Don't forget we can make changes in 2010! We need to listen to the independents and other party members and find better people to help move America forward and not backwards.

Oh heavens! Oh me oh my! The country is going to be ruined! The capitalists won't have free rein. Socialism will even the playing field and give everyone an opportunity to succeed. Oh how un-American! Where’s our unfair advantage? What are we WASP's to do? Here's your answer: Go back to fracking England and take your selfish ideology with you. We don't want you here any more!

Awww those poor rich people. Save all those poor wealthy people from having to pay taxes. PLEASE, OH DEAR LORD!! WHY!!! OMG WHY!!! NO! PLEASE OH GOD Why are those poor rich folks having to pay taxes! Everyone knows they should not pay those taxes! God please I pray that the rich white fat people of this world are not required to share this burden that the rest of us have to shoulder. OH PLEASE GOD! So fake oh my please stop the fake crocodile tears!

Tax and spend is better than just spend dont ya think?

Pageup,

What amendment to the Constitution gives the right to healthcare?

Boots,

The bad thing is that they are spending more than they are taxing. 2 Trillion in 100 days.

Pageup,

The rich capitalist won't go to England. They will go to India, and take our jobs with them. The reason the rich have been given tax breaks was so they would keep jobs here. Why would a large industry want to stay here when they can pay less, not offer health insurance to Apoo in Banglapoor India. Ever wonder when you call ANY customer service, they sound like they are behind the counter of a 7-11?

Tank You,

Come Again

It's not specified, as such, in the amendments. However, it is implicit and stated directly in the preamble: "We the people...provide for the welfare...."

The rich can't leave America. If you have American citizenship you are always required to pay U.S. tax no matter where you live so if they want they could go live in Burma. Doesn't matter everyone pays taxes unless they are dead and then their estate does.

Thank you too :D

Gary -

Just a tad dramatic, don't you think? Which is a bigger threat to our national debt? 1) Banks that gave out loans to people (who they knew couldn't pay them back) at a 30:1 fractional reserve ratio (giving out 30x what they actually had on reserve, having no way to pay down the bad debts), or 2) taxing people who can clearly afford to pay a little extra for a national healthcare system?

A liittle perspective, please...

OUST DEMOCRATS IN 2010 FROM CONGRESS AND SENATE!!! OUST OBAMA IN 2012!! This man is absolutely ruining our country. He is turning it from a wonderful free land where you can make your dreams come true to a socialistic government run penile colony. This is UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNETHICAL AND CRIMINAL what he is doing to our government. Remember, Obama did NOT win by a landslide and he was voted in against McCain who the conservatives did not vote for because he is too liberal. A lot of people didn't vote this time because of the candidates offered, but these people are going to make their voices known next year and in 2012. Government needs to get their big fat noses out of the private sector. Health care is NOT a right in America when it becomes the burden of our neighbors to pay for our coverage. This is AMERICA PEOPLE!! Guess how services were paid for in the generations before us?...bartering/trading. The government was NEVER set up for provide education, health care, bailouts, takeovers, taxing for breathing (cap and tax), etc. The government was set up mainly to protect our borders. Every hospital (I work in the health field) accepts and treats ANYONE who comes in. 83% of Americans LIKE their health care plan and do not want it messed with, so why are the majority being punished for the agenda of the democrats? This is getting out of hand and they all need to be impeached! It would really help in ALL media outlets, not just a few, would let all American people know what is being forced on them. The media is dead!

Tax and spend was a bad idea, and it put Republicans in power for 20 years. Obama's version is spend and tax--spend it now and figure out later how to pay for it. EVEN WORSE!

Yeah Dan and the Republicans did so much about the tax and spend in their 20 years. Is that when all the manufacturing jobs decided to go overseas or south of the border.

Boy I sure am glad those Good Old Boy Republicans did such a good job for this country!!

Instead of trickle down they need to rename it trickle out, as in out of the country

I would rather be a Tax and spend Democrat than a Finance and Spend Republican (or Conservative). Look where the republicans Bush/Cheney and republican control of congress got us starting in 2000. Two waves of tax cuts for the wealthy in the first couple years of the Bush/Cheney Administration and that resulted in -- Finance and Spend! It also got our national debt from ~5.2 Trillion with a ~$300 Billion surplus in 2000 to a national debt of 10.7 Trillion dollars with at least a $600 Billion dollar deficit at the end of the Bush/Cheney years and Republican control of congress. At least with the "tax and spend" democrats, the bills are paid as we go.

From around the block; Clinton started the jobs going overseas with NAFTA (he was democrat) get your facts straight!

Unfortunately, I think it is already too late. He (Obama) did so much damage within his first six months of presidency. He actually spent more money than all the presidents added together, including Bush, in his first six months. To tax the rich more than any other group is not fair. A fair tax is a flat tax, period. Who's to say that these rich people don't turn around and leave the country because it's becoming too expensive to live here in America. Then we will be left with "those who can't" to rule the nation. That has been slowly happening over the last 40 years especially after the National Immigration and Nationality Act 1965 was past. There are other, more intelligent ways, to establish a health care system in this nation. If we only had more intelligent politicians that were more like our Founding Fathers, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess. I now understand why Thomas Jefferson once said that we should have a revolution (complete change) about ever 7 years. He was intelligent enough to realize that in just a short time certain people will corrupt the system and it will be really difficult to regulate once a system is established. He was a very smart man who knew how people think. It's a shame people like him are not around any more (or they are just smart enough to stay in hiding).

Maverick; please check facts before blogging. Democrats have been in control of congress, you know the ONLY branch of government that appropriates funds, budget, creates bills, etc...(NOT PRESIDENT) and DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL FOR THREE (3) YEARS NOW!!!!! Also, take a look at when the economy started to collapse and you'll see it was towards the end of 2006 into 2007 when Pelosi (DEMOCRAT) took control of the house/congress. Democrats have OWNED this economy for 3 years now and Obama inherited his own party's economic crisis, so just research first. Thanks!

msdx1949

I have beenreading your posts, and you are wrong on just about everything!

God please I pray that the rich white fat people of this world are not required to share this burden that the rest of us have to shoulder.

Do you pay Unemployment insurance, Worker's Comp, Disability Insurance? Also Just out of curiosity do you work for a poor person? If you tax the rich they will get their money back by either raising prices or laying off workers (Sounds good to long run doesn't it?)

Taxes have been paid since money was invented thousands of years ago

Yeah but just for fun look and see how many new taxes have been added just since 1950 then look at how many have been added since 1990.

The rich can't leave America. If you have American citizenship you are always required to pay U.S. tax no matter where you live so if they want they could go live in Burma. Doesn't matter everyone pays taxes unless they are dead and then their estate does.

