Simply un-American

[Anonymous]

Pelosi and Hoyer opinion piece in USA Today.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/08/unamerican-attacks-cant-derail-health-care-debate-.html?poe=HFMostPopular&loc=interstitialskip

Have not seen any response yet from the White House. It will be interesting if they issue any reply.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, and those Code Pink ladies were such patriots too!

I saw no mention in the Post of the Cardin town hall last night either.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't consider either plugged into the pulse of the nation. Clearly, they missed the boat that 85% of the public is satisfied with their healthcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't consider either plugged into the pulse of the nation. Clearly, they missed the boat that 85% of the public is satisfied with their healthcare.

Which is why so many people vocally oppose draconian changes to the current health care system that will limit everyone's choices - the 85% who are satisfied and the 15% who are not (or are not covered).

I would vastly prefer the US negotiated better pricing with drug companies (the pharma deal is no deal at all, just a promise by the govt. not to mess with them if they don't mess with the govt.) as a first (and huge) step to control costs. When my mother pays 1/3 of her SS income on medications because she hit her doughnut - hole something is very wrong. And when my daughter is light-headed during basketball practice in August and cannot re-join her team until after she has seen a doctor, a cardiologist, had a stress test, ekg, and cardiac ultrasound (it has a fancier name that I forget) - instead of being offered water and electrolytes and a moment to rest - well gee whiz no wonder insurance is so expensive. But then again, why try the $3 solution when a $3K solution will be paid for by insurance AND will cover everyone involved for legal liability?

[Anonymous]

Where is the 85% satisfaction rate coming from? I'm googling the heck out of it but can't find it. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't consider either plugged into the pulse of the nation. Clearly, they missed the boat that 85% of the public is satisfied with their healthcare.

Please clarify: healthcare or health insurance. There is a big difference. If you're talking about health insurance, is that 85% of those who have health insurance or 85% who ever NEEDED it? Even in the even distribution case, would you want to take 15% risk with your health? Clearly you missed the boat that the reason it is 85%, because most of them have never really needed their insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't consider either plugged into the pulse of the nation. Clearly, they missed the boat that 85% of the public is satisfied with their healthcare.

Which is why so many people vocally oppose draconian changes to the current health care system that will limit everyone's choices - the 85% who are satisfied and the 15% who are not (or are not covered).

I would vastly prefer the US negotiated better pricing with drug companies (the pharma deal is no deal at all, just a promise by the govt. not to mess with them if they don't mess with the govt.) as a first (and huge) step to control costs. When my mother pays 1/3 of her SS income on medications because she hit her doughnut - hole something is very wrong. And when my daughter is light-headed during basketball practice in August and cannot re-join her team until after she has seen a doctor, a cardiologist, had a stress test, ekg, and cardiac ultrasound (it has a fancier name that I forget) - instead of being offered water and electrolytes and a moment to rest - well gee whiz no wonder insurance is so expensive. But then again, why try the $3 solution when a $3K solution will be paid for by insurance AND will cover everyone involved for legal liability?

See, here's what I think some people see as a big issue. You're understandably worried about your choices being limited. On the other hand, your daughter's school wants what appear to be needless tests which your health insurance is covering at great cost to you and them. I can't speak to everything that happens in the health care system but part of what is going on is that there are a lot of needless tests. People want to have the choice to get those tests even if they are unnecessary and they fear that the government will prevent them from getting these tests. To continue the current system based on this fear is counterproductive for the overall system and enriches healthcare companies rather than making us as a nation more healthy. And, as I understand it, no one will prevent anyone from getting expensive and unnecessary tests but there's no guarantee that they will be paid for.

That's my reading of it. I know there are people who are reading about this more closely than I so you may come up with holes in my argument but that's how I understand it so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is the 85% satisfaction rate coming from? I'm googling the heck out of it but can't find it. Thanks.

