By a vote of 219 to 212, the House of Representatives passed the health care reform bill. While it seems everybody has an opinion about Obamacare, we thought we’d stick just to the facts, and let you decide whether the bill is good or bad for the country. So with that in mind, here are 26 facts and figures about the health care reform bill:
- Republicans: No Republicans voted for the bill
- Democrats: 34 Democrats voted against the measure
- 32 Million: The estimated number of currently uninsured Americans who will receive coverage under the bill
- $940 billion: The estimated cost of health care reform over the next 10 years
- $143 billion: The estimated reduction in the deficit from the bill over the next 10 years
- $53 billion: The portion of the $143 billion in deficit reduction that comes from social security payroll taxes that eventually will be paid out in the form of retirement benefits.
- $70 billion: The portion of the $143 billion in deficit reduction that comes from premiums to be collected as part of a new government-run, long-term care program for the elderly. These premiums eventually will be paid out in the form of benefits.
- $88,000: New health insurance subsidies would be provided to families of four making up to $88,000 annually, or 400 percent of the federal poverty level
- Pre-existing conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
- Age 26: Insurers would be required to provide coverage for non-dependent children up to age 26
- Doughnut Hole: Under current law, Medicare stops covering drug costs after a plan and beneficiary have spent more than $2,830 on prescription drugs. It starts paying again after an individual’s out-of-pocket expenses exceed $4,550. Called the doughnut hole, it will be closed by 2020.
- 40% Tax: A 40 percent tax would be imposed on insurance companies providing “Cadillac” health plans valued at more than $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families. The tax would kick in starting in 2018.
- 3.8% Medicare Tax: A 3.8% surcharge would be imposed on investment income for individuals making over $200,000 and couples making over $250,000. This tax increase is estimated to bring in $210 billion between 2013 and 2019.
- $695 or 2.5%: The potential amount of a fine if you fail to purchase health care insurance. Starting in 2016, Individuals would be required to purchase coverage or face a fine of up to $695 or 2.5 percent of income, whichever is greater. The plan includes a hardship exemption for poorer Americans.
- 50 employees: Companies with more than 50 employees would be required to pay a fee of $2,000 per worker if the company does not provide coverage and any of that company’s workers receives federal health care subsidies. The first 30 workers would be subtracted from the payment calculation.
- Abortion: In a deal with conservative Democrats, President Obama will sign an Executive Order “that will reaffirm its consistency with longstanding restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortion.” The order can be rescinded by President Obama or any future president at any time, for any reason.
- 0.9%: Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) tax rate would be increased by 0.9 percent, to 2.35 percent.
- $16 billion: The amount drug manufacturers would pay the US between 2011 and 2019.
- $47 billion: Health insurers would pay $47 billion over the same period.
- 2.9% excise tax: Medical device manufacturers would pay a 2.9 percent excise tax on the sale of any of their products beginning January 1, 2013.
- Tanning Tax: Health care reform establishes a tax of 10 percent on indoor tanning services. This would raise $2.7 billion between 2010 and 2019. As fare as we know, getting a tan outside is still free.
- $132 billion: Government payments to Medicare Advantage would be reduced by $132 billion over 10 years.
- Flexible Spending Accounts: The maximum amount you can set aside pre-tax for health care costs in a flexible spending account will be reduced from $5,000 to $2,500.
- 46%: The percentage of Americans in favor of health care reform, according to a Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll.
- 45%: The percentage of Americans against the bill according to the same poll.
- 36%: The percentage of Americans who think the bill is a “good idea,” according to the same poll.
Source: Health care reform: How House members voted – CNN.com
(source: Highlights of health care compromise bill – CNN.com)
(sources: Obama Executive Order on Abortion Funding, What health care reform means for your small business – CNN Money, Checking the Math on Health Care – NYTimes.com)
(source: Obamacare wins: Now the pain begins)
(source: American Public Divided On Health Care Reform (POLL))
Now it’s your turn–what’s your opinion about the health care reform bill?
And if you are looking for individual health insurance, check out these options and get a free quote:
Rob Berger
Rob founded the Dough Roller in 2007. A litigation attorney in the securities industry, he lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, their two teenagers, and the family mascot, a shih tzu named Sophie.
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Published or updated October 28, 2012.
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Who cares… one person isn’t really making this “change” anyway. There is a much bigger source that we will never know about. It’s up to God to deal with this and if you haven’t noticed our world is crumbling under our feet! Live your life day to day and don’t stress the small stuff. The Secret Society who is really running this world, will answer to our creator. Guess I’m not debating this topic for my English paper!
right on dave… everything you said is true
true that! but if i was anyone i wldnt leave it up to someone eles, no way, my word should count, its the peoples life that its all effecting so why dont we have a say so in it???
The ignorance on this site is appalling…People who don’t know enough to argue with fact based rebuttals resort to name calling…How can you tell me to argue with proper “grammer” when you spelled “grammar” incorrectly? I advise you get a web browser with spell check…
The ignorance of calling someone a socialist as an insult is ludicrous to me…I’ve been to socialist countries and the system can work when properly implemented…
I think that a good political philosophy, incorporates the best from different ideologies in an attempt to counteract the pitfalls that are associated with the ideals of the individual systems…There is something to learn from others, if you denounce someone/thing because it’s of a different view point then you’re just a puppet being used by others….Formulate your own ideals, and don’t regurgitate the things you see on television and hear from others. Cogent arguments are accepted, those of a more ignorant nature aren’t…
That is fantastic! Thank you!
You mentioned socialist countries that “work”. Which ones? Did Greece “work”? Did Spain “work”? Sheesh. YOU get your facts straight.
Funny the reader only mentioned the few countries where univeral health care may not have worked out. There are scores of developed nations, like: France, Germany, Switzerland and England where the health care system is running quite well. Remember, you can not please everyone. We need to look at helping the many.
I agree Dave. Im neither for or against the health care reform bill, but if helps the elderly who have worked all their lives and help build this country, and children who stay sick because their parents cant afford to take them to a doctor it may be a good thing. What bothers me more than the Health Care Reform Bill is hearing on CNN that the Mexican Cartel is threatening to start killing children in Ft Hancock Texas, and the head-aches that they are causing on the Texas, and California boarders. What is America going to do about that?
Oh. Its not ALL about giving health care to those who are without. Its a reform of the system that’s attentions r more on wall street and other intrest than in your doctors offices and ER’s. Not saying the medical profession personally. You ever wait in line at your drug store and see the ridiculous amount of money people pay for there meds. This should not be a pay to live (in the real meaning) society.
Take a poll of your friends or co-workers, and ask how many people they think do not have health insurance in America. The answer will, no doubt surprise and sadden you. The common response is somewhere around 40-60% of the population. This is sad because it shows just how well the rhetoric machine can influence the uninformed. It is surprising because the actual number is lower than 10%.
Even those on the extreme left do not claim a figure anywhere near the 40-60%. The most common scary number the left likes to throw around is that 45 million Americans are without health insurance – a number that is disingenuous, to say the least. But even that number works out to only about 15% of the population.