Well your sort of right. While in India or Cambodia or whatever, their workers aren't paying taxes, (Which if they stayed in America and gave those jobs to LEGAL Americans they would be paying taxes) Also these guys no longer have to pay income tax, uemployment, or any of the other numerous taxes our government forces on our Business owners.

Bushco already ruined this country with massively expensive and illegal wars, deficit spending, tax cuts for wealthy inheritors who didn't contribute one dime to job creation, and massive jobs exports overseas. Clinton may have started overseas outsourcing, but Bush raised it to a high art. The damage done to this courntry by the Republicans in the last 30 years is going to take generations to repair.

It is a lot less then tything in your church and it would help children to get medical care. If they want it to be across the board and make it 2 or 3% for everyone I would not have a problem with it. As Americans that loves our country wouldn't you feel good if could help even 1 child or 1 adult get health care? Health Care is different then welfare. If someone is sick they should not suffer and they should be able to get care. I'm sure I sound like a liberal, but I'm not. I just have a special needs grandson that I worry about as soon as he is too old to be on his parents insurance and I just have had 2 surgeries for cancer. I pay over $1,000.00 a month for insurance with a $2,500.00 deductible and the bills I still have to pay are unbelievable.

I agree Unity

I for one would be happy to spare a little if I knew where it was going! I am tired of seeing the loudest and more times than not most undeserving get the benefits I pay into already. The squeeky wheel gets the grease. You know when things like Welfare were started in this country it was not an entitlement it was a temporary solution. But the undeserving abuse the system and ruin it for everyone else. Stop the abusing of entitlements and I would be far more giving, I prefer to give donations to charities like Ronald McDonald House and Red Cross than be forced to give to our Government for them to dish out as they see neccesary. Dem or Repub they spend money like it's someone else's (Oh yeah that's right is someone else's money it's our money!)

Well since you doun't like "Socialism" I guess you'll be returning your SOCIAL security check when you retire and let's not forget---do not call the POLICE or the FIRE dept, because those are SOCIALIST programs and I really hope you didn't attend a PUBLIC school cause that smells like it too.

Please without some socialistic programs these great UNITED states would be the DIVIDED states. So before following the naysayers just cause...think about all of the socialist programs we already have...for the good of the whole. And I would gladly help my fellow man, women or child in order to better their lives. Some Americans need to stop being so selfish.

Living beyond our means will bankrupt us soon. It would be nice to have everything like we want it but we can't afford it. Spending without a paycheck is what we're doing now. Ignorance of the general public has reached a new height today. The education system, media and widespread stupidity will flush freedom, future and prosperity. You won't know what you had till it's gone, and you've wasted it. Government of the government, by the government and for the government is the way it will go. You think that government will take care of you. You're wrong. Social security, it's history, spent on political vote projects. Health care, won't happen, they will let you die to get you out of the way. If half the jobs are governing then who will pay for government? You're dreaming to think the government cares about you in any way. This movement now is all about power and control, the government doesn't care about the economy. The government is immune to the economy because you let them be. They will have a job running your money while you stand in the soop lines. Blowing money doesn't save a dime. Wake up and vote out the congress, show them you have a brain and aren't going to go down their path. Term limits are neccessary. State government should be the larger power and the Fed is out of control. Your vote is the only control and you have voted to suck the nation empty.

Well since you doun't like "Socialism" I guess you'll be returning your SOCIAL security check when you retire and let's not forget---do not call the POLICE or the FIRE dept, because those are SOCIALIST programs and I really hope you didn't attend a PUBLIC school cause that smells like it too.

Sorry, wrong on all counts. You are confusing social programs with socialist programs.

Social Security is a benefit paid for in part by payroll taxes. Which means it is a social program, not a socialist one. The government is using your money (and other peoples money) to pay out the benefit, like a 401k uses your money (and other peoples money) to build interest on the money paid in to allow larger payouts. The government however isn't investing the money to build it, it is more of a ponzi scheme, using money from bucket B to pay out beneficiary A.

Police, Fire and Eduaction are paid for by Property Taxes, and anyone living within the boundries of those districts, pays for them with their property taxes. I do mean everyone, renter or owner pay property taxes, the renter just may not know it, but the cost of the property tax is being handed down through the rent payment.

Socialism refers to any one of various theories of economic organization advocating public or collective ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. In otherwords, government run businesses.

No, you take the social security check...last time i checked part of my pay check went into it.  The people that never payed into it and recieve one should give it back (ie stay at home spouse that never worked). And again last time i checked everyone that is taxed pays for Police and Fire SERVICES...NOT PROGRAMS.  A Socialist program is one that is paid for but one group (rich), but used by another (poor).  You don't have only the rich paying for police, fire, and public education.  Public education is paid for by individuals in a community via there property taxes...not someone elses education in another state. 

I think its so funny how when rich people are threatened amazingly you find MILLIONS of concerned Americans just chomping at the bit to defend them. NO, no lobbyists and paid bloggers here. Why would the numbers here be skewed when all intelligent research readily shows a super majority of Americans support not only raising taxes on the wealthy but raising them on everyone making over 250k? Not to mention the fact but nearly 70% of Americans want a public option in healthcare. I wonder how many computers you guys had to log onto to make the numbers look like this? This is too rich. Here is a reality check:

1. Anyone can say anything they want
2. Healthcare will be reformed umm.. and stay that way just like medicare
3. The Republicans will fight it all the way to their graves
4. They'll whittle themselves down to 10% of the electorate to do it the same way they would fighting medicare
5. You guys could bandy around any name calling you want, any scare tactics, any ridiculous examples, any made up figures.
6. America is too numb to the BS to care what Republicans, lobbyists, paid bloggers, or in fact any embittered guy who felt like his minority candidate should be in control of America right now says about anything.

So you guys can keep talking and meanwhile we are going to get a healthcare bill passed and you can still keep talking to yourselves. Just keep in mind its going to be a really lonely 7 and a half more years while you sit around in your underwear polishing your guns and complaining about the Communist conspiracy you made up in your head.

"Indeed, Obama's brief comments amounted to a presidential pep talk. "It's time for us to buck up Congress, this administration, the entire federal government to be clear that we've got to get this done.""

We all know well this served American last time, $1 trillion dollars disappeared like smoke.

I heard it said that God helps those that help themselves--soooo--help ourselves--do something about getting this idiot out of office!!!!

Obama and who ever else wants to give should be the first to give there own.You are free to give all you have but you do not why? Really I am sure with all the people who are so concerned for others care could easily pay the insurance premiums for the less fortunate. Obama is rich morons and he got rich by capitalism. So its OK for him to have the freedom to make money and keep his money yet we should not have the same freedom?

