Comments on: House Health Care Bill Unveiled http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-unveiled/ Politics for liberal newsgeeks Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:47:29 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: wiseass2147 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-unveiled/#comment-57391 wiseass2147 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:33:40 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3909#comment-57391 Sorry if i sound like an idiot, but i don't understand what real diffrence Medicare +5% rates vs. negotiated payments makes. Does it mean that less Doctor's will take the goverment plan? With the public plan cost the people who choose to go on it more in premiums? Please enlighten me=) Sorry if i sound like an idiot, but i don’t understand what real diffrence Medicare +5% rates vs. negotiated payments makes. Does it mean that less Doctor’s will take the goverment plan? With the public plan cost the people who choose to go on it more in premiums? Please enlighten me=)

]]> By: letsgetitdone http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-unveiled/#comment-57351 letsgetitdone Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:56:53 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3909#comment-57351 How about teachers/ Why don't they make more? I think the rule is. If you work for the Government or are subject to an actual free market you earn less. If you're lucky enough to work for an organization that has fixed its market, you can get paid very well indeed. How about teachers/ Why don’t they make more? I think the rule is. If you work for the Government or are subject to an actual free market you earn less. If you’re lucky enough to work for an organization that has fixed its market, you can get paid very well indeed.

]]> By: letsgetitdone http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-unveiled/#comment-57350 letsgetitdone Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:53:50 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3909#comment-57350 Trying to raise money from us for the wonderful job they've been doing? Trying to raise money from us for the wonderful job they’ve been doing?

]]> By: letsgetitdone http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-unveiled/#comment-57348 letsgetitdone Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:52:41 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3909#comment-57348 I tend to agree, Teddy, but what if we howl at the caucus really loudly over the next few weeks? Can we get those 41 votes to kill the bill? Or failing that can we keep howling and get the 41 votes to kill the later conference version, assuming that it, too has a terrible PO? I tend to agree, Teddy, but what if we howl at the caucus really loudly over the next few weeks? Can we get those 41 votes to kill the bill? Or failing that can we keep howling and get the 41 votes to kill the later conference version, assuming that it, too has a terrible PO?

]]> By: BMcGarth http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-unveiled/#comment-57321 BMcGarth Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:13:14 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3909#comment-57321 What's wrong is that most of the so called progressive orgs went along with the scam on Average Americans.The average american is virtually naked,not many politicians or so called librul orgs standing up for us.Where is MoveOn on this farce ? Why are we not in the streets ? What’s wrong is that most of the so called progressive orgs went along with the scam on Average Americans.The average american is virtually naked,not many politicians or so called librul orgs standing up for us.Where is MoveOn on this farce ?

Why are we not in the streets ?

]]> By: 70news2 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-unveiled/#comment-57311 70news2 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:38:14 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3909#comment-57311 <strong>Shocking info and commentary:</strong> <a href="http://www.70news.com/2009/10/29/house-unveils-healthcare-reform-bill/" rel="nofollow">http://www.70news.com/2009/10/29/house-unveils-healthcare-reform-bill/</a> Shocking info and commentary: http://www.70news.com/2009/10/29/house-unveils-healthcare-reform-bill/

]]> By: Ann in AZ http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-unveiled/#comment-57306 Ann in AZ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:22:24 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3909#comment-57306 What gets me is that this congress said yes to bankers, who are little more than vultures, and yet they balk at paying doctors what they're worth! There are no doctors that aren't worth six figure salaries, and I think it should be no lower than $200,000 or at least close to that. Yet the bankers happily smile all the way to the bank with 7 and 8 figures for lying, cheating and stealing. What's wrong with this picture? What gets me is that this congress said yes to bankers, who are little more than vultures, and yet they balk at paying doctors what they’re worth! There are no doctors that aren’t worth six figure salaries, and I think it should be no lower than $200,000 or at least close to that. Yet the bankers happily smile all the way to the bank with 7 and 8 figures for lying, cheating and stealing. What’s wrong with this picture?

]]> By: viejolex1 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-unveiled/#comment-57303 viejolex1 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:08:54 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3909#comment-57303 I am saddened beyond words. The first woman speaker, the first Black president, and they are what they always were. Hypocrites. Just like their corporate masters. Not one more red cent. Not one. As their actions say, and loudly, to hell with the people, well, I say, to hell with them. Jesus B. Ochoa El Paso, Texas I am saddened beyond words. The first woman speaker, the first Black president, and they are what they always were. Hypocrites. Just like their corporate masters. Not one more red cent. Not one. As their actions say, and loudly, to hell with the people, well, I say,

to hell with them.

