Grassley Rails Against Public Option

[PersonalJesus348]

co-op.... fuckers stop making money off of my sickness!

[CynicalSavior]

Some one please ask the senator who his health insurance provider is......

Oh yeah... it's a government program.

[AtheistOnTheEdge]

Hidden Republican motive 1.

"Rich white people shouldn't have to pay for health care for the poor black and Hispanic people."

Hidden Republican motive 2.

"Rich white people are a better kind of people than poor black and Hispanic people. The better people in society deserve better health care."

Hidden Republican motive 3.

"If the life expectancy of poor black and Hispanic people improves, they'll breed too much. Bad health care for the lower class keeps their numbers down."

[joshstew85]

1) is it my fault that were born to their race?? did i choose for them? are white people holding them back from making money and starting/operating businesses?? no. to all of those.

2) white people are not superior to black/hispanic people. everyone deserves the same opportunities for health care. does everyone get them?? no, some can't afford them. again, is that the white man's fault?? no.

3) wow, i *have* met racist people before, but your imitation took that WAY too far.

[jarod4u]

I want to be able to get health insurance just like any other insurance. The way HI companies can just deny coverage and other things they do are horrible. There is no competition or consumer protections. Just fix it.

[FriedDaisy]

That dreaded public health insurance option equals government run health care, Mr. Grassley? Guess you'll be giving up the GOVERNMENT RUN health care insurance plan that your and your family so enjoy then . . .

Ha! Let's see how quick you are to do that to prove you're not a hypocrite.

Just admit you're in the pocket of the health insurance corporations Mr. Grassley so that we can simplify the process required to recall your senate seat.

[sachaput]

Can the Republican Party find dumber pasty, white guys to run for office?

I'm a white, male and I find them laughable.

[lamouchemorte]

David Duke.

[lamouchemorte]

This is all about rich people who already have healthcare and who think their taxes are going to go up.

[BrightLighter]

truedat

[mrbhave]

It's ironic how these so-called "conservatives" are all taking the public option when it comes to insurance for them and their families.

The public option is government-PAID health care, not government-RUN health care.

[SabuPtolemy]

Chuck, you need to stop smoking so much Grass-ley.

[voyeurdug]

Actually, guys & gals, the healthcare Congress & all of 'em have is NOT a freebie to them. The only exception would be an unelected government civilian who happens to become ill or injured WHILE ON MILITARY orders. (This happens, but not often; hence: "exceptional.")

Upside: "Free" healthcare.

Downside: MILITARY healthcare. (Think: Military music.)

What they "get" is a selection of available-to-any-/everyone healthcare plans they get to choose from, & pay for out of their own pockets/pay.

[Joe402]

If congressional Republicans hate government provided health care so much why don't they give up THEIR government provided health care and switch to a private insurer?

[Joe402]

This also applies to Democrats who have been bribed by the insurance companies.

[AstoundedAtheist]

Well said, joe402!

[hoosiermama5357libin]

All these sickening Repubs saying no to Gov health care-HAVE GOV HEALTH CARE!! Again I want to hear them so no to their Gov health care and come out in the real world and find their own private health care! Till they have the balls to do that they should STFU!

[larry0913]

How can this "elected official" be so out of touch with both reality and the American people?

[PersonalJesus348]

because the republic is lost

[boots920]

The brutal Truth:

Gold $20 1776

Gold $1000 2009 the market is truth, truth is all fiat money ends without exception because the governments are too stupid and cover up (T.A.R.P) absolute corruption by printing money.

The Republic (1776) was lost when the central bank (The Federal Reserve) subverted the constitution (gold, silver only). The value of the US dollar is reflected in the quality of the government. That's why gold is $1000 US, the US dollar is based on government.The market is truth

[TheRamenAvenger]

If public option is so bad and everyone will hate it and the private sector is what people want, why do they fear it so much? 100% complete bullshit.

[Richardgwm]

The private healthcare corporations simply cannot compete with a public option. They will lose because the government is much more efficient than these profit-seeking corporations.

[boots920]

The "free" market is the best reflection.

