Most people seem to feel that any government health-care program will take away from those who have and give to those who have not. This is not so.
The health-care program merely levels the playing field, and if you think you have it now and don't want to share, you are wrong. What you think you have is merely an illusion of security that can be wiped away with a job loss, a major illness or insurance company changes.
Most people don't realize we are living on a circle of protection, but on the outside of that circle is what our health care won't cover. Inside is what it will actually cover. Little by little that outer circle is rotting away, creeping toward the middle, faster and faster, sneaking in like a thief in the night.
Some people realize only that there is a problem when they need a routine "fix," only to find out their insurance won't cover it. The person who has early cancer needs it cut out but can't always get it because somebody at the insurance agency decides a lesser procedure will do just as well and cost less. People who have taken a certain medication for years are suddenly not permitted to get it. The insurance company can live with these decisions, but can you?
The rot is advancing as those in the middle bury their heads in the sand and declare: "Not my problem." Yeah, but sooner or later, it will be your problem, and what will you do then? People's lives are at stake here -- maybe even yours.
Arielle Smith, Washington, Ga.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Another person who thinks that this monstrosity will somehow pay for itself. Economics classes should be mandatory if you are allowed to vote.
I want to share! I want Obama and Congress to share their insurance with me. I will gladly share with them the plan they are forcing on the taxpayers who are paying for all of this.
The socialized medicine that Prezbho is championing has failed everywhere it has been instituted. Be ready for long waits for procedures, doctors and nurses who are government employees and the level and quality of medical care to decline dramatically. Contact your congressmen and senators and tell them that if they participate in the passage of this socialized medicine, that following the upcoming election(s), their addresses will no longer be Washington, D.C., and that there will be a new face in the White House in 2012.
Arielle Smith Level the playing field? Well Ms Smith I am staring my own playing field leveling program. It is called Kidney's for Caring (sort of like cash for clunkers). I want you to donate a kidney! Ms Smith you have two good kidney's and need only one! There are thousands if not 10's of millions that have no good functioning kidneys ( I get to make up my own statistics like Obumbler)! If you give a kidney you would help level the playing field. It isn''t fair that you have two good ones when so many have none! We are all one illness, one infection one bad accident away from having no functioning kidneys!!!!! So please give because life has not cursed you with a birth defect or illness that takes away your kidney function like so many that are now seeking kidney's. Others here have not cared when asked but I can tell you have REAL LIBERAL COMPASSION and care!
Well, Arielle, the only sure things in life are death and taxes. If this taxpayer funded healthcare bill is passed, the latter will be up considerably. And just like Social Security, it won't be voluntary, and it will be going broke, and offering less services. Already, we're told that SS payments will be basically flat in future payments. This, along with inflation, will mean a poorer standard of living for millions of seniors citizens who have paid into the system for decades. Yep, that's what happens when you let government run your life.
I hope every one of you gets to sample the fun that we, who don't have employers' SUBSIDIES for their health insurance, get to have. It's soooo much fun, trying to find non-group insurance that one can afford, without going hungry, or paying our rent.
Very good, Arielle. And, then the little man with the free tax money will come and spank the rot and make it run away so the circle will expand and encircle everyone. Everyone will live happily ever after. Only one question, if the tax money comes from the people that can't afford to buy insurance, how can you assume they can afford the tax to pay the government AND the insurance? or do you assume the people paying most of the taxes will just pay the health insurance too?
The only way that the government can control health care costs for the long term is to undermine care. There is already talk of taking funding from Medicare/Medicaid to help pay for it. For an example, look at the arguments against the health insurance coop proposal. It is said that there would only be a ten percent or so savings. Only a ten percent savings! The bottom line is that in order to provide good health care, someone needs to pay for it. Costs for health care should not be controlled by the regulation of services or more taxes for everyone. The new system would be ripe for corruption. In a government run health care system, like it is now, only the rich would get the best care. No point in going down that road, because it would be no different than already exists!
The Democratic health plan does increase public involvement, but it is a long, long way from what socialist countries offer. Furthermore, you would be hard-pressed to find a large number of people in Sweden, Canada, or Great Britain insane enough to trade their comprehensive health coverage for the nonsensical plan that we have in the USA.
GACopperhead; we are tired of your wealth envy whining self. Bet you probably spend more of your spendable income on unnecessary items before you even consider caring for yourself and your's. If not, stop whining and pay your insurance premiums gladly before under Odumba you are required to also pay for those who refuse to not be on the giverment dole.
New term, "increae public involvement". Sounds alot better than spread the wealth, doesn't it?
Since we already have a shortage of doctors and more than 150,000 individuals/patients will be added with Obama Care, where will we find the doctors (and nurses) to care for these people. I'm asking, because I hear the figures and I can't see how anyone can possibly benefit. BTW_Already seniors SSI checks are being cut. What was that Obama promised to the bottom 95%...
I want some global warming insurance!!!! with the thermometer climbing, we will all be history very soon. Just ask Al Gore!
Leveling the playing field means we all go broke and try to live off the government that has no where to collect taxes from. These people live in a Disney movie with the starring roles of Obama as Mickey mouse and Pelosi as Goofy.
2tired I couldn't have said it better.
