Obama Asks For Your Questions On Health Care (VIDEO)

President Obama is scheduled to hold an online town hall on Wednesday to discuss health care and the White House is asking people to get involved by submitting their questions about health care reform via video. The White House's blog says that in this instance "we are engaging online networks outside of WhiteHouse.gov, such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter." Watch President Obama's video about the discussion below. To learn more about how to submit a question, read here.

Comments

[blueskybigstar]

I don't have any questions. I'm just telling you, Obama, single payer is the only way to go. 76% of the people are for single payer. We will save a lot of money by putting insurance companies out of work and negotiating for pharmaceuticals. This is what you do with the people who need to be unemployed in finance and insurance. Give them generous efforts of job retraining. They need to be obsolete.

My question has to do with why is there no debate about this on the main stream media and why there is no debate about the ever growing community of people who question what happened in NY and new evidence that puts things to question? I wonder why you have people associated with Kissinger and IranContra around you? What are you doing about the CIA d rug launderer Stanford?

[flapjack]

76% are not for single payer.

[blueskybigstar]

This is a poll that was cited on Stephanie Miller.

[Peabodies]

76% are FOR single payer.

[maggiemay]

All we gotten is false promises. government has the power to end it. Greed has taken over these people and we are expendable in their eyes.

So, stop the lying. government has show who really has the power. Not these bandits of liberty, the lobbists and their coaltion of business.

We know that the lobbists rules the government. We didn't vote for the lobbists. Their voice is more important than our opinion, so why ask for it? We only important during election year. To make it look like we practice a democratic society.

Enact:
U.S. Constitution Preamble #5

To provide the general welfare to help provide a higher standard of living for the people of the United States through better government.

[blueskybigstar]

We need to eliminate the lobbyists and put up an amendment establishing what exactly the definition of a corporation needs to be and what their rights are which need to be greatly limited.

[koppenberg]

Actually, the preamble says "promote the general Welfare", not "provide".

Promote and provide are very different things.

[blueskybigstar]

promote can mean provide. provide, however does not mean promote.

[littlechuckie]

My guess..... 1out of 20 on this post have contacted their representation in Washington with their direction. It may even be 1 in 50. Stop whinning - start contacting.

[jmpurser]

AGREED! Contact your congressional delegation, state governor, and the White House!

[JulieCarol]

Mitch McConnell doesn't care about my opinion. Unless I'm a multi-millionaire, I matter not.

[moonflowerjewelry]

welcome the the american dark ages -
mrsa is going to be our plage
we are the serfs who arent allowed things that interfere with the profit of the ruling classes (now called corporations)
jobs, health care, education, clean air and water, renewable energy

[IneptitudePrideB4Fall]

President Obama,
You've said that health costs are making American products non-competitive internationally. Why are you suggesting that business continue to pay for the health care system of its workers? Wouldn't separating businesses and health systems costs make American exports more competitive?

The only remaining "pocket" to help consumers pay for health care (not insurance) is government.

[timberdoodle]

Perhaps a good question would be to have him explain why in civilized countries if a person has the knowledge and ability to save someone's life but chooses not to then they are committing a crime called voluntary manslaughter and/or criminal negligence.

If a life guard walked away from and allowed a person to drown because his shift was over and he wouldn't be getting paid to save their life then he would be charged with either criminal negligence and/or voluntary manslaughter and receive a very harsh penalty.

On the other side of the coin a doctor and/or a medical facility refuses treatment to a dying person because they aren't being paid is condoned and accepted in America and aren't considered to be guilty of an offense. Why is the latter not a crime in America?

[twwv8]

It is a crime.
Doctors and hospitals can not refuse care to a dying patient.
Try again.

[loudspeaker]

Boils down to the definition of "dying", innit?

[blueskybigstar]

The problem is so many come to the ER when they are dying and not when it could have been easily treated. They do not come when they are easily treated because they don't have insurance. Does this make sense?

[timberdoodle]

My point in this post was to highlight that if all medical practioners and facilities were being held criminally responsible for the deaths or suffering of people they refused to treat they would all be begging the government to institute a single payer health care system.

[twwv8]

So I should slap that cigarette out of the smoker's hand, or grab that Big Mac from that obese person. If not I am responsible for their death.
OK.

[classicalgeek]

Better yet, let's hold the Senators and Representatives criminally liable if they are not supporting health care reform.

