Keeping Government out of Healthcare- I'm Confused
 

BTK writes:

"So why does our government who is so very concerned () about our well being, allow the pharmaceutical companies to continue in this mode. Why should American women be subjected to paying over $800 for a 90 day supply of the same medication her German counterpart pays $139 for a 90 day supply."

Wouldn't that entail "government" getting involved in private industry's "right" to set it's own rates & let competition rule the marketplace?


Then CABO writes

I believe every American should have the right to secure whatever level of insurance coverage they want

"and the government has no business regulating that condition."

What if millions of Americans WANT the government to help them access and secure whatever level of insurance they want? What if millions of Americans over 65 WANT the govermnment to design and run a health insurance program for them? And what if millions more want the governemnt to supply their health care needs as veterans of the U.S. Military.

It seems arbitrary to say "whatever you want" but hten put the restriction that you can't "want" anything that would save money over the cost of profit-making insurance and pharmaceutical corporations.

Just my opinion...
 

I consider the medical profession, insurance companies and pharmaceutical corporations in this country to be even more like vultures than Wall Street. They prey on the sick and vulnerable. It's beneficial to all of the above to keep you sick and coming back for more. :Screen_of_Death:

ptownrob....again you have missed the point of the post.
 

The issue is the government protecting the pharmaceutical industry....and not representing we the people. Their oath is to serve and protect (excuse me....:1rotfl:).

Feel free to quote me, but please do not restate my intent casting your interpretation of it in a restatement of what I said.

Just like the oil industry and any energy related issues, the pharmaceutical incestuous relationship with our representatives is flagrant.

And of course we the people permit it....hence we get what we deserve....nothing.

btk

But What is the Difference?
 

So why would a Public Health Option not be protecting "we the people" from an unscrupulous health insurance industry in the same manner? I only see the difference as being that one affects one's wallet directly, while the other doesn't concern you. Would you favor health reform if it limited the percentage or total amount of profit one of the oligarch insurance company can make off an individual or group policy, or even the percent of return that can be given to stockholders?

That's exactly the effect that trustbusting had a century ago.

What is it that you like about this country?

Yoda

Just Wait
 

If you think the medical industry is corrupt just wait till the Government takes it over then you will see real professional corruption.

Not repeated in too many news reports the last few days
 

were some of the details of the "negotiations" taking place by Pelosi and her henchmen to get relenting Dems to agree to vote for the new health care reform bill. The closing comment went something like....."...many new bridges, court houses and miles of highway made their way into several states today..."

I wonder what the rank file members of those districts would have to say about the bartering by their representatives.

What ever happened to right or wrong? Doing what is for the benefit of the people. I know some will try/attempt to maintain the representatives did their job by getting the new bridges, court houses, etc. Not if it does not represent the will of the people which I would err on the side of past practice....their decisions did not take into account the will of the constituency.....that would be precedent seeting and not self serving or benefit the lobbyists and cronies.

btk

Oh I agree there'll be plenty of corruption - there always is.

But there's something I just thought of yesterday. How many mayors, governors, representatives, etc are caught and sent to prison? A lot - and that undermines our confidence in government.

How many businessmen went to jail for ruining the economy? What AIG executives went to jail? Was the President of BofA led out for the 'perp walk'?

We got Bernie Madoff - one (huge) Ponzi schemer. We got some of his associates.

The criminals who lost a trillion dollars still ahve their jobs.

At least the government forced out the GM and Chrysler management in THEIR bailouts. Isn't that the "Republican" way - if you take our aid, you play by our rules? Except TARP doesn't seem to have worked out like that - despite the fact that the common consumer can at least understand what GM and Chrysler produces. Understand what AIG does requires a postgraduate degree in some cases. Heck, I worked in the industry for Fidelity Investments and Putnam Investments and *I* certainly don't understand it all.

Seems to me we have a better chance of weeding out the bad apples in the public sector.

It's NOT about health care and it never was. It's about government gaining ever more control over every aspect of your life and they are on a Kamikaze mission to get it. Some Americans are waking up to this thankfully.

Exactly!!! This never was about health care. This bill is so staggering, its unbelievable. Does anyone understand what's in it? If they really were interested in improving health care it could be done easily. That is not their objective.

It amazes me how easily some will turn their lives over to the federal government. Mind boggling really.

What we know for sure is all the tjings protested against
 

are back in:

public option
financing of abortions
insuring illegal aliens

and these are the ones they are throwing back in everybody's face and are telling us that.

How to pay for it? Same old line of BS....$500 billion from Medicare (but no benefits will be cut (barf)....not one dime will be added to the deficit (barfbarf)...I guess this one is correct, it will not be one dime it will be several trillion.

If you haven't called your representative in the last 72 hours you are letting them do their own thing AGAIN........

Hopefully it dies on the vine like all previous attempts. Yep Obama is there today giving his personal support....hopefully as ineffectively as he did for Virginia and NJ.

btk

I would be happy to put the issue on a national referendum. Every poll I've seen says you lose. You cavalierly dismiss the tens of millions who don't want the current concoction Congress has brewed. You also selectively forget the posters including myself that are for health care reform and posted accordingly, but, are against the current legislation being advanced.

GREAT POST CABO....It has been very frustrating to read posts as if those who oppose the proposed legislation are stupid and insensitive.

I cannot think of anyone who does not want healthcare reform. This bill is going to make the poorer poorer in my opinion (one CBO estimate I read said that those with a $41000.00 income will be REQUIRED to pay about $1500.00 per year for health care..they pay NOTHING as of now and it will be against the law for them NOT to have it), and it is NEVER EVER going to be deficit neutral !

Not only do I question the cost and type of reform but also the timing. This congress and President are going full steam ahead and I have yet to see a poll of american citizens who rank this in the top 3 of issues they want ! In addition, we have a war in Afghanastan and threats from Iran and others and China is advancing on us like wildfire but we are $%& bent on getting this health reform through !

Yes we may well be witnessing history being made.
 

The beginning of the decline of the strongest nation on the planet.

We won't slide to the depths some predict i.e. a third world status.....but we may well be on our way to no longer being the world's number one. There are too many competitors that are putting country first and the resources to back it. That is not what we are doing. Quite the contrary.

How long could you maintain your lifestyle with declining revenues and an over drawn check book?

btk