Pfotenhauer: We Can't Rush Through Health Care Reform

[wagonhead]

Your military is state run, your schools are state run, your police & judicial system is state run. Also libraries are state run. Does that make you a Socialist Republic? Why are you so squeamish about your healthcare system?

[Hereticbooks]

You bitch!  I want healthcare fucking YESTERDAY!!!

[AUTuck]

grammatontetra-"What's so hard in making Healthcare free?"

NEWS FLASH- Nothing is free...someone must pay for it!

[milkgodnl]

Nancy Pfotenhauer is lying ,, She does not want to rush health care reform because she benefits from the 16% American expenditure on healthcare, especially when everybody else in the G20 spends 11% or less. The Wikipedia article on her speaks for itself.

[WinterHaven]

Medicare is running dry. Fast. So-tell me-how are they going to do a national health care system if the government can't even sustain medicare?? ENQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW! And most Americans suck down McDonalds and KFC fried chicken shit. And abuse their bodies.

[Ansonidak]

"So-tell me-how are they going to do a national health care system if the government can't even sustain medicare"

By having the will to do so. I happen to notice that our government has managed to sustain several years of WAR.

[WinterHaven]

"Having the will to do so". All the will in the world isn't going to pay the bills. This is yet another unattainable pipe dream - you wait and see this national health care thing will never happen. It can't. It's TOO EXPENSIVE.

[Ansonidak]

Yep. War can't happen either - too expensive

[jerphunter]

player 2 and 3 needs a turn too and shoot....they put their quarters in for nothing or should i say their"2 cents" XD

[PersonalJesus348]

SINGLE PAYER!

[adze13]

Gibberish and double speak. Think this one thought: Do you really want for-profit mega corporations making healthcare decisions for you? The system has already died due to greed and malice, time to join the civilized world.

[quietearthMT]

"Everyone wants to help the uninsured."......

But we can afford to wait another year or two.....

Uh huh....

[Bosco239]

quietearthMT,

No, not everyone can wait that long.

[quietearthMT]

Read my post again.

I was pointing out the hypocrisy of her comments.

[Fringe111]

OMG give me a break, I would gladly pay 50 buck or whatever for universal health care rather then my 600 dallar bill each month, plus the fees for the doctors that may not be covered and then fight with the isurance companies to have a procedure done that is needed.

[LeGioNoFZioN]

it is fallacy to assume that the health care reforms with cover everything or save you much money. With most programs you still end up paying much of that cost. Hopefully a lot less, but with the situation being what it is, I would expect whatever they pass to be half assed.

[Fringe111]

Not true, with universal you pay one time and then get your treatment. Take a look at the Britsh way of doing it. It's worked for 60 years.

[LeGioNoFZioN]

the british system is as flawed as our Canadian system. You simply trade one set of inequalities for another set. Universal, single payer sucks because quality is impacted by costs more readily since everyone has equal access. Its the reason my friends who just had a baby in April are forced to wait until July to get their baby scanned with an MRI or whatever it is they use, because the kids doctors think he has a tumour. Wait times are just another inequality.

[LeGioNoFZioN]

so in your Yankeee system those with limited funds get the least care, in our system everyone gets the least care .... I don't see much of a difference in the end. One way sucks, the other sucks, and no one truly cares enough to fix the cracks in either system.

[437thx1138]

If you can't keep up get out of the way! Oh corporate mouthpiece with a veiled threat, remember '94 and you lost congress?.

[cArNiVal015]

Everything else aside, honestly, who wants to pay like $200,000 for surgery? I didn't even know Americans paid that much until a few years ago, and I didn't believe it initially because it was so ridiculous. It's mind-blowing that "the best country in the world" has such a high cost for heart transplants and the like.

[carrierexchange]

Again, I don't understand why you would ask a Republican Strategist for an opinion.

[keithalanjohnson]

So, I guess the alternative is to do nothing. After all, that's what we've been doing for decades, right? How long ago was "Hillary Care"? Oh yeah, the last time health care reform crashed and burned was fifteen years ago. Acording to Pfotenhauer's logic, I'm sure we'll have enough time to think about the subject and give it another shot in 2024...

Face it. If we don't do something about it, we aren't going to do a damn thing.

[intarwebzz]

she looked hotter when she was press secretary

(ZING!)

[Hereticbooks]

Screw you, lady. Being $15,000 in debt because of a one week stay at the hospital last month, if there is no health care reform THIS YEAR, it affects me...personally. GO FYS!!

[appatel]

If government would run "Medicare for every one" as corrupt and lousy like private bank & financial institution, Hell no.

