As long as the goal of our current health insurance corporations is "profit" and not your "health" , the almighty dollar always comes first. The B.S. being spouted that they want to maintain the doctor patient relationship is just that, B.S. .If you need an expensive operation that decision is not made by your doctor, It is made by a secondary faceless doctor of your insurance company .Those "doctors" get financial incentives to justify not approving your operation. , The Heath Care corporations are not interested in saving "you" , they are interested in saving "money" .
POLICY
A public plan will reduce costs and improve access
Published May 2, 2009
From the magazine issue dated May 18, 2009
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Posted By: MChieco @ 06/14/2009 10:28:38 PM
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Posted By: MichaelX @ 06/11/2009 4:19:52 PM
It's more like: "Take me out to the cleaners" ! "If they dont pay it's a shame" :cause it's one, two, three extra charges that we , have, to pay!
Clearly, the gov'mnt is only catering to the insurance fraud-masters and the big-pharm hoodwinkers who foist bad products, and over priced "plans" that we have no recourse from.
When are they going to make things in OUR favor?
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Posted By: winoceros @ 05/07/2009 12:02:25 PM
This is pie-in-the-sky. Wrong on so many levels. But you can get the earliest sniffs by looking at the "47 million Americans" canard. Many of the 47 million figure quoted are illegal aliens, resident aliens who are supposed to be sponsored or supported by American citizens or foreign sources of income (like those on F1 student visas), and young people, who have access to an insurance plan, but consider themselves young and healthy enough to take the risk to not purchase health insurance.
None of these people do not have access to "health care", which indeed, does add to cost when the fees are not paid by the individual. To call them all "Americans" is to fudge from the beginning. Daschle and his ilk want to scrap a system that is working for 90% of citizens one way or the other. If I have 90% of it working, I would like some tweaking, but not the utopian "build it and they will come" panacea he proposes. Notice he doesn't mention the rationing that would necessarily ensue. Are you willing to leave your mother or father's end of life care to the government, based on actuary tables?-
Posted By: race_9togo @ 05/07/2009 9:19:23 PM
Oh good Lord, keep ilegal aliens out of it, would you? Its got NOTHING to do with them!
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Posted By: John Dough @ 05/26/2009 11:17:47 PM
Oh really illegal aliens cost 11% of the federal budget. That is 338 billion dollars a year in health care costs, education, social services, social security, welfare, prison costs, court costs and billions in unreported income that is sent back to mexico without any income taxes being applied to earnings. Yeah they don't cost us anything.
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Posted By: jasonparee @ 05/12/2009 6:34:37 PM
First of all, even if your immigrant factor was correct - which it isn't - it still would only account for a fraction of those affected. And I don't know what planet you are from, but I hardly think 90% of people with insurance would claim it is 'working' for them. I pay $260 for my family a month just to have medical. Not inlcuding the copays/deductibles/co-insurance (whatever the hell that is)/and prescription copays - and this is great coverage compared to what my father pays ($500/month +). Not only that but my insurance company holds my doctor back from providing the treatment he thinks I need because they don't want to pay. And your last rhetorical question is the reason it would be an optional plan - if you don't trust the gov't to do what you believe is right then you don't have to accept them.
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Posted By: John Dough @ 05/26/2009 11:09:47 PM
Sounds like an average policy but don't worry free government run health care will only cost you twenty percent of your wages so if you make 100K you will pay 20K for insurance. You could get a Cadillac plan for that now you make 200K pay 40K etc... The working will pay for the non-working and welfare mongers who have govt entitlement as career options. So look at your W-2 and take 20% off for your income for "free Insurance" then get in line and hope you don't die before you get care as is happening all over Europe poatients even being denied lie saving medicines due to the costs. Bet your bottom dollar the wealthy and congress will get care no matter how slim their chances of survival might be but not us we'll just have too check out if it costs too much.
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Posted By: Omaar @ 05/13/2009 7:52:33 PM
One more time...
