NWGuy's Comments (75)

“The right is really swinging away at the middle class! Screaming about socialism with health insurance reform (workers just don't deserve the same health care the CEO has!) and then blaming the American worker for being overpaid and thus the cause of recession/­depression­. Obviously, getting back to a feudal system with a few lords and everyone else at the serf level seems to be their ideal.

In some ways the workers are to blame, but not because of being 'overpaid'. The middle class, by apathy and lack of interest on one side to being too fatigued to get involved on the other, through learned helplessness or even through buying into the 'you, too, can get rich quick' fantasy, have allowed the government and industry to push them aside, abuse them through longer hours and ever increasing productivity demands, and, ultimately, outsourcing their jobs. We all bought into the marketing scam of 'your value = what you have', so we bought the RV, the boat, the monster TV, resulting in debt that chained us to jobs we couldn't afford to lose, thus empowering those in charge. The middle class needs to take back its power through selective purchasing, the ballot box, stockholder meetings and getting involved.”

“The issue is quite simple, the repubs will do anything in their attempt to make Obama look bad. By being passive aggressive - just standing in the way of progress - is about all they can do as they have no ideas of their own, nothing to bring to the table, nothing to help America. Just stand in the way. What the dems need to do is grow a pair and just run'em over and make them look as bad as they really are.”

“As has been noted before, the repubs are interested in ruling, not governing.

The repubs are a homogenous group with a narrow philosophical belief that puts profit above people, which allows them to easily focus their talking points and get consensus within the group. Dems, on the other hand, consist of a wide range of people from highly educated professionals to laborers, all races, all sexual preferences, and an emphasis on people. This leads to a wide range of philosophical perspectives and, thus, harder to define things in 10 words or less and much harder to get a consensus.

As smart as it would be to get together and agree on talking points and an agenda, the nature of eing progressive makes it very difficult.”

“I'll believe the recession is over, not when the Wall street types are working or the banks are feeling risky again, but when the truckers are back on the road. The bankers and the wall street types live in a virtual world of their own making consisting of numbers and projections, the validity of which has been demonstrated over the past year. The loads hauled by the truckers, on the other hand, show directly that products are being bought and sold.”

“It is more than just Congressman Wilson that wants to avoid a civil and serious discussion about health care reform and specifically health insurance reform. The entire anti-reform crowd knows that any reasonable discussion about the issues will leave them looking bad. Their agenda is to maintain the status quo, allow the health insurance companies full market control with the only competition coming from amongst their own and limited oversight. Their argument is the ol' "big bad government" is going to do this or that. Although they continue to repeat them, the vast majority, if not all, of their fear provoking talking points have been disproved or shown to be out and out lies. When asked for specifics, their responses are overly general blanket statements without any solid proof or facts. Its really hard for them to come right out and say that they are for continued greed by the insurance industry and that the suffering and deaths of Americans takes a back seat to that greed.”

“True, hard to legislate behavior, however, it is possible to legislate factors that encourage and support behaviors that can lead to better health. Requiring PE in schools, bike paths on all roads, and incentives for employers to provide wellness programs are examples.

The main thrust of the current legislation is dealing with illness care payment, which is a long way from working towards optimizing the health of Americans. But illness care payment is the main squeaky wheel at the moment. Working to reduce the demand for health care services is where the real work should be.

There are many factors in our society that promote less than healthy lifestyles. Why are fast food places continuing to do well? There is a demand and a need. It is easier and cheaper to grab a Happy Meal when trying to balance 1 or 2 jobs, kids in school, and a strapped budget than prepare a healthy meal at home. The real question is why is this so? Why do so many people eat 1 or more meals a week in their cars? Why don't Americans exercise more? Could 12 hours shifts, mandatory overtime, lack of safe parks, be contributing?

Getting payment for the cardiac bypass will help, but looking at our daily behaviors and those factors in our society that support or discourage those behaviors, is what will affect long term health outcomes.”

“Obviously, the whole anti-Obama school speech push is about politics, not content. Its amazing that one woman said she didn't want her daughter listening to the President. Limbough, yes, the President, no. Scary.

In a time when the country really should be working hard to come together to deal with the effects of the economy and job losses, the right wing is doing everything they can to encourage divisiveness. Note that they are not offering any real solutions or alternatives, not offering to even discuss, just to push raw emotions in the gullible. Nothing to support or help the country, just themselves.”

“Ahh, but the republicans don't care if the American people lose. What is important to them is that they "win".

The repubs have shown repeatedly that they have no respect for and actual disdain for the American public. Why should this be any different?”

“The other thing that Obama (and the American people) must demand of Congress is that they start acting like adults, start doing their jobs as elected representatives of the American people -- not a corporation, and to start doing what is best for America not their re-election coffers.”

