If you voted for Obama, do you support ...

[CF DolFan]

If you voted for Obama, do you support the Healthcare bill they are trying to push through? If you do support it do you support the way they are trying to push it through?

I'm just curious as to where people stand today. Obviously I know where the conservative opinions are but I'm curious if this has turned you away in a time where jobs seem to be more important.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I support universal healthcare.  The waterdown version is better than nothing, but doesn't do enough.  We should have the same type of universal health care Costa Rica has.  (As in the country Rush Limbaugh said he would go to for if the US passed socialized health care)  Costa Rica has socialized health care (as does pretty much every developed country other than the USA). 

[Dave Gray]

I support the health care bill, because I think it's a step in the right direction, but still needs some alterations down the line.  I think it will also get them.  Ultimately, I favor universal health care, and while this isn't that, it's sort of a form of socialized insurance.  I don't just like this because I want expanded government, but I think that it will ultimately lower the general cost of health care, per person.

As for whether its being "pushed down our throats", as I hear a lot in the media -- I just don't get it.  The people don't vote yes or no on health care.  Our government isn't set up like that.  We vote for individuals that in turn vote on our behalf.  It's how a republic is set up.

And we elected a president who campaigned on this effort.

I don't really know the ins and out of reconciliation and all the other methods that are used, so I can't comment.  However, I have heard several times before that you're better off not looking into how bills are made, because the process and negotiations are always messy.  (But to be fair, I'd probably be pissed if I were against the bill.)

-------

On a side note, I just don't trust the GOP right now.  I think that their "let's start over" talk is nothing but stall tactics.  I could be wrong, but I just don't believe them.  They have had full control of the house/senate/white house pretty recently and didn't make an attempt to alter the health care system at all.  Even though they say that it needs overhaul, their inaction during their time in power makes me think that their talk now is just lip service to avoid saying that they're happy with the status quo, which I feel is unsustainable.

Another thing -- some of the GOP ideas sound really good on paper, so they keep going to them, but there's a reason they aren't adopted.  I keep hearing about "buying insurance across state lines".  Sounds fine.  However, when explained this concept, it's a horrible idea.  Essentially, whichever state had the least regulation would be able to be the least expensive.  People from all states would choose the cheap insurance from the one state.  Then, all other states would have to loosen their regulations to match, in order to compete.  The result would be a completely unregulated insurance industry, which to me, is a catastrophic situation.

[Phishfan]

I'll be completely honest in that I, like many others, do not know what is in the bill. Do I agree in principle that our healthcare system should be overhauled? Yes. Do I agree with their current efforts? I don't know right now.

[bsmooth]

I object to the lies and hysteria the GOP, Fox, and their cronies have stirred up over this whole thing to help keep those who have made ludicrious amounts of money on the health care system continue with business as usual.
I do not have as big of a problem with the Dems using more obscure but legal methods to pass legislation as both sides have used these same methods in the past when it suited them. In particualr the GOP used it for unpopular votes concerning immigration.
I honestly do not believe either party is capable of remotely solving the long term issues and crisises this country is facing. Both sides have become so entrenched in partsian politics and trying to secure more power at the behest of the other party they have become blinded to the fact the population is suffering immensely.
We need a third party badly, at the very least for a wake up call to the main parties.
This issue has shown that neither side has any real ability to right the ship, much less steer it towards a calmer course.

[Defense54]

I'll be completely honest in that I, like many others, do not know what is in the bill. Do I agree in principle that our healthcare system should be overhauled? Yes. Do I agree with their current efforts? I don't know right now.

I'm pretty much in line with this. No way I can say I understand exactly what this thing entails. 

I do know that its a shame that people who have worked all their lives here can't afford to pay health care as they get older. Their quality of life is so diminished because they need to get medical coverage. All Americans with 40 yrs of putting in this system should not have to pay for extended medical coverage. thats bullshit.

I do have a problem with illegal immigrants or those that just refuse to work getting the free health care at Tax Payer expense. Thats BULLSHIT.

[MaineDolFan]

I do have a problem with illegal immigrants or those that just refuse to work getting the free health care at Tax Payer expense. Thats BULLSHIT.

I have an issue with illegal immigrants being given a service AT ALL, much less ones that refuse to work.

My gramps on my mother's side was straight off the boat from Ireland.  My father's mother came to this country from Djibouti.  I'm two generations removed from a Pilgrim myself.  I get the premise of coming here.  Don't want to keep them out.  That said... 

Become legal and we'll talk.  If my gramps and grams can do it, any one can.

