@JanesvilleCAN: Nice waiting two years to comment on an article! "What could possibly be more important than the health of our citizens, especially the children?" If you feel this way, then what are YOU doing to address this concern??? Are you volunteering, donating to hospitals, schools or homeless centers??? No, you're just suggesting that the government force those who pay taxes to pay for free healthcare for all. That's called Socialism. It has never worked at any time in recorded history. Prove me wrong.

Check out the chart...

http://politics.gather.com/viewArticle.a...

Anyone like to respond to it?

What could possibly be more important than the health of our citizens, especially the children? What is it about Republicans that makes you so ready to spout your love of Jesus out one side of your mouth and throw sick children out with the other? Healthcare for all is the best way to go, and we will pay less in the end when EVERYONE has coverage. The government can't do any worse than the insurance companies, and they will do it for no profit. Insurance is a scam; they make money when you DON'T get care, not the other way around.

angeroonie123 & whoever else believes you can KEEP your current coverage. Consider the math on this. It costs an average of $12,956 NOW for a family plan in WI -
http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profilei...
MOST plans are dictated by your employer - so whatever your company chooses is what you will have access to. IF this plan passes - employers CAN stay where they are at - or enroll in the public option for the cost of 8% of payroll. If the company chooses for economic reasons to switch - you will HAVE to go as well - the company has the current policy (group policy) NOT the employees. Do you realize that for a company to stay competitive they will have to go with the public option for all employees UP TO $161,000!!! This means almost ALL of us will be on the public option. So take your choice arguement & forget it - you WILL be on the public option. Unless of course you are self employed & dont want to keep your business very long because you wont be able to keep up with your competition or you want to pay out of your own pocket. I understand these numbers are relative because supposedly they will come down - but if they do, it will be equally proportiante.
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Also - what do you think the unions are going to do with all the money they have in their health funds now? - They'll keep it & become the largest funded PAC fund this world could ever imagine.

The states that have done tort reform have not seen any significant decrease in health care costs or insurance premiums. CBO said last December that tort reform would be as little as a 1- 2% decrease in health costs, not a small amount of money, but not the panacea that tort reformers are selling. The last ten years costs have risen 119% while inflation was 29%. By all means, get some tort reform, but don`t expect it to lower costs dramatically, except for Doctors malpractice insurance rates.

Obama’s health care plan
President Barack Obama’s health care proposal would:

• Allow Americans to keep their current coverage if they wish.

• Create an “insurance exchange” that would allow individuals and small businesses to bargain for insurance collectively.

• Bar insurance companies from denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

• Prohibit annual and lifetime caps on the coverage recipients can receive.

• Impose limits on out-of-pocket expenses.

• Require free coverage for routine checkups and preventive care.

SO TRUE babaloo1. It's just plain childish and ridiculous anymore and like President Obama said in his speech. It's time for the games and bickering to end.

Unidentified; I agree. Your point 3. What most people dont understand is this system already exists. Workmans comp. is a SET RATE - the rate is the same no matter what "agent" a company buys from - its set by the state annually by the code of your particular job. The difference in insurance co's then at the end of the year is the dividend check they refund (or dont) depending upon your companies work related injury record for the year. This creates competition among the companies but also sets limits on what they can charge.

We can all argue back and forth on what we want to see in a health plan but until the people we voted into office man up and start working together it will all end up on the floor. I would have thought our reps. would have learned in the last election that we are tired of the two parties fighting and not accomplishing anything. I watched the whole speech as I had become so confused with the whole health care issue. To see one Congressman disrespect the President and to see Paul Ryan slumped in his seat making faces like a spoiled teenager not getting his way... I knew then nobody was going to work together to make anything happen. They need to prove to the citizens that they want a better America and work for us not against us. Right now our reps. are just an embarressment to this country.

Anger.......Don't put words into my mouth--that's so irritating! I'm not "willing" it to fail--Medicare/Medicaid-broke, Social Security-broke, Freddie/Fannie-broke, USPS-broke, Amtrak-broke, a majority of our state's governments-broke......need I go on? Can you give me an example of a significant social/business program that the government runs that is a huge success? Think hard!!!!! And you want to give them access to $1,000,000,000,000 and have them reshape 1/6 of our economy? Too funny!!!!!

Right now insurance companies make three cents on the dollar. Yet a government plan won't put them out of business? Here is my proposal, but first consider that Social Security is underfunded and medicare is about to go broke. Also remember the government couldn't even run a cash for clunkers program without problems.
1. Tort Reform- no proposal will work without this. Can you image how many people will sue once they have access to the governments deep pockets.
2. Regulation- Force insurance companies to cover those with pre existing conditions. In addition, insurance companies can't drop someone.
3. Rather than have a government plan leave it a free market. However, everyone would have to get coverage from one of the free market insurance companies (their choice). The government would then work with those insurance companies to set a minimum premium for coverage. Each plan would have basic guidelines for yearly exams and routine doctor visits to avoid misuse of the plan. As with utilities, rate increases would have to be approved. It would then be up to individual insurance companies to be as efficient as possible to remain competitive. The playing field would be equal. The market would still be free. The government has a limited role. Obviously there are details that would need to be worked out, but it would avoid a massive government takeover.

