...were an alternative to state healthcare in some nations, in my original post. I'm not denying that.

But the fact is that there is no serious political movement to change any nationalized healthcare systems back to a privatized system anywhere in the world. That is a fact.

We have a lot of doctors that work very hard, with a lot of pressure, and a lot of loss of sleep, to follow a career in medicine.

They do that because, among other reasons, it is profitable. When it stops becoming worth their while to make those sacrifices...they will stop doing so.

Most people don't realize that the stress of medicine is so big, and there is so much stress, that most doctors don't work until they are 65. They retire young. If a doctor graduates college at 21, then has four years of med school, and then 3 years of residency, that means that a fresh new doctor is 28 years old. If they retire when they are 48, that gives them 20 years of productivity. If more prospective doctors decide that they would like to do something that was more profitable, we would have less doctors.
Talent follows the money. If itt isn't in medicine, it will lead to a shortage of dctors...which means that we will have even more rationing.

And you know it'll be more than $1,000,000,000,000 (somebody count those)! They are never right on the budget. Even over 10 years (KS Woman is right, it won't end) that is a hell of a kick to the cost of running this country. Money we don't have.

Keep the government out of it, eliminate the restrictions of buying between states, ease qualifications for new drugs, new doctors. Get the government bureaucracy out of the paperwork the doctors and insurance companies have to deal with. Don't make me buy a policy that includes maternity care. I promise, I will NOT be downloading any tricycle motors.

Do just those things and the price of insurance would drop drastically so people could actually afford it that claim they can't right now.

Or better yet, leave it up to the states to run the program the way they deem.

But stay out of my pocket!

ok, who's got the joint

...is nothing more than a massive wealth transfer from healthy people to sick people. I don't know what's more pathetic -- that you lefties don't understand why it's unworkable, or that you don't understand why it's unethical.

Were you in Sister Mary Elephant's class too? Small world.

Thank you

There's no withdrawal plan for the healthcare bill. It won't end in 10 years. It won't end after a trillion dollars.

Listening to Boortz today (yeah, not just this board) he was talking about a "Baby Package" offered by TMC. It's advertized/directed to Mexicans, "come here to have your baby, package includes citizenship papers".

Call them and tell them what you think of this program.

hey KS lady.....wanna go over to JoyceM/B's house and drink whine and do a cuppla of joints? the reason I am ax'n you is nuttin' good on tv....

we can laff and point fingers at all the dumbasses(code word for liberals/demoncraps) then go get some cookies at the stop n' rob.

once we're stoned and drunk and fat and stoopid we can go vote for osamabama care 'cuz we won't know any better......hey where's my check.......

To answer some of your questions: 1. "Addressing the Healthcare Crises" - Crises must have come from that wonderful Focus group. First, is the arguement for a National Healthcare System to address Health CARE or Health INSURANCE - contrary to populate belief they are different things. I already pay for my family's health Insurance, Medicade, Medicare and SCHIP - Now you want me to pay for another one run by the government? Now I might reconsider if we can discontinue Medicade, Medicare and SCHIP since we will have National Health Care those others won't be needed, right?

2. Why do we refer to Canada, GB, France, whatever - Because we have a President that doesn't want to tell you DETAILS of his plan because it would scare the hell out of you and all of it's supporters. Why do you think he still talks in "Bumper Sticker" terms - it is easy to remember and it doesn't require him to take a stand!!

3. Sure it won't be to everyone liking - sounds like the system we have now - So why CREATE another one that people won't like???

4. People who cannot get/afford insurance, care and drugs - So are you telling me that this new National Health Care program will INCLUDE everyone, all services/procedures and ALL drugs that everyone will NEED? If not, then it will be like what we have now - So again why create a new system?

So how about this, instead of creating a new Health Care system to be paid for by the working class, we address the problems with the current systems and fix them? According to what is being reported in the news is that the Health Care plans so far crafted by the Democrats in Congress, the price tag will be around 1.6 TRILLION and will cover only 16 million out of the 50 million - So who gets to decide who the 16 million are - a politician - yeah we know how that will turn out?

How exactly does this new National Health Care program do anything to REFORM the current system?

What DETAILS do you know about the proposed National Health Care plan that makes you believe that it is any good or will be different than what Canada, GB, France or whatever?

If this plan is so wonderful, why is it written in the proposed bill that ALL Senators and Congressman will NOT be subjected to this plan? If it is going to be so wonderful, let them be the first to sign up for it!!

I could go on, but what's the point.

Sorry, Neckid. I can't shut up. The only thing that keeps me hanging on is that I will AT LEAST be able to say "I told you so." If I shut up, I won't even have that small gratification.

I don’t think you will see a voucher program so you can get a better hospital.
or a doctor that speaks English.

Just one has cost several million by herself. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-liver13apr13,0,1683353,full.story

Four liver transplants at about $0.5M per. For an illegal alien who is here (brought here as a child) *specifically* to get health care.

3mbw, it will be worse here because we have a much larger, fatter, older population than those other countries where it's already failing.

I agree with you that some thing needs to be done about health care cost but GOVERNMENT run is not the answer. It has been tried in several Countrys and all have major issues. Plus why should my tax dollars pay for your health care. I see nothing in the constitution that says I need to pay for that.

Now that being said. Does something need to be done - YES! But lets look at why it cost so much. 1 reason it cost so much is because of the Insurance that Doctors and Hospitals have to buy to protect themselfs from lawsuits. Maybe we should look at away to reduce the lawsuits or the cost of this insurance. 2. The cost of bringing NEW Drugs to the market. Our Government regulates it to DEATH and drives the cost up.

In short, We need to start looking at the ROOT CAUSE for these issues and STOP JUMPING into things without good research to back it up. GOV Health Care DOES NOT WORK, if you do not beleive me and you don't beleive the other countrys - LOOK at the VA hospitals and Medicare.

When this plan takes affect, it is in your best interest to jump on it for any healthcare needs you may have. Don't wait, early bird gets the worm.

Besides, if all of us who are against it, overrun it from the jump, then those who are for it and think it will be great forever will be the ones holding the short end of the stick. If you snooze, you loose.

Why is it that all of the uninsured folks talking about their astronomical health costs seem to be obese? Of course they are not all obese, but tobacco, alcohol, and food are the top 3 preventable killers. Is it the job of the federal goverment to pay for the costs of people who are knowingly committing slow suicide?

Many are placing a lot of hope into seeing Obama's socialist programs waking up the average American voter but that won't happen. People want socialism and when it fails they will always want it fixed with even more socialism.

Disagree? Then why are the former Soviet-block nations still socialist? Why is Germany highly socialist?

Just look at our public school system to see how Americans will handle the problems of socialized medicine. Americans largely believe schools only need more funding to be fixed, and usually fall for every proposed tax hike written in the name of saving the poor, poor children. Teacher Union myths are even accepted as gospel. I guarantee that once Americans experience socialized medicine their crys for reform will only be for those policies that would increase government regulation in the sector - just like education.

The ONLY hope Obamunism has in waking up Americans is that it may comfort enough of the ignorant to stay home on election day '10 and energize patriots who were so disgusted with McCain that they stayed home on election day '08.

That's what they all said. Why do they ALL suck - and why are the others bailing out?

To see the future, look no further than the state of TN! At the urging of VP Al Gore, "Tenncare" was created as a trial version of "Hillarycare" to insure the uninsureds. Predictably, employers cancelled their privately funded employee health care benefits in deference to the more inclusive government supported plan, thus balooning the rolls of the "uninsured." The result, over 60% of the population of the state is now covered by Tenncare, which consumes over 40% of the entire state budget! And, oh yes, fraud is rampant.