Communism
A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
The Marxist-Leninist version of Communist doctrine that advocates the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat.

How can any of you people sit there and claim that it is "only right" for the rich people to bear this burden? If President Obama and the Democratic Congress want healthcare, they need to figure out a way other than taxes; it's just not right!!!

To all those who voted for Obama - how's that working for you? Seriously? Have you seen any improvements like he promise? Well, you won't until right before the mid-term elections; it is all a big chess game and we are the pawns!!

If you make 1 million a year in NEW INCOME your really really rich not just fake OMG wannabe rich. Keep in mind capital gains aren't included in that. Also Ted Kennedy is willing to have himself taxed more to do this. I don't see you pitching in like he is.

Teddy isn't going to pay more you can be sure of that. Why aren't they offering us the same plan Teddy gets? Why don't they discuss their insurance plan? what are we already paying for Teddy to get his care which I am sure is much better than what I could get with my insurance. My insurance wouldn't let me rehab in FL because the north is too cold in the winter. The people who are deciding this aren't even in the mix.

Prove Ted Kennedy doesn't pay his taxes. If you want to say it prove it!

Kennedy the murderer is a criminal to say the least! He is an arrogant blowhard who touts his ideas around to burden the American people while he sits in luxury being paid by US and not being in Washington. He has cancer and is recuperating you say? SO WHAT! Do you know how many people have cancer out there and still HAVE to work maybe even two jobs to support their kids, pay their housing, car bills, etc. and if they took too much time off, like good ol' Teddy who hasn't been to Washington in what? almost a year, they would be laid off or fired. Teddy should be fired from not being at work for months on end or at least retire him because I'm sick of paying for him and he and his family's health care.

here is the website of government workers health care plan: http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/planinfo/2009/brochures/71-005.pdf

Must be nice to be rich, not have to go to jail for murdering someone, but getting a federal job instead and having all taxpayers pay 75% of your and your family's health care, EVEN AFTER YOU RETIRE. This is disgusting and wrong!

taxpayers pay 75% of senators, congress and federal employees health care. http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/planinfo/2009/brochures/71-005.pdf

Are you kidding me. Let me know what kind of job I can get where I make over a million dollars a year. I would be glad to help out my fellow American's that are dying because they do not have health care. The tax structure needs to be rolled back to before Bush gave all these rich people and companies tax break and in turn they were supposed to invest in new jobs and technologies to create more jobs, did that happen no. Now you are trying to say that they do not hide their money in offshore accounts, that is just lame.

Where can you get such a job? Try playing Major League baseball, or professional football or basketball. How about playing on the PGA tour? Make hit movies. Record hit singles that make the Billboard Hot 100. These people make that kind of money.

If I earned $1 million a year, I would gladly pay 5.4 percent of my income so the uninsured could have coverage for themselves and their children.

Well I used to say I was going to wait until I got married before I had Sex. Until your presented with the opportunity it's easy to say what you would do. So until your part of that million dollar a year family don't tell me what you THINK you would do! And if you are how did you get to that level? Hard Work, Inheritance, lucky break, get rich quick scheme, lottery? Most people who make over a million dollars a year already donate to countless charities, forcing them to give to another charity is ridiculous. (Nationalized health care is a charity.)

You don't get it. The wealthy already pay more taxes as a % than you or I. Now you want to take another 5.4%. That will mean they will be paying upwards of 40% on money earned just to the Federal Government. (then there is the state income tax, property tax, sales tax...) The top 1% of earners pay for over 50% of the taxes. Come on give then a break.

How wrong you are REB, the majority of the very wealthy in this country INHERITED their money. And the majority of employers are working people too. The very wealthy have NO STAKE in how strong the middle class is and are only interested in hoarding more wealth, which they will continue to refuse to invest in producing more goods (manufacturing jobs), more sales (retail jobs), or services. The only investments they make are on paper.

dan - you're not thinking clearly. The rich have accountants hired to find all of the loopholes they can find in the tax system. I see you're definitely a fan of the rich. I'm proud to help pay for my public school, road system and medical system if necessary. Our local school could produce a new Brain Surgeon or Oncologist. I'd be proud to have had a part in that.

Most wealthy people are only interested in hanging on to their money and making more. Many times it's at the expense of their workers, and feel as though working people are a dime a dozen. I would even venture to say that contributing to charities is only to make them look good.

Tax loopholes? Obviously you are in the 15% or lower bracket. I'm there in the highest. There are no loopholes, believe me I've looked. Let me give you a scenario here. I make close to a million a year, but I give over 15% of that to various charities as actual cash donations. I also perform at least 100-150K of pro bono surgery a year. I accept medicaid in my office(30 cents on the dollar). I spent about 14 years getting my education and never asked anyone for anything during that entire time. I work about 60 hrs a week and that doesn't cover the calls from emergency rooms, most of which are non paying by the way. Those calls come at midnight to 6 a.m.. I employ 18 people. Where I'm going with all this is that I'm "wealthy" because I have worked and continue to work my ass off. Everytime I see some dumb sh-t post rediculous claims about off shore this or tax loophole that, I want to puke. It's easy to say I'd gladly pay another 5-6 %. Thats just because you are actually paying almost nothing right now. If you all continue to look to the "rich" to cover your asses, then soon the "rich" like me will decide to quite taking medicaid, giving their time to pro bono work, employing 18, and fire half of them, work 2.5 days a week and enjoy my life more. Oh yah. I wouldn't have the money left around to contribute to every little league, girl scout , boy scout , united way, christmas for kids, cancer-you pick which one of the 20 or so I get solicitations for every year, ymca etc.....The "RICH" are tired of it coming out of their hides, so I have no problem if we reform health care, just find a different way of paying for it. Most of us work very hard for our money and deserve to keep it.

Dr.Brad

I completely agree with you and can understand your outrage at such ignorance and ridiculous nonsense from some of these posts. It is an injustice that I don't like to even think about. Can you imagine what it will be like if this actually happens?

My father is a successful Master electrician whom grossed well over a million dollars a year for many years before retiring. This does not mean however that he brought home anywhere close to that. Employees,taxes, insurance,workman's comp,etc. Not to mention the contributions he made to various charities. My father worked his ass off too,and never recieved help from anyone for it. Does he deserve to pay more money for the poor and underpriveleged(myself included in this group) because he was so successful?? I say NO!

I think this is an absolute nightmare of an idea and it needs to be rethought and a new plan needs to be drawn up. The wealthy are taxed well enough already,just like the rest of us are. To me it feels more like a punishment than a solution to the healthcare issues facing this nation. There has to be a creative solution to this problem and I think that more time and energy can be spent on coming up with the answer.

