Rep. Boustany Delivers Republican Health Care Address

[MabCannell59]

Download the audio from this tune at soundnabber doht cohm.

[guywalker29]

This fat pig gets great government organized health care paid for by me, why is he against me getting what he has?

[junkyassmonkey]

Reagan was great!

Aside from the stock market economy crash

Failing to combat AIDS

Increasing Poverty

Failing to improve quality of life (for non-ultra rich)

Opposing Civil Rights

The only time in over 200 years of American history that taxes were raised for the poor and lowered for the rich.

In the US today, the "Gini coefficient"—a measure of the distance separating rich and poor—is comparable to that of China.

[junkyassmonkey]

Reagan was great!

Aside from the stock market economy crash

Failing to combat AIDS

Increasing Poverty

Failing to improve quality of life (for non-ultra rich)

Opposing Civil Rights

The only time in over 200 years of American history that taxes were raised for the poor and lowered for the rich.

In the US today, the "Gini coefficient"—a measure of the distance separating rich and poor—is comparable to that of China.

[junkyassmonkey]

Reagan gave a States' Rights speech in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the town where three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964.

Reagan supported South Africa in spite of apartheid, but yielded to pressure from Congress.

At first Reagan opposed the Martin Luther King holiday, and signed it only after an overwhelming veto-proof majority voted in favor of it.

Congress overrode Reagan's veto of the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988.

How's that UNCLE TOM syndrome working out for you?

[AtlasShruggery]

The Republican Health Care Plan:

1. Don't get sick.

2. If you get sick, DIE QUICKLY!

[hadenufnow]

Kill the 3000 pg Illegal HC TAX & JAIL Trojan Horse Mandate Bill nobody wants..

Kill the bill..

Vote em out...

Nobody wants it..

[LordCharlesBoustany]

Health care is a right!!!

I don't care how much it costs!

Single Payer NOW!

GET RID OF THE OBAMA PLAN AND START with passing H.R. 676!

John Boehner is an asshole.

Lord Charles Boustany is a jackass! Every time someone dies from not having health care in America, Boustany has just violated his hippocratic oath!

[JackHorner69]

what a disingenuous scumbag. All these republicans are just fucking disgusting. STOP ABORTION!!!! STOP HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT, LET THEM DIE!!!!! SAVE BABIES UNTIL THEY GROW UP THEN LET THEM DIE!!! Thats the republican way.

[romelior]

Its very simple.

Bush and all the others had the change to implement a new healthcare system but they didnt.

So now when a new democratic afro-american puts it as a major item on his agenda, they feel all humilliated and just dont want to give him the credits!!!

Obama is the choosen president and he has the exclusive right for it!!!

And the doktor / arts thing which he is credited for has nothing to do with it!!

[elitebanktyranny]

Obama is just Bush's third term. They're both progressives where do you see any difference in their policies?

Progressives hate the Constitution and work to destroy State sovereignty and the individual.

Woodrow Wilson, the founder of the progressive movement, even admitted in his book "The New Freedom" that the Constitution is an outdated document and government can't have any restrictions in today's world.

We need to go back to our Democratic-Republican roots. Jefferson and Madison's party.

[romelior]

Where do I see the difference.

Like senior Bush told, Obama really wants to mean something.

Bush didnt wanted to change the healthcare system

Bush didnt wanted to close Guantanamo (even though its difficult for Obama)

Bush didnt wanted to improve medical research because of some religious parties

Bush sustained some laws against Gays for equal rights e.g. in the army

Bush had bad international relations, Obama gives it back to you.

Bush started wars, Obama wont

[romelior]

Obama derived the worst economical crisis & troubles since the beginning of 20th century.

[elitebanktyranny]

Guantanamo bay is not closed, Obama is head of the Security Council which is illegal under our Constitution... so I wouldn't call that good international relations, Obama is starting a war in Pakistan and possibly Iran.

You need to wake up to the one party system. The Democrats and Republicans both want big government. They both want more war and more funding to the military industrial complex. They are both enemies of the free-market.

All you need to know: Obama supports the Patriot Act.

[romelior]

Guantanamo is indeed not closed, I didnt say that. But Bush placed the prisinors in a place which is not under American law, so they dont have any rights, and no country wants them either. Theoretically Bush created a problem Obama cant solve.

