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President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Care R

Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

Steve Dunkley wrote:
Sick of Health

Forgive the pun, but I’m sick of watching and listening to the ideological bigotry being used by both sides in the current debate over healthcare reform. Even the fallacy that the debate could possibly be encapsulated by “two sides” makes me angry. The very idea that being able to shout louder than someone else or that a few words written on a placard contributes anything to a debate on such an important issue is asinine in the extreme. Such behavior, including mindless chanting of simplistic slogans, effectively halts all objective discussion and obscures the real issues.
So, stop mouthing off, stop quoting extreme anecdotal examples and stop using prefabricated, emotive labels designed to perpetuate already polarized thinking.
This maybe a revolutionary idea, but why don’t we start looking at factual evidence backed up by legitimate research. Yes I know this a new concept, but just bear with me for a while, you never know, we might then draw some reasoned and sensible conclusions.
Here is an initial, outrageous idea to open up your thinking:
Starting in 2010, schooling for our children will no longer be funded or provided by either state or federal government. All parents and children will be expected to pay in full for their academic education which will be provided by private institutions. Emergency treatment for difficult math problems and long words will be available at certain schools but waiting times might be quite long.
This policy will be introduced on the overall premise that nobody ever died as a direct result of not being educated. However, people do die as a direct result of health issues. In view of this, all funding currently provided by every level of government to education will be reallocated to healthcare.
Silly idea because that’s not the way we do things – and imagine the increased incidence of illiteracy…Oh, wait a second…
Now that you are smiling broadly and are instantly ready take on new and radical ideas, here are some facts:
• The United States of America does not have the best health system in the world
• The United States of America does not have the worst health system in the world
• The United States of America has some of most advanced healthcare expertise in the world
• The United States of America’s delivery of overall healthcare and its health outcomes do not compare well to most other industrialized countries
• The United States of America has the capability to offer expert treatment to patients of all ages
• The United States of America has an illogically high incidence of infant mortality and avoidable death rates

