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Obama says health plan could help rally economy

I hope that Obama's plan is more carefully and thoughtfully designed than the bank bailouts.

How could anyone give away BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars and not have given ANY thought to including a requirement for accountability to the Congress and the public?

I work in health care, and I am very afraid that this "urgency" to get it done is six months or less is a recipe for disaster. The health care system isn't great right now, and I agree it needs help. But a hastily-conceived and sloppily designed system will certainly be a step backward.

Why is it that all of the critics of our healthcare system fail to recognize that when dignitaries and celebrities from around the world get sick they come to the USA for treatment?

Why is it that the majority of the best medical education and research in the world takes place in the US healthcare system?

To make this plan work and save money, the government will need to ration healthcare and reduce the quality of care delivered. It happens in Canada, England, and every other socialized system. It is coming. There is no other alternative. You are warned...

I used to live in Western Canada. I was not unusual to hear public anouncements on the radio letting the public know that if you have a certain sickness or broken bone to not go to certain hospitals because the lines were really long or that specific hospital did not have the required medical supplies for treament. Yup it was awesome. My son almost died from a bee sting. This is what Obama wants for the USA.

What ant hill does this man come from? The only segement of the economy not having problems is healthcare and he thinks that taxation is going to stimulate the economy? How many ways do the people have to say 'no' before he understands that the people don't want socialized insurance or health care. And we definitely don't need more taxes to bail out government spending.

Obama and his binge to give welfare to the poor is only worsening the economy, why should anyone work if they can get welfare? His binge spending is only making things worse for the country to recover under natural and sound methods. Millions of americans out of jobs and millions of illegals working jobs and not paying any taxes is only a bigger drain on the economy. Obama is blinded by his personal vendetta to make the working americans suffer as much as every poor american is suffering.

Not only does his plans promote socialism and government controls it also dooms the economy to further failure and the return of slavery by business and government. Obama is proving that he is not a leader or one with sound judgment.

You have already squandered your "Billions" on the Bush War Effort (Iraq)
Now consider some eaqualized health at home for a fraction of the cost without losing lives
Think Rational ACT Responsible!

Watching Obama and his town meetings is enough to make me sick, is there a cure for this yet????

Obama has really screwed this country up, as a business owner I'm watching people lose their jobs, houses, cars.......when's it going to end Obama fans?

Unemployment is at 9.4% and reaching for 10%, I would bet we see it reach 13-15% within months ahead.

YES WE CAN voters must be feeling nauseated for what they voted for!!!!

My friends who are from Canada said Canadian and European systems are so much better than the United States system and they have tried both systems.

Lets take a look at international ratings.

United States is the number 1 spender, the most money on healthcare in the world because it is privatized.

The United States is rated 72nd level of health and 37th in performance.

Lets learn and apply systems that are working in countrys that are better and have universal healthcare.

To much greed and payouts to elected officials from the pharmacuetical and insurance industry who do not want to see the change to a government healthcare system.

Check more international facts. These stats are provided by the World Health Organization. Do an internet search for: country ranking health who.

Another Reality Fact. Germans like quality and Japanese like to take whatever works and makes it better. This was not always the case but they changed to survive and so can the United States change to survive.

The United States needs to reverse the downhill health trend for it to survive economically.

A Healthy Nation boosts the economy.

A non profit government system is a good start.

The key question is what is the cost and how will it be paid for? I have been selling health insurance for 20+ years and have never seen an insurance company that needed to be "kept honest."

I also used to live in Western Canada and have family who still live there. My experience and theirs is just the opposite of the fear mongering comments that are so often heard. Sometimes there is a wait before service can be obtained for certain procedures, but that is the same here in the USA. I have experienced it here. Procedures that are of an urgent nature are taken care of immediately with not wait. Yes, the government in Alberta owns the hospitals and pays the doctors based on a fee schedule. They do it at a cost that is reasonable. They do not charge themselves $200 for a box of Kleenex or gouge themselves for services and supplies as the health care facilities do here in the USA. Everyone has access to health care in Canada and the premiums they pay on a quarterly basis are much less than most people here in the US pay on a monthly basis.

headline says "health plan could help rally economy" Could?? I thought before BO sais it was crucial, now he's only saing it could? just like everthing else he's done, it's all guesswork.