[flapjack]

I love how libs are always looking to throw people in jail just for disagreeing with them.

[CigarGod]

Wizard of Oz Lyrics on Courage...­for Obama:

Courage! What makes a King out of a slave?

Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave?

Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk, in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?

What makes the muskrat guard his musk?

Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder?

Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder?

Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the 'ape' in apricot?

What have they got that I ain't got?

Courage!

[dmacgregor]

I'm hearing:
1) Why are you not even considering single payer, clearly the best solution?
2) Bush claimed "political capital" he clearly didn't have to ram through most everything he wanted. With the incredible political capital you won, why are you waffling on the second-best solution..­. a public insurance option?
3) Please explain how health reform without single payer or a public option has any hope of reducing the current environment's exhorbitant costs?

[jmpurser]

The "Public Option" has no cost savings built into it. It's just a profit enhancement program for the insurance industry.

Single payer isn't the "best solution" it's the ONLY solution we've discussed so far.

[dmacgregor]

The "Public Option" will save money because it won't be for profit and will therefor offer lower premiums than the private insures offer. In fact, it provides no benefit at all to the insurance industry, which is why that industry is lobbying heavily against it. And how can you say Single payer is the only solution that's been discussed? As other commenters have pointed out, the Administration has been consciously excluding this option from most discussions of reform solutions.

[mountclemens]

Sham. I agree with the many commenters here who have had more than enough disappointments already. Mr. Change needs to change out of his jockstrap and into his armor. He needs to be strong and get us Single Payer or "Medicare for All." We're a solid majority with a strong progressive streak, and we got him elected. But he's selling us out, issue by issue.

And why VIDEO a question? What a load. As a former journalist, I know that one question, with no chance at follow-up questions, is a complete waste of time. The politician half-answers and then goes to a different questioner. Also, there's about a one percent chance Obama is going to see your question. His handlers will view and choose, based on what they want the president to be able to say. They're just soliciting set-ups. It's a complete waste of our time.

We've already sent all the questions and comments he could ever need to get right on this issue. We've sent them to the White House, and his campaign website, and many wonderful people would be happy to question him in person -- but can't get heard in any of his well-orchestrated "town-hall" meetings and other appearances.

There's no democracy under these conditions. We voted for change -- more than skin deep.

[Binea]

How will non- working housewives and the self employed be covered ? How about something that allows you to pay in according to income ?

[Peabodies]

Binea -- under Single Payer, everyone is covered for essential (not optional) health care.

[kbkw54]

You said that all Americans should have the same health insurance that Congress has. It's time to deliver on that promise.

[flapjack]

Won't happen. Way too expensive.

[vgirl1]

If this is for the sake of the tone deaf members of Congress, the lobbyists and the media who continue to ignore or downplay the voters wishes, I will once again ask as so many have,

When will you put your full weight behind a public option for healthcare?

The time for 'IF" is past. The time is "NOW".

So, please, help us get a Public Option, President Obama.

[jacklambert]

In this, or any other, economy no one should profit from health care.
Profit from health care should be illegal and a crime against humanity.
What's so difficult about that?
Obama has already failed 'The People' There is no 'change' I can believe in.

The Senate and Congress are still owned by the banks and insurance industry.
Obama is the token nod to progress but the game hasn't changed.

I love him to death but he is not going to grow a pair. Health care is the 'Biggie' but rescuing the banks was the blunder that will now put his administration at the event horizen of the black hole of irrelevancy.

He may have stalled the economic abyss which by doing so has prevented any need for real reform so we will limp along to the next Administration. Meanwhile the treasury will print more money until the currency becomes worthless

[flapjack]

Just curious...

In your world can people profit from food? How about energy? What about communications? Transportation? Clothing?

All are required in society.

[Peabodies]

Fair compensation, yes. Obscene salaries & bonuses for paper-pushing, no, flapjack.

[slocomgp]

Wouldn't it compare better to the police, sheriff, fire fighters, emergency services in general, roads, highways and infrastructure? Should these services be for profit also? Should these services only be for the people that can pay for it?

[Raintree]

No question, but a bit of advice. We remember campaign promises that you seemingly forget. Be a leader, stop kowtowing to the right (of your party and that other one), and get this done.

[YewNeekId]

4) Who do you need most to get re-elected - the Health Care Lobbyists or the American people?

[YewNeekId]

3) Do you remember your campaign promise to get all of us the same health care program that you and the congress get ? We would be happy with that.