I think this is the poll being referenced: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/23/fox-news-poll-uncertainty-health-care-reform/

Most Americans say they have health care insurance (91 percent), and a large 84 percent majority rates the quality of their insurance as excellent or good. Moreover, more than 8 in 10 (83 percent) rate the quality of the health care they currently receive as excellent or good. And if they were sick or seriously ill, most people say they would rather be in the current privately-run health care system (64 percent) than in a government-run system (19 percent).

[Anonymous]

Health insurance is just that, insurance, not a full up pay for everything plan. I still have to pay my copay when my car is damaged, and I don't get enought to buy a new car if mine is totalled (or totalled on paper cost - insurance company makes the business decision not to repair but to pay me out the value). Health insurance is not a free payment plan, it's a partial payment plan.

The public option should be public health insurance not public health care.

No insurance must pay completely for high end tests, even if they are medically necessary. Again, it's insurance, not a payment plan. The public option should also not be a free for all on tests and treatment, although I think that may be the expectation of those who will fall under the plan.

I still believe in check-ups, encouraged by payment by insurance, to prevent and provide early intervention with medical issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is the 85% satisfaction rate coming from? I'm googling the heck out of it but can't find it. Thanks.

I think this is the poll being referenced: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/23/fox-news-poll-uncertainty-health-care-reform/

Most Americans say they have health care insurance (91 percent), and a large 84 percent majority rates the quality of their insurance as excellent or good. Moreover, more than 8 in 10 (83 percent) rate the quality of the health care they currently receive as excellent or good. And if they were sick or seriously ill, most people say they would rather be in the current privately-run health care system (64 percent) than in a government-run system (19 percent).

OMG, a FOX news poll? Gee, is there any chance the poll is a little biased towards getting a certain result? Nah, that couldn't be.

[Anonymous]

Fox is not a real news outlet. Fox doesn't have real journalist. They are all pundits with no journalistic backgrounds. The outlet does not report news you can use.

[Anonymous]

The questions to ask people about health insurance isn't so much, "If you have it, do you like it?"

The questions should be:

"If you have health insurance through your job, do you feel you have to stay at this job, or stay full time, to keep your health insurance? "

"Are you concerned about preexisting conditions preventing you from getting health insurance if you are fired from the job you have?"

"Are you concerned that one major illness could trigger rationing from your health insurance company?"

"Are you working at a job mostly to provide health insurance for your family? WOuld you quit and start your own business if you could find affordable insurance?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is the 85% satisfaction rate coming from? I'm googling the heck out of it but can't find it. Thanks.

I think this is the poll being referenced: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/23/fox-news-poll-uncertainty-health-care-reform/

Most Americans say they have health care insurance (91 percent), and a large 84 percent majority rates the quality of their insurance as excellent or good. Moreover, more than 8 in 10 (83 percent) rate the quality of the health care they currently receive as excellent or good. And if they were sick or seriously ill, most people say they would rather be in the current privately-run health care system (64 percent) than in a government-run system (19 percent).

OMG, a FOX news poll? Gee, is there any chance the poll is a little biased towards getting a certain result? Nah, that couldn't be.

I'm not a fan of Fox myself, but I'll set aside my bias for a minute.

I work in the health care policy area and I'm always working with data dealing with the number of uninsured. It's a very hard number to pin down. Most rely on CPS data, which is flawed. But correcting for its flaws is difficult. Phone surveys are bad because if you ask someone if they are insured, they often don't know the real answer to that. For example, if they've got Medicaid, they may or may not consider that coverage. Many with Medicaid don't have access to phones or the internet to participate in surveys like this, either. The fact this poll says 91% of Americans have insurance shows its inherently flawed unfortunately. Did this survey poll those with Medicare, who are generally not discussed in coverage surveys? That might help explain the high number.

[Anonymous]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/08/12/the_rubes_of_engagement_97864.html

[Anonymous]

Interestingly enough, the Obama-Hitler signage that Pelosi/Hoyer point out as an example of the right's unhinged, uninformed, disrespectful nature are actually the product of the very left leaning Lyndon LaRouche organization.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Dont-blame-conservatives-for-LaRouches-ObamaHitler-signs-53044147.html