Example the private insurance company's weren't following basic guidelines (contract law) they were allowed to subvert the rule of law so the "market" says crooks shouldn't be in charge of the medical system. Can you give me one example of where government has done better than the market ? Use the entire written history of mankind ? Government involvement ensures a disaster.

[1samothrace77]

how about that strong national defense republicans keep throwing money at. i think government has a lot to do with that.

argentina's nationalized energy industry is another example

[boots920]

Argentina's nationalized energy industry, watch the doc. Social Genocide, the government screwed their own people over. Sold the energy co's for pennies on the dollar.

The US government has spent 3 trillion in a sandbox with zero return. The disasters continue....

[Richardgwm]

Two words:

Post office.

[dudev]

I've sold hundreds of items on eBay. Not once has the Post Office lost or damaged one of my items. But UPS and FedEx have crushed my packages like pancakes.

[mrbhave]

Postal workers are paid very well, too, not to mention they receive pensions, just like the other stewards of our tax-paying dollars in the Congress.

[jarod4u]

Well Fed Ex receive a pension and they are not even union! Why, because you have PO and UPS, that increases competition.

[mrbhave]

Interesting, expect that there are more than 1300 medical insurance companies, yet costs have increased at a steady rate -- year after year.

How many power companies do you have to chose from in your area? Just one? Maybe two?

[boots920]

The post office has to be subsidized to be a viable business.

That's not a free market, notice the government is all over it, along with overpaid workers, inefficiencies and high cost to taxpayers. Everything the government touches turns into an absolute clusterfck.

Look at the Iraq war Bush was actually supplying money to the "insurgents" through the 12 billion (365 tons of $100 US dollar bills, given out without audit). Gets pretty bad when the gov. provides money to the enemy on purpose.

[Richardgwm]

Um. . . you are wrong. Since 1971 the USPS has been an independent arm of the Executive branch and has received NO government subsidy. In fact the USPS is required to subsidize other parts of the government through reduced rate and free mailing services.

But don't let reality interfere with the little fantasy world you've created for yourself.

[boots920]

Look up the layoffs in the past year, it wasn't a viable business plan.

[mrbhave]

The post office is self-sustaining.

Our country has not been a free market since 1913. To think otherwise is foolish. If private capitalism is always the answer, why is the government ALWAYS bailing out private companies?

[Richardgwm]

Oh, and the fire department.

Fire departments used to be private companies, but unfortunately they would not fight your fire if you had not paid the premium, leading major cities to burn to the ground. And competing fire companies would interfere with competitors efforts to fight fires in order to win customers.

Yes competition can be very destructive.

[jarod4u]

Great point!!!! These knuckleheads like boots have no idea of history and are horrible students of history.

[boots920]

Who needs history when the government is counterfeiting money.

Gold $20 1776 for two hundred years , now look at the gold price $1000 bucks. Capital never gains in value, its money, profits are reflected in the paper that's returned on capital investment. Look at the implosion of Empire, that's where the states is heading.

[boots920]

Fire, Army, Politicians

Essential Business so there's stability in society.

Unfortunately with the printing presses going full steam ahead those essential services are toast too.

[dudev]

The "free market" is a magical fairy that doesn't exit, and never will exist.

Businesses use the government to restrict competition, and that's the way they like it. Businesses also love government subsidies and handouts. You can't have it both ways.

[boots920]

If government is involved it's not a free market, businesses merged with government is called Fascism.

[dudev]

Businesses regularly lobby Washington politicians to pass laws against competition. For example, US drug companies lobbied against the import of cheaper Canadian drugs.

On the one hand businesses preach about free-markets, then they ask government to restrict the market. Pure hypocrisy.

The free-market doesn't exist and will never exist.

[boots920]

I know the United States ended its free market in 1913, when the money supply was taken over by the "Private" Central Bank, the FED.

They're printing the money supply into oblivion as we speak.

If the globe wasn't screwed gold would be $20 US per oz.

Capital in a free market has to have a base of value (measurement) otherwise the economy is being run with like a Monopoly Game using monopoly money. It will end in the destruction of US currency. Paper can't hold value.

