New Leadership on Health Care: A Presidential Forum

[OldSchoolAmerican]

Nationalized health care has been shown to be a failure around the world. The only thing Government does well is collect taxes, and piss away the money.

[onlyrey]

Look for "Insuring America's Health: Principles and Recommendations" on google; you will find a report from 2004 that finds that 18,000 Americans died in 2000 because of lack of insurance. I bet the number is MUCH much larger today than then. You already have a bureaucrat sitting between you and the doctor, I rather it be somebody paid to help me than a health insurance claim employee that gets bonuses to deny me coverage.

[OldSchoolAmerican]

The nationalized health care will deny you procedures based on the expense rather than the value of your life. Do some research before making dumb ass responses to my comments.

[SOSOMEE]

great points

[joerock4452]

Right-on!

[pvukosavljev]

I am 45..6 ft. 230 lb.. never smoked can walk a marathon in 5 hours ... so i guess i am in ok shape (sarcasm) .. do not live with my mommy..

[TailChasser]

ok then just move...

[pvukosavljev]

Countries with Univeral Health Care: Germany, Japan, Israel, France, UK, South Korea, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Portugal,Canada.... You are saying Japan,, is communistic ... i guess you do not know anyone who has a Japanese car, , dvd, camcorder, etc.... or a German car (VW, BMW, Mercedes)

[joerock4452]

I agree with you 100%.

[seeprogress]

americanprogressaction dot org/events/healthforum/ -- check out the highlight reel from the recent Center for American Progress Action Fund Presidential Health Care Forum from Las Vegas

[joerock4452]

Democrats will ruin health care so we can stand in line like Canada and Europe.

[pvukosavljev]

The health Care system in the province of Ontario and Alberta were setup by a Conservative government which is a RIGHT wing party ... Alberta is called "Texas North" for a reason ...

[joerock4452]

Europe's healthcare system is on the verge of going bust.

Our current healthcare system is fine, that is why in technology we are the best and most advanced in the world.

Why go backwards? Many people that work that I know refuse the healthcare so they can make more money, this is mostly the younger age groups. The Dem's like Kennedy and Clinton do not have the solution.

[pvukosavljev]

The Canadian Federal Government is running surpluses of about $10 to $15 per year for the last few years and is injecting more cash in the Canadian Health Care system.

[seeprogress]

You can watch the entire health care forum online at fora dot tv or visit americanprogressaction dot org

[1984or2007]

They're called socialist and when they screw with capitalism the RICH stop hiring and don't spend they're money. No new Jobs, no raises, no insurance. Hence recession. The only thing higher taxes help is Democrats get votes and more people need the Government. It really hurts much more than it help. DOW JONES 14,000 Unemployed 4.3% Both record lows with two Wars going on. DON'T RAISE TAXES!

[pvukosavljev]

47 million Americans with no health insurance .. a record high... American pay a little less than Canadians in Taxes .. but Canadian live about 4 years longer and less babies die hmmmm .. i prefer living 4 years longer ...

[utubeusername7734]

i wish we could have the canadian system. the docs here are money grubbing pill pushers. try a 10 min visit for 165 bucks and tell me what kind of health care you get. all they want is freedom from malpractice

[Beamshipcaptain]

Right. The disaster that hs befallen the rest of the industrialised world! I love having a lower life-expectancy than Europe.

[pvukosavljev]

Canadian live 4 years longer ..

[excurrahee]

Why don't you take a pause and think about all the variables that go in to lie span. Avalability of health care would be 4th or 5th down the list.

[pvukosavljev]

Our lifestyles are basically the same. We eat the same fast food... smoke the same cigarettes, drink the same booze... major difference is we have health insurance from when we are born to when we die ... 47 million American (18 %) do not have health insurance and avoid going to a doctor until they are very ill...

[Beamshipcaptain]

Right. So Americans die, whilst Europaens in the same circumstances LIVE. Or get fingers reattached, americans would have to go thru live with severd fingers, because of insurance-company decision. Think about all ramifications of for-profit-run healthcare, And if healthcare were less costly, I could buy it. I am self-employed. There is no reason USA shoud be 37th in healthcare, in the supposedly richest land on Earth. Noticable change in mentalities when one crosses the pond.