Of those 45 million that are said to be without health insurance, there are about 10-15 million people who make over $75,000.00 a year. These are folks who could easily purchase their own health insurance but simply choose not to. That brings the number down to 30-35 million, or around 10%.
Of the remaining 30-35 million there are young people who feel age is on their side and are not terribly concerned about health insurance. There are children who are actually covered under Medicaid and there are those individuals who for one reason or another do not work, either through choice or through circumstances. So you can see that the number is easily less than 10% anyway.
The rhetoric machine has been so successful that it has convinced people of a crisis where there is none. Sure it is tragic that any would be without health insurance and it would seem to make sense to come up with a way to cover that small minority. But why are we looking to place 90% of the population under socialized, government health care when they are already covered?
Do you truly believe that a government run health care system would be better? Do you truly believe it would be free? If you do, I would suggest you take a look at a government run health care system that already exists it is called the Veterans Hospital system. Enough said.
Dr. Stephen D ~
Your dead on! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your comments. Glad to know that I’m not alone!!
Wow…these are the exact points I’ve made several times before and this is the first time I’ve read this post. I am a pharmacy technician, and I know from direct experience that the huge majority of individuals DO already have health insurance and that most people are fully satisfied with their insurer, some actually love their insurance. Yeah, thats right, they love their insurance. One woman who comes in once a month & picks up 14 medications every month (she is a diabetic), and pays under $50 total… to put it in perspective, the cost of the cheapest of those medications without insurance is at the very least twice that much.
And for the rest of the people who only pick up medication when they need it, their co-pay is usually $15-20 ….and to me this isn’t a crisis. Some Americans spend this much on a single trip to McDonald’s…maybe thats the real crisis & half the reason why people even need to worry about having insurance when they a ‘sudden’ heart attack.
Really? I read this and laugh. Only 30 to 35 million what do you mean only? This is sad. Let me tell you. I have insurance. Can I afford it no. Am I happy with my insurance company? Are you serious? The ppl writing in this site against this care should be ashamed. Do you personal know what it is like not to be able to get insurance due to a pre existing condition? Like someone saying “we know you need help, but sorry… die. Better luck next life” ONLY 30 to 35 million. Get a heart. Don’t believe the “facts and numbers” your being fed. These things are coming from ppl who have there best interest at heart. Big fish care nothing about the little ones! But the little fish continue to believe what they are being told. Why is this the only thing ppl focus on. Where were you when this whole was being dug? O that’s right, you were busy eating what the big fish were feeding you, voting for some one worried about his pockets not yours. Obama is not to blame for any of this. The smart individuals who voted for bush TWICE are to blame. Sad when another countries newspaper has an article titled “WHERE DID THEY FIND THE IDIOTS TO VOTE FOR THIS MAN TWICE” This is unreal! But because in 2yrs all the problems have not gone away the same “idiots” are going to vote the politicians with the shovels back in office. Hope you like the way we living it only gets worse!
So over a quarter of a billion people should suffer in order to accommodate 30 million? Where’s the “greater good” in that?
There are not 46 million “uninsured”!
20 Million illegal aliens are covered under Medicare Section 1011!
Look up Section 1011.
9 million on Medicaid on MEDICAID said they were uninsured!
5.4 million kids ELIGIBLE for SCHIP are counted as “uninsured!
18 million under 34 offered employer health insurance refused –counted as uninsured!
Altogether 52.4 million people either that don’t want coverage or are covered already!!!
Biggest LIE EVERY Told!
Another big coverup.. $50 billion a year is sent to home countries by these same “illegal aliens”.. A 20% tax on anyone sending money that can’t produce citizenship would provide at least $10 billion!
This $10 billion would be used to compensate providers that currently have $60 billion in “unreimbursed” expenses..WHICH BY THE WAY THEY DO RECOVER… THEY PAD AND PASS ON TO THOSE THAT PAY IN THE FORM OF HIGHER SERVICES COSTS!
Then tax the lawyers that made $100 billion off lawsuits many frivolous health care. The fear of lawsuits costs $300 billion in defensive medicine. 20% surcharge tax on lawyers generate $20 billion… again use to pay for “unreimbursed”..
This will not fly though!!!
Can you provide a link to the sources of this information? I would find this very useful.
hmmmm….I respectfully disagree with what you’re saying, here. Have you reviewed the Affordable Care Act? I had no idea what it said specifically so I went and found the website. It’s at http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html. I found it helpful as I’m not a lawyer or can digest a several hundred page document.
Anyway, in a nut shell, the act is bad for the insurance companies and good for the rest of us. Lots of protection against the ‘man’. Really it looks like a lot of restrictions for the insurance companies with additional requirements that they need to follow. Most make sense for an enlightened society that should care for those less fortunate – but that’s my opinion.
I would strongly urge anyone who thinks they have an opinion on the Affordable Care Act to review the official website I listed above and then come back and poke holes in it.
The only problem I had with it was I think they should have broken it up a little into separate Acts. Some of the things that will go into effect in a couple of years will be difficult to measure the success of where as other parts are really no brainers. For instance I think setting aside $15 billion for a public health fund to prevent disease and illness is a little pie-in-the-sky unless they have a good drawn out plan on how to spend the money. Maybe it’s in the formal Act – I dunno. Requiring health care companies to spend 85% of every insurance dollar on health care is a good thing for those of us who would prefer not to pay for a ceo’s limo every time we get an x-ray.
From what I saw in the Act there’s nothing that actually screws the average American (other than how they plan on paying for it – not sure how that’s happening – I’ll have to investigate). So, with that, I’m for it. I think history will view it like when medicaid first came out. I seem to remember hearing there was quite an up roar over that back in the 60′s – of course there are political groups who would like to see that go away.
As to what Sand Man said – you can put me on the “I hate my health care provider” along with everyone else where I work. My company started with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Delaware. Boy was that great! Then they raised their rates in a single year that put us out of the running. Now we’re with Coventry. What a *$#!@ nightmare. And every year it’s gotten progressively worse. First year we had to put up with lousy customer service and having to switch doctors, etc. The next year they raised rates to the point that the employees had to pay the first $3600/plan year – and that was on top of what was already coming out of my pay check!
I bet if you ask your customers in another year if they like their insurance provider you’ll get a different answer (if obama care is repealed this Wednesday when the Republicans retake the house and the senate) as with so many people unemployed. Eventually when they do get jobs and get health insurance what will they say when they need to pay for their high blood pressure medication, diabetic supplies, etc because they were pre-existing conditions (remember they were without coverage for awhile). You know how many people have high blood pressure or are on antidepressants? And all of a sudden you need to pay full price for your meds??? My head hurts I need to stop typing….Happy Halloween!
Count me in as one that has NEVER had good insurance and has almost always had insurance with every job I have ever had. 41 years old now and I have watched as my health care services have degraded into what is more important to wall street rather than what is important for my own health. No one in my family has ever had good insurance, most of my co-workers either opt out because the plans are terrible or they complain like me with no solution. The owner of the company I work for goes around blaming our current insurance premium increases on “Obamacare” when in fact the last 3 years we had significantly larger increases that caused us to shop and change insurance providers twice.
