American affordable health care- by Rick Steeves

[Gail]

I used to watch this European travel expert a LOT years back. Here is an article he wrote concerning affordable health care:

Quote:

I'd like to take a short break from my reports in Iceland to discuss tomorrow's launch of Obamacare.

The last wealthy nation in the First World without some kind of national health care is about to get a watered down version of what other nations just assume is the mark of a successful and developed society. And the vested interests — big medicine, insurance companies, and the politicians they employ — are screaming like mad and spending a fortune to stop it. Ads and campaigns of confusion are not directed at my state, but at poorer and less educated states where affordable health care is needed most and people are easiest to frighten and manipulate. (In my state, libraries can direct people to information to understand the new law. In many states, librarians are actually forbidden to provide this service.)

It’s amazing to me that in our great nation, about a fifth of the citizens are unable to afford health insurance, need to go to the emergency room for routine medical needs, and are terrorized by the specter of one serious accident or sickness wiping out their family financially. And, just as amazing, half of our country thinks that’s OK and is fighting mad about the possibility of change. Even more perplexing, many of the people who think this is the best America can afford are the very people who need help the most.

Someone recently asked me, “As a businessman and an employer, what do you think of Obamacare?” My response was that, as a businessman, I don’t think of it at all. I employ 80 people. I imagine my health-care costs might go up a bit. But this is a community issue. My response to Obamacare is as an American who wants to be proud of my country. It is an embarrassment that so many Americans are brutalized by health-care costs. Europeans and Canadians — who spend far less per person on health care, like their care, and have options for rich people to get all the private VIP service they like — marvel at how so much of America is hell-bent on maintaining our status quo.

We’re living through a tsunami of desperate media and political action to help us avoid relatively modest progress in national health care. Think of the toll Presidents Clinton took back in the 1990s and Obama is taking today by standing up to the torrent of media and political flack. Think of the patrons and allegiances of the politicians who fight against affordable health care. Follow the money. What motivates the talking heads, the commercial news services, and the politicians who are working overtime to convince us this is a bad thing? They are captives of the industries (who advertise and donate) that will take a hit when poor and struggling Americans have access to affordable health care.

Those opposed to Obamacare have a powerful and well-funded voice. I believe it’s the slickest marketing initiative money can buy. Those who need the Affordable Care Act don’t have these special interests speaking out in their favor. Study the issue carefully. Ask yourself what motivates the loudest voices pulling out all the stops to shape your opinion: compassion or greed?

[phkrause]

Thanks Gail, this is a great article.

[Kevin H]

I have very mixed feelings about this. On the one hand I completely agree with what Rick is saying and have been a supporter of health care reform. The problem I have with this particular approach is that I see it as more focused on the pharmaceutical industries rather than people. That it is more the government paying big pharm the money and then pushing the drugs on us. At a time of rough finances, instead putting the money to get us out of the financial mess or for a more people centered health care reform, it is to add to the financial mess and national debt to give welfare to big pharm and push their products on to us.

As I understand it, the Truman and even the Nixon approaches were more people focused, and more what Europe has and would fit Rick's comments in a good way.

[phkrause]

I have very mixed feelings about this. On the one hand I completely agree with what Rick is saying and have been a supporter of health care reform. The problem I have with this particular approach is that I see it as more focused on the pharmaceutical industries rather than people. That it is more the government paying big pharm the money and then pushing the drugs on us. At a time of rough finances, instead putting the money to get us out of the financial mess or for a more people centered health care reform, it is to add to the financial mess and national debt to give welfare to big pharm and push their products on to us.

As I understand it, the Truman and even the Nixon approaches were more people focused, and more what Europe has and would fit Rick's comments in a good way.

Even though I'm in agreement with most of what you've said. I believe that the Nixon approach was more suited to the Insurance companies. I remember Kennedy before he past away, mentioned that he had given in to quick to Nixon, but knew that he couldn't wait.

[olger]

Obammacare has a legitimacy problem. It had one before it passed, when it was kept afloat through gross special deals, and it has one still, when it is manifestly failing to live up to the president’s salesmanship on its behalf. There’s a reason that usually we don’t pass major social changes lacking popular support on party-line votes — it is a formula for conflict rather than consensus.