[dudev]

Your response --interesting as it is--has nothing to do with what I said.

[ehkinoh]

Yeah... boots920 will argue himself into a corner, and then change the subject... or just straight up lie / misinform / show his ignorance.

He's basically the modern day, youtube doomsayer, and for some insane reasons believes that a free market, driven by wealth and greed, would somehow solve the world's problems one by one, lifting up the poor, while somehow making the rich even richer.

How do you argue with someone who believes that? It's best just to ignore.

[boots920]

Sure does the printing of money opens up the counterfeiting of money, corruption, influence.

"Lobbyists"

You can't have a free market if people are being bribed, this is why it turns into absolute disaster.

If there was sound money would sub prime happen, no way people would be charged with fraud. With paper money the government looks the other way.

[dudev]

Large modern economies cannot function on gold or silver coins, especially if the coin's precious metal by weight is worth more than its face value as a coin.

[jarod4u]

HA!!! The only fascism in the US is Nazis, KKK, Aryan Nation, and assorted 'skinheads'.

You have some serious flaws in your logic!

[boots920]

The problem isn't the private corporations you have to have sound money to start with, otherwise the government keeps printing up the money instead of living within its means.

Example : The insurance companies don't want to make a reasonable profit, they want insane profits. Hospitals have the same attitude, charge the max. What's reasonable profit in the medical field ? Then have the government guarantee access, (the co's don't have to worry about not being paid).

[videoguy604]

Give up YOUR government healthcare Sen. Grasshead and then we'll talk.

[toosinbeymen]

Right on, Videoguy! I'd love to see that.

[videoguy604]

Sadly, that won't happen. Republicans are all hypocrites.

[PersonalJesus348]

and Democrats.... they're against it too.

[boots920]

Obama - Can't even produce a simple document (Long Form of Birth certificate), he's not even qualified to be president.

Republicans are all hypocrites, how about the whole stinking lot of them. Bush is a War Criminal for how come he's not on trial for murder ??? Obama is a puppet of the Federal Reserve, gold price proves that point.

[videoguy604]

Obama was born in Hawaii, McCain wasn't eligible because he was born in Panama.

[boots920]

Obama's father wasn't a natural born citizen, both parents have to be natural born. What's the big fuss about a simple formality, McCain wasn't eligible but he was still allowed to run for office (deception, subversion).

Born in Hawaii ? That's here-say where's the legal document?Short Version is online, where's the long version for the citizens of the United States can confirm his qualifications.

[videoguy604]

If one of your parents is a U.S. Citizen, you are a U.S. Citizen. Obama's Mom was a citizen, so he is one.

[boots920]

If your following the "Rule of Law" (US Constitution) there is specific guidelines to be qualified to be President.

1) Born on the Continental US, not occupied territory.

2) BOTH parents must be born on the US Continent

3) Parents must be in age of majority for at least 5 years

(Obama's mother didn't qualify for that LAW)

4) Proof of qualification (Long version of Birth certificate)

to PROVE above. The courts don't even follow the basic guidelines because Obama doesn't qualify.

[videoguy604]

That's legislation, not the Constitution. If one of your parents are U.S. citizens, you are a natural born citizen. END OF STORY!

[boots920]

"If one of your parents are US Citizens, you are a natural born citizen".

Subversion, subvert the rule of law so society implodes.

Proof Obama isn't qualified, GW Bush is a War Criminal, Obama is protecting a War Criminal because he's not qualified to be president. A qualified President would have GWya on trial,and he would bring the Patriots home.

Under the US Constitution- Gold, Silver is money an unqualified President takes an oath to uphold the US Constitution, not ignore it.End of country !

[boots920]

Yea he's going to fix it alright by counterfeiting money !

The market doesn't fix things its just a reflection of Truth.

Gold 1776 $20

Gold 2009 $1000

Gold is money (capital) paper is paper, look to Zimbabwe for your future existence. At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.