Baloney: The Private Sector, The Federal Sector, The Military Sector, The State Sector, The County Sectors and The City Sectors, via [Taxation]
All the above, make this Nation Successful...
Not one [Component]
A!! Hole !!
Point Still Stands...
If the Doctors, Health Insurance, Hospital Systems across the nation, are working with the Obama Administration, to [Reform the Nation's [Health Care System]
OK I see, they are all [Socialist Now]
Ha !!
There is No Perfect System, none and the Private Health Insurance and their Selective Process of choosing the Very young and Healthy, will run this Nation into the Ground. Medi-Caid and Medi-Care are no where near Bankruptcy...
It is the Private Health Care Sector whose Bankrupting the Nation.-
Posted By: John Dough @ 05/26/2009 11:02:25 PM
Medicare will be insolvent in 2017 according to the OMB without drastic cuts or huge tax increases. All befoore the baby boomers really hit it and bankrupt medicare and social security.
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Posted By: John Dough @ 05/26/2009 11:00:46 PM
BULL_ _ _ _ !!! Just look at EUROPE SAME OLE TIRED DOG AND PONY SHOW THERE TOO. Single payer system will reduce costs hasn't happened in one country in Europe in fact costs are rising there as fast as they are here and they are now rationing care deciding who can have what medicines, treatments, surgeries and what doctos you can see. It is failing there and it will fail here on a monumental scale. It is estimated that 27% of medicare billings are frauds imagine what it would be when everyone is covered fraud will be rampant, apply to non-citizens and we will pay throuugh the teeth and with poorer care.
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Posted By: John14John @ 05/08/2009 1:50:27 PM
My wife's father lives in ontario, canada. If you knew what he has gone through with regard to his cancer diagnosis and treatment you would NEVER consider universal healthcare. You people who in theory think it's right have no idea. He will be dead soon solely as a result of the canada healthcare system. I'll save you the time line of events, but the last thing you would ever want is to be ill and in this system. It's completely irresponsible to promote this system. Do your homework.
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Posted By: Omaar @ 05/08/2009 3:29:41 PM
Baloney: There is No Perfect System, none and the Private Health Insurance and their Selective Process of choosing the Very young and Healthy, will run this Nation into the Ground. Medi-Caid and Medi-Care are no where near Bankruptcy...
It is the Private Health Care Sector whose Bankrupting the Nation.-
Posted By: Bryan078 @ 05/12/2009 10:10:30 AM
The private sector is bankrupting the nation? Do you realize that the American economy is built on the private sector, and would be just another Venezuela if there wasn't a private sector? Do you realize that government run social programs like social security, your precious medicare and medicaid suck up tax dollars and spit out poor results? And you think the health care would be different? Wake up.
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Posted By: Omaar @ 05/13/2009 7:50:31 PM
Baloney: The Private Sector, The Federal Sector, The Military Sector, The State Sector, The County Sectors and The City Sectors, via [Taxation] makes this Nation Sucessful...
A!! Hole !!
Point Still Stands...
If the Doctors, Health Insurance, Hospital Systems across the nation, are working with the Obama Administration, to [Reform the Nation's [Health Care System]
OK I see, they are all [Socialist Now]
Ha !!
There is No Perfect System, none and the Private Health Insurance and their Selective Process of choosing the Very young and Healthy, will run this Nation into the Ground. Medi-Caid and Medi-Care are no where near Bankruptcy...
It is the Private Health Care Sector whose Bankrupting the Nation.
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Posted By: Omaar @ 05/10/2009 6:56:42 PM
How Many Lives are Lossed each Year in America, because of Poor Health Care Insurance, Low Health Care Insurance, No Insurance Care and Rejected Claims, based on Loop Holes of Insurance Companies, looking to Avoid High Cost Associated with those Under Insured or those whose Operations [Cost Too Much] via [Pre-Existing conditions or Ailments]
The Canadian Health Care System is a [Gem], Compared to America's Privatized Health Insurance [Con Game]
Some say there are [47 Million Un-insured]
I say that's Borderline Bull-Spit !
