And all those Conservative politicians enjoy socialized medicine.

Talk about having a skewed, screwed view of the world? Sometimes I wonder how some people get across the street.

Feel free to opine all you want.

If you want to be the only one allowed to have political opinions here, say so. I’d be cool with it.

You might have noticed that we are already operating on the premise that the only possible solution is a government-controlled health care monolith, with just the details to be worked out, such as which godlike beings will occupy the “commissions” that will make decisions for everyone in the country.

We are told that to oppose nationalized health care is to oppose all health care, period.

There are other solutions, but there’s no point in even bringing them up in the current environment. It’s socialism or nothing, and Obamacare was engineered specifically with that goal in mind. It isn’t me saying that, it’s multiple Democrats.

Interesting how relying on one among thousands of private companies for health insurance is somehow seen as virtual enslavement, while relying on an inescapable state monopoly for health insurance is not.

But Medicare is for 65+ seniors only. I would have no problem with extending it to the entire population, perhaps with deductibles copays, need restrictions and limits and other mechanisms to provide the user incentive to economize.

But there’s no way the Right would accept that. You see, its not the administration or philosophy of the plan they object to, its that its going to cost them money in increased taxes. They aklready pay for health insurance, they don’t want to pay for anybody elses.

Its like school taxes. I don’t have any kids, so why should I pay them? But universal health, like universal education (at least some minimum level) is not a luxury. Its a right.

I know what you are saying and I agree. I just want to avoid the several hour waits becoming de jure for all of us under the proposed system.

I hate to be so cynical but the “we have to start somewhere” argument does not sit well with me. Shouldn’t we try to solve the many problems you recognize before we enact a system that may become stagnant under our stagnant system of government. The problems will not be fixed by a stroke of the pen.

The current Medicare system is livable. I am on a Medicare Complete plan through United Healthcare. There is no premium and the coverage is not the greatest but it is okay. Routine Dr visits are $5 and prescriptions are scaled by type from 4-40 bucks. Since my wife requires several of the $40 meds it is tough but even the higher price supplements are high on certain meds. Surgeries usually leave you owing 1-2 thousand and you have to pay 20% on equipment. There is a stop loss that I have never attained.

The point of this is, Obama care dissenters say my level of care will be going South. I understand this may be scare tactics but if Obama care is activated I will soon know what kind of coverage it will afford. You know it will be no better than Medicare and that’s not great at best.

Any way you look at it a massive bureaucracy is unavoidable along with the corruption that goes with it and the best level of care will go to those clever enough to sponge off the system as is true now. Think IRS.

Oh well…

The VA charged me for my meds and doctors visits (no, they are not free) but the charges were reasonable.

First is the health industry itself, which is incredibly powerful and very rich, and which will devote considerable resources to preventing the implementation of any program that threatens its income. This is the most profitable and fastest-growing sector of the otherwise moribund American economy. There are enormous forces determined to frustrate any changes that will threaten that cash cow.

Second, in their desperate efforts to deny the Democrats, and this President in particular, a popular piece of legislation, every effort will be made to derail any attempt at reform, even with proven systems that have been proposed, introduced, or even implemented by Republicans in the past. They have been able to obstruct, delay, confuse, complicate and corrupt any effort to implement any form of national care. And failing that, they have mounted an unprecedented political, lobbying and propaganda campaign to put roadblocks in the way of these reforms, using appeals to jingoism, slander and downright lies. And now that a program is passed as law, signed by the President, confirmed by his re-election, and certified by the courts, they are advising the citizenry to actually break the law and refuse to participate. They continue to fight it, under cover of the lie that the American people does not want it.

And that IS a lie. Even though a narrow 51% percent majority of Americans disapproves of Obamacare, only 36 percent actually favors repeal. The difference is those who either feel it doesn’t go far enough, or who prefer it to having nothing at all, or the continuation of the current corrupt system.

The conservative mobilization against this essential piece of legislation will be the final legacy of the Republican Party, and it will be remembered long after they are finished as a political force in this country.

Not since the days of opposition to Civil Rights have I witnessed such a cynical and immoral obstruction for pure political and financial gain. This is not a question of philosophical dispute, or a difference of opinion as to implementation or administration. It is pure unadulterated greed and evil. I have never seen anything quite like it.

Nevertheless, I don’t deny that lack of health insurance is a difficult situation that is dehumanizing more than a death sentence. There are ways to survive but they turn you into a beggar perceived by many as a leech on society.

No doubt many fail tom survive because they are unable to navigate the, ask and you shall receive, system.

My problem with universal health care is the continuation of private insurance for the privileged. I can’t quarrel with the rich paying out of pocket for health care but higher quality health insurance for those more equal is a disturbing scenario.

We can’t afford the universal care I envision, then back to the drawing board. What we have is bad but workable. The proposed plan will not get better only worse over time. It is essentially rounding up those who can’t afford private insurance and putting them into a camp with no fences.

I assume supplemental insurance will always be available to those who can afford it but if benefits erode under Obama care due to costs, we will be right back in the same situation of finding charity or dying prematurely.