When the middle class is no longer left holding the bag for the largest percentage of tax burden then maybe we can stop worrying about how some of these services are going to be payed for and start looking at the benefits and failures of them in years to come and adjust as needed to make an American solution to our health care issues.
There are more than enough web sites with “facts” that have been twisted to support any ideology, ignorant or not. Personally out of all the republicans I know only about 1% that are actually intelligent enough to comment on political issues and not resort to name calling and topic jumping. If you watch Fox you are brainwashed and that is ok. Your judgmental God will most likely send you to hell simply for being a republican. Thankfully my God isn’t as judgmental as most. I do not care if people want to be conservative, republican, for or against a bill, but I do care if people are blindingly ignorant and simply have no desire to make our little corner of the world a little easier to live in.
Bring on Obamacare! Repeal the wealthy tax breaks! If welfare is going to be given out, I will always vote for the politician that is going to give it to society instead of the corporations. Face it. There are going to always be hand outs, bail outs, buddy buddy deals, ear marks, bridges to no where, Republicans have proven time and time again that they have no intention of making government smaller or reducing the deficit, they simply use those as podium topics so that when they are elected they can line the pockets of their buddies with cash and I mean gobs of cash.
The biggest surprise is how the Conservatives think their party really does anything for them at all.
I lived in Germany for 6 years and I thought their healthcare system worked wonderfully. Dr. “D”…such a doctor! Oh, most people have the money but don’t really want the healthcare; young adults probably could get it, but they think they are invincible so who cares; the Veterans Hospitals are all for sh….See no problem here, don’t worry. It’s America and we all should be able to die on our couch in front of the TV if we want to…slop, I say! The trend in corporations these days is not to offer healthcare at retirement, along with no pensions. It just so happens our young are the future of the country and need healthcare when they get into a 4-car collision as much as anyone else. That is not the time to go…whoops, can’t afford that new liver I need cause my old one is crushed now. I don’t want to stop at all stop signs, but I have a responsibility to do that as long as I am a member of this society. That is exactly the way I look at this issue. As this goes along, maybe we will all quit feeling OK to order the super-whopper special. Maybe we will take a walk after work. That is part of this change. We all have to step up. The cost of drugs cause seniors to forego them for a choice to eat or pay rent instead. Doctors make good money and deserve to, but you could stand to take a little off the top, like the rest of us. Emergency rooms all over the country send away ambulances very often due to being full – not because there is an earthquake on every corner, but because people go there for the flu. Many of you docs are in bed with pharmaceutical companies…you’ll prescribe a drug that has no generic and hand a pen out with each prescription. The United States needs a good healthcare system, where everybody is covered…healthcare is not a luxury item. Education is not a luxury item. We are still leaders in the world, but it amazes me how this is possible. Freedom seems to cause massive selfishness and stupidity on a grand scale here in the good ole USA.
Lastly, if humans are involved …it has to be monitored…Vet hospital or Dr. Goodneighbor’s Independent Pay-Through-The-Nose-Freedom Clinic…they all do.
Dr. Stephan D, i am writing a persuasive paper for my English class on weather or not the government should pay for everyone’s free health care. and to tell you the truth i just got so pumped up by your comment i got chills. YOUR AWESOME!!!!!!
Very true Dave! Unfortunately, I am writing this topic for my paper. Not by choice anyway!
very well said, sir. VERY well said.
who cares?
I guess the 32 million that have no insurance.
and the other 40 million that are about to lose their insurance due to high cost of premiums
and the economy that has to pick up the slack for more & more folks that go into poverty.
without basic health care, folks go to the ER for a cold & don’t pay. then tax payers once again pick up the slack.
By providing an economic option for folks to receive health care this helps to keep folks able to work & have money to spend on their lives instead of going bankrupt & forced into poverty and then tax payers have to pick up the slack
Did you vote for Obama? Thanks a lot a$$hole!!!
Sick and unnecessary. Grow up, and leave the country if you’re so unhappy.
Thank you Courtney!
you obviously voted for him.
yes i effin did:)
I bet you did… your name is Lupita.
i am forced to write an essay about the retarded healthcare reform bill. i don’t care about the topic. why is it so important?? not many people care. they basically go along with whatever happens.
Thats the problem, people are just going about there business and not really paying attention. Obama is like Hitler to me, and everyone is going to just stand by and not fight back! Millions will die!! Open your eyes and do something, dont and I repeat don’t just sit back. This Healthcare Bill is a silent Killer!! Since when does the government have a right to make me have health care, and fine me if I don’t???? If we don’t fight back we will all lose!!
You should have health care because you would probably be the first person to complain if god forbid something terrible happened to you and you were in hundreds of thousands in debt. Everyone should have health insurance, nothing is ever promised and accidents and tragedies happen.
Katelyn, you’re right! As you aptly stated, “Nothing is ever promised”. This is particularly true with regard to good health or health care. I agree with you that everyone should have health insurance. I just don’t believe your health insurance should be my responsibility. Further, neither good health or health insurance are “human rights”. Remember “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. These are our inalienable human rights. These are the things that we all should champion and defend. Health insurance is political fodder!
Are you kidding me? The next person’s health care is not your responsibility? What a selfish way of thinking. You have some growing to do I see. We all are responsible for each other, the sooner you understand that concept the better position you’ll arrive at to be able to ad to your world.
Scenario: Citizen has infectious disease (does not know because he doesn’t get regular check-ups/ no insurance) He carries this deadly disease that takes years to manifest itself, but he’s spreading it like crazy… by the time it’s discovered.. YOU’RE DEAD! ..Get it now???? We should always be willing to PAY for our fellow man as it is in the best interest of the WHOLE.
Yes I think everyone should have health care… but I do not think it should be forced upon you. According to the Constitution in Article 1 section 8 clause 3 it is unconstitutional to require a citizen to purchase a good or service. Plus, the reason why a lot of people do not have health care is because they can not afford it. I can not afford health care but according to the government I make to much to get free health care. So now Obama is going to make me pay for something I can’t afford and if I don’t I have to pay a fine and/or go to jail. Now tell me how fair is that?
Hey Michelle, my rent is due are you willing to pay that too?
Section. 8.
Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
Clause 2: To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
Clause 3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
Really? Like Hitler? You really need to grasp reality. Besides that rediculous comment, would you rather pay taxes for the millions that use government aid for health care when most have enough money to afford health care? Working in the hospital, it kills me to see that woman driving a brand new lexus, using medicaid
You don’t even know how to spell ridiculous. I’m siding with Kimzie.
TO KIMZIE: Saying that Obama is like hitler is asinine. If you had any actual education, you would realize that Hitler intentionally attempted genocide, whereas Obama is trying to help our country. It is people like you, lying hypocrites, who hinder the progress of this country. Maybe you should attend school some time and grow up like the rest of your peers.
Thank you for the trip back to reality. Lisa: Not being able to spell is directly related to genetics. He can’t help it. A dude: Very true about using medicaid and having a new lexus. A new health care bill will allows us to begin to repair our country. Kimzie: For you to go so far as to compare Obama to Hitler shows that you have some serious issues that should be corrected. Hitler was responsible for the worst genocide in International History, and Obama is desperately trying to fix our country. Gain some maturity please.
