The American Spectator : Why Obamacare Would Fail

Text Size

Why Obamacare Would Fail

By Philip Klein on 3.19.10 @ 6:09AM

Contrary to what Democrats claim, their health care legislation would only become more unpopular the more people see what's in it.

With Democrats hurtling toward a scheduled Sunday vote on national health care legislation, Washington is already starting to speculate on the political ramifications of its passage.

The latest Gallup poll suggests that President Obama’s drive to jam the unpopular bill through Congress is taking its toll. For the first time of his presidency, more people disapprove of Obama’s performance (48 percent) than approve (46 percent).

Despite the polling numbers, the White House publicly insists that once Americans understand what’s in the bill, they’ll come to like it and over time will embrace it just like Social Security and Medicare. Yet the reverse is more likely to be true. Once Americans confront the consequences of this government takeover of the health care system, it will only become more unpopular.

When he set out to overhaul the nation’s health care system, Obama faced a basic problem in selling his proposals: roughly 85 percent of Americans have health insurance and are generally satisfied with their personal care. So as a result, he was forced to make a series of bold claims. He has argued that without his brand of health care legislation, premiums would spiral out of control; health care spending would eat up more than a fifth of our economy; and our entitlement crisis would cripple the federal government. Meanwhile, he’s claimed that his plan would expand coverage while reducing deficits and improving quality of care. And of course, none of these revolutionary changes would interfere in any way with people who like the coverage they have.

If Americans are skeptical now, just wait until they actually had to live under Obamacare.

To start with, Americans would still be facing skyrocketing premiums. There’s been a lot of debate over the Congressional Budget Office report on this matter, with Republicans emphasizing that premiums would be higher in the individual market, and Democrats touting the finding that in the employer-based market, they could be slightly lower. But the important thing to keep in mind is that these estimates are all relative to what people would otherwise be paying if we simply did nothing. So even if you look at the employer-based market, according to the CBO, a family policy would cost roughly $20,100 for the average employee in 2016 under the Senate bill, rather than $20,300 under the status quo. Good luck to any Democrat who attempts to tell those families and businesses struggling to pay $20,100 for insurance coverage that if it weren’t for Obamacare, they’d be paying $200 extra.

While Obama claims that we need to pass his bill to avert spiraling health care costs, the Chief Actuary for the Centers for Medicare Services, which is responsible for tracking this, estimated that if the Senate health care bill passed, spending would actually rise to 20.9 percent of GDP, compared to 20.8 percent under the status quo Obama has rightly deemed “unsustainable.” In other words, a decade from now, Americans would still be reading stories on the devastating effects of health care spending on our economy – a problem that Obamacare was supposed to cure.

On Thursday, Democrats celebrated the release of a preliminary score from the CBO for their final bill, which was found to reduce the deficit by $138 billion over 10 years. They relied on some of the same accounting gimmicks that they employed in previous estimates as well as some new ones. Democrats delayed most of the major spending provisions until 2014 to make the bill appear cheaper over the CBO’s 10 year budget window; claimed as revenue premiums from a new long-term insurance program, even though that same money is supposed to pay off future benefits; and it siphoned nearly $19.4 billion from an unrelated student loan bill. Yet even if you were to put all of that aside and assume that the deficit reduction is real, it wouldn’t make a dent in the $10 trillion in deficits we’re projected to accumulate over the next decade under Obama’s budget.

Furthermore, everybody knows that the real long-term fiscal challenge is the looming entitlement crisis. Early in the process, the White House declared that health care reform is entitlement reform. And while that’s true in the general sense, the specific bill he supports uses money from Medicare cuts to help finance a new entitlement rather than to deal with the massive unfunded liability of the program.

Those who believed Obama’s promise that if they like their health care plan, they can keep it, would be in for a rude awakening. The version of the bill released on Thursday makes sure that all policies have to meet new federal mandates, thus forcing people with existing insurance to change policies. Some of the incentives it puts in place induce employers to cut coverage while those with privately-administered Medicare Advantage plans would see their benefits affected. And those who are currently uninsured by choice because they are young and healthy would be forced to purchase government-approved insurance policies, or pay a tax penalty to help subsidize insurance for others.

But even those who get to keep insurance they’re happy with will see the quality of medical care and service decline as the system, already at capacity, treats a flood of new patients. While these effects are hard to measure, CMS concluded that "consideration should be given to the potential consequences of a significant increase in demand for health care meeting a relatively fixed supply of health care providers and services." This doesn’t even take into account the much more difficult to measure effect on medical innovation as a result of policies such as the tax on medical device makers.

While it’s true that Social Security and Medicare have remained popular even as the programs threaten to bankrupt the country, they are different from Obamacare because at least conceptually, everybody pays into them and everybody receives benefits. Yet Obamacare would be a welfare program in which one segment of the country receives benefits, while others have their coverage disrupted, and are punished with higher taxes, longer wait times, and poorer quality of care.

Democrats are deluding themselves into believing that if they pass a bill, people would learn to love it. Yet in time, Americans would learn that the legislation doesn’t fix the problems it was meant to solve, and makes other problems far worse.

About the Author

Philip Klein is The American Spectator's Washington correspondent. You can follow him on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Philipaklein

Letter to the Editor View all comments (304) | Leave a comment

Mike| 3.19.10 @ 7:21AM

Forced mandates are enough for me to hate it!

Northright| 3.19.10 @ 10:22AM

Nikita Krushchev must be smiling: 5o years ago he said:
"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"
And we let it be done from the inside.

Win| 3.19.10 @ 6:41PM

Please find an extremely important lecture on youtube. - Yuri Bezmenov - Subversion - it was given in Canada.

There is also very well known fact that Milton Friedman took American communists' manifesto from around 1910 and concluded that around 1960 (maybe in 70-ties or 80-ties it doesn't matter) it was actually realized and in many aspects even surpassed what communists wanted to impose. That just gives you an idea where America is today. Now its much worse than in 1980-ties.

basur| 10.27.10 @ 5:57AM

Nice article, congratulations.

The Prickly Thorn| 3.20.10 @ 3:52PM

They are MORE then enough to motivate me to go "John Brown" on this government,....

alyeska| 3.22.10 @ 1:29AM

go ahead a$$hole -- put your money where your mouth is.

all you big talkers need to man up and get on out there cause WE DID IT!

Bill | 3.23.10 @ 6:12AM

Exactly right, a dark day for freedom, where is the freedom to choose if I cannot refuse? Too many orders in my life I am no longer free. I am considering selling out while I am still allowed to and finding a new country.

Stephanie| 3.19.10 @ 7:37AM

No, idiot boy, the most important domestic issue in our country right now is the lack of JOBS!
As Mike said, the unconstitutional forced mandates are enough to let us know that it is not for us. Sorry, I just saw a clip of his interview with Bret Bair and he said this is the most pressing issue. The man is truly ugly. ughhh.
I can't believe this is happening to us.

elainej| 3.19.10 @ 7:38AM

I am banging my head against the wall. How in the world did we let a piece of s--- like this get elected? He is tearing this country apart as fast as he can. Kick him and the rest of the s--- out with him!!!

foxy| 3.19.10 @ 7:39AM

'cause the republicans ran old man mccaine.

Eric Cartman| 3.19.10 @ 9:06AM

Why? Well, it started with George Bush going soft and ended with what foxy said - McCain. Bush never defended himself - like his Dad, he thought it was beneath the president.

Amnesty, NCLB, Part D, spend, spend, spend. Ineptitude, bungling and forgetting who put you in the White House. After W won the second time, he had no use for conservatives and neither did the congress. So we had no use for them.

Liberals blame Bush for all sorts of stupid crap - bet he does own what will be known as Obamaland. Thanks George. You're swell!

Bill| 3.23.10 @ 6:18AM

Bush was no conservative, don't trust the GOP anymore either. But true Obama pelosi and the like are destroying any chance of freedom.

RAMIII| 3.19.10 @ 9:22AM

True enough. The Republicans have not had real leadership since "the Gipper" ran the White House. The current ilk has no guts.

Oh sure they're against Obama & the Democrats NOW, but I remember the debates between McCain and Obama and McCain was so AFRAID of being labeled a racist that he RAN away from speaking the truth. I hate to generalize -- but they are all cowards, the lot of them.

Eric Cartman| 3.19.10 @ 9:34AM

Unfortunately for us, I think you're right. There are some Reaganesque guys and gals there now. But they don't have his panache. I'll never vote for another Bush. I don't care what he does to try to prove he's a conservative - they aren't.

W screwed us. When he didn't defend himself, he was letting them tear us up, too. I knew something was up when he kept sending Teddy love notes.

RAMIII| 3.19.10 @ 9:46AM

Sometimes it is a grievous thing to be right. Hopefully when we see the light at the end of this tunnel it is not an oncoming train.

There is hope yet for our great country, but it is a slim hope indeed.

lawyerchik1| 3.21.10 @ 1:28PM

That's part of the Palin appeal - she is more Reagan-esque than any of the other candidates in the field, whether you love her or hate her.

rbarris06| 3.19.10 @ 10:09AM

Let's do it; and Emanual, Pelosi, Reid and the rest of the hoodlums!

Win| 3.19.10 @ 6:47PM

Its very simple. Democracy will never work. Look at history - every democracy collapsed very quickly. People are simply stupid and deciding on political future by general elections is nonsense. Read some books about this. For example the best known - "Democracy: The God that Failed. The Economics and Politics of Monarchy, Democracy, and Natural Order"
Hans-Hermann Hoppe.

FTM| 3.20.10 @ 2:39AM

You are right.

Alexander Tyler in 1787 stated that democracies can exist until the electorate realize that they can vote themselves lavish gifts from the public treasury. Tyler also observed that democracies collapse from loose fiscal policies and are replaced by dictatorships. President Obama isn't stupid, he's read a book or two and realizes that dictatorships replace democracies too.

Now, surely the framers realized this too when they designed the legislative branch of the government to be nearly perpetually deadlocked then gave it the power of the purse. Also, America isn't a pure democracy, America is a Federated Republic. Whatever that means.

By the bye, a republic is pretty much any form of government that isn't a monarchy, an oligarchy, an aristocracy, a timarchy, a theocracy or a dictatorship as best as I can tell. There's plenty of room for error on my part in that I'm not a professional historian or a political scientist so check for yourself.

In closing I would like to think that the framers had in mind a quote made by a newpaper reporter apparently if memory serves. The quote pertains to four boxes from which we derive out liberty. The first box is the soap box. The second box is the ballot box. The third box is the jury box and the last box is the cartridge box.

God Almighty please bless us with peace. I have two children that are of military age and I would just as soon that we never reach the cartridge box stage. I pray that the cup of violence may pass from us all.

There's nothing going on politically speaking here in this country a this time that is worth anybody getting killed over.

darcy| 3.20.10 @ 4:40AM

FTM: I don't mean to rain on your parade, but if demcare passes, we'll be mighty close to the blood-letting stage.

FTM| 3.20.10 @ 5:35AM

That's my point exactly. These people don't think that violence could be a possible result of their hubris.

On the lighter side though, please reference the Book of Joel, Chapter one, verse one, "You should never argue with a crazy ma, ma, ma, ma, man..."

Sometimes I get about half scared and other times I laugh out loud.

Ralph Novy| 3.21.10 @ 8:27PM

Win:

Share your cynicism, but which alternative are you suggesting? Hereditary monarchy? A fascist state? What?

I'm sure you're familiar with Winston Churchill's chestnut about democracy being the "worst possible form of government, except all the others," so....?

Hugh| 3.22.10 @ 2:23AM

Democracy was doomed as soon as people realized that they could vote themselves money from the public purse!
A lynch mob is a perfect example of democracy in action!

MTB| 3.19.10 @ 7:06PM

Damn right, Elaine. Vote out every single democrat! Good, bad, makes no difference. The American people must send a message to the entire dem party that we're not taking their BS anymore. If they ever hope to see elected office again, they'd better stop these Marxist, anti-Constitution, anti-American movements and get back to American values and standards. 2010 should be No Democrats elected to office and 2012 should be Anyone But Obama.

Emo| 3.20.10 @ 1:41PM

We are here because of the Iraq war. The price for Iraqi freedom was American enslavement. If the Iraq war hadnt happened, Hillary might be president, but Obama definitely wouldnt be. Also the GOP would have many more seats on both houses of congress

darcy| 3.20.10 @ 7:06PM

Interesting perspective, Emo, but a bit too simplistic for me.

We lost because Bush was no conservative, though he passed himself off as one to get elected. He expanded the scope of government and spending -- just like progressives do -- and so the base shut him and his party out in '06 and '08.

We got Mr. O because J. McCain's politics track just this side of center-left, would NOT confront this commie during the campaign and chastised those in his party who disagreed with him. When one guy makes the other guy out to be such a nice chap, what's the undecided/uninvolved -- but highly influenced by a leftist press -- supposed to do? Vote for the coming savior, of course.

We lost because JM was a terrible nominee, requiring even many who did vote for him to hold their noses.

The liberal media had a vested interested in painting the Iraqi conflict solely as emblematic of yet another instance of that damned American hubris. Where in the reporting of the legacy media was the factual record broadcast? of Pres. Clinton and the many in congress and the senate, who called for Iraqi regime change as far back as the late nineties?

NOOOOO. We have a Pres. O because the MEDIA deliberately failed to do due diligence on THEIR messiah. We have Pres. O because the MEDIA lied and obfuscated about the background of O.
We have Pres. O because too many apathetic and easily led citizens, fed a porridge of progressive propaganda since childhood can't tell the difference between an inalienable right and their rear-end.

wtim| 3.21.10 @ 3:20PM

Does anyone else see the irony in a black man leading this country into economic slavery?

Becky| 3.21.10 @ 8:26PM

I did. But my white liberal friends, even the one who claimed we would never have national health care because we couldn't afford it as a nation, still are either in love, or embarrassed. I don't know because they seem to avoid politics and me now.

Ralph Novy| 3.21.10 @ 8:36PM

wtim:

Yes, I do too. Very ironic.

But not because his health-care proposals are too "socialist." Rather, because they stroke the insurance industry far too much. And because his policies, generally, have heavily favored Wall Street over Main Street.