“The way I read the reform bills is that fixing the broken parts is what the public option would do. It would cover those without coverage without necessarily affecting those that are happy with their current coverage.

The poll numbers can be deceiving - example - as an employer I have 4 employees that are happy with their coverage, I am not because of the cost. 80% happy. But my 20%, in order to keep my business in the black, will change what happens to the others. The other question that needs to be asked is whether people are still happy with their insurance when they need it but get denied.

A hidden cost with the current system is that it costs health providers $20 - 30 BILLION a year to bill and deal with the insurance companies that constantly deny, return bills for correction, or just postpone payments.

I'm not so sure about the private competition model. When checking out coverage, they are all outrageous in cost, all go up 15 - 20% per year, all increase the out of pocket for the employee while decreasing coverage.

OK with most of your other points but, re illegals - a trauma victim shows up in the ED, looks hispanic, now what - withhold treatment until you can prove they are legal? If not, stop treatment and let'em die? Ideally, keep illegals out of the country in the first place, but I won't hold my breath on that one.”

“Needs to point out that having health care available to all makes economic and capitalistic sense, (since money is the only thing repubs seem to understand).

The truck driver without health insurance that gets diagnosed with diabetes, can't return to driving until he has the diabetes treated, but can't get treated because of lack of coverage. So he goes from being a working man earning a living, paying road taxes and getting the products we all use to market, to being on medical disability. The working single mom without health coverage that misses extra days of work because she has to stay home with a sick kid or her own illness. The guy that keeps barely making it to work but can hardly do anything because of illness or injury he can't afford to get treated. The sick worker that comes to work and infects his coworkers.

These examples cost employers millions of dollars a year in lost productivity and effects the economy through lost wages.”

“As an employer, my rates have increased 15 - 20% every year, even with reducing benefits. Add to that the increase in out of pocket costs to the employee, its more yet. Without serious competition, expect premiums to continue on up.

Remember, this is what the repubs are fighting hard to continue!”

“It is doubtful that the repubs had any desire for bipartisanship from the start. Their goal has been to derail Obama however they can and the fact that the American people would suffer because of their 'party first' mentality is completely lost on them.

All the moaning and groaning about the lack of bipartisanship from the right has been nothing but a ruse to slow and control any progressive or Obama supported legislation.”

“Good post by DVMX below on the right v privilege of health care. A privilege is granted by one group to another and is too easily taken away, so, no takers on that one.

Technically, it can't be a 'right' until Congress passes a law to amend the Constitution. That is different than an implied right as part of human society.

What is necessary is to recognize that having a healthy population - both through prevention and adequate illness treatment - is integral to having a society that works for everyone. Sick employees cost the employer and reduces productivity. The construction worker at home with a sick kid can't build that fancy house for the rich guy. Chronic disease, especially at younger ages, produces a financial strain on families and society. The truck driver with untreated diabetes can't be on the road to bring products to market or pay the over the road taxes.

The current private insurance system excludes too many, is too costly for most and is overly influenced by greed.

So we choose to make health care a service available to all Americans, just like roads, national defense, fire or police services; everyone chips in so everyone is covered.”

“"during the previous administration, public dissent was actually encouraged"

Gee, must have been a different admin than I remember. Those that disagreed with invading Iraq were quickly labeled as unAmerican and unpatriotic, any disagreement was quickly shut down. So called 'town meetings" were carefully scripted, questions prescreened and preselected, and, with rare exception, were never open to the public. There weren't the open arguments as seen now as the Bush people never allowed the setting for such arguments to ever develop.

No problem with protesting, no problem with arguing a point of view. A big problem with those that are there primarily to disrupt and prevent any discussion (argument or not) and to deny other citizens their 1st Amendment rights to free speech by shouting them down.”

“I guess they don't remember how outraged they were when some were making the Hitler comparison to Bush?!”

“ "the thought of letting some Bureaucrats decide what treatments are allowed ... is just terrifying."

The same ol' talking point put out by Luntz: the bureaucrat controlling your life. So which would you prefer: The government bureaucrat (more talking point than reality) or the insurance company lackey whose job performance is based on how many claims or procedures they can deny (which is already in common practice)?

Anyone who thinks that the insurance companies are not already "rationing" or deciding what treatments will or will not be allowed, based not on medical necessity but on profitability, is just closing their eyes to reality.”

“Sadly, its been allowed to get backwards: the government should fear the people, not the other way around.

Only when the people stand up to the bought and paid for reps and senators, will the gap between what happens on capitol hill and what is wanted by the rest of America begin to close. Believe or not folks, we already have that power, its called the vote.”