Obama didnt started a war. He is trying to prevent one against Iran. The war in Afghanistan, surrounded by Pakistan started by Bush just like Iraq (almost Iran, Russia). Unresponsible to get your militaries back, America created the mess! Neither attack

[romelior]

Obama inherited the security council from Bush his period.

My friend, your implication is wrong

head security=>bad international relations.

South America wants him, Europe likes him, The Middle East and Africa is with him.

Obama doesnt support the Patriot Act, I AGREE HE WILL SAY SO, its something what is derived, Indian and black people were killed for Patriots. The only thing whats nowadays good about the patriots are the founding fathers.

[romelior]

I AGREE the senators and goverment use(d) to misuse the ideology for there own wallets.

I DONT AGREE with certain points.

The republicans (especially Bush) supported the free market. I dont probalby just like you, but I have to be honoust, the capital of the richest companies are corrected by the free marked, so they suffer from there own behaviour.

I think a big goverment should be helpfull to, and only if it focuses on social programs like social security, education and medical care

[LordCharlesBoustany]

Madison? you can't be serious!

Madison thought the government ought to protect the "opulent minority," also known as the rich, from the rest of the population!

Jefferson was a slave-owning hypocrite!

Progressivism IS FREEDOM!

Better we spend our money on the American people rather than throwing away all our money in the military sector.

We have money for WARS but we don't have money for health care!!!

We have money for PRISONS but we don't have money for EDUCATION!

[elitebanktyranny]

Nice try bringing up slavery try and demonize Jefferson...

Of course we have money for WARS that's all the government cares about. Democrat and Republican... and they've got the Federal Reserve to endlessly fund the welfare-warfare state.

We give TOO MUCH money to education. The lowest funded public schools score exactly the same as the most funded public schools. The government has this obsession with regulating every aspect of it too. They have no business in education OR health care.

[LordCharlesBoustany]

Actually, I can demonize Jefferson simply on academic terms as well. Jefferson was just another elitist who thought the country should be run, to use his words, by a "natural elite."

Look, save this anarcho-Capitalist rant for somebody who actually sympathizes with you. Just because you're a "libertarian" or conservative doesn't make you an expert on the Constitution.

I'm much more constructive in my critique. I say take what we have & change it. I wouldn't destroy the education system.

[jojo808]

All good ideas here.

But they Had 8 years to get them done and did Nothing .

This is only a smokescreen to keep beating around the Bush. I Need Health Care Now. thanks

[IdiotsForObamaCom]

this guy makes alot of sense, and I would trust him, over Obama Pelosi and Reid, all who have lied on video-audio approx 47 times, about health care and none of them wrote the bill. This guys does have common sense and doesn't lie and distort the numbers like the dems do. I dont understand why even dems can't admit their party os dead./.destroyed by trial lawyers, elitist libbs and radicals..all incompetent thieves and corrupt..Why??? say it!!! say it!!!! lol..More at - IDIOTS4OBAMA COM

[wadeburkett]

Do you live down here? Cause I do. Louisiana is What? Tied for first in most corrupt state. They gave our public beach to an oilfield company. We have a new "toll road" which used to be a public road. When they say "private" they take what is yours and give it to some corporation. When they say "public" they take what is yours and give it to some corporation. I don't see any difference in either party. Look up W.T.O. , W.H.O.

[RichardE8ST]

Clean the shit out of your ears or learn to read. Nobody would be forced into anything. President Obama is offering the same options to Americans that Senators have today. This is exactly what he said before he was elected, and the American people voted overwhelmingly for President Obama's ideas. Get over it neocons your incompetent party of liars is failing.

[wadeburkett]

Obama, also known as Bush and Cheney's cousin, did not come up with this. This has been shoved in our face almost 20 years ago. This is pushed by the WHO and the WTO.Bush, Clinto,Reagan,Obama, none of these people write or even know how to produce 3,000 page bills to push into congress. Neocons are actually liberals who infiltrated the limited gov.t. party. The puppet on the left is more to your liking. the puppet on the right is more to others. One man is holding both puppets.

[wadeburkett]

I have to laugh. My hospital experience. over $4,000 to rent one machine to do tests, over $1000 to do other tests. Total little under $8,000 for 3 day job. Doctors with Lexus,s 2,3,4, houses. Private jets. Greed, that is the problem. Your solutions free market or national insurance. Kool-Aid? Both parties must be drinking mushroom juice. More like Insurance Reform takeover.