To characterize Obama as any sort of serious "socialist" is as ridiculous now as when nutcase fascists/racists accused Eisenhower of the same a few years ago.

Ralph Novy| 3.21.10 @ 8:36PM

wtim:

Yes, I do too. Very ironic.

To characterize Obama as any sort of serious "socialist" is as ridiculous now as when nutcase fascists/racists accused Eisenhower of the same a few years ago.

Stephanie| 3.19.10 @ 7:38AM

Geeze Mike, I didn't mean YOU were idiot boy.
Sorry.

martin j smith| 3.19.10 @ 7:50AM

Did you hear that David Brooks figured out that Obama Care is not about health care ? Woooooooooow--amazing isn't it.

But--

And I grant you this may be wishful thinking--
As moooooooorr & moooooooooooorrrrrr
of these liberal RINOS wake up and smell the garbage this is sure a sign that the filth of the Socialist Democrat Party is permeating hitherto sacred places.

They crucial; thing IS THE PROCESS. The dirty dealings,bribes, payoffs,special privledges. All of this must come out big time be spread around. The Unconstitutional methodas of "reconciliation" and Slaughter Rules" must be further shown as how illegitimate this government or regime is. What is needed is a change from regime to government. The process of going thru Obama Care may lead the way.

Blackwatch| 3.20.10 @ 1:47PM

The "process" of destroying the republic has begun. A brick was thrown through Rep. Slaughter's district office this week. The violence against the oppressors is beginning. Where will it lead?

Thanks for all the Hope and Change Barry!

Too bad your parents were pro-life!

Shamus| 3.19.10 @ 8:08AM

It's not clear yet what the perceived impact of this bill's passage might be. Many of the negative effects will be felt longer term, so the public may not be aware of them for some time. The tax increases in this bill along with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts will hurt economic activity next year, but the magnitude of the damage may not be enough to engage public awareness. The media and the Democrats will try to spin the story to disguise problems, so it's possible that Obama and his cohorts may get away with causing substantial damage to the the economy while paying no price for their misdeeds. I would hope that voters are smart enough to see through the deception (though they weren't in 2008).

Curly Smith| 3.19.10 @ 9:04AM

I think you have it backwards. None of the perceived benefits will be seen short-term while many of the negative aspects will have immediate impact. The general public will be paying higher insurance rates, higher taxes, employers will drop their medical plans, and more providers will cut access to Medicare and Medicaid patients the day after the bill passes. To be sure, the mantra "it's the evil insurance companies" will be duly repeated but the public will be very aware of who is to blame.

Shamus| 3.19.10 @ 9:42AM

Hopefully you're right about this, but it's not clear to me how this will play out.

MTB| 3.19.10 @ 7:11PM

Right you are, Curly, taxes will start pretty much immediately. Here's the kicker, these idiots who think they are getting health care think they are going to get it as soon as the Liar-in-Chief signs it into law (if it passes, and I hope it doesn't). They're not going to want to wait, how many years? They want healthcare NOW! When they don't get it right away, they're going to be pissed!

Ellen| 3.20.10 @ 10:13AM

Curly,
You are correct. Taxes will start and remain the only part active till 2014. Only then will actual benefits begin. However MC cuts have already begun and doctors are already feeling the pinch. Their costs haven't and won't decrease...ie supplies, salaries, rent, insurance for employees....so who believes those close to retirement won't do so? Instant result, longer wait times for appointments. Others are already saying they won't see MC patients because they can run a practice on MC reimbursements after these cuts.

On the bright side here's a "loophole" Obama care thought was a cute gimmick that will bite him in the beeehind.

1) Once this passes the gov't will immediately start "investigating" group plans to make sure they meet gov't standards. What's the right answer? Drop group coverage as a job benefit. After all it isn't mandated by law.

2) Everyone must buy insurance, at an average for a family of $1500-3500 per year OR pay a $750 penalty. BUT since the plan forces insurance companies to cover everyone, why spend premium money till someone gets sick? Opt out, pay the cheaper fine and jump back in when you need insurance. The amount saved per year you DON'T get sick could equal a trip to Disney World or to retire interest bearing debt, right?

3) With ZERO cost controls in this bill, prices will continue to go up and up as insurance companies cover more sick people than well people, doctors will drop low pay insureds and MC and maybe even go to a "cash only" basis, drugs, tests, etc will skyrocket because they will see the end of private medicine and want to make as much money as they can before it all goes south, forcing premiums and out of pocket costs higher until you can't pay for health care.

All of this will be happening as the first of a 15 year population Tsunami hits 65 and starts getting sick. Welcome to gov't health care, take a number and wait, and wait, and wait.

By 2020 with the burden of insuring 11M illegals who pay no taxes, and millions more opting for the cheaper fine, health insurance companies will have done the math and figured out it's more profitable to insure cars and homes instead, and there will be little left of the health insurance industry. EXACTLY WHAT OBAMA WANTS. The gov't will step in and offer gov't health insurance. And as more and more doctors retire or refuse any insurance patients, the gov't will step in again and trade citizenship for foreign trained doctors to fill the gap.

What's not to love?

Alex| 3.20.10 @ 5:26PM

Ellen, I agree with just about everything you stated, but I don't think that people will get off from opting out of the mandatory care by simply "paying a $750 fine." I'm sure the proponents have already figured that there would be a substantial amount of people who would be willing to bite the budgetary bullet in the name of "free choice"; I'm sure this thing, however, will be written to treat such actions as an "evasion of taxes" crime, making the penalty much more substantial than a mere few hundred dollars.

Becky| 3.21.10 @ 8:32PM

One of the dumbest parts of the Democrats plan is the delay in giving out the spoils of their victory.

This is not an entitlement for another four years. Until that time, it is a tax increase and economic realignment of health insurance delivery. Employers are not required under current law to provide health care and other bennies. I'd save my money for the mandates to come later.

It is private insurance that subsidizes the low pay government engages in now. Remember the Mayo Clinic and many doctors are not taking medicaid patients because they are losers.

In four years time, we will see MA have a major crisis, and hopefully our attention will be on dissecting and informing the rest of the nation what this plan will play out like. So far, it isn't looking good for Romeny and I wish he'd admit it.

Ralph Novy| 3.21.10 @ 8:42PM

Becky:

"Remember the Mayo Clinic and many doctors are not taking medicaid patients because they are losers."

Shame on you. If you consider yourself a Christian.....DOUBLE shame.

Radegunda| 3.21.10 @ 11:05PM

Hey Ralph, how many people are you giving medical treatment without compensation, or not enough to cover your costs?

pugsley| 3.19.10 @ 12:57PM

Shamus-I have said since this mess first started (lawn jockey admin) people wont react violently until all the new taxes hit them in the pocket book. Hence the need for speed the rats keep talking about. Mark well and note that when this mess kicks in and it will because it sure looks like it is going to pass, along with the Bush tax cuts going out at the end of the year you are going to hear an explosion like no other. People mostly want to believe they are being looked after by their elected officials so they wont have to get involved. The light of day is going to dawn shortly and boy is it going to be all encompassing. Get ready it is coming.

saleboter| 3.19.10 @ 8:25AM

When prople realize the've been screwed, Obami will already be in his second term.

MTB| 3.19.10 @ 7:12PM

No, no, no. The country cannot survive a second term of this moron. I hope and pray, saleboter, that you are wrong.

darcy| 3.20.10 @ 7:17PM

No way he will be re-elected; the people haven't been this pissed since 1776!

Becky| 3.21.10 @ 8:33PM

At this point, I don't think he will be either. In exchange for this bill, he said he wants to be a one termer. At the rate he's going he may be a half termer; in Obamaspeak a really, really, really great president.

Ralph Novy| 3.21.10 @ 8:45PM

darcy:

Get some help.

Suggest "educational therapy": Listen. Read. Think.

Radegunda| 3.21.10 @ 11:06PM

Ralph, you continue to make no sense.

Melvin| 3.19.10 @ 8:42AM

The negative effects of this bill will be much like our tax system. These effects will be incremental and will say, "ouch!" but it will be more like a sales tax hike. We won't like it, and we will complain and gripe, but in the long run the politicians know full damn well we won't doing anything of substance.
Like one Congressmen from NY said yesterday, "We won't stop stealing from you until you stop us."
My fellow Americans, we need to stop them, and stop them NOW!

Mark this day in history. Sunday, March 21, 2010 will be the day that our Republic died.

R. Republic Gate-Keeper| 3.19.10 @ 7:28PM

No, this will be the beginning of the Second Revolution, mark my words this punk does not realize the hornets are swirling around his marxist take-over of our Representative Republic's head.
This punk is nothing but a fool! Yeah I want to see the ( you name the agency) after they step on a few toes, a sledgehammer awaits them.

Shirley| 3.20.10 @ 7:35AM

If this bill passes and then enough representatives elected in November to do so, can it be repealed?

Jobe| 3.19.10 @ 8:44AM

Using this communistic colostomy bag of a "health care" bill to "fix" health care is like curing the common cold with a fatal dose of arsenic. Sure the cold is no longer a problem, but look at the side effects.
Obama hasn't a clue about the employment situation, nor does he care. It doesn't affect him because, after all, he has a job.

Ralph Novy| 3.21.10 @ 8:48PM

Jobe:

He doesn't care because he has a job, eh?

And what about those Republicans who not only have jobs now but are guaranteed jobs in the private sector after they lose/retire as a reward for their lock-step pro-corporate advocacy?

Radegunda| 3.21.10 @ 11:13PM

What about the Demorats who were bribed to vote against their constituents with the promise that they'll be taken care of one way or another? Marjorie Margolies told them: Hey, don't worry about making your constituents very angry because YOU will get an even cushier gig as a reward. She was quite brazen in promoting selfishness as a virtue for "democrat" "representatives."

If you don't like "corporations," just don't shop there! They can't force you to support them.
OTOH, the government WILL coerce you in the matter of insurance and medical decisions.

No insurance company can forbid you to get a medical treatment. The government, OTOH, will now be empowered to do just that.

Tim| 3.19.10 @ 8:47AM

Meanwhile in Vermont, Comrade Sanders prepares glorious second wave:

“He thinks majorities in the House and Senate would support a public option.”

“Given the very delicate situation at this time and the challenge facing Speaker Pelosi as she rounds up votes, Bernie and other senators have concluded that offering a public option amendment now could undermine the entire process.”

Sanders told the National Journal, “We’ve got four years (before) the exchanges come into effect. We’ll continue to fight.
“The process does not end today, if this thing is passed,” he said. “We are working right now on some language ... to make sure that we get a vote as soon as possible after this thing is passed.”

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.....lic-option

Melvin| 3.19.10 @ 9:13AM

TRICARE FOR LIFE'S FUTURE.... TRICARE for Life was instituted to correct the broken promises that U.S. Military retirees would receive free healthcare coverage for life and it covers the Medicare co-pay. TriCare for Life is an "Earned Benefit" that's been granted by a previous Congress. The current "health care reform bill" If approved by Congress will drastically change retired Military TriCare benefits.

The one item of most interest to retired Military is on page 189 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report. The first assault wave would hit in 2011 and would hit hard. It would initiate cost sharing to require retirees to pay the first $525 of medical cost and 50% of the next $4,725 for a first year cost of $2,888 per person. It would be indexed to increase with inflation. A reason given for this action (for PR effect) is "overuse" by retirees. Those covered by TriCare for Life would lose the Medicare for life benefit and would have to pay. They would lose TriCare as a total care package. They will not be allowed to keep TriCare so when President Obama says “…if you like the health plan you have you can keep it,” he is lying.

The CBO has already drafted proposed legislation that would basically reduce TriCare benefits to a system whereby we pay deductibles and co-pays up to $6,301 the first year for each of us and our spouses, with future years being indexed to increase with inflation. In any case, again on page 189 of the CBO report, there is a strong recommendation to eventually eliminate the program as it is too expensive. Just another move to slight those of us who dedicated much of our adult lives to the defense of our country.

Rmm| 3.19.10 @ 9:33AM

Nancy Pelosi says, " Pass this bill now, then learn what's in it, you will come to like it." Typical Washington speak that really says bend over and grab your ankles.
In all my days, I have never witnessed a spectacle such as this. It truly drives home the point that our representatives are such in name only and come Nov. should be turned out of office in droves.
Washington right now is an open sewer!

scythe| 3.19.10 @ 9:43AM

THERE'S NO TALK ABOUT THE LOOMING SOCIAL SECURITY COST CRISIS BECAUSE.....IT WILL BE SOLVED UNDER OBAMACARE. DEAD PEOPLE WON'T NEED SOCIAL SECURITY. THINK THAT IS OVER-THE-TOP? LOOK AT WHO IS AROUND HIM. ABORTIONISTS, POPULATION CONTROL FREAKS, READ THEIR WORDS! ACCORDING TO STUPAK, THEY WANT TO FUND ABORTION BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE BEING BORN MEANS MORE COSTS. OBAMACARE IS A EUTHANSIA PLAN. PURE AND SIMPLE. THE ADDED BONUS IS YOU GET RID OF ALL THOSE OLD WHITE PEOPLE WITH A COLLECTIVE MEMORY OF HOW AMERICA REALLY WAS TO PAY FOR THE HEALTHCARE OF ALL THOSE MINORITIES FROM FASCIST COUNTRIES WHO WILL VOTE LEFT FOR THE FREEBIES AND WHO DON'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT OUR HISTORY, CONSTITUTION, AND NO PERSONAL TIES TO AMERICA. WHAT A COMMUNIST COUP FOR THE COMMUNIST IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

RAMII| 3.19.10 @ 11:56AM

That analysis is not far from the truth I am afraid. These people currently in power are evil doers and the republicans have strengthened their hands through their previous wavering efforts.

JEC| 3.19.10 @ 9:46AM

Anyone noticed that immigration reform is next? Any idea what it will cost to support 15 million new patients in this entitlement program?