[intarwebzz]

amazingly, governmental mismanagement of healthcare is still cheaper than the current model. i didn't know how wack our system was until i needed insurance; it's completely messed up because our system rewards treatment over prevention (and a litany of other related and unrelated issues).

[appatel]

I am with you brother. What an irony ! The richest country in the world can't insure their 43 million citizens' health.

We have to stop trading essential state obligatory civil services as commodities like public transportation, citizen's health, drinking water, education, sewer, environment etc.

Capitalism means trading business goods and services, not these civic services.

We are the captive of our own Ginny (ugly capitalism).

[appatel]

if government is going to run Medicare for every one as efficiently as US Post, I am for it.

[freesk8]

I refuse to accept government healthcare, just as I would refuse government cheese.

It turns us in to dependent children.

[intarwebzz]

sure, well, let's cancel the police and fire department on the same logic then. why should i pay to help extinguish someone else's fire?

[peterukk]

"sure, well, let's cancel the police and fire department on the same logic then. why should i pay to help extinguish someone else's fire?"

Lol! excellent point

[freesk8]

OK, I'll pay for private security services and my own alarm system. I'll carry a gun when I travel to dangerous areas. (Police always get there late anyway.) As for fire, I'll buy private fire insurance, and subscribe to a private fire service in order to reduce my premiums, just as was done decades ago in the US.

That seems like a good deal to me.

Or will you force me to pay for services I don't want?

What would Gandhi think of that?

Enact your socialized medicine. Just allow me to opt out.

[ambrosesams]

I believe that the reforms are to be made so that those who don't have the capability to opt for private medical insurance and services have at least the minimum access to healthcare. You can opt out if you wish and stay with your private medical. Your choice.

[freesk8]

That's the current proposal, but it may soon morph in to a mandatory (forced) system. Also, many in Congress (e.g. Mcdermott and Pelosi) really want single payer. Single payer means that other payers are outlawed.

And then there is the fact that I won't be able to opt-out of PAYING for the health care of those who DO get government healthcare while the system is "optional." I will be FORCED to pay for this, even if I would prefer to contribute to a private charity.

Gandhi never liked force.

[ambrosesams]

The way that I see it, if a public healthcare system is created, that is infinitely less costly and you choose to stay private, it would benefit you as to stay competitive they would have to lower their own premiums. The thing is your taxes probably pay for a number of things that you don't use, but is there and available if you do need it. As for those in Congress who want single payer, I think that smarter minds will prevail and see the benefits that come from providing a government competitor

[freesk8]

If the government creates a program it will be subsidized by income taxes. The premiums will be lower, and this unfair competition will put the private programs out of business in the long run.

I do not care if I would benefit financially from such a system. I think it is wrong for me to steal money from others to fund my own healthcare. I think quality and efficiency go down and waiting times go up when choice and competition are removed.

Choice is my right. Theft is not.

[ambrosesams]

But you have choice in your provider and wouldn't you want lower premiums if you were going with a private medical practitioner? I understand concerns about quality and efficiency, but I thinking more of access. There are a number of other things that can be helped by having accessibility for all to medical resources, one being that everyone would be happier! I know that is a superficial one, but I think that it is valid. Other knock on effects could balance the deficiencies.

[freesk8]

I would feel guilty knowing that my reduced premiums were lower only because some other taxpayer was subsidizing it at the threat of government force if he didn't pay. I'd be participating in an armed theft.

Accessibility to health care would be REDUCED by government monopoly heath care. Now, if your insurance doesn't cover it, you can mortgage your house and pay cash. But if the government controls everything, you WON'T be able to do that.

The government will decide when to pull your plug.

[ambrosesams]

At governement force? Armed theft? That seems a little extreme to me, but hey you have the right to your opinions. I just believe that there will be greater access to healthcare, private and public services won't have to worry about clearing with an administrator to give people medical care, they can just do their job. That's why there are so many health practitioners calling for single payer.

[freesk8]

Everything the government does it does via laws. All laws are ultimately enforced at the point of an officer's gun. Gandhi, G. Washington and Jesus all knew that govt is force.

Doctors endorse it because doctors don't tend to run businesses, or study economics. They tend to be liberal.

But in the end, a govt monopoly on healthcare will mean it is illegal to get care the govt does not authorize.

And where will the Canadians go who are now refused or put in long wait lines? :)

[Rainsdad]

does this mean soon the drs office is going to work like the DMV im usually in and out there, who runs that place anyway

[1samothrace77]

socialized medicine or no medicine. this is the choice if you are poor in America.