” Obama is desperatly trying to fix our country ” ha ha ha ha, Just laughed so hard I about fell out of my chair. Pretty sure he is trying to ” Sink ” our country.
LYNETT: you are one big fat hypocritical idiot.
Courtney I’m not saying I agree that Obama is like Hitler but I do believe that people should not blindly follow their leaders… or the people or are against their leaders. You’re kidding about genetics and being able to spell right? Your computer tells you when you spell something wrong, if you spell something wrong it means you’re lazy… not poor genetics.
The same reason you are required to have car insurance. I don’t want to be stuck with paying the bill for those who can’t afford or those file bankruptcy because of medical bills.
Ben Chackson: No one is forced to have a Car it is a Choice; car insurance is only required if you choose to buy a car.. Not the same at all. You can hurt, kill, or maim people with an automobile and insurance insures you can pay for the damage you cause in a car.
Kimzie that is absolutely crazy. Even Cuba has better life expectancy and infant mortality than the United States. The rest of the world is baffled that this is even being debated in America.
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. A unhealthy person is an unproductive worker. Makes sense for us all to chip in to look after each other’s health.
HEAR HEAR!
now that is an outrageous comment! And by the way you are responsible for you and the ones you keep near to you. No one else should be responsible for your health except you. The United States already has plenty of health care programs for people who can not afford regular insurance medi-care and medicade. This is paid for through tax withholding. Government ran clinics that charge based upon income. If we keep allowing government to tax hard working people in order to create some new program that mirrors other programs. We will have no one left to tax when businesses can produce profits because having to pay insurance, large wages and other benefits all of this will cause the economy to fall apart. Then we will be left with no choice to live by what the government allows you to have. NO FREEDOM -+- NO LIBERTY = NO LIFE
TO KIMZIE: I guess you don’t care that The top 5 health insurance companies reported $12 billion profits last year, Yet 2.6 million Americans lost their health insurance coverage last year for varying reasons. And that We spend 1.9 trillion on health care, which constitutes 16% of America’s gross domestic product. The health care reform bill is getting health insurance for 32 million new people who want it. This bill is saving lives, and just because you do not like democrats or Obama, you are trying to make people afraid, and saying that obama is a terrorist. Do you actually think that a president would try to destroy America? Either you think these things or you have no life and spend your day writing random things on websites for the fun of it.
If you do not want health insurance that is your choice, than you should not be allowed to come into the hospital for treatment if you cannot pay up front. Why should others have to pay for your decision? Health care is not an entitlement.
Healthcare is a joke and so is obama
This healthcare thing is bullshit but Im tried of these fuckin conservates right-wingers bashing on Obama . If george w bush would have passed this then they would have been all for it ,where was this fuckin teaparty bullshit shit when bush taxes hikes crashed the economy In the first place. I’m not defending the health care bill, but when you call someone a communist. Who’s just trying to help the poor people of this country. That crossing the line. Now he could have did better and listen to white America more. But bush did the same thing how many times did the american people say we want our people gone out of Iraq. This muthafucka did listen one bit. So if any body wants to debate on this I have a email, a phone number, speak to me I want here from you
well said.
It appears this is a matter of discrimination, and correct me by all means if I am wrong however answer this one question for me. You state that President Bush would not pull our troops out of Iraq well that may be true, however has Obama kept his number one stand to also pull the troops out. The answer is no infact he has just deported several more troops to the middle east and increased your taxes by 40% with his new health care plan. So yes socialism must be his goal here.
The answer is yes he has kept his promise to pull our troops out. According to the timetable they will be totally withdrawn by the end of next year. Obama increasing troop levels in Afghanistan was a part of his platform all along, and he has stayed true to it as well. Much military progress has been made there since the president took office.
He did not increase your taxes by 40%; you should reread the article. I’m really disappointed that some people on this thread refer to Obama as a socialist and compare him to Hitler. They are such unfair and uneducated accusations.
I agree that socialism is Obama’s goal.
If your going to debate or write about anything, please do us all a favor; learn proper grammer, English, and have a little bit of class.
If your going to debate or write about something, please do us all a favor; learn proper grammer, English, and have a little more class.
“you’re.”
haha. *slaps forehead*
classic
Grammar*
Haha, that’s funny, I do wish people would be a little bit more respectful of each other though. Just because you have different opinion doesn’t give you the right to be an asshole… I didn’t vote for Obama but I don’t hate the guy, and if I want to give a reason why I don’t like something he’s doing I’m going to do it in a diplomatic way that isn’t rude. I swear half of the post on this page are just pissed off people that don’t care to educate themselves.
Thank you!
I don’t agree with Obama or the bill, but I agree that when people get nasty they just kind of make THEMSELVES look bad…I’m glad someone said it.
Wow you have got to be kidding me. No wonder everyone just picked you apart. You are literally too stupid to insult.
Bush would have never done anything like this anyway. Our economy was great under Pres. Bush up till 2006 ( we had 4% unemployment not 12% like now) The Demomcats took the majority in Congress and kept it for the last 2 years of Bushes administration, which; was when the economy started going south and 800,000 jobs were lost. Now the Dems have had 4 (four) years of destruction and blame bush.
Yes, the war under Clinton and Bush and Obama are regrettably necessary. Is all the cursing necessary? It destroys your credibility.
Absoloutly Not! We do not even know what this bill or now law consists of, we the people have not been granted permission to read the contents of a health care plan we are voting on. Giving your Okay to something that you do not fully understand is idiotic.
…You do realize the bill/law is posted online, correct? Part of Obama’s “Open Door Policy”. Use Google, you should be able to find numerous pages to where it’s located or you can directly email your senator, representative, or the White House for a copy of the bill/law.
Here’s a PDF link, just in case you don’t know how to use Google. Granted, it’s 1900 + pages, but if you truly want to educate yourself on the bill, I suggest reading it before accusing others of being “uneducated” about it.
http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf
This issue is not Democrat Vs. Republican, it is actually what is America. We (all of society) has created a have and have not situation that appears about to emplode. This did not start with Obama or Bush, but when decisions were made to save everyone. The welfare mentality, where everybody deserves a living, even if they do not have to work for it, may have been the begining. We now have fifth and sixth generation individuals, with there hand out for something that was supposed to be a program to give someone a temporary hand until they could find work. It has now become so embedded in our society, that many think it is possible for everyone to have a “living Wage” and Free Medical Care and it should be on the back of those rich cat business owners. Take it from a small business owner, the end is near and nobody is going to like it.
I couldn’t agree with you more, this seems to have all started with people taking advantage of social security benefits. It’s crazy!
This Health Care Reform Forces people to have Care or get fined.
Poorer people get care from other peoples taxes.
Not the best idea the governments had in a while.
\ /
‘_’
Who actually likes this bill?
me
You’re joking, man
The indoor tanning tax seems very racist against white people. Black people don’t use tanning beds.
