tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post2780851376978346580..comments2024-03-28T05:30:09.322-04:00Comments on Corporate Justice Blog: Obama's Grand Legacy: "Health Care Reform, at Last "Steven Ramirezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741346526253732489noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-77941664541224681882010-04-28T17:57:30.806-04:002010-04-28T17:57:30.806-04:00This bill is long overdue. the biggest issue I hav...This bill is long overdue. the biggest issue I have with this bill is that it took so long to pass. The republicans oppossed to the bill continued to give reasons why this bill was so terrible. However, why didn't they come up with a new one that was better instead of fighting for the status quo. Furthermore, this bill will inspire macroeconomic growth because now everyone can go see a doctor or go to a hospital which will create a greater demand for doctors, nurses, hospitals, etc. Just the building of hospitals creates many construction jobs, people to work in the hospitals in the non medical areas. Also, the American taxpayer will no longer be paying hospital bills for those who can afford healthcare but choose not to get it. Again, let me make it clear, I'm not saying I had a problem with indigent people whose simply could not afford healthcare, I'm taking about people who had the financial resources to get healthcare and chose not to. This plan also makes healthcare affordable to indigent people. Its a win for the American people for the most part. Those people concerned with future rises in taxes due to this bill I say this. As taxpayers we were already paying the hospital bills for millions of people without healthcare. Their bills were most likely a lot higher because instead of these people treating problems early or getting preventive care, they would be rushed to the hospital for expensive treatment. I could continue speculating on all the benefits we as a nation will recieve from this bill. I am not saying it was perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but its the best we could come up with. When we balance that with the previous status que, I think there is no question that having the healthcare reform pass was a better move than not passing it.Agustin Alvareznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-44469862233257118692010-04-24T17:33:03.314-04:002010-04-24T17:33:03.314-04:00Even though I support Health Care Reform I do have...Even though I support Health Care Reform I do have concerns. There is already a lack of health care workers in hospitals. Expanding health care access to everybody might make this shortage more evident. The end result could be a deficiency in the quality of care provided to each patient. Hopefully this economy gets better so we can afford to have more health care workers to keep the level of care up for everybody.Jules Vnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-60250459465375580042010-04-18T21:42:31.607-04:002010-04-18T21:42:31.607-04:00I am truly for the health care bill and for the ec...I am truly for the health care bill and for the economic, social, and humanistic benefits it provides. However, my only contention is the procedural aspect used to pass the bill. Our great nation is deeply rooted in the Constitution and the checks and balances it provides. In my opinion, the step taken to pass the bill is a true mockery of those checks and balances. I have had several discussions on how Congress has the authority to pass this bill and I have been told through the commerce clause or the tax and spending clause, however it doesn’t seem to add up.Oluseun Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-56596486141333526372010-04-06T01:58:23.275-04:002010-04-06T01:58:23.275-04:00What courage Congress has shown! I don't unde...What courage Congress has shown! I don't understand how anyone can deny the importance and necessity for Health Care Reform. How can you deny your adult children continued coverage on your insurance plan while they pursue higher education? Or would you prefer that your elderly parents, church members, or neighbors not be given a rebate immediately to help cover the cost of their spiraling prescription drugs? Most participants on this blog have some financial astuteness and can appreciate that if the Government miraculously found Billions to bail out the Banks, it can find a little less to bail out Americans who are striving to live healthy productive lives.Shanai Harrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-36260387102252147072010-04-02T04:45:16.274-04:002010-04-02T04:45:16.274-04:00Well this all has been very interesting.
I just ...Well this all has been very interesting. <br /><br />I just want to make two small points.<br /><br />First, the market was up again this week. So in the last 2 weeks the market has been consistently positive. This is a total rebuke of far right wing rhetoric regarding some kind of imagined "socialist" takeover.<br /><br />Second, here is the table of contents for the most recent issue of of NEJM: http://content.nejm.org/current.dtl<br /><br />Even the most far right wing wacko must admit there sim[ply is no such poll in the NEJM. They just made it up folks.Steven Ramirezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16741346526253732489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-46288648893950917552010-03-31T16:24:38.301-04:002010-03-31T16:24:38.301-04:00Now that this pig has passed, left-wing "jour...Now that this pig has passed, left-wing "journalists" feel freer to examine it's true cost. What they find isn't pretty:<br /><br /><i>The official projections for health-care reform, which show it greatly reducing the number of uninsured and also reducing the budget deficit, are simply not credible. There are three basic issues.