I want to commend you for all of your hard work,and would like to say thank you. Not enough Dr's get the recognition that they deserve for the humanitarian work that they do. Everything you said rang true for me,and I am sickened by the folks that don't see it that way. Perhaps if more folks spent the amount of time and money to get an education like yours they would better appreciate just what it is that you are talking about. People like you and my Dad don't deserve to be "punished" for the short comings of our government. Thank you again,and keep up the good work! Namaste

Dr Brad,

Thank you! Spoken perfectly

To all those thinking 5.4% additional tax isn't going to be missed by the "rich", look up tax brackets and how much of the national taxes are paid by these guys already.

• Top 1% - 37% national total
• Top 5% - 57% national total
• Top 10% - 68% national total
• Top 25% - 85% national total
• Bottom 43% pay no taxes or have negative tax status

So the bottom 75% of the nation pays only 15% of the total taxes now. Another 5% on top of those paying 85% of the national total already? What? They are being punished..er I mean taxed enough already.

Back off! The stupid pay 5k a year to morons so that I can pay for my own healthcare anyway state is already not working!

Brad:
How typically un-American of you. This is not "nanny state" stuff. Nanny state stuff is telling you what you can smoke or not, what you can or can't do with your body, who you can or can't talk to, getting frisked at the airport, having to check your ID when you visit Canada or Mexico, having your phone conversations tapped, having your internet traffic monitored, getting "profiled" by law enforcement. These are all things instituted and supported by conservatives like you. HYPOCRITES!

and you think that the government ISN'T going to tell you what you can and can not do once they do government health care.. you don't think they be decided what treatment you will receive and what treatment you won't.. what medicines you are worth and which you aren't worth? You don't think that government will decide your fate??

Did you not hear what Obama said about the old woman?? What is wrong with you people, why are you so willing to let the government do everything for you.. Obama said that that women would be better off with drugs to ease pain til she dies instead of giving her the operation and living well for 5 more years... cost effective. she is old, she costs too much...

and why is it evil to have MONEY?? You people are jealous.. if you REALLY had that money you wouldn't want to be taxed an ADDITIONAL 50,000 bucks.. 50k is 5%... on top of the other taxes... and WHY should YOU pay for me???

Level the playing field?? That is what some of you think... BS... lowering the bar only makes people lazy. Level the playing field is just another way of saying lazing people with benefit from those that do work. There is a level playing field, anyone that WORKS, works on good credit, makes good decisions, gets their FREE education and then go to college, will be fine. Work a second job if you have to, I did.

And if you think for one minute that the "regular" people won't feel this tax, wake up... already prices are going up... inflation is right around the corner, Cap and Trade will make it hard to pay your heating bill this winter and new taxes will make it hard to eat... stop spending my money, my childrens money and start working. I don't care if it "feels " good to care for a tiny amount of people (50 mill is in question and many are not Americans) the majority are COVERED, the rest still have care. if you want to feel good, go adopt an animal.

yup you keep taxing and watch the jobs drop off even more, the prices sky rocket, taxes will be out of this world, and I will make money selling bumper stickers that say "don't blame me I voted for the American"

Ed, you are a fool. Please educate yourself with the way our government works.

I think calling him a fool is putting it politely.

Ed, quit watching liberal media. Seriously. You're being brainwashed. You're screaming about things Hillary, and the health nut lobbyists in liberal pockets did and calling conservatives out for the blame. You think it's the religious right pushing to take down crosses and religious symbols to tell you what you can do? You think it's the conservatives controlling the police force and telling them to profile (I have no idea where you got that one from)?

The Patriot act came into being after 9/11 while Bush (not a conservative by any means) was in office. Right or wrong, believe it or not they probably weren't interested in listening to anything you had to say or do. You're not as interesting as the guy making phone calls to Serbia to temp cell phones and receiving lump sums of $$ from overseas accounts.

Since when do we want to penalize the masses to spare the upper 2%? Thats what I want to know. Guys making a million a year couldn't care less. Trust me, ask one!

Frankly you probably don't even know someone that makes a million a year. I DO and all of them are FOR the healthcare reform its the only thing most of them really are looking forward to from the Dems!!!

I AM JOHN GALT!! As tax-paying American citizen I work hard for my money. I want to decide how and where it gets spent. I'm tired of paying for Katrina "victims" who are still living in hotels after 4 years! MOVE! I give money to charities that I believe are actually helping people who need it. I AM JOHN GALT! As a working class American I, along with the millions who believe the same way, can stop the engine of the world! If you've read the book you know what Mr. Galt did to do that. Not an easy go but it would definitely bring the country back around faster. Want to work hard and become wealthy?? Don't bother. You'll just have to pay for the people who sat on their butts and watched you work yours off.

John Galt is a fictional character in an Aya Rand novel about Capitalism. It is a rediculous book.

Aya Rand was an avid Capitalist who belived that the less intelligent workers deserved to serve the rich, productive capitalists. She was also, or gossip goes, a sexually agressive woman.

It has nothing to do with the health care situation in this country which is drowning us in debt the way it is. It has to be fixed.

Pre-Reagan taxes were up to 75% of a rich persons income. Then he introduced Trickle down economics and the rich took the money and the jobs trickled overseas.

I would be happy to pay a little more in taxes to solve our problems.

Oh. my God!!! A sexually aggressive woman???!!! Oh me, oh my - that must mean all her beliefs are CRAP!!! What the hell does that have to do with health care?

Someone asked who John Galt was. And no, being sexually agressive doesn't meen her beliefs are CRAP!!! But if you haven't read Atlus Shrugged, then you would have no way of understanding why I mentioned that.

from around the block

Don't worry about the hostile comments to your post. Some of us understand your point. Good post!

Frankly you probably don't even know someone that makes a million a year. I DO and all of them are FOR the healthcare reform its the only thing most of them really are looking forward to from the Dems!!!

I know a few Millionaires myself and they are for healthcare Reform Not Nationalizing Health Care. There's a difference between Health Care reform and Nationalized Health Care. I'm for Health Care Reform!

Since you either don't seem to know or prefer misleading people on these posts, I will clear that up.

Health Care reform simply means a change to the current system, Nationalizing healthcare is a complete overhaul and complete disregard to constitution.

I do believe our current system is in need of reform, we should start by eliminating all of the beaurocracy of having and needing a small country to do the billing and keep it straight, We could have all insurance companies utilize the same form, Simplify all contracts so Insurance companies could no longer find loopholes to get out of paying for people who paid into the system for years. Also Tort reform.

What I do not want to do is pay for the millions of people who refuse to work, refuse to pay for insurance so they can live a particular lifestyle, refuse to pay for insurance because the think they are healthy enough now, refuse to attempt to gain citizenship legally and correctly.

