SCHIP: Will It Really Help America's Children

[genYprogressive]

ERNIST ISTOOK IS SO FULL OF SHIT HE SHOULD'T BE ALLOWED ON TV.

[typicalmail]

What a load of shit.

[mjpucher]

the huge cost of healthcare is related to the legal problem ... the biggest cost of healtcare is the liybility insurance of every doctor and every hospital .. the cost is howver not the damages that go to malpractice victims IT IS THE MONEY THAT GOES TO THE LAWYERS!!!! Fix that and healthcare cost will go down ...

[tkkesofar]

Good call. That is why, for instance, there are no Ob-Gyn's in almost half of the counties in America. A single practitioner in a rural area cannot absorb the liability risk by him/herself.

It is impossible to know for sure how much junk lawsuits and the ridiculous amounts that juries sometimes award drive up the cost of healthcare, but I would wager that it is 15-25% of the cost.

[i92girl]

is this a joke:S

[okiebear57]

Here in Oklahoma, those few of us with the ability to think for ourselves call him Ernie IsACrook. He is tied into the Abramhoff scandal and we are hoping that eventually he will face prosecution for his involvement. If his mouth is moving, he is lying.

[bicycledays]

Go home Heritage Foundation. You support the war and Bush/Cheney so everything you say is suspect. Go fight in this illegal invasion you support.

Kris Kemp

[tkkesofar]

Totally unrelated to the video.  Why do you even watch the video if place so little value on what heritage says?

[lordzeno666]

Only a fool dismisses that which he fights against and can do him, ( and his country ) damage.

[tkkesofar]

My point was that bicycledays didn't even put up an argument against the ideas in the video. He launced into a brief tirade against the war and Bush/Cheney which added absolutely nothing to a discussion about health care. It was an idiotic and worthless post, and completely off-topic.

[lordzeno666]

That would be because this lobby groups "ideas" are simply crap and not worth discussing. They have had their day and done their damage.

[sptdonkey]

Daddy's little rich boy strikes again. It would help if you'd actually read reports on poverty instead of trying to teach us about SCHIP, Ms. South Carolina. Take that back to the "Heritage" Foundation.

[manexmachina]

I actually have a pet peve about using the "for kids" argument on anything. however this guy is offering no real solution and he's way out of touch with reality about what he's saying... Even implying that there would be incrased waiting at doctors... well... why would that be? only one reason - more people would have healthcare. He doesn't want poor people going to the doctor (which they don't currently do) since he said he doesn't want increased lines.

[tkkesofar]

Any time you hand something out free or at a reduced cost, more people will take advantage of the service more often, and the cost to whoever is actually paying is going to go up.

Try to imagine if buying groceries worked the same way. You pay your taxes so the government can give you a card that allows you to go to the grocery store and buy anything you wanted for a $20 copay. No prices are posted for anything, you just grab whatever you want. Does that sound like an efficient system??

[lordzeno666]

tkkesofar actually said:

"Any time you hand something out free or at a reduced cost, more people will take advantage of the service more often, and the cost to whoever is actually paying is going to go up."

Yes, exactly, like agricultural subsidies and all other corporate welfare ( which is much larger than welfare to american citizens )

You have zero clue how an efficient 2 tiered universal care system can work properly. You're blinded.

[tkkesofar]

And I don't agree with agricultural subsidies or corporate welfare either. The fact that business interests can influence and corrupt government is one of the best arguments AGAINST giving the government more money and power.

You have zero clue how frustrating and even deadly it can be once socialized medicine progresses to the point of waiting lines and rationing, which is where it always leads. You are the one who is blinded.

[lordzeno666]

Your argument is pointless. "more money" is irrellevant. The govt simply borrows what it needs, adding to our deficit. No need to ever raise taxes, we'll just borrow it instead. You're so scared of taxes...which would actually mean responsible government. It's a pity republicans are not fiscal conservatives.

And you make assumptions. I've lived in many western nations and seen their systems first hand. I simply know more than you and can factually say you're culturally blinded.

[tkkesofar]

You keep setting up a straw man by acting like I am in favor of things I'm not.

I don't agree with large deficits either, but since I believe in limited government, the way I think we should shrink deficits is by shrinking government spending, not by raising taxes. Raising taxes is nothing but an excuse for an IRRESPONSIBLE government to keep growing. I am definitely a fiscal conservative. It is a pity that many Republicans aren't.

[ObsidianBlaze]

OMG...I am gonna be SICK!! How are you going to have more healthcare for ANYONE when you are shutting down hospitals? You know what? Fuck that shit.

[philupthetank86]

more anti universal health care propaganda. death to pigs.

[tkkesofar]

We already have universal health care... except it is 5 times as expensive at the emergency room than it is a doctor's office for those who either won't buy or can't afford health insurance. But it's not like people don't get care when they need it. The ER can't deny service.

[lordzeno666]

Wrong, dead wrong. The most important part of medical care is the preventative health care and the follow up, that happens after that emergency room visit. And for that, 40 million people have nothing. Nothing except " I can't afford to get sick" as a motto.

US health care is a joke. And it stops business competing with the rest of the world.

