Wouldn't it be easier for Obama to mandate what the Insurance companies and Pharmaceuticals can and can't do?

Insurance Czar?

Spread the uninsured out over medicare, medicaid, and Congresses plan and have those people pay premiums based on a sliding chart. The more money they make the more they pay for their own healthcare.

I just don't see public option as the sole issue. The cost aspect is also an issue.

Not suprised. Maybe that's the change Obama was talking about.

Good.

I hate to be a hater, but with medicaid and medicare, people in this country are - or should - be covered, without making huge changes that affect the whole country.

And the end of life provisions were dropped? I guess they didn't "officially exist" as no one would dare admit them.

But anyone with an ounce of sense knows that the GOVT. LIES.

Deny.

Can't recall.

No recollection of that.

The simplest plan of all that is a "publically funded option" would be to allow E-verified taxpayers to buy into the same federal employees insurance program at the same subsidized level or on a sliding income scale.

That would take care of the uninsured and the uninsurable and those who are not satisfied with what they do have.

Then they write a separate bill that deals with the practices and policies of the insurance companies as well as Tort Reform and developing a universal claims form and process that they all have to use which would also cut the operating costs of all the medical providers in the country.

No need of a ten pound massive bill that no one has read much less understood.

What I find fascinating is that this is something Obama has said is his focus, he's worked on this for years, and he seemingly doesn't have a thorough and complete plan ready to approach the public with!?

How on Earth can something be his primary goal and yet it seems to be so completely vague and full of indecision. Either he knows what he's talking about or he doesn't.

Something as major as this should be clear. It should be a solid plan, released to the public, and a referendum encouraged.

None of them have the time to read it? Let the public read it, then they can tell their representatives what's in it seeing as they just don't have the time to do their jobs!

Regardless of what you think of the bill, this was the first time that the public had the chance to actually get involved in bills before Congress. Every bill this year prior to that was passed with virtually no public input. Members of Congress on both sides virtually ignored what little input citizens had, and did what they wanted to.
This public debate over health care is what SHOULD be done with all bills. Unfortunately, the ONLY reason we had this chance, was the Congress' "vacation" or recess. Maybe they should recess for a month after each bill is presented. It would force them to be a little more careful about what they propose.
Then again, if Obama would have kept his campaign promise for transparency, and posting bills for at least 5 days before voting, that would also give us a chance for input.
I will say this. If your representative refused to hold a town hall meeting or acknowledge your emails and calls, I would hope you vote them out pronto.
They are supposed to represent YOU, not the lobbyists with the greenbacks in their pockets.

This is a cautionary tale folks. Read what ever they throw down the pike.
We'll take it one step at a time. Next, lets see what they WILL keep, and fight on those points.

A reminder of a previous thread about the bill
» Above Politics » Let's discuss what's in the Health Care Bill

Southern Guardian (whom I almost always disagree with) did a thread on fighting and illustrating that we do actually have the power to do things. We are not victims, sheep, nor will we allow them to treat us as such. Yeah, I actually agreed with that person.

This is good news.

If Obama wants to really help the poor and the unemployed obtain healthcare he should cut some incredibly wasteful government agencies and hire doctors and nurses to treat the poor. Money could be taken away from the FDA, IRS, and the ATF in order to provide good medical care for the poor. There are many other state and federal agencies no one would miss.

[edit on 16-8-2009 by eradown]

I would like to believe that a small comment some had been passing around the community (theirs) gave a moment of pause....

"If this is such a great idea, Congress and all 'executive' public servants should be obliged to set the example and use it."

A little push like that can demonstrate exactly how 'real' their enthusiasm for the bill actually is.

Also, Health Care Bill conceptualization, branding, and marketing notwithstanding, it was becoming harder and harder to avoid the appearance that the reason there was no 'actual' final draft of the bill to debate was telling.

It meant that the 'real' bill wasn't going to surface until a few days before the vote. (i.e. their "standard practice")

Don't expect all the offensive provisions of some the bill's incarnations to have perished, they will surface again in a different guise under other initiatives, for example the WHO-driven initiatives which are part and parcel of the global governance agenda (the Codex Alimentarium comes to mind).

I must say that it seems evident the political clown college has been forced to sit up and take notice. That is a minor victory. They are apparently not all that comfortable with their 'insulation' from public sentiment - they want our 'love.'

The next batch of legislation should include more controls securing their 'entitlements, rights, and privileges' - particularly those they don't share with the rest of us 'human resources.'

Did someone say Obama has been working on this for two years? Is that a quote?

[edit on 16-8-2009 by Maxmars]

No wonder the media was panning the public opposition.

Public outcry works!

I think this is a red herring in hopes that the opposition will now feel better and calm down.

Instead I hope it encourages more public participation.

the public option would help the middle class and poor...so i'm not suprised. this is a capitalist country and we have to bow down to the corporations and the rich. yup...a real shocker (yawn)

If there are no cost controls then no plan will work. The problem is health care costs are climbing non stop.

Now, don't get your britches in a twist! It's still going to happen. The White House is just going to CALL it something different . . . hoping that we (The People) believe it IS something different.

Don't be the least surprised if the new bill proposed is a 'copy & paste' of the current one . . . with a few alterations to make it APPEAR different.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled.