Quite surprised to not see a thread on this.

What do you all think of it? I'm actually rather worried about it. It seems that, like usual, either all the politicians have no clue what they're talking about on interviews or are clearly full of shit, so we aren't hearing the whole story.

Finally a thread on this is made!

Yeah, I think we need a single payer, government run, public option as soon as possible. Health care in this country is an absolute train wreck, with insurance companies concerned about profits and not people. Meanwhile our politicians are being bought off by these companies to spread fear and propaganda so that they can ultimately kill health care reform again by stalling it with bullshit arguments.

It's time the most advanced country in the world gets health care that is ranked at the top. Right now we are ranked #37, below countries like Morocco, and have over 15% of our citizens uninsured.

See, Dragon, the thing I'm concerned about is that the government is either a) not going to be competent at running their health insurance, or b) is not telling us the whole story on the contents of the bill.

As in, the bill is so complex that the average person will have a lot of trouble reading it through, and this is something that I think all citizens MUST understand fully. I don't even understand the full implications of what's in the bill.

The other problem is that now the government will be participating in the market. The government won't have any incentive to profit (who knows how that deficit's going), so what's to stop them from undercutting all competition? Do we have a regulatory board, or are we going to be putting other insurance out of business? Or, is that in fact the idea - to "crash" all overpriced health insurance companies to force better competition?

As far as the government being competent, we already provide world-class health care to our military. We are more than capable of doing the same for our citizens.

I haven't read the bill, so I don't fully understand it. All I know is the health care we have no sucks my nuts. I should probably read it though. I haven't heard anything about it being super complex but maybe I am not listening to the right sources.

As far as the government crashing other insurance companies, I just don't think they would. Right now those companies have their prices set so high and make so much money that they could certainly use some competition. And I'm sure they will get sucker Americans to buy into their schemes by touting that they have "better" care etc etc. Or maybe the will sell things that the government won't (breast implants!). Those companies will survive, there is no doubt about it. There will still be plenty of money to be made in health care.

Of course you want government funded healthcare. Your constitution proclaims the right to life, and yet you deny it to the citizens who can't afford it. One of the reasons America as a nation is looked down upon by the likes of Europian countries is that they don't even have a free medical system.

I understand from the news that some idiotic conservative MEP has been going round the US talking about how terrible the NHS is. He has been ostracised from his party. The British people are very much in favour of universal healthcare, and we've lived with it for sixty years - it must be a good thing.

Insurance companies and private clinics survive because they have fewer clients. The can advertise lower waiting lists and therefore rich people pay lots.

I confess that I don't know exactly what Mr Obama has proposed, but if it is anything like the system we have here then for the love of God, get it now!

I agree with dragon. The insurance companies will survive. The government will most likely cover the medical treatment people need rather than what they want, so there will be medical treatments still needed to be covered by the insurance companies (such as breast implants and plastic surgery).

People are mad about this being a socialist government move, but honestly, its for the better. And its not like were going full socialist. Only a very small percentage of businesses are affected by government business (etc. the auto industry and now insurance companies).

I"m not quite sure what to think. I've been hearing all kinds of horror stories about medical care in Canada, but then all kinds of great stuff from over in Europe. I think it's all about degree of implementation.

Quote from Ash

I"m not quite sure what to think. I've been hearing all kinds of horror stories about medical care in Canada, but then all kinds of great stuff from over in Europe. I think it's all about degree of implementation.

The horror stories from Canada are hand-picked by insurance companies to spread their propaganda. Talk to a real Canadian and any of them will tell you that their health care is pure choice. But Canadian health care isn't really what we are going for anyways, the way I understand we would be getting something similar to Britain's NHS.

Question. Why do people liken universal health care to communism?

Quote from Dragon⁰⁷⁷

The horror stories from Canada are hand-picked by insurance companies to spread their propaganda. Talk to a real Canadian and any of them will tell you that their health care is pure choice. But Canadian health care isn't really what we are going for anyways, the way I understand we would be getting something similar to Britain's NHS.

I just talked to an old friend named Tyler, and he said pretty much that, that the way people like Michael Moore portray socialized health care is bullshit.

Quote from Ash

I just talked to an old friend named Tyler, and he said pretty much that, that the way people like Michael Moore portray socialized health care is bullshit.

That isn't what I've heard in similar conversations with Canadians. Guess it's just where you live.

I think its a bad idea.

When the government competes, they always win.

The government isn't competing. It's providing a different service entirely.

Quote from Waterboy

I think its a bad idea.

When the government competes, they always win.

Is that why the postal service is kicking so much ass right now? oh wait...

Sorry, I don't quite get it since I still haven't watched the news. Is America getting the free Healthcare? The one that you don't have to pay around 300 dollars to stitch a leg?