If the need is so dire, then why do several bills wait till 2013 to begin any public option? Can people wait that long?

It is a dire situation for a lot of people who are losing their jobs or have lost. Just look at the GOP faces and tell me they have any intention of working with this President.

JB Hiker,

I think everyone should acknowledge that there are lies being stated by both parties and that includes the President himself. It does the public no go to politicize this issues...it's just too important. So why make such a silly statement...or are you a politician yourself?

At the end of the day the only facts we have is that...

1. The US Government has never been nor ever will be efficient
2. There is no such thing as "free lunch" so anyone that thinks a "government option" is paid for by their rich and evil neighbor is just kidding themselves
3. Most (if not all) government run health care systems in the world fail to achieve any cost savings or improvements in health care

The current US health care system needs both new regulation and new forms of competition...both of which can be accomplished without any government run health care. Why not start there and see what can be done.

Dave

The President did NOT say 'government run health care'. He described different options such as a coop type non-profit health care group as one possibility as well as a pool which people can enter to buy competitively priced insurance from private insurers (I've owned my own business and had to pay out the nose for health care for my family because we were just one family shopping for insurance as opposed to a large company buying bulk policies.) The President plan is sound and logical. As far as cutting waste is concerned, as a Senator, Harry Truman cut 100's of millions of government waste in defense spending (or wasting) through the Truman Commission. If we could cut waste then, we can cut waste now.

The President is also correct in saying that health care reform is a.) a moral issue and b.) a matter of national pride. It is easy to say we can't afford health care reform when you have health care (today - wait till you're dropped). But the millions w/o it can tell you that it is a vital need. As to the health care available in other countries, my friend living in France rec'd excellent health care all the many years he lived there. My husband's co-workers, even though they have private insurance here in the US (they live and work here legally), they go back to South Africa anytime they need scheduled surgery ie: for knee replacement, because the medical care they receive there is superior to what they'd receive here. On various trips to Japan, my children have needed medical care and I have never been disappointed in the care provided. How is it that these countries can provide quality health for all their citizens and yet we, billed as the greatest nation on earth, can not? It is embarrassing. (One reason is because we spend way too much money on other countries wars.)

B-895713, you need to reread what Dave-656058 wrote. No where in the above statement, did Dave-656058 say, That the President said "goverment run health care."

That's pretty funny - the pot calling the kettle black -(oopps! watch out for the PC police - they will get me for being a racist!!)

Now, THAT'S what I call a typical Republican voter!

Hey Barney, ain't that the truth. Well, I'm sure he'll enjoy a life of good health while he's shooting himself in the foot. Maybe not himself, but his son, or his brother and he'll never make the connection that he could have made a difference in their lives. GOTTA LOVE IT.

If someone is taking the time to spam up this poll, don't you think they made up a screen name to further cause controversy?

You make my point Republicans are just obstructionist and a little brat like.

Clyde,

Do you run a small business? If so, how will Obama's suggested plan help your business...and please be specific. If you don't own or operate a small business, what makes you think this will help?

If anything, Obama's plan will help big businesses such as Wal-Mart. If a cheaper government option springs up, they'll just switch over to it. Next you will have existing health insurance companies losing businesses and they will lay off workers and ultimately go out of business. Then, we will all be shifted to one government system and our unemployment will rise even higher.

And who do you think is going to pay for this...Uncle Barack? Keep in mind, the only money the government has is the money it collects from the public (that includes you Clyde). There isn't a pot of gold up their on the hill...just a bunch of politicians that want to have and spend your gold.

People that think any economy is some sort of zero sum game really fascinate me. Is it that so many people slept through Econ 101 while at school? Or maybe they didn't go to school at all?

Seriously, it's facinating how nieve most people are.

Wake up America!

Dave

Ok Dave, so what's your plan?! That fact remains that ALL US citizens need & deserve medical care that won't cost them their home or their retirement. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to come up with a plan to solve a problem and finance it. Politicians do it every year. I do it all the time. For goodness sake, anyone with an average IQ can do it. Now, if all you care about is yourself, well then it's pretty hard to figure out hope to help others. We elect these people to office because they are SUPPOSED TO CARE. If a majority of our Representatives to the House and Senate care, we will have meaningful, affordable, viable health care reform.

I don't know about Dave, but here's MY plan- Go to work and EARN your health care, and stop wanting ME to pay YOUR way. How's that for a fair plan, I use my money, you use your money, and that way, (with tort reform and interstate competition allowed by ins. co.s) THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT OPTION TO STEAL FROM THE HARDWORKING AMERICANS AND GIVE TO THE UN-PRODUCTIVE!!! Again, There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch (TANSTAAFL) MUST be the only way if America is to survive as a free market capitalist system (The only way to remain free).

What Dave neglected to tell Clyde was that President Obama will repeal the Bush Tax Cuts that he gave to the wealthy 2%. As far as our great Healthcare here in America we rank 37 in the world.

Neal your an idiot do you know what you sound like!!! Moron, you are paying for it everytime an uninsured person walks into an emergency room or is hospitalized. It is immoral for private insurer's especially the CEO's to make a $100,000 an hour on blood money and don't think for a minute they don't have death panels.

FYI, Many "illegals" have legal tax ID numbers and do pay taxes. I was surprised to learn that and that it has been going on for several years.

Many, many more illegals don't pay taxes. They also accept jobs for far less than the average American (far below the legal minimum wage) and therefore drive up the unemployment of many who live here legally.

