Published
I would do a poll on this, but I do not know how to - or maybe you need to be a premium member.
At any rate, I would like to hear some discussion on whether you feel health care is a right or not.
I personally do.
There is no reason that a public option could not be enacted for those who cannot afford private insurance, or do not have insurance through their jobs. That, by the way, is such a convoluted idea, I cannot believe anyone came up with that idea.Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington
That "convoluted idea" came about as the result of government interference in free enterprise during WWII.
So many young men were serving in the armed forces that private industry had to compete vigorously for those who remained in civilian life. Wages were increased to lure qualified young men to unfilled jobs. The government stepped in to prevent "excessive" wages and capped the pay private companies could offer potential employees. To get around this cap, many companies began to offer benefits, most notably health insurance.
Yet another unintended consequence of government interference.
So they need to get out of the way and honor what the American people voted for in November, strong, meaningful health insurance reform.
They (the Repubs) don't need to get out of the way, because they are not in the way.
The do not have the votes to block the Dems on this, or any legislation in the Senate.
The passage or lack of passage of health care legislation is strictly a Dem issue. If the Dems don't pass it, they have no one but their own party to blame.
They (the Repubs) don't need to get out of the way, because they are not in the way.The do not have the votes to block the Dems on this, or any legislation in the Senate.
The passage or lack of passage of health care legislation is strictly a Dem issue. If the Dems don't pass it, they have no one but their own party to blame.
I agree that the Dems are mostly responsible for the issue of health insurance reform, in the end they need the political courage to do the right thing, and it looks like they are finding it.
But, I disagree that Repubs haven't been obstructionists. Over the summer we saw the effects of lies told by big health and fostered by the Republican Party (death panels etc..) and unfortunately these lies scared some folks. Lately, McConnell has been fear-mongering on the gloom & doom that will come to fruition if health insurance reform is passed. What's his source? A study funded by AHIP. These lies and industry manipulations are ways to obstruct honest debate. So yes, they are obstructionists.
The cop-out is that its easier to be a victim of the system, to be oppressed and kept down,and to believe that theres no correlation between hard work and financial rewards. It's a dangerous mentality, and it actually prevents people from going out and dedicating themselves. It makes slaves of people. When they genuinely start to believe that they're unable to provide for themselves, and that their only lot in life is to sit around and wait for the government to provide for them.Obviously we're on different wavelengths here, so in an effort to bring this argument to a conclusion...I propose a test. If you can point out one person you know if in your personal life, who didn't go out and spawn children at 15, who's working 70+ hours a week, and still not making any headway as far as getting ahead, then I'll concede the point entirely. But I'm willing to bet not only that the majority of people that put in the effort get ahead, but that it holds true for EVERY SINGLE CASE.
wow, believe it or not..there REALLY are lots of people who work very hard, long hours...all their lives, and just get by...
They (the Repubs) don't need to get out of the way, because they are not in the way.The do not have the votes to block the Dems on this, or any legislation in the Senate.
The passage or lack of passage of health care legislation is strictly a Dem issue. If the Dems don't pass it, they have no one but their own party to blame.
Yep.
I hope Republicans do stir things up though.
John Stossel is doing a "tele-town hall" on Thursday (see below). I love him.
http://americansforprosperity.org/national-site
Also:
"Join fellow AFP activists across the country for our "Congressional House Call" Day on Thursday Nov. 5 at 12:00PM. Thousands of grassroots activists will walk straight into the district office of their Senator or Congressman and tell them: "Hands Off My Health Care". . . . . ."
wOOt!
steph
I was just cruising the net . . and read the following headline with more news re: Dems that Jolie was writing about on another thread - gosh there are so many threads about this issue it is hard to keep them straight
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20091027/pl_mcclatchy/3342694
Moderate Democrats cool to government-run health plan
Moderate Democratic senators remained reluctant Tuesday -- and in one case, defiant -- about backing the government-run "public option" health care plan that party leaders are offering as a compromise, making it highly uncertain whether the plan can become law.. . . . .
. . . . .The centrists, a loose-knit group of as many as 12 Democratic senators, are crucial to the success of any health care bill, because it takes 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to shut off a filibuster -- an extended debate to prevent a decisive vote -- and Democrats control 60 seats.. . . . .
. . . .Reid said he was unconcerned, calling Lieberman "the least of Harry Reid's problems.". . . . .
lol Harry . .
Snowe is irrelevant (as are all the Republicans in the Congress). The bill needs fifty votes to pass the senate, it has fifty votes. No doubt the Republicans will filibuster. It's their nature, apparently to obstruct progress. It's likely however that Reid will garner enough support needed to break Republican obstructionism.These questions and thoughts are not directed at anyone in particular. Why the emphasis on Snowe? Even without a public option, no Republican is going to vote for this bill, but the White House is really emphasing their desire to get Snowe on board because they say the bill will be "bipartisan". What a load of nonsense. And why the emphasis on bi-partisanship? It's patently obviously to anyone who pays attention that the Republicans don't give a hoot about health care reform. Sure, they might have jumped on the bandwagon after the sweeping victory for Democrats in Nov. but that's all smoke and mirrors. They're all for business as usual, and that's not what we voted for.
So they need to get out of the way and honor what the American people voted for in November, strong, meaningful health insurance reform.
51:loveya:
I was just cruising the net . . and read the following headline with more news re: Dems that Jolie was writing about on another thread - gosh there are so many threads about this issue it is hard to keep them straighthttp://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20091027/pl_mcclatchy/3342694
Moderate Democrats cool to government-run health plan
Moderate Democratic senators remained reluctant Tuesday -- and in one case, defiant -- about backing the government-run "public option" health care plan that party leaders are offering as a compromise, making it highly uncertain whether the plan can become law.. . . . .
. . . . .The centrists, a loose-knit group of as many as 12 Democratic senators, are crucial to the success of any health care bill, because it takes 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to shut off a filibuster -- an extended debate to prevent a decisive vote -- and Democrats control 60 seats.. . . . .
. . . .Reid said he was unconcerned, calling Lieberman "the least of Harry Reid's problems.". . . . .
lol Harry . .
According to Politico, Reid has 56 votes. He's four short of the ability break a Republican filibuster.
GCTMT
335 Posts
Snowe is irrelevant (as are all the Republicans in the Congress). The bill needs fifty votes to pass the senate, it has fifty votes. No doubt the Republicans will filibuster. It's their nature, apparently to obstruct progress. It's likely however that Reid will garner enough support needed to break Republican obstructionism.
These questions and thoughts are not directed at anyone in particular. Why the emphasis on Snowe? Even without a public option, no Republican is going to vote for this bill, but the White House is really emphasing their desire to get Snowe on board because they say the bill will be "bipartisan". What a load of nonsense. And why the emphasis on bi-partisanship? It's patently obviously to anyone who pays attention that the Republicans don't give a hoot about health care reform. Sure, they might have jumped on the bandwagon after the sweeping victory for Democrats in Nov. but that's all smoke and mirrors. They're all for business as usual, and that's not what we voted for.
So they need to get out of the way and honor what the American people voted for in November, strong, meaningful health insurance reform.