Jesus B. Ochoa
El Paso, Texas

]]> By: drholmquist http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-unveiled/#comment-57302 drholmquist Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:02:38 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3909#comment-57302 Any public option that can attract enough votes for passage, in either the House or the Senate, will be too weak to be effective in controlling costs or expanding coverage. Only a single payer system (or a system of private insurance with strict regulation -- an oxymoron in American politics and law) can achieve those goals. I agree that progressives should oppose the public option -- as currently proposed by Reid and as included in the House Bill announced this morning -- and re-direct the effort toward the Weiner Amendment and floor votes on HR 676 and S 703. For those inclined toward public protest or civil disobedience, you can make the point by joining the nationwide protest being organized by Mobilization for Health Care for All (<a href="http://www.mobilizeforhealthcare.org" rel="nofollow">www.mobilizeforhealthcare.org</a>). In a health care round table this morning on Democracy Now! Dr Oliver Fein, president of Physicians for a National Heath Program , made an observation regarding the public option that the Democrats should ponder very seriously. He said: <blockquote>“ … our concern is that people really don’t know the consequences of what is being proposed. … Unless the subsidies are substantial, what we’re going to get are health insurance policies – if they’re affordable – that are Swiss cheese policies. High deductibles before they go into effect, large co-insurances so that people will have to pay a lot out of pocket for care. <strong>It’s a defective product.</strong> And that really troubles us and, I think, <strong>has the potential to trouble the Democratic Party in the long run.</strong>”</blockquote> We are headed toward not only a massive corporate welfare program for the private health insurers, but one that will necessitate the adoption of the “consumer-driven healthcare” paradigm. The low-cost plans offered under this scheme will be useless to those with low and moderate income for just the reason Dr Fein cites -- the high barriers to entry into the system. Those premiums will end up subsidizing higher income plan participants, or will go straight to the bottom lines of the insurance companies. If progressives don’t push for real solutions to our miserable, broken non-system, we’ll end up being forced, under penalty of law, to purchase those defective products. It’s a recipe for a cure that’s worse than the disease. Maybe then we’ll see the sort of passion that leads to non-compliance, civil disobedience, and a real revolt against the centrism of the Democratic Party leadership. Any public option that can attract enough votes for passage, in either the House or the Senate, will be too weak to be effective in controlling costs or expanding coverage. Only a single payer system (or a system of private insurance with strict regulation — an oxymoron in American politics and law) can achieve those goals. I agree that progressives should oppose the public option — as currently proposed by Reid and as included in the House Bill announced this morning — and re-direct the effort toward the Weiner Amendment and floor votes on HR 676 and S 703. For those inclined toward public protest or civil disobedience, you can make the point by joining the nationwide protest being organized by Mobilization for Health Care for All (http://www.mobilizeforhealthcare.org).

In a health care round table this morning on Democracy Now! Dr Oliver Fein, president of Physicians for a National Heath Program , made an observation regarding the public option that the Democrats should ponder very seriously. He said:

“ … our concern is that people really don’t know the consequences of what is being proposed. … Unless the subsidies are substantial, what we’re going to get are health insurance policies – if they’re affordable – that are Swiss cheese policies. High deductibles before they go into effect, large co-insurances so that people will have to pay a lot out of pocket for care. It’s a defective product. And that really troubles us and, I think, has the potential to trouble the Democratic Party in the long run.”

We are headed toward not only a massive corporate welfare program for the private health insurers, but one that will necessitate the adoption of the “consumer-driven healthcare” paradigm. The low-cost plans offered under this scheme will be useless to those with low and moderate income for just the reason Dr Fein cites — the high barriers to entry into the system. Those premiums will end up subsidizing higher income plan participants, or will go straight to the bottom lines of the insurance companies.

If progressives don’t push for real solutions to our miserable, broken non-system, we’ll end up being forced, under penalty of law, to purchase those defective products. It’s a recipe for a cure that’s worse than the disease. Maybe then we’ll see the sort of passion that leads to non-compliance, civil disobedience, and a real revolt against the centrism of the Democratic Party leadership.

]]> By: tropicgirl http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-unveiled/#comment-57300 tropicgirl Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:00:17 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3909#comment-57300 Kucinich on New Health Care Bill: ‘Is This the Best We Can Do?’ Congressman Kucinich 111th Washington, Oct 29 - Following a statement on the Floor of the House of Representative, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement about the latest House health care plan: “Is this the best we can do? Forcing people to buy private health insurance, guaranteeing at least $50 billion in new business for the insurance companies? “Is this the best we can do? Government negotiates rates which will drive up insurance costs, but the government won’t negotiate with the pharmaceutical companies which will drive up pharmaceutical costs. “Is this the best we can do? Only 3% of Americans will go to a new public plan, while currently 33% of Americans are either uninsured or underinsured? “Is this the best we can do? Eliminating the state single payer option, while forcing most people to buy private insurance. “If this is the best we can do, then our best isn’t good enough and we have to ask some hard questions about our political system: such as Health Care or Insurance Care? Government of the people or a government of the corporations.” Kucinich on New Health Care Bill: ‘Is This the Best We Can Do?’
Congressman Kucinich 111th
Washington, Oct 29 -

Following a statement on the Floor of the House of Representative, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement about the latest House health care plan:

“Is this the best we can do? Forcing people to buy private health insurance, guaranteeing at least $50 billion in new business for the insurance companies?

“Is this the best we can do? Government negotiates rates which will drive up insurance costs, but the government won’t negotiate with the pharmaceutical companies which will drive up pharmaceutical costs.

“Is this the best we can do? Only 3% of Americans will go to a new public plan, while currently 33% of Americans are either uninsured or underinsured?

“Is this the best we can do? Eliminating the state single payer option, while forcing most people to buy private insurance.

“If this is the best we can do, then our best isn’t good enough and we have to ask some hard questions about our political system: such as Health Care or Insurance Care? Government of the people or a government of the corporations.”

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