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Obama seeks compromise in debate over health care

Why can't government come up with ways to fix the private health care industry without taking a massive new role in our lives and economy? What about insurance portability from job to job, money for uninsured to enroll in HC or, government partnership w/ private insurance so that more people can be covered. The poorest already qualify for medicare and medicaid. Government's roles in our society were carefully planned by Founding Fathers, It has a necessary, vital but limited place according to the constitution. Why then does government so often believe it can do anything and everything better than private industry?... Never letting a good go to waste. Was it FEMA's handling of Katrina, our failing School system (some people are still in the denial stage), or was it some other well-oiled government bureaucracy?
Unleash the ingenuity of the American people and hold back the knee-jerk reaction of big government proponents to show compassion for today's needy while have little regard for the consequences of future generations left with the truly massive debt we have accumulated.Let's hold both Obama and his critics accountable!

Taxing the highly compensated on their benefits that were greater than the average worker was called Section 89 of the IRS Tax Code in 1989 and it didn't work ... not at all. Many companies cancieled health care all together, or shifted the premium burdon to the employee, or did a major overhaul of there benefits leaving a shell of what they had. I know, I was one of the best in the US in this area for several years.

Was ever so present last night!

There are two main scare tactics being used by private insurance and HMOs to block creation of competition in the market place. One is reduced quality (choice of doctors, limited medical options, etc.). The other is that medicare only reimburses doctors a portion of the expense, so all doctors would go broke under a government plan. We are already doing both.

My IHC insurance already limits my choice of doctors and medical procedures. If the doctor I want to see is not a participating provider, I must pay more if I can see that doctor at all. Last visit with my IHC doctor for my wife with chronic medical conditions, our doctor for many years told us our insurance would not pay for a procedure common for decades, even though it would solve her serious problems. Rather we must try many other alternatives that are not working.

IHC only reimburses itself for a fraction of the amount it bills itself, so the medicare scare of partial reimbursement is already a reality.

Change is needed in healthcare. Don't be scared by the potential problems thrown out by the insurance companies. We are already there.

A Tax is a Tax! Get the foot in the door, then take the whole house next year.

Yes, for some the health insurance situation is bad, why are we considering making it worse for all of us?
Is there any example of a government run system that actually improves the care and actually costs less?

We can't let this man pass universal NO health care!
If they really believe this will work then why won't the president and members of congress switch their health care to it? After this comes amnisty to millions of illegals who will recieve free health care and of course vote democratic. These politicians make me sick. the more they medle in our lives the more freedom and money we will lose!!

It's an insidious lie that we need government to provide competition for health insurers. There are already hundreds of health insurance companies, and they compete with each other. A government insurance would have the opposite effect by driving companies out of business and leaving us eventually with a single payer system.

Obama said it. H e is going to get rid of 'cadillac insurance' (except for congress), and give us all 'junker health' care.

Let's face it, the health care debate is all about how to ration services amongest the American people. There is not enough resource to go around for everyone.

So we can keep the system we have now, which in effect rations care by denying those who cannot afford it.... Or we can change the system and ration the care with the government deciding who gets what, which the govt already does that with medicare and medicaid....

The days of great care for everyone are long gone already.

BTW, the European model rations care, don't be fooled by those who say how great it is... When you are old in Europe and get cancer, guess what they say - "sorry for your bad luck, we'll keep your comfortable with painkillers, but no treatment"... If you are old there, it's time to die.

Here we go again with the pontificating professor president. He loves marxism and is bound and determined, with his partners in media, to make this happen. Once again he is promoting class warfare "eliminating some deductions for higher earning tax payers" this is supposed to make the rest of us feel better because he is sticking it to the rich, but we will be next. Then, he states that he will make "insurers honest because they would have to compete" Compete against whom? Why, compete against the government. Who will win out in this competition? It will most assuredly be the government.
All hail to the king and cheif, Obama.

God warned against insurance (surety) in the Bible. That means there is a better solution. Insurance is costly in time and administration costs and does not add good health. No insurance means employers and employees do not pay insurance fees, leaving more money for them. Family, friends and congregations can help each other.