John3| 3.19.10 @ 10:05AM

We have all argued back and forth with Obamacare for a while now. The next 48 hours are crucial. What is being fought are the same principles of July 4, 1776 except that we are fighting the tyranny of this Democratic Party Administration: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." I am sure all of you know that the President just said that he does not care for the "process" of passing this bill; what he really meant is that the health care bill is so necessary, we don't need the consent of the governed--we should just pass it because (I, the President), er... we need it. LET US VOW NOT TO GIVE UP THE IDEALS OF THIS GREAT NATION. CONTINUE TO TALK TO YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS AND LET US ALL VOTE FOR TRUE AMERICANS IN 2010!

Stan Redmond| 3.19.10 @ 10:08AM

Do the damage now while the dems have majorities and a spineless Supremem court and it doesn't matter what the electoral consequences are in November 2010 or 2012. Every one of the supporting dems will have a full time job and tons of money flowing to them as consultants and lobbyists for the new massive program. This program will NEVER go away if it passes, the democrats know it, and know this empowers themselves politically and personally forever. This consumes the democrats and especially Obama. They WILL pass this bill one way or another. The ONLY hope is the republicans can stall it long enough and win a majority. Unfortunately the republicans have a habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I'm certain Collins or Snowe will help push Obamacare through the finish line. It is a sad state of affairs that we are cheering on liberal democrats to NOT vote for this bill.

Ned| 3.19.10 @ 10:14AM

VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS - well, all the Dim-O-crits, anyway...

Becky| 3.19.10 @ 10:53AM

I think a lot of people will learn to accept it. The people I know who are on assistance come to expect things. The more people expect, the less they take responsibility. The less responsibility, the more decadent the life style. A lot of us will be forced to rely on government assistance for medical care, in addition to the growing public jobs sector and long term unemployment (leading to the welfare office when benefits run out). When you agree to go along with your life decisions made for you, you give up your individuality, your life becomes spoiled (disappointing), and it is easier to blend into the crowd, go along to get along. Defeated people in war respect and adopt to the victor.

The Democrats are actually betting with the odds on their side.

The biggest downfall they risk, is that this is basically a tax bill for the first three or four years, and could have the potential of creating an oppressive view for those who will not be getting benefits right away. In three years time, the only thing you'll have to take away are taxes, not an entitlement.

People think like dogs almost, in the moment. That's why the George Bush meme is kind of dumb for Dems. Looking back a couple years seems like good times.

RAMIII| 3.19.10 @ 11:58AM

Read the book "1984".

pugsley| 3.19.10 @ 1:07PM

Read the book "The Unseen Hand" written in the early sixties and reads like a blueprint for what is going on today and what has gone on for the last 50 years. The only date they were off on was 2000. That was the date projected in the book for the takeover that is now going on. Missed it by 10 years but the end was still the same, get the people on their knees and presto, instant compliance of the once proud American people.

Orangedog| 3.19.10 @ 10:54AM

I agree with Scythe and Stan Redmond...This health care bill and the process to pass it are the rape, pillage and kill bill for America and Americans.
The dems who vote for it don't care if they get reelected they will get high paying jobs in one of the massive health care bureacracies (which will rapidly be set up after passsage to cement the bill) and have more control over Americans (their bodies) and not have to worry about elections.
This bill is all about killing the old to eliminate the medical and retirement costs of the old and to destroy the history of this country. The US of A killed from within by 52.7% of voters who I am sure 80% had no knowledge and understanding of what "hope and change" and "transform America" really meant.....so they turned over the country to unchecked far left liberals who are now transforming the country and shredding the constitution. Freedom and liberty just was't good enough for some people..they are getting their change and will truly need one heck of a lot of hope to deal with once they wake up and see the results

Oldefarte| 3.19.10 @ 11:06AM

Philip, while I love you guys at TAS for your conservative writings, this is the same old information that all [or most] of us are now aware of from numerous publications. The essential point of your thesis is ".....Yet Obamacare would be a welfare program in which one segment of the country receives benefits, while others have their coverage disrupted, and are punished with higher taxes, longer wait times, and poorer quality of care....." To emphasize, it is WELFARE, pure and simple! Its purpose is not to reduce medical/insurance costs, but to REDISTRIBUTE WEALTH. People such as yours truly have spent a lifetime in PAYING FOR [through their periodical paycheck deductions for Social Security, which includes a payment for Medicare] their yet to be collected/claimedMEDICARE. To repeat, we have PAID FOR this government insurance coverage. We're not like MEDICAID recipients that do not pay for the coverage they receive [and which has been/is PAID FOR by TAXPAYERS]. What Obama and the Democrats are doing is theft, stealing, WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION; since their healthcare will effectively rob, steal, confiscate Medicare [and leave it worthless] in order to pay for their welfare/healthcare. I don't blame Obama and the Democrats for this, since they're doing what comes natural to them. I blame to stupid moronic idiots of ordinary intelligence for VOTING FOR Obama, Reid, Pilosi, Schumer, Frank,etc; and if my wish and prayer comes true in November, many of them will begin to see their political future come to an end from the anger/rath of the American voters over this garbage!!!!!

scrwthedems| 3.19.10 @ 11:25AM

Everyone here is talking about how these bstrds will either (1) pay at the polls or (2) get a cushy job in the private sector.

They don't care what we think because we don't hound them in the life after politics.

We need to have some info source about where they go after politics, and we need to harangue them. Call and picket whereever they go to work.

Make it impossible for them to earn money for their families.

LEt them know what it feels like.

George S| 3.19.10 @ 11:28AM

If this passes, the biggest fear would be for the system to actually reduce premiums at the outset. All entitlements are Ponzi schemes, the ones first in reap all the benefits before it comes crashing down. If premiums do drop, the structure of the system would not change, the inertia would carry it through as nothing's changed with respect to medical care delivery. It would then be impossible -- and political suicide -- for any Republican to even utter the word 'repeal'.

This has to be killed now, for that very reason. Not to mention that a sizable number of the population would see this as a positive it they have access to care that their ancient private sector policies did not cover - or required a $5,000 deductible. We cannot count on outrage in the beginning; people who got in on the ground floor of rent control, social security and Medicare were thrilled to make out like bandits. That's why those programs are still here today and why they've become third rail politics.

Blackwatch| 3.20.10 @ 2:05PM

Agreed, we should kill the serpent now before we are strangled. But how? Nov 2010 will be too late.

I fear we will need an asymetrical solution to rid ourselves of the socialists. The know nothing Free benefits crowd does control the ballot box. They do what their masters in DC want and the MSM parrots the marching orders.

The real problem is that the Fourth Estate thinks that this is a game about scoring points and winning. They forget this is about the real lives of citizens.

Sorry MSM but this is a struggle about our grand children's life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

We need to make the MSM pay for their misdeeds and their cold embrace of evil. The time approaches. be ready.

darcy| 3.20.10 @ 7:22PM

The MSM has much to answer for. Their sponsors will feel our wrath in their pocketbooks.

Tom| 3.19.10 @ 12:01PM

As with prohibition, the unintended consequences of obamacare will be revealed quickly. Imagine the equivalent of a "speakeasy". This too shall pass, but with so much pain.

Blackwatch| 3.20.10 @ 2:07PM

Where will all the Canadians go for world class health care after the Democrats flush our system down the toilet?

wake up Canada! you are in the shi* too!!

Becky| 3.21.10 @ 8:43PM

How will it realistically be enforced? We have the driver responsibility law here in MI (so do other states) where for certain infractions, you have to not only pay a local fine, but a state fine for being a bad driver. It is punative, can result in jail time if unpaid. The congressman that birthed this monster wanted to repeal it a few years ago, and our economic genius govenor Granholm said she would agree if the funds where replaced by something else.

Contrary to her accounting, there are many driving around with suspended liscenses because they cannot afford the fee (it goes up, someone we know owes $4,000, and has no way of paying it, and it wasn't for drunk driving). So the accounts receivable for this fund is pretty big.

There was an accident in front of our business the other day, the airbags went off in one car and the horn stuck. My husband helped them stop the horn, and both parties drove off and didn't want the police called. Funny, think they both had valid licenses? It was the middle of the day, and alcohol did not seem to be a problem.

Most of these laws actually hurt and do more damage to those they say they are helping. Cash for clunkers removed affordable cars for lower income people, minimum wage reduced job opportunities, driver responsibility hits the young, poor and low voter turnout most, and Obamacare will have the already poor sharing medical services rather than expanding them. The wealthy and elite do not lie awake worrying about those things for themselves.

Pete| 3.19.10 @ 12:11PM

My biggest fear remains centered on the incentives created for top quality doctors (with medical innovation close behind). Why would any prospective doctor go through the time and expense it takes to become a doctor, only to be told how to practice and how much he can make by some government puke. It is terrifying. What good is "universal care" when that care is delivered by bottom of the barrel, mindless drones who answer to the federal government? The good doctors will simple retire or set up shop somewhere that the US Gov can't interfere with their practices...and charge a pretty penny for their services. And as for innovation...holy crap, can you imagine? You think the backroom deals are bad right now with "green" companies and GE being "selected" for large contracts, imagine a world where a shit device becomes mandatory in the federal system because the company's president played golf with Gore or happens to be located in a D district that needs to show some false job growth? The implications of this disastrous bill are staggering. I am glad I own land in a free state and the means to defend it.

streetfighter| 3.19.10 @ 12:54PM

Not just that Pete but all the research funds that will go to Universities. It will be used as a backdoor funding scheme to continue to make a college education affordable.

Jobe| 3.19.10 @ 12:46PM

The difference today is that when Roosevelt pushed through Social Security, the numbers actually crunched. Even the skeptics and economists of the day knew that it would work for a while (like any good Ponzi scheme). The problem today is that this utopian ridiculosity is already overboard. We are already bankrupt. So, what difference does it make if our future has insolvency in it? After all, the dead do not fear death.

FTM| 3.21.10 @ 11:25PM

NPR had an interview with the retiring director of the Socialist Seccurity Administration a couple years back. It was a pretty informative interview. According to the original analysis of the finances of the Socialist Security system, Socialist Security was to be completely self contained and require no further individual contributions no later than 1979.

The reality of course is that congress pillaged away all of the cash that Socialist Security ever owned paying little girls to have babies and the like.

The interviewer asked the retiring director what could be done to "fix" Socialist Security. The director said that Socialist Security couldn't be fixed. The money is all gone for one. Down through the years we've entitled people to draw from Socialist Security that were never intended to draw from the system and last but not least, nobody ever saw the baby boomers coming.

The guy gave an analogy that Socialist Security was a shoe box under your bed. Every payday you put a $20.00 bill in your shoe box in anticipation of the day that you retire and you have a shoe box full of money, right? Wrong, along comes the wife and "borrows" money from the shoe box for groceries or the kids need shoes or something like that. Legitimate expenses, right? Every time that money comes out of the shoe box and IOU goes in. When the retirement day comes the retiree opens up his shoe box and there's nothing there but a pile of IOUs.

The good news is that seven trillion dollars of the national debt are owed to ourselves in the form of the money pillaged away from the Socialist Security Addministration by congress. Fat chance of ever seeing that money again.

Then there's however many trillion dollars that are owed to the holders of T-bills and savings bonds and other government "securities."

Lastly there is the money that is owed to foreign governments and other NGOs that own US federal government "securities."

Basically what it all comes down to is that we've squandered away the wealth of the greatest nation that human civilization has ever produced. That's it folks, the money is all gone the well is dry. There never was any pie in the sky, we all knew better but we kept borrowing to pay for the pie anyway.

I wonder what the new dark age will be like.

Melvin| 3.19.10 @ 12:57PM

First casualties of Obama Care. Caterpillar begins mass layoff at its plant in Clayton NC due to the high cost of Obama Care and these high paying jobs are being moved to England.

Everly Waverly| 3.19.10 @ 12:59PM

Obonehead should be removed from office!!!

martin j smith| 3.19.10 @ 1:37PM

First: you ask yourself why wven with big majorities in both houses o congress do they seem to have problems easily passing a government health care bill ? The answer is evident thru polls that continue to increasingly be against congress and Obama. This is known
Deals have had to be made and threats made as well but even then it has taken a lot of work.

The bottom line however is that the opposition to the legislation AND the PROCESS have been fueling voters . And, in addition this congress islikely to use the same "Slaughter rule on other toxic legislation

Tim| 3.19.10 @ 1:41PM

This is about Obama's reelection now ,and Democrat Leadership is ready to throw Democrat House Members under Obama's Bus.

martin j smith| 3.19.10 @ 1:43PM

Continuing from above: This behavior is very likel;y to even more infuriate voters. So the healthcare ( and the process ) along with continued use of the "slaughter rule" in other toxic issues will make the 2010 and 2012 elections very interesting.

]
Health Care as passed will be one of the issues along with any others that the "slaughter rule " is is used will make the PROCESS--no matter how the courts rule--because it tells voters one thing: they do not matter. This is the crucial point

George F| 3.19.10 @ 2:20PM

Until now, I did not realize that Dems were so completely devoid of ethical standards. They will do absolutely anything to get what they want no matter how low or dishonest. Their protestations are simply theatre for the effect it has on the populace.

All they care about is power and money. Their constituents mean absolutely nothing to them.

Northern Rebel| 3.19.10 @ 2:31PM

Scythe:

You are not over the top.

OK, let's say we now have Universal "Health Care."

What's next? I think we have already seen the coming takeover of the financial industry, except for Goldman Sachs, and other Obama sycophants.

Don't worry Jamie Diamond, you're safe.....for now.

What else? The life insurance industry seems ripe for the plucking. Those folks have been stealing from people for years, betting you won't die, while their coffers fill with that evil of all evils...
PROFIT!

Why should any business be able to profit without the gummint getting to "wet it's beak" as they used to say in the mafia movies? Obama doesn't want to wet his beak, he wants to swim in his own birdbath, which he has decided is the American economy.

How long before this trickles down to manufacturing, and construction? How long before you have to ask permission of "President" Anti-Christ before you become a house painter?

What will your qualifications have to be?

When will the race card come into play? Can I get this job if I'm a white anglo-saxon protestant? Or will I have to wait in line for the Mexican immigrants that Obama will surely let in soon, in order to guarantee his re-election, now that normal Americans despise his political leanings, and won't vote for him next time?

The people that voted for this evil sub-human monster are to blame for the coming destruction of the last best hope of mankind.

CONGRATULATIONS!