[wadeburkett]

I don't see anyone telling it like it is. The World Health Org. is the real force behind this.Both parties are behind this, that is why it is never brought up. The WHO is pushing with over 80 corporations to get this through. The Republicans only back large international corps. Both parties are controlled, and corrupt.

[kevinjones238]

priorzola. Thanks for telling it like it is!!! Great work my friend.

[kevinjones238]

givethemahand.  You're right. Medicare and Social Security are more efficient now than they've been in a long time. Something to do with the fact that government run programs are being scrutinized more NOW than they have in recent years no doubt ?? And Medicaid. Medicaid under HR3200 has caused quite a stir(LIAR and the whole 9). Exploitation of loopholes. Medicaid should be placed under constant DHS surveillance!! SAVE should be employed on the local, state and federal level.

[wewilloverrun]

WE can not sustain the give away programs

[BrendettNC]

For six years GOP held the floor in the US Congress Why didn't you pass a Health Care Reform for the people back then?You bunch did nothing to help the people !

Now the Democratic Party has put a health care bill on the table.Your bother about it now,Why?

GOP you had your chance and blow it out the water,

now shut up you are repeating the same old tired words! The GOP is so Transparent,

with the word bipartisan its become a weapon against the

Democratic Party only!

GOP has no commonsense!

[onlyrey]

The GOP has commonsense... it tells them to kill all efforts to fix healthcare while posing as if they care. The GOP #1 objective = to regain power in Congress... this is what their "common sense tells them". The GOP's use the CBO very SELECTIVELY... The same (1:43) CBO told McCain that TORT Reform is bullSh.. (3:24) both in 2004 and 2006, the CBO published reports where they tell malpractice reform would do Nothing. There is nothing else to the GOP plan... very sad.

[Truthinmidamerica]

You seam to be a troller. I like how you distort the truth with your democratic lies.

[givethemahand]

Does anyone know what those Repubs were holding up during the Presidential address?

I think they wanted us to think they have a plan. If they have a plan why didn't Boustany mention it in his rebuttal?

Boehner said we will have a plan in a week..( that was 3 months ago).

Demint's plan in the Senate costs MORE than the Dem plan and is a gift of cash to Insurance companies.

Come on GOP....show us something,instead of being the party of NO.

[MrMindfucker]

Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

Molon labe!

[LAgarza666]

personaly i have a gun because i live in ca and there are a lot of desprate low life drug addicts, welfare recipiants probly obama suporters, running around all cracked out who envy my house and property. if one of those punk asses comes in my house they are geting blasted!

[MrMindfucker]

Typically, a coup détat uses the extant governments power to assume political control of the country. In Coup d'État: A Practical Handbook, military historian Edward Luttwak says: A coup consists of the infiltration of a small, but critical, segment of the state apparatus, which is then used to displace the government from its control of the remainder, thus, armed force (either military or paramilitary) is not a defining feature of a coup dÉtat.

[MrMindfucker]

The socialist are the corporation's! (Special Interest's!)

Think about it and you will see how they drive it all like a floating decimal;in the whole goverment equation!

Robbing us all!

[MrMindfucker]

priorzola , Your flying a false flag..... Every nation want's to take care of senior's! The only thing we dont need is a surge of Illegal's from Mexico!THE PEOPLES REPUBLIK of KALIFORNIA, BECOME ANGRY ENOUGH, AND GROW ENOUGH COURAGE, TO REFORM THEIR LEGAL SYSTEM WE WOULD'NT ALREDY BE PAY FOR ILLEGALL'S HEALTH CARE PERIOD!

[aikido7]

Representative Charles Boustany is a former heart surgeon. He's been sued for malpractice three times and was a birther. Boustany tried to buy a British 'lordship' from scammers and he has raised $1.25 million from the health insurance industry as a politician. What's there not to love for a Republican? Lord Boustany?

[sandmanhopes]

you would had thought from first debate after Obama they would have learned to read the speech before speaking sad how dumb this birther looks!!!!!

[BJJVad]

..and Ted Kennedy killed a girl while driving drunk..

What's your point?