“In the fight against necessary reform for health care, the repubs will support a swift boat attack. But, so far, all they are doing is saying no. They have not offered any reasonable plan, even to the point of saying they don't need a plan. All they do is accuse with innuendo, talking points, and scare tactics. I haven't seen much at all from them with any facts or viable options.

By being against reform, by extension, that implies that they are FOR the current system -- for 50 million without access to health care; for millions more having treatment denied, even after years of faithfully paying premiums; for companies having to drop or significantly reduce coverage for their employees due to increasing costs; premiums raised, especially for those with claims so to leave the insurer rosters; and especially for soaring profits for the insurance companies.

We need to stop talking about them being against reform and talk about what they are for - in short, insurance company profits and limited to no access to care for Americans. Let Americans be the judge and jury.”

“With the current system, there isn't a "what if...", its a "what is". Insurance claims people, with little or no medical training, repeatedly question treatment plans of docs. "Are you sure it's an appy?", "Why don't you just give'em several enemas, that worked 100 years ago and its cheap?", "I'll have to review this with my supervisor, I won't authorize anything until I get back to you next week."

I agree with Dr. LaPook that the health care reform issue is complicated and is purposely confounded by those pushing one agenda or another. With something as important and far reaching in consequences as this issue, it would be ideal to have it rise above political BS'g, but, that won't happen.

To date, the opponents for health care reform are just that, opposed to reform. There has been no opposition plan presented, no arguments as to why the status quo should continue, just that reform is bad.”

“Senator Jeff Sessions' (R-AL) comment to Sonia Sotomayor "You have suggested that a judge's background and experience will impact their decision, which goes against the American ideal that a judge will be fair to every party, and every day when they put on that robe they will put aside their personal prejudices,"

But hasn't Chief Justice Roberts come down on the same side of the fence every time since taking the bench? Doesn't that show a prejudice?

Isn't the reality that all judges, SCOTUS or not, base decisions on their background and experience? Isn't that why there is the battle each time a judge gets nominated and the ongoing drive to get certain judges in that pass certain litmus tests? Isn't that why they bring up issues like abortion during the confirmation process? To deny that choosing judges with biases is not SOP is ridiculous. Having completely impartial judges may the "American ideal", but it sure isn't the reality. And the Congress actively keeps the selection of obviously biased judges alive and well.”

“So Mrs. Jones doesn't die at 65 from DM, has an additional 14 years of good health before she falls and breaks her hip at 79. In that interim, lets say that she plays a significant role in her granddaughter's life and turns her away from being a runaway and using drugs towards a better life. Or, Mrs. Jones, being the CEO of a small company, is able to secure that company's future. Its not just a simple issue of dollars in and dollars out.

You are correct that prevention cannot prevent all cases of a disease nor guarantee good health forever. You are also correct that by saving lives earlier in life that more chronic disease, and the associated costs, can build on the other end. Prevention can reduce the burden of disease, both in morbidity and mortality. In the case above, because of prevention, Mrs. Jones doesn't develop CAD and avoids an angiography, two stent placements, a pacemaker and, later, bypass surgery; she dramatically slows her osteoporosis so that her hip breaks at 79 rather than at 70, she avoids the spinal fractures that would've required years of meds; she avoids disease of the retina so is able to have sight restored with cataract surgery, rather than several retinal surgeries. How much is all that worth?

Prevention is not a panacea. Prevention has its own associated costs, both direct and indirect. But I believe that benefits and total costs of prevention far outweigh any on the down side.”

“The most effective primary prevention is actually outside of the health care system. Prevention is less expensive, and therefore more cost-effective, when it can be incorporated into personal lifestyles rather than added on as a clinical intervention.

Any health reform needs to include incentives for changes in individual, community and corporate behaviors. Its one thing to say we need to walk or bike more, its another to be sure that safe routes are available. We should exercise more, but have all but eliminated PE from schools, allowed parks to be taken over by gangs and have 10 - 12 hour work days, 6-7 days a week, leaving no time nor energy to exercise. We've designed cities, towns, communities, shopping areas and work around the driver rather than the pedestrian. We should eat better but it is cheaper and easier to grab fast food or highly processed foods. Many of us eat one or more meals a week while in the car. We have many companies whose products are not just unhealthy but outright dangerous to health.

The appropriate question is not whether prevention can make money for the payers for health care, but, whether it promotes health at a reasonable price.”

“How come I have never seen a similar letter about bias, about "give the American people the facts and let them make up their own minds" or making sure that opposition of a debate is given time being sent to Fox 'news'?!

The last thing the repubs want is to hear from the American public. To let the minions that elected them have any say in how they control government is beyond comprehension. To let people actually ask questions that weren't pre-screened or written for them is just not proper SOP!”

“Success in health care reform will depend if it is about people having access to health care or (as the repubs prefer) access to health insurance. Only the former will make a difference.”