Nearly four years after ObamaCare passed, the coalition against it has expanded, not shrunk. The unions are now excoriating the law in terms that once would have been reserved for Republican floor speeches. In his filibuster, Ted Cruz repeatedly quoted a letter from Teamsters leader Jim Hoffa (jr.) attacking ObamaCare as a present threat to the middle class. When House Republicans voted to delay the individual mandate a few weeks ago, 35 Democrats joined them.

None of this makes for a stable, widely accepted new dispensation in American health care, in my opinion, Brethren.

Press on!

`G

[Planey]

Brethren.

But OK for the ladyfolk?

[Naomi]

The issue as I see it is that no one, and I do believe NO ONE, really knows everything hidden in the hundreds of pages of the bill. Too much big government and not enough government for the people by the people.

Quote:

Nancy Pelosi on Health Care: "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."

nuff said

[Naomi]

Originally Posted By: olger

Brethren.

But OK for the ladyfolk?

Nor okay for the ladyfolk

[olger]

The issue as I see it is that no one, and I do believe NO ONE, really knows everything hidden in the hundreds of pages of the bill. Too much big government and not enough government for the people by the people.

Quote:

Nancy Pelosi on Health Care: "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."

nuff said

Forsooth!!!

Pelosi asked Ted Cruz why he wants to defund #DefundObamacare. He replied: "Unlike you, I actually read it."

Zzzziiiinng !!!

`g

[Naomi]

:) Yes, I failed to put Tom Cruz's reply in my post. Reading all 2700 pages and understanding all of the possible potential issues would take a great deal of care and concern. One would expect that from those who are voting on the bill.

[olger]

(Ted)

[olger]

Election time now never ends. It used to be that politicians played by slash-and-burn election rules for a few months before November every other year. Now they play by those rules all the time. There is almost no ‘governing’ anymore. It is all electioneering

The 24/7 media, of course, are there to chronicle every moment.

[lazarus]

Put not your trust in Ted Cruz. His wife is a VP for Goldman Sachs. Do you really think he's working for you? It will be impossible, in a few short years, to vote against the interests of the major banks and corporations. In fact it probably already is impossible.

[olger]

ok

[OzarkWoman]

Put not your trust in Ted Cruz. His wife is a VP for Goldman Sachs. Do you really think he's working for you? It will be impossible, in a few short years, to vote against the interests of the major banks and corporations. In fact it probably already is impossible.

But, you think we should believe and trust Obama! LOLOLOL

[bonnie]

But, you think we should believe and trust Obama! LOLOLOL

We are being asked to accept American Affordable Health care as a good thing when most have no idea what it is they are accepting.

There are very few politicians that seem to have any idea.

The promises made have been shown to be untrue. How many people would enter into a contract and not have the slightest idea what the fine print says?

So many seem to be dazzled by the promise of coverage for all,yet

when all is said and done we will still have roughly the same uninsured.

I provide products for special needs individuals.Most are purchased by those that use a tax free medical savings plan to pay for.

This is all changing and is going to harm many that are caring for their family members at home.

Hospitals are letting employees go because they will not be able to meet their obligations.

Vet services are rising to reflect the medical device tax. A little trip to the vet yesterday with three dogs showed an increase.

Funny how the cost of every item being used adds to the increase in cost. Between my three dogs a total of 9 syringes were needed. Syringes have not gone up in price because of the tax,but the clients cost has to cover the new tax burden.

Unions are experiencing a lot of buyers remorse because they finally got around to understanding the impact on their members.

CPA's that have had to read and understand the impact on their clients have a far better understanding than most politicians. They are not guided by politics but what these new laws mean to their clients.

Locally we have had businesses close because their CPA laid out what this "free lunch" would cost them.

Most others that have always provided insurance have gone to part time and their employees can go find insurance elsewhwre

[lazarus]

Oops, my bad. This thread is about to get moved.....