When you are swimming in the same hellfire the rest of us are, don't look for any sympathy from constitutional conservatives. We told ya so, idiots! If America becomes "Just another country", there is no place to escape to!

Time to move to Texas, and circle the wagons.

REMEMBER THE ALAMO!
( before it's purged from the history books)

Brian Mc| 3.20.10 @ 7:20AM

The individual states used to have teeth at the federal level until the passing of the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution. Until that passage the Feds answered to the states. Now, the states answer to the Feds.

The voters used to have teeth until the passage of the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Now, we sit around and worry about how much the feds will take from us 'this' year...and wonder why we have lost control of where the money goes, and how much (that hasn't even been earned yet). Now, the 'people' answer to the Feds. Can you boys and girls say, "IRS"?

Because of these, the Federal Government has learned, and is implementing, the realization that it can now do whatever it wants. "No Trespassing, Government Property": I'm sorry, isn't this 'government' of the people, by and for the people?

If We the People dump both of these travesties to our founding, then we will at least have a chance to right this ship. I believe it must start at the state level. Screw the feds...Congress shall make no law. Start electing Senators at the state level through the respective legislatures by passing an amendment to the state constitution, ostensibly thumbing our noses at the feds and, in so doing, asking what are you gonna do about it (?) and when these folks get to the Big House the rest, who weren't elected in this fashion, will realize that the newbies don't answer to PACs or handouts because they must answer to a higher power; the elected officials back home that they wave to when mowing the lawn. The teeth will return to the people.

If we don't do this, then I suppose it's time to break out the ammo and march on Washington tomorrow and physically go in and throw the bums out...and then, what? We'll get more of the same until these two amendments are removed from our United States Constitution...!

Please God, don't mind us, continue to bless America...

Terri R.| 3.20.10 @ 9:07AM

You are insane. You are also a terrorist, talking about going to Washington and throwing out people that were duly elected by the majority of American citizens like yourself. Did you see the Democrats making this kind of THREATS when the Bush's were in office??? Horrible!

Jobe| 3.20.10 @ 1:35PM

How do you think that this country got started? Do you think that armed insurrection is unacceptable and morally wrong? If so, what is your prescription for preventing the further decimation of our freedoms?

I do not think that anyone in the USA would take aremed insurrection lightly, but unless another solution surfaces, and you do not seem to have a clue as to what that solution would be, it is hard to see any other way.

Brian Mc| 3.20.10 @ 4:55PM

Thanks, Jobe. Terri...this is no threat. Horrors await at every turn when this passes. The question is whether we will face them like sheep, or not.

The only way to stop this Socialist Juggernaut is by removal of the two amendments referrenced. As to the case of my insanity, duly noted and appreciated.

As I have stated in the past, there is a quick solution to all this insanity. Demarcate the Mississippi River. A tall wall on either side and no one, and I mean no one is allowed to cross. Now, Liberals can choose which side they want and Conservatives will take the other. You see, we don't need liberals but, liberals need conservatives. Can I get an "Amen"?

Everly Waverly| 3.19.10 @ 3:15PM

If the MSM were doing it's job, even a modicum of it's 4th estate responsibilities, would Obama have even got out of the primaries? What have the so-called journalists done to earn their living? Just reverse the situation, try imagining a republican administrations desire to pass a comprehensive plan, oh, say overhaul of Social Security, maybe reigning in of Fannie/Freddie, how would that be received by the leftist press? But what have we got with this group of Marxist facilitators, nothing but full-tilt sell-out. We have a completely unqualified president, they let him in through the back entrance, he came in with the linen. If there's a reason we are strapped with this mess of a president is the miserable job of the press. Just witness George Stephanopoulos edging his guests hopeful support of health care. He's a freaking leftist on a major network advocating for a looser bill, where's the objectivity?

Al Adab| 3.19.10 @ 3:22PM

Next November is not the instant issue. We know now how that will proceed. The question before us is, "how will we react on Monday next?"

We face the choice free men all too often have faced in the past, Do we submit or do we resist? The answer to that question will form the future of America for many years to come.

darcy| 3.20.10 @ 4:58AM

That's a bit cryptic, Al Adab, " . . . Monday next?"

Give us a clue what you're thinking? A national no-work day? Instead everyone shows up at local congressional offices? 40 million people descend on Washington D.C.?

What??

Northern Rebel| 3.19.10 @ 4:04PM

Everly waverly:

The answer to the first sentence of your question, is no.

Northern Rebel| 3.19.10 @ 4:09PM

My friend, Al Adab:

The only thing I submit are the posts you read on these pages.

I am at a stage in my life, where I am quite willing to resist to the death, the tyranny that faces us.

At age 52, I have done much, but I seem to have accomplished little. I welcome the opportunity to change that legacy.

R. Republic Gate Keeper| 3.19.10 @ 7:47PM

A free man speaks, yet none are around to listen. We will target anyone with the vengence of God himself. We will take only the names to add to the knotches of our battle iron. We will never surrender, for surely God knows what is in a MAN's heart, as surely he knows wickedness before him. Slay or starve this beast before it's gets to the stage of glutiney or the wrath of those of likemindness will be coming for the evil makers. Good luck and God's blessing's for your effort.

Sim0n Templar| 3.19.10 @ 5:28PM

I am sick of hearing from conservatives about what the American people will or will not do and all the prophesizing about consequences and the uprising of the people. Why should the progressive dictators give a rats A$$ what you think after they take over a fifth of the US economy? They do not care now. As leftist basically operate on false premises and arguments, conservatives seem to run on false assumptions to their destruction and detriment. Let me explain this as simply as I can and please feel free to respond anyway..some way or another. The end of self goverment and the american experience of democratic republicanism will come to an end on this Sunday. Never in history has a congress UNCONSTITUTIONALLY passed legislation of this magnitude in which this legislation is by nature in itself UNCONSTITUTIONAL. He will not only have forced new "Law" on a majority of americans who do NOT want this bill passed but MORE importantly did it WITHOUT following the consitutional process clearly stated in the CONSTITUTION by whereby Law is created. This is what he means by making history! DO YOU GET THIS? Have you ANY Idea as to What this means? What is at stake here? What has been damaged and subverted? This has NEVER BEEN ABOUT HEALTH CARE!

Rmm| 3.19.10 @ 8:28PM

So says you. On the other hand there still remains a modicum of checks and balances, which I believe will come into play and scuttle much of what the O is trying to jam down our collective throats.

Simon Templar| 3.19.10 @ 9:20PM

Please list and describe them.

Rmm| 3.19.10 @ 11:37PM

Quoting Fred Barnes in the WSJ ," ObamaCare would not go into effect until 2013.This fact alone would make this issue paramount in the 2012 presidential race. With a Republican in the WH things would be different. Republicans might be successful in dismantling the program.
It's all but inevitable that funding battles would occur every year given the way Obama has proposed financing his health-care program.
The courts would get involved. That includes the constitutionality of the process used to pass ObamaCare. There could be years of litigation." So this by any means is not in the bag.

Northern Rebel| 3.19.10 @ 6:09PM

Can't argue with you Simon. I'm trying to keep it from happening. I hope you are too.

R. Republic Gate-Keeper| 3.19.10 @ 7:50PM

Agreed, with one response to all those who feel the need to enslave me, come get some and good luck surviving it.

PunditPawn| 3.19.10 @ 6:09PM

Put a thug in the White House with super-majorities all around and you get anarchy. Legalized Robin-Hood without the Robin. And history will wrongfully credit this tool as if he was powerful instead of the reality which was the Sun, Moon, and Stars simply aligned in hatred for Bush. Any dolt with super-majorities could pass anything, and he's nearly clustered that, too. Now you know why foreign countries supported him. He's tearing us down in a way they never could.

lou1785| 3.19.10 @ 6:19PM

The serious weight of this horrid legislation, as well as the possibility of equally bad legislation yet to come, (Cap n Crush, Shamnesty, Financial deform, etc) has already resulted in some revealing business decisions.
For instance: The Mayo clinic in AZ had earlier stopped accepting Medicare, now Walgreens has decided to stop accepting new Medicare/Aid prescriptions. I'm assuming more preventative, and ultimately, costly business decisions will be made by many other businesses & industries as well.
In more news; the already struggling Caterpiller Inc. has announced its yearly cost for employees will exceed 100mil. ! I wonder what crippling costs other industries are tabulating right now - I wonder what global relocation efforts they'll make.
Obviously, for any and all industries, corporations, & business large and small - its effects will produce more joblessness, economic strife , and nationwide uncertainty concerning nearly every aspect of our lives.
More bad news : many doctors, surgeons, nurses and others skilled & seasoned in the medical field have announced plans for early retirement or changing their career.
Quality hospitals, clinic, town physicians, etc. will close up shop, or become harder to find. Longer lines, waiting lists, along with inadequate service & quality will add to the misery.
Let's not forget what this will do to many thousands who work in the private insurance industry, medical technology, or pharmaceuticals - you already now.
Adding in the domino effect.........well, its already too miserable to contemplate; however we'll know soon enough - and no news will be good news for an economy being plunged further into the abyss.

Josh Reiter| 3.19.10 @ 7:42PM

All of this is just a red herring to justify their ultimate goal of instituting a single payer universal healthcare system.

They want to wreck the insurance companies and send our health care system into such a tailspin that the only response would be to have a complete and total gov't takeover of the health care industry.

The more we are aligned with the self serving interests of the global conglomerates than the easier will be all duped into unifying under a one world gov't.

Jim Cap| 3.19.10 @ 8:49PM

Actually, this article can be filed under "Wishful Thinking." Of course the author wants Obama's health care legislation to fail. But it won't.

In fact, the real reason this legislation is so strongly opposed by the big insurance companies and most unhinged right-wingers is that they know it will be popular in the long run.

Republicans know that once enacted, and when the hysteria they've whipped up against it inevitably dies down, the public will back this legislation. It will mean more support for the Democratic Party in the years to come. And that's why they're so unhinged in their strident opposition.

Any questions?

Simon Templar| 3.19.10 @ 9:34PM

Got a few. Have you ever used your brain in developing an original thought besides the talking points you picked up from various sources like the MSM, your radical professors, and your friends parroting the first two? Have you ever read a book or taken a business course? Do you suffer from a mental disability that effects your memory? Have you ever traveled outside the US? Do you ever learn anything from the histories of other countries relative to any subject including socialized medicine? Finally, what are you doing out here on a conservative web site? Would you recognize truth if it kicked you in the face or are you just another lying, manipulative liberal or just another useful idiot?

Radegunda| 3.20.10 @ 2:35AM

Given that a large percentage of doctors are planning to get out of the profession if this goes through, and many, many young people are canceling their plans for medical careers rather than be slaves to the government, where do you think people are going to get all the medical care that the government is promising them?

Oh, that's right. The government is not promising them "care." It's only promising "coverage," meaning you're in the program, not that you'll necessarily get treated. The government will decide whether you may or may not be treated. An insurance company cannot make that ruling; it can only make a decision on whether it is obliged to pay.

A dwindling supply of medical resources will be rationed out to a population including all the illegals that Bama wants to turn into instant citizens and the many more he wants to invite in. He needs to buy a bunch of new Dem voters to override the will of the citizens who will be footing the bill. That's how Dems work: if they don't like the electorate, they import a new one and bribe them with our money, so they can force their dystopian dreams on us.

And of course they'll need to withhold medical treatment from senior citizens so that those new Dem voters can be bought.

People who point this out are not unhinged or hysterical. They just know how to read and add and reason.

Rmm| 3.20.10 @ 11:03AM

Our family just went thru a very trying time. Last summer my wife was diagnosed with a non-malignant brain tumor, the size of a xlarge egg. Her first surgery, lasting seven hours, did not get all of the bugger. When it was shown to be growing again after the follow-up MRI, our doctor recommended a second surgery to clean it up and get all of it. Which happened just last week. We are so thankful that we had access to the best possible 'health-care' available on the West coast. It would be a travesty if our finest medical professionals become unavailable to the common man because of ObamaCare putting some beurocratic blanket, one size-fits-all, system in place. Which I fear could be just around the corner if this becomes law.

darcy| 3.20.10 @ 5:08AM

The only thing that will happen to the democrat party, whether this bill passes or not, is that the American people will NEVER trust them with power again. They'll have to re-brand with a new name, sort of like what they've done with the ACORN folks, being funded again as of Tues. (thank you very much Mr. Orszag) after congress had cut off its funding several months ago.

Oh, and they can expect more incidents of the Rostenkowsky-treatment variety.

ATLmedia| 3.19.10 @ 10:04PM

Like the majority of good Christians, I don't want to see poor, sick people cared for by any Gov't program. If the church can't help them, then Jesus wants them to die-no?

Blackwatch| 3.20.10 @ 2:28PM

Yes that attempt at sarcasm was so funny!

Everyone dies. Millions of persons with health insurance die every year. A government monoply and strangle hold on a private industry is no good. Why do we have the post office and also hundreds of private delivery companies. If you can't figure that out you are too far gone.

And Jesus died for you too. Even if you don't believe in anything but Socialism uber alles.

What an Ass you are.

Yosemeti Sam| 3.20.10 @ 12:24AM

As a poster to another column observed - and I
paraphrase - where is Steele?

Vacationing somewhere?

Writing a book?

Is he or is he not - down with the struggle against
BHOcare?

Cat got his tongue?

Where you at - GOP soul brother?

somnolence| 3.20.10 @ 12:42AM

I'm more at ease than most of you because I know that it is unworkable and really, unenforceable. Just wait and see. The logic being used by these usurpers of Constitutional law could give plausible credence for let's say 35-40 states saying to hell with the Fed; we're going to start printing our own money, mining and forging our own coinage- now try and stop us because we're capturing the respective military arsenals at the ready also. Yes, this sounds drastic, far-fetched, anarchist, maybe even insane. But no more so than the unadulterated BS we are now facing. Eternal vigilance folks, eternal vigilance.

Mad eye Moody| 3.20.10 @ 2:30PM

It's "Constant Vigiliance!!"

gregorbo| 3.20.10 @ 12:43AM

The point of Obama's push to take over another sector of the economy is not health, or better cares, or more ethical banking or whatever. It's an attempt to capture the means to produce capital in a way that ensures the perpetuation of the federal government into the forseeable future.