[lookit87]

Like 50 years ago.

[Silberdachs]

Boustany was sued for medical malpractice for surgery performed on a child and found in fault by the state medical review board. The plaintiff received $600,000 in compensation as a result.

Typical GOP congressional asshole.

[Silberdachs]

Boustany was found at fault by the Louisiana Medical Review Panel twice including a 2 year old child Boustany performed an unnecessary & debilitating heart operation on and a woman whose right leg was amputated as the result of complications from surgery and patients were awarded damages totaling nearly $2m. Since 1992, Boustany has been sued for malpractice by eight separate patients. Boustany was found in fault by the state Medical Review Panel.

[hildayo]

Please keep trying Mr. Congressman. Maybe one day the rest of the people will understand. A welfare society won't survive very long and it will take us to poverty to everyone.

[Warhorse46]

Over the last 50 years Congress has decimated the middle class. Current US National Debt, 11.8 trillion which equates into $38000.00 for every man, woman and child in America. And you intend to change now?

[capogoalie]

Misleading speech in several ways.

Also, with the way insurance is currently structured (through employers), allowing for the purchase of insurance across state lines will likely have a small effect--and any effect it does have would take years to materialize AFTER the legislation becomes active.

And please, I understand speaking for your constituency, but claiming to know how the "majority of Americans" feel (without at least poll data) is cliche and pompus--and in this case, wrong.

[Mostdef]

What do you mean it will have a small effect. It seems pretty simple. I buy cheaper coverage elsewhere plus i'm covered every where.

[capogoalie]

The "public option" is based on the principal that a national policy can achieve economies of scale that allow it to be cheaper than other policies. Allowing purchase anywhere might achieve the same thing, but instead of doing so quickly the market waits for competition to drive down the price.

As a comparable, I invite you to look at what happened to banks when allowed to cross state lines-- did the interest offered go up? fees go down? How much has competition benefitted you in aggregate?

[Mostdef]

I think this was a good response and i'm against a public option but republicans doing a horrible job of getting the message of other options out? Most democrats say republicans have no plan (which is wrong) and then I see boustany on cnn saying he doesn't want to get into all the details.

I went to that website he mentioned and I don't see details of the alternatives I just see generalzation of Bush's plan (isn't he out of office?) and great detail of how bad obama's speech was.

[xylin3]

The Tea Parties are a great show though...

please continue them...

[xylin3]

yeah, "let's start over... We didnt contribute a figgin thing to this debate"

NOT

"Steamroll", anyone ?

[xylin3]

Your Party called the President of the United States a Nazi.

-and you want to talk from a position of Common Sense !?

Republican please...

[GuitarSpeller]

Great speech by Obama. He called the republicans out for their lies and deceit. This was obviously a well thought out strategy, and demonstrates what the republican already know --showing backbone and feistiness carries sway with the American public. Americans respect someone who can't be rolled over.

[MrMindfucker]

Why would anyone want to cling to a broken system? That let's the private health care industry run wild over charging the goverment for health care services that takes any increase of your retirement check's as soon as you get it.

Simple....

[NAGGERNUTZ]

Obama says he'll pay for health care by cutting waste, fraud and abuse from the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid systems. Now think about it... if there's that much money left over after cleaning up the waste, fraud and abuse, what makes anyone think that an even larger government program could have any less waste, fraud and abuse? And please tell me... how did there get to be that much waste, fraud and abuse? Enough to fund health care for every American? Why hasn't he done it already?

[priorzola]

Naggernutz, well there is the simple fact that the GOVT'S health insurance programs like Medicare (which combined w/ other govt subsidized programs account for 1/3 of the patient base in this country) can actually provide services w/ 4% overhead while the PRIVATE insurers take about 30% of costs to pay for overhead. And they way they often get that MASSIVE EXPENSE is by ILLEGALLY gouging MEDICARE, etc. The figures don't lie, the current govt INSURANCE is more efficient than private insurance.

[MrMindfucker]

priorzola, You would need to respet people's opinion's.

It really doesnt matter if they pass health care reform. We are under democratic control for this term. I'm a Republican and proud of it. So please dont think that you have any real answer's or solution's. It's going thru. Simple! The prez stands up there and say's no new taxes. That would mean they will raise taxes on what they all ready tax. We need to tax import's again! That's my opinion! So dont tread on it!