Okay, that smile has lessened somewhat, so here are some factual statements and observations:
• I don’t know which country does have the best health system in the world - but neither does anyone else reading this
• The United States of America spends more (per capita) on administering the bureaucracy of its healthcare than any other country in the world. Sometimes by a factor of three or four over countries with effective universal systems.
• There is no particular reason why employers should continue to be responsible for providing healthcare. It is an invidious practice that can be extremely detrimental to both employee and employer interests. The practice has its origins in the pay freezes of World War II, yet now seems entrenched in the American working life. Why should your employer decide what health cover you get? Your family physician doesn’t tell you where you should work!
• There is no reason why a national, universal health plan should increase individual or government healthcare costs. Individual tax costs will increase but, if a scheme is implemented effectively, there will be no health insurance premiums to pay. Employers should no longer have to pay their portion to the insurers and there should be no co-pay. In case you missed that – NO CO-PAY! Your employer may even pass his or her savings on to you as a wage increase.
• Effective preventative healthcare makes an enormous contribution to the quality of life and the longevity of that life. In the current situation prevailing in the United States of America, there is little incentive for health insurers to finance preventative care. The premise is that, as people change jobs and healthcare insurers, the financial benefits of preventative medicine might be enjoyed by organizations other than those that originally funded it.
• Viewed from afar, the citizens of the United States of America are hypochondriacs obsessed by illness. This hypochondria is fueled by a constant barrage of television commercials for prescription drugs containing information that should only really be evaluated by competent medical professionals. Trendy acronyms only exacerbate the obsession – why not become obsessed by health and wellness instead?
• Market forces and human nature are generally inappropriate in healthcare. Physicians are encouraged to treat where treatment is perhaps unnecessary. Pharmaceutical companies need a steady stream of new illnesses, gullible or mercenary physicians and new drugs to keep them in business. Health insurers need to be able to promise nurturing care from cradle to grave and yet be able to deny treatment on all possible occasions.
Now that the smile has been replace by a scowl and you’re thinking about shouting or painting a placard, here are some comparisons that will restore your faith in man’s inhumanity to man
• Universal schemes can only provide the greatest good for the greatest number and will spend any and all amounts of money provided
• Private schemes will drop you if it looks as though you might get a long-term illness
• Universal schemes will always treat acute cases first and will generally do these well. less urgent cases may well wait some time for treatment
• Private schemes will treat your acute or less urgent conditions entirely in respect of financial considerations, but will have you back in your car about the same time the anesthesia wears off, often causing you to come back again (with another co-pay) in a couple of days
• Universal schemes often provide unintentional long-term accommodation for the homeless
• Private schemes always use the latest and most expensive treatments irrespective of whether they are superior to proven treatments.
• Universal schemes are often unwilling to adopt new procedures until cost and/or patient benefits have been established
Here is a dirty word:
“Single-Payer”
Actually it’s two words, but you get the drift. Most universal or national health schemes operate this policy. Supporters of the status quo in United States health policies consider it blasphemy. It is a prime example of the emotive labeling so apparent in current healthcare discussions.
Single-payer simply means that payment for medicines and treatment comes from a single source. That single source is the organization that operates the health service - almost invariably the government. Pharmaceutical companies and medical practitioners abhor this policy because they are unable to play numerous payers (with differing priorities) off against each other. Instead they have to deal with a single body that has the single objective of balancing cost and patient benefit – more simply known as value for money. The VA health system bureaucracy “sorta-kinda” operates in a similar way to single-payer.
This does mean that many medical practitioners will get less for the work that they do. Pharmaceutical companies will undoubtedly claim that they will be unable to research new treatments. Personally, I can live with this because the physicians that earn substantially less will only be those who have been financially focused in their practices. Pharmaceutical companies will continue to research and develop because that is what they have to do to exist. Maybe these new pressures will force them to be more focused on effective remedies? Am I the only person who wonders whether drug companies develop new products and then look for an illness to treat with it? The objective of a healthcare system is to look after the receivers of that healthcare – not to make a few professionals obscenely wealthy.
The bottom line is that the current healthcare systems (in terms of delivery and outcomes) in the United States of America are ineffectual and probably irreparable in their current form. Federal and state politicians are scared to death of the pharmaceutical lobby and failure to be re-elected (but then I repeat myself). The AMA represents the interests solely of the medical profession and has stood four-square in the way of any proposed initiatives that benefit patients at the expense of their members. I don’t think insurance companies care one way or the other because they think they will still get a large slice of the cake whatever happens. When it dawns on them that single-payer may become a reality, they will get the rest of the politicians that the pharmaceutical companies missed.
It should not (and cannot) be beyond the wit of the US Government to take the time to investigate the healthcare schemes that are the most successfully operated in other industrialized countries. Surely, somewhere in this nation, we have officials with the ability to judge and evaluate the best of those and surely we have the expertise to implement such a scheme here.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OEDC), in 2003/2004, per capita health expenditure in the United States of America was $6,120 (15.3% of GDP), life expectancy was 77.5 years and infant deaths, per thousand, were 6.9. During the same period in Japan, per capita health expenditure was $2,249 (8% of GDP), life expectancy was 81.8 years and infant deaths, per thousand, were 2.8.
Here are some final kickers. How can the country that considers itself the most advanced economy in the world, allow its citizens to be denied preventative healthcare because of corporate avarice? How can it allow around 700,000 families each year to bankrupt themselves seeking healthcare? How can it let people die for lack of healthcare?
For those that say government cannot afford universal healthcare, consider this: in 2003 (according to the World Health Organization) the United States government spent more, per capita, on healthcare than each of the governments of the United Kingdom and Sweden. Two countries that each have universal healthcare, the citizens of these countries did not have co-pays and both countries achieve generally better health results than the United States of America can boast.
Personal net expenditure on healthcare would drop significantly under a properly implemented universal scheme and a single payer scheme would have the potential to cut billions of wasted dollars out of administrative costs.
Finally, President Obama’s scheme will not work because it does not address the fundamental underlying problems. The supporters of the status quo will gladly watch the percentage of GDP spent on healthcare rise to 20% in the unreasoned belief that the marketplace will deliver effective healthcare and that we already have (of course) the best healthcare in the world. Basically we’re screwed!
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

could you please explain that post?

Under Bush the democrats were the obstruction party to the point of doing the first filibuster on judges. The GOP threatened the nuclear option but did not use it. The precedent for obstruction by filibuster was set by the democrats under Bush. They now want it to stop. They started it now live with it. Using reconciliation will backfire on them
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

2/3 of the people want healthcare reform, that tells me that republicans don't, as ever, give a crap about what the public wants.

They want reform not Obama care
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

we do.....how about getting rid of the obstructionists?