[olger]

Originally Posted By: lazarus

Put not your trust in Ted Cruz. His wife is a VP for Goldman Sachs. Do you really think he's working for you? It will be impossible, in a few short years, to vote against the interests of the major banks and corporations. In fact it probably already is impossible.

But, you think we should believe and trust Obama! LOLOLOL

Zing.

`oG

[olger]

Originally Posted By: Planey

But OK for the ladyfolk?

Nor okay for the ladyfolk

Nancy & Naomi agree.

[lazarus]

But, you think we should believe and trust Obama! LOLOLOL

Sadly, if there is a GOP president next election you will trust and believe him even though the agenda will be the same as Obama's.

[Neil D]

Originally Posted By: lazarus

Put not your trust in Ted Cruz. is wife is a VP for Goldman Sachs. Do you really think he's working for you? It will be impossible, in a few short years, to vote against the interests of the major banks and corporations. In fact it probably already is impossible.

But, you think we should believe and trust Obama! LOLOLOL

reality check: I don't see special interests groups like the Cruses mounting a legislative reform package like what Obama exerted....that speaks mountains.

[OzarkWoman]

Originally Posted By: OzarkWoman

But, you think we should believe and trust Obama! LOLOLOL

Sadly, if there is a GOP president next election you will trust and believe him even though the agenda will be the same as Obama's.

Actually, unlike you, I don't trust any politician and never did. That would be because I know history and *I have a brain to think for myself. You are so wrong. I wasn't in this forum back when Bush was President, but I dislike him too. I am not a Republican. I am a true and real conservative, something you know nothing about because all I ever see from you is the same old sound bites that all libs post and say.

[bonnie]

Sadly, if there is a GOP president next election you will trust and believe him even though the agenda will be the same as Obama's.

Actually, unlike you, I don't trust any politician and never did. That would be because I know history and *I have a brain to think for myself. You are so wrong. I wasn't in this forum back when Bush was President, but I dislike him too. I am not a Republican. I am a true and real conservative, something you know nothing about because all I ever see from you is the same old sound bites that all libs post and say.

Ignoring all the negative feedback and demands for exemption from this and labeling those that oppose as somehow only objecting because of partisan politics etc really doesn't change the facts.

Business by the dozens are cutting full time to part time to avoid this wonderful bill. Most of these companies already offered their employees insurance.

Those that have gone to the sacrifice and hard work to build a successful business do not operate their business to their own detriment because they hate a president.

Unions that were so behind this are having a lot of buyers remorse.Why is that? Do they suddenly hate the party in office?

Businesses rely on CPA's to know the laws and how those laws will impact their business. CPA's do not give their professional advice based on who the president happens to be.

They study the laws that will impact their clients bottom line.

Just the fact they freely admit they have not read the bill and it was necessary to purchase to find out what they were buying should tell most reasonable people a little something.

When we purchased our home we hired a real estate attorney to check everything out.

Had he told me that I would have to sign the contract before he would give me his professional opinion,it would not have taken many minutes to terminate him

We also had a professional check out the condition of the home,foundation etc. Had he been stupid enough to tell me that he did not know and I would have to purchase the house before I could know,he would have been a mighty old man before he was ever paid.

When I switched car insurance the agent went over all the fine print with me. Again had he said I needed to purchase it before I could know,he would not have had my business.

Yet this is what has happened with Affordable Health Care. Any objection or desire to see it null and void is met with accusations of extremism ,partisan politics or racism.

If the truth was being told,no one would be asking for exemptions.If on average it would be a savings of up to 2500.00 a year in premiums ,why would anyone with a brain cell object?

Our politicians should be rushing to save the taxpayer that amount of money.The union members should be very happy.Big businesses should be overjoyed.

[lazarus]

Actually, unlike you, I don't trust any politician and never did. That would be because I know history and *I have a brain to think for myself. You are so wrong. I wasn't in this forum back when Bush was President, but I dislike him too. I am not a Republican. I am a true and real conservative, something you know nothing about because all I ever see from you is the same old sound bites that all libs post and say.

Does this all mean that you didn't even vote for Mitt?