5:08 am March 22, 2010, by Henry Unger
Like it or not, Congress passed health care reform Sunday.
Now the question is, do you like it or not?
How will the overhaul affect you? Your workplace? Will it make things better or worse? Why?
What do you think about the tortuous political process to get us to this point?
Will what happened affect your vote come November? How?
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1,329 comments Add your comment
Mike
March 23rd, 2010
7:18 am
Saddest day in my lifetime. America…the very idea of a place where freedom from oppression was protected, is gone. It is gone because of an illiterate ubneducated mass of voters who care only about their own pocketbook, their own gain, and care nothing for the principals upon which this once great country was founded.
It baffles me why people trust their government to right wrongs or fix injustices. Governments have killed many more people than corporations or small groups like the KKK. Millions and millions more. Hitler and Stalin and Lenin were idealogues who took over governments, they weren’t corporate CEO’s. Yet the blind minions of the left prefer to give power back to big government. Sda because it si so stupid.
Minority rights have been trampled upon. Once upon a time, blacks respected the idea of minority rights. Now, they want to trample all over them and simply yell “majority rules”. The lynch mobs of 100 years ago were majorities too, did that make it right? Nope. Now another lynching occurs, and all the blacks and left wingers can say is “right on”.
Hypocrits. And that just about the nicest thing I can thing of to say.
TnGelding
March 23rd, 2010
7:40 am
Mike
March 23rd, 2010
7:18 am
The Oracle of Omaha says health care costs are hurting our ability to compete in the global marketplace. Time will tell if this helps.
The bills’ purpose is to expand our current system to cover more people, not a government takeover. Many fear its just the first step, but I would say that fear is unfounded. There are government regulations now that control health insurance; federal and state. They will just need to be amended. Let’s wait and see how the regulators interpret the language and tell us what it means.
Hitler
March 23rd, 2010
7:46 am
Obama is a communist dictator, he represents the democrats. How do like that change, by the way change is all you will have left by the time you through paying for social health care. There is one last hope, replace all incumbents in November.
Rustycard
March 23rd, 2010
7:50 am
Best news in a very long time. The insurance industry has a deathgrip on healthcare. This is a good first step. SHame on those who can’t see that too many people have been denied cre. And double shams on those who have made their mind up that if the president is for it they will oppose it. Republicans have become the unthinking, lockstep party of no just so they can block Obama and defeat him next time.
TnGelding
March 23rd, 2010
7:52 am
What’s wrong with everyone having peace of mind regarding their future health care needs? We’re already paying for their care. This is just another (fairer?) way. It’s certainly not the end of our Republic. Any unworkable provisions in the legislation can be changed.
TnGelding
March 23rd, 2010
7:55 am
Rustycard
March 23rd, 2010
7:50 am
It was good to see so many independent Democrats vote no.
Charlotte
March 23rd, 2010
8:51 am
The health care bill does not bring socialism to our country. We are supposed to be a Christian people and nation . Jesus taught us to take care of the widows and orphans and all of those people who have less than we do. Clearly the church has not done that. The government of our country has typically only gotten involved with topics like health care when the people and other institutions have failed to do so. Why do people believe what the lying Republicans are saying. John McCain campaigned for health care reform and has sat on his hands and only voted “no”. Obama was elected to bring health care reform to this country. At that time, the vast majority of people supported at least a choice of a government run option. My experience is I would rather the government work with my doctor than a large impersonal insurance company who reports to no one except the stock holders who are interested it making money. I have worked in gov[t all of my life and with family who are also involved with gov’t work. My experience is that the vast majority of these people do everything in their power to see that all people get a fair break and is not motivated to make money off people. All insurance and hospitals should be not for profit. When Blue Cross and others were allowed to go “for profit” and the hospitals are owned by large corporations is when health cost began to sky rocket. They need to make a profit off the misfortunes of people.
Mike
March 23rd, 2010
9:44 am
As another person said, we should give healthcare reform a chance. And, we should support those who are brave enough to do something about the current healthcare problems. All of this complaining about paying for someone else’s healthcare is pointless. We have been doing that for years as those who cannot afford insurance have been forced to go to emergency rooms at the highest possible cost which is then passed on to everyone else. And, quite frankly, I am tired of living in fear that one layoff or illness could leave me without insurance. We need to stop clinging to a system that was not working and try a new approach that at least has a reasonable chance of helping.
sr. citizen dawg
March 23rd, 2010
9:55 am
M915 you need to learn how to think and remember who “cried and whined” first !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pompano Jane
March 23rd, 2010
9:59 am
Just so all of you will know…with the take over of the Health Care System, Bank bailouts, Auto Industry bailouts, home foreclosures and Govt. student loans, the Govt. now CONTROLS 48% of our lives. The Govt. is actually holding (controlling) 50% of our home loans. This IS SOCIALISM.