[joerock4452]

I have traveled all around the world and find that pharmaceuticals are the same price as the U.S. in many of the middle east counties. They are cheaper in Mex. and Cand.

Korea and Japan were not cheaper. Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzeland not cheaper.

[joerock4452]

Because many are fat and lazy here in the U.S. and want everything easy and being spoiled. All of these fat or obese people develope so many health problems and use healthcare much more. Look at the Goverment's medicaid program, what a sham and food stamps. When government gets involved in healthcare everything gets screwed up.

[downhillandy]

here in norway, we`ve got covered insurance.. it`s not like if i hurt my self, i won`t get any bills at my door or anything.. I know it`s like that in the united states, health insurance is no problem in norway at all... it`s true.. the government covers it.. and then we pay taxes.. that part i don`t like...

[signsbyrusty]

so if we make a system where hospitals, doctors, insurance companies, and pharm., make more money they will feel obliged to lower their charges to the people...WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING!

[sackmanfree]

I glad to be spaniard. Full cover health care for free, incluiding dentistry, glass and even change your sexs, really its so cool

[pvukosavljev]

We do not have dental, glasses and need to pay about $45 a month for private insurance .. Everything else is covered by universal health insurance in Canada... Ok... you are not covered if you want to get a sex change...

[hiodc]

i am a chiropractor. i believe most medicine is useless and injurious. but i defend people's right to choose and pay for what they want. no one has the right to force people to subsisize some sector of the economy. also, the pentagon "lost" three trillion dollars and nobody's going to jail, and these thumb suckers want to hand over to them another fifteen percent of the nation's economy and control over wether you live or die. brilliant. grow up.

[econous]

"i believe most medicine is useless and injurious." I can only hope that you'll excuse me for laughing in your face, and not taking your economic advice seriously. In any case you'd be doing the whole world a favour if you fell from a great hight and died having landed on something hard.

[ECX0x100h]

I have the solution to the healthcare crisis: give more tax breaks to the pharmaceutical companies and the rich! The reason why drug costs are so high is because pharmaceutical companies are being taxed too much - the tax is passed down to the consumer!

[DarcyLedrew]

Balance. Public and Private healthcare sectors are needed, the private to retain graduating, more skilled doctors from simply leaving to go to more capitalist countries in regards to medicine. Public to give a base of medical support for the poor.

[pvukosavljev]

Wow... The only business more profitable is the defense industry... We get the same drugs made in the USA for about 1/2 the price in Canada....

[excurrahee]

Yep. Because Americans have to pay for the research and development because everyone else just copies patented medicines. In Mexicao w/o the pay like 1/10the the prices for many things

[pvukosavljev]

The are not copies but make in the USA by the drug company who has the patent. In some case a USA company manufacture a drug in their Canada plant and ships it back to USA.

[pvukosavljev]

Many of the drugs are "Me-Too" drug... first there was Viagra.. then other drug companies made drug that did the same.... Less then 20 % of new drug treat a condition that was not treated before. Most are just very minor improvements so they can get their patent extended.

[joerock4452]

The U.S. pays for the R & D.

That way we can get more advanced drugs for the future.

Just suck it up and realize that we have to pay for this.

[castrawberryflavah]

people will only talk about lies...lies...and lies! your dumb ass is blind to the true cause of the "lack" of health insurance. use big words, health care terminology, act smart...but the truth is you have no idea that you are helping liars perpetuate the robbery that is happening w/ pharmaceutical companies supported by your so called organization. dumb bitch get yo head st8

[karm53]

interesting speech.

[forthelasttime223]

when has govt done anything efficiently and within a budget? there probably are some instances on a local level, but im talking about fed govt. whatever they say it will cost, triple it. you can just assume that it will be a bloated agency and a total cluster fuck.i just find it odd that the same people who whine about iraq and all the things that the evil govt does are the same people who now want it to take over responsibility for their healthcare.

