Palito's Comments (46)

“Since the spring they knew they didn't have 60 votes to achieve any kind of real reform (remember the Baucus gang of six), they could have fought for other things like like expanded medicare Instead they chose to lie and pretend they were gong to "stand up" to the special interests haha.”

“it is too late to stop this mess from happening.Both parties have capitulated to big business. Now the job is to continue documenting the abuses of this industry and put pressure for more regulation and control of these private entities.”

“that's how the privatization of all social programs will take place... private entities will be allowed to administer pieces of these programs...(already happening in Medicare) and expanding in time until they take over the entire system. This bill just accelerates the takeover.”

“Given the deals with phrma and ahip, there was no way to get any kind of real reform. This was clear before the summer. The fix was in.

That's why there is so much disappointment. It's not because the president didn't fight for a public option, it's because the WH's number one priority is to appease the special interests.”

“This bill will pass as is, since WH is satisfied. But the next round (perhaps in 2016?), will not be about "improving" the bill, it will be about subsidies and how to pay for this thing once premiums continue to rise unchecked. I bet they will be cut, but the mandates will stay in place.”

“the increases this year are insane, my plan went from 14K a year to 18K a year!”

“immigration reform is much more than just dealing with people with no legal status.

the problem with the debate is that it's always about the "illegals" and how to "punish" them. when the impact of the outdated immigration laws is much more than just people working illegally.

btw mentally impaired US citizens have been wrongly deported... yes... kicked out of their own country because they are hispanic and are mentally disabled and unable to challenge their detention..... so the officials simply assumed they were illegals..”

“all countries of north, central and south america are founded on migratory flows and these flows will continue to exist and change the demographics of every nation in the continent. this is something the the "nativists" just can't accept.

Congress should take this issue and solve it once and for all. it is not as complex as health care and there are plenty of proposals from both parties to fix it. However, given the profile in cowardice exhibited by many members of congress in passing something as urgent as health care reform, it is hard to believe they will have the courage to work on this issue. Probably they will prefer fine dining with lobbyists, donors and PACs to collect bribes for the 2010 elections instead of working, so they can avoid a "tough vote".”

“the title of the book refers to those oh so evil liberal coastal foreign lovin' elite journalists who started the idea that she was "going rogue" during the campaign trail.”

“in what dimension are you living?

the health care system will remain private. the proposed "reforms" firmly establish the private system as the only source of coverage for the working age population.”

“the Public Option ( if it survives) won't be able to put a ceiling on private insurance prices because it is designed by the lobbyists to be a small pool for poor unemployed people or high risk people. It is not designed to compete or lower costs. In fact, it is highly likely that the public plan will be dismantled because it will be the dumping ground for poor sick people and it will go bankrupt.. it will be used for generations to come as an example of how govt run health care doesnt work.

The absurd employer based system will continue to be the only way to get health insurance for the vast majority of people. democrats keep saying " if you like your insurance, you can keep it" but they never say that, if you do not like your insurance, you have to stick with it because your options will continue to be limited

in anycase, Rome wasn't built in a day, this new system will blow up again due to skyrocketing costs in 10 years and we;ll be back to "reform".”

“let's see. The current cycle is going fast but it is clear where it is headed.

* Reid says they are not "bound by any deadline" and theyre going to take it slowly...
* the MSM announcing the return of the gop and that it;s over for the democrats...
* deranged gop officials set up a circus in DC to "kill the bill" with wide media coverage.
* multiple reports of conservative dems "afraid" that health care will end their political careers.
* the House vote is postponed because they don't have the votes...
* reports of the President making personal appeals to save the bill.
* reports of progressives capitulating and giving up ground.
* nationwide flood of tv and radio ads agains health care reform, funded by the chamber of commerce and its multiple astroturf groups, blaming unemployment on HCR.

They are close to derailing this whole thing... I think HC reform in overall is on life support at this point.”

“why refer to your personal anecdotes when there are plenty of peer reviewed studies documenting the reality of health care for the uninsured or under-insured.

The vast majority of people who cannot pay for treatment simply don't get it. Getting help from charities or grants is very hard since demand is huge and resources are extremely limited. What the poor uninsured do is, either they don't go to the doctor or they don't follow treatment, don't buy the medications and progressively get worse until they go to the ER where they get treatment at extremely high cost to the system.”

“that problem of ever increasing costs is caused by the very existence of the health insurance industry and the employer based insurance system. There is no incentive to reduce prices and there is no market transparency. You cant' shop around, you're captive to whatever deals "in network" your insurance has made and the plan offered in your job.”

“yes. that's how things are coming.. Yesterday there was another of those "anonymous source" from the WH saying that the best solution is a "triggered + opt out" public option !!! unbelievable.”

“the end result of this "reform" will be a captive market of millions of people enslaved in perpetuity to the insurance industry cartel. These companies sooner or later will have to be dismantled because they will suck every possible dollar of the economy without producing anything of value at all.”

“Does she think she stands a better chance of reelection with the progressive grassroots campaigning for her or alone, facing the massive truckloads of feabaggers at the polls in her state?”

“young women can get early mammograms if they have a history of breast cancer in their families.

if these things weren't mandated NO insurer would ever cover them or the coverage would be outrageously expensive, sending more women to an early death.”

“yes.
Actually today's journalism would be more like:

"Some say the world is round, while others aver that it is flat. Supporters of roundness cite as proof papers and books written by liberal atheist scientists in universities dominated by left leaning faculty. Opponents of earth roundness dismiss these claims and argue that the earth has always been flat and any attempt to redefine its shape is an assault on the moral fabric of America"”

“Those are the things insurance should not be used for. basic things should be cheap and affordable for everyone. insurance should be only for major surgeries, catastrophic events, chronic diseases. even the few remaining thinking conservatives agree on that..”

“ok thanks for the clarification. I don't see a problem with having a minimum standard of coverage. If these things were not mandated, insurers would price coverage of these conditions at stratospheric prices so that very few people would be able to afford them or simple not cover them at all. Can you imagine the public health crisis if all of the millions of people with diabetes were not covered?

Let's see what other things are mandatory ( at least in my state)

Diabetes
Alzheimer
prostate exam/ mamogram
mental illness
HIV/AIDS

sounds reasonable to me, since I can't chose whether or not illl be affected by any of these serious long term chronic conditions.”

“Agreed.
the american people should be reminded daily in all details the consequences of any of its wars.”

“it seems your insurance company is ripping you off if they are covering you for pregnancy when you are a male or charging you for counseling..... there are plenty of policies available that cover the bare minimums if thats what you want....”

“That's the question I would love to ask one of the defenders of the "free market" insurance, Senator McCain. he is uninsurable because of his previous cancer diagnosis if he were not covered by a govt provided plan.

Good for him he is a millionaire, so he doesn't care about the rest of the nation who can't charge 250K a month in an american express card.”

“this is so predictable.

first it was the faux liberal pundits from the media saying the left was being childish, and now the "thinktanks" telling everyone to shut up and accept whatever is being offered... It seems the pushback is serious and the insurers are trying a "divide and confuse them" strategy.”