Go back and read the transcript of the Fox News interview with the President--every line he utters regarding "solvency" (which is a word I'm not sure I specifically remember his saying) and stability is about the government. It's not about healthcare or jobs or individual wellbeing. It's about creating a foundation for a kind of "tenure" system for elected employees (i.e. politicians) and their beaurocratic hangers on: if they can erect a system by which they put a majority of voters on the government dole, they have then bought the votes to give them job security for the rest of their lives.

George| 3.20.10 @ 1:08AM

With the incredible lack of respect for the constitution that these people have shown in the last few weeks, I'm surprised that anyone actually believes there will be any further elections. You can bet your booty that they'll come up with a national emergency before November.

Richard| 3.20.10 @ 2:17AM

The Gallup shows Obama's standing dropped to 50%. Whatever he does, he won't won the US people.

As the best DVD Creator software, FLV to DVD can easily can quickly burn FLV files to DVD Disc, convert FLV to DVD Video, decode FLV movie to ISO files. With just a few clicks, you can convert FLV to DVD with superfast speed and high quality.

Radegunda| 3.20.10 @ 2:40AM

Richard, the people's will doesn't matter a lot when you consider they'll just import millions of new citizens and have their ACORN minions create lots of phantom voters.

Consider this: We wouldn't be in this predicament now if it weren't for a stolen election in Minnesota.

sangredulce| 3.20.10 @ 6:31AM

This law's motto is: Pay now, Slave later.

Jim O'Brien| 3.20.10 @ 8:04AM

Obama and the Democrats are a malignancy on the Constitution.

martin j smith| 3.20.10 @ 8:21AM

Those who focus only on the facts and specific lies and deals related to the health care debate miss the big picture, and this others have said I will re-iterate.
It is about government control. About a totalitarian dictatorship regime. It is about a take over.
Its about process.

But--in the contest of debate about a bill I can just see JB or MM getting up and saying something like: "The American people must understand this debate is not really about health care. It is about the government taking over your lives."

But--perhaps they should say that because it is the truth and the truth shall set you free.

Robert T.| 3.20.10 @ 8:55AM

This all reminds me of when Lyndon Johnson had to go and get the votes for the civil rights act. The hate and opposition to this bill to help everyone be able to have healthcare, looks and smells like the SAME THING I saw at that time. Here are the REAL facts, folks: The only "taxes" that are going to be raised are on the RICH--those making MORE than $250,000 per year. For ALL of you who are griping, and call yourselves "Christians" and "fundamentalists"...didn't Jesus say that you ARE your brother's keeper??? This plan will take down the Federal deficit over the whole length of the plan, and will STOP health insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, and give people the options that our own law-makers have, and more. I noticed in the article it said " as the system, already at capacity, treats a flood of new patients. While these effects are hard to measure, CMS concluded that "consideration should be given to the potential consequences of a significant increase in demand for health care meeting a relatively fixed supply of health care providers and services. " Right there, that SHOWS me that the writer of this article, and all those opposing this healthcare plan, COULD CARE LESS about the almost 50 million uninsured--they would just "flood" the market with all these so-called people--who are actually AMERICANS that deserve health care just like YOU rich people! There are anywhere from 20,000 to 200,000 AMERICANS per year DYING directly because of lack of health care coverage. When you are making your $8 an hour, while fat cats are making $11 million a year, you cannot afford the $1200 to $1500 a month for health care coverage--hell, you can't even hardly afford to pay rent. That's all that is left in America--big corporations have out-sourced all of our jobs, sent our factories away, imported all of our goods from China...Who do you think is going to be left in America under the current healthcare system? Only the rich who can afford coverage while premiums get higher and higher and higher...Look at how they are raising the rates all over the country--look at California (33% and more) and Indiana is next with a 33% increase coming with Wellpoint/Anthem...Why do YOU people think NOTHING should be done, and the system should keep on going the way it is??? We are the ONLY industrialized nation that does not provide healthcare for all. A single-payer system would actually SAVE this country money, but the rich would fight that tooth and nail, worse than they are fighting this simple plan to provide 32 million Americans with the right to live and have healthcare. You holler about the "right to life" (which by the way this bill does NOT fund abortion) so what about the RIGHT FOR EVERY AMERICAN to have life???
I wrote this because I, as an AVERAGE American, am SICK of the tea-partiers, sick of this country being run into the ground by the rich, and sick of hearing your SAME OLD hype lines about why this corrupt and unworkable insurance system should NOT be changed! And where did someone up in these blogs get the figure that 85% of Americans are covered??? That is just bull. NONE of the jobs in our state offer insuance anymore, for the average working American, and actually, there aren't any jobs left for the average American here.
You SHALL know the truth, and maybe one day it WILL set you free! The "government" is not taking over ANYONE'S life--big corporations and the military/industrial complex already OWN us!

FTM| 3.22.10 @ 12:08AM

I would like to respond to this post in full but I can't. Your information is false from the onset. Your liberal ideology has completely poisioned your ability to think and has skewed your perception of reality.

Consider, your liberal ideology backed by the likes of the Sierra Club and Earth First have made it almost impossible to manufacture anything here in America. That's why the jobs have moved overseas. You can make widgets in Bangkok and dump the waste in the ocean and if somebody gets killed or sick on the job, "Oh well, sorry about your luck." If you were the CEO of a company that was responsible to your stock holders for a financial return on investment, that'd be you, what else could you do?

If you own a checking account or a savings account at a bank then, indirectly, you own a stake holder intrest in a wide virety of for profit businesses, manufacturers, insurance companies and so on and so on.

You advocate for control over these "fat cats" making millions of dollars a year. You advocate in favor of this action because professional, career, south side of Chicago, welfare class rabble rousers who have never in their lives held a private sector job have figured out how to push your "Hatred and Greed" buttons. Basically you hate anyone that pays you to do a job and demands that you actually do that job while you're on the clock. You are ate up with hatred and the people that actually sat down and read a book and figured out how to make a dollar rather than sit on your backside and wait for somebody to come take care of you.

Good luck to you Robert T. Your absence of intellect, intelligence, education and practical life experience have killed us all.

James| 3.22.10 @ 3:37AM

"If you own a checking account or a savings account at a bank then, indirectly, you own a stake holder intrest in a wide virety of for profit businesses, manufacturers, insurance companies and so on and so on."

That's not true at all. If you have a checking account with the bank, you're a creditor, not a "stake holder." The distinction is huge in the bankruptcy-priority setting in terms of who gets paid first; the bankruptcy estate or the "stake holder."

Fortunately, government run insurance, the FDIC, provides protection for deposit account creditors for up to $100,000 should a qualifying bank collapse. I guess you have something against the FDIC too, or do you want to go back to the good old days of bank runs.

Robert T| 3.20.10 @ 9:17AM

WHAT DO YOU ALL SAY ABOUT THIS??? from:
WRTV INDIANAPOLIS -- Nearly 35,000 Indiana Anthem customers will pay almost 33 percent more to keep their current health insurance plans in a rate hike approved by state regulators.

Documents obtained from the Indiana Department of Insurance show regulators approved a 26.9 percent increase July for WellPoint-owned Anthem, after sending through a 4.5 percent increase for the same plans earlier in the year.

A 1.19 percent fee implementation increase brings the total increase to 32.6 percent, 6News' Joanna Massee reported.

During the last legislative session, some lawmakers criticized the Department of Insurance for the process regulators use to approve rate increases.

"Currently it's done in the back room … no light at all shined on these issues," said Rep. Craig Fry. (my comment: SEE HOW IT'S DONE NOW!!)

Acting Department of Insurance Commissioner Doug Webber declined a request for an on-camera interview on Thursday, but told Massee by phone that, "We are looking for ways to make our system better and increase transparency." (yeah....right!)

Some Anthem customers said they have seen rate hikes for years. (WOW, way before "Obamacare" came on the scene...)

"The dilemma is that our plans consistently go up. I think we're paying in the neighborhood of $1,200 to $1,500 a month right now for insurance," said Stanley Hubbard. (see what I mean???)

"It's ridiculous. We can't afford it, but we need it," said Laura Hubbard.

The couple took part in a health care reform rally outside of Rep. Andre Carson's office on Thursday.Copyright 2010 by TheIndyChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The following are comments from our users. Opinions expressed are neither created nor endorsed by TheIndyChannel.com. By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms of Use. To report an offensive or otherwise inappropriate comment, click the "Flag" link that appears beneath that comment. Flagging a comment will send it to our editorial staff for review.
Echo 96 ItemsAdmin

Moderation
General Settings
Admin Notices
– Guest
How much more do they think we can pay for their p1zz-poor customer service and so-so insurance. When I have to call them to re-run a claim that should have been paid and I get the run-around, maybe I should start charging back an "inconvenience" fee...
2 days ago, 8:04:08 PM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byFlickaGuestssIndywowGuestAnd 3 more Guest
Can't we almost treat just about everything over the counter? Or we can just do a lot of WebMD research and then hit the local drug dealer and go that route. Thats what insurance companies want isn't it?
2 days ago, 8:59:27 PM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byME seem
We can treat a lot over the counter and naturally. You would be amazed and what can be cured without the use of drugs. I think evenutally people are going to start heading more in the natural cures direction, as they can not afford the cost of traditional healthcare. Also, keep in mind that the big pharma companies, FDA and insurance companies are ALL in it together. They feed off of each other. I have read way too many books, stories, articles and seen too many documentaries on the subject. Bottom line, they don't want cures for the big diseases because they will ALL lose money. Sad but true!
Yesterday, 7:31:16 AM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byGuestMEGuest Guest
I would be all for it if I could opt for the public option even if my employer offered health insurance but if your employer offers it you can't use the public option. I wan't the same level of care for the cheapest price it's that simple. If I can get it cheaper from the exchange than through my employer then I want it from the exchange, but no that's not allowed. Let me keep more of the money I earned and I'll feed it back into our economy myself. If you keep allowing these insurance companies to take more of my money and they just get to keep 4 billion in profit how is that helping the American? If you are going to reform healthcare Go All The Way. Also, what's the deal with the massive fine if you do not get health insurance once this is in place? They shouldn't be able to force anyone to buy anything. Isn't it like $750 fine or a percentage of something?
2 days ago, 11:30:44 PM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byGuest2 Guests Guest
So true...the insurance companies do nothing but GIVE our money back to their upper management. How DOES that help AMERICA? And our democratic administration who keeps bailing out these greedy types, continues to do so.
Yesterday, 6:24:54 AM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byGuestMEGuest Guest
Amazing, did Doctors start charging 30% more this year? What is the 30% attributed to ??? Lets see, well Ms. Angela of Wellpoint wanted a 5-star vacation, a posher car, a bigger home ? How was this approved ? What are the justifications from the regulators for this rate increase ? This is highly ridiculous, does anyone at the Dept of Insurance have the powers to check this nonsense ? I am a self-employed person, for years my insurance went up by 15% each year, looks like this year I have to borrow money from a bank to be able to pay my health insurance premiums. God, I hope the banks could lend me the money (from all the stimulus money that they got). WHO WILL LOOK AFTER THE COMMON MAN ???????????????????
2 days ago, 11:40:17 PM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byGuestwowBill the Catjust wonderful..............GuestGuest Guest
Looks like, I need to move towards Detroit (Canadian border) or near Mexico. With the hope that if I get sick, I can drive across the border and be seen by a doctor for 1/100th the cost that it would take here in my home country. Shame on our health insurers, our law makers and all the people in power that are a meek spectators to this nonsense. I know these health insurers are cheating the doctors equally bad.
2 days ago, 11:43:48 PM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byGuestGuestGuest Guest 45
My doctor actually gave up her family practice due to the insurance companies. What is going to happen if all doctors do that? Where is the cost going to end? How can they keep raising rates with the economy in the shape it's in? ALL Insurance companies are nothing but greedy SOB's.
Yesterday, 4:23:45 AM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byGuestGuest Guest
I bet that some democrats and/or Ministry of insurance executives are getting huge kickbacks in exchange for allowing these massive rate increases so that the American public will become so outraged by this and it will force republicans to vote for Obamas plan. By the time the exchange is in place the rates for health insurance will be at a level higher than before and either way the insurance company wins. Either way, the hard working insured and already broke American will lose because they can't use the public option and now must continue paying astronomical rates through the employer. The hard working un insured American will become insured for too much $ or be fined.
2 days ago, 11:46:38 PM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked bywowGuest Guest
How about a pay for what you use insurance? If I don't use my insurance that month then I keep my $202? If I use it then you get my premium for that month. I hate giving them my money every month but can't afford to use it due to the co pays for the visit, deductibles for scripts, blood work and then a family deductible
Yesterday, 12:04:41 AM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byGuestGuest 45seemGuestGuest seem
Guest, 12:04, you are so right! We don't use ours much for the same reasons as you. I am sure the insurance companies want that...in other words they still get your money from premiums, but they don't have to pay for anything because detuctibles and copays are too high for us to use them. That is the perfect scenario for an insurance company. Someone should get the bright idea of starting an insurance company that has low premiums/detuctibles, etc. If that were the case they would have SO many customers beating down their door that they would make huges amounts of money that way and make the other insurance companies fail. I know that is just a dream.
Yesterday, 7:41:29 AM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byGuestGuest libsRstupid
don't worry, obamacare will fix all this....yeah, right!

stupid libs!!!
2 days ago, 8:10:22 PM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byKellyFlickassIndy2 Guests death on a cracker
Even though I think all politicians are idiots, at least Obama cares about the increasing struggle of the middle and lower class Americans and is trying to put a stop to unfair practices in todays greedy corporate world. If we left it up to Republicans, buisness as usual would continue to rule without restrictions and those with the most money wins. Democrats are idiots too, I don't take sides, I just observe with a little common sense. My opinion is that Democrats are a bunch of wimps and back down at the first sign of Republican anger. The Republicans are a bunch of extremists who think tax breaks will fix all of our problems and that all Democrats are gonna take their guns away. I am just glad I'm normal.
2 days ago, 8:33:31 PM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byGuestGuestWOWthelastboyscout PHD MD MBA CPA JD DDSLaura Lee2 Guests college4mykids
Our economy needs JOBS, not the largest government entitlement program in the history of the world!

