Tom Udall: Echoing Your Calls for Healthcare Reform

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

Government run facilities are everywhere!

Taxpayers should own our medical facilities and have them maintained by the manufacturer.

There is NO CHARGE for anybody to use any public owned device or facility!

The administration that runs these facilities can be locally chosen by local voters.

How much money can be saved by bargaining for medical supplies this way? Now we can concentrate on paying that staff these facilities and honorable fee for their many years of tuition and hard work.

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

Under a Single-Payer system, the government should buy generic drugs and technology under a short term contract. The contract last long enough for the company to profit from the venture, then goes up for bidding again.

We don't need the latest and greatest, when time tested procedures work just as well at a fraction of the cost.

Cutting costs should be the argument before Congress!

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

Personally I don't want Single-Payer to pay for cosmetic surgery (unless from a disfiguring accident), sex change or abortion on demand.

With any plan there WILL be rationing. I would rather see money go to people born with disabilities than people who don't take care of their health.

It's up to the people to demand from government what they want and need.

I worked wildland fire for 30+ years and I will say the government cannot manage special interests lobbing against public interest! FIX IT

[chdyona]

What we need to know is WHO does this cover, will we be paying as tax payors for abortions, like the health care in Cuba, and forcing women to have abortions if a child is possible "undersirable" or will the seniors be taken care of, and will they have preventive care, or just be given a pink pill. The media makes it very hard to know what is in this bill. There is too much mud slinging going on, but stop using heart breaking stories to sell us on a bill of goods, all I want is the TRUTH.

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

Health insurance companies don't care who pays the outrageous costs that profit Wall St. markets, charge what you want and the GOVERNMENT will always covers the rest one way or the other. That's a deal made behind closed doors. WE GET SCREWED!

THAT HAS TO STOP!

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

I went to the local health care TEA party. This is a country divided by what they read and watch, divide and rob is the Mode of Operation.

The insurance is the culprit, yea... the government is the culprit, YEA! The truth is the Wall St Health Care lobbing Congress and writing the 1000 page bill is the culprit!

Main St. is NOT represented in any of the arguments. There is a middle of the road that ALL of US should be pursuing. COLLECTIVELY

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

The U.S. Government funds college research and then lets Big Pharma patent it.

The big give away!

You hate bailing out the banks? I do too!

So why the give away to Big Pharma, whn they charge sick people exorbitant prices for what we funded?

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

I personally know many cases where insurance companies WILL NOT PAY, for medical care, which IS the leading cause of bankruptcy in this great land!

What Tom is pushing here is "No Insurance Company Left Behind", everybody BUYS insurance. Insurance companies take healthy cream-puff policies, taxpayers take the high-risk policies. It's doomed to failure!

Single-Payer is the only way to identify & stop fraud, corruption & abuse. Money goes to the doctors and nurses who do the work!

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

The health industry donated 18 million dollars to the Obama campaign last year in an effort to dominate a government by the people and for the people.

This industry WROTE the present bill before Congress and Congress doesn't have a clue what's in it (you need an attorney to interpret it).

Too much of the money spent on for-profit insurance goes to advertising and buying off our politicians.

We didn't buy English tea! Don't buy this scam either!

[FluffyTheRhino]

And you want socialized health care? MAKE UP YOUR MIND.

[FluffyTheRhino]

By the way, didn't our forefather's go to war with England? Why? Because their government was OPPRESSIVE. And here are a bunch of morons voting people like obama into office who wants this country to be what? You guessed it. JUST LIKE ENGLAND. Welcome to America, land of the free, uneducated MORON voters.

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

Our forefathers went to war with England because the English government backed the East India Tea Company, who manipulated prices, in an effort to drive the competition OUT OF BUSINESS!

[FluffyTheRhino]

"fireblazes" wrote a reply to one of my comments which stated something stupid along the lines of Veterans having access to the best socialized medicine and welfare...