[priorzola]

MrMind, we need to start becoming COMPETITIVE again and that means having top notch education and healthcare. The GOP is not in the least interested in those things because they believe the "free market" alone can provide. An unregulated "free market" (ie like the one that runs the HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED healthcare system) is doomed to failure just as deregulations led to the collapse of Enron and the banking system. We cannot sustain the baby boomers getting older and growing healthcare costs.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

priorzola, you missed my point. My point is, if there's so much waste, fraud and abuse in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, what makes anyone think that government run health care won't have the same? Obama says, there's enough waste in Medicare and Medicaid to fully fund his new health care program. And I'd like to see your numbers. Do you have a link? Thanks.

[priorzola]

Naggernuts, there's a good video on youtube where Al Franken explains the abuses by such clinics as one in McCallen, TX as compared to those of a WORLD CLASS CLINIC like the Mayo Clinic that is able to keep costs down while providing superior care. The problem ultimately is that there are TOO MANY systems working at once (many hospitals and clinics operatie differently from one another) and next to zero accountability for how the 50% the system receives from the govt is spent.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

I don't doubt that there are clinics like that and no doubt more that are undiscovered. What concerns me is, if these kind of abuses are so easy, wouldn't any government run entity run the same risk? And even on a larger scale. Government run programs don't have the same level of accountability as those in the private sector. If a private sector entity had that much fraud and abuse, it wouldn't take very long for them to get to the bottom of it. Government run health care has no competition.

[priorzola]

NAGGERNUTZ, these are abuses have become easier because we've spend the better part of a decade appointing "regulators" who don't believe in regulations. In fact, many regulators in everything from energy to education to healthcare often have a vested interest in the govt looking the other way when these abuses happen. If these industires don't want to be regulated then they don't want the that FREE GOVT MONEY. We had much better healthcare when there were FIERCE REGULATIONS.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

I agree. I'm not against reform. I'm against another failed government bureaucracy taking over health care and imposing rationing and huge wait times. The government fixes problems by throwing more money at them. Allow health insurance companies to compete nationally and health care costs will drop dramatically... just as car insurance dropped drastically. Look at Wal Mart... they eliminated the middle man, and drove their competition out of business by offering the lowest prices.

[priorzola]

Crossing state lines didn't make the banks more competitive, it allowed for a rush to the bottom. And the GOVT can cut out the middle man for that all that INSURANCE companies are, one big highly subsidized Middle Man. Too much of the bureacracy of the healthcare indusrty right now is BUREAUCRACY but not nearly as much govt bureacracy as you think. it is the bureacracy caused by over 1500+ different provate insurers with 1500+ different set of rules all that are subject to ILLEGAL changes.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

You're comparing apples to oranges. A completely different scenario. The problems with the health care system are completely different from the cause of the banking collapse. Name one successfully run government entitlement program. Medicare? Medicaid? Social Security? Come on, and you want to allow the government to have control over your health (life-death)? At the very least, the private sector idea should at least have a chance before we go full tilt into government control.

[givethemahand]

Nag- "Name one successfully run government entitlement program. Medicare? Medicaid? Social Security?"

I don't know about Medicaid...but Social Security and Medicare are well run. Right-wingers keep saying they are a disaster...are either ignorant or bullshitting ( or both)

They are both efficiently run operations that have only 4-5% administration costs and are currently self sufficient.

Their projected shortfalls going forward are a result of the aging baby boomers that will want benefits.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

Now I'm really confused. Because just the other evening, Obama himself said that he could fund his health care program by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse from Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Now you tell me that they're efficiently run?

[givethemahand]

nag-

1st: He didn't mention social security

2nd: Medicare has only 4-5% administrative costs. That makes them efficient;

3rd An exception to the above, a portion of Medicare called Advantage where the government pays insurance companies 14% to do the paper work (waste)..they need to take it in-house

4th: Paying too much for Drugs under Medicare D. He has negotiated lower rates (savings going forward)

(continued)

[givethemahand]

(continued)

5th: Negotiated a price freeze with the hospital assoc. (savings going forward)

6th "Fraud"? Did it occur to you that the fraudsters are businesses that over-bill Medicare..its Medicare auditing that finds the fraud!