Aristotle

Fuck the constitution you mean fuck the rule of law so instead of a country you get a cuntry. Zimbabwe's on the gold standard, you don't pan you don't eat

[tim9798]

Gold prices have been dropping for weeks now and your dollar has remained strong. Don't be a fool, Gold is not any more trustworthy then paper money. You would be better off buying T bills.

[boots920]

Yes Buying T bills is great except for when the government is counterfeiting money.

Gold shouldn't be anymore that $20 US per oz, like it was for the first two hundred years. The paper isn't a base of value, the US Fed note doesn't hold value.

[dudev]

What do you hope to accomplish with this sort of comment? Obama is president. Suck it up. Not even the republican party is making this silly argument.

[boots920]

Silly  argument

GWya is a war criminal he led the American people into a war on lies and deceit, if Obama was sincere bush would be on trial right now.

[ehkinoh]

boots920:

That's a lie, their are only 3 qualifications a person has to meet to be eligible for election as President.

1). Be a natural born citizen

2). Be at least 35 years old.

3). Have a permanent resident inside the US for 14 years.

This may surprise some people, but not EVERY natural born citizen has a birth certificate... shocking I know...

[boots920]

"Definition of a natural born citizen"

- Both parents must be "natural born" on the US continent, Obama's father was born in Kenya.

Permanent resident inside the US for 14 years, Obama's passport information, and education information has been sealed so we don't know, its not public information.

Long Version of Birth Certificate has important information contained on it like hospital, doctor, weight at birth, COUNTRY BORN. That's why its not open for public viewing, Obama's not qualified.

[ehkinoh]

To correct your post:

*NO, both parents do NOT have to be natural born citizens.

*Really? One of your major argument is that perhaps he has not had a permanent resident inside the US for at least 14 years?!

*You MUST be confusing "Native-Born Citizen" with "Natural-Born Citizen". An easy mistake to make I suppose, but there IS a difference... not all natural-born citizens have birth certificates, and this fact does NOT disqualify these people from running for election as President.

[boots920]

Very specific "rules of law" in the US constitution to be qualified to be president, another "rule of law" is money in the US is to be gold and silver. (The idiots aren't following any rules of law are they ?)

Its all speculation because :

1) No long version of Obama's Birth Certificate has been provided (short form available only online).

2) All Obama's education , passport information has been sealed up.

It you have noticed yet the idiots haven't been following much law since 1913. Its a joke

[jarod4u]

Move on to something else, please.stop beating a dead horse.

[boots920]

This is why the United States will turn into a third world dung heap. Citizens don't understand even their most basic laws, like buddy here. I wonder if he has ever read or studied the US constitution, look like by his response he doesn't even know what it is.

[jarod4u]

Get over it. I read your posts. Are you just typing off your faux news talking points?

[boots920]

No I get my talking points from the most brilliant document ever conceived by mankind.

"The US Constitution" - Guideline for a free prosperous society. Fox news get their talking points from master Goebbels .

It is the absolute right of the State to supervise the formation of public opinion.

Joseph Goebbels aka Fox news

I'm more into 1776 rather than 1984 (Government domination of society rather that individual free thinking ).

[jarod4u]

whatever!!!! I see neither Adams nor Jefferson in your writing. I see more BillO self-righteousness.

[boots920]

Have you ever read the US Constitution ? "It is error alone which needs the support of government. TRUTH can stand by itself." Thomas Jefferson Federal Reserve - Fiat Money - Error Obama not providing proof he's qualified - Error Congress not declaring War - Error Corruption - Error Assignation of JFK - Error Nixon ending the gold standard - Error Vietnam War - Error Iraq/ Afganistan - Error Biggest error is not following basic law because the country will cease to exist. Obama = Error

[tim9798]

Then nobody, not even you are a natural born citizen.

[boots920]

I know I'm not a natural born "US Citizen" so I can't be President either can Obama.

[burntonion05]

Why are the Repubs so much against jobs in America? With the growing cost of health care more and more businesses will move overseas and our economy will continue to spiral to lows only seen by Republican politicians.

[boots920]

You really have to wonder why both sides are running the country into the ground (subversion). Subvert the rule of law (Constitution) so society implodes.