[GBTRU]

Pfotentoomuchelectivesurgeryha­urer=I am rich, fuck everyone else

[Richardgwm]

It has been 30 years. I don't think 30 years is "rushing".

[voyeurdug]

"We can do this next year," has been used for thirty years... to do nothing.... in health care AND clean, renewable energy.

[marniespeaks]

take away Nancy Pfotenhaue health care and see what she thinks then

[bushputz]

Maybe the insurance companies will define congenital stupidity as a preexisting condition, and she will find herself uninsurable.

[msmerson]

Unfortunate nose job for Pfotenhauer.

[steeleye65]

Noone is saying anything about doctors who make millions and the ridiculous price of medical school and malpractice insurance. Doctors should be there to help as much as profit. What happened to the hypocratic oath? Why are bad doctors allowed to continue practicing? Why do people graduate owing 250K? Fix it before you reinvent it!

[silversalvo]

I live with universal health care, Its great. I've never been sick or required treatments, but that's not the point.

Yes ,I could complain about having to pay for someone else or having higher taxes or whatever , but those are non issues; I'd much rather live with people that are secure in their health and that of their family , than to have them live in fear of falling ill, losing everything , pushing them to desperate measures that will inevitably cost more to my self.

[junkforkaryn]

what a cynical bunch. everyone here rushing to judgement on Obama's plan must have affordable healthcare insurance and private dr.'s at their disposal. i live in Los Angeles where people die on the ER floor and nobody even notices. most of the children in the inner city and outlying rural areas have NO coverage. it's such a luxury for some of you to bitch about a "socialized" healthcare system that nobody is even proposing. enjoy your great coverage, just try to remember those who have none.

[stupidb8888]

we need universal health care you stupid cunt.

[gsuitter]

Lets see if Obama posts this legislation on his web site for five days for us to review it. Don't hold your breath, just another campaign lie.

[wayne388]

Isn't this the woman who tried to divide Virginia into North Virginia and "Real" Virginia.  The nerve she has to show her face on TV again.

[steeleye65]

Obama is a master of fearmongering and pushing people to premature and ill informed decisions. We stil have no idea what all is in his record budget or even the omnibus bill that was so important that noone had time to read it.

[SkyDaddy7]

You are clearly a very ignorant person if you think Obama is a fear mongerer! LOL!

Watch FOX News...It will comfort you as America changes for the better while President Obama cleans up the mess left from simple minded Conservative Values.

[steeleye65]

He has feared everyone in Washington into throwing money into the fire without thinking. He continuously pushes his agenda forward with the threat of looming catastrophe. He uses fear subtlely and adeptly to further his/GE's ends.

An ignorant person does not see what they choose not to. I call them like I see them on all sides.

[SkyDaddy7]

You are calling it like Bill'O and FOX news tell you too...I love the whole GE thing!

I am shareholder of GE and I have actually done very well in it and other stocks since Obama's policies have begun cleaning up the disaster left from decades of Conservative Values!!

America is changing and for the better!

[tj5555555]

the mess is from socialism. look to California to see the future of big government programs. tj

[ho2cultcha]

huh?? who let you out of your cage? time to grow a brain steeleye65...

[steeleye65]

Universal healthcare would finally allow Americans to seek jobs they enjoy rather than ones that give them health coverage. Whatever plan leads us to that must consider all else that it effects and we should be made aware of those effects. Unfortunately our government still keeps us in the dark as much as possible.

[greyflcn]

re: steeleye65

So what's the difference between "Single Payer" and "Public Option"?

[steeleye65]

Medicare is our single payer system. Right now it is becoming insolvent. A single payer system cannot be implemented without huge new taxes.

A public option plan could give everyone in the country the buying power of a large corporation if it is implemented correctly. It will be interesting to see if our government can implement anything on that scale correctly.

[whoo689]

Besides, before we add MORE programs and spending to the federal bureaucracy, how about actually cutting some waste, fraud and unnecessary programs?? We already have a PUBLIC OPTION called Medicaid! Fix that. You don't need to create an additional agency or department. And if a public option won't work, well, then, that doesn't mean it's the end of HC reform. It just means we can perhaps try limiting gov't and deregulating to reduce costs. Too much gov't intervention screwed up HC.

[OlivierdeAthos]

"How about cutting some waste"

Agreed! The giant clusterfuck that passes for an American healthcare system literally costs more than twice as much as any single payer system on a per capita basis, and as a percentage of the GDP, while still leaving people uninsured or underinsured. Where's the waste? In the army of lawyers and bureaucrats who have to fight each other to deny medical claims. It should be dumped immediately.