Hahahahaha black people don’t use tanning beds because they really don’t need to get any darker. White people don’t like being translucent so they tan even though it’s a proven fact that tanning beds can cause skin cancer. It may suck that it is getting taxed but if you think about it, it is a health risk in a way… However so is McDonald’s so idk what they’re going to do about that
Just commenting, because I think you are making something out of nothing. Tanning salons have been identified as of not being the healthiest place to tan. Not only do they make money off of pumping your body with cancer causing UVA rays they, in some cases provide you with an unclean Bacteria ridden environment to boot. I would argue that in some locations where you may not be getting your daily quota of Vitamin D a tanning salon might be a good thing, but generally it is an unhealthy habit and I see this as a Sin Tax. And yes, I actually agree with a Sin Tax. For example, an educated man could say that drinking copious amounts of liquor is bad for you, I do, and I do, and would not be against, the U.S. government taxing the bejeezus out of me, if they thought that would help reduce my unhealthy choice. I am sure that the government would do it if the alcohol lobbyists weren’t putting money into the political piggy bank. Finally your comment about racism seems a little odd. I think you are grasping for straws.
Have you not notice we have lost our” Business Ethics” too many are gaming the system for their advantage Wall st. Doctors ,Lawyers, Insurance Co.Pharmaceutical industry.There was a time this nation put patriotism before profit, but not now…Obama will lead us back to what we once were.
I assume you are referring to World War I or II when you talk about putting Patriotism before profit. That was a time when the US was fighting in a popular war, supported by most of the world. The business owners had a huge investment in making sure those wars went their way, much the same as they do now. There are few among us that would invest in and operate a business without some belief that it would return a profit. Patriotism is still alive and well. It may well be the government that has changed. Why are we still fighting wars on two fronts when Obama campaigned on a platform calling for the end of the war against terror in Iraq and Afghanistan? He is leading us, but it is to a place we have never been and never should be. When business is told that they cannot make a profit, they will not exist. Then where will Obama get his money to fly all over the country trying to convince the populace how great he is.
Hey pardner, just saying, what I heard Obama campaign on in regards to war was withdrawing troops in Iraq and keeping up the fight in Afghanistan. I know I am late on this thread but seems to me he is keeping to his word on this one.
Obama is not tring to convince other countries leaders that he himself is great. He is trying to improve our countries ties with them. People who are mentioning that Obama is a socialist, I really don’t see where being a socialist is so horrible. I am not saying that he is, but I believe that we should take care of our own people in America. I am still waiting for universal health care, where are are doctors who make house calls (France) and childcare that is a dollar a day (Norway). People cannot work if they cannot afford childcare plus rent and food. If we all give, then we will all have, what is wrong with that? I would like to see peace, compassion, empathy, and love; when I look at America. Not hate, selfishness, intolerance, and greed. Feed people here, educate us for free (The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, France), why not pay some more taxes and not have to worry as much about how we would pay for the really expensive expenses? They have proven with education the population goes down, costs would go down and just maybe America would be considered a real world power again.
hear, hear.
yeah! We have the best health care in the world, but the most expensive. so a lot of people cannot get simple vaccinations IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS THE BEST HEALTH CARE IN THE WORLD!
This country was built by the people from all those country you mentioned….but yet they left and came here? Maybe its not that great there after all…
No it isn’t great. The U.S. has it better than about the entire rest of the world, not surprised they want to come here either. I say good on them. You go try to make a go of it in Asia or Africa and many countries in South America. Been to many of them myself, some were wonderful places to visit but the number of poor was a much greater percentage of the population and guess what, they got little to no health care. Yeah this blog is making me more and more a supporter of the bill. Better get off and read up some more maybe we all do.
Tiger babe:
What is so wrong with Socialism? Pretty soon you run out of other peoples’ money. Duh.
I don’t believe in Health Care.
Either that, or I don’t get the whole joke.
Look. I don’t agree with the Health Care Reform Bill neither. The only thing I personally am going to say about this topic is that I find it simply to be a escape goat using a don’t ask don’t tell technique. The escape goat is baisically a way for our country to become debt free again and bounce back from the bail-outs that were givin out a while back. In addition to that it also could cause Americans to become even more in debt. Reason #1 is the cost of coverage is based off of credit scores. Reason # 2 is that if you can’t afford the coverage you’ll still get fined a penalty at tax time. B/c the IRS will be backing the Bill up 100%. Those are documented facts not compulsive comments.
Your all faggots…
look whos talkin
Oh look, it’s the Beastl himself! So tell us, Mr. Obama, WHY DO YOU WANT TO DESTROY AMERICA WITH YOUR LIBERAL COMMUNIST ATTACKS ON OUR WAY OF LIFE WITH YOUR SECRET LIBERAL-HOMOSEXUAL-JEWISH AGENDA?! You and your cadre of Godless heathens will face Eternal Damnation for your health care bill! Your bill will send a brown flood of illegal immigrants from Mexico and destroy our American way of life! I hope you’re happy Mr. President! Because of your actions we will all be speaking Spanish and will be worshiping the False God of the Vatican within ten years! So tell me, Mr. Obama, where in the bill did you hide the need to brand us will Your Mark, 666, on our hands or foreheads?! Mr. Obama, you and your liberal army will be remembered as the cartel that conspired to destroy America!
somebody’s grumpy
Now, Rush, please restrain yourself. Although my colleague, President Obama, has sponsored a bill that will could wreak irrevocable harm on our system of caring for Americans, we must be civil. No matter how irresponsible he is in sponsoring such a bill, we mustn’t resort to petty name calling.
@ John McCain:
LIBERAL! Your Moderatism has catered to the Godless Liberal-Jewish-Media machine for a long time, but now I see that you have indeed abandoned your conscious for the side of the Liberal Media Cartel! Have fun in Hell you Goddamn Liberal swine!
I can see Russia from my house! Oopsie, got to go! The retard-subhuman baby is crying again. Uhg… I don’t know if I can stand 30 more years of this!
wakeup people do you know that around 53% of people living in this country dont pay taxes,who do you think is going to pay for this obamacare,and yes lets give free healthcare to illegal immigrants,we may as well pay for that while were at it,when your paycheck is smaller you only have yourself to blame.
I’m joking, man.
And so is Obama.
Can’t we all take a joke?
was obama born in the U.S.?if so can he prove it? so far no if he could he would.would’nt he? i’ll tell everyone reading this i might not be that great at spelling.But i know when the Obamanation that this man is calls himself the president and somehow gets into office and starts forcing bills into law and forcing people FORCING people in the future to abide by his laws. not americas voted on laws that’s definite trouble for this country everyone in america……….even illegal aliens will suffer from this
I see Fox news and Rush and the bunch are doing well . All these like minded hated filled hypocrites will believe anything the pied pipers of hate will tell them. It doesnt matter what the truth is. It doesnt and never has mattered whats good for the country or even their own familys to these right winged hypocrites. Whatever a liberal or democrate may come up with they must oppose it. Need I remind EVERYONE it was BUSH and a REP congress for 6 years that did nothing but bring this country to its knees on every level. Less gov? Gee I guess we should keep the oil companies and the banking compines and the insurance companys un regulated Freaking idiots look where that got us. Less Gov? Yea until you have control and set record deficits in both the Reagan and Bush administrations. Didnt hear to many of you yelling Less government then. Hypocrites!!! You are hate filled idiots with your head in the sand are going to be the end of this country THANKS by the way Yes our country is in trouble but I say you hatefilled rightwinged hypocrites are mostly to blame. I C its ok to lead a country into freaking war based on lies and stupidity but heaven forbid we try and help our fellow uninsured americans. Real christian there hypocrites.