You think health insurance is expensive now, JUST WAIT UNTIL IT'S FREE!!!

And what the hell does Obama's takeover of the student loan industry have to do with health insurance?????

Sallie Mae in Fishers will have to let go of ONE THIRD of it's workforce, equaling possibly THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES!

Roche will be taxed an additional 35% just for being a medical device company!!!

Obama is an a$ hole.
2 days ago, 9:30:38 PM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byGuest Decorated Vet
But for the grace of God go you...as well as your kids to college.....
Should illness be fall you or your income generator and you cap out with your insurer you will lose everything, house, credit, savings and a real chance the life of the ill loved one.
Remember college4mykids that no one gets out of here alive and the final bills are to the health care industry and the mortition......so why would you want an insurance rep standing between you, your loved ones and your best shot for care that won't bankrupt your family?
2 days ago, 11:25:06 PM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – ModerateLiked byGuest< Prev123…67Next >Leave a comment@Controls

Tenn Slim| 3.20.10 @ 9:54AM

Robert T
Ok. W/O parseing each and every line item. Simply said.
1. Taxation is Progressive, your words not mine.
2. Benefits are just that, benefits, not RIGHTS.
3. Rights etal are derived from our Creator, not the State.
4. Common Sense says, If you do not work, you do not eat. No one owes us or you anything.
5. Individualism, is a prize to be treasured. Freedoms are not FREE. The basics simply are, we all, including you, have to accept some restrictions, or we would be in anarchy.
6. State Control of your life is not pleasant. No one likes to be reminded of the burden of oppression. These type of burdens are seldom lifted once imposed. Be VERY WARY of what you ask for, in relation to a State Control Guvmnt.
7. Finally, State Control is far more ornerous than Creator Control. Free choice soon goes out the window with State Control, but with Creator Control, stays with you till the end
bt
Finally, get a grip. We all are struggling with this, and it does no one good, to have a rant/rave heart attack spell.
end
Semper Fi

FTM| 3.22.10 @ 12:11AM

God Bless cut and paste, right Robert?

Mike| 3.20.10 @ 9:26AM

I see that the leftist bloggers are here...

Tenn Slim| 3.20.10 @ 9:44AM

Opine
QDemocrats are deluding themselves into believing that if they pass a bill, people would learn to love it. Yet in time, Americans would learn that the legislation doesn’t fix the problems it was meant to solve, and makes other problems far worse. UNQ
Effects are being felt PRIOR to implementation. Walgreens, Super D, drugs are pulling out of Memphis, NO SALES.....
Pharmacueticals Divisions are being reduced, SALES are down.
SBO Clinics are standing with closed doors, NO SALES, NO MORE MEDICARE/MEDICAD customers allowed.
As the tide of effects and affects ride across the USA the folks that are supposed to benefit immediately, will find more and more closed options. The Private sector knows full well how to deal with the imposition of a failed Presidency. Hunker down, go to basics, do the minimum, ride out the storm, basic Econ 101. We here in the Fly Over Land are seeing this already. We know the folks that run the local businesses will survive, regardless. The Feds IE OBNA may believe they have the USA Electorate fooled, and will swallow any pill, however bitter, are simply wrong. We Will Prevail
Semper Fi
end

John II| 3.20.10 @ 4:06PM

Bracing post, Tenn, and there's always hope that the Left really has gone too far this time. But look back at George S's post 20-plus hours ago at 11:28 a.m.

The real danger is an electorate and a general population drugged into the illusion that they're better off with the Obama monstrosity. Reread "The Grand Inquisitor" in Dostoyevski's "Brothers Karamazov." We are all prone to prefer bread over freedom. That's the hard truth about the fallen human condition that the Left has always relied on for its projects. The Social Security system, for example, is near insolvency because the general population has been habituated into an unreflective acceptance of the system's premisses--and therefore fiercely resists any attempt at serious reform of the system.

The Dems have little sustained reason to be afraid of November. If the current health care "reform" legislation passes, the Left knows that resistance to the monstrosity will start to dissipate within a few short months as more and more people become habituated to the warm fuzzies of thinking that the nanny state is going to relieve them of the hard responsibilities that come with freedom. The "reform" is so pervasive in its tentacle-like intrusions into every aspect of our personal lives that everyone is going to sense some reassuring advantage that will obscure the sum total of colossal disadvantage to the entire social order. One reason the Left is so heavily into political bribery is that all their projects involve moral bribery of the following sort:

Give the people bread and circuses and they will gladly relinquish their freedom and fall deeper into a moral lethargy that eventually makes them unable to resist anything at all except perceived threats to their own lethargy.

The Left stopped being merely mistaken decades ago. Today it is merely evil.

daniel wiswell| 3.20.10 @ 9:59AM

It is said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. The three leaders of the Democratic party would behoove themselves to remember the Whig and Known Nothing parties in the 1800s and were they are today.
Also the Republicians should tread lightly for they too have been abusive in rule bending. Perhaps the parties themselves should have mandates placed on them. It may be hard to do at the federal level but state and local elections campaign funds could be written to hobble the demigoggery. Such as the only funds used in a election could only come from in state or even only the district from legal residents. This might even reduce cost of campaigns and allow the politicains more time for the publics business. Even perks for them should be closely monitored since their are our employees ( a fact must often forgotten). Remember it was they who asked for the job.

Mr. T Party| 3.20.10 @ 11:55AM

The part that really gets my goat is that we are watching these people use the most inefficient tools possible to fix health care. Universal health care can be expanded without a dime of taxpayer money and without the government telling us who gets to live or die - this is all old-school government finance that is so antiquated as to be ridiculous.

What about a new way? Wouldn't it be nice to only pay $30 a month and have copayments of 2% on everything but electives (those would be 7% copayments)? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to finally deal with ALL health care issues and not ration health care of any kind?

We need something fiscally-responsible (like The Fix - google "The Fix - Capitalism Version 2.0") and smart that reflects what our society really wants and not socialism, communism or any of this other nonsense that has NEVER worked - not a single time. Social Security, Veteran's Affairs, Medicare, Medicaid, AMTRAK and the Post Office - are any of these NOT broke? Do any of these work better than the private sector?

Well, time for something else I say.

John3| 3.20.10 @ 3:39PM

The sad thing is that there is no way there will be enough doctors to see all of these patients. It will get worse because 1) a lot of doctors will just leave their practices; 2) a lot of doctors will simply drop government run health care such as medicaid, medicare and tricare (a lot of doctors already DO NOT see patients with these government-run health systems RIGHT NOW); 3) doctors can always revert to a CASH basis system; and most importantly, 4) nobody would want to be a doctor. I hope they took these all into consideration (I am sure though, they did not!). So everybody should prepare for long lines, or no health care at all (well at least they have insurance).

Spectator| 3.20.10 @ 6:13PM

Health care insurance reform will pass. Most Americans will like the changes. The 32 million Americans who will get health care insurance coverage for the first time will be ebullient as the various programs remove an incredible burden from their lives.

minuszerogravity| 3.20.10 @ 7:24PM

Obviously a spectator from Planet One.

John II| 3.20.10 @ 7:53PM

"The 32 million Americans who will get health care insurance coverage for the first time will be ebullient as the various programs remove an incredible burden from their lives."

You mean . . . the "incredible burden" of personal responsibility? Hmmmm, you may have a point, even if you're too fat-souled to see it.

Obie Wan| 3.20.10 @ 6:18PM

We're going to insure 30 or 40 million more people and healthcare is going to be cheaper,CHEAPER then it currently is. HA,HA,HA, Democrap math,everything's always for free !!!

Worried American| 3.20.10 @ 7:28PM

Yeah and I guess that's why they just "purchased" all that land to keep as "gov. land." Maybe for those who aren't able to or refuse to pay the fine for not having the insurance. Maybe they'll build jails there and that's where us rebels will go.
I feel like I want to leave the country before this s!@# hits the fan.

sofa| 3.20.10 @ 8:33PM

"Success" is in the destruction of the best medical care in the world, theft of 1/6th of the economy, and the enslavement of the people.

Health care of citizens is not the measure.
Why even bring it up?

Anonymous| 3.20.10 @ 10:59PM

Loss of freedom, more taxes (one everyone, even folk who can't afford health insurance now) and worse healthcare than we have now, what could go wrong with that? (Well, for Democrats, it might not go far enough-- they really need the feel of power to get an erection, you know.)

jone| 3.21.10 @ 12:48AM

It is a wonderful arts work.

Marc Jeric| 3.21.10 @ 1:05AM

Canada has 30 million people, we have 300. The Canadian socialist health care requires 30,000 bureaucrats to administer. The US has 300 million people - the health care will require at least 300,000 new bureaucrats, provided ours are as efficient as the Canadian ones are. The administration of this health care will be spread between new Department of Health and the IRS. What we have is a job program for additional 300,000 unionized government employees.

wodiej| 3.21.10 @ 10:33AM

If Bushwacker had not been elected and the GOP had acted like real conservatives, this likely would not be happening. Also, McCain is a RINO and his nomination ended the race right then.

No, Huck, Romney and other re-treads. We need energetic, real conservative candidates to choose from.

Michele San Pietro| 3.21.10 @ 10:51AM

We all know that Obamacare would fail. There's no need to waste one's time in explanations.

Bud Parker| 3.21.10 @ 12:01PM

1. The Health Care Bill, currently before the Congress, is replete with violations of the Constitution. It is obviously unconstitutional for the Congress to mandate that we purchase health care! What would be next, a mandate that everyone must purchase a government bond every pay day? No, the government cannot constitutionally mandate how we are to spend our money! I believe that the Fourth Amendment would apply here.

2. This Health Care Bill also provides coverage for criminal immigrants, (illegals) which is very clearly a violation of Title 8 of the United States Code, which makes it a FELONY for ANYONE to provide assistance to criminal immigrants! And, "anyone" includes the President, the Congress, Governors, Mayors, bleeding-hearts, Republicans, democrats, and Churches; the law does not differentiate, nor does it exclude!

3. After all is said and done, this "Health Care Bill", is yet another taxpayer financed, massive government administered, WELFARE PROGRAM, where those who can afford to purchase their own health care, are made to pay for those who won't! It really is just that simple, there is nothing complicated about it; do the words "spreading the wealth" ring a bell?

4. If this Health Care abomination is passed, their next agenda item will be "amnesty." There will be a major effort to continue the momentum gained in passing this unconstitutional law, to "legalize" those 30 million criminal immigrants, who will also be covered under that health bill, so they can then off-set the vote come November! Those criminal immigrants will be "grateful" to their democrat "sponsors", and they will vote that ticket! After their "success", those democrats will be desperate to secure those votes, those votes may save them their jobs in November! Republicans should already be working against this amnesty legislation!
It has been rumored that any democrats who are defeated in November, have already been "promised" that they will be given other cushy government jobs! One Republican Senator has promised that he will see to it that that doesn't happen; he intends to put a "hold" on those jobs, hurray for him!

5. Recourse at the State Level. Number one, all of the Governors in those States where this socialist Health Care takeover is not welcomed, should immediately take action under "nullification", and refuse to implement it in their States! Contemporaneously with that, their State Attorney's General, should seek immediate recourse through the courts, because of the disparately partial "rewards" that were given some States, for "selling" their votes in Congress, to get this passed.

6. Recourse of "We the People." We need to take a page from Saul Alinsky's book, the Obama/Hillary Clinton Bible, (Rules for Radicals) and immediately organize for application of two "neighborhood organizer's" tactics, which have proven successful for their socialist creators in the past. They are: massive demonstrations of Civil Disobedience, and Passive Resistance! For example, flooding the Accident Rooms of hospitals with "injuries" such as headaches, gout attacks, indigestion, arthritis, and so on; bring the system to its knees if necessary!

7. Advice to the Republicans: LEARN TO PLAY THE GAME! Republicans are continuously bested by democrats, because democrats are better at playing the dirty game which we call "politics!" Even when the Republicans held the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, they were quite often bested by the democrat "minority." The cause(s) for this were several, here are a few: bipartisanship (never works in favor of Republicans); reaching across the isle (same as bipartisanship); compromise (never won anything); too many RINO's in the Party, jettison their sorry asses! That means the likes of Lindsay Graham, John McCain, Olympia Snowe, and Susan Collins.

"We the People", need to demand that no one, NO ONE, is above the law! Congress cannot be allowed to exclude themselves from their own legislation! "We the People", also need to demand that "government" be conducted in the light of day, no locked door, smoke-filled rooms! All actions of the government, that are not directly related to National Security, must be subject to the scrutiny of the governed! Term limits are also in order, as is the elimination of "jobs for life" positions, such as those of Justice of the Supreme Court!

Remember too, "third party candidates" will help only the democrats, and must be discouraged. "We the People", must "take back" the Republican Party, in order to take back our Constitution and this Nation! There is simply no time to build a viably competitive "third party" infrastructure; even if that could be done, it would be too late!

Finally, an admonition! I wish to express my total disgust for the Supreme Court of the United States, which has "chosen" to remain silent as the Constitution is ignored, reviled, challenged, despoiled, and trampled upon, by the very government that swore to PRESERVE, DEFEND, and PROTECT it! Yes, The Court has "chosen" to remain silent, as the Constitution is incrementally being deposed, and the Nation as presently constituted, is destroyed! It is the Constitutional Duty of The Court, to demand that this government is functioning within its Constitutional Authority, both in the interest of the Nation and the Constitution, but even more importantly, in the interest of "We the People!" There is no Constitutional Mandate that The Court remain mute, while the Constitution is destroyed, none whatsoever!

James| 3.22.10 @ 3:43AM

Seems like regulating Health Care is clearly allowed under Congress's right to regulate interstate commerce, one of the enumerated powers of Section 8. The overwelming weight of case law supports this as well. What are basing your Constitutional challenge on?

darcy| 3.22.10 @ 4:35AM

James, you wouldn't be asking this question if you were familiar with this:
http://federalistblog.us/2006/....._myth.html
Have at it! ;>)

sweet| 3.21.10 @ 2:17PM

Of course obamacare won't work! Once this horrible bill becomes law it is the end of America as we know. I pray to God it don't pass. If it does I am going underground!!!! I am not a slave of the government!!! No one can control my life and no one ever will!! Civil disobeidence starting Monday if this becomes law!!!!!!!!!