Example : The dealerships closed with taxpayer's money were some of the most profitable, and businesses built around the dealerships will close too. There was zero thought put into the process and contract law (constitution) was thrown out the door. No wonder the economy is loosing jobs both sides are destroying the country.

[burntonion05]

I am not sure they wouldn't have closed either way and I have no idea how the determined the outcome.

I do know one thing and that is if we had public health care it would be easier to run a business in America. That is a fact that cannot be denied. And if Repubs are so pro-business then why would they be so against it unless they had something to lose like kickbacks from the ones who run our current system?

[boots920]

"I am not sure" - The rule of law , contract law was thrown out the door. The best dealerships were closed, no thought put into the process. Gov. interference in the market place.

So if the government can't even follow the rule of law with contracts, how are they going to do any better running a medical system. An independent, free person will make the best decisions when it comes to his health. In Canada our system is going to fail because there's no way of keeping up with the costs.

[burntonion05]

Are you more concerned about the quality of your health care or the ability to even have health care? If we keep up with our current path we won't have to worry about quality because we won't even have an option because there won't be an economy to support a health care system. Maybe we can all get jobs in the health care field and that might be the only solution.

[boots920]

"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself." Thomas Jefferson

Government backing of medical services - Error

Congress not declaring war - Error

Government involvement in the the free market - Error

Government counterfeiting world reserve currency into oblivion - Error

Citizens taking responsibility for their own lives - Truth, Prosperity

Anything the government touches is an absolute disaster, why would I trust them with my health ?

[ehkinoh]

The sad thing is, most conservatives who post on here argue that through taxes we shouldn't pay for universal healthcare. They say things like "Take care of yourself" and "Personal responsibility".

In my eyes, this translates to "Poor people deserve to die, or at the very least, become homeless due to unforeseen illness."

What's even worse is that I doubt the people posting these things are even that wealthy, and the same things could happen to them. But they are healthy now... so fuck it.

[Bunnicula71]

Well let them live my dream. I've had health coverage all my life, then found myself out of work. Can't afford my COBRA and let it lapse. oddly I kept the car insurance, because that risks a criminal penalty, driving to get luxuries like food/ new job. After giving thousands to insurers over time and never making a significant claim, I jacked myself up after my insurance lapsed.

Color me fucked, but I was lucky in that the hospital wrote off a portion of my bill. No fiction!

[LeGioNoFZioN]

I'm a canuck and a conservative, we have a single payer system. all it is, simply, is trading one set of inequalities for another. I'm not saying people shouldn't be covered, but if you follow our steps to single payer, be ready for the same drawbacks and inefficiencies and inequalities that happen here. what you need is something new no one has come up with, following a partially successful system doesn't leave you with a fully successful outcome.

[boots920]

The Canadian system in the future will fail like all social programs. Government aren't realistic about funding the social programs, anything government touches turns into an absolute clusterfck. Look at the double taxation going on to fund our system and its still not enough.

[LeGioNoFZioN]

I agree, I will neevr raise kids in Canada for that reason. Moving abroad to start my family because this system is not sustainable.

[ehkinoh]

I'm in no way saying that single payer is perfect... but it's FAR better than what we currently have in the states.

When it comes down to it, it's about progress, not perfection on the first try.

[LeGioNoFZioN]

it should be about perfection, because if that is not what you strive for then you strive for nothing, other than change for its own sake.

it should be about accomplishing something, and if the goal isn't to make things as good as can be, then I reject the argument wholeheartedly.

[ehkinoh]

I'm sorry, but that's a very flawed argument.

Yes, we are always striving for perfection, but ACTUAL perfection hardly exists in reality.

Give me an example of something that has been completely perfected, and could in no way be improved upon... i doubt you have ANY examples.

We must try to make thing's MORE perfect, not perfect on the first try.

[LeGioNoFZioN]

this is my point single payer is not about striving for perfection. Its about easy answers to make people happy and ignore the necessity to strive for perfection, or if you will "something better" in order to actually serve people.

its a canard a red herring, something meant to pacify the masses, without actually doing something to help them.

