Deseret News | Utah County residents tell Congress 'hands off my health care'

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Utah County residents tell Congress 'hands off my health care'

Real Choice | 1:39 a.m. July 30, 2009

The problem is that healthcare companies are monopolized at the national level. Also those businesses that step on others health run at a national level. This has become a national problem.

National decisions mean better deals on healthcare than local decisions.

Other countrys get better deal on drug prices because of this. The United States needs this power with healthcare to break the health monopoly apart.

Misguided government | 4:05 a.m. July 30, 2009

Most of america and the american people are agaisnt any government spondered health care system, but they are in denial to this fact. Health care is not a right and not government responsibilty, it can't be funded by taxation or government.

If everyone opened their eyes and look at how existing health care systems are being gouged and stripped of funds there is plenty of evidence to prove this kind of system will not work.

What america needs is cost control of services and providers and the monopoly in health care by large for profit organizations who cannot effectively provide health care. To keep funding these organizations by taxation will only lead to more disastrous problems in health care.

Is everyone ready to fork over 50% or more of their income to pay for this insurance plan? A trillion dollar plan will escalate and it is not free to anyone.

Timj | 4:32 a.m. July 30, 2009

70-year-olds are complaining? Don't they already get free "socialized" health care? So now they don't want the rest of us to have access to what they have?

Comments continue below

Marti | 5:52 a.m. July 30, 2009

I would like to see a spreadsheet comparing point by point the congressional plan with other proposed reform packages. Instead of telling our representatives what we don’t want, it might be more effective to let them know what we think would be a better choice.

gracious be | 7:14 a.m. July 30, 2009

Ignorance runs rampant in Prove, eh. Let's see: medicare? Discontinue it grandma? Medicaid? iscontinue it grandma? Help for veterans? Discontinue it politicians? Indian Health Service? Shall we shut it down, people
The hard core truth is that we have a series of federal health care systems right now. And they work. And we also have insurance companies making a ton of money with the games they play with the rest of us. Anyone know of an insurance company that went under? An agent who went to the poor house?

Quit being sheep. Wake up. Universal health care for Americans makes us stronger as a nation. Study after study has shown it.

We have various systems today of fed. health care. Which one should be abolish? For the veterans? The aged? The Indians? Oh please, learn the facts and then speak out...

Sgtpep | 7:45 a.m. July 30, 2009

I can't wait. As one who can't afford health care because of preexisting conditions it's a blessing. There is no reason a person should lose all their assets to something beyond their control. We never sold sub prime loans.

This country is in a mess because of free enterprise that's that runs the health care business now. We've tried that, it don't work.

Our medicines are more than the rest of the world, because our government allows the cost of development to be passed along to the consumer. No other country does that.

The trillion dollar figure was for several years. Less than the Iraq war cost us. It will take in the money already going to medicare and medicaid so the number is actually quite small.

The health care industry owns 4 out of 5 of the biggest lobbying groups in this country. Don't let them stop us again. If they can make good money, the government should be able to break even.

Anonymous | 7:45 a.m. July 30, 2009

I seriously doubt any of these people know what the bills say, but are instead reacting to scare tactics by the GOP and their lobbyist friends. The Democrats gave older Americans Medicaire, and they aren't going to take it away or otherwise harm their interests. The Republicans have given them nothing, and they never will. The Republicans don't represent their interests. Open your eyes.

Learning the facts | 7:52 a.m. July 30, 2009

Gracious be, medicare has a 36 trillion dollar unfunded liability, it has an arcane payment system that stifles innovation and promotes overuse. Any veteran can tell you that the VA medical system is horrendous. Universal health care will make us weaker as a nation as any study of nations with universal health care have so clearly shown. I have learned the facts and I am speaking out.

RINO and proud of it... | 8:37 a.m. July 30, 2009

If Brad Daw had not been able to get health insurance, as is the case with me and millions of others, he would understand the urgency. He should be talking to those have don't have it, not those who do.

And to the rest of you, go do your homework (that does not mean Fox "News" or gas bags like Limbaugh). Read the legislation. You ignorance on this topic is pathetic.

whatever | 9:02 a.m. July 30, 2009

RINO, I take it you have read the bill?

Anonymous | 9:27 a.m. July 30, 2009

Timj: Medicare is not free. A portion of your paycheck all your working life goes into it. There are also Medicare payments taken out of Social Security payment (you also pay into Social Security all your working life). So don't get on about "free socialized health care". Take a long at Indian Health Care and see how well it has worked. It is "free socialized health care" and all I hear about it is complaining.

Re:"Learning the Facts" | 9:34 a.m. July 30, 2009

"Learning", have you EVEN listened to President Obama?

Medicare reform/cost savings is one of the top issues that's driving health care reform.

Why would YOU be against all attempts to solve the problem?

I see the Republicans presented THEIR health care reform plan: $700 billion worth of tax credits. Isn't that the same-old John McCain "plan"?

$700 billion. Gee, without ANY reform of the blood-sucking insurance industry which is funnelling millions into the Republican warchests right now.

But remember "the last thing Americans need right now is a tax on fruit drinks and soda".