Kpod| 3.21.10 @ 2:23PM

Obamacare can be nullified if the people protesting
now will start demanding to see the birth certificate and all past records of this president.
When he is disqualified Obamacare will be undone
as well as anything he has signed.
This will become an issue!

Larry| 3.21.10 @ 2:45PM

The arrogance of these Congressmen is breathtaking and infuriating. Failing to develop final language until the final days? Failing to disclose all possible consequences? Saying once you see what's in the bill passed you'll like it? I know of several Federal and State consumer protection laws that kind of tactic violates. Somebody should arrest Pelosi for fraud.

Ralph Novy| 3.21.10 @ 8:55PM

Philip:

What's with the "would" in the article title and then, later, "If Americans are skeptical now, just wait until they actually had to live under Obamacare."

I strained to find justification for those ostensibly illiterate moods/tenses, but could find none.

Conclusion: You're not just ill-informed and mean-spirited but also have poor thinking and writing skills.

I won't bother commenting on any of your pieces in the future -- unless/until you clean up your act.

AmericaWins| 3.21.10 @ 10:27PM

no more losing your home to medical bills,losing your insurance when you get cancer, doubling your premiums when you make a claim-you rightwingers are 'right' this sounds like a commie plot-to the fall-out shelters AAAAAAHHHHH

FTM| 3.21.10 @ 10:33PM

Just heard that the healthcare bill was passed by the house. What a sad day for the Republic.

One question for the proponents of this bill, in places where there is universal healthcare, Canada, the EU and Japan, how would these places be able to afford universal, single payer health care if it were not for the US picking up the tab for their national defense?

The US is the defacto "Umbrella" defender of the EU, Canada, Japan the Phillipines and South Korea. basically what amounts to all of the civilized western worldd. Now that we've saddled ourselves with this perversity of a new entitlement how is it that we can afford to be the world cop and provide healthcare for American citizens as well as anyone that can defeat our boarder security and end up in theUS?

You know what's next, Amnesty for all the folks that are in the US illegally. As sure as politicians lie.

What you're witnessing is the death (suicide) of a civilization. It might take fifty or a hundred years but as sure as God lives this is the death of western civilization. The EU is bankrupt. Japan is bankrupt. What western or westernized nation isn't bankrupt?

Overwhelming degeneracy within and savages at the gate. This isn't the first time, Flavius Aetius saw this too. God bless America and the last one out don't forget to turn off the lights.

emo| 3.21.10 @ 11:43PM

""What you're witnessing is the death (suicide) of a civilization. It might take fifty or a hundred years but as sure as God lives this is the death of western civilization. The EU is bankrupt. Japan is bankrupt. What western or westernized nation isn't bankrupt? ""

50 or 100 years?!?!?! Try more like 10

FTM| 3.22.10 @ 1:05AM

You're probably right Emo, I was trying to be gracious and also avoid looking alarmist. Truthfully, honestly, I'd be surprised if we can get through the next three or four weeks without some half-wit taking a shot at another half-wit over this mess.

FTM| 3.22.10 @ 1:09AM

I should have added, "Homo Indomitus ad portum." Barbarians at the door.

darcy| 3.22.10 @ 2:46AM

It is always darkest before the light. I have every confidence that this partisan legislation will be pounded to sand.

The American people will not accept what they do not want. They will not accept the unconstitutional mandate; they will not accept being taxed to fund abortion; they will not accept a bureaucrat telling their doctor what treatment they may or may not receive (if insurance denied your claim, you could always appeal to charity, fund drives, or the old-fashioned installment plan).

Americans will not accept the insuring of it-doesn’t-matter-how-many-millions, if it comes at the expense of rationed care for seniors, “take a pain pill, says the messiah”; they will not accept being forced into a lower standard of medical care than that which creators/enforcers themselves are exempt.

They will not accept a system by which the unproductive masses are encouraged to feed off of the hard work of their neighbors; they will not accept that this behavior is encouraged by a political class who seeks to entrench its own power on the backs of productive citizens.

I’m happy to say that the democrats, unwittingly, have created the perfect storm for their defeat in November. Not only will this bill be repealed in toto, but democrats will not be trusted with power for decades, maybe even tens of decades.

They have shown themselves for the enemies of America that they are; and they will be shown the door for their naked and vile hubris.

The reckoning is coming. The people see now that democrat/progressive compassion REQUIRES coercion. These tyrants will have a nasty end.

Can you say schadenfreude?

FTM| 3.22.10 @ 3:17AM

Darcy,

Not to be contradictory but even if this legislation is repealed/abolished what difference does it make? The bottom line is that the United States of America by any legitimate standard of judgement is bankrupt.

The only hope that the nation has is to maintain revenue at it's current level and radically reduce expenditure. The sooner we can start to reduce the national debt the better. Thus far I haven't heard a single politician talk of getting the US out of the UN then the UN out of the US, getting the US out of NATO and Asia. I haven't heard of abolishing the National Endowment for the Arts or the National Science Foundation. Thus far I haven't heard a single politician talk of reducing expenses at all.

So we maintain spending on all the idiotic, pipe dream social engineering drains on the public treasury and add one, or maybe not add one, what's the difference? Until somebody does something to stop the bleeding we're done for.

James| 3.22.10 @ 3:27AM

Why cut spending when you can raise revenue by repealing the Bush tax cuts? How many beach homes do the Bernie Madoff's of the world really need anyhow?

FTM| 3.22.10 @ 10:15PM

James,

If the Bush tax cuts only effected the Bernie Madoffs of the world that would be one thing. However the Bush tax cuts effect me.

I'm not rich by any standards. Spouse and I have worked and planned and saved and sacrificed the goodies in life to arrive at the station in life that we enjoy. The big payoff for the exercise in personal responsibility is that we get robbed in order to underwrite the fisically irresponsible and the criminal.

Like I said before James you seem to be a young man in your twenties. Probably a good young man. You've got your future ahead of you and I hope that your future is a good one for you. A future that turns out as you want it to. Prosperous and productive.

I hope that when you get to the point in life that you begin to accumulate the wealth that you require to see you through your retirement and to see your kids through school that a car load of thugs with guns and badges don't show up to take it all away from you.

darcy| 3.22.10 @ 3:52AM

Another night owl? or are you in Hawaii?

Your points are well-taken. We're in a world of hurt, fiscally, no doubt about it. And this administration and congress reveal themselves as hell-bent on exacerbating the situation -- I'd say, as the pretext to do even greater violence to the Constitution and our liberty.

But the people will prevail. For example, there is action underway on the state level to undo this bill state-by-state; Idaho and Virginia will sue, and 35 others are coming on board to do the same.

We may suffer greatly, but in the end, the people will demand fiscal sanity and liberty. I trust the people. I trust their rage, their anger at being lied to, by the culprits in office and the lying media.

There will be a new day and an awakening from the progressive stupor.

Do what you can on the local level; become a precinct committeeman, if you're not already.

Pray for peace; prepare for war.

James| 3.22.10 @ 4:07AM

Hey, I understand you're upset with the bill, but I want to make sure you're not advocating actual violence or anything? Political passion is great, but it's good to keep things in perspective.

FTM| 3.22.10 @ 8:19AM

What, you gonna nark?

Are you an anti-gun Democrat and all of a sudden you realize just how stupid you've been all these years?

Have a long and happy life James. Live long enough to grow up.

James| 3.22.10 @ 9:15AM

Darcy,
I'm not anti-gun. Are you thinking about using a gun though? Some of your rhetoric has been increasingly violent. Everyone here cares for you and we just want to make sure you're okay.

FTM| 3.22.10 @ 10:04PM

James,

You seem to be a little directionally impaired. I have no intention of ussing a gun for any other purpose that poking holes in paper from some distance away. Other than that may they rust in peace.

I own precision paper punching equipment.

FTM| 3.22.10 @ 8:31AM

Hi Darcy,

I work 3rd shift.

I wish that I shared your optimism. Unfortunately eight out of ten people that you run into in a days time are too stupid to talk to. That's how we end up in these messes to start with.

What we need is an equalizer. We need to build an I. Q. test into a voting booth. Compute the area of a square, something like that. That would eliminate most civil servants and school; teachers and welfare recipiants and the like.

James, buddy,

Based on the assumption that you're in your twenties, what are you going to do in ten or so years when the government is confiscating your very lasty dime in order to underwrite the health and well being of people that serve no other purpose than to turn perfectly good food into sewage, replicate and push the button next to the little jack ass?

What are you going to do when you have a family and obligations, a car payment and a house payment, saving for the kids education and the like. Stuff that responsible people do only because of your focus on your future and the future of your family you've managed to bootstrap yourself into a non-protected socialist status and all that you've worked for is taken from you, you greedy rich bas(person) you and is given to some wad?

Congratulations James, what a brave new world you've made.

Elwood Baas| 3.21.10 @ 11:15PM

Welcome to Western Europe!

Anonymous| 3.22.10 @ 1:19AM

More taxes, less freedom, worse healthcare... while the economy still sucks and this does nothing for it. Thank you, Democrats-- you suck!

Hussein| 3.22.10 @ 2:00AM

I believe that American politics is by nature conservative. The American public largely rewards calm, common sense leadership. All this Fall of the Republic talk and "bloodletting" nonsense however is not conservative. It's extremist. Conservatives have painted themselves into a tight corner by siding with the radical elements of their base. If they continue to do so in the wake of what may prove to be a popular piece of legislation, it's going to alienate independants and stimulate the progressive grassroots.

darcy| 3.22.10 @ 3:00AM

That you could even write those words, that the democrat health care bill "may prove to be a popular piece of legislation," tells me how far off the reservation YOUR views are.

See my post of 3-22-10 02:46am for elucidation on that point.

Hussein| 3.22.10 @ 3:22AM

Darcy, the immediate benefits of the bill are extremely popular, largely consisting of getting rid of insurance practices that the vast majority of Americans despise; extending child coverage t0 26, getting rid of pre-existing conditions clauses and denials, filling in the donut holes of medicare perscription drug coverage, etc... I can't imagine any politcian running successfully on a platform of reinstating these practices. I don't know how you sell that without getting labeled an insurance company hack.

You can disagree with me. My sense is that the Republican leadership will put up some fight with the bill in the Senate, but it will get passed anyway.

After that, there is no way the Republicans want HRC to remain in the spotlight because it's a huge Democratic victory. They'll try to find another wedge issue that will keep the base energized till November, my guess is immigration. The Dems on the otherhand will continue to tout HRC and probably focus on jobs and bread and butter issues from here to November.

darcy| 3.22.10 @ 5:04AM

Oh, yes, a victory, alright: For tyranny.

Cleverly disguised, I'll grant you. But tyranny nonetheless.

Hussein| 3.22.10 @ 9:10AM

No, a political victory that is going to have ramifications on the November elections.

darcy| 3.22.10 @ 2:08PM

A political coup, you mean. And you got that right about November. Can't wait to hear your comments on the third :-)

We shall see, won't we?

Hussein| 3.22.10 @ 4:38PM

A coup? It was voted on by a majority of the House and Senate. This law is going to be around as long as you and I are around. This paranoia about a "coup" is ridiculous. It's why people are turned off by the right wing.

darcy| 3.22.10 @ 5:52PM

"It is also a great leap forward by the United States towards a European-style vision of universal health care, which will only lead to soaring costs, higher taxes, and a surge in red tape for small businesses. This reckless legislation dramatically expands the power of the state over the lives of individuals, and could not be further from the vision of America’s founding fathers. It has also been rushed through Congress without proper scrutiny, in the face of overwhelming public opposition, and with not an ounce of bipartisan support." http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/n.....n-america/

Oh, yeah. The people are going to absolutely love this. In your wet dreams. Every word you write reminds me of Tokyo Rose.

COUP. COUP. COUP.

It's so wonderful, I know. Only the democrats care about us poor little people, trapped in an America where no one has even a dream of taking personal responsibility for their own well-being -- because the cards are staked against them. Victimized at every turn. "Oh, poor us. Ain't it great we have people like the H here looking out for our best interests, and that messiah O person in the WH. Why I don't know how we'd survive if it weren't for these kind folks using the force of the law to steal from those miserly hard-working right-wingers, those stingy patriot types, who yammer on and on about the tax burden they carry to help out those of us who know it's only right that we demand to have someone else take care of us. It's our right. FDR told us so.

Oh, those hard-hearted Republicans. Not a drop of humanity in the veins of any of them. Oh, despicable souls, they.

Keep it coming, H, oh great and wise seer, who knows the paranoid when he sees them. Oh, excuse me. You didn't get that memo?? The one that reveals the MAJORITY of Americans are paranoid -- because we oppose democrat-controlled health care???? With what a broad brush you paint, H.

JN| 3.24.10 @ 11:04AM

I am glad someone brought up the destroyer of liberty, FDR. It took a great depression to seperate Americans from their liberty with the introduction of Social Security and Welfare. Isn't it fitting then that after a "great ression" once again America lays down its founding values out of fear once more. The train keeps moving...right off a cliff.

darcy| 3.22.10 @ 7:09PM

Dem Pollster: “They’ve Totally Divided The Country.” “By moving the package with "Democratic votes alone, ‘they’ve totally divided the country,’ and it will be difficult for Obama to calm voters before November, said Doug Schoen, a DEMOCRATIC pollster who worked for former President Clinton.” (The Boston Globe, 3/22/10)

Hussein: You didn't get this memo either???

Ouch.

Angela The Insurance Guru| 3.23.10 @ 7:34PM

Bottom line, our health insurance industry needed reform. It was flawed, and granted it still is flawed, but at least someone is addressing it and taking action. All the negatives that surround it are "what if's" I'm so over the scare tactics. Let's continue moving forward.