We are captive to our own ways. We chose to trust man to heal us and we have agencies that keep us employed to be able to get money for insurance. Now the financial crisis means we cannot afford to end jobs if we stopped insurance programs (God's solution).

The solution to this and other world problems is to turn from the employment lifestyle that is destroying our health with stress and pollution of our air, land, water and food, and turn to a garden paradise lifestyle where we choose trees, plants and pets that provide fresh food around us. Prayer, faith, herbs, fresh air and exercise are scientifically proven to heal and restore vitality without expensive equipment and high premiums.

That solves the major world problems quickly, easily, and inexpensively and it is the only sustainable development available. It will last through eternity.

...and yet with the US's current healthcare system the country ranks behind most other developed nations in life expectacy, infant mortality and school-age physical fitness. The quality of care is certainly no better than Scandinavia.

I don't hear President Obama talking about a government run healthcare system like the UK, I hear several different plans being suggested that more closely resemble France's or Germany's systems that are a blend of private and public insurances. That is not that much different from what the US has now with Medicare and Medicaid but would simply be expanded to include a larger number of low income people.

It is in ALL of our best interests for the citizens of the USA to be more healthy. In order to be economically competitive in this century the US must find a way to care for ALL of its people like the rest of the developed world does.

The public health risks are too great if the US continues on the current path. The next pandemic is only a matter of time. The fewer people to get treatment and the longer they wait the worse the problem will be.

To KM, have you read Marx's Capital? If you had, you would know that Obama is in no way a Marxist. Actually the theoretical foundation for liberalism is about the same as that for conservatism - market philosophy, but liberals try to take some of the rough edges off for working stiffs. Also, if you read "Capital" you'll find that "Marxism" is not an insult.

Why would a sane person accept being force to enroll in a healthcare program created by the government that they don't want to be enrolled in themselves. Think about that you Obama lovers. Congress and the 'special' government workers get a 'SPECIAL" healthcare program. You have to be crazy to give up your choices and let the government TAKEOVER the healthcare system in the USA. God Help Us.

To "James Dills | 7:25 a.m." the problem with the government healthcare is that there is no way it can be cheaper than private insurance.

The average health insurance company runs a 5% profit margin and has about 15% overhead expenses. The government on the otherhand, has about a 25% overhead cost for the federal government, then programs like medicare/medicaid/VA run up to 5% overhead expenses themselves. So, for every dollar you spend for health insurance, you can either have private companies use up 20% for profit and overhead or government use 30% for overhead.

If you want to really cut overhead expeses and be covered for everything, the private industry already has a solution. You can get a Health Savings Account, which allows you to save money every month, and provides office visits for a small co-pay.

I am 62 years old, my wife is 61. She beat cancer 15 years ago but the insurance company we were with said her condition was pre-existing. We were with the insurance company for only a month when the cancer was discovered. Yes, it was pre-existing but we did not know about it. When our first born died at age 7 days, we learned the insurance company would not pay any death benefits becuase she didn't live more than 14 days. My wife has a pacemaker and I am obese. No insurance company will insure us without increasing the premium to a level prohibitive for us to pay. Doctors say I am in good health except for my weight. Mr. President, please keep our situation in mind. Thank you.

What provision in the constitution gives the federal government power to enact legislation such as this?

I was under the impression that the proper role of government was to protect basic rights not seek to provide each citizen with three hots and a cot.

As Gerald Ford said in 1974, "A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have."

To Obama, his health care reform, and his SMOKING habit! Wow... he's lucky he was elected as president because when he is suffering from lung cancer and emphysema he will have the best care because of his time in office. As for the rest of us...? Oh, we'll continue to pay outrageous taxes and have "un-cadillac" health care. Definitely an obamanation. How much longer till the next election so we can get this hunk of junk out of the white house?

Please wake up America!!!!!!!!! More government power equals less freedoms and more taxes in the long-run. If you don't believe me, go live in Europe where Nationalized Health care is horrible. Obama said we will fix this and that, but what is his plan of action to do that!!! We need less government and more freedoms. Capitalism is moving over for marxism. It is time to stand up for what our Country is about, "The People". Obama is going to continue to pile on the debt and push for nationalized everything!!! Greedy politicians don't need more power. I trust the corrupt corporate system way more than politicians.