Is Barrack gonna beat 4 years? Page 2

I too think it's a bit early to be reporting Obama's political demise.

I have been following the healthcare debate in America with some relish. The far right is using the scare tactic that the government is trying to put a beaurocrat between the patient and the doctor.

Unlike the current system, which is putting the mortgage, credit cards, children's college funds, etc. between the patient and the doctor.

Obviously, the big health insurance companies will lose out if a national healthcare programme comes into effect, so their PR people and lobbyists are spreading outrageous lies to destroy the bill.

That and fat Republicans like to sit on their porches, smoking cigars and watching poor people die on their lawns. I mean really, why spend money to keep poor people alive? It's preposterous.

Quote: DaButt @ August 11 2009, 7:47 PM BST

Hillary is quite a hard ass.

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She'd scare me on a dark night lets put it that way.

Isn't the massive cost of employee insurance driving some major corporations out of business? I know I wouldn't want the guy who trys to screw me over holiday insurance, to be telling me shucks no meds for you check the small print.

Poor people already get free/reduced medical care in this country. And the rich can always afford the best of everything. But the majority of the people in the country are middle-class and have good private coverage. Government involvement will cost them more money and give them a less-flexible plan. That's what all the fuss is about.

Quote: DaButt @ August 11 2009, 7:58 PM BST

Poor people already get free/reduced medical care in this country. And the rich can always afford the best of everything. But the majority of the people in the country are middle-class and have good private coverage. Government involvement will cost them more money and give them a less-flexible plan. That's what all the fuss is about.

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Is that actually the case or is it spin from our good friends at the Fox network?

What if you're middle class and you lose your job?

Well 42.600.000 is a hell of a lot of people to be uncovered. Especially when the over all cost of your health provision is so high.

And what's so great about flexibility? Especially when it's your HMO rather than the NHS telling you no or go there for treatment.

Sorry but the US system is uniquely poor in the developed world and no other country would stand for it. It's not far off having to pay the police insurance payments.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ August 11 2009, 8:00 PM BST

Is that actually the case or is it spin from our good friends at the Fox network?

What if you're middle class and you lose your job?

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Or have an expensive illness before you get insurance?

A large number of the uninsured are offered coverage at work but they choose not to accept it. Let's face it, medical treatment is expensive. It's going to cost us one way or another. We don't want to pay more money for less service. It's not hard to comprehend, is it?

Why are more than half of American voters so opposed to the idea? Because we know the government will fun a hugely expensive program which will cost us more and give us less.

What about medicare? That's been running for years and it provides for the most "high use" consumers the elderly, but it's far more efficent economically.

Also do you honestly think almost 50,000,000 of your fellow citizens are spending their money on candy rather than health care?

The US private system is also massively more expensive than public schemes in Europe.

Yes, lots of people would rather spend their money on things other than health insurance. Many young people, for instance, because they are statistically unlikely to have the same medical expenses as the elderly.

I pay $50 per month for excellent medical, dental and vision insurance. The government plan will cost me much more and provide less.

That's incredibly low, does your work pick any part of the bill? And does it include medication and a %100 cover?

I like Obama.

Just thought I'd drop that in.

I think he is good for America's standing in the world.

Quote: DaButt @ August 11 2009, 7:47 PM BST

Hillary is quite a hard ass. If she didn't have her husband as part of the package I think she'd look good to a lot of Republicans after 4 years of Obama.

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Except I can't imagine Republican TV - aka Fox - getting behind Hilary. And they pretty much dictate who gets the GOP nomination.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ August 11 2009, 8:00 PM BST

Is that actually the case or is it spin from our good friends at the Fox network?

What if you're middle class and you lose your job?

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The withdrawel of spiralling medical cost is one of the main causes of industrial disputes and lay-offs in the US.

Also a lot of middle income earners do not find their private insurance quite so rosey when they need long term cover and/or expensive cover and find their premiums rocketing in their old age.

A lot of this hysterical heckling against Obama and his allies that make the news headlines (especially on Fox) looks utterly contrived and orchestrated.

Quote: youngian @ August 12 2009, 10:14 AM BST

A lot of this hysterical heckling against Obama and his allies that make the news headlines (especially on Fox) looks utterly contrived and orchestrated.

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Alas, it might work as Obama has to devote increasing amounts of time to rebutting quite often ridiculous and completely untrue accusations. It's a sad reflection on the level of political discourse in the land of the free etc etc.

And I wish they'd lay off the NHS, it may not be perfect but it's a damn sight better than HMOs. I worked in some elder care hospitals in Dorset and there are plenty of fogeys getting bypasses, hips and what not.

Infact the bloody cheek is the majority of HMOs pay NICE for their guidelines. So they're making roughly the same decisions.

What ever next privatised police and education?

This is what you get when aircraft carriers to fight Moon men are the only priority.