JN| 3.24.10 @ 10:57AM

Angela, amazing ignorance to history that you put on display for all to see. We have been "moving forward" for years ignoring Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and all other socially destructive policies made 30+ years ago. It is not time to ignore yet another entitlement when we are already bankrupt. Yes, we are already bankrupt, how else do you explain a 10 trillion dollar debt and borrowing our way from China. We are really 62 trillion in debt with our unfunded social liabilities, but who is counting... This country has already failed, you just haven't gotten the memo yet. Maybe when the dollar becomes a worthless piece of paper will the people finally wake up and realize that socialism does not work.

JN| 3.24.10 @ 10:51AM

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take everything you have."

A government is not compassionate because it is not a living being with a soul, government is merely force driven by mob rule. The same way you can not control a flame you will not be able to control a force that passes itself off as compassionate to its slaves. To control a fire you must contain and extinguish it.

Pi| 4.11.10 @ 5:20AM

Definitly the health insurance industry needed reform, but doing it right now during crisis people won't really going with it.

Thon| 4.11.10 @ 5:42AM

Well Obamacare need to emphasis and explain to Americans in more detail for the benefits that they will get for changing it.

Motorcycle| 4.22.10 @ 6:32AM

Why cut spending when you can raise revenue by repealing the Bush tax cuts? How many beach homes do the Bernie Madoff's of the world really need anyhow?

Clothing| 4.22.10 @ 6:40AM

Why cut spending when you can raise revenue by repealing the Bush tax cuts? How many beach homes do the Bernie Madoff's of the world really need anyhow? Bike

pricila| 4.26.10 @ 1:13AM

"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"
And we let it be done from the inside. business ecommerce software

Cameron| 5.4.10 @ 8:48AM

Until now, I did not realize that Dems were so completely devoid of ethical standards. They will do absolutely anything to get what they want no matter how low or dishonest.

Food and Chemistry Todays

travel| 10.20.10 @ 12:57PM

thank you for comment

สงขลา| 11.3.10 @ 5:31AM

I like him . i think obama is one of best president of america . but he not lucky

tourthai| 11.6.10 @ 10:30AM

I are around. This paranoia about a "coup" is ridiculous. It's why people are turned off by the right wing. Why cut spending when you can raise revenue by repealing the Bush tax cuts?

hostgator| 11.7.10 @ 6:54AM

This is about Obama's reelection now ,and Democrat Leadership is ready to throw hostgatorDemocrat House Members under Obama's Bus.

โหลด camfrog| 11.7.10 @ 2:15PM

Good post cool article

KC| 11.7.10 @ 3:41PM

Good

รับทาสี| 11.7.10 @ 3:47PM

I like him i think obama is one of best president

เพลงใหม่| 11.7.10 @ 9:32PM

I am banging my head against the wall.

seawstory| 11.8.10 @ 3:30AM

I have around. This paranoia about a "coup" is ridiculous. That's why people are put off by the right wing. Why cut spending when you can increase revenue by repealing the Bush tax cuts?

seawstory | sitemap

jim| 11.8.10 @ 4:35AM

The Bush administration itself would probably have sought other ways to constrain Saddam, bring about regime change, and deal with Iraq's horrendous human rights violations.Maxwell House Coffee Coupons

TV.Black.Friday.2010| 11.9.10 @ 4:34PM

Obama will never fail, I believe him

mocca| 11.10.10 @ 10:39AM

I like him. I cheer Obama

Attractions| 11.10.10 @ 1:32PM

I have around. This paranoia about a "coup" is ridiculous. That's why people are put off by the right wing. Why cut spending when you can increase revenue by repealing the Bush tax cuts?

homedecorations| 11.10.10 @ 11:57PM

Definitly the health insurance industry needed reform, but doing it right now during crisis people won't really going with it.

sosbuys| 11.13.10 @ 10:05AM

I like him . i think obama is one of best president of america .

TourKOrea| 11.17.10 @ 11:24AM

Obama should learn from the past and do something for the mass more than this.

care| 11.18.10 @ 7:36AM

Obamacare, good one
Michigan SEO solutions

Faloma| 11.19.10 @ 6:34AM

I like him . i think obama is one of best president of america . Good

เพลงฮิต| 11.19.10 @ 6:42AM

my lovely Obama

rotatrim| 11.20.10 @ 10:29AM

i like obama . He will not fail.

renold| 11.22.10 @ 2:48AM

he will not fail

promotion| 11.22.10 @ 12:47PM

I think Obama must take time for fix many problem. He will not fail!

Hexbugs nano habitat| 11.23.10 @ 9:30PM

i think he is fail too.

Buy books cheap online| 11.24.10 @ 11:18AM

OH MA MA

Cheap Samsung HDTV 1080p| 11.24.10 @ 11:21AM

Not fail for Obama.

ฟังเพลง| 11.25.10 @ 8:52AM

Obama never give up.

Blues clues toys| 11.25.10 @ 9:12AM

Why cut spending when you can increase revenue by repealing the Bush tax cuts

Online Dizi Film| 11.27.10 @ 4:23PM

me too he will not fail. he is succesfully for me

hostgator cyber monday| 11.28.10 @ 1:26PM

This is a great post and thank you for sharing this nice experience,and hope you can give another posts as soon as possible
Absolutely delightful themes. Thanks

55 inch LCD| 11.30.10 @ 11:58PM

I love every comment
So many compettition

SEO| 12.1.10 @ 2:09PM

This is a great post and thank you for sharing this nice experience,and hope you can give another posts as soon as possible
Absolutely delightful themes. Thanks

ty lot| 12.3.10 @ 11:05AM

This is the last chance for Obama if he never change

55 inch lcd| 12.3.10 @ 11:12AM

Obama should learn from the past and do something for the mass more than this.

gents wedding bands| 12.4.10 @ 9:09PM

This is really a terrific deal for a critical article, I seriously discovered your blog by mistake when researching on

glass shelving systems| 12.6.10 @ 3:43AM

ฝากรูป| 12.6.10 @ 9:56AM

This is a very interesting site. ^.^

ETQ Generators | 12.6.10 @ 5:15PM

Thank you very much for share.We're going to insure 30 or 40 million more people and healthcare is going to be cheaper,CHEAPER then it currently is. HA,HA,HA, Democrap math,everything's always for free !!!

glucose tester| 12.6.10 @ 9:29PM

joe scott| 12.6.10 @ 11:49PM

Than You for Share.

SEO| 12.14.10 @ 3:38PM

Hi, this is a nice information for me. Your post has a good quality.

best selller books| 12.15.10 @ 11:50PM

People think like dogs almost, in the moment. That's why the George Bush meme is kind of dumb for Dems. Looking back a couple years seems like good times.

Blues clues toys| 12.19.10 @ 3:14AM

Thank you.

Settlers of Catan Board Game| 12.19.10 @ 3:16AM

Interesting News. Thanks!

Syma Helicopter | 12.19.10 @ 3:18AM

Great! thanks

hnonmaigto| 12.19.10 @ 10:47PM

Thank you for the tutorial! Very clear and concise!

biker helmets| 12.19.10 @ 11:34PM

I'm wired this topic still hots.

somsak| 12.21.10 @ 2:32AM

A good article pampers newborn diapers

jawbone icon thinker| 12.21.10 @ 11:56AM

A good article

printable checkbook register| 12.22.10 @ 11:14AM

thanks, i like obama.

vizio e420vo| 12.26.10 @ 3:59AM

This content was much. Thank you for your content. And think it has plenty of good content, good on this website. Thank you very much.

pink laundry basket| 12.26.10 @ 10:27AM

Thank you, That's all I was looking for..

Mark O.| 1.2.11 @ 8:06AM

Very interesting article. I agree with your conclusions. Cheers, Mark

wonderful4| 1.12.11 @ 9:29AM

Personally, I like Obamacare because he is quite excellent public speaking. But the country has not seen something noteworthy.

nungfreeja| 1.16.11 @ 3:34PM

Thanks, i love Obama very much, he is the best president.

naygor| 2.15.11 @ 4:03AM

Interesting News, Thanks.

adjustable dumbbells cheap| 2.16.11 @ 9:40PM

It will certainly help educate me.

scm| 3.3.11 @ 12:22AM

I totally agree with it.

personal injury lawyer| 3.3.11 @ 12:23AM

Spot on!

loveseats for small spaces| 3.5.11 @ 7:21AM

I believe in Obama. He will do the right things.

ละครไทย| 3.20.11 @ 11:39PM

Obama not can change.

DVDSoft| 3.23.11 @ 2:34AM

I believe in Obama. He will do the right things.

DVDSoft| 3.23.11 @ 2:36AM

With the right tool, you can easily burn mp4 to dvd .

DVDSoft| 3.23.11 @ 2:37AM

With the right tool, you can easily burn itunes to dvd

DVDSoft| 3.23.11 @ 2:37AM

Also, you can use drm removal tool

DVDSoft| 3.23.11 @ 2:37AM

to remove drm protection from itunes, zune, amazon legally.

DVDSoft| 3.23.11 @ 2:38AM

Besides, you can also use the dvd burning software to burn wmv to dvd

DVDSoft| 3.23.11 @ 2:38AM

Besides, you can also use the dvd burning software to burn quicktime mov to dvd

seo4| 4.10.11 @ 10:14PM

I believe in Obama. He will do the right things. Thanks.

bird houses| 5.2.11 @ 10:46PM

Wow, such hatred, Obamacare will not fail

69team| 5.14.11 @ 5:08PM

oh obama i love you

http://69team.com/

งานหาดใหญ่| 5.22.11 @ 4:16AM

Thank you very much for sharing such an informative article with us.

drm converter| 5.22.11 @ 11:28PM

Good article!

เพลงใหม่| 5.25.11 @ 3:27AM

thank for A good article

thestoryhome| 5.26.11 @ 12:20PM

good article,thanks for share
I like Obama.

lcd 32 zoll fernseher| 5.26.11 @ 12:27PM

I like this post,
Thanks.

Frank| 6.3.11 @ 11:55AM

Thanks for sharing, Obama you are the best.

อาชีพอิสระ| 6.5.11 @ 8:16AM

Thank you for interesting news.

sklpa1hpa4hgd0jxccb5e5h1f0d| 6.17.11 @ 10:44PM

Thank you for good news
i like Obama very muct

Anne| 6.19.11 @ 9:33PM

On the lighter side though, please reference the Book of Joel, Chapter one, verse one, "You should never argue with a crazy ma, ma, ma, ma, man..."

Sometimes I get about half scared and other times I laugh out loud.

drm removal

ครีมหน้าใส| 6.20.11 @ 7:31AM

I was very pleased to visit your site; I was definitely a wonderful site. The post was worth reading. I enjoyed each bit of your post. Thanks for such excellent post.

jackkbu| 6.24.11 @ 4:55AM

Thank you, great news. I have a real advantage.

سوريا| 6.25.11 @ 12:14AM

thank yuou vere nice
http://www.soryh.com

سوريا| 6.25.11 @ 1:37AM

x
http://www.soryh.com

rolling tool chest | 6.26.11 @ 4:26AM

well, I believe in him.

pop up| 6.30.11 @ 2:16PM

I like it.

หนังx| 7.10.11 @ 3:28AM

Good Job , Thank you.

massage| 7.17.11 @ 12:41PM

Big Obama ha ha, Thanks for sharing.

kevinl| 7.29.11 @ 11:08AM

I like Obama very much
Good news

audio| 7.29.11 @ 11:09AM

I cheer Obama.I totally agree with it.

Free| 7.29.11 @ 11:22AM

Interesting News
Thanks.

pc game| 8.10.11 @ 11:13AM

I like your website. Thank you for great information. I will come back to your website again.

Best regards

Best Retail Stores| 9.4.11 @ 4:41AM

Thanks for sharing the time to your blog that, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on that topic.

mydexter| 9.9.11 @ 5:54AM

You seem to be a little directionally impaired. I have no intention of ussing a gun for any other purpose that poking holes in paper from some distance away. Other than that may they rust in peace.

I own precision paper punching equipment

ดูดวงปี 2555| 9.11.11 @ 4:58AM

I should have added, "Homo Indomitus ad portum." Barbarians at the door.

book| 9.11.11 @ 10:55AM

good blog for reading

book| 9.11.11 @ 10:59AM

Thx a good blog for reading good

Very Cheap| 9.14.11 @ 10:48AM

Thank you very much for sharing such an informative article with us.I like him. I cheer Obama.

นมัสการ| 9.19.11 @ 2:26AM

Obama is a good man.i love obama

blackfriady1080plcdtv| 9.19.11 @ 2:29AM

this is a good news.i love here

Blackfriady Canon T3I| 9.19.11 @ 2:30AM

good job.

angry birds toys| 9.22.11 @ 12:00PM

I'glad to read your site,thank you

very nice site,

dvd video tool| 9.28.11 @ 4:26AM

I am often blogging and i really appreciate your content. Thanks.

audio converter| 10.23.11 @ 10:50PM

good article, i think so.Thank you!

Hair Korea Style| 10.25.11 @ 10:08AM

I had already download this theme where I got two folders containing several files. I enjoyed your blog and it helped me relax. I wanted to thank you for this special read.

Omega Ultra Slim Digital | 11.5.11 @ 4:33AM

I'glad to read your site,thank you

very nice site,

Qualcraft 2601 Wall Jack Cheap| 11.10.11 @ 1:07AM

Cheap Save price for nice deals & best to buy on Qualcraft 2601 Wall Jack buy best price? You enter the right place to obtain lowest price & best to buy on Qualcraft 2601 Wall Jack buy best price. Yes, obviously, it is possible to compare prices and study reviews on Qualcraft 2601 Wall Jack buy best price.

best small dog breeds| 11.11.11 @ 10:02AM

Thank you for information to me.

buy syma s107| 11.14.11 @ 3:28AM

Thank you for information to me.

swfdecompilerformac| 11.27.11 @ 11:43PM

so nice analysis, gain a lot from this

Sophie| 11.28.11 @ 4:34AM

How to remove wmv drm? Is there a way to Remove WMV DRM excellently? Yes. Try wmv drm removal software, it is professional yet easy-to-use to remove wmv drm protection even without liscence. It can not only remove drm from wmv files, but various other kinds of formats, such as m4p, m4b, m4v, wma, m4a, aac, aa, etc. It is compatible with Windows 7 / 2000 / 2003 / XP / Vista with 1G Hz CPU or above.

Remove WMV DRM