obama's choosing.

[funkbrother216]

Opponents of UHC assume that the government will rule the health care industry with an iron hand or with ineptude. With UHC, physicians in private practice just bill the government instead of the patient. Other than that, they are free to practice wherever they want. UHC just means it is government financed, not necessarily government controlled, big misconception. HMO workers will not be eating out of dumpsters, they'll find other places to work. Perhaps at Obama's new green energy co!

[Aussie3774]

Sure, with UHC, nothing will change except the billing addresses, right? Come on, its basic economics. With a monopoly on healthcare, the govt would not be willing to pay what private citizens are willing to pay, in all cases. You can't, when you're attempting to pay for 300million patients.

-Show me 1 govt program that has been run competently, and at minimal cost. Private business is lean and efficient; govt is filled with bureaucrats trying to get their retirement pension secured.

[Aussie3774]

HMO workers, and the billions that their companies are worth, would be DESTROYED by this socialist program. Where else should they work? They specialize in the healthcare industry, now they are what, basic office workers again? Glad that you find it easy to dismiss the thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, that would lose their job while O tears down capitalism, but frankly, I would rather pay my own way, keep my dollars, and get private health insurance. Self-responsibility, remember that?

[funkbrother216]

@ Aussie, you're probably not aware of the fact the most of the patients who die as result of being denied health care actuall DO have insurance. Their HMO just denies them coverage due to some dubious raquet being ran. You are lucky enough not to have been effected by this. However, is that what it's going to take?

[Aussie3774]

I'm all for *reforming* the healthcare system within the US; I understand that there are some glaring issues that should be fixed (amongst them, tort reform), and by all means, let's address them. That, however, is a far cry from tossing out the entire system, and switching over to Socialized medicine. Why not attempt to fix a system that generates massive amounts of business (profits are the epitome of evil), rather than tearing it down entirely?

[Aussie3774]

One other point: Consider the current immigration debacle. Systems in the SW are being swamped by migrants who arent citizens, and come here for the healthcare and jump out on the bill. That cost is eaten by the medical centers, and many have shut down because of it. Ring the dinner bell on the Healthcare buffet, and watch the illegal immigration issue explode. You're happy to pay for the healthcare of your countrymen, what of the entire hemisphere's?

[funkbrother216]

Obama will be securing the borders as well. He also plans on stregnthening the ecconomy before making UHC available. He would have to UHC in the U.S. is a huge undertaking. The business that heatlh care already generates will not change when it becomes universal.

[Aussie3774]

Its not just the President that has to act in order for the border to be secure, the Congress has to do its part as well, and its become obvious that they have no intention to secure the border. Vis-a-vis the funds that were allocated for a wall, and have now disappeared, or the electronic wall that the DHS advocated, and now apparently doesn't believe will work.

[Aussie3774]

The entire economic structure of the healthcare industry would be irreparably changed if its socialized. PharmComs would lose a great deal of profits (govt can dictate what price its willing to pay), so R&D would get smashed, the entire profit incentive would be taken out of the equation. Why should companies be racing to develop new technologies, that a socialst government might not be willing to pay for? Pills that can never be sold at a price that would help recoup costs? Philanthropy?

[funkbrother216]

You're saying that we should keep HMOs around simply because they employ people. Nevermind the fact that they hurt the health care system alot more than they help.

[-Show me 1 govt program that has been run competently, and at minimal cost.]

The Post Office. Contrary to popular opinion, packages sent through the postal service have the same success rate as ones sent by FedEx. FedEx just has better tracking devices and, unlike Postal service, FedEx only runs monday thru friday.

[Aussie3774]

1)No, what I'm advocating is a reform of the current system, something that will help to make insurance more available people and make it harder for companies to deny claims b/c of costs or pre-existing conditions. Other actions, such as tort reform, would also go a long way to lowering costs.

2)The USPS is successful at delivering packages, but suffers from cost overruns, and massive inefficiencies. the USPS doesnt have to worry about profits; why should they try to be cost efficient?

[Sadier888]

Americans should get smart and fight for universal care. More taxes, so what? No one dies from lack of care! But Americans are greedy selfish pigs who will allow children to die for mass profit.

[futuredoc2020]

@Sadier888 Actually, Doctors don't want to go to school for 16 years and get their salary cut, because others think it is too expensive. If we bring in Universal Healthcare you will see most doctors quitting their jobs and making private practices and charging the same they used to and only the horrible doctors will work publicly because they can not get hired anywhere else.