Before we jump the gun and get rid of great system in need of some adjustments, and impliment a system as contriversal (and Costly) as this. We need to slow down and make sure everything is right, not that everything done by August.

Now I ask you this should we try to REFORM Healthcare or NATIONALIZE It?

REFORM as stated, wish you were in charge of this!

Are we serious here? I'm sorry, but we have been trying to reform healthcare since it became standarized. And what do you think cost more money preventing a disease or waiting until it is full blown and out of control? Which would take more time, effort and money? We need this reform and God forbid if some wealthy person has to chip in a little bit of money to do so. But, I would also be for a public program that is run like C.H.I.P.S where you pay a small fee based on your income. I just want healthcare brought up to speed and changed to where people feel they don't have to actually be dying before they use it.

The problem with your logic is that the rich don't stuff their money in mattresses like the poor do, they invest it. Although the money is theirs, it is being used by the poor and middle class all over the world. Only if you have never used any form of credit can you say that you have not benefited from using other people's money.

Your absolutely correct about this being a republican and not a democracy, listen to the words of the Pledge of Allegiance. This is America, the home of liberty and freedom, but if the democrats have their way we will be turned into a socialistic government and quickly. Obama and the democrats in congress are shoving everything through they can to change this country to a welfare state before Obama's poll numbers go down and he can't shove stuff through anymore without the American people standing up and saying no. If they push these through quickly with no one reading them then the American people will not know what is going on, especially since the media doesn't help them to know. This is criminal in the least, as well as unethical and immoral. OUST DEMOCRATS IN 2010 AND OBAMA IN 2012. When this country falls flat on it's face and is in total ruin because of Obama and democrats the media should be mostly held at fault for not protecting us against the government.

Yep and Bush's fake war would have paid for it also not to mention all of the wasted deaths over there. If you recall the firs aid to the banks was dolled out under Bush. The rich have made money off of the sweat of our brow and pay us low wages and it is to the point right now that if you have health insurance it sucks, you pay more and get less. So the fat cats in the insurance and pharma's walk off with millions and run this country? Doesn't anyone care about anyone anymore this is about life or death. I am far from a millionaire but would not mind being taxed more if I could help a sick person out. I am sure that is what the Lord would want me to do. YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU

fake war? Have you been living in a cave or something?...do you remember 9/11? The first round of aid was doled out by DEMOCRATS under the Bush presidency. The rich are the reason there are jobs for those not rich and if you didn't give them an incentive like Bush did then they would just outsource their work overseas (thanks to Bill Clinton's NAFTA). This country was founded on the basis of the American people to become rich if that is their desire or to be complacent for those who don't care to excel. I am a free American and I do not want to pay for someone else's health care, rent, car payment, etc. and THAT my friend is the American dream that has been in existence for hundreds of years.

Bringing Bush into this, like so many do is completely irrelevant. Yes the war money could have funded the program, but it can't now. You will have to look only at the current situation and how the plans put forth can fix it. Blaming Bush, Regan, Carter .. whomever will in no way address the problems we have now. What is needed is a real viable plan, not some huge money scheme that is bound to fail within 15 years.
I don't see enough of my pay as it is and pay nearly 28% of my income to our bloated government. I accept the fact that this money is needed, but why shouldn't the rich be just as responsible as the rest of us ? Churches, exempt charities and CEO's don't pay their share and should finally have to. If they just started taxing all those that don't pay now they would have all the funding needed. If the average Joe is expected to sacrifice for the better of the country others should be asked too.

contesa, jobs were outsourced more during the Bush adminisration than in the Clinton. If NAFTA was so horrible, why didn't the Republicans repeal it when they had control at the beginning of the Bush years?

The whole point in pointing out that Clinton screwed the American Worker is he campaigned and got the union vote,by saying he wouldn't sign the NAFTA Treaty..The worst part was after he did this, the Unions endorsed him again. Nothing like sticking your hand in the fire...

They Republicans had control but not complete control...The Democrats have a veto proof control now...Ask them to repeal it...Obama said he would look at NAFTA...I guess he liked it...

from around the block, weren't you just complaining about Bush tax cuts to business owners and now you're saying he did nothing to keep jobs from leaving the country? NAFTA and favorable trade to China were both Clinton. Those aren't things that can just be shut off with a switch without a huge rippling effect through the world economy. But if you want to blame it on a party for not being able to end it, the democrats are the first to be in the position of having all 3 houses since it came into being. Go for it.

The rich don't care about a small increase in their taxes. It's the Reblican Mantra that cares. And they work for the Health Care Industries, Insurance Companies, and Pharmaceuticals.

The rich don't care about a small increase in their taxes.

The problem is that it is not the only increase, and that it's not small. If a 5% tax is no big deal to a rich person, then it shouldn't be a big deal to you either. After all, you are the one benefiting from the tax, not the rich. The moral of this story is that health care is only worth having if somebody else pays for it.

It isn't, I would gladly pay it.

No it shouldn't be universal. Go to Europe if you want universal. Our founding fathers LEFT Europe to get away from their way of government, can't you understand that This country was not founded on paying for your neighbors anything!! This is a country of free enterprise and government not telling businessess how to do their business, until of course Obama and dems took over this year and is trying to change our constitution. I'm disgusted with Washington and wish Obama, pelosi, reid, dodd, kennedy, baucus, waxman (dopey dwarf), etc...would be impeached!

Call me all the names you want, that is usually what liberal kooks do when they don't have anything else to come back with.

Fox News, Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly, etc...are the ONLY media which has been PROVEN to be fair and balanced for both political parties and if you can't admit that then you obviously don't have the facts. Look at polls for the news channels compared to the state run media, i.e. MSNBC, CBC, ABC, NBC, CNN, etc. I think these poll numbers should tell you who the American people prefer to listen to because whether you and your leftist kooks don't admit it, the American people do have brains and can think for themselves.

Also, you obviously don't know anything about health care in Europe, Canada, etc..or you wouldn't state such an idiotic thing that America has the worst health care system. Research please.

The fact that you and your leftist loony friends only know what Obama tells the state run media to have you believe for the day doesn't mean that there aren't people out there who research things themselves outside of the media, sorry but that's just the way it is. I have a voice of my own and a brain to not be corrupted with propaganda from the leftist loons. I can research history of our country and study things on my own without someone telling me what to say or think (unlike yourself) and see that what is going on with our government right now is unconstitutional and unethical, maybe you could try researching and see if you can find ANYWHERE in our constitution where it gives authority for taking over a private business, making taxpayers pay for health care, mortgages, cars, etc...for other Americans or bailing out ANY company. Maybe you don't know history very well and are just spouting the info your supposed to know for the day from the state run media. Either way, sticks and stones...:)

Proven to be fair. ROTFLMAO. You are indeed indoctrinated.