These illegals accept this risk and the fact that they don't qualify for government handouts. So why on earth would anyone suggest we who pay taxes begin to subsidize their healthcare. That's just insane. In fact, I'll bet most illegals would agree that's insane!

What are you people (Abby and Kmom) smoking?

Wake up America!

Dave

Dave,

Just an observation. I thought it interesting that the government would issue a tax ID number to someone they knew was in the country illegally. This apparently has been common practice for years. Seems like that encourages employers to continue hiring illegal workers.

FYI: It is no secret that, if they show up at an ER, illegals receive treatment anyway.

I also think Abby was being facetious.

kmom: It's called an ITIN. It's only use is to allow people who are not eligible for SSN to file their tax returns. Not everyone with an ITIN is here illegally, but many people with ITINS are here illegally.

I know, I used to have several as clients back in a different life when I practiced immigration law.

As for employment, many people here illegally just buy a SSN, green card, maybe even US birth certs and passports "off the street" or borrow someone else's documents.

As for people here illegally showing up at the ER, none of the bills preclude using the ER. So my question is if they can continue to use the ER will their care be strictly limited to "true emergencies" or will the practice of using the ER for primary care continue? If no such limits are put in place, I wonder how that improves on the situation we have now. Common sense tells me it won't, but what do I know? I am not a politician and history teaches us that they always know better.

Dave, You are either not a Christian or are unfamiliar w/ the Levitical law which Jesus came to embody and perfect. The BIBLE teaches that "The foreigner(s) living among you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, ..." Leviticus 19:34

If you recall, assuming you've read the Bible, Jesus healed (that's health care) a Syro-Phoenician woman (alien). He revealed Himself as the Messiah first to a Samaritan (alien) and lauded a Roman centurion as having greater faith than all those around Him. Jesus didn't have a problem w/ foreigners, why do you?

Never mind the theology, I'm speaking from a public health standpoint, do you really want to deny treatment to an illegal who could potentially be caring swine flu? or God forbid, a pague?

Desertgirl,

Thanks for the info on ITIN.

Personally, I have a problem with denying anyone the care they need. I know it's not a fiscally sound stance on my part, but morally, as human beings, how can we just look away?

I don't know what the answer is either.

You tell them Dave-656058,

Yes, how will we pay for it? We don't start wars for no reason and spend trillions of US tax $$$ with nothing to show for it. We don't give big tax breaks to the rich leaving everyone else to pay for everything the rich don't pay for. We don't let the rich set up tax shelters outside of the country to avoid taxes. No wait.... my mistake!

This is a teachable moment:

If government spends any amount of money on the bottom 95% of the country, that is condidered wasteful spending.

If government spends any amout of money on the richest 5%, that is money well spent.

Watch Republicans from this time forward and you will see how true that statement is.

If there weren't so many illegal immigrants in this country, this wouldn't be an issue in the US health care debate.

How about securing the borders to reduce US health care costs? It makes more sense than anything else that has been offered up so far by the President.

Illegal immigrants are a drain on this country. You don't know the FACTS if you think any differently (or you are one). Tax-paying Americans are supporting these criminals and we need to put a stop to it.

And that's different from what he's said in the past on this same topic?

Yes it was a bit different. Obama never spoke of Health exchanges or Tort reform. I think he wanted to take some reasonable ideas from Republicans to see if they make health care reform better for us all. He didn't suggest tax cuts for the rich if you think that could've been a part of the process. I wonder if he did this to shame any blue dog or Republican who wants the status quo.

Does anyone think they'll never lose their job or get sick and lose their health insurance? It could be you one day.

What planet do you spend most of your time on?

If you kept up with the debate there were many conservative groups, and Republicans scaring dim whit-ted people on a daily basis. Some groups had talking points and instructions on how to shut down town hall meetings. I guess you were vacationing on Mars this summer with one of the burthers' groups.

Remember the "Death panels", "They want to kill grandma", and "They want to get between you and your doctor"?

what the hell were you listening too?? the guy is a dumbass

No, I think that title goes to you by a landslide. Are you one of those heartless burthers that believe Obama isn't an American? Did you shut down any town hall meetings this summer?

Linda, you're just jealous because we're paying for her botox, NOT yours. See? You really should re-think your long term postion on the public option.

StreetKid, go back outside to play and let the grown-ups talk. The public option is what most people 65 and older use. Its called Medicare and you will one day depend on it too. Are there any people in your family who are at least 65? If so talk to them.

I hope you're right. I'm nervous about the public option because there have been 2 Democrats on MSNBC after his speech that said he will never get the votes for it. In this country money talks and politicians will throw us all under the bus if we mess with the health care industry's profits.

How did we pay for 2 wars, Medicare Part D, or tax cuts for the rich?

Where were you when Bush did these things?

Can you say hypocrisy?

Some 116 additions/changes to the bill in the House were made by Republicans.

but the ones to have potential greater impact were always voted out, why not be more specfic whats a few more pages. why not let some spefic language to solidfy the meaning go through. Why not include abortion, illegal verification. With all the fraud and waste in medicare being touted, democrats also tout it's effectiveness and low administrative costs, you can't have it both ways.

EUGENE-1331980

Now you and John Mc Cain are liars.

I am afraid for my grandchildren. Socialism is a loser. Always has been, and always will be. Tax the rich? Give me a break. Do you think the rich got rich by being stupid? The rich won't pay for this. I will. My kids will. My grandchildren will. What a crock this guy Obama is.

I'm afraid of burthers like you.