Very odd that critics blame the victim (Medicare) not the criminals (dishonest businessmen) when they talk about Medicare fraud.

500 bill in savings. But its not enough .. he will have to let Bush tax cuts for the rich expire, to get his "deficit neutral bill".

[givethemahand]

So...he isn't lying that he doesn't want a bill to add to the deficit. I think he means it. But like a politician he neglected to say where he gets the other 400 billion he needs. It will be from letting Bush tax cuts expire but he kinda avoided that in his speech to congress. If I where in his shoes..i would have avoided that too ( at least in that speech).

[givethemahand]

Another aspect of funding reform is the idea that competition in the insurance exchange will lower rates overall " bending the curve" of rising insurance costs. This should help profits for business and save government on insurance they buy from private carriers. This could happen with our without the public option. But the CBO won't show these dollars in their "score' because its "only a theory" that competition will drive costs down. If it does..great! If not...that triggers a public option.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

Very well thought out and researched response. However, regarding the fraud that you mentioned, don't you think that businessmen will always try to turn a profit even if it means over-billing a government funded program? It's a cash cow. If health insurance is opened up for nationwide competition, it makes defrauding the public more difficult. Dishonest companies fall by the wayside. I think we owe it to ourselves to at least try it before we start another huge government entitlement program.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

Continued... I offer the car insurance industry and retail industry as an example. WalMart on the retail side. You can't turn on the TV without seeing scads of commercials from car insurance companies competing for business with lower car insurance offers. Why can't we do that with health care insurance? If people can afford car insurance, surely they'll be able to afford health insurance. You'll even be able to build your own coverage plan just like car insurance.

[kevinjones238]

NAGGERNUTZ. There is no such thing as a PERFECT system. Medicare and Medicaid have their own drawbacks. Hell. The free market has its own drawbacks. Without proper oversight and regulatory boundaries , well, take a look at WALL STREET and our failed economy . There is always some THING within a system that can be fixed, changed or removed altogether (even our present health care system) for optimal efficiency in terms of execution and an increase in savings as well.

[priorzola]

NAGGERNUTZ, I see you've been drinking the GOP Kool-Aid again, ask seniors to give up their SOCIAL SECURITY or MEDICARE and you'll see how unpopular that will be. It has been historically underfunded (very often by the same GOP who are now using scare tactics toward seniors because OBAMA wants to reduce waste). You can spare me your little anti-govt screed. If PRIVATE INDUSTRY doesn't want the big bad govt interferring w/ their business models than stop taking FREE GOVT MONEY then.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

Uh oh... sour grapes. 56% of voters nationwide now oppose the health care reform proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. Thats the highest level of opposition yet measured and includes 44% who are Strongly Opposed. Just 43% now favor the proposal, including 24% who Strongly Favor it. Guess what? Those aren't just conservatives that disagree, so go have another big gulp of koolaid. Comrade.

[crescentaluna]

Actually, latest numbers (as of Sept. 25) are: 65% in favor of the public option; 26% opposing. Yes, that's down from the 72% that supported the public option in July, but the far-right hysterics did turn some people off.

Remember that a great many who "opposed" or "strongly opposed" some version of the bill oppose it because it does not guarantee a public option.

BTW ... Ever heard of Stockholm Syndrome? Seems to be a common problem in the GOP these days, and it looks like you have it.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

65% favor a public option? 65% of who? Because the numbers from the nations leading polls say something quite different. Opposition to the public option have never been higher and those opposed continue to climb. The number one reason why most Americans oppose is because of the public option. Why? Why did Sen. Baucus and house democrats vote against the bill that would allow the healthcare bill to be posted online for voters to read? What are they hiding? So much for transparency huh?

[NAGGERNUTZ]

I'm aware of Stockholm syndrome, but I've never been kidnapped, so it wouldn't apply to me. Why not stick to the subject and stop making little slurs and insults? You're having enough trouble arguing about health care. Just a little friendly advice... before you argue a subject, research it first.