You mean the obstructionist that were under Bush?
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

What I got from that assortment of video clips was as a young Illinois Senator, Obama viewed the process of getting legistlation passed one way, but as a U.S. Senator and and presidential candidate he viewed the process differently. Nothing wrong with that really. It's like moving up from being just another worker-bee to getting promoted to middle management and then to becoming the top brass; your views change as you move up that leadership ladder.

Still, point taken: Don't flip-flop on your views concerning how the democratic process works (in the Senate) because one day your words may come back to haunt you.

You mean he has gotten more partisan and corrupt.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

seems to me it's legal, so yeah, i say go for it, because it is the republicans fault.

All I can say to that lazy analysis is this: you are tossing out the kind of "us" against "them" rhetoric that feeds the very problem you claim sparks this outrage on your part.

The irony is thick, to say the least.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

most people don't know WHAT this health care reform is, do they? they think it's about death panels and gov't intrusion, and you and i BOTH know it's not.

and my point here is that republicans have refused to even consider any kind of compromise, and i certainly hope that obama and the dems hammer that fact day in and day out, because it's been disgusting behavior from day one.

excuse my anger, but don't question my honesty.

Of course. The only people who oppose this bill are the ones who don't actually know what's in it; as if you or any other liberal knew what was in it; it's over 1000 pages of legislation, there's no way you could possibly know what's in it...

By the way, it is about government intrusion - to claim otherwise is blatantly dishonest.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

Well, this'll be interesting in 4 years or so when Republicans use this to pass legislation to force a fence to be built and to militarize the boarder, or some severe law on abortion or gay marriage, or some other thing that has NOTHING to do with how reconciliation should be used but will come about as a direct result of Democrats deciding not to just bend but to completely SHATTER the definition of what reconciliation is used for.

They'll have no one to blame but themselves.

First of all....Republicans don't want a "border" because they are the ones who primarily WANT the cheap undocumented labor to benefit their rich corporate buddies.

Second. I would LOVE to see th GOP use reconciiation to pass a wacko abortion or gay marriage bill....because then people would see clearly what the GOP is about.

The Republican party fools just enough people to keep them relevant....pass the right-wing social agenda and they are exposed. Why do you think they haven't done it already? The GOP is smart to pass just enough radical right wing stuff to keep their true agenda concealed.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

All I can say to that lazy analysis is this: you are tossing out the kind of "us" against "them" rhetoric that feeds the very problem you claim sparks this outrage on your part.

The irony is thick, to say the least.

At some point it DOES become "Us against them". The Republican party has gone on record saying that they are going to be the party of NO and oppose everything that Obama tries. It is part of their agenda to try to brng Obama down. At some point you have to say enough is enough. Its like trying to negotiate wit cultural terrorists.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

dems used scare tactics! where?.......that's enough of that piece of ridiculousness. what dems need are some balls to outshout the palins of the world.

When do they use scare tactics? Gee, let me think. There's...

Pass the stimulus package or our economy will melt and unemployment will rise above 8% (it's at 10% now, go figure).

Pass this health care bill or Americans will continue to die and go bankrupt at alarming rates.

Pass cap & trade or the ice caps will melt (they're actually growing) and polar bears will go extinct (there's between 20,000-25,000 polar bears).

We're going to lose in Iraq and the surge won't work.

Etc...
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

At some point it DOES become "Us against them". The Republican party has gone on record saying that they are going to be the party of NO and oppose everything that Obama tries. It is part of their agenda to try to brng Obama down. At some point you have to say enough is enough. Its like trying to negotiate wit cultural terrorists.

You can't bring someone else down by not agreeing with them. But, you can share in their success/defeat by agreeing with them.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

Reconciliation is a bad move no matter which party uses it, especially when you are talking about 1/6 of the budget........If the dems do this it will come back to bite them in the ass in November....There are 42 Blue Dog Dems and 39 of them are in Red States that McCain won easily.......
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

If this crap actually goes down like this I think you will see the Tea party and anti-intrusion of government groups go bonkers. And I think you will see their ranks grow. Wouldn't be surprised to see a few homemade signs pop up around your city too. If people start using streets to communicate instead of the electric boxes the power of the media will drip away fast. I can't believe they would push for this so openly. Right now a bunch of poloticians are shooting themselves in the foot.


shoot-self-in-foot.jpg
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

At some point it DOES become "Us against them". The Republican party has gone on record saying that they are going to be the party of NO and oppose everything that Obama tries. It is part of their agenda to try to brng Obama down. At some point you have to say enough is enough. Its like trying to negotiate wit cultural terrorists.