Bow to me my minions! The more I spend the more I will control your every move you make. Jobs will be created. Ignore that for every trillion I spend 6.5 million jobs have been lost. Facts are not important, the adoration of the masses and my ability to speak light and hope too all will save.

Believe and come unto me all ye who are lazy and under burdened. For I will tax those who work and their benefits to provide for all, and make you dependent on me my government.

Don't quote WHO healthcare stats without understanding them. Yes, US does not rank well based on how much we spend and how long people live and spend on disability. Actually, we keep people alive longer disabled which is too our detriment on those stats because overall life expectancy is not increased. Doctors and poor healthcare are not responsible for Americans not living as long as the French or Germans. Rather we are selfish, obese people who will do what we want with regards to our health and frequently refuse to let us or our loved ones die at the end of their life spending thousands of dollars in the process.

The US has the greatest healthcare QUALITY in the world. Leaders throughout the world come here to get their care. Foreign doctors are always trying to get training here. Why? Simple, competition brings out the best. Spending money and a private business sector allows companies to get topline equipment improving overall quality.

Government run health care will decrease costs, not increase our life expectancy (i.e. our WHO ranking will not improve much), and decrease the quality of the care we do get. Lets hope this doesn't happen.

I can't stand another attack on Canada's national health care!! It's a source of pride for all Canadians!

I am still awaiting the Obama's billion dollar stimulus to kick in.....the eceomony is tanking and it was 5 months ago that Obama said the stimulus would turn the economy..and now he says HC will turn the economy?

Give it a rest Obama....everything you do, FAILS!

Here comes 11% Unemployment!!

If Obama's lips are moving, he is probably lying. That is an old statement and may not be totally true he, thinks he is telling the truth. But the economy is now Obama's and unemployment continues to rise. Car sales are down and that seems to surprise some people, how many dealerships have closed? The Cap and Trade tax bill is attempting to ruin what remains of US business on science that has been buried by the EPA. And now health care, he has been wrong on everything else so far and this is just another power grab by Obama. It is time America wakes up and tell your Representatives and Senators that we have had enough!!! It is our money and we don't have any more to give. His statements on health care driving the deficit just show how little he knows. Uncontrolled spending by Congress is driving the deficit. Enough is enough, take action now to stop this silliness!!!!

If the Canadian healthcare system is such a negative thing, why do we send so many manufacturing & customer service jobs there? It seems that the national healthcare system has made them more competitive in a capatalistic world stage. I don't think a healthcare system like Canada's is the answer, but we need to look at what Canada's healthcare system does well & emulate it, because they are doing something right.

Government Healtcare COULD help the economy... just like passing a law making death illegal COULD stop health problems.

In fact I don't know why Obama isn't pushing for this. He obviously likes death, if he hasn't already passed the law banning it.

Several comments have been made regarding "keeping them honest" and "keeping a level playing field" with health care companies by having a government option. Unless I don't understand something, how would it be level, would the government plan pay taxes to itself for the profit it makes. The health care business I believe pays taxes. Would that "contribution" be included it the price charged?

Is he kidding us? Because the zillion dollar bailout sure didn't.

Ask us veterans who use the VA health care system how well we think it works. True, nice to have the benefit as health insurance premiums are out of site, but it needs work. A couple of years ago, I called for an appointment and got one 2 weeks later (I have waited over 2 months for one). The doctor scheduled an MRI for me. Got it 6 weeks later. About the same time, someone I personally know on Medicare called about 9:00 a.m. and saw the doctor before noon and had an MRI that evening. In my opinion it shows two things to me. 1. The disaster a national health care system would be. 2. How our elected officials really care about the ones who have served our country by giving us slow medical care. How long would they have to wait? Also, interesting how so many VAMC’s have a university with as I call them, “want to be doctors” across the street for veterans to be the guinea pigs for them to practice on.