[priorzola]

NAGGER, the ultimate result of the decline of the US healthcare system (including an 20% decrease in the number of Americans covered in the last 8 years alone) os that CORPORATIONS that work within the healthcare system take and take free govt money but reject the kind of regulation that goes with that FREE MONEY. FRANCE AND JAPAN (two of the best healthcare providing nations in the world) operate WELL-REGUALTED PRIVATE systems. So spare me your anti-govt dogma. GOVT fails when the GOP run it.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

Also, if those 1500+ health insurance companies are able to compete nationwide, the industry will level itself out by competition. Lower costs, be more efficient or fail. The reason why there are so much beaurocracy, is because they aren't able to compete. They have to be regulated state by state. California, for example... of those 1500+ health insurance companies, only 6 are available to residents of the state. Open it up and watch the costs drop.

[crescentaluna]

Wow, what a FANTASTIC idea! Don't regulate the insurance companies at all! Because that worked so well on Wall Street.

Fact: Profits of the top 10 health insurance companies went up 428% since 2002. 428%, Think about it.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

Who said don't regulate the insurance companies? Not me.

Question: If you opened a koolaid stand (no pun intended) and you charged $100.00 a glass, and people still bought it, would you stop selling it? Think about it.

Open it up nationwide and let the market drive the costs down, just like the car insurance industry and WalMart. Use the free market to force the prices down. Econ 101.

[crescentaluna]

I don;t really nee to quote you, do I; your post is right above. But I shall. "They aren't allowed to compete. They have to be regulated ..." The relationship between being regulated and being competitive is ... well, let's just say it: there is no relationship. Automobiles, for example, are a product both highly regulated and highly competitive.

[crescentaluna]

But, you are right on one point: there is too little competition. Which is why I so strongly support a public option which will COMPETE with private insurance, just as state colleges compete with private universities.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

I'm sorry, I just don't get how you figure that the private sector can compete with the federal government. The government has no profit incentive and an unlimited checkbook. Government will simply underbid private insurance and force private insurers out of business. Come on, this is basic economics. To use my WalMart analogy.. WalMart eliminated the middle man, brought their costs down and passed it on to the consumer. Health insurance could do the same thing if allowed to do so.

[wadeburkett]

Hillary Clinton was a board chairman of Wal-Mart when her husband was president. In the 90's Wal- Mart was bankrupt and went crying to congress. They took tax-payer money and bailed them out. Wal-Mart is subsidized for every building put up. Every four years they get money to rennovate. Wal-Mart did not have a Superstore before the bailout. It was like K-Mart. Eliminated the middle man? Bush continued the bailout and also bailed others like Goldman Sachs. Never stopping it.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

I think you misunderstood my comment. Private insurers aren't able to compete nationwide, they operate state by state. In California, they can only choose from 6 insurance companies out of over 1400+ nationwide. If those restrictions are removed, insurance companies will be able to compete nationwide and drive costs down... just the same way they did with auto insurance. In my state, we can only choose from 4 different companies. It allows the insurers to charge whatever the market will pay.

[wadeburkett]

This will also allow major corporations to buy out the little ones across state lines. merging to form less but bigger corporations. So much for competition. The end result would be the same as Health Care Reform. Members from major insurance corporations would be brought in under Obama's(?) plan because they are needed to run it. The result, exactly what you believe you are against. Turn off the T.V.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

I don't watch TV & I'm well aware of Hillary Clinton's ties to WalMart. She was a non-functioning board member. tinyurl*com/yawpkrd (change the * to a period). She's also trying desperately to sever all ties to WalMart. Also, you can't swing a dead cat and not hit some corporation that hasn't at one time accepted federal funds. Fact is, WalMart is one of the largest providers of jobs in the nation. Bush was no prize, I'm not defending him. He made mistakes, but nothing of the magnitude of Obama.

[wadeburkett]

Do you really think it is a coincidence your current president was born on the other side of the world, is half black and is cousin to Bush,Cheney, John Kerry, John Edwards? Really? Bush made no mistakes. Everything done was very deliberate. You let him. Now Obama has all his power he got from Bush and you. You are only a pawn. Either you blindly follow what has gone on or you profit from it. Are you paid to be on here? Sometimes the truth is not the facts.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

I don't get on here and defend Bush. As I said before, Bush was no prize. BUT... it should have stopped there. Now Obama is taking an already bad situation and making it a catastrophe. He promised an end to the corruption and turns out, he's more corrupt. That's what I'm pissed about. Pissed because people bash Bush, but give Obama a pass. I've always been relatively politically active. I'm on a first name basis with my congressman. My senators know me from the letters that I constantly write.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

I use WalMart as an example because the companies who didn't compete were forced out, yes, but health insurance companies would not be the same. Yes "maybe" some of the larger companies may force smaller ones out of business, but comparing insurance companies to retail sales is comparing apples to oranges.