Oh by the way, @ CHARLOTTE – We are supposed to be a Christian people and nation . OBLABA said in a speech and I quote “America IS NOT a Christian Nation”. Doesn’t bode well for your argument. Maybe you need to let Oblaba know that we still are.
interesting quote
March 23rd, 2010
10:03 am
“The idea that the minority party represents the “will of the people” (not some of the people, but “the people”) is the seedling of a totalitarian mindset. In this mindset — democracy doesn’t matter, ideas are not to be discussed, and opposing views are not to respected. What matters is that they alone have truth, they alone are metaphysically connected to the “mind of the people” can interpret their will, and because they have truth and speak for the people, others represent a threat and must be silenced and stopped.”
Saw this in an article I read today. Many of you are yelling “Marxist” and “Socialist”. But YOU are the ones that want to change America into something else. YOU are the ones that want to seceede. The PEOPLE spoke on November 2008 and the majority of the PEOPLE wanted Health care reform.
George W. Bush
March 23rd, 2010
10:36 am
I passed Medicare Part D in 2003. It cost more than this, will do less than this, and I lied about the true costs. I am sad that y’all did not make such a fuss about it back then…my drinkin buddies Newt and even John Boehner of Ohio voted a big fat yes on that bill. (Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003). Yes, Mr Suntan voted yes on the largest expansion of Medicare in the 38-year history of Medicare. Where were the Tea Parties in 2003? Where were the marxist/socialist death-panel cries of outrage?
Those two wars I started cost us $300 Billion a year today, more than triple what this health care bill will cost WHEN it goes into effect in 2014.
Pompano Jane: At least use one or two facts
March 23rd, 2010
11:00 am
First of all, the government is not ‘taking over’ the health care system. Did you see Federal troops marching into the Northside hospital parking lot? Did you see Federal troops massing outside the United Healthcare headquarters building? The Federal Government is not holding 50% of our home loans….that’s utter nonsense. And please do some research as to what ‘Socialism’ means…oh wait, I ‘ll do it for you:
“Socialism is a theory of economic organization which advocates either public or direct worker ownership of the means of production”
How does the TARP funding (passed by George Bush) and healthcare reform have anything to do with the public and workers owning the means of production??? (e.g. factories, farms, machinery). The Government LOANED GM 6.7 Billion. The Government LOANED Chrysler money so they would not fail. Our government loaned Chrysler money back in 1979, and the world did not end.
@ Mike
March 23rd, 2010
11:08 am
@ Mike
Is allowing parents to include adult children on their policy equal to lynching black men for looking at white women? From what I can tell, one will save lives and the other was all about hate and destruction of an entire race. There is no comparison to be made and you showed your true colors by saying “the blacks” want this. “The blacks” are not monolithic, a few were standing next to racist signs at Tea Party rallies. Most may be Democrat — due to the Voting Rights Act — but that’s “all” you can say about “the blacks”
Alpha Paul
March 23rd, 2010
12:06 pm
Take out all the racial and political passions in this debate and instead focus on the facts, friends and neighbors. The reality is this bill is going to hurt all of us.
First, no one debates that health care and health insurance in the US needed reforming, but don’t forget we have the best in the world. But, the problem isn’t those mean old insurance companies, if you look at their income statements, they aren’t making a bunch of money on our backs, on average, they earn 3% profit. It isn’t that what we have is great, clearly there are problems. But, this bill is the absolute wrong fix to the problems. Take out the passion and politics and just think about the answer to the following questions:
1) Do you really think the government running something will make it better, or cheaper? What precedent is there for this? Government should stick to ONLY those things no one else can do, like national defense and national infrastructure like roads.
2) Do you really think costs will go down when you are adding XX million people to insurance? There is no way, especially when you consider the answer to #1 above and realize the huge overhead government adds to everything without adding value. The reality is we all will lose, even if there are no “death panels” or “explicit rationing”, there is just no way adding more people to the system, and supposedly cutting costs, that the quality and availability will remain the same or better. Either the costs will go WAY UP, or the quality and availability must go WAY DOWN. Thinking otherwise is just naiive.
3) Why not fix the problem, instead of creating an expensive new entitlement? The Republicans had the right answer, they just were not very effective at getting the message out (or delivering it during their tenure of control) – reform tort laws the biggest single driver of costs for medical providers is liability insurance, increase competition by getting rid of the barriers to compete across state lines, make policies portable so that when you change jobs or lose jobs you can carry your policy with you, get third parties out of the middle of the process if you and I were actually buying these services, we’d buy much more intelligently. These four things alone would solve 98% of the problems, and there are lots of other great ideas from those that don’t believe socialism is the answer to everything. Doing these four things would significantly reduce insurance premiums and allow everyone to buy affordable coverage.