By the way I didnt add stupid hatefilled BULLY idiots to my rant. Keep stepping on everyone eles rights and hopes for our country . The Muslum Americans. the Hispanic Americans, The Black Americans, The Gay Americans The Disabled Americans . The Uninsured Americans etc etc As their numbers grow yours will surely decline and then you will have no hope for even compromise . You make it so transparent. You use your so called political platform to disguise and hide what you really are. Biggoted, hatefilled ,bully. hypocrites. Look in the mirrior and ask yourselves one question. Why is it you guys NEVER can admit fault? Why is it you guys ALWAYS blame someone eles no matter how clear it is to the rest of the world whos to blame for most of the problems we have? You have your children smile and maybe even play with the different but at home inside your dark little hatefilled, dysfunctional world you plant those little seeds of distain and contempt . As your clones grow they might even become as stupid AS WISE on an earlier post who is so gullable and stupid he actually would believe our president must be from another country because he heard it on FOX news. Scary thing is there are millions of idiots who want and need to be spoonfed this hate. To know someone eles feels so bad about themselves that they have to blame someone eles for there pathetic existence. .Its The Musums fault. Its the Gays fault. Its the Hispanics fault. Jane Fondas fault, Michael Moores fault. Clintons fault,Striesands fault. Liberal medias fault, Sciences fault. Donald Ducks fault. NO Its your fault!!!! Your hate and fear and lack of accountability has blinded you to the point of risking your own family and childrens lives. Maybe they might even need health care someday or maybe they dont want to die in a war based on stupidity and lies. Maybe they would like to try and save our planet after all we have did to it no matter how you dispute climate change. FUCKING IDIOTS!!!!
if i wrote everything my man KEN wrote about.. i would be a hypocrite after all i do drive to work everyday that uses gas..i build houses for marines and there familys who fight for our freedom.my older brothers are in the air force my younger brothers in the army in iraq.and ii’ve been on medication for diabetes back surgurey all my life. Now like i said befor i may not know how to write very well.. And i don’t watch fox news or rush. and i hate polotics.if this guy ken is reading this i agree with you on some things but some things i don’t and it has nothing to do with …color/race/sex/rep/dem. if this nation keeps fighting each other we may not be A nation united under god much longer. but we need to fight towards that! not each other..i’m not here typing trying to pick fights..All i’m saying is if we keep heading in this direction…..thats alot of trouble for everyone..
so does anyone not see the giving end of life counseling to 65 and over year olds who are costing the government too much money to keep alive!!! WTF!!! Obama wont kill them he will just quit giving them their medicine because its too expensive and WATCH them die .. no big deal right!!!! retards!!! those diabetics out there when u turn 65 and live off the government because you had a stroke or something and cant work!!! guess what.. you’re going to die because insulin is going to be too expensive and they cant afford to keep you alive!!! same with anybody of any age.. if its going to cost to much to keep you alive even though you will survive YOU WILL DIE!!!!! IT DOESNT MATTER IF YOU HAVE A 100% RECOVERY RATE IF YOU COST TO MUCH MONEY TO KEEP ALIVE THEY WILL NOT I REPEAT WILL NOT SAVE YOU!!! and wanting abortions to be legal up to the age of 2!!! killing a 2 year old what the hell is wrong with Obama!!! Sick bastard!!! i dont care that hes black or a democrat but i different black democrat in office just get this noncitizen muslim piece of crap out of office and feeding the american people bullshit with his sweet talking speeches that he doesnt even write … the americans are oblivious to the facts because the truth is too scary!!!!
So you think BUSH TOLD THE TRUTH? If so, YOU ARE the OBLIVIOUS one!!!
I know; I don’t even know where I am on this one. Probably neutral at best. The subject came up with an acquaintance of mine today, whom I (maybe) mistakenly called, though it was partly to talk about whether or not I, a bum, am out of work at this point, and ask if he’d still be able to give me a reference for new potential job leads. During the time we were on phone, the conversation evolved to this !@#$%^&*() health care thing, and he’s a very good person, but EXTREMELY narrow minded about certain things, and can’t see eye to eye with anyone who disagrees with him. “My way or no way” is the impression I get. I could have done all manner of other things with that hour I spent on the phone, even if I am unemployed right now, and would have saved myself some grief calling. But this was someone I don’t speak to very often, so of course, the conversation went on for a good stretch. Still, a touchy topic like this almost caused me to hang up the phone, but yet I can’t afford to burn my damn bridges for possible references. My husband’s opinion would likely be the antithesis of this person’s, and me, I’m somewhere in the middle. I guess? If nothing else, sometimes we have to agree to disagree.
Everyone has the right to voice their own opinion. It is one of the things that make this country great. I am all for this bill. I have MS and can not get health insurance. My meds cost $25K a year with out insurance. Did I mention that I am only 22 and am getting married in a year. WIthout this bill I would have nothing that moment I get married and would not be able to get my meds. People that make a lot of money and can afford a good health plan do not like this because they think that it impedes on their rights cause they are taxed. What they don’t understand is that the people that do not have insurance are costing them more money in the long run than this increase will. Without health insurance the bills keep stacking up when a person gets injured or gets diagnosed with a disease. The health care industry has to take care of them and when the person can not afford the $50,000 that it costs for their ER visit ( which is extremely over exaggerated due to the hospitals and doctors needing to recover the money they lose with people that they know can pay) they have to write it off when the person files bankruptcy. I understand that everyone has their own view on things but if people would take their head out of their ass and think about someone else besides themselves when they are making a decision it would make a lot of things better in this world instead of people only wanting to get their and screwing everyone else. People that do not have insurance are not all lazy, or immigrants, or bad people. They mostly are people that have gotten the short end of the stick and can not handle to cost of it alone. If you make enough money that you could have something happen to you or a member of your family and pay cash then again, take you head out of your ass and donate some money. Not to look like a generous person, or to feel better, but instead to help another human being that might not be as fortunate as you and did not get their parents money or fall into money. Some people deserve their wealth and most of those people give money as they know what it is like to build wealth. The people that do not have to work for it and get everything handed to them on a diamond platter do not understand what it is like to work for a living. Bottom line: get you head out of your ass and think of others when you are forming your opinion.
I have alredy had taste of Obama care, and let me tell you if you think medicare and medicade was difficult under the old rules “YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET”.
it is so easy to be judgmental about healthcare when you have it but if you are one of the millions who do not have it and/or one of the 45,000 people who die each and every year (Harvard study) because they have no insurance, you think this is great. I have a suggestion, all you people out there who are against this healthcare blessing, give up your insurance for one year. This includes your children and spouse and see how much sleep you get at night for that 365 days. I do this every night because my children, spouse and me are not insured because we live in Mi and there are no jobs here. 2000 people show up for 2oo jobs. 500 people fill out apps for 60 jobs. In my household we worry about a job and insurance. Maybe the folks who think we can not afford this should try going without. I bet you may change your mind when you are one of us………….