Want to hear something nuts?  The Portland, Maine town council wants to entertain allowing ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS the opportunity to VOTE in local elections.  I can't wrap my head around that.

[Defense54]

We have something in common. My Mother and my Granparents were off the boat from ireland in 1936. My mother was 2. My Grandmother and my mom and my aunt and uncle lived in Canada for 6 months until my grandfather was able to prove steady employment and call for them. So I definitely get the whole immigrant thing.

But they need to start holding people accountable for coming here illegally, NOT reward them. Wow. Whats going on is your Town would blow my mind Miane. 

[Dave Gray]

I do have a problem with illegal immigrants or those that just refuse to work getting the free health care at Tax Payer expense. Thats BULLSHIT.

I hear ya.

But, realistically, what can be done about it?

Currently, our health care system pays for illegal immigrants.  If a guy gets hit by a car without insurance, then goes to the emergency room, the hospital takes care of him.  He doesn't pay and it causes the cost of the hospital's services to go up to compensate, and your insurance rates go up to match.  That's how it works now.

How do we fix that?  Short of turning sick people away at hospitals, I don't see a solution.  But, even though I think it's wrong for illegals to get free health care, I would feel morally wrong denying them care in a time of need.

I don't know the answer to that problem.

[Phishfan]

^^^ It is a real simple solution. We provide them health care, through our jail system, while we ship them back home.

[jtex316]

^ Retarded statement.

I'm sure that your parents, your grandparents, or someone in your lineage was an immigrant to this country. Had we thrown them in jail, you probably wouldn't have the opportunity to post ridiculous statements here because you would have been born in another country and not known or given 1 shit about the Dolphins.

Furthermore, it costs a hell of a lot more to throw "them" in jail than it does to give "them" a shot of penicillin or something that will help "them" and then shipping "them" out.

Yes, let's just close our borders and allow no-one to immigrate to this county because we suck at health care. Yes, that's the solution.

[Phishfan]

^ Retarded statement.

I'm sure that your parents, your grandparents, or someone in your lineage was an immigrant to this country. Had we thrown them in jail, you probably wouldn't have the opportunity to post ridiculous statements here because you would have been born in another country and not known or given 1 shit about the Dolphins.

Furthermore, it costs a hell of a lot more to throw "them" in jail than it does to give "them" a shot of penicillin or something that will help "them" and then shipping "them" out.

Yes, let's just close our borders and allow no-one to immigrate to this county because we suck at health care. Yes, that's the solution.

You call me out for stupidity while being completely off the mark. Did I ever say stop immigration? I don't think I ever said anything anywhere close. So you apparently support an complete open door policy and letting all illegal residents have immunity. I think that is completely stupid. You like to talk so much that sometimes you make things up just to rant.

[Dave Gray]

^^^ It is a real simple solution. We provide them health care, through our jail system, while we ship them back home.

I think that this would have the undesired effect of having illegals never go to the doctor under any circumstances.  It would create sickness in those populations, no preventative care, and a black market of doctors.

Plus, you have to deal with kids that were brought here illegally.  My bleeding heart can't know that some kid is sick without treatment because his or her parents can't risk them all getting sent home.

It's a tough issue.

[Phishfan]

I think that this would have the undesired effect of having illegals never go to the doctor under any circumstances.  It would create sickness in those populations, no preventative care, and a black market of doctors.

Plus, you have to deal with kids that were brought here illegally.  My bleeding heart can't know that some kid is sick without treatment because his or her parents can't risk them all getting sent home.

It's a tough issue.

Good points. The only thing I might be able to counter against (and I may be guilty of generalizations here) is that I doubt many illegals are taking part in preventative care anyway. Most natual born citizens that I know do't take part in preventative care. As a general rule, people only see doctors when they feel something is wrong (or the possible work/sports physical).

[Defense54]

I hear ya.

But, realistically, what can be done about it?

Currently, our health care system pays for illegal immigrants.  If a guy gets hit by a car without insurance, then goes to the emergency room, the hospital takes care of him.  He doesn't pay and it causes the cost of the hospital's services to go up to compensate, and your insurance rates go up to match.  That's how it works now.

How do we fix that?  Short of turning sick people away at hospitals, I don't see a solution.  But, even though I think it's wrong for illegals to get free health care, I would feel morally wrong denying them care in a time of need.

I don't know the answer to that problem.

How about Clinics set up for them through the goverment . Only Emergency services would be handled through a local hospital and even then , once treated have the bill sent to the Feds.  Keep the costs of the private Hospitals down for those that pay for them.