</i> <br /><br /><i>1.The cost and revenue projections rely on unrealistic assumptions and accounting tricks. If you make some adjustments for these, the cost of the plan is much higher.</i><br /><br /><i>2.The so-called “individual mandate” isn’t really a mandate at all. Under the new system, many young and healthy people will still have a strong incentive to go uninsured.</i><br /><br /><i>3.Once the reforms are up and running, some employers will have a big incentive to end their group coverage plans and dump their employees onto the taxpayer-subsidized individual plans, greatly adding to their cost.</i><br /><br />Read it all, if you think that your world view can stand it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2010/03/obamacare-by-the-numbers-part-2.html" rel="nofollow">Obamacare By The Numbers, The New Yorker</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-14880125558006914072010-03-31T11:03:11.916-04:002010-03-31T11:03:11.916-04:00Nice point, if you take all of the cost controls o...<i>Nice point, if you take all of the cost controls out of the bill - it won't save money. What a shock.</i><br /><br />Yeah, and if you count measures that have not been enacted as cost controls and double count "savings", you get a bill that reduces the deficit.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the credit ratings agencies and the bond markets are not as easily fooled as your average leftist. The U.S. in now paying more than some private corporations to borrow money and the credit ratings agencies are warning of a downgrade to our debt. Maybe they need to hang out in faculty lounges more often.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-39163625569361318502010-03-30T22:42:51.917-04:002010-03-30T22:42:51.917-04:00Although there has been great opposition to the he...Although there has been great opposition to the healthcare bill, it is quite obvious that the majority of America feels it is necessary. Unfortunately, a number of Americans are not in a financial position to fund the astronomical medical fees that accompany healthcare. Yes, by law, hospitals cannot turn away a sick child, but if it has gone to a point where that child is brought to an emergency room because of an ailment, more then likely, the parent or caretaker cannot afford doctor visits and therefore, will have a hard time finding funds to satisfy the debt of going to an emergency room, or even fighting the battle of having debt covered by a government aid. Let's be realistic and not delusional. Just because Medicaid, Medicare, and the such are in place does not mean that most people that need it are able to use it! True, there are those that abuse the system, but we cannot let one bad apple spoil the bunch. <br /><br />I would like to specifically address two of Annonymous' comments. <br />1. "Charity is something you do with your own money, not someone else's. Christ never instructed us to steal from one man to benefit another." <br />You sound ridiculous. Taxes are collected for the wellbeing of the Nation, therefore it is OUR money. It was voted on to use in a particular manner. If you were to try to argue that you do not approve of your insignificant portion being used for the healthcare bill, you would likely get laughed at by the court. One should not be so selfish. I am sure it is your hope that when you are in a time of need, there will be others to donate time, money, etc to you. No one is a position to consistently be self sufficient in every aspect of life. Your time of need has or will come and you too will be in search of "charity". Additionally, how is this stealing? Is it really any different then taxes being used for public schools, the war, the roads...?<br /><br />2. "You need not grow up". The sarcastic response to a comment mentioning that children can remain on a parent's health insurance until the age of 26. <br />This encourages students to continue in higher education. Most professional jobs require years of schooling and sometimes experience before making a substantial income. At times, that schooling does not offer the opportunity for employment to earn an adequate income. Young adults often must choose between school and work to make ends meet at a specific time in life. When one must choose to work instead of completing school, life sometimes gets in the way of continuing school. Stunting the growth of our youth and young adults will only stunt the growth of our economy. You complain of doctors wanting to retire once the bill is enforced. Why not encourage the youth to pursue medical school since they will be guaranteed health care under their parent's insurance (and not have to worry about keeping a full time job) so that they can take care of the millions of Americans that will now be able to seek medical care!? <br /><br />Ms. Styons made a great point about the people who need health insurance are the same people who cannot afford to live a healthy lifestyle, specifically a healthy eating lifestyle. These people are stuck in a vicious cycle. How can they prevent the need for health care by living a healthy lifestyle if they cannot afford the "healthy food". It's a lose lose situation and something must be done.Tara-Anne Canadanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-40645944526339322392010-03-30T20:45:20.450-04:002010-03-30T20:45:20.450-04:00Nice point, if you take all of the cost controls o...Nice point, if you take all of the cost controls out of the bill - it won't save money. What a shock. I'm also glad that we can agree the Elmendorf and the CBO are the appropriate authority here. <br /><br />Will the future taxes be enacted? Maybe not, although it is certainly more likely if Republicans grow up in the interim. In addition cost controls have consistently been one of the goals of health reform as outlined by the President. Does this bill go far enough in cutting costs? No. Not even close. But Republicans didn't negotiate for better cost controls, they wanted Waterloo. So instead of having a centrist bill, Obama had to cater to the unions who don't want the excise tax. This is a good law that begins to tackle the serious problem of health care inflation and solves some of the serious insurance problems like pre-existing conditions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-60403550889833240092010-03-30T20:16:36.871-04:002010-03-30T20:16:36.871-04:00In a letter to Ryan, the CBO estimates that if the...<i><a href="http://www.house.gov/budget_republicans/press/2007/pr20100319letter.pdf" rel="nofollow">In a letter to Ryan, the CBO estimates</a> that if the Medicare cuts were used to help shore up the effectively bankrupt Medicare trust fund instead, then the Democrats health care bill would run $260 billion in deficits over the next decade.</i><br /><br /><i>Earlier CBO estimates also assume that future lawmakers would actually enact some of the unpopular measures, such as the Medicare cuts and the "Cadillac tax." These are crucial to Democrats' claims that the bill will reduce deficits even more -- by $1.2 trillion -- in the second decade. But in the letter, the CBO says that without the changes, deficits would actually increase -- by a quarter of a percent of GDP, or $600 billion -- in the second decade.</i> <br /><br /><a href="http://spectator.org/blog/2010/03/19/cbo-confirms-that-without-acco" rel="nofollow">CBO Confirms That Without Accounting Gimmicks, Obamacare Adds to Deficits, The American Spectator</a><br /><br />Both the Medicare cuts and the "Cadillac tax" - which would primarily effect union health benefits - will be almost impossible for the Democrats to enact, that's why the effective date was moved out to 2014. By counting the savings today and pushing the cuts out into the future, they hoped to deceive Americans about the true cost of the bill. Add those back in and you've got red ink as far as the eye can see. That's not me or some "Republican CBO Director" that's saying it, it's <a href="http://www.house.gov/budget_republicans/press/2007/pr20100319letter.pdf" rel="nofollow">Douglas W. Elmendorf, the current CBO Director.</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-69013854198690748872010-03-30T14:45:28.685-04:002010-03-30T14:45:28.685-04:00First of all I don't see whats so complicated ...First of all I don't see whats so complicated about how you take Republican CBO director's word as gospel, but the current CBO director's actual findings as partisan democratic spin. I'll trust the guy who actually has to respond to Republicans in Congress and the entire permanent staff of the CBO rather than a guy who shilled for McCain and is setting up his own right wing think tank. <br /><br />Second, whats so hard about understanding that you can spend money on one thing in a bill, but save money on another? Where there were savings on programs in Medicare Part D the savings were underestimated. It is the same in this bill. This bill spends money, about 90 billion a year, but it cuts existing spending and raises revenue through excise taxes on health care plans that adds up to over 100 billion in total savings in 10 years and over a trillion in 20 years. Businesses spend money to save money in the long run all the time. You buy a machine that is more efficient it costs money to buy it but it saves you money in the long run. Here you spend money to cover people but make health care more efficient and raise revenue to cover the rest. Its not complicated.<br /><br />As for what Obama promised, he promised a health care bill and he got one.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Obama said he'd pass health care in his first term and he did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-63572860057341864422010-03-30T13:12:37.053-04:002010-03-30T13:12:37.053-04:00Its pretty funny that you quote DHE to back up you...<i>Its pretty funny that you quote DHE to back up your point <b>and yet refer to him as the former head of the CBO to bolster your point ...</b></i><br /><br />Read the article, that is how the New York Time's refers to him. Probably because <i><b>he actually is the former head of the CBO</b></i>. I assume that puts him in a position to know how the scoring process works, as opposed to some blow hard from "HipHopLaw" who doesn't have a clue.<br /><br /><i>... but then refuse to accept the actual CBO report which says that this bill will reduce the deficit and begin to slow the rise in health care costs.</i> <br /><br />Yeah, yeah, I guess that no matter how clearly a point is made - in this case, that the Democrats gamed the scoring process - there will always be some people to dense to follow along.<br /><br /><i>While one can always criticize the CBO, the fact is that in previous health care bills, such as Medicare part D, the CBO has seriously UNDERESTIMATED the savings in the bill.