Just becuase you're willing it to fail doesn't mean all of those things you mentioned are actually going to happen. It's really very tragic that so many people have been sucked into the whole "Keep em ignorant and keep em scared" campaign. You don't want HCR to be successful for politcal reasons and that's all there is to it.

Anger--the reform bill is not being picked apart out of desperation, it is being picked apart because that is the responsible thing to do! I realize that some people buy into the picture perfect situation that Obama portrays so eloquently in his speeches on this matter--but the reality being pushed on us in this 1000 page bill bears no resemblance to that at all. Part of me hopes that Obamacare passes without Republican support. The bill as written will be overrun with fraud, mismanagement and cost excesses. When it fails miserably and this country takes a serious financial hit because of it, it will always be used to define how completely inane social programs like this are, while also putting the spotlight on the political party that supports them......

Wow. It's amazing how much you can learn/do with a computer. Again I have to thank you pudssweetie for letting me in on that whole "search engine" thingy. This ones for you!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/dis...

PUDssweetie: Thanks for that tip. I really had no idea. At the end of the day if it makes you feel all fuzzy inside to insult someone on a message board that you've never met then by all means, knock yourself out!

It's very simple. I see Obama's HCR proposal as a very good thing. You're choosing to pick it apart out of desperation to pounce on the POTUS for any minute crumb you can find. It's going through no matter how low the right sinks to try and scare the heck out of some not so educated and narrow minded folks. The RP is slowly imploding before our very eyes and thats fine with me.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/...

The Libertarian Party favors a free market health care system. The party's platform states, "We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want, the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions."
http://www.lp.org/

Angeroonie, I use my computer to look things up and learn for myself the truth. It is not hard to put into your search engine health care reform or bill. Try it some time and you might learn something.

No anger--just go straight to the bipartisan groups reporting for the government. Over a trillion dollar expense to implement the program. That's a lot of zeros for a country that is for all practical purposes going broke.....don't you think?

"Why don't you do all of us a favor and use your computer to look up facts and I don't mean CNN, CNBC or other crappy news media's."

Hmmm. Well I'm guessing you would recommend "Fox News" for any and all facts on HC reform? LOLOLOL!! Alrighty then!!

SarahB1 sorry it is www.LC.org

SarahB1, I have some questions for you that I would love for you to answer. 1. Do you want rationed health care? 2. Do you agree with all illegals getting health care? 3. Do you want the government to have direct access to your bank accounts? 4. Do you want the government telling you what treatments and benefits you can have? 5. Do you want the government to choose your benefits for you? Think about your parents and grandparents if you have any before you answer. Do you want the government to limit health care to the elderly, low income or poor? Last but least, do you want to pay $3,800.00 fine for not taking the health insurance? I don't know about you but I for one do not want the government in my personal business nor choosing my health care for me. Not only does this take our freedom of choice away, but wanting my bank accounts is invasion of privacy. Why don't you do all of us a favor and use your computer to look up facts and I don't mean CNN, CNBC or other crappy news media's. The facts are out there you just need to take the blinders off long enough to read them. Yeah I am paranoid and for good reason, I want to choose my health care, I want to be able to receive treatments if I ever need to have them, I do not want to be told when I can see a doctor and have to wait to see a specialist. My health means a lot to me and I am sure others would agree as well. I have an elderly Mom who will suffer if this bill is passed. She will no longer receive the good health care she has now. Our health care should be ran by Doctors and Nurses who know health care, not our government who know nothing about health care but their own. There are just some things that the government should not be involved in and this is one of them. Oh by the way, Wilson was correct last night when he called Obama a lair when Obama said that illegals would not get health care because I have read with my own eyes the provisions that he wants passed in the bill. Go to Liberty Counsel at www.LC.com they have it on their web site and read for your self.

+1 Anger--I completely agree--the speech/presentation itself was wonderful. I think what most people are worried about is the end result of having to deal with what is being sold to us. That definitely does not look to be so wonderful.....

Bravo. A clear, calm, concise, fact filled, intelligent, inspirational speech. This speech will go down as one of greatest in history. We have a great President. Thank you BO.

Paranoia begings? These are facts. Do you really not think this is about socializing medicine & Union representation? This is payday for the unions in getting him elected. Per the AFLCIO's website the "union advantage" is 57%! Bet that number is not in his 900B price tag. Then consider what will happen to all the money that is currently in the Union Health Funds today - we're talking 100's of Billions of dollars left for the unions if they "decide" to take the "public option". Didnt tax payers just bail out GM which in turn gave over $60 Billion of it to the UAW for the retiree health fund they negotiated in the last contract. If Public option goes - UAW will put all of them on the public option & walk with BILLIONS of our money!!!! Add all other unions into this (being most are self funded insurance today) and you've got the biggest scheme in the history of the world - makes Madoff look like a common pick pocketer.

sarahb1. this is not paranoia since many on here are stating facts.

