Quote Originally Posted by Gregg View Post
Like most of people in this country I realize we need to be doing a better job of providing care, especially preventative care IMO, to our citizens, but don't yet have a good handle on what the best approach would be. I'm opposed to Obamacare primarily because of the mandatory aspect of it and simply because I don't think its an approach we can afford. Why start something that big and expensive if you know from the beginning it isn't economically sustainable? Anyway, I'm also not sure there is a way to remove care from the private sector without either leaving an even larger percentage of folks uncovered for an extended period of time or just flat out resorting to tactics we don't really want to see the government using. Overall there aren't many ideas on catherine's list that I'm opposed to. A logical first step that seems to get danced around is setting the floor. What is the absolute minimum level of care that anyone, anywhere and at any time can expect to receive and how, as a society, do we pay for that? If we can just answer those two questions half the work is done.
Catherine has some very good ideas, very well thought out. Health care shouldn't be for profit any more than police and fire protection, but there you are. We can't go back and privatize the whole thing, but if we had universal health care, like other countries, there could still be a private element for those who so choose. Just as there is private options for seniors, but, how many exercise that option? How many republican seniors exercise that? How many republican congress-persons refuse government run health care, which is excellent I might add.

I know you are a compassionate person gregg, who really thinks of these problems and wants a solution, but to be honest guy, your response is typical of many people, especially on the right. You say the system is broke, we need to change it, it's not working..... but not what the democrats are trying, so let's go back to what was, which is still broken by the way, and talk about it and think about it and sing songs about it and have study groups and fact finding missions, yada yada yada...in other words, do nothing.
Unless, and until you (collective you) come up with some solutions, and not just bumper stickers about how broke the system is (yeah yeah we KNOW it's broke!) then I'm sticking with President Obama. At least he's trying, actual forward movement, and not just talk. The nation is tired of talk, it's time for action.
The mandate argument doesn't really pass the smell test, in that throughout history our government issued 'mandates' to purchase, starting with everyone required to have a gun, and more recently, women must get an unnecessary ultrasound to have a legal medical procedure and of course, everyone must purchase a picture ID to vote (student ID doesn't count but gun registration does...I wonder who thought that one up!) So, saying that is the problem is kind of bogus. (I'll refer back to my contention that until people are literally dying in the hospital parking lot because they are refused treatment due to no insurance, then I'm glad Obamacare is trying to address this and cover us taxpayers, the hospital, doctors and nurses from these slackers who don't think they need insurance..until of course they need it!)

Is Obamacare perfect? No. So, what about it would you change, besides the insurance part? Let's start there, and move forward, instead of backwards as most republicans seem to want. I know change is difficult, but we all agree it's broken, so now that we have some movement, let's start there, and continue forward.
You know, for all the hand wringing and demonizing, most of the plan hasn't even gone into effect yet (but you wouldn't know that from the average low information voter who thinks it's all in effect, free to everyone, failed, and ready to be tossed aside.)
I happen to like one of the provisions that HAS gone into effect, that which let's me keep my young adult daughter on the family plan while she finishes school. This is a good thing. Young people are generally healthy and don't usually require expensive meds or hospitalizations, so why not allow this. It's not like I'm getting this for free, we pay for this.
What other parts of the plan do you not like? You realize it's mostly insurance regulations, like not kicking people off who develop cancer, or not covering anyone who might ever get sick, or even think about getting sick, or who might have been sick as a baby but are quite healthy now. (oh, they will cover these people, take their money sure enough, but if they ever need it, a search of their life might find out they had acne, or a hernia or something so, no coverage) Maybe these provisions are what you object to? Maybe you object to hospice for end of life care, or a counselor to advise people about end of life care and what their options are? Is this what you object to? Or maybe you have the fear that more for everyone else means less for you?
I really want to hear your objections, besides the requirement that everyone plays so everyone pays. What provisions do you not like? Let's start there.