Those Un-Insured in America are Much Higher than that !!
When it Comes to those with Low, Mid-Range or Insufficient Health Coverage, the Number is [Far Greater]
These People might as well be Considered [Un-Insured] because they are not [100% Insured]
Its Bankruptcy or Suicide....
After you get the 1st Bill of [$ 100,000 - 400,000]....
Bankruptcy or Suicide are the only Ways out, for the [Poor Souls] that or just Deny-Reject Hospital care and Wither Away at Home or Low Cost Convalescent Care Center.
Canadians have the Luxury of having National Health Care Coverage,so they can seek Help in the USA and they are Accepted too, because the American Hospitals know they will be [Paid] Up Front...
Unlike the Unpredictable Privatized Insurance Companies in America, regarding their [Poorly Insured Clients]
People are going to [DIE] no matter what, in any case, but, it is Better to Die without Leaving Family Members in [DEBT] than to Leave Family Members Scrambling to Pay for your [DEBTS] and that's the Vicious Cycle here in America.
Generational Debt via Gigantic Hospital Bills left Behind !!!
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Posted By: Nukeboy @ 05/10/2009 10:52:47 PM
When has any government run program reduced costs? Name one. Education? We spend unbelieveable amounts of money on education for a second rate system. Social Security? The governemt run retirement system is currently bankrupt, and living on a ponzi scheme that is using funds from todays workers to pay of yesterdays retirees with the unsubstatiated promise that tomorrows workers will pay for us. Didn't Bernie Madoff go to jail for that? Welfare? Our welfare system rewards people for having kids and not working. Where yesterdays "Great Society" was going to help that occasional peron that was "down on their luck", todays system breeds generations of people that think that they have a right to be supported at working Americas expense because we are a "rich" nation.
I disagree with the premis that everyone needs healthcare. I don't. I have never used it, though hundrds of thousands of dollars have been spent on it in my name. I would be better off if those funds were invested in my retirement (since social security will collapse by the time that I retire) or in paying off my house.
It is pathetically silly to suggest that a government run healthcare system will save money. Government run systes are inherently inefficient. This is the lesson of the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, etc.-
Posted By: Omaar @ 05/10/2009 11:25:26 PM
Welfare ?
White Male Republican Talking point.....
Welfare: Is mainly used by [Whites] Majority Rule.
Anne Coulter: she said, if you Minus Color and look at the Number of White Females with [Out Of Wedlock Babies] there is No Differences.
Decry Corporate [Welfare]
like the Bailing Out of Wall Street, AIG, Morgan Stanley, Bank Of America, Citi-Group, The American Auto Industry...
Corporate Welfare at its Absolute [Worse]
Be Outraged over the Great USA borrowing 20 Billion 4 Per Month from [Communist-Socialist China] for the Past 6 Years with Interest and Counting, to Finance our [2 Wars] as well as [Communist-Socialist China] Buying our Nations [Debts]
Welfare is a Meaningless Republican Talking Point...
To Gin the Republican Base, the Rural, Mountainous, Mid Western, Southern Hill Billy types, whose Probably On Government Assistance like [YOURSELF]-
Posted By: Bryan078 @ 05/12/2009 10:13:51 AM
When did the discussion turn into a racial talking point?
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Posted By: MichaelX @ 05/12/2009 9:50:34 AM
Ok, so who's gonna make allthe money? That's really what it's all about.
Health Care should not be an investment opportunity for greedy "reformers".
These are the same people who have mired us in this debt ridden quagmire.
And we are letting "them" decide what? How much more can be squeezed out of us?
People are suffering in many areas, and just trying to keep healthy is a billion dollar business that must be stopped.
Drugs are expensive because the manufacturers have to make up their R&D for stuff that does not work, or causes more ills than what it is taken for. They got us by the short hairs, and as long as there is welfare, they will continue to belly up to the trough. Let's just take that away from them. Hard core regulation of the insurance companies and the rampant over-pricing of services need to end now. Survival depends on it.
