Congressman Bob Etheridge Town Hall Meeting Aug. 12, 2009

Earlier in the meeting, a representative from SEANC (State Employees Association of NC) griped that Blue Cross/Blue Sheild has 97% of the NC insurance market. The reason why BC/BS has a monopoly on health insurance in NC is because state law forbids sales and purchases of insurance across state lines. Citizens of NC cannot choose to purchase cheaper, more competitive insurance policies from companies based in other states. Our government is already meddling in our choices and not in a way that benefits the people.

The speaker in this video addresses his questions as to why there are no options for free market solutions such as:

1. Allowing us to purchase cheaper, more competitive insurance across state lines?
2. Why can't we buy a personal policy and get the same tax breaks an employer gets on corporate purchase of insurance?
3. How come I can't have a health savings account without a lot of strings attached, government regulations and restrictions when I ought to be able to save for my health care?

Etheridge responds with a reference to Bernie Madoff. No, seriously...Bernie Madoff came up several times during the evening in response to questions as the reason why the free market and decreased regulations does not work.




Mr. Etheridge, Harry Markopolos alerted the Securities and Exchange Commission five times over years that Madoff's "hedge fund" was a huge ponzi fraud scheme. The SEC did nothing more than forward the case to the NY office which, after 11 months, closed the case citing no fraud. Madoff succeeded in defrauding people for years because the US government failed to do its job and not, Mr. Etheridge, because there were too few regulations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nTxX4xZ-ng

The Health Care Freedom Act (http://demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=SponsoredBills.HealthCareF­reedomAct) would do the following:

1. Protects the right of Americans to keep their employer-based plan if they so choose.
2. Provides Americans without employer-based health insurance with vouchers of $2000 for individuals and $5000 for families to purchase health insurance.
3. Allows Americans with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to use their HSA funds to pay for insurance premiums, encouraging employers to contribute to their employees HSAs.
4.Creates a national market for health insurance by allowing individuals to purchase health insurance plans in any state.
5. Provides block grants to states to develop innovative models that ensure affordable health insurance coverage for Americans with pre-existing health conditions.
6. Reduces predatory and frivolous malpractice lawsuits against physicians and hospitals.
7. Assures that every health care consumer has access to price information prior to treatment so they can make informed decisio about their care.
8. Repeals financial bailouts (TARP) to fund health care vouchers.

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[elevatorhead]

What a piece of shit ! Is this the best we can do for elected officials??, AMAZING ! This idiot should get charged with assault, thoses young men where being respectful, WHAT KIND OF IDIOTS DO WE HAVE IN OUR GOVERNMENT?? Nancy palosky the lavish arrogant bitch house speaker paying $18,000 amonth for renting her office !! Sam Adams a stupid morron that couln't wait until his lover turned 18 to suck him off, Most of these democratic politicains have no brains, I advocate Drug testing all of them.

[GodotheInfantry]

You should be in JAIL, bob! You don't get to assault kids!

[frogsoda]

Whenever a politician start his answer with, "That's a great question..." You know that you are about to get a load of bullshit.

[73849309378]

We're already defeated if we limit ourselves to these so-called "choices". It's should be called the Health Care Slave Act. What a worthless piece of garbage. It would do NOTHING to bring down our medical costs. You think health insurance companies are in competition? LMAO they're in collusion. Buying across state lines wouldn't change anything. The only solution is to grow a brain and get single-payer health care.

[Planetgonenuts]

if you do not like him ...get rid his ass! Get rid of all of them!

[roydu100]

@williamir exploiting the new media by having unfiltered from bums such as, let's say, MSNBC? Well, nobody watches them anyway so enjoy! To answer your question, asking a question is protected in that pesky US Constitution. Sorry. Not!

[nfdw47]

I say NC needs change!

[Henoxen]

Who are you?

[drhbettathanu]

Who are you?

[KaptKan1]

Somebody should ask the Congressman what his position is on encouraging the students of America to take part in the political process. Does he, for example, advocate physically assaulting them if they ask him questions about his political views? Of course, one should stand well back from him when asking the question, especially when he's stoned out of his tiny mind.

[driven39]

Who are you? thumb me up