While I'll admit We have no "Fair & Balanced" media at all from anyone of them, At least Fox does show opposing views whereas MSNBC, CBC, ABC, NBC, CNN, etc, show NO opposing views.

To Glen:

I keep hearing we are ranked 37th in industrialized health care.

Well that's like me telling you I graduated ranked 1st in my class. That tells you nothing about the school I went to, nothing about the other students in that graduating class, or the teachers. So with that in mind PLEASE SOMEONE EXPLAIN!!!

What (& where) is the information on how they came up with the fact that we currently rank 37th among industrialized nation on healthcare? (What are the deciding factors, what hurts or helps this rating, is that solely based on the number of insured, or are the actual medical procedures taken into consideration? What about time between initial diagnosis and treatment? Or is this just another meaningless number/statistic thrown out by our government, like projected jobs created/saved?)

Maybe your right the rich don't care about small taxes but think about this, At the rate these small taxes are about to be added up I think they will and do care, National Healthcare, Cap & Trade, Amnesty. Add all that up and I think rich people care, or else they wouldn't have moved their businesses over seas to begin with.

The U.S. has the most bureaucratic health care system in the world. More than 31 percent of every dollar spent on health care in the U.S. goes to paperwork, overhead, CEO salaries, profits, etc. The provincial single-payer system in Canada operates with just a 1 percent overhead. Think about it. It is not necessary to spend a huge amount of money to decide who gets care and who doesn't when everybody is covered.

from around the block, if half of what you see on the news is against your viewpoint or in the category of "I don't care" then you're watching something showing both sides. If you just sit there and nod while watching, you're just seeing one side. If Fox or anyone else has people sitting there spouting stuff you aren't agreeable with, that's a godo thing. I even listen to both left and right stations on satellite radio. I obviously don't agree with most of what I hear on the left side, but I do it to get the whole story and some of their talk show guys actually use facts you can look up occasionally. The right wing channel seems to use provable facts way more often though.

I diagnose a permanent death for the Republican party you know since the only other form of healthcare reform (medicare) has been so insanely unpopular that 0% of the population wants to get rid of it. You mean like that? Not up on current events are you? (like say the last 50 years)

The last year has confirmed that it will be difficult for me to EVER vote Democratic again. I don't much care for the Republicans either, but I cannot in good conscience indebt my children and grandchildren just because the Democrats have become spoiled babies who want everything right now but are unwilling to pay for ANY of it.

We need a government (and a population) that is willing to pay for what is important, and get rid of what isn't.

John in Denver, are you saying that health care isn't important. I understand that you dislike the debt we have accrued for the future generations.

However, there is little that can be done about that now except to tax. We are already over the edge of economic collapse and I believe that President Obama is doing what he thinks is right to try and put us back. It didn't start with him, remember. The bail outs started with Wall Street and the Banking and Insurance industries under Bush and have continued with President Obama by increasing the stimulus.

Many historians agree that the Great Depression would not have been so bad if the government had not let Wall Street and the Banks fail.

Yes, many things have been done and not done that have created the situation we are in now. But we still have to fix it somehow. We should never expect to live to the standard we were at again. We should become sane consumers instead of insane.

To save our future generations we are going to have to pay the price.

AMEN and I wish 2010 would come tomorrow!

Hope your kids stay healthy John, one major illness and you are wiped out. Of course the big Insurance and Pharma's will profit from your misery but, you, you will loose everything!

Bah he could just steal someone's SS card and head to the ER ! I don't mind paying MY share but I refuse to pay for those that will not for themselves or do so illegally.

However, there is little that can be done about that now except to tax.

Actually the best way to reduce the deficit is to REDUCE SPENDING! Raising taxes is just an excuse not to have fiscal restraint.

I don't know about you, but I don't run up my credit card and then expect my boss to give me a raise because I don't know how to control my spending - the real world doesn't work that way, and it shouldn't for the government either.

Hope your kids stay healthy John

It's not a problem because I make health insurance for my family a priority and make sure I always have it - even if I have to pay premiums out of my own pocket. If you finish high school and are actually literate you can do this. And the name is James, not John.

Whoever says paying an insurance company not to pay for my healthcare is smart is an idiot. The person that claimed that I should keep paying astronomical insurance premiums and pay insane annual deductibles and get dropped if I ever get really sick that guy is the REAL idiot. Keep your broken system and all its baggage. Some people are smart enoguh to see that isn't working.

Education should be mandatory. Then we wouldn't be in the situation we are in today. We are one of the most under-educated nations in the world.

It is shameful, and so is our health care system.

Well if your not happy with your insurance company then you can switch. If we have Universal health care then who will you go to if you are not happy? You wont have a choice. I go to the doctor, the insurance pays part of the bill and I pay part of it, whats the problem? How is that broke?

yep

In a free society you cant make education or health care a right or mandatory.

I didn't say you could, I said we should. At least education. Most of the people in this country are some of the most ignorant people in the world about other countries.

You're right about the ignorant part

It's called Government Education. The government wants to keep people ignorant. It's easier to form their minds to what they want.

I'm not really sure what country you people live in. Education is both mandatory and a right in the United States, at least up to high school graduation.

Right or priviledge, doesn't really matter. If we want Education or Health care, public or private, we (all the users) should be paying for it, not just the "wealthy". Go for a flat tax on all earnings

Obviously by your comment it is not and you could not afford it on your own. By the way many U.S. States already pay for your education if you live in them long enough so I guess you are not from one of them

"In a free society you cant make education or health care a right or mandatory."

Thats right people must be free to choose to die from a preventable disease and to live their short lives illiterate

Whoever thinks any country that goes third-world is powerful and enviable is also an idiot.

By the way many U.S. States already pay for your education ...

No they don't.

There is no government, Federal, State or Local that produces a product to make money. Therefore no goverment entity pays for anything, the tax base does.

Yeah, they do. I don't know about other states, but in Massachusetts, there IS funding for cities and towns. The cities and towns run the school systems and use both state AND federal funds, when available, for education.

No, they don't. You are either not reading, or not understanding what I put in my last message. Read it again, think about it and respond accordingly, or be written off as someone who is just in the bag for whatever the liberals say without any thought process whatsoever.

A product to make money? The lottery? If you disagree with me, that's fine. Debate all day long. But don't you DARE tell me I'm "in the bag" for anyone. You can't make that judgment based on a couple of sentences. It was a rude thing to write and I'll be happy to click that "!" for you if you ever do it again.

You seem to have a reading comprehension issue here.

I never said you were in the bag for someone, I said you would be written off as being in the bag for someone. Standard tactic of the left, twist the words and attack those who disagree with you.