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Posted By: Alex Bachnick @ 05/11/2009 3:23:23 PM
My brother-in-law is a broken Canadian priest, but he is also a US citizen and a veteran of the Vietnam era. He fell down my basement steps in mid-December 2008, and was taken by ambulance to the Hennepin County (MN) medical center.
He is back on the road to recovery, but Mr. Daschle, in his otherwise fine article, "Obama's Health-Care Conundrum, Newsweek, 5/11-18/09, inferred that Mr. Obama's healthcare team might follow the example of the Veteran's Administration hospitals.
My father-in-law, 86, got his son into the VA system in mid-January 2009. I tried to get his medications through the VA, here in MN, but the VA system only had him on record at the Kansas City, KS VA.
No system is perfect, but the Federal Government's computers need to turn into apples quickly! It took 3 months to get my brother-in-law transferred by computer from Kansas City, KS to Minneapolis, MN.
We can do better!
Alex Bachnick
Minnetonka, MN
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Posted By: Omaar @ 05/10/2009 8:31:31 PM
Canadian Health Insurance Vs. No Health Insurance Or Under-Insured Coverage.
Many Lives are Lossed each Year in America, because of Low Health Care Insurance, No Health Insurance Care or Rejected Health Insurance Claims, based on Loop Holes of Insurance Companies, looking to Avoid High Cost Associated with Under Insured Patients, whose Operations & Care [Cost Too Much]
The Insurance Companies Easy Out...
[Pre-Existing Conditions or Ailments]
---------------------
The Canadian Health Care System is a [Gem] Compared to America's Privatized Health Insurance [System]
Some say there are [47 Million Un-Insured]
I say that's Borderline Bull-Spit !
The number of Un-Insured and Under-Insured in America is Much Higher than that !!
If you count those with Low, Mid-Range or Insufficient Health Coverage, the Number is ..
[Far Greater] !!!
These People might as well be Considered [Un-Insured] because anyone whose not 100% Covered, in the Health Insurance World is [Un-Insured]
[30-40-50 % Insured]...
Is Not [100% Insured] or Covered.
An when they get that 1st Bill of...
[$ 100,000 - 400,000- 700,000]....
Its Bankruptcy or Suicide, Only 2 Ways Out, for the [Poor Souls]...
The 3rd Alternative, would be to Deny or Reject Hospital Care and simply Wither Away at Home or in some Low Cost Convalescent Care Center and thats [Suicidal] within itself, if you see, some of these Low Cost Facilities and how Patients are treated, you'd fully understand what I mean !!!
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Canadians have the Luxury of having National Health Care Coverage, so they can seek Help in Canada the USA or else where and know they will be Covered.
An if there's an [Emergency] that cannot wait, Canadians are Accepted here in the states, because the American Hospital System, know they'll be [Paid] Up Front...
Unlike the Unpredictable Privatized Insurance Companies in America, regarding their [Under- Insured Patients]
Lets face it, People are going to [DIE] no matter what, in any case, but it is Better to Die without Leaving Family Members in [DEBT] than to Leave Family Members Scrambling to Pay off your [HOSPITAL DEBTS] and that's the Vicious Cycle here in America.
Generational Debt via Gigantic Hospital Bills left Behind !!!
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Posted By: Omaar @ 05/10/2009 6:59:39 PM
How Many Lives are Lossed each Year in America, because of Poor Health Care Insurance, Low Health Care Insurance, No Insurance Care and Rejected Claims, based on Loop Holes of Insurance Companies, looking to Avoid High Cost Associated with those Under Insured or those whose Operations [Cost Too Much] via [Pre-Existing conditions or Ailments]
The Canadian Health Care System is a [Gem], Compared to America's Privatized Health Insurance [Con Game]
Some say there are [47 Million Un-Insured]
I say that's Borderline Bull-Spit !
Those Un-Insured in America are Much Higher than that !!
When it Comes to those with Low, Mid-Range or Insufficient Health Coverage, the Number is [Far Greater]
These People might as well be Considered [Un-Insured] because they are not [100% Insured]
Its Bankruptcy or Suicide....