[kevinjones238]

Damn good job crescentaluna!!!! Finally, someone talks and makes good damn sense!!!

[brainiacgames]

The stupid people who know nothing about this issue will make their dumb comments, but anyone who has studied health care and the proposed 'reform' knows that the free market is the best solution. Keep fighting the good fight.

[priorzola]

branianc, that's the HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED "free market" you mean. Anyone who has TRULY studied these issues know that 50-55% of ALL healthcare costs are covered by the govt not customers or private investors and that the systems that do the best in the world are PRIVATE/PUBLIC with a great deal of govt oversight of that FREE MONEY. Sorry, the GOP had 12 yrs of Congressional control and they did NOTHING. Their solution is to DEREGULATE, the kind that led to ENRON and the banking collapse.

[ZoozaTheBink]

People need to look take a look at the statistics before criticizing Rep. Boustany on having 3 malpractice suites placed against him: 25 percent of doctors in this country are sued about once a year. If he practiced for 20 years, then he's doing better than average.

I'm for a new plan that does what Representative Boustany put forward tonight. :)

[MrMindfucker]

I grew up in a time when the goverment actually third class econmic citizen.

These day's there's only two. This is why the gap between the two has grown.

I accept the health care plan because of this......

[90210bt]

He could have added, I am also rich....

[anon2999]

How dare he be successful...

[MrMindfucker]

You never should do away with medical lawsuit's! Especially since The fda only fines food processor's and other's a few grand when they deliver product's that kill innocent adult's and children......

Simple....

[MrMindfucker]

Dang! Someone gave me a thumb down for showing my patriotism! I'm Republican! I say pass the health care plan! Not having it is much more expensive and will put me more in favor of the freeloaders that been getting it since I was born. I dont know about any body whom disagree but we been paying taxes for those folk's while we do without it.

Simple....

[priorzola]

MrMind, you mean like the freeloading Republicans in RED STATES who collect far more in federal taxes than their illiterate impoverished RED STATES pay into those federal coffers. Sorry tool, your sorry talking points only apply to states ran by the GOP. The same party that did NOTHING for 12 years while control of Congress to address the healthcare cirisis and the same party that run states with the WORST healthcare record. Come back to me when reality matches your sorry ridiculous rhetoric.

[repubtodem]

I dint know it was him!! the guy with 3 malpractice suits and tried to buy lord ship he was conned he is a birther lol what a joke the best is he didn't even read Obama speech sad day for the reduds again!

[chattingcat]

Sounds much more common sense, doc:)

[Nickk361]

Keep in mind that the federal government has absolutely no Constitutional authority to establish a health care or insurance system

[priorzola]

Keep in Mind that the federal government has NO CONSTITUTIONAL authority to start costly illegal wars based on bogus information. Sorry tools, where was your "Constitutional scholarship" during the Bush years. Spare me tools, the GOP states have the worst healthcare record there is. Economically, morally, and educationally Red States are a DRAG on this country. They were kicked out of power for a reason, failure to recognize REAL PROBLEMS (healthcare) while making up bogus ones (vanity WARS).

[Mosor88]

Some Doctor, he has 3 malpractice suits.

[Nickk361]

Probably some bogus suits brought on by a whiney liberal. That's why we need reform to help lower healthtcare costs.

[MilanoRedSI]

LOL, all MD's have malpractice suits asswipe. This is because the Country is full of lib slip and fall lawyers!

[priorzola]

Mosor, and he works in a state that lingers near the bottom for healthcare results. It's not a coincidence that the GOP-ran Red States have the WORST HEALTHCARE in this country. And NOW they want to reduce everyone else to their third world levels. Sorry tools, you can ruin your own states healthcare (highest infant mortality rates, lowest life expectancy, highest rates of the uninsured, highest rates of teenage pregnancies),but the GOP knows NOTHING about delivering healthcare REFORM.

[MrMindfucker]

I love this goverment!

LOL!

[sobman]

He really should watch the speech before making a response. Lol.

[jplsll]

He is quite impressive!