>>>>>>>Do you think our system is worth what we are paying for it?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I think that our system needs reform but I do not believe anything will be better if we give it to the government. Take a look at Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the Post Office and Cash for Clunkers. All of this are stunning examples of failure, so what makes you think that the government should be trusted with our health insurance?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>A good start would be tort reform and longer patent lifetimes on prescription drugs.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>For about the hundredth time, there is no proposal on the table that will require anyone to switch from their private insurer to a government plan.
>>>>>
>>>>>Not forced to go with a government plan, but forced to participate in a plan. I posted the link to the house bill previously, and I posted a couple of the scary points in it.
>>>>>
>>>>>One worth noting: Obama has promised and promised not to raise taxes on anyone earning less than 250,000/yr. Well, the house bill does just that by enforcing a tax penalty if you do not participate in an 'approved' plan. Here is a synopsis (yes it is accurate - you can compare it to the actual bill I posted the link to earlier):
>>>>>
>>>>>Mandates on Individuals and Businesses
>>>>>
>>>>>The bill contains both an individual and an employer mandate. Under the terms of the bill, an individual would be required to enroll in an "acceptable" health plan or face a tax penalty. The only exception would be "hardship" cases. For an individual, the tax would be equal to 2 percent of their income up to the "national average premium amount." Such a mandate would amount to an unprecedented restriction on personal liberty.
>>>>>
>>>>>"Medium and large" employers would be required to offer an "acceptable" health plan, under the terms and conditions of the House bill, or pay an "assumed" 8 percent payroll tax.[6] As economists generally note, the costs of an employer mandate are invariably passed onto employees in the form of wage or compensation reduction or even job loss. There is yet to be an econometric analysis of the impact of these provisions of the House bill.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>and, as far as being able to keep your current private insurance:
>>>>>
>>>>>Promises, Promises
>>>>>
>>>>>The President has said repeatedly that if Americans like their private health insurance coverage, they would be able to keep it. But in fact, the incentives built into the House bill--a combination of mandates and the provision of a public plan--would guarantee that millions of Americans would lose their private coverage, regardless of their personal preferences.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>http://www.heritage.org/Research/HealthCAre/wm2515.cfm
>>>>>
>>>>>This is why I think the other plans out there are better first steps toward healthcare reform.
>>>>>
>>>>>Here it is - the Health Care Bill Message #1415589
>>>>>
>>>>>or if you wish, a direct link:
>>>>>
>>>>>The house healthcare plan:
>>>>>http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3200ih.pdf
>>>>
>>>>Thank you for the links. I have to admit I am skeptical of anything from the Heritage Foundation. They have an extremely conservative agenda.
>>>
>>>Understood, however it doesn't change the accuracy of that piece. However, you must admit that your sources of information are not providing all the information and definitely not the controversial pieces if it reflects negatively on Obama or else you would be fully aware of those by now. Broaden your horizons! :o) I try to read stuff from both sides. You still have to verify of course - regardless of which side it comes from.
>>>
>>>Note: The link to the bill is authentic and is the GPO posting of the bill. It is a government site and it is verified as accurate.
>>>
>>>Mike, even CBS has mentioned the controversial pieces of the bill in their news casts!
>>
>>I gave up on TV news years ago. Local newscasts are a national embarrassment.
>>
>>I made an exception for the CBS special in the 60 Minutes slot the Sunday after Walter Cronkite died. They don't make them like him any more. He was a reporter, not a teleprompter reader. Some great footage of him on the front lines in Vietnam. When he said on the air after a trip to Vietnam that we were not winning the war it was a turning point in public opinion. LBJ said if I've lost Cronkite I've lost the country.
>>
>>One of the great bits in his obituaries was about him dropping in on a journalism class at Columbia a few years ago. He had been off the air for years and years but they sure knew who he was. The article said everyone stopped whatever they were saying, as though Thomas Jefferson had walked into a history class.
>>
>>I admit I let Obama off easy sometimes. But not always. He has not done a very good job of selling health care reform to the public. His messages are all over the place.
>
>Well, even if you don't watch television news, there are many more sources of information other than the New York Times... :o)

Why the change of first name to Tc?