You Republicans. You got it all solved. "No tax on sugary drinks and here's a $700 billion tax credit".

whatever | 9:42 a.m. July 30, 2009

Some questions for those who want me to pay for their health care:

Who will pay for it?
Where does it say in our Constitution that the government is responsible to take care of your medical interests? Have you ever read the Constitution?
If you're so desperate for free health care, why not move to England? Finland? Russia? Australia? Canada? These countries all have government run, "free" health care. Why are people flocking to America for our medical care, if their government run program is so good?
How is it ethical for my 4 minor children to pay for your health care? How about their aprox. 2.5 future children? And their 2.5 future children? How will they pay for their own health care, after paying for yours?
How is it that the FNC and Rush are not news, but NBC/ABC/CBS/CNN/MSNBC and PBS are?
How can you blame the government for not doing enough for you, when you don't do anything for YOURSELF?!
You have no responsibility, no shame. It's people like YOU who got us in this mess. And sadly, people like me who have to bail you out.

Me | 10:27 a.m. July 30, 2009

Nothing will ever be good enough for you people will it? Stop handing your lives over to the government. Take control of your own life and stop playing victim. Stop blaming others for your problems. Please, take a look at other countries that have government run health care and lower medicine costs. They also have month long waiting lists to get seen by a doctor. I don't know about you but I don't want to die while waiting for a doctor to see me when it's something that is easily treatable.

Anonymous | 12:33 p.m. July 30, 2009

"America needs to deal with the issue state by state." I agree, but I've been waiting for 30 years, how much longer are we required to wait?

Perry | 1:29 p.m. July 30, 2009

How much longer are we required to wait? Forever, health care is not a public issue but a private one. If it goes any farther towards being public run, good bye health care all together. Utah needs to stand up and rally behind a state constitutional ammendment to of allowing its citizens and businesses to be immune to any federal health requirements.

Cougar Blue | 3:58 p.m. July 30, 2009

The Republicans could care less about the average "joe." They have no idea of how to control double digit increases in our insurance premiums, not to mention the huge increases in our co-pays. My co-pays have increased almost 30% each of the last two years. Wake up people, you are being taken to the cleaners, big time. Of course, these CEO's of some of the health care companies love you, and their 1.3 BILLION bonuses.

Anonymous | 4:46 p.m. July 30, 2009

"Forever, health care is not a public issue but a private one." Not True !!!, Ignoring the problem has put our country at an economic disadvantage in the global marketplace. We continue to export jobs to other country's were health care cost are lower. Unless we figure out how to contain costs and spread the risk across a broader segment of the population, we put our entire society at risk. We can argue all day about how to solve the problem: Federal vs. State, or Private vs. Public. Thats good and healthy. Hopefully we can find an approach that will work in our culture, but ignoring the issues or pretending there isn't a problem is dangerous and self centered.

Get Smart | 4:50 p.m. July 30, 2009

If we are confronted with a problem, the longer we put it off, the greater it becomes and the more fearful we become in the ability to solve it.

Therefore, learn to make decisions, because in not deciding we fail to act, and in failing to act we invite failure.

Experience will soon teach us that once a decision is made, the problems and troubles begin to disappear.

Even though the decision we make may not be the best one, the mere deciding gives us strength and raises our morale.

Its the fear of doing the wrong thing that attracts the wrong thing.

Decide and Act, and the changes are that troubles will fade into thin air whether it was a mistake or not.

Edison failed how many times before he had success?

The Healthcare system is failing and needs to be changed.

If we took the ignorance approach, it will turn out like what happened to the economy.

Can we afford to not change the system and have total healthcare failure like the economy in this country?

Let us make the healthcare change now.

huh | 10:01 p.m. July 30, 2009

Obviously in today's society health care is a societal problem and opportunity. The sooner we go to a nationalized program the better.

Have you ever see a poor insurance company? I wonder why not?

Don't let them scare you, sheep.

Wow the ignorance | 8:19 a.m. July 31, 2009

Then keep your own health care! I want government options for me. Give me the options.

Utah Ignorance | 9:56 a.m. July 31, 2009

Nobody is taking notice of this rally. Our elected representatives are already Republican. There are no Democrats watching or affected by Utah County voters. Do Utah County voters really think that their elected Republican representatives are going to vote for this health care bill? With that being said, we need some kind of reform. Health Care costs have been growing at 3 times the inflationary average. That is unsustainable. According to my calculations, at that rate of growth, only half of all Americans will have health care coverage by 2030 due to lack of affordability for employers and employees. It is fine to say no to the current health care bill, but at least come up with some options to deal with the problem.

Anonymous | 5:17 p.m. Aug. 1, 2009

Do not be misinformed. Go read it. You people who support it. It is horrifying. Do you want the feds to have your checking account #? Do you want Granny to have "end of life counseling", in which she will get talked into just ending her life to help others? Do you want feds involved in creating your will? How about funding abortions and sex change operations? Only "sheeple" without a concience or brain will go for this.

Get Smart | 4:07 p.m. Aug. 2, 2009

Start the Care (Change the system to focus on quality Now).

The current for profit healthcare system is unethical and just about as ridicules as a for profit police or fire department would be if privatized.

Imagine getting the following responses from police and fire department.

"You didnt pay your premiums so we cannot help you with the crime (Fire, Rape, Robbery, Shooting etc) being committed."

"Please pay your premium in the future and maybe we will help you in the future if you survive this one."

"Sorry this is not a public problem but a private problem because it is happening at your home."

"Sorry, Our police captain and his officers didnt make enough bonuses this month."

"It looks like you dont make enough money for us to help you."

The current for Profit Healthcare System is built on all these excuses.

The quality of health care in the US has deteriorated under the privatized for profit system.

Treatments should not be denied because of a corporations quest for profits.

The Healthcare industry should be a nonprofit industry. A public government healthcare option is needed to control costs and give the people choice.

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Stuart Johnson, Deseret News

Sandi Boley, far right, signs a Patients First petition while Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, center left, talks with David Hobson at a gathering in Provo to start a dialogue for health-care reform.