[battleship401]

Hillary & Health Care! She screwed it up the 1st time. Do you really think UniCare will work? USA Health Care says, you're to old for heart valve replacement! O well, say good bye to the family!

[Surounder]

wow the americans have a really big problem with healthcare, i don`t know that

[seeprogress]

You can watch the entire CAPAF Presidential Health Care Forum from Las Vegas with Barack Obaman, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel and Bill Richardson at fora dot tv

[obamaforprez2008]

Thanks for your work on this issue! I have a question for you, will you be talking about how we can pay for these programs in the debate? I really feel that we need to just start taxing all of the rich people in this country. Either that or force them to begin helping all o fthe people without health care or who can't afford a quality apartment, or free gas and electricity. Many people need these things just to live and most Republicans can afford to pay for them for the rest of us, I feel.

[joerock4452]

If you have sleep problems this will certainly put you to sleep.

[BornInAmerica]

Socialism would kill America as we know it. Anyone who thinks people in other countries have it better than we do, should move to another country. BYE BYE!

[texformer]

And remember she can't afford health care, but she can afford the camera that recorded this program, the program that encoded the video, and the high speed internet connection to be able to connect to youutbe and watch videos! She really has her priorities straight doesn't she? (Insert sarcasm).

[physivic]

boy you're a real accounting master. webcams are like $20

[texformer]

physivic, and if she can't afford health care then she shouldn't be spending money on a high speed interent connection, webcam (or video cam), computer . . she should have her priorities straight. And if she smokes or drinks that's even more money. And I think there are more affordable health care plans out there that are still non HMOs.

[pvukosavljev]

IF you are TOO sick ... got cancer for example... they either will NOT insure you or charge you an amount that you can not afford ... One 911 worker in the movie "Sicko" was quoted $1000 a month for insurance ... he only makes $1000 a month .., on social security disability.... she used to be a EMT but has lung problems ...

[excurrahee]

You need to check Moore's facts. A person on SS disability would get medicare/medicade. FREE health insurance.

[pvukosavljev]

She does not get Medicare ..... and does not get any help from the 911 fund setup for 911 workers ... she did not work for New York City or State of New York. IF she did . then she would get help.

[texformer]

People need to check moore's facts, and Moore needs to check his facts. All these trusting lemming fans of his continue to deny that his past documentaries were proven to be full of false information that he lied and said was true.

[rickkiboi]

well said, sister, look fwd to the forum, and yes thanks for your great looking self!

[excurrahee]

SOCIALIZED MEDICINE NOW...I'm sick of choosing my own doctors, getting quality care when I need it, and not having the government tell me what I need. Ask the thousands of Canadians that come to the US to get health care.

[pvukosavljev]

That is total BS about Canada... I picked my doctor .. and i have had him for 25+ years... My doctor and not some GREEDY insurance company decides if i get a treatment. We live on average about 4 year longer than Americans.... Ours do NOT work for the government..

[excurrahee]

How long has Canada had socialized medicine? Pretty sure it's not 25 years. I know several docs that left Canada to work in the US because of the Government control of health care.

[pvukosavljev]

First province in Canada get unversal health care in 1962 ... 45 years ago ... in Ontario it started in 1969.... They left because specialist make a lot more money in the USA... a GP makes more in Canada than USA. .. Are those docs specialist ?

[seeprogress]

CSPAN is broadcasting the complete health care forum on CSPAN 2 at 8pm est Friday March 30th (and at 1am est on CSPAN) Watch the highight video on SEEPROGRESS

[Jbrown1982]

Great job! I missed the the forum, but so far I have found Mike Gravel's podcasted, I will continue to look for more, I am very interested in hearing what John Edwards had to say!

[stone1home]

Dear CAP, Can I come and represent the Republican viewpoint? I stand for higher costs, disorganization, and tying quality of care to the logarithm of one's net worth. Applying my ideas, I think we can easily have 90 million uninsured Americans by decade's end.