[whoo689]

If universal or socialized medicine comes to this country, we're finished. Might as well either make sure u have enough money to afford private care and insurance, or go to a system that's STILL at least partly free-market like Singapore. Of course, some claim Obama's system isn't total UHC, and maybe it isn't. We'll see. I doubt Obama's revealing all about his plan. He's gotta be hiding something. I doubt a liberal like him wants to stop at just a "public option."

[WKaliberr]

you believe lies like you was Catholic, I'll rap in Arabic so that my message is immaculate

[TheRamenAvenger]

Why the pfuck is her pfucking name spelled so stupid. Pfitiful!

[EmperorAtahualpa]

"Pfotenhauer" is a German name that consists of the plural form of the word "Pfote" (in English: "paw" (noun)) and "hauer" that could either be a derivative of the verb "hauen" (English: "to beat") or the noun "Hauer" (English: "tusk").

[TheRamenAvenger]

"paw tusk" ? Hmmmmmm. I think maybe this is why:

Pfoten = completely predictable Republican

Haur = who will get in the way of Health care reform

[freedomanddemocracy]

She is an idiot

[EmperorAtahualpa]

I honestly can't comprehend why you guys still don't have social health care yet in the USA. I cannot imagine life without it. Social health care is not only essential for well-being but also good for the economy. Besides, Americans die three years younger on average than Western Europeans and it is commonly believed that this can be attributed to the lack of social health care in USA. Now that the Democrats are in power, go and do something about this!

[whoo689]

WRONG! You're a fucking idiot if you think universal healthcare is the sole reason people live longer in other countries. It's not! You guys have better lifetsyles and don't eat as much fatty food and whatnot than us. That's the reason! The fact that a nation has universal vs. private has little to do with it. Besides, that's just insurance COVERAGE. Universal care does not MAGICALLY make a nation's healthcare system 10x better.

Have fun in your shitty public system.

[gisforgary]

where to start with your little tirade? the "shitty public system" you refer to is philosphical. in other countries people have learned to live with each other. part of that means living a more sustainable lifestyle than we do in the united states. that includes not eating donuts for breakfast lunch and dinner and not driving suvs. the philosophy of "me first" while is very american is also the death of america. so go ahead -- pay thriee times what they pay in europe for healthcare. idiot.

[OlivierdeAthos]

Judging from your ignorant comments, I'd bet a year's salary that you've never lived in a developed country with a single-payer health care system. You'd be hard pressed to find ten europeans, Canadians, Japanese or even Brittons (who have a 2-tier system) who'd be in favor of trading their public health care system for a private one.

[EmperorAtahualpa]

OlivierdeAthos, actually I don't even know a single person over here who would be willing to give up the public health care system. :) Do you?

[OlivierdeAthos]

I've never met anybody in Europe or Canada that would trade their single payer universal healthcare systems for a private system. But I'm assuming there must be at least ten shortsighted nutcases who'd be willing to SAY they would for money. And that jackass Rick Scott, and the astroturfed "Conservatives for Patients Rights" anti-healthcare reform lobby group has managed to find all ten of the to put in their stupid TV commercials.

[EmperorAtahualpa]

In our "shitty public system", I pay about 45 euros per month to be completely insured for health care. That not only includes all medical care, but also paramedical care (e.g. physiotherapy or dietitian), psychological care, and dental care. Can you beat that?

[tj5555555]

but we don't want to be like you for 45 euros per month if the Federal Central Government also limits the earning potential . When we live in a free enterprise system the hard workers get to keep more of what they earn and the lazy get less. That is justice. Your system rewards the lazy. tj

[EmperorAtahualpa]

to tj555 (part 1): You're being too negative when only thinking of the working people versus the lazy. There are plenty of people who would not be able to pay for all health care without being insured when they are not actually "lazy". Think of e.g. students (such as myself), handicapped, new immigrants, etc. Your view of laziness is also short-sighted. There are people being judged as lazy when actually they could have physical or mental problems that prevent them from working.

[EmperorAtahualpa]

to tj555 (part 2): By making sure that people are able to get the maximum out of the available health care, they are making sure that everyone is optimally healthy and therefore optimally able to contribute to the society (and the economy). Remember: while there might be some truly lazy people, by far most people do want to make something out of their lives. And you need to build your policy on the character of the majority of the people, not the lazy few.