BTW, I'll conceed the lottery as a state run money making product.

Fine, I'll concede that I let the conditional "or" in your post escape me.

But I would argue that it's not a standard "tactic" of any particular ideology - in my case, it wasn't even a tactic. I've read plenty of lies, rumors and exaggerations from right-leaning people. I generally read more thoroughly than I did here, despite the fact that I'm a liberal. (I must be the only one of my kind.)

YOu mean like the spend and spend ways of the Republicans that are responsible for 90% of the national debt? Or you mean like all the past Democrats that have paid down the national debt rather than stack it up? Maybe you are referring to the fact that we haven't had a real fiscal conservative in the presidency that was a Republican since the 1800's. That must be it. Republcians in the 20th century racked up 11.7 trillion in debt beyond the surpluses they blew through that were all created by Democrats. I think I smell some bull puckey.

Check "W" s record he signed every spending bill that was put on his desk.

spending bill from the democrats!

If one more person tells me the Democrats left a surplus, I am going to scream, There never was a surplus, No president since Andrew Jackson has ever left a complete surplus, Bill Clinton had to steal from Social Security and Welfare to leave that surplus you talked about, and he also was lucky enough to be president during the internet boom. (Oh yeah thats right his V.P. invented the internet) and by the way to repeat you msdx1949

He nationalized the banks, and no I'm not goign to do that research for you. DO IT YOURSELF!

Point being statistics and accounting books can be fudged to show you what they want to show you. So go on believing politicians if you want.

Bush damaged the coutnry and it wasn't one man Cheney helped him

Bush had a lot of help from the Democrat's in Congress and their plan to open the gates on housing, loans, and socialist programs. Now that Bush is out, the Dem's have a free hand to further control and degrade the USA

If its not good enough for Republicans then it must be good for 99% of Americans HURRY PASS IT QUICK BEFORE WE HAVE TO THROW UP FROM ALL THE WHINING from all the wealthy insurance companies and guys making well over a million bucks. Those poor abused monopolistic insurance giants what would we ever do without the hidden stupidity tax around our necks from the insurance companies? OH MY! You need to see if you can find a way to attach some sort of video of you crying for all the abused monopolies of the world. You going to cry for OPEC now? Why not they've abused and manipulated the average American too. You could at least be consistent.

Loved your post it was fantastic. My thoughts exactly! NO one should profit off of other people's suffering. Sometimes the stupidity overwhelms me.

Also to Dave, as far as Congress you are forgetting about the 60 vote thing

Right. Just like the way they passed the Homeland Security Act.

If its not good enough for Republicans then it must be good for 99% of Americans

Because the entire Country Voted for Obama, huh? Our Insurance companies are not momopolies. Or Have you only heard of one company since it seems to me you don't get out much.

So all the re-Building of New Orleans in Katrina is being done for free,What I hear from you is you think no Contractors should be getting paid for their work, No retailers should be paid for their material. Or do you mean no one should profit excessively from other people's suffering? I will endorse that statement, but to say no profit should be made is as Un-American thing as I have ever heard.

The sad fact is, the bill will contain over one thousand pages of inane double speak, little or none of which your senator, congress person, or president will read. Chicken Little, the sky is falling. Something as huge and potentially costly as this could become, takes more than two weeks to solve.

Marc deserves an answer!

You can blame Bush all you want, but the Dems controlled the house during his reign.

Laws, bill, declarations of war all originate in the house.

Now answer his question.

That's what I thought, just laugh, no answer for me. Typical.

I'll answer for Steve. Reagan era Trickle down economics is what happened to this country and put all the money in the hands of the wealthy.

They took it and still sent the jobs overseas.

The Democrats DID NOT CONTROL CONGRESS DURING THE 8 YEARS OF BUSH!!!! The Democrats had a THIN majority in only the last two years of Bush. WOW you have been misled my friend. Republicans controlled EVERYTHING!!! Lets look at what we got for it:

1. Abortion is still legal
2. Bush and his economic team did nothign to address the real estate crisis or gas prices NOTHING
3. The economy crashed
4. Entitlements INCREASED under Bush and Republican congress
5. Congress was lied to, the public was lied to
6. The national debt DOUBLED under GWB
7. The banking system was nationalized by PAULSON!!
8. Two failed tax cuts were oput in effect that did nothing to stop the global economic crisis

WOW it must be nice to be able to forget EVERYTHIGN in the span of six months. I guess its a good thing someone keeps records or people might try to LIE!!

1. So what is abortion is still legal. Its a women choice.

2. Why should the government get involved in private companies?

3. The Economy crashed because of the housing market, people borrowed more than they could afford.

4. Please show me where entitlements increased? Back up you statements with facts

5. What was congress and the public lied to about? Obama has lied already about numerous things he promised while he was campaigning

6. We are in a war that was overwhelming approved. Of course the dedt will go up. But now under Obama it has tripled.

7. You said it was Bush's fault for everything.

8. In the last two years under Democratic controlled Congress.

Please tell me how the country is damaged?

Hey, msdx1949, I bet in 4 to 8 years you can say the following:

1. Abortion is still legal
2. Obama and his economic team did nothing to REALLY address the real estate crisis or solve the credit crunch NOTHING
3. The economy stayed crashed
4. Entitlements INCREASED under Obama and Democratic congress
5. Congress was lied to, the public was lied to, and CONGRESS continues to LIE.
6. The national debt taken to the power of 10 under BHO
7. The banking system was further nationalized by GEITHNER!!
8. One (or two?) HUGE failed stimulus packages were put in effect that did nothing to stop the global economic crisis.

(D) or (R), If you think there is a nickel's worth of difference between any of those FW's in DC, you, my friend, are the kind of person they all LOVE.

MSDX

I have to agree with you on the Dems controlling congress in the last two years of Bushes presidency, but that's about it. I do not buy into all that tired old rhetoric where we play he said/ she said , we could argue about those issues all day long and get nowhere. However, putting Obama up on a pedestal after creating a bigger financial mess (and it hasn't even been a year yet) and turning everything upside down for his own personal witch hunt is even more foolish . I do not think Obama is a bad guy, he means well, he's just not realistic about creating a Utopian society. I was not too thrilled with the trigger happy redneck either and I believe both parties need to really look at themselves. The childish behavior from both sides during such hard times has done nothing but cause more confusion,paranoia and misery. We need a solution and I do not feel that either party has the answer. Just my opinion and nothing more, it is not my intention to insult anybody.

We are past demanding anything from our leaders.

It's time to forcibly remove them from office Period.

Congress will not read the bills, nor the senate, they are apostles of the Messiah.

They take his word as gospel.

Like the Islamic Fudamentalists, they were promised a piece of Heaven.