Nothing personal, but you're an idiot. It's obvious you've never been to a military hospital, and it's obvious you've never tried to survive with a family on military pay.

Maybe you should move to north korea.

[wasurera]

Thank you, congressman Udall, for listening to your constituents, and for having the 'empathy' to not look at people as just statistics and dollar signs.

[dmacnm]

Those making irrational complaints about the constitutionality of health care reform should actually read the Constitution. Start with. Start with the preamble:

" We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, ..."

PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE

[MayorDavidCoss]

I want a strong public option for health insurance and appreciate Senator Udall's leadership on this issue. I also favor a strong federal role, subsidies and a mandate for individuals and all businesses. We appreciate Senator Udall's position on all of this.

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

Tom Udall values the great outdoors!

For this reason he is at the top of my list of good politicians.

We need and use gas and oil, so NM should develop it's resources. But keep wilderness WILD! Tom does a good job balancing the two, I respect him for that!

I sure hope the Twitter, You Tube, etc, thing works out I think it's great each of us can write publicly instead of into a black hole where you only receive a computer generated response.

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

The six Finance Commitee members responsible for passing this legislation:

Max Baucus, D-Mont.; Kent Conrad, D-N.D.; Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.; Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.; Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.

All small town Senators who were courted graciously by the medical industry lobbyist! The public is being railroaded when special interests write OUR legislation!

Single-Payer is not Public Option!

The "public" should know the difference.

S-P has been BLOCKED from the discussion.

[ari25adne]

Re: enigma648's comment----it's totally

acceptable for government to GIVE the private sector an 865 billion dollar bailout, but not to intervene in a health care disaster? come on !!

[FluffyTheRhino]

The bailout is not acceptable. The government taking over big industry is flat out communism. They now own GM. I don't want them ruining my health care too. Thank God I have a Ford.

[ww3jc]

ABQ Baloon festival .. MORE HOT AIR

[ww3jc]

Each of the 22,000 that died has a story ..

So do the thousands killed by illegal alien

drunk drivers that Tom Udall wants to make

legal in the USA .. I guess Tom must have

forgot their story ? ? ? ?

[ww3jc]

I have seen the beginnings of National Health Care ..Commonly called the VA ...

For me it is a 350 mile drive to ABQ to the

hospital for an X-ray ! ! !

Then your records become part of the

public domain for anyone to see ...

If I remember correctly they cannot be sued

for any mal-practice or mistakes ???

Will it be run like the IRS, DoD or

Homeland security ?????

[jctischler]

Why do you speak of the right to "health insurance" and not health care.

Non-care related employment in the health care industry will increase.

Businesses will avoid adding employees.

Why not a single payer plan - open to all - payed for from the general fund.Dentistry is part of a national health care system.

To cut costs we need a readable bill from Congress and a long study by health professionals. Only by deciding what treatment isn't worth the expense can sensible care be given to all.

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

End Corruption, Fraud and Abuse.

To do this you need to eliminate the insurance companies. Single Payer is the only way I see this can being done.

Basic care for ALL! But if you want better coverage; BUY INSURANCE!

Employers will no longer have to worry about insuring employees.

It will cost a fraction of what we pay now if it's efficient!

The government has been SO poor at managing contractors, because deals are struck behind closed doors leaving the public unaware.

[ORIGINALDESIGNS]

Veterans Hospitals and Medicare is the perfect example of broken government oversight. It's the government that's broken!

Single Payer health care SHOULD NOT, pay for extravagant bills, YOU buy insurance for that.

So insurance companies have nothing to cry about, they can still stay in business. They just need to take the profit out of soaking the poor. (middle class)

EMPLOYERS, will hire without having to worry about insurance!= Good for the economy!

[FluffyTheRhino]

Uh, no. Veteran hospitals have a lot on their plate because of all of the injuries sustained in war. What you don't hear about in the news are the high number of soldiers, sailors, marines, and airman who have sustained injuries during their time in service.

