I am impressed this forum seems to be attracting new members.
 

I do remain suspicious when some of the newbies seem to have taken up where some of the elitists so prevalent in 2008, left off. Could it be some have reincarnated? Sure does sound like it.
Once a person launches into their usual tempo, a style seems to surface.
Anyway the philosophy is sure the same. Died in the wool, staunch partisans whether right or wrong. And yes to a degree aren't we all!!!
Maybe, unlike their predecessors, they will not be so opposed to addressing issues posted instead of personal attacking and party defending. We'll soon see, or have we already?

btk

The only apology I want is from those who attack the speaker and not the speech. I urge anyone on either side of this debate to renounce personal attacks. When Palin is wrong, she is wrong, not stupid. When President Obama is wrong, he is wrong, not stupid.
When you are wrong and shown to be wrong, admit it.

A better answer
 

The answer to the health care issue is that we as a nation must decide if we will provide government subsidized care to everyone who is physically present in the country. If so, then we must pay for it through increased taxes. How much health care does the government subsidized care include?
If you believe that the government should cover everyone (including illegal or unauthorized immigrants) and cover everything, you must urge tax increases on everyone to pay for it. It will just not be possible to do this without tax increases on everyone.
That is really a decision to use the force of government through taxes to make all citizens to spend money on health care that they would chose to spend on something else, ( a better house, a better education for themselves or their children, saving for retirement, or just recreation). If you are against tax increases on everyone, then you are in favor of rationing the way current health care is received by some based on wealth, to provide it to all based on lack of ability to earn or refusal to earn their own way.
Those against the public option, are saying citizens should be allowed to decide if they want to spend their money on health care or something else..
But they cannot claim also there is a magical way to cover all health care for everyone without tax increases. They are in favor of health care rationing based on wealth.
Now.. to be honest we ration homes based on wealth, education based on wealth, and recreation, clothes, food, and almost everything else..
People in favor of more welfare spending want less rationing based on wealth.
I believe that this country must use incentives to thrive. We must reward hard work and risk taking. It is what makes us great.
I believe that there must be basic health care for everyone but not perfect health care for everyone. The parameters of that will need extensive debate.
When I buy health insurance I can buy low deductible, high co pays, or gold plated coverage. I don't think people who get health care coverage from the government should get the gold plated when those who pay for their own must make the difficult choices to buy what they can afford. If you say they both should get the same, I say you are in favor of removing the incentives of hard work and risk that make this country great. If there is no reward for hard work, why should I work hard for good grades in high school, prepare for college entrance examines, work hard in college for good grades, prepare for the law school entrance exam, work hard in law school, and work hard in my job? Why would I spend all that money going to college if there was no reward in the future if I was successful, when my high school classmates who did not take the risk of failing law school, flunking the bar exam, running out of money, and not getting a good enough job to pay for school debts of 6 figures? Why would our children go through all the same things to become a doctor? Why would I do all that if I get the same health care no matter what?
I would not.
There is nothing wrong with earning a living. I am proud of what I have done and I am against a health care program as well as a tax system that tells me I was stupid to drive truck while I was in college, worked in a paint factory and for the attorney general while I was in law school, saved my money for retirement, while coming from a lower middle class family that could not help pay anything to help the first person in the family to graduate from college. I earned everything I have and I am against bailing out corporations, unions, banks, clunker owners, and the health care of every person who is physically present in the United States of America.
You decide what lesson you want to teach the next generation.

Right On!!:beer3:

I like your thinking! Very Friedman like.