After you get the 1st Bill of [$ 100,000 - 400,000]....
Bankruptcy or Suicide are the only Ways out, for the [Poor Souls]...
Its that or just Deny-Reject Hospital Care, to simply Wither Away at Home or some Low Cost Convalescent Care Center.
Canadians have the Luxury of having National Health Care Coverage, so they can seek Help in the USA and they are Accepted too, because the American Hospitals know they will be [Paid] Up Front...
Unlike the Unpredictable Privatized Insurance Companies in America, regarding their [Poorly Insured Clients]
People are going to [DIE] no matter what, in any case, but, it is Better to Die without Leaving Family Members in [DEBT] than to Leave Family Members Scrambling to Pay for your [DEBTS] and that's the Vicious Cycle here in America.
Generational Debt via Gigantic Hospital Bills left Behind !!!
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Posted By: Omaar @ 05/10/2009 6:26:00 PM
Socialiized Medicine: VA Hospitals, Medi-Caid & Medi-Care are all [Socialized Medicine] they Both do well and with the Exception of Medi-Care are Cost Effective.
The Senior Citizens have got to have some of their Benefits Removed, because they are really a Drag on the System.
Its True and that's the Dilema...
Senior Citizens & their AARP represent such a Huge Voting Block, but that should not be an Excuse to [Selfishly Horde] all the Health Benefits, for themselves, which Leaves this Nation's Young without any Benefits or Money when they Grow Old.
Obama has got to Tackle this Issue Head On, it will be Painful for this [Demographic] but Reality Demands that there be a [Change] when it comes to [Seniors & Medi-Care]
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Posted By: John14John @ 05/08/2009 2:20:37 PM
Tom, By the way, you failed to mention how completely bankrupt the medicare systems is and just how worse it's getting everyday? You forgot to mention that this system that does not work is going to punish future generations. Exactly why wouldn't you address this fact? Hunt down and find someone who has been sick in a universal healthcare system. If you did, which you won't, you would never promote such as system. SInce you people get your news and opinions from news media and politicians, disregard them for one moment, and realize that the the medicaid and medicare systems are completely bankrupt. How about this solution. Go move to canada or mexico and let us know what your firsthand informed observations. Just don't get a real illness while you are there, because you will die, quickly.
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Posted By: Mimi13 @ 05/09/2009 10:26:36 PM
Who says Medicare does not work? Most people on Medicare think it woks just fine, according to all the polls I've read.. Personally, I am very happy with it. It is far better than the bare-bones policy I had before I qualified for Medicare. I had to wait four years to get a knee replacement because I couldn't afford it until I went on Medicare. My quality of life is better now than when I was 10 year younger. I say: Thank God and the Democrats for Medicare.
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Posted By: John14John @ 05/08/2009 1:56:23 PM
Here's a concept. Do something in your life to make yourself more valuable in terms of skills, education and experience, and then get a job with a quality company. Millions have done it. You could, could have, too. Stop being a freaking loser your whole life. Get some goals, work hard for once, take action, do something. If you did, you would never be so ridiculous as to think universal healthcare is an option. First thing in the new you?? Get off this horrific website. It's dumbing you, not making you "informed".
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Posted By: Rubedo88 @ 05/09/2009 2:57:03 PM
Thats good advice, even if people who are uninsured can't afford health insurance I'm sure they have enough money for COLLEGE! And just in case you're thinking they can get scholarships, not everyone qualifies for one.
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Posted By: karela @ 05/09/2009 10:54:35 AM
I have several relatives who took a big sigh of relief when they became eligible for medicare and have received good medical care under that program. I, on the other hand, never go to the doctor unless my life is in the balance and if I do, I can't afford the prescriptions. I had an asthma attack and my doctor prescribed Advair. I scraped up the money for the office visit and the antibiotic, but the Advair, which he strongly recommended was $250 and I couldn't swing it. And I have health insurance! It covers me if my head falls off but does not cover doctor visits or prescriptions. I think it's way past time for universal health care in America. Yes, there are countries that haven't done a good job with it, but there are countries that have done an outstanding job with it too. Germany has an excellent system. How about if we copy the plans that work well instead of having fear thrown at us over the ones that don't. Employer provided health care is all but extinct and buying it on your own is formidable. We need a public option. Our elected representatives should be more worried about us than they are about the insurance companies.