[uchimeo]

He talks like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He's a great public speaker. He has a very strong voice.

[suzannels]

I say, he better have Hillary at that big round table or she will stand up in front of the cameras the following day and declare him unfit in another one of her displays of bipolar disorder.

[Darusdei]

how would u do it? its called universal health care which is everywhere in western world and it sure as hell works better than urs

[Aussie3774]

What's your definition of "works"? Sky-high taxes, and another creaking, inefficient govt bureaucracy?

Why is it up to everyone to pay for everyone else? Hypothetical: I'm a student, and can't afford healthcare. You have a job, where the hike your taxes up, so they can snatch a few more precious dollars from your paycheck, and give them to me so I can go to the doctor.

Is that fair to you? Is it your responsibility to make sure I'm taken care of?

[funkbrother216]

Aussie. Yes, it would be our responsibility to take care of you, than when you get into our position, you'll take care of the next college student and so on. However, neither Hillary nor Barack are offering that, what they offer is supposed to set the stage for universal care. It is true that our economy isn't strong enough for a universal care system with our population.

[Darusdei]

so the more fair thing is that less fortunate just dies? here we have something called moral. mean while you're going into other countries "liberating" them and spending billions for it, when you cant take care of your own...

[Aussie3774]

Oh you want fair? Well fair is certainly the order of the day. Course, it depends on whose definition of fair you want to use. I, personally, think fairness can only be acheived by people taking responsibility for themselves, and their own lives. How is it fair that I am forced to pay for them?

- Considering that your nation's GDP is nearly half of that of the state of Massachusetts' (which also has a million more ppl), I think we'll look towards more respectable countries for advice.

[Darusdei]

...the welfare of a nation [can] scarcely be inferred from a measure of national income...

-Simon Kuznets the inventor of the GDP, in his very first report to the US Congress in 1934

[hempsavetheworld]

So... what is he going to do? He didn't really answer the question. He's a good speaker, and he can get people to clap their hands when he raises his voice... but he can't make a point very well. Why would I vote for him when I can vote for Ron Paul?

[vikvaliant]

He said what he was going to do. It's the same thing JFK did. To solve a big problem you bring in all the experts, set a reasonable goal, make the whole thing transparent to the public, and then use the power of the presidency to push it forward.

[bucklaw]

So we are going to elect another conservative.

[LIMV09]

Didn't you just miss the Obama message there about bringing people together?

[etsneroj]

Conservative George Will said it best:

"Obama...is refreshingly cerebral amid this recrudescence of the paranoid style in American politics. He is the un-Edwards and un-Huckabee — an adult aiming to reform the real world rather than an adolescent fantasizing mock-heroic 'fights' against fictitious villains in a left-wing cartoon version of this country."

[freedomwarrior43]

He is actually describing how health care works in Latin America today. We are doomed with him, trust me on that!

[dupsmckracken]

OBAMA '08

[unstablebunnytube]

This guy is a great orator. That's a way of saying that I am impressed that an african american can speak english properly. As far as his points, who really cares. The only thing we concentrate on is his oratory ability. Impressive, yes, electable, no.

[scrubrush]

No matter what is said or what is done. As long as we continue to give free health care, free entitlement programs and offer free anchor baby citizenship to the illegal population nothing will change except the cost, which will go up. Just like a building, if the foundation isn't right, nothing else matters.

[marytnurse]

Have I said lately how much I love this guy? As a HC worker, he's RIGHT ON THE MONEY!!! And what better way to get the 'stakeholders' in the system to be held accountable!! Get them face to face with those they "serve!"

[mrjwenn]

This is exactly why we need BARACK OBAMA for PRESIDENT!!!!!!

[Zrarieh]

He was on the money about the ways of Washington. WOW!

I know he's going to do it. He's The One!

[CounterRevolutionary]

Watch Obama at Arizona State University on October 19, 2007

youtubeDOTcom/watch?v=D34_vByM­McQ

It's time for a change!

[dupsmckracken]

all candidates do that

they done want supporters of other candidatesto be on camera its not jut obama stfu

[grammyh]

and he also needs to get some more Democrats elected to the Senate and I think he will be able to assure this happens when he is our nominee.

[Jigaton]

Dem, Rep, I don't care who he gets in his circle so long as they're at least half as honest as he is