Thanks Obamacare!

[Chief Grey Bear]

None.

[Justin Spencer]

I would vote for a one term limit for every elected person in a flash.

I think one six year term is the way to go, then they don't have to worry about every little thing they do and they can work to do what they think is best and across party lines without repercussions.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Isn't that exactly what you are doing???? You really have no experience other than hearsay correct??

Hearsay about what? Jack

Most folks I've met from Canada, both Nova Scotia and Toronto love their healthcare

Canadians that I've spent a lot of time with have a different view.

No hearsay about cancer, I've had more than my share of expedience with it. Try 9 cases in my immediate family of parents and siblings.

[Jerry Rapp]

any incumbent now spends most of their last 1/2 term in office campaigning to get re-elected. 6yrs is too much in my opinion. 4 years max, and they would be working for all 4 years. If a State Rep does good in 4 years and people like him, then he can run for State Senate. Same with the US Congress. Representive for 4 years, then if you are good enough try to run for the Senate. You could still be a career politican, but you would have to earn it.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Hearsay about what? Jack

Canadians that I've spent a lot of time with have a different view.

No hearsay about cancer, I've had more than my share of expedience with it. Try 9 cases in my immediate family of parents and siblings.

Well, Jack, you are claiming that someone can't apply experience of his MIL to the population but because you have two friends from Canada you can???

And I am not sure what the badge of honor is in having "more" cancer cases is. I don't know of anyone that doesn't have close accounts of it. Does it make one an expert of something??

[gotmuddy]

The level of care we receive in the US is unparalleled, but the system is still broke. Too many frivolous lawsuits paired with people abusing the system have made costs skyrocket.

I dont have insurance by choice, and I firmly believe that I should not be FORCED to buy it.

Term limits would be awesome, but you will never see a politician vote to take away their power.

[zander]

Basically it comes down to whether or not you believe healthcare is a basic human right. In countries where they have universal coverage they have affirmed that they think it is: just as the right to representation, right to be treated equally regardless of race, religion, etc. There were times when only the rich could be represented in court, or being catholic or black meant you had to endure other restrictions then the majority person. America collectively hasn't yet answered whether healthcare is a basic human right. Is it a right of humans to know that when you fall ill or are born with challenges that your countrymen will pay for your care. We all pay for national defense even though we aren't all physically attacked. I am in no way trying to minimize the sacrifices of the soldiers who do their duty but we will all surely be attacked by sickness or injury at some point in our lives. Is it reasonable to share the cost for the defense of our health just as we already share the cost of our bullets, bombs, and bazookas for the defense of our country and interests?

That is the question which will be answered eventually

[gotmuddy]

In a perfect world nationalized healthcare would be perfect. However we do not live in a perfect world. We live in a world where some people want to steal from everyone else.

When I say steal, I mean people who live on welfare, and generally abuse our system. So many people who CAN work refuse to do so because the government will take care of them.

[zander]

Many other countries have nationalized healthcare and they aren't in a perfect world either. There will always be people who take advantage of things- coupons, parking meters, welfare, off-shore tax shelters, bankruptcy protection, etc. In spite of that it works extremely well in most countries that have it especially for basic and preventative care

[hank franklin]

Basically it comes down to whether or not you believe healthcare is a basic human right.

Yeah, big question, that. Feed the hungry, care for the sick. We are morally obligated.

The government provides Medicare because the private market could never do it. How did we get to Obamacare? We got there because costs drove everyone out of the market. Why so many uninsured? Because the employers can no longer afford it, and if you try to get it on the individual market you're subject to underwriting, which of course will eliminate risk or put a premium on it. The more uninsured, the more rates go up for the insured to cover everyone else, and the system collapses.

So the market, unfortunately, can't support the system in its current form. Rather than address costs however Obamacare simply engineers a gov't takeover, which as I've said before pimps out the employers and insurers to meet gov't ends. It's utterly terrible law.

I am no Romneycare expert but it basically creates a state-run system to run alongside the existing private system. Yes there is a mandate but at some point you must pay to play. To refuse is to shift costs on all others. Someone else in this thread said they have no insurance by choice. So if you become catastrophically ill, have an accident, etc. what happens? Who pays your bill?

You have to have a mandate IMO. Roberts was brilliant in calling it a tax. You can't have a product (healthcare) that everyone at some point must use and not have everyone at some point pay for it. The Obamacare "tax" is a slap on the wrist, really.

The problem again is in the scope of the Obama takeover. Romneycare basically uses the private market to deliver services to the uninsured. Yes there is a government piece but the government is already an enormous player in healthcare. So this is nothing new. As I understand the existing pre-Romneycare private system continues basically intact. You can have private if you can afford it; if not you have Romneycare, which at least is care. The care providers will do their best, bless their hearts.

Obamacare instead simply inserts the government into every transaction. And does nothing to control costs. In fact by most analyses will only raises costs higher.

Absolutely pitiful.