The Health Care Bill

[4.3LXJ]

Last Tuesday, the Senate health committee voted 12-11

in favor of a two-page amendment that would require

all members and their staff to enroll in any new

Government-run health plan. It took me less than a

minute to sign up to require our congressmen and

senators to drink at the same trough!



Three cheers for Congressman John Fleming of

Louisiana! Congressman Fleming, a Louisiana

physician, has proposed an amendment that would

require congressmen and senators to take the same

health-care plan they force on us. Under the proposed

legislation, they are curiously exempt.



Congressman Fleming is encouraging people to go on

his Website and sign his petition. It's very simple.

I have just done just that at:

http://fleming.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=55



Scroll down to the bottom to see the question on requiring

Congress to participate in the same health care plan in which

they'll require us -- under Federal law -- to participate.

Answer "YES."



Please urge as many people as you can to do the

same!



If Congress forces this on the American people, the

Congress should have to accept the same level of

health care for themselves and their families. To do

otherwise is the height of hypocrisy!

Please pass this on!

[Mudderoy]

Done :thumbsup:

[codertimt]

I'm kind of on the fence about alot of this, and probably leaning towards a different side than most on here, but I thought I'd throw a couple thoughts out there...

1. There isn't a "govt health care plan"... The public option was killed. There is now a health insurance exchange which will be a regulated group of insurers offering plans in a competitive marketplace. Theoretically, this should help keep/bring down premiums.
2. By forcing Congress to drop their current coverage and buy out of the "exchange", you're actually not forcing them to "take the same medicine" as all other Americans...you're forcing them to take the same as the 16% of currently uninsured Americans. The other 84% with insurance will not be required to change their current policies in any way. Some might want to as the deals might be better buying out of the "exchange".
3. So, this part of the bill actually makes Congress go the extra mile versus the majority of Americans. While to me, this doesn't really seem fair, I do kind of like it since it would make it in Congress' best interest to make sure the "health insurance exchange" actually provides quality coverage.
4. Everyone now being forced to buy insurance is where the debate really lies for me. On one hand, not having the overhead of dealing with medical care going unpaid should technically bring the cost of care down. But on the other hand, is it fair to make someone who would rather pay expenses out of pocket get insurance now. Back on the first hand, what happens when that person is in a horrible accident and the procedures to save his life cost much more than he could ever afford. He's now bankrupt and the medicals bills are never paid...and the cost of my doctor visit ends up going up. Oh yeah, and his new Jeep that he still owed 20K for is taken care of fine because he was required to carry insurance to make sure that was payed off... :D

Anyway, although my views are mixed, I'm definitely in the camp that the health care reform is not all doom and gloom. I personally think the entire health industry and insurance industry need a much larger overhaul than it provides...

[Mudderoy]

There were a lot of things that could have been done before this crap that we got. I'm upset about two things. #1 The federal government is mandating that I spend money for something. #2 70% of Americans did not want this health care bill, but they passed it anyway.

Long term this will diminish our health care system, prices will increase and there will be fewer health care providers. The politicians when confronted with these realities, we grin and lie to us just like the shit eating bastards always do. No one is so stupid to believe that this health care reform is really a good thing. It was something that was done to us for political reasons, just another way for the government to control something and help use it as a means to garner votes from the poor stupid people that believe their crap.

Government needs to know it works for me, and they need to stay the hell out of my way.

[BlueXJ]

Signed up.

[4.3LXJ]

Coder

I agree with you in theory. However, since the insurance industries now have a captive market, competition has been removed and health insurance premiums are going up quickly simply because there is no regulation of it and we all have to have it. Blue Cross and associated companies had a 40% increase AGAIN this year as of two weeks ago. The law says they can charge up to 8.5% of my gross income. And since I am self employed and not a member of a union, I will be assessed an additional 2.5% of my gross for this plan. If I am making good money, that is very expensive care for someone who practices preventative life styles. Also, I am of an age that I am soon going to be forced to listen to someone explain to me about assisted suicide before getting anything expensive. Also Medicare benefits have been reduced. What I want is for these guys to taste a little bit of the reality that has been heaped upon us. And you are right, if they have to play by the same rules as we do, they will make sure it is really good care.

[Mudderoy]

Coder

I agree with you in theory. However, since the insurance industries now have a captive market, competition has been removed and health insurance premiums are going up quickly simply because there is no regulation of it and we all have to have it. Blue Cross and associated companies had a 40% increase AGAIN this year as of two weeks ago. The law says they can charge up to 8.5% of my gross income. And since I am self employed and not a member of a union, I will be assessed an additional 2.5% of my gross for this plan. If I am making good money, that is very expensive care for someone who practices preventative life styles. Also, I am of an age that I am soon going to be forced to listen to someone explain to me about assisted suicide before getting anything expensive. Also Medicare benefits have been reduced. What I want is for these guys to taste a little bit of the reality that has been heaped upon us. And you are right, if they have to play by the same rules as we do, they will make sure it is really good care.

You people need to go watch the movie "Soylent Green". Government needs to stay out of direct control of health care. They want to fix the health care system? Do research and development of things that extend life and the overall health of the public they are taxing!

[4.3LXJ]

There is one simple thing that can be done to improve the health of America. Ban vending machines on school campuses and mandate healthy meals at schools. We have a whole generation of young people who are already over weight with associated health problems that go with it. It is ridiculous after all to have a 15 year old with high blood pressure.

[4.3LXJ]

You people need to go watch the movie "Soylent Green". Government needs to stay out of direct control of health care. They want to fix the health care system? Do research and development of things that extend life and the overall health of the public they are taxing!

I'm a good republican although registered as an Independent. Just reduce the size and complexity of government and allow us to be truly free. Socialism will make this a second rate country instead of the first rate one it is. Just look at history for proof.

[Mudderoy]

There is one simple thing that can be done to improve the health of America. Ban vending machines on school campuses and mandate healthy meals at schools. We have a whole generation of young people who are already over weight with associated health problems that go with it. It is ridiculous after all to have a 15 year old with high blood pressure.

I agree, but that's just another form of control. What's the next step? Start monitoring commercials that company's are putting out? Can't have McDonald's make a Big Mac look good because that will cause the poor stupid people to get fat and die.

It all goes back to personal responsibility. The government should be involved in finding a way to help business and the population. Education and warnings but eventually a way to make food taste good but healthy, or a medicine that negates the effects of poor life choices.

Ultimately the decision should be up to the individual not the government.

[4.3LXJ]

I agree, but that's just another form of control. What's the next step? Start monitoring commercials that company's are putting out? Can't have McDonald's make a Big Mac look good because that will cause the poor stupid people to get fat and die.

It all goes back to personal responsibility. The government should be involved in finding a way to help business and the population. Education and warnings but eventually a way to make food taste good but healthy, or a medicine that negates the effects of poor life choices.

Ultimately the decision should be up to the individual not the government.

Not at all Muddy

I have done some teaching and I can tell you that I watched kids sucking down a ton of sugar and caffeine throughout the day. No secret why they were obese, or that there were behavioral problems. Also checking the school cafeteria food as published by the school, 66% of the calories were from fat, most of it saturated. That is kind of like serving nothing but doughnuts. Kids don't really realize what they are doing to themselves. It is the same as banning smoking on campus. If they think they need this stuff, then do it at home.