If you want communism, go to china. I don't want your kind around here.

[2reller]

Why are people saying that the government will take over if we fix healthcare? Are you guys not aware that the military and police are government run??? Now this might be kinda obvious, but if the government were planning on taking over wouldn't they do it with the military or police??? Both of which they already control...

[blondie4auburn]

You're an idiot.

The military is federally run. The police are run by individual STATES.

Get a clue.

[mu4yt]

And how does that change the argument, you fool?

[blondie4auburn]

It changes the argument because you obviously don't know which entities are run by state and which ones are run by federal government, so you have no credibility. In the future, if you get into an argument about politics, you might want to know what you're talking about. I'm just saying.

[mu4yt]

You keep attacking the messenger and not the message. You made a silly point that nothing changes the fact that people are happy with receiving certain services from their government (local or federal doesn't change this point). And, by the way, there is nothing about credibility here. The police is not a private business (like the health insurance companies are), that is a fact, you don't have to believe me, just read your own message, if you believe yourself.

[Photog60]

Personally I am fed up with the Republican party and groups who have not done one thing to help the American people. The US has the highest cost health care in the world but we rank far below most industrailized countries in care outcomes. Why are drugs 3x the cost here? Why do over 45 million Americans get no health care? If you are in Canada and are willing to pay $50,000 for something that would be covered there, come on down. Don't listen to the party of the stupid.

[ww3jc]

Photog .. It's not the governments job to do anything for the people .. You are responsible for yourself .

The USA has the BEST Healthcare system in the world .. Doctors, Nurses, X-Ray technicians,etc

Most complain about the COST and they are justifed in their complaints BUT let the free market settle the problem and not the

idiots in Washington...  Signed : Engineer

[Chasmagg]

The only reason these people got voted in was because there are more who are looking for a handout from the government then people who are working to pay the taxes. This proposed health care reform is a disaster and will have devastating effects on our economy. IF you disagree then read the bill. Something not done much these days. Please explain to me why I should have to pay for anyone else's health care or anyones bills. Lets try some self responsibility.

[mu4yt]

For Chasmagg:

For the same reason that you pay to make sure other people have people, police service, firemen, schools, etc. Because we humans live in societies, are compassionate, and want our fellow neighbors to be well. Of course, you don't owe your neighbor non-essential things, but ones health is the most basic of necessities. Think about it.

About self responsibility, are you calling irresponsible to the people that get sick?

[gumshoe66]

Senator Udall is the best congressman New Mexico has ever had . He is intelligent , thoughtful, honest and geniunely cares about the people. We are lucky to have him represent us.

[dmacnm]

I like many others have been under oath for 20 years now, sworn to support and defend our Constitution. A necessary part of that oath is actually understanding the Constitution. Advantages of a public health plan aside (lower costs & universal access), a public plan is indeed Constitutional just as publicly run military, police & fire departments are.

[fireblazes]

Senator Udall is the best. You supposed veteran patriots posting here are scum!

[FluffyTheRhino]

Why don't you enlist in your branch of service of choice, stick around for 10 years, do everything your savior wants you to do, and then come back here and tell us veterans what scum we are.

Hey, at least those of us who have served didn't sit around like cowards while people like you do nothing but sit there and attack those who have.

[fireblazes]

As a Socialist I object to your so called veteran exclusion. You served your country, good for you, it was your choice. But the rest of us do not have to worship that choice. As a veteran you have access to the best socialized medicine and socialized welfare this country has. Think about it...

[greenertarian]

Insurance works by spreading risk across a pool of insured people. The bigger the pool, the better it works. What better pool than everyone in the country?

In the preamble, the mission statement of the Constitution, it says, "... promote the general Welfare...". "Promote" is not a passive verb.