4) When did health care become a right? As a Christian, I feel compassion for those that are sick and would gladly support meaningful and reasonable solutions to allow all who need health care to receive it, but teaching people that they should get everything free without sacrifice is wrong minded and not what our founding fathers intended for us, nor what God taught us. I believe this was a sad day for America, we are doing a disservice to our citizens by increasing their dependence on the government and making them less self sufficient. Where in history has socialism succeeded?
5) Why would those elected to represent us, in the face of such overwhelming opposition to this bill vote for it? Do they think they are just smarter than us? Or, is there a more sinister plan? I think it is interesting that the next thing on the agenda is immigration reform. I suspect the plan is to keep their jobs in November in spite of going against the will of the people because they are planning to add 11 million new voters to the rosters, voters who were just given a whole new entitlement that they didn’t have to pay for.
6) Why would the congressmen exclude themselves if it was such a great deal?
I hope those that voted for this will be thrown out. But, more than that, I hope the Republicans don’t think this is a ringing endorsement for them. Both parties are disfunctional. I hope whoever wins in November gets the real message – We The People are who they are elected to serve, not themselves, they aren’t there to line their pockets or protect their jobs. We need to re-read the constitution and get back to the principles that made this country great. It isn’t too late, but I am afraid it soon will be.
Goodbye freedom, innovation and industry … hello socialism, decline and moral decay.
Alpha Paul
March 23rd, 2010
12:14 pm
Oh, and one other question….
If this bill is so good, if our president was serious in his promise to change the way our government is run, if his promise to increase transparency was serious, if his promise to publish any legislation on the internet for all to read and comment on before he signs the bill…
Why was there so much back-room dealing? Why is there so little information about what is really in the bill? Why isn’t it being made available to the public before he signs it into law?
GAmom
March 23rd, 2010
12:34 pm
Alpha Male -
A few rebuttals….
1. Technology has hurt it. But, thanks to the USPS, I can mail a letter across the country for under 50 cents AND it will get there in a few days.
Also, admitting that government can do things that “no one else can do” hurts your argument.
2. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT RUN THE EXCHANGES — PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL. THIS IS NOT A GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER. PLEASE READ THE BILL.
Having a larger pool does cut down on costs. Large corporations pay less, per employee, when compared to small businesses. This is because of the larger pool
3. Malpractice lawsuits account for 2% of health care provider’s annual spending. Tort reform will not help that much!
A portability act was passed in 1996 and you can already take your policy with you. It’ll cost you but, you can do it.
4. “Health care” may not be a right. But, life is.
5. Congress is not excluded. But, that statement has been parroted so much that people believe it….
“There’s nothing in the health care bills that exempts Congress from the same requirements as regular citizens…Under the bill, the lawmakers would continue to receive the same insurance they get now, just as most Americans would.”
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/sep/11/chain-email/64000-question-e-mail-says-congress-exempt-health-/
GAmom
March 23rd, 2010
12:42 pm
The proposals WERE posted online. The House bill has been online since August 2009 and the subsequent bills were posted as they developed. There has been open access to the bills all along. The question is: did you look for them or did you just watch Fox News?
Congress is exempt
March 23rd, 2010
1:52 pm
Just so you know the facts – Congress is exempt for unlike the rest of us, once they have coverage they NEVER loose it, even when they leave congress and get another job. We, on the other hand have our policy only as long as we keep our job or for 18 months of cobra afterwards – and according to the bill in 5 years you won’t be able to join another “private” policy once you exhaust your cobra or get another job – you will have to go on the “exchange” Get your facts straight.
GAmom
March 23rd, 2010
1:59 pm
“House and Senate members are allowed to purchase private health insurance offered through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which covers more than 8 million other federal employees, retirees and their families.” ——-> THIS IS HOW THE EXCHANGES WILL BE SET UP!
There is no special plan and ALL federal employees receive a subsidy from the feds, in retirement, to continue the policies. But, they are not free.
Mark
March 23rd, 2010
2:15 pm
It is all about ‘Freedom to choose’,
even the result of my choice is death!!!
Give me a break.
1. Kid (boy) wants some space of freedom against Mom’s talkative controlls as a backseat driver.
2. Husband likes a sweeter wife more than a aggressive wife whose attitude is to enforce her advices to him.
3. People favorites the civil organization which gives opportunities to take part in voluntarily. 4. American deserves to have a right to choose ‘opt out’ from Fed’s health Insurance Overhaul Act.
5. I like universal health insurance program concept,
but I feel there are some fatally missed important clauses as followings::
1) Public option & stronger regulation on limit the ceiling of premiums rate of greedy insurance companies which will allow lower insurance rates for middle income families.
2) the State governments right of ‘opt out’ by State-wide referendum.