This healthcare crap is driven by all the lazy people in this country that do not want to work. The middle class has taken care of their lazy asses for to long. They have as good a health care as the senators and congressmen do. I worked in the low income housing and the tenants were making more sitting home with their big screen tv, cell phones, food stamps and cash benefits than I was making an hour. And another driving factor is the dead beats on SSI. Sucking this nation dry. I am not predjudice by no means and the way the slaves were treated is appauling, but I think it is “PAY BACK” time for the “WHITE BOY”! I don’t believe in these illegal aliens coming here either but they are will to die for this country or they would not risk their lives to come here to work. The wealthy welfare recipients should be out in those fields working from sun up until sun down in all kinds of weather, making minimum wage and all the taxes taken out like the rest of sorry asses! Pay your fair share or get the hell out of here!
i agree with you 100% get their asses out of our country
The only thing bad about that is that we don’t automatically get Universal coverage and will be fined if we don’t have health insurance! We all voted for Universal coverage when we voted him in!
We expected taxes to raise with that privilege of universal health care what we didn’t expect was this slap in the face! Now our taxes are raising and we are going to get fined if we don’t buy the health care we already couldn’t afford?!
Anyone who lives in a state where Car insurance is mandatory and remembers when they didn’t HAVE to carry insurance KNOWS that it doesn’t make insurance companies lower their rates to be competitive! It made them RAISE their rates when they knew we had to have it or we got fined!
WE didn’t vote Obama in. I surely didn’t vote for him.
so many people have no idea how this obamanation of a so called health care plan is going to effect their private lives and pocket book. this plan needs to be recalled!!!
Does anyone really believe that having the federal government run our healthcare system is a good idea. Take a look at the US postal service, medicare, medicaid, veterans hospital system, social security. The list goes on.
Healthcare reform, yes! Government run health care, no!
How many of us had someone fall ill that has health insurance? My mom worked for the county for 30 years and two other jobs to raise my brother and I. County health inusrance is by no means any kind of luxury. Her stroke happened in 2009 she lost her whole right side and speech. Her health insurance only gave her 3 weeks of stay in the hospital for rehab. We had her transferred to a healthcare center for more rehab, but the healthcare center wanted all her financial information. They wanted to know if she owned her home, how much her pension was and social security. I didn’t trust why they wanted this when her health insurance covered 120 days. I ended up having her come home, I quit my job to care for her and took her to outpatient therapy. Just as she was finally making progress guess what oh i’m sorry you only get 45 visits a year for outpatient therapy. So here we are 4 months after she ran out of visits and she is losing her abilities that she regained. Maybe this plan isn’t perfect, but we have to start some where. Instead of us bashing the crap out of it look at the benefits that might help people that do pay. By the way my mom was only 62 keep that mind you never know if it’s spouse, parent, child or yourself that will get sick.
Seriously…we are supposed to give up our rights for a few small benefits. Right now my family has amazing insurance and we are lucky for that, but my husband works very hard for it. Well Guess What?? Obamacare has passed and our insurance companies are going to see the effects in the bottom of their pockets. This is going to cause our costs to go up. Ya know…Im all about helping out a neighbor or friend but giving up my family having affordable insurance coverage to help the rest of the country?? This does not meet my list of priorities. Some people, like myself are lucky to have insurance but when it comes time for our premiums, deductibles, co-pays to go up and I have to choose between feeding my children and getting their vaccinations. Why are we settling for this malarchy when it could be better revised or better yet left alone?!
there’s a much bigger agenda going on…regardless of whether you’re democrat, moderate, republican, independent, green party, or whatever. there’s something going on…is it a coincidence that many mainstream artists admit to selling their souls to the devil? is it coincidence that their songs, music videos and clothing display symbols? I hope so! but…it’s all too weird to me. you all can think I’m a paranoid conspiracy theorist, but…I just want to find the truth and…I believe this country and it’s world is going to fall to its knees before God comes…just do the research…it’s out there. and…avoid Alex Jones. he’s a fraud…I hope many people see this…. I care for this world…and I want people to realize more of what’s happened, what’s happening today and what is going to happen. God bless you all.
Here’s a solution… Go out and vote in November. If you agree with the changes being made in our country, vote accordingly. However, if you are like me, and you think legislation designed and passed into law by the Obama administration goes against the ideals of our constitution and the American political system, then also, vote accordingly. Obamacare is another scam, just like the bailouts. I for one will never give up any of my rights to corporate america, the insurance companies, or the federal govt.
I’ve heard that if you have health insurance paid for by your employer you will receive a 1099 at the end of the year requiring you to pay income tax on the amount of your monthly benifit. In my case this would amount to taxes on an additional $12,000 a year. Could anybody tell me if this is true?
You Americans are funny… you idiots don’t understand that taxes are necessary at high income levels to ensure the well being of all. It’s unmitigated capitalism that got you into a unhealthy, underpaid, heavily indebted mess in the first place.
Chris – The Canadian guy.
I agree with you Canadian guy and I am an American. I hope you comment on my post.
That’s the TRUTH as CLOSE AS IT CAN BE!! I am an American and think it’s the worst thing in the world that these rich americans get a break!!! WTF??? Who made them God? THEY ARE NOT!! We might still have a middle class if they would let us!! TAX THE UPPER CLASS!!! IT’S THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN MORONS!!!!!!!
I think that people in this country will find a reason to complain no matter what the Bill proposes. Land of the free home of the complainers is what it should say. For years and year people have wined that we need government run health care. Now that we are so close to having what billions of people complained about wanting people are coming up with a million reasons that it’s not good enough. In my opinion nothing is ever good enough for people in this country. we really are becoming like the people in the movie Idiocracy. People need to stop complaining about every detail in the world and be proactive to solve the solutions themselves. Oh wait I’m talking about Americans we are the laziest people on the planet and it’s only getting worse. I’m an American I used to be proud of that and still am to a certain extent, but less and less every day. Free country? Are we really ? We have all of these ridiculous laws. Prime example: Seat belt laws If you are stupid enough not to wear one you deserve what happens to you. But no we want to protect the people that are too stupid to protect themselves so if you don’t wear a seat belt you get a ticket, people don’t have money to pay the ticket so they put on their seatbelt. It’s really a shame.
Some of yinz need to chill. Quit trying to sound to smart and all so proper. We are all the general public and it makes you sound out of touch with reality. Much like most of the politicians u like to destroy. It also can make it harder to get ur point across for sum. Me? Mb I got kicked out of third grade and never went back to school. I’m also a robot clank clank clank.