[tkkesofar]

I think that both acute care and preventative care are important. If we would insure against catastrophic illness, and encourage medical savings accounts, while untangling government from providing insurance other than financial assistance to the truly poor, and just let markets work, people could better afford both.

The problem is government regulation and interference in the marketplace. We both have the same goal, you just want to expand the failed policies that have caused the problem.

[lordzeno666]

buddy, you need a lesson on how the "market" works for everything in the US already. It's all subsidized by the government. We have far less regulations than most, yet still under perform other much more socialized nations, specifically in Northern Europe.

US business is welfare dependent, and the "market" is an illusion. Bankruptcy should mean just that. But not in America. It's a joke.

[thebigbossnahhh]

Just as marking Jews with codes before they were exterminated failed; This will fail.

We wont be chipped like Pigs for the slaughter!!!

[quigonpaj]

Anything from the HACKitage Foundation is essentially worthless.

"Let's cover rich kids." Pschaw. Look at the income qualifications. Ernest Istook is a farking buffoon.

[WizardEyes]

there really isnt a wait list in canada lol i should know i live there, thats just stuff that assholes like this say to make it sound like a horible idea so they cant get their pockets stuffed with cash from the health insurence companys lol

[dragster420]

Rich white guys helping rich white guys. Does he know were the last rich nation without free universal healthcare.

Try to get the Brits or the Canadians to switch to our plan. It will never happen.

[CsS1337h4x0r]

why dont they support the middle class instead of the upperclass

[stone17]

short answer = moolah

long answer = moolah, more moolah

[getplaning]

Not only has the Bush White House strongly resisted a bipartisan congressional effort to expand the Children's Health Insurance Plan to include 4 million uninsured American children, now our "compassionate conservative" president is forcing states to limit access for kids, too. For Bush, it doesn't matter that more U.S. children would go without healthcare. What matters is Bush's philosophical resistance to a popular government program that offers uninsured children a chance.

[bill1477]

There is much more to this..but this man is on the mark...

[1Bombsaway]

You right, but all everyone hears is "for the children" and that's the end of discussion.

[loobbs]

istook is a right wing talking points loser! I've never heard seniors say medicare intruded into their lives. hf's basic premise is if you don't make enough money to buy expensive private, profit based health care insurance you get a "health care reject designation" and you are on your own. These right wingers preach about the strength and goodness of America, but their policies destroy America. Support universal health care because it's the humane choice.

[frigoria]

you have to be a sick minded republican to take health care from sick kids. YOU SHOULD BE IN JAIL!!!

[torringtonctoc]

Please stop the fear mongering of big, bad government forcing your kids to have abortions and making people wait months for a check up. This is about kids who need healthcare and don't have it. Sorry you guys haven't personally been there before, otherwise you'd get it.

[xxdrzombiexx]

It's not for "rich kids" - that's totally misleading. Its for "middle income" which, if you consider the family of four, "middle income" ain't that much. Heritage types are too used to having money.

[MIAHeat3]

Sir please educate yourself before speaking publicly about an issue you know nothing of. The SCHIP is to help families who can not afford health insurance and don't qualify for Medicaid. This program can save children's lives and ensure that the rest of their livelihood doesn't go down the drain. I am aware that the first amendment allows people to talk out of their designated blow holes but with that comes responsibility. What is your ulterior motive?

[Typhoon1930]

why's everything gotta be an insult? if someone says something and you've more information than them, share it. Instead you said your high and mighty info as a matter of factly and then ended with an insult. Would you teach the children who's lives were "saved" by SCHIP to talk and treat someone how you did?

[2882890]

It really annoys me that this kind of stuff is advertised in the "Director's Video's" section, on the right side of the page. Which are video's that constantly stay up for the day. The content of the "Director's Video's" section rarely deviates from total triviality to mainstream political thought - usually a rightish, hawkish view. Watch each day and you'll see what I mean.

[2882890]

Yes there's waiting lines, there are waiting lines in any country that participates / semi-participates in a private healthcare system or capitalist based economy but nothing like the US where the first kick in the teeth is insurance cost and then waiting lines according to your privilege. That is inhuman and morally wrong.

[mousepotato64]

I have Never waited in line for health care in America. And I am not even close to what anyone would call "priveledged".

[codenys]

Anyone who's seen Micheal Moore's "Sicko" knows this is bullshit.

[Kl0kw3rk]

The person below me is telling a straightfaced lie.

[georgepyeoman]

Wow what a load of crap! You people honestly believe this crap???? Government healthcare plans work in so many countries around the world. Health care is something we all need at certain points in our lives so making it part of tax is hardly what i'd call controlling our lives. This is crap.

[2882890]

Yes it's true, ever since the introduction of "laissez faire" economic ideas to Ireland (privatisation, state based profiteering, "tax reductions", labour "partnership" plans) our state utilities which were acceptable in the past are horrific and the government says "Privatise!!". Our hospitals have thousands of people on beds in corridors which aren't seen for two or three days yet I live in the wealthiest country in Europe !

[truthforamerica]

Democrats would love to have socialized medicine. Just another way for government to control our lives!

[VRWC01]

yes..exactly

[getplaning]

There are no waiting lines in England and Canada. In fact, the wait to see a specialist is longer in the USA than in either of these countries. Next.