[ehkinoh]

Please list your complaints about Canada's Healthcare system, and we can compare it's problems with those of the U.S.

I'm sure you have some clue as to how inherently flawed our system is.

[LeGioNoFZioN]

sure if you got time. GP shortage is a big issue. the cost of med school makes most folks vie for something other than GP so they can pay their loans off sooner. Government control of how much they make keeps GP's from being able to make serious money (at least when they start out).

waiting. My brother has a sliding hernia and needs an operation.  He has to wait until August to see a specialist to begin the process so he can get the surgery he needs.....

[LeGioNoFZioN]

.... a friend from work had a colon related operation and they pierced his colon in an area that wouldn't heal without surgery. He had to wait 16 months (wearing diapers the whole time and he is single) for the corrective operation, and his lawyer advised he couldn't sue over their mistake.

procedures and drugs are covered based on whether the system can afford them. Until recently every diabetic needed to pay out of pocket for their supplies......

[LeGioNoFZioN]

... a good friend of mine has a daughter, beautiful little girl of about 4 yrs. the child has been having problems lately, for the last year or two, and the doc thinks the kid has cystic fibrosis. Jen can't get her daughter looked at by a specialist to determine what it is for sure so they can start treatment till near the end of the year. too long for a worried mother to suffer, and too long to put off vital treatment for a child, one of the most vulnerable ....

[LeGioNoFZioN]

so to sum it up in simple terms, we don't have enough doctors, too many doctors are old and make significant mistakes but we don't have a plan B so we are stuck with them, our wait times for important and vital procedures are too long for reasonable people to accept, our costs skyrocket, so for every new service or supply covered, someone else looses a service or supply that was covered, so our system is unfair and arbitrary based on bureaucrats decisions. Let me know if you want to know more

[ehkinoh]

The only thing I'd like to know, is if you would rather trade your healthcare with what we have here in the U.S.

[LeGioNsoFZioN]

to be honest it depends on the day of the week. semi affordable health care is great, but when you can barely get access what is the point ?

my assertion is that neither system works well enough for the people, so something new is needed. going from ours to yours or yours to ours is a sidestep at best or a backstep at worst, when we should be concerned with moving forward. this is a truth few will engage honestly.

[OlivierdeAthos]

"semi affordable health care is great"

What do you mean by semi-affordable? Semi-affordable as in getting whatever treatment you need, with no co-payments, for premiums of around $700 per year? And how does that relate to the fact that half of all U.S. bankruptcies are related to medical bills (three quarters of them are people who HAD insurance) while NONE in Canada are?

pnhp(dot)org/PDF_files/Medical­Bankruptcy(dot)pdf

[OlivierdeAthos]

There's no need to rely on anecdotes from one Canadian. There are some official studies comparing the systems:

cdc(dot)gov/nchs/data/nhis/jcu­sh_analyticalreport(dot)pdf

pnhp(dot)org/canadastudy/Canad­aUSStudy(dot)pdf

In a nutshell they say healthcare for Canadians is the same or better than for Americans WITH insurance, and much better for those without. Slightly longer waiting times for certain procedured in Canada. U.S. spends twice as much per capita, but doesn't cover all ppl.

[LeGioNsoFZioN]

the same or worse for us canucks not better. our quality of care is worse, but our ability to get care regardless of income is far superior. the only truly criminal part of our system compared to yours is that we can't sue for much, and rarely can win when doctors screw us up, whereas your system allows you to crucify the doctor that screwed up. we protect our shitty corrupt docs while you get rid of yours

[OlivierdeAthos]

You and I have had this conversation before, but you might not remember. I've lived in both countries but am currently in Canada, and wouldn't trade Canadian healthcare for U.S. healthcare for anything. What I quoted there is not my opinion, it's the conclusion of those official studies I listed. You can look for yourself. According to the JCUSH the shortage of GPs is even more acute in the U.S. than it is in Canada.

[kelseywall]

The Democrats shouldn't care what the Republicans think. They sure don't care what the Democrats think.

[kurtkobain1234]

So true