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Posted By: karela @ 05/09/2009 10:53:59 AM
I have several relatives who took a big sigh of relief when they became eligible for medicare and have received good medical care under that program. I, on the other hand, never go to the doctor unless my life is in the balance and if I do, I can't afford the prescriptions. I had an asthma attack and my doctor prescribed Advair. I scraped up the money for the office visit and the antibiotic, but the Advair, which he strongly recommended was $250 and I couldn't swing it. And I have health insurance! It covers me if my head falls off but does not cover doctor visits or prescriptions. I think it's way past time for universal health care in America. Yes, there are countries that haven't done a good job with it, but there are countries that have done an outstanding job with it too. Germany has an excellent system. How about if we copy the plans that work well instead of having fear thrown at us over the ones that don't. Employer provided health care is all but extinct and buying it on your own is formidable. We need a public option. Our elected representatives should be more worried about us than they are about the insurance companies.
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Posted By: Omaar @ 05/08/2009 3:25:02 PM
Stop the presses... (even though we haven't received the press release yet). Time Magazine is reporting - burying rather - the news that Joe the Plumber, also known as Samuel Wurzelbacher, is quitting the GOP. That's big news considering Joe became the new GOP mascot during the McCain campaign and has since advised the party during conferences and in Capitol Hill briefings.
Below is the excerpt from the Time article.
Well, more elections. Big Government is never popular in theory, but the disaster aid, school lunches and prescription drugs that make up Big Government have become wildly popular in practice, especially now that so many people are hurting. Samuel Wurzelbacher, better known as Joe the Plumber, tells TIME he's so outraged by GOP overspending, he's quitting the party -- and he's the bull's-eye of its target audience.
But he also said he wouldn't support any cuts in defense, Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid -- which, along with debt payments, would put more than two-thirds of the budget off limits.
It's no coincidence that many Republicans who voted against the stimulus have claimed credit for stimulus projects in their district -- or that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal stopped ridiculing volcano-monitoring programs after a volcano erupted in Alaska.
"We can't be the anti-government party," Snowe says. "That's not what people want."
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Posted By: Dredd @ 05/08/2009 10:38:33 AM
In all the convoluted numbers being bandied about by the nattering class, we should not forget the arithmetic of the people:
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/05/tables-for-toxins-in-power.html
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Posted By: Omaar @ 05/08/2009 10:26:55 AM
http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/caduceus.jpg
Watch PBS: Frontline titled...
"Sick In America"
It Exposes the Crisis, The Private Health Insurance Nightmare and the High Cost to Americans.
This is the Reason why we need [Universal Health Care]
PPO's, HMO's and all the Rest could Care Less about You, no Matter the Race, Economic Strata or Political Persuasion
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Posted By: Omaar @ 05/07/2009 11:42:23 PM
Joe "The Un-Licensed Plumber"
Quits the [GOP] !!!
Well, more elections. Big Government is never popular in theory, but the disaster aid, school lunches and prescription drugs that make up Big Government have become wildly popular in practice, especially now that so many people are hurting. Samuel Wurzelbacher, better known as Joe the Plumber, tells TIME he's so outraged by GOP overspending, he's quitting the party -- and he's the bull's-eye of its target audience.
But he also said he wouldn't support any cuts in Defense, Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid -- which, along with debt payments, would put more than two-thirds of the budget off limits.
It's no coincidence that many Republicans who voted against the stimulus have claimed credit for stimulus projects in their district -- or that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal stopped ridiculing volcano-monitoring programs after a volcano erupted in Alaska. "We can't be the antigovernment party," Snowe says.
"That's not what people want."
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