I have been paying attention to the health care bill debate, and have even looked at what it states in it. This is not the first time such has been proposed, and here is what I know:
1) The healthcare system as it stands, the President is correct it is malfunctioning, the problems there are growing everyday. I know that I have been noticing that when I go and see my doctor, it takes longer and longer, a bit of a wait till I get to see the md, and even then it is a rushed appointment as she has a schedule that is not fair on her or her patients. The cost for some healthcare is way out of line with the current economic trends, and it is costing more for proceedures. Dental and vision insurance and copays are way out of line with the rest of the health insurance and I feel this bill does not address such. When I had health insurance, I could go in, have a hernia surgery, a cost of about 7K, and only pay 10 dollar co-pay. When I had a root canal, it ran me 800 out of pocket. Too many times the health insurance companies deny claims. Want another example? I have flat feet, and the foot doctor told me that if I did not have arch supports, about 250 dollars cost, in 5 years I would require a walker and have arthirtus, the insurance company denied the claim cause I did not have diabetes and felt there was no need. So there is part of the problem right there.
2) This bill, this 2300 page bill is just not functional and the figures do not add up. You can not spend your way out of debt and the way it is presented make no sense. You can not realistically ask a person to read and comprehend what is in 2300 pages of a bill, then make an informed decision in a short amount of time.
3) The mandate have insurance or go to jail, that is the primary feature that makes absolutely no sense what so ever. Many people can not afford the health insurance, and all the insurance companies are going to do, to offset the costs of those with pre-existing health conditions is raise the rates where people can not afford them. Ask yourself this, what is the most expensive part of health care? It is the medicines, not the visit to the doctor, and that is what is the real killer out there. I know of one medicine that costs a 1000 dollars for one months supply.
4) The back room deals and the way that votes are being bought is just absolutely wrong. You don't give 300 million to a state for a vote, you don't go in and put a person under duress, threaten or even smear a person for a vote. To you think it would be legal if a person offered a person say 10000 dollars to cast a deciding vote one way or the other? No. If a person threatened another for a vote, that person would go to jail, so it is apparent that those in congress are not playing by the same rules that the rest of us citizens are having to. It is the sheer arogence and corruption of the process that is coming to light and the argument the other guy did it just does not wash. You don't build yourself up to be better than the other guy and then do the exact same thing, that is hipocritical.
5) All of the politicians, from what I am getting just want to hear how great they are doing, you never ignore what your constituents are saying. This current congress and executive adminstration is just not listening to WE THE PEOPLE. They ignore and choose to not listen to what is being said.
I believe that it will be in November that will determine if the public wanted healthcare or not that will be decided by who does and does not retain their seats in congress.

The healthcare system as it stands, the President is correct it is malfunctioning, the problems there are growing everyday. I know that I have been noticing that when I go and see my doctor, it takes longer and longer, a bit of a wait till I get to see the md, and even then it is a rushed appointment as she has a schedule that is not fair on her or her patients.

A wait to see your doctor, then a hurried consultation is not evidence of the healthcare system being "broken". This has been SOP for at least the last 25 years. There is one doctor and several patients. You're going to have to wait, and the doctor isn't going to spend any more time with you than necessary, less he keep the other patients waiting longer. It's the way it is.
Imagine the people that don't have healthcare suddenly having healthcare. Now some of them go to your doctor, creating even more traffic. Your doctor is still just one doctor, but now has even more patients. Do you think this will improve your wait time?

Though I'm not up on all of the intricacies of this plan (I don't think I'm alone), because I don't feel that much of it has been made clear to the american people, the people it will affect, I am not in favor of it, and really don't know anyone who is. How can you be a government "for the people", when you're pushing something the majority of the people are against?

I am Independant; neither Republican nor Democrat. I form my views by my own opinions, not based on a party line. Our society, regardless of how it's been billed, has largely been a "survival of the fittest" type of scenario. I am in favor of this. You get a job or self employ and acquire insurance. Generally, you'll pay all or a portion of it. Occasionally your employer will pay 100%. You're lucky. Those who are too lazy or too inept to do this, do not get insured. Yes, I understand that there are many instances where someone who is generally skilled and motivated lands on tough times and becomes unemployed and loses insurance. There are always exceptions. But for the majority, even in this economy, I believe that if you want to be insured, you can find a way to make that happen.
Though I don't enjoy getting bent over by hospitals and doctors, billing $700 for a 3-mile private ambulance ride, nearly $100 for a 5 minute GP consultation (that's what's broken, not the wait time), or the elderly being billed $10,000+ for a month's stay in a "nursing home" where they are billed for treatment that isn't necessary, I believe the alternative is even worse. Universal Healthcare will flood waiting rooms, hospitals and doctors offices even more than they already are. Yes, it will increase your wait time, and in turn will also lower your quality of service. Your government will now decide the best treatment for you...

Can you think of anything your government has done in the last few decades that actually benefits you without their interest in mind?

What will happen in this country when this bill, as it is now, is formally passed this weekend? States are already prepared to sue the Federal Government, but what will this accomplish exactly? Will it only delay the inevitible? If the vast majority of Americans are truly against this bill, will we still just lay down and take it, or will we actually fight for what we believe in?

If my government wants to "fix healthcare", they can start by regulating the cost incurred to obtain healthcare. I believe this is the main problem.

"Hey, I can't chew because my teeth are falling out. It's not because I don't brush twice a day, floss and use fluoride mouthwash. It's because my mom's teeth are bad, my dad's teeth are bad, and I grew up drinking well water with no fluoride in it".

Cont...

No problem. Your insurance covers a yearly maximum of $1,500, and the total procedure will cost nearly $10,000. Also, crowns, implants, bridges, etc are considered "cosmetic" by your insurance, so they will only pay 50% of the procedure. So your options are to do a little at a time, take out a personal loan to pay for this procedure, or just eat applesauce and mashed potatoes.

Isn't that effecting your basic quality of life?

How about...

"Hey, I'm only 38 years old but started having intense chest pain and had to call an ambulance. They caught me just before I had a heart attack. I don't live the healthiest lifestyle, but nothing to the point where I should be having a heart attack at this age. I do have a history of heart disease in my family though. I need angioplasty to clear a partially blocked artery, or else the problem will worsen, likely leading to a real heart attack, leading either to greater cost on the health system, or my premature death".

You're only 38, so we won't cover that. We will send you to a third-class cardio-surgeon for a diagnosis, but likely, in his ineptitude, and because we told him so, he'll give you a fairly clean bill of health.

How about the fact that illegals go to the emergency room when they have a problem...because they're not insured, incapable of being insured, don't speak English but fully know how to take advantage of the system, and know they have to be treated there, regardless of insurance or immigration status, leading to a greater strain on the health system?

How about the evidence I stated above; the exorbitant cost, the sub-par care you get for that exorbitant cost, refusing necessary procedures, etc?

I believe this is where healthcare needs reform. We don't need government to come in and take over healthcare. It will take a lot of effort, maybe some government oversight, but not a complete government takeover. I don't want my government controlling my healthcare, as I said, when have they done anything in my, or our best interest before?

The Vice President mentioned that Obama will have to do something, to make a choice, and though we won't see the logic, or necessarily believe in it, we will have to trust him. Is this it? After the government has taken over some of our banks and auto companies, now healthcare?

I don't think so. I don't want it and as far as I can tell the majority of the public doesn't either.

If this goes through, I think it's time we stop talking about doing it and take a stand.