You want more facts? Lower TAXES to a 10% flat accross the board, cut out the worthless programs we are funding and we will have plenty of money to provide health care for everyone. There would not be any hungry people in this nation either, jobs would be plentiful and would pay a good wage and schools would be better funded as well.

You dont get it sarahb1

Say Pete, didn't Badger Care expand it's Government run health care last year? RAmen

SarahB1 Just the facts mamm! :<)

The SEIU and unions-in-general connection with Obama, Obamacare and the overall socialization of the nation is no surprise. They have much to gain from this. There's a whole lotta power to be had. “The simple truth is that for the single biggest advocacy bloc pushing the health care bill, your health is the furthest thing from their mind. Their objective is to use the bill to make it easier to unionize health care workers, which certainly won’t enhance patient care, and to advance the larger goals of organized labor as a whole, and use the resulting debt from the administration to push through the noxious ‘card check’ bill through despite public opposition

If you think this about health care read parts of the bill: Buried in Title II, Part 3, Subtitle D of the bill is the requirement that the HHS panel that will set standards for health care employment must have union (read SEIU, the biggest health industry union) representation.

The bill also ties big piles of grant money to unionization. In Title V, Subtitle D, which funds grants for nurse training, the bill limits eligibility for funding to employers that “provides wages and benefits to its nurses…that have been collectively bargained with a labor organization.” Its all about Obama paying back his supporters and increasing their strengh. Wake up and smell the coffee.

Ok last comment. Look at the cash for clunkers deal. The Gov. approved 1.2 Bil in payments to the dealers. They set aside 2.8 Billion for the program. I am not sure if the balance goes to dealers or is used to administer the program (if the latter then somthing is really wrong) Anyways round it up to 3 Billion spent, now look at what was saved.

A car that got 15 MPG per year and drove 12K miles used 800 Gal of fuel. At 25 MPG a car would use 480 gal of fuel per year, or 320 gallon savings. So they claim 700K vehicles sold so that is 224 Million gallons of fuel per year and that is about 5 Million Barrels of oil PER YEAR we just saved! Sounds good right? Not so fast. 5 Million BBls of oil costs around $350 Million bucks at $75/ BBL Sooooo we spent 3 Billion to save $350 Million. Granted that is $350 Million in one year so in 8.5 years the program will have broke even, however to make sense these cars need to be on the road longer than 8.5 years to have the program pay for itself.

And we want health care to be run by the Government?

I am not opposed to health care for everyone, however adding more government is the wrong direction. However if the Government wanted to cut somthing out GREAT! How about we start with any funding to ACORN or several other pet projects that are earmarks like Pelosi's 30 Million to protect the salt marsh harvest mouse? (ok it wont pay for healthcare but it is a start) Next, do away with the pensions and free bennies the congressmen and senators get for life. I can go on and on. My point is, that just like at home, if you need to buy health care you are probably forced to cut somthing out of your budget. The Gov. needs to cut somthing out to pay for it.

We will all pay one way or another. If your think your getting something for nothing, look in the mirror and see a fool.

callitasiseeit--Simple answer--It won't be enforced. Pelosi came straight out in a speech earlier this week and said that participants in the plan would not have to verify citizenship. We keep hearing of the 47 million uninsured figure from the Democrats--that figure definitely includes illegals. They will get free health care if this plan passes and there is no doubt that taxpayers will pick up the cost for it........

THE ONE said: Reducing the waste and inefficiency in Medicare and Medicaid will pay for most of this plan.

And if we don’t pass this plan, does he intend to keep the waste and inefficiency, out of spite?

grininear2ear, so the current system has failed you and yet you don't want to change it? Don't you think that we who have private insurance plans also struggle with the same issues? Private insurance companies are pretty bureaucratic too. As far as choices go, I have no choices under my private plan. It's not like shopping for coffee where you can choose between price and quality. If I call 911 in an emergency, I'm not going to page through the Yellow Pages and choose the best hospital.

He was 100% wrong for what he did. That being said, while the proposal does say illegal immigrants will not be covered, there is no mechanism in it to verify the legal status potential participants. So how will it be enforced?

Sorry Barry but we know the truth and you are not telling it. I have to live under the "Government" assisted programs as is and they FAIL! I had to wait a month for approval to have an infected abscessed tooth removed. 3o days of unbelievable pain while the bureaucrats decided if I was worth it. I have metal rods in my back that are bent and the screws have pulled out and one has snapped but I can not get it fixed. Is that the health care you want for your family and you? WAKE UP AMERICA
This Bill is full of lies and deceptions.
I don't care who sits in the seat of power..I do care about my family and this bill puts bureaucrats between us and our Family and our Doctors of choice. Quality goes down the tube while the waiting lines increase.
WAKE UP!

Excellent compromise program. And as usual, Joe Wilson did not read the proposal. Hey, Joe....."You dumb!"