[enigma648]

Politicians realy are fools. Explain to me why that since I have a job like many other people in the country do. Well alot less now thanks to them. Why over 200,000,000 people in the country have health insurance, and so we are going to break the financial structure of the country to supply 40,000,000 who either don't want it or don't deserve it. All that matters to them is that your here. Not if your born here. I am a voter in New Mexico and I am ashamed by our representation.

[msgustke]

I am in the U.S.A., and am a veteran. The federal government is supposed to operate within the bounds of the constitution. This is something they swear to do in their oath of office.

The point of the matter is that Tom Udall is not following the oath that he swore to follow. Unconstitutional is unconstitutional no matter what branch of the federal government it is. Legislative, executive, or judicial--the constitution applies to all operations of the federal government of the U.S.A.

[enigma648]

Sir I thank you for your service, and I agree with you hole heartedly. When the public voted in 2008 the voted to destroy the very fabric on with our country was founded.

[msgustke]

I didn't vote to destroy the fabric...that is for sure. I voted for someone who believes and follows the constitution. Unfortunately the people who believe the propaganda fed to them by the media and special interests chose to vote and outnumber those of us who believe in what our country was founded upon.

[enigma648]

Thats a strange way to vote. On people who follow the laws set by our founding fathers? That would truely be a country to be proud of, but instead we have this discusting communist mess we see before us. Where are the McCarthy hearing when you need them.

[mu4yt]

Be careful with what you wish. I have a feeling that you have not clue of what those hearings were or what a communist is, for that matter.

[enigma648]

Believe me "friend" I know more on the subject then you can imagine. Also redistrubution of wealth, total govenment control ,and loosing our basic freedoms is about as close to communism as one can get. Im sorry but I don't like to be told what I can do or own. If thats the way you what your life run then more power to you.

[mu4yt]

Nobody is planning to tell you what you can own (and do, for that matter).  This discussion is about society providing health treatment to its members. What's so negative about that?

[enigma648]

It's not society providing it's government, and that is the problem. Since when is it acceptable for the government to take over the private sector? If they truely want help they need to fix the problem not overhaul the system.

[mu4yt]

The government is formed by the elected representatives of the people. That's why a government program is something provided by society to its members. In this case, the government is not taking over anything. You are free to have your own health insurance company and nobody is going to expropriate it. You can have your own security firm and the state still runs the police and military. You can open a private school and the government still runs the public school system. Same thing.

[enigma648]

Oh Boy! I can't wait to find out.

[wasurera]

When I went to China I saw what real Communism is. Believe me, we're nowhere close, and not heading in that direction.  South Korea (where I've lived) has universal insurance, and have had it for a while now. They're not suffering. Unless you consider every other wealthy industrialized nation in the world to be communist... I wouldn't call most of them socialist, or leaning socialist.

Child labor reform laws and the suffragette movement were called 'red plots' by opponents in the 20's, too.

[enigma648]

Let me inform you of one thing. This is NOT china or korea. This is AMERICA! We are better than all these other countrys. What happened to you people? what happened to everybody knowing that this is the greatest nation in history, and we do not need to follow the foolish ways of the rest of the world. I hope I speek for everybody when I say "please leave" go back to those socialist countrys and stay. We don't need people like you trying to turn us into them.

[FluffyTheRhino]

Obviously it is YOU abqdan, that has no idea how the government works. You see, personal agenda is at the top of the list for government officials.

You'll find more often than not that BS laws that are in fact unconstitutional are IGNORED. No one wants to kick up the mud. And the only way you can get anywhere in this country with any kind of legislation is if you're a minority complaining about such things as trans fat use in fast food restaurants.

Wake up.

[msgustke]

Is this healthcare reform even constitutional? Did you forget that you raised your hand and said "I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States"

[FluffyTheRhino]

I AGREE.

Who voted these idiots into office?

[abqdan]

You don't know much about US government do you? In your country the system is probably different, but in our country, the elected government makes laws, and the Supreme Court reviews those laws that are challenged as unconstitutional. You should study our country before criticizing it.