That is treasonist talk and this is a peaceful forum. And what are you a Fundamentalist of? Dr. Dave

What are you a doctor of?

So once again people comment on a bill that they haven't read that congress has been bouncing around for months. Umm.. if there are people in congress that haven't read the bill then they need to be voted out of office. So nice to stand up for the people in government that are so disinterested that they wouldn't even read the bill. I'd rather pat the ones on the back that DID read it. Its kind of like in everyones best interest.

from around the block dissent is the greatest from of patriotism. The blind that follow a party because of partisan reasons is the true traitor.This legislators that vote on Bills in the middle of the night, without reading or considering the Bill in toto need to be removed from office regardless what party they belong to.

FMTB:

That is treasonist talk and this is a peaceful forum. And what are you a Fundamentalist of? Dr. Dave

What are you a doctor of?

I'm sorry, what is treasonous about it? If you look at the last 20+ years you will see that our leaders have NOT represented us "We the People". They have represented their own best interests. Money talks and the people can walk as far as Congress, the Senate and the Presidents were concerned.

If you still don't see that than I'm terribly sorry.

These people that are in office have been bought and paid for by special interests, they represent those interests, not the people.

To me that is treasonous, and it is being committed by our government.

I am a fundamentalist of the Constitution of this country. I may be a "Living Document" as some people state, but it still says the people are in charge. The House , Senate, and President work for us.

I'm a doctor of Manufacturing, Mechanical engineering.

I agree that you have the right to express your opinion on the currant administration and congress but to use the word ''forcibly remove them" is what I object too.

We have a way to remove people from these branches of government and it is to Vote.

When it comes to people with lots of financial backing vs people without, who do you think will always win?

I know there are ways to remove these folks from office, but in the end, most money wins.

I'll drop the word forcibly and use the term "For the benefit of the Citizens of these United States"

"Due to the overwhelming evidence of treasonous behaviour, ,our reps, senator, and president were removed from office, For the benefit of the Citizens of these United States"

Better?

Yes, Ivonne, just like Democrats were given a chance to read the Patriot Act which Karl Rove and Dick Cheney shoved down Congress' throat, without giving them a chance to read it. Believe it or not, Congressmen and women and Senators CAN read. Those who choose not to do so at their own peril and ours. It's one of the things they get paid to do.

Amen Glen. If they felt they weren't given enough time to read they should have demanded the time, after all that's what they are paid to do.

from around the block; there is nothing treasonist in what Dr. Dave said. Obama and the democratic congress should be impeached immediately and there are thousands of websites that have petitions for just that if you check. The president and congress are supposed to work for the taxpayers/Americans and not for their own agenda, which this adminstration is trying forcefully to do. When the American people do not like what is going on with their government then that government is ousted, nothing treasonistic in that statement at all.

OK, Glen. I will say this slowly so that you can understand: the... Democrats...were...in...the...minority. The...Republicans...did...everything...they...could...to...prevent...them...from...being...heard. Do you get it now?

I thought George W. Bush already made us a third world country? That kind of over the top scare tactic doesn't work anymore man. If all of us didn't have to pay 1k in annual deductibles, and thrity bucks per doctors visit, and a hundred bucks extra per x-ray, and have 300 bucks a paycheck taken out just so that we can pay our own medical bills then maybe that ridiculousness would fly. HINT: Its not flying. Lets hope you don't get cancer so that your insurance company can drop you. Keeping in mind that this moment is why you were wasting all that money in the first place and then after that you won't be able to get insured with a pre-existing condition. OH and Britian, Canada, and France are SO thrid world since their currencies are already so worthless compared to ours. By worthless I mean they can buy so much more stuff and all have better standards of living and all the people there work fewer hours than we do. Sounds awful! How can they live with themselves?

Should I bold all of that too? No I figure you can read it anyway!

msdx first before you speak educate yourself the 3 countries you mentioned have different health care programs; England and Canada have the two more similar with the government running and administering the whole program, they are both broke and seriously overburden, France subsidizes the insurance but the program is ran by private insurance companies, even though they are also in the red their system is rated number 1. The France model is not what we are looking at here, the system we are looking at is closer to England and Canada. Mull over some statistics- Cancer survival rates are lower both in Canada and England than in the US. The availability of certain treatments is conditioned to a cost analysis and not based on need. Is this what you want? Please go read and educate yourself instead of believing everything you hear.

Come on, Ivonne, be honest for a change. There is no proof England's and Canada's health care systems are broke and overburdened. Cancer survival rates in the U.S. are higher, but only for people who can afford to get treatment. They rest of us can only afford to die. In Canada and England, EVERYBODY gets treatment. Conditioned to a cost analysis? You HAVE to be talking about the U.S. system where insurance companies routinely deny health care to people in need. Get educated yourself and stop spreading lies.

Ed:

What is the population of England and Canada? It's easier to get to everybody when there is less of them!

The U.S. has the most bureaucratic health care system in the world. More than 31 percent of every dollar spent on health care in the U.S. goes to paperwork, overhead, CEO salaries, profits, etc. The provincial single-payer system in Canada operates with just a 1 percent overhead. Think about it. It is not necessary to spend a huge amount of money to decide who gets care and who doesn't when everybody is covered.

The reason we can't do real health care reform is because the 31 % overhead in our health care system has lobbiests to make sure they keep that money.

ED go to the European Union report. You are indeed a Moron for that comment. Do you read the foreign press? Yes, the systems are over burden and the majority of them on the red. Yes there is rationing of services and like I said the best rated one is France and is not run by the government.

from around the block-

I agree completely, The current U.S. health care system needs a boot firmly in the ass. Unfortunately that's not what I see happening with the current legislation.

brockway-

Stick it to 'em on general principles. Whenever possible.

Man, It didn't take Obama and the DNC to get their talking points out to their uninformed minions... These people are pulling all these non facts out of their azz..

The Government of the US puts a $18,000 price on one year of health..What do you think will happen when you are 65 years old and need a $150,000 procedure? Some bureaucrat will shake his head and say sorry ,but your life just isn't wort that much money...

You may get free health care but the price will be your life....Go for it..

Ha Ha, I laugh but this is how too many people really feel.

Have you asked any rich people if they care about 5%? NO

Here I'll do it for you....

Yeah they don't care they'll still be rich and you still won't be. Who is it that's screwed?

How would you know if the rich don't care? Are you one of them? I have a friend who is very rich,they live a modest life style...He works,24 hrs a day year round (nature of his business (towing) )...Would you get up in the middle of the night in a blinding snow storm,just to hand the profits over to some one who is snuggled in their bed?

One million dollars isn't what it used to be... So quit with the they don't care rhetoric,they do care. Who wouldn't?