I'm Not a Doctor, But I Play One on TV

"Like the old joke goes, President Obama isn't a doctor, but he plays one on TV -- giving Americans a discomforting glimpse of life under ObamaCare, with government leaders and bureaucrats dispensing medical opinions that are better left to doctors, medical professionals, and patients," said House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH). "This is a lighthearted video, but it underscores a serious point that Congressional Democrats are going to hear throughout August as they travel outside of Washington: Americans want lower health care costs not a trillion-dollar government takeover of health care that increases costs and lets Washington bureaucrats make decisions that should be made by doctors and patients."

The House GOP Health Care Solutions Group has crafted a health care reform plan that will address rising health care costs and expand health care access and quality at a price our country can afford. To read about this better solution, go to http://blunt.house.gov/Read.aspx?ID=1140 . President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) should scrap their plan for a government-run health care system and start over, and work with Republicans for real health care reforms that will make a positive difference for all Americans.

• Category

  News & Politics

[galerapesada]

is Bohner a moron or does he just play one on tv?

[peacad]

people, would pay for healthcare if people can afford it. I paid for my healthcare in the UK through my taxes and guess what it was affordable because I didn't notice the money disappearing in my pay packet AND there was less of a profit margin. America, despite spending more on healthcare per capita than any developed country some of the worst health statistics in the world. I am not asking for govt. to fund things like laser eye surgery but basic healthcare that saves lives.

[zeppelin8677]

*Boehner 

[H1TMANactual]

I don't have much emotions so I can't get emotional. Think about what you're even telling me. Everything works better privately except healthcare and education? Why? I bet if you asked then East Germans they would say cars (Trabant) must be made by govt. It is your arguments that are from emotion and ideology, not mine. There is only one measure - EFFICIENCY, INPUT vs OUTPUT. Does govt healthcare and education pass the cost-benefit test? No it doesn't.

[rabbitwho]

At the end of the day you have grown up in an individualist society and I've grown up in a collectivist society and our opinions would probably be reversed if we swapped lives - so there is no point in getting stressed out and upset with me.

[rabbitwho]

You are the one getting emotional.

There isn't enough money to nationalize everything, and many things work better privately owned. But not health care and education. You measure efficiency by seeing what effects you and your own pocket best. I measure it by seeing not only what helps me most but also my neighbors. But even if I was only worried about myself, I still think paying into the health service would helps, because it makes the country I live in a better place to live.

[H1TMANactual]

Wow! Complete & utter economic illiteracy! If that's the case genius why don't we nationalize food production, cars, clothes, houses. Then you can help "society as a whole" even more. I don't care about your wide-eyed emotional arguments, the question is what's the most EFFICIENT means of producing these things, including healthcare. & it's not govt. I would much rather pay $30/month than thousands to fund a monstrous bureaucracy like NHS b/c you think it helps whole society. Please get a clue!

[rabbitwho]

Also your insurance can pay for your own needs, in the event that you'll have health problems. My taxes help not only me but society as a whole, and I'm really happy about that.

[rabbitwho]

My last sentence did no such thing. You pay a small amount in taxes every year so that you and other people never have to worry about not getting an operation that they need just because they've fallen on hard times or their operation happens to be one of the more expensive ones.

Insurance companies are a business, you have good rates because they don't think you'll need them. If you'd had a pre-existing condition when you applied or were over a certain age you'd have had no such luck.

[H1TMANactual]

Ironic your last sentence contradicts your statement. Exactly you need an operation once in a while but you pay taxes your whole life. Pay taxes your whole life just to get on a waiting list for 2 years LOL. At least in America you get 1st class service for your money. And people don't pay out of pocket either, we have private insurance. I have catastrophe insurance, runs me $30 a month. Do the math.

[rabbitwho]

If you need a hip operation in the US it costs about $50,000, that's about 31,000 pounds. You're not paying twice, because should a person earn £25,500 a year, this person would pay tax of £5,979 and £1,094 or more than 18% goes to the NHS. Which means you would need to work 31 years to pay enough money into tax to pay for just one £31,000 operation.

Not everybody needs an operation every year,and not everybody needs the NHS, so we all pay a small part of our wages for those people that do.

[H1TMANactual]

Hmm cool story. Except when you pay private doctor in UK that's a double cost. You have already paid taxes to NHS. What a ripoff!