Congressman Ellison Talks About a Public Option for Health Reform

[sarahmg80]

Is taking care of your fellow man such a bad thing? Honestly?

[awkramer]

Healthcare is not a right it is a responsibility

[steamrollinpimps]

Health Care is not a right granted by the constitution. General welfare is not being a nanny for the people. Is food a right? how about housing? cars? The right to bear arms is a right, but go to any gun shop and tell them to give it to you, because you can't afford it they would tell you to get lost! It is not FREE!!! Quit using my tax dollars so your little nanny lovers can have a suk suk!

[JustanOlfrend]

72% of the American People want a Public Option...case closed!

[john51880]

I dought it! besides it is not public option, it is GOVERMENT OPTION. single payer or co op ect, it is all a scam on the Voters!

[steamrollinpimps]

Where did that poll come from? 72%?? Case not closed, Rassmussen poll Aug 15th, 54% so no to ANY reform than to adopt the congressional plan. So they would rather do nothing than adopt that bill. Get your facts straight, don't be just making shit up.

[spice4free]

I don't believe the only way to ensure a healthy America is to look at Canada's system. In fact, I don't believe it's possible to ensure a healthy America. When our government tries to do that they just end up trouncing our rights even more. I want to see the Federal government take care of the responsibilities expressed in our constitution before it tries to take on even more programs.

Peace!

[supablackman]

Here is the problem you are being too ideological and not pragmatic. How does the government trounce on your rights by providing universal healthcare to all Americans including you and your loved ones? I dont get it? Do you know that you would be paying less interms of monetary costs under a universal health system than a private system. The current system's high costs are an example of the failure of the private health system which is based on monetary gain.

[spice4free]

Yes! It's a forced transfer of wealth through taxes. I'm not disputing that single payer might be cheaper than our current catastrophe. But it leaves the door wide open for more government abuse in the future. And that's assuming that the system will be designed well in the first place. I would be paying less if the government let me shop for care across state lines, get the same tax breaks employers get, and didn't mandate what coverage I MUST have. Then competition and demand would work.

[spice4free]

The system's high costs are not an example of the private system failing.  They are an example of the private system being happy to accept the unfair advantages bestowed upon them by the government. Lasik eye sugery, one of the few procedures not covered by insurance, has gotten progressively better and cheaper (as everything does with the advancement of technology) because there's competition and people can choose what they want freely. That could happen in the whole healthcare system!

[spice4free]

I believe I am being pragmatic, because we simply do not have the funds to support this kind of program. I certainly don't want a 10% increase in taxes when I'm a healthy individual who spends very little on health care even now. At least give me the option to opt out and keep my money. I already work four months out of the year for no pay. We don't want this system forced on us. Even a public option would be better. Still none of the Fed's business, but at least I could steer clear of it

[spice4free]

Believe me I'm not going to malign Canada's healthcare system and use our's as a shining example. I don't know what you are doing right, but I think it has something to do with the government having a genuine interest in the people. Well our federal government doesn't have that. We have quite a bit of regulation in our healthcare system, unfortunately the regulation is designed to pay political favors to various companies. . . companies with large lobbies.

[supablackman]

Trust me in a democratic system there is always going to be incompetent and governments with their own agenda. In Canada we have the same problem. But to fix the problem you need an educated and well informed electorate. The problem is that you all get your facts from cable news like cnn and fox which distort the issues inorder to benefit their ad sales. Ask yourself why everytime cnn goes on a commericial break their is always a drug company ad? Try to link this and the debate on medicare!

[spice4free]

That's exactly my point. So as long as the people are going to happily elect sharks and thieves into government, the best thing I can do is try to make sure the Fed keeps their hands out of as many pots as possible.

[spice4free]

Covering pre-existing conditions isn't insurance. That's called charity. It's a nice idea when individuals are charitable to each other, but it isn't the government's place to force all taxpayer to be "charitable" to the sick. Governments are supposed to be concerned with Justice, not charity.

[supablackman]

From a Canadian perspective healthcare is a human right. Its interesting that you call it "charity" because it actually isnt. I and my fellow Canadians pay their healthcare through their tax dollars. From a public administration standpoint our healthcare system is very cost effective and efficient. Its also good for our economy. Have you ever asked yourself why American companies come to Canada to do business instead of going to Mexico? A major factor is the cost of healthcare.

[spice4free]

Hi supa, thanks for the reply. When healthcare is funded through taxes, you are forcing people to contribute to other people's health costs. You're right, that's not charity, it's theft. What makes healthcare a right? I do not believe that we have enough accountability in US government to justify trusting them with healthcare. 90% of voters were against the bank bailout bill, but Mr. Ellison here still voted for it. Maybe you guys trusted Tommy Douglass, but I don't trust Mr. Ellison.

[supablackman]

Its a matter of fact that we spend less on our healthcare than you guys do and by a significant margin when you take into account how much it consumes of our GDP. If you look at your own statistics on annual deficit a major part of it is attributed to your inefficiencies in healthcare. If you look at Canada, France and Germany their healthcare system is byfar the most efficient and cost effective in the world. Oviously these countries and particularly Canada is doing something right.

[supablackman]

I understand your frustration with the bank bailout. Luckily Canada's banks didnt go through any problems nor did the Canadian gov't bail any out. I think the answer is regulation. Its interesting because our banks did not faulter like the Americans. A part of that is because of our govt regulation which keeps Canadian banks on their toes. Luckily they survived and we did not bail any of them out. But we did bail out GM and Chrysler which really sucks but I could understand why.

[supablackman]

I think the only way to ensure healthcare in America is efficient is to look at how Canada does it. To ensure efficiency I agree the feds should provide the revenues and allow the states to run it while setting out some guidelines. That can allow the states best cater to their respective populations. In Canada healthcare jurisdiction is under the provinces not the federal govt. Ottawa only provides the cash and the provinces run the healthcare system.

[supablackman]

One more correction. It was Lester B Pearson who was prime minister during the sixties who initiated universal healthcare countrywide. Tommy Douglass was a proponent and the first provincial premier to initiate universal healthcare in his province. There is a lot you Americans can learn from your cousins up north.

Peace!

[JacquelinesHouse]

are you a paid lobbyist?

[spice4free]

No. Who exactly does it seem like I'm lobbying for? I'm a science student and a constituent of Mr. Ellison's.

[supablackman]

In all honesty from reading and watching Mr. Ellison I think he is a very sincere man. However, in my opinion I think the most sincere and smartest politician that I have ever seen was Paul Wellstone.

[spice4free]

I have no doubt that he's a good person, but the system we've set up encourages corruption from all individuals. Even Paul Wellstone wasn't able to keep his promise of not running for a third term. There is every incentive for government to grow and no punishments for their failures, even honest men can't help but buy into that system.

[JacquelinesHouse]

thank you for saying so - well put!

[supablackman]

No problem! Im just stating the facts and it seems that some people have a hard time swallowing the facts.