[tj5555555]

to emperorA: wow , thanks for such a truthful and reasonable response. You are probably able to discern the small differences between the socio-econ systems that would require that an Euro type health care system is still not yet, the best for the USA. We still have a large portion of self employed workers. Our Federal government is attempting to CHANGE that. When we all are wards of the FED then universal health care will be like Europe's. When income is capped then costs are capped. tj

[EmperorAtahualpa]

to tj555 (part 3): Oh, by the way, I made a miscalculation. Actually I pay something like 38 euros per month for my health insurance. :) And that is by my own choice! If I took an insurance with a higher deductible, I could be insured for almost nothing.

[Mychaels]

So how do you define a lazy person compared to a hard worker? Be careful: You could really screw this up.

[Mychaels]

Well I was right. You screwed that up.

[newsweekrocks]

how the hell do you say her name? "Pfotenhauer" XD

[gisforgary]

"pfotenhauer" spelled phonetically is "hatemongeringnazi"

[gisforgary]

i am not a party lemming like you. i have no masters. whats rush limbaughs butt taste like anyway? i am all for gay rights but teabagging in public is where i draw the line. especially when its ugly old fat white men.

[OhioDemocrat]

I believe single payer is the answer. If we cant get it another plan would to let people buy into Medicare. Ive heard this plan talked about. There has got to be something for the uninsured and the unemployed. Insurance companies and their huge profits at the expense of the insured are just wrong!

[burntonion05]

First video clip I have seen of this woman where you didn't have to look at her big fat fake smile.

[IndiMusicLover]

Pfotenhauer is an idiot, I've seen her pwnd on YouTube many times.

[3star2nr]

LOLOLOLOLOLOL She didnt read the plan hahahahahahaha

[3star2nr]

And if the Obama plan is soo bad that like the hilary plan that turned the 94 elections and allowed the reps to retake control, wouldnt she as a GOP memebr support the obama plan?

Wouldnt it be in their best interest for it to not work?

Their opposition implies that it IS a good plan and they cant allow it to pass and potentially be successful.

LOLOL The GOP really dont think about their plans before opposing them.

[Aiden057]

The Clinton plan and the Obama plan is not single payer health care. Single payer health care is a system where everyone is in and no one is left out. The services are delivered by privately owned and run facilities and doctors are in private practice. Single payer system health care, with everyone in and no one left out, creates new jobs and saves money. It also protects people from going bankrupt due to an illness. Everyone in, no one left out and that's not emergency room coverage, only.

[junkforkaryn]

well said. now try to convince the chicken littles in the room.

[OlivierdeAthos]

Have you ever seen any of Peter Orszag's talks on health care reform? He always points out studies that show that if people are given the option of opting IN to a company health plan, only about 30% bother to opt in. Done in reverse, signing everybody up and then giving them the option of opting out, only about 10% opt out. My feeling is they're going to use THIS strategy to sign up about 90% of Americans. That will probably be enough to create a tipping point.

[437thx1138]

I read a similar study to what you're talking about. It was organ donation rates & why certain countries had a very hi or low rate. The easiest path was no decision-the default choice.

The difference is that decision is after you are dead. Will still have that effect but not nearly as much. If healthy-default choice I would guess if $'s not involved.

[3star2nr]

how does that work though who pays the dr. Is it like the government pays them then we pay back the government with taxes?

[Aiden057]

If you visit my channel, I have a playlist going that has some background that best answers that question. If you look at the numbers, what most of us pay will go down and even if you lose your job, you and your family won't go into bankruptcy due to astronomical health care bills. Single payer health care gives you a plan with everyone included and no one excluded. Single payer saves us all money and provides comprehensive care for all. I recommend watching the Moyers segments.

[Aiden057]

Single payer now, everyone in, no one left out. The President's plan is insufficient and causing us all to spend more and get less. The answer is to have a comprehensive single payer system: everyone in, no one left out.

[whoo689]

I'm sorry, but that will never work. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Nationalized healthcare sucks in every country it's tried. Our system is fine, for the most part. Let's just fix the kinks and get gov't out of the way and put consumers first.

It's a false choice the libs give us: either we're at the mercy of insurance co's or the gov't. I say NEITHER! As a libertarian I want true patient freedom, and that means consumers should be in charge.

[cpricejones]

in theory, i would agree with you. but the reality is that putting consumers in charge does not solve this problem.

[Aiden057]

The fact is that with a single payer health system, with everyone in and no one left out, consumers have more not less choice in their doctors and in which facilities -- privately owned and run facilities and private practice doctors -- than they do with the current system. In addition, the single payer system -- everyone in, no one left out -- reduces costs and creates new jobs.

[OlivierdeAthos]

"Nationalized healthcare sucks in every country it's tried. Our system is fine, for the most part."

ROFL! What are you basing that assertion on? Or are you just making this up as you go?

[overmind25]

Statists