Ms. Smith, I am sorry but you are truly clueless, our government cannot afford to provide free healthcare to everyone, this plan has already been tried in someplaces and failed miserably, check out the program that the state of Tennesse had, it is almost the same as the plan the Obama administration is trying to implement. If one state can't afford it how do you think the entire country can. I am not saying that anyone should have to go without medical care but this plan is not going to work, if and when a plan is thought out that can truly provide it without breaking our country even more and without the working man having to foot the bill for it then I think more people will be on board.
The prezbho admin can't even handle the paperwork and finances of cash 4 clunkers and the blind and gullible libs want them to control the prezbhocare for billions of people. When will libs start using some common sense and start looking at this prezbhocare realistically. A TRILLION here and a TRILLION there. If you say it fast enough, I guess it makes sense to a lib. If you're not concerned -- You're not paying attention.
I'll support a "level playing field" the instant that exact same coverage is what is provided to senators, congressmen, members of the executive and judicial branches and their families. Then all of us could get the same crappy care they get in other socialist countries.
GACOP, here is some cheese to go with that whine. You don't have health insurance? Get a better paying job or one that provides it. If you can't, get the education or training you need to get that better job. STOP DEMANDING THAT THE TAXPAYERS FUND YOUR HEALTHCARE! WE'RE ALL GETTING TIRED OF HEARING YOUR WHINING!
Yeh Arielle. Your "cancer" example doesn't quite hold water since we have a much higher cancer survival rate than any ohter country, including the ones with "government" healthcare. Yes, Obamacare will level the playing field. So does Communism where everyone ends up with the same NOTHING because it kills all incentive to work and earn. Why earn with the government will just take it away and give it to somebody else.
I am sorry GACop - but remind me again why I should help pay for your health insurance? Are you related to me? Do you make my life easier? I bet the answer to both those questions is no. I am sorry you can't find reasonable health insurance. It is not my fault. Why not get a bunch of people together who, like you, are underemployed or not offered health insurance - the more the merrier - and bargain with insurance companies for group rates? I think it is called a co-op. Much like Jefferson Electric. Charge to join the co-op, get better insurance rates but don't expect me to do the work for you.
Those that sit on a computer a large part of the day, probably have cell phones, cable tv and many extras. Does it make sense to some that they whine and complain every day that they can't afford to get health ins? Why is it the responsibility of others to furnish their healthcare? This prezbhocare is a horrible plan just like the cash 4 clunkers, cap and tax, the porkulus, closing Gitmo and ALL the other plans proposed and initiated by this admin.
If this prezbhocare plan is so great, why aren't the libs passing this horrible plan? The congress is majority dims with an ultra-lib prez so why aren't they going ahead and passing this, since they think it is so great? The libs keep trying to blame the GOP but how is that possible? When they point the finger at the GOP, they have 4 fingers pointing back at themselves.
CS, Both of your most recent comments(10:06 + 10:13) are exactly right. And whether anyone realizes it or not, the cash for clunkers program, did nothing, NOTHING but help ODamna's friends in the car unions. Man, we need to just allow anyone who wants obama care to pay for it, and those of us who DONT, we will continue to do as we do. Obamacare wont last a year, when they cant find the money to pay for it. and then they will REALLY start guarding the border and stopping illegal aliens from abusing our systems, at the expense of THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS, TAXPAYERS, TAXPAYERS!!!!
The unions have said if this healthcare doesn't include the single payer, they will stay away from the 2010 elections. So what does that tell you? prezbho and the libs won't have the support from the unions for the next big elections. Without that they know they can't win. So who is prezbho catering too? Not the American citizens. If you're not concerned -- You're not paying attention...
lets see hr3200 has passed thru the committees in the house and on the way to the floor. now i realize this isnt the final version yet and it has to be reconciled with a senate version. but every dimwit politician that supports this govt health take over says the opposite that is in the actual bill. and then they say dont believe your eyes but believe what i say including obama who admits he hasnt read it yet. now when was the last time you believed a politician saying that whats in the bill is not really the bill. these are lawyers who know how to twist words and lie without always being caught. throw them all out get real people in dc.
Dang, prezbo's on vacation again???? Does this empty suit ever work?
CS, that is why they are pushing so hard for this to be passed ASAP. Soon they will only have the support of the Unproductive or the Uninformed, or the Unamericans. What is the reason for the URGENCY? Should we not take the time to come up with a plan that helps those who want, and those who need, some sort of health coverage, without placing the financial burden on the ALL TAXPAYERS. What happened to freedom of choice? Is this NOT the USA? Never rush to buy on impulse. Some times we need to realize, we cant buy what we want, if we cant afford it!!!
Let those who Think they can afford it, PAY FOR IT!!!!!!
We need to change our expectations as consumers; b/c thats what we really are, of health care. We expect it ALL for nothing as soon as possible. Heaven forbid we wait 3 days to schedule a CTScan, gotta have it today. Then, we expect it to be free. We expect "others" to pay for it. We need to pull our heads out of our rears and realize that this country was founded on the backs of people that didnt have free anything. They earned it. We need to all shut up & earn what we have and the goverment needs to stay OUT of my personal decisions. I should have the RIGHT, afforded by the Constitution, to do whatever I choose without it being rammed down my throat. I saw a quote that said it took the Obama's more time to choose a DOG than it has to ram rod this bill through... what's wrong with that picture?
Carcraft, I am one of those who would welcome the donation of one of Ms smith's kidneys.