1) Everything your Messiah has tried has been unconstitutional, bad for the country, or both. Therefore, opposing him has been the right course of action.

2) If the Democrats had been the Party of No under Bush, we'd have fewer problems today.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

If this crap actually goes down like this I think you will see the Tea party and anti-intrusion of government groups go bonkers. And I think you will see their ranks grow. Wouldn't be surprised to see a few homemade signs pop up around your city too. If people start using streets to communicate instead of the electric boxes the power of the media will drip away fast. I can't believe they would push for this so openly. Right now a bunch of poloticians are shooting themselves in the foot.

It's their last chance.

The Progressives can be visualized as Kevin Bacon in Tremors running towards the cliff with the grabboid in hot pursuit screaming out "I have a plaaaaan!" with their last bomb.

They don't use the bomb, the grabboid of freedom might finally get them and put an end to their plans.

If they succeed, the grabboid of freedom will crash out of the cliff to it's destruction on the rocks below.
 
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Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

At some point it DOES become "Us against them". The Republican party has gone on record saying that they are going to be the party of NO and oppose everything that Obama tries. It is part of their agenda to try to brng Obama down. At some point you have to say enough is enough. Its like trying to negotiate wit cultural terrorists.

So if you don't agree with the Democrats, you're a terrorist?

:rofl
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

It's their last chance.

The Progressives can be visualized as Kevin Bacon in Tremors running towards the cliff with the grabboid in hot pursuit screaming out "I have a plaaaaan!" with their last bomb.

They don't use the bomb, the grabboid of freedom might finally get them and put an end to their plans.

If they succeed, the grabboid of freedom will crash out of the cliff to it's destruction on the rocks below.

LoL nice imagery. I love Tremors.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

When do they use scare tactics? Gee, let me think. There's...

Pass the stimulus package or our economy will melt and unemployment will rise above 8% (it's at 10% now, go figure).

Pass this health care bill or Americans will continue to die and go bankrupt at alarming rates.

Pass cap & trade or the ice caps will melt (they're actually growing) and polar bears will go extinct (there's between 20,000-25,000 polar bears).

We're going to lose in Iraq and the surge won't work.

Etc...


The technical term for this is "pwned".
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

How is Obama going to get it through the House? Reconciliation has nothing to do with the House.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

The Republican party has gone on record saying that they are going to be the party of NO and oppose everything that Obama tries.

LINK?


.. didn't think so..:3oops:
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

America doesn't want this bill, these guys act like heroes and fighters for America. They talk like they are going to save us at all costs, when really it's just ramming their ideology down everyone's throat against popular opinion. The Republicans have offered alternatives, so it isn't right to say they are the party of no. Although I myself want some form of universal healthcare, I will have to agree that the Democrats are acting shamelessly and that they have misrepresented Republicans as evil people who want everyone to die because of a lack of healthcare. This bill must be stopped, and the Democrats need to stop arrogantly acting like the saviors of the American people.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

All I can say to that lazy analysis is this: you are tossing out the kind of "us" against "them" rhetoric that feeds the very problem you claim sparks this outrage on your part.

The irony is thick, to say the least.
that's what happens when i become frustrated beyond belief. hence my new position of "i don't give a damn, i've got great insurance".
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

America doesn't want this bill, these guys act like heroes and fighters for America. They talk like they are going to save us at all costs, when really it's just ramming their ideology down everyone's throat against popular opinion. The Republicans have offered alternatives, so it isn't right to say they are the party of no. Although I myself want some form of universal healthcare, I will have to agree that the Democrats are acting shamelessly and that they have misrepresented Republicans as evil people who want everyone to die because of a lack of healthcare. This bill must be stopped, and the Democrats need to stop arrogantly acting like the saviors of the American people.

America doesn't want this bill because the GOP orchestrated an extremely effective smear campaign based on lies and deceit.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

America doesn't want this bill because the GOP orchestrated an extremely effective smear campaign based on lies and deceit.

When Obama and the democrats say they will pass a bill then go back and pass the fixes no one trusts them to to do the fixes. Once the bill is passed the dems can not do any fixes. The dems and Obama have proved they can not be trusted.
 
Re: President Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Ca

I'm disappointed the House hasn't fixed any of the problems in the Senate edition. How the hell can something in America be passed when the individuals voting for the legislation don't all believe it's right for the country? Just do your job... Jeez.
 
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