Ok honestly people this is not just OBAMA’s problem!! I agree that it took an awful lot of stupid idiots in this country to vote Bush in twice!! Did ONE American stop to look at what happened when Bush Sr. was in office?? HELLO MORONS!!! We went to war with Iraq!! HELLO EVEN BIGGER MORONS…then we continued to let these %^#$@ immigrants into our country so we could train them to blow us up!! WOW We’re super intelligent huh? So let’s vote in more Power by electing Bush Jr. Twice!! NOW, we’ve been at war for over five years and we’re in debt to China FOREVER!! All while the High class snobs shove more of our middle-class (WAIT! THERE’S STILL A MIDDLE-CLASS!?!?) money into their pockets and these crooked-no-good-S.O.B. Politicians make bills and acts to save their own Asses!! It’s ALL BULLSHIT People I DON’T CARE WHICH WING YOU LIVE IN!!! How about the theory of the American Dream? When will what this country was built on ever circle back around like everything else seems to in life? Next time you put gas in your vehicle, remember who’s bills that’s gonna pay…certainly don’t have much choice anymore but really how many billions of dollars are gonna get sent out of this country before any is put back in for the better? Maybe, just maybe this will make things better but how much worse can they get? I’m ALL for no more pre-existing conditions! My good friend’s insurance limit was up at the age of 22 because she had to have so many female surgeries!! The other details, well, were gonna have to live and learn…some countries have it worked out great and others didn’t work it out so well but all in all people…something’s gotta change in this country or we’re gona be the land of the poor and the rich with nothing in between!!
This is an idiotic blog! I don’t know why I even opened it! President Obama has done more for this country than any other president I know of! He’s a Community Organizer, but of course not many of you know what that means! President Obama cares about people. President Obama wants to feed the hungry, give drink to the thiersty, and take care of our aliens, sick and imprisoned. There are a lot of ignorant and paranoid people out there right now.
Wow… there are some pretty intense comments on this page…so without insulting anyone I would like to make the simple personal comment in regards to the over all subject. I am frustrated with the Obamacare health reform because I work for a well known, family-oriented local small business and I am good friends with 4 other local business owners and unfortunately all of us are currently faced with the reality that because funds aren’t sufficient enough for our small businesses to pay for employee health insurance we are being forced between 2 negative options: 1. Change the structure of our businesses and raise our employee pay for contract labor ONLY or 2. Close our businesses. This new health reform has unfortunately left most of us searching for ANY affordable options possible just to stay in business.
I never knew “good” insurance until my husband joined the military. Because you see, that’s what it took for us to get care and stability. Sure lots of peoples jobs “offer” a health care plan..but on barely minimum wage jobs and a family to feed, many just can’t afford the choice between dinner and doctors.
I am grateful everyday for my husbands sacrifice and hard work so that we can have health care, and a stable income. Because that is not what I grew up with. And it is not what members of my own family have. I watch my brother suffer on daily basis from a serious lack of health care. I had to put up almost a grand on medication and care when he came down with swine flu. And he was a high risk patient. Without health care the Tamaflue(sp?) cost $125. If not for my husbands income, he would not have been able to get the meds, and could very well have died. This is only one example, of one person out of several who are close to me that suffer without medical care, and can’t afford the meds they need. It sucks out there, and if “ObamaCare” can really help out those who need the care, then I’m all for it! I’ve already seen some of the positive changes..ie: not being turned down for pre-existing conditions. I can’t believe it was ever allowed to begin with. Being sick is the whole reason one needs insurance..and to be turned down due to the very nature of the need…what were they thinking?? It’s terrible.
And we should expect that the system is going to have a lot of kinks to work out. It takes time and lots of trial and error to find what works. Lets stay positive, lets find and focus on what is working, and then approach what isn’t and be a part of the solution!! We as a society can make it better. Our ancestor fought for and won our right to a free country,. That is proof that we can stand up and fight as a united front for what we want. Just don’t be all whining and complaining. There is good in what is happening.
Oh and on a final note…education is everything. The key to a better future, to better health, and safer places to live. The key to efficient communication, and running of this country is going to come from educating our youth, and ourselves. Lets focus on that too!!
We need to remember that socialism is not the reason why Americans pay more for health care than any other people in other developed countries: unfettered capitalism is the reason why the average American now pays over $7,000 a year on health care in the mostly every-man-for-himself system in the US while the average Canadian pays half that, lives an average of 3 years longer, is less likely to suffer from diabetes, will not lose their livelihood or their savings should they get sick.
Single-payer is the best system in the world. It is not perfect. Nothing ever is. But under single-payer in Canada, you’ve got everyone on one basic insurance plan, while individuals may choose to upgrade to semi-private or private options. Americans love to pat themselves on the back for all that apparent “freedom” they say they have, but Canadians actually have more freedom since they have more options to choose from, including the public one.
As a percentage of GDP, Canada pays less than the US for health care, but gets more bang for their buck.
A reminder: single-payer is not some kind of communist wet dream. It is simply the health care payment system we’re talking about, and not health care delivery, which is tops in the US. It’s the payment system that sucks, with out-of-control premium increases (which will go way up before they freeze under Obamacare when that goes into effect). In terms of health care delivery, even the Canadian system is almost entirely private. Private practices, private industry equipment.
Single-payer will come to the US sooner than later. Just like gays serving in the military. It’s just a matter of time. How do I know this? It’s like what Churchill said, “Americans always do the right thing, after having exhausted every other option of course”.
Great list of facts. You’d do even better to compare that list to the pre-healthcare reform list of facts. Like how much are we all paying for emergency room treatment for the people with no healthcare? Like what was the healthcare insurance industry’s revenues and profits for 2009? From Fortune 500 2009 rankings it was $275,615.5 Bil, for $8.613.9 Bil in profits.
Right down that impressive list there are countering facts that provided the impetus for that particular clause in the bill. It’s funny how the stingy will pay a dollar to save a penny while the open minded and open hearted will save a life and never count the blessings and wealth returned by that saved life.
Yeah, these estimated costs of this are just estimates and are not to be taken as any where near the real costs! I cannot see how people can possibly think that if you overregulate something like healthcare and fix prices on something like an MRI that it’s a good idea. Isn’t it obvious, that we would be artificially making a price for something as oppose to letting the fundamental economic laws of supply & demand determine the value? Yes, healthcare is ridiculous right now, but that’s because government is already waaaay too involved. And the answer is suppose to be to involve the government more? Look at how well all of the government intervention in the economy is doing so far. The fed created the housing bubble with manipulating the interest rates to artificially dupe people into buying houses that they couldn’t afford. Everyone thinks it’s some sort of right for free healthcare…wtf? Where in the constitution does it say this? Where in the constitution does it say that the government should promise to spend 100% of the gdp on helping people? That’s where we’re headed…it’s absolutely unavoidable with the way the country thinks now. The common thought is “It’s more important that we help everyone have healthcare than it is to ensure that this country remains a country 100 years from now.”
i wish someone out there would bring up all the cost of obama care.I jut learned obama care in 2013 will impose a 3.8%tax on all real estate transactions. the housing industry does not need to take that kind of hit. i dont really consider myself to be veryy pollitical but as i see every part of our life changed over the last 10 years and dramatically the last 3 yrs. america wake up get tired of empty promises and demade that things change.I CONSIDER MYSELF MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.But the time has come for america to stand up and demand no new taxes,start over with health care and stop regulatios that are suspose to help and destroy our way of life.Knowledge is power .start demanding better and more from our politians
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