will universal healthcare ( in the usa) cut RN pay?

WOW!! After reading many of the posts in this thread, it is clear that some of you have been truely blessed whereas you don't have any insight into the level of poverty that exists in this country. As a former social worker and a former classroom teacher, I have to say, this situation is significantly more complicated that some may think. I can reassure you that it's bigger than buying alcohol and cigarettes. Also, the aid from the states isn't as easy to obtain as you may think. As a social worker, I encountered parents whose children had been removed from their homes by the state. Their only crime was poverty. They simply could not provide housing because they lost their jobs. As an agent of the state, I encountered h*ll trying to help families receive assistance from the state. It's just not a easy as you think.

The system could use some improvement. To say that our current system is beyond reproach is absolutely ridiculous. I am not "decrying the system as broken" (is that a word?), but health care is constantly changing. Change can be a good thing.
And as for the personal attack on my mom using "safety nets" to pull us out of poverty I can only say its a pretty low blow.
My mom is currently a respiratory therapist and I am an RN. We have certainly paid back in the little that was taken out. I am surprised you would refer to medicaid and food stamps as "a ton of safety nets". That looks like 2 to me, not a ton.

Were you born into poverty or homeless??
I would be pretty surprised.

WOW!! After reading many of the posts in this thread, it is clear that some of you have been truely blessed whereas you don't have any insight into the level of poverty that exists in this country. As a former social worker and a former classroom teacher, I have to say, this situation is significantly more complicated that some may think. I can reassure you that it's bigger than buying alcohol and cigarettes. Also, the aid from the states isn't as easy to obtain as you may think. As a social worker, I encountered parents whose children had been removed from their homes by the state. Their only crime was poverty. They simply could not provide housing because they lost their jobs. As an agent of the state, I encountered h*ll trying to help families receive assistance from the state. It's just not a easy as you think.

Perhaps those children would be better off in foster care until the parents could better care for the children instead of the whole family being homeless or perhaps those parents could cend the children to live with relatives until they were able to get on their feet again. Out of curiosity is this the same state that people want to provide them with free health care?

Yes you would

Who says these families have stable relatives to send their kids to? Or relatives at all? If it's the point where they're taking someone's kids away, I imagine most people with stable families would utilize their familial resources to save their kids.

And foster care isn't a walk in the park either, BTW.

Yep never had it rough in my life. And never seen poverty before or the effects of it. Yep, still got my first silver spoon that I was born with. You know all us conservatives never had to do much in life. I just showed people my conservative credentials and poof now I make $200k/ year. I am so glad you know the conditions I and many other posters on here grew up with.

Perhaps those children would be better off in foster care until the parents could better care for the children instead of the whole family being homeless or perhaps those parents could cend the children to live with relatives until they were able to get on their feet again. Out of curiosity is this the same state that people want to provide them with free health care?

I stand by that, I would indeed.
Its just that you seem very bitter towards people who utilize public services.
Personally I dont mind paying a little of my pay check for the common good.
I have plenty left over to buy food and health care for myself.
If you really did grow up in such poverty, why would you feel such strong feelings towards people born into poverty. And making a cry of "tough love" against children in this terrible situation.

Better off in foster care?!?! Now I know you speak of ignorance. I'm not saying that you're completely ignorant. But there are very rare cases when a child is better off in foster care and the situation I described is not one of them! Perhaps, they would have been better off, if they could have been provided a helping hand to get back on their feet. The families I encountered were tax paying citizens who ran into hard times. So what's the harm in the gov't giving them a little of their tax money back until they get reestablished and began paying taxes again.

I would never suggest that you or anyone else completely take responsibility for the actions of others. I hope you never have to take the silver spoon out of your mouth or the blind fold from your eyes.

I'm a little surprised at the nasty, angry tone that some healthcare providers have. Luckily, I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Therefore, I learned a great lesson, "Never look down on someone unless you are lifting them up!"