3) Open market of the American medical services and insurance industries to the foreign countries to make them compete ultimately.
4) Remove the cap of new doctor’s number annually which has been pecked up to 100,000 per year under the Federal Law by the strong lobby of AMA(American Medical Association).
Above all, give me a liberty to choose not to get involved in obligatory insurance Federal Law, ‘Opt Out’ right.
Since Federal government charges penalty fine to a American who does not want to buy any insurance, it is a political dictatorship to American individual body.
It will not be surprising thing even when Federal government(or House) has a plan to pass the federal law to issue penalty ticket to the person who tries to suicide and succeeded in kill himself(or herself).
“Give me liberty, or give me death” (Patrick Henry. March 23. 1775)
“Give me a choice(Opt Out Right), or you’ll kick out” (Mark. March 23.2010)
Congress is exempt
March 23rd, 2010
2:16 pm
Then why can’t we participate in the SAME EXCHANGE? Wake up – what is good for the goose is not good for the gander when it comes to their healthcare options. Ironic since they passed laws that an employer can not have better options than offered to their employees… last time I checked they worked for us – guess it doesn’t matter if the employee is the special people in the house and senate. Don’t worry, you are part of the same crowd that was thrilled when our wonderful representitive headed by the King Kennedy pushed HMO’s down our throats as the first step in health insurance reform – and we know how that’s worked out.
GAmom
March 23rd, 2010
2:33 pm
That’s silly, 8 million people get the same coverage as they do! If you want the SAME plan, get a job with the government. It is available if you go after it
You will continue to have the option of purchasing insurance through your employer and other groups. So nothing will be pushed down your throat.
Congress is exempt
March 23rd, 2010
2:38 pm
Dream on, no choice will be available in 5 years. Glad to see that you get the goal … everyone dependent on the government either by employment or entitlement.
GAmom
March 23rd, 2010
2:48 pm
Single-payer is my dream
govtisoutofcontrol
March 23rd, 2010
3:50 pm
Can anyone tell me who is running against Lewis in the 5th congressional district? He voted in favor of a massive entitlement bill and I want him out of office. Can you believe he ran uncontested in the last election cycle? Unbelievable….
No such thing as a free lunch people!
March 23rd, 2010
5:03 pm
Here are ten benefits which come online within six months of the President’s signature on the health care bill:
1. Adult children may remain as dependents on their parents’ policy until their 27th birthday
Parents policies go up to pay for the additional benefit – cost to the middle class
2. Children under age 19 may not be excluded for pre-existing conditions
Parents policies go up to pay for the additional benefit – cost to the middle class
3. No more lifetime or annual caps on coverage
Policies go up to fund additional coverage – cost to the middle class
4. Free preventative care for all
Someone will have to pay – cost to the middle class
5. Adults with pre-existing conditions may buy into a national high-risk pool until the exchanges come online. While these will not be cheap, they’re still better than total exclusion and get some benefit from a wider pool of insureds.
Cost to the middle class
6. Small businesses will be entitled to a tax credit for 2009 and 2010, which could be as much as 50% of what they pay for employees’ health insurance.
Money comes from government…taxpayers – Cost to the middle class
7. The “donut hole” closes for Medicare patients, making prescription medications more affordable for seniors.
Someone will have to pay – cost to the middle class
8. Requirement that all insurers must post their balance sheets on the Internet and fully disclose administrative costs, executive compensation packages, and benefit payments.
Increased business cost – passed on to policy holders – cost to the middle class
9. Authorizes early funding of community health centers in all 50 states (Bernie Sanders’ amendment). Community health centers provide primary, dental and vision services to people in the community, based on a sliding scale for payment according to ability to pay.
Money comes from government…taxpayers – Cost to the middle class
10. AND no more rescissions. Effective immediately, you can’t lose your insurance because you get sick.
11. Policies go up to fund additional coverage – cost to the middle class
In our community – half-rural and half-suburb — 50 community health centers will receive funding to provide health and preventive services to people with no access right now. And that’s just one benefit. They’re all valuable.
Money comes from government…taxpayers – Cost to the middle class
William L Thompson
March 23rd, 2010
7:30 pm
It will be a privilege to add whatever extra cost in taxes that I need to pay to make sure those of the least of these my brothers and sisters, have access to afforbable healthcare. I consider this issue to be a matter of my Christian faith to help my fellow citizens. In the long run, though, it will also help me, because more bills will be paid and not written off and the overall cost of healthcare will be less than otherwise.
ticked off worker
March 24th, 2010
12:50 am
the only reason all these blacks wanted this passed is b/c as usual they want something for nothing. If it wasnt for the government trying to get their lazy butts in houses with the sub-prime loans we wouldnt be in the mess we are today. The blacks in and around Atlanta are nothing but a drain on society. The only thing they contribute is crime.