</i> <br /><br />Actually, they UNDERESTIMATED the COST. Medicare part D, like this health care bill, created a new entitlement and so was never expected to <i>save</i> money. It would have been a lie to suggest otherwise. Just like it's a lie to suggest that this bill will <i>save</i> money. In order to believe that the government will add 20+ million people to the health care rolls, using massive government subsidies, and that will actually result in a <i>savings</i>, you would also have to believe in the tooth fairy. But, then again, that's probably why you're a leftist - you'll believe anything the left tells you.<br /><br />Here's the link <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=6139&type=0" rel="nofollow">to a paper produced by the CBO, under Holtz-Eakin</a>, explaining the reasons for the increased cost estimates for Medicare part D. Of course, you may not want to read it as it bolsters the case that he actually was the head of the CBO.<br /><br /><i>DHE on the other hand as the economic adviser to candidate McCain told him that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong" during the greatest financial collapse in 80 years. You need to do a better job cherry-picking your wingnut welfare propaganda.</i><br /><br />Yeah, yeah and Barrack Obama told us that the "stimulus" would create jobs and that his mortgage program would aid homeowners. He told us that he would never support health care mandates, or raise taxes on anyone making less than $250,000. He said that the health care negotiations would be held on C-Span and that he would exclude lobbyists from his administration.<br /><br />Enjoy your Kool-Aid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-15428253428016209422010-03-29T21:03:47.846-04:002010-03-29T21:03:47.846-04:00If I'm a liar, he is too.
Its pretty funny th...<i>If I'm a liar, he is too.</i><br /><br />Its pretty funny that you quote DHE to back up your point and yet refer to him as the former head of the CBO to bolster your point, but then refuse to accept the <i> actual </i> CBO report which says that this bill will reduce the deficit and begin to slow the rise in health care costs. While one can always criticize the CBO, the fact is that in previous health care bills, such as Medicare part D, the CBO has seriously UNDERESTIMATED the savings in the bill. DHE on the other hand as the economic adviser to candidate McCain told him that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong" during the greatest financial collapse in 80 years. You need to do a better job cherry-picking your wingnut welfare propaganda.HipHopLaw.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10805407660957118078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-60810781244530249532010-03-29T20:13:55.456-04:002010-03-29T20:13:55.456-04:00I am elated to know that healthcare reform has bee...I am elated to know that healthcare reform has been finally passed. This is truly a day to be celebrated here in a country that is considered to be the land of the free! The new healthcare reform will provide great opportunities for ALL Americans. The Children’s Defense Fund released a story about a young boy who died because he had a major issue with his tooth, that would typically cost no more than a hundred dollars to fix. Unfortunately, his family didn’t have the money and to my dismay the young man passed away. Children are sometimes at a disadvantage and it is sad to see them affected by not having insurance. And now all American citizens will be able to gain access to healthcare. Some would argue that there are some serious drawbacks to universal healthcare, but I am in favor of saying that the positives definitely out way any type of concerns. I know there are some logistics as to how the system will work, but by being a little patient and a little time I am sure that most of the concerns will be ironed out.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02801059735811957328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-85329114823931914242010-03-29T19:42:55.505-04:002010-03-29T19:42:55.505-04:00Its sad that you have to resort to untrue right wi...<i>Its sad that you have to resort to untrue right wing talking points about the spending in the health care bill.</i> <br /><br />Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who was the director of the Congressional Budget Office from 2003 to 2005, explains all the gimmicks that the Democrats used to achieve the CBO score for ObamaCare:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/opinion/21holtz-eakin.html" rel="nofollow">The Real Arithmetic of Health Care Reform, The New York Times</a><br /><br /><i>"In reality, if you strip out all the gimmicks and budgetary games and rework the calculus, a wholly different picture emerges: The health care reform legislation would <b>raise</b>, not lower, federal deficits, by $562 billion."</i><br /><br />If I'm a liar, he is too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-81380541595993240082010-03-29T19:03:38.749-04:002010-03-29T19:03:38.749-04:00Its sad that you have to resort to untrue right wi...<i>Its sad that you have to resort to untrue right wing talking points about the spending in the health care bill. It does raise moderate amounts of money before spending it - but that is called fiscal responsibility - not an effort to mislead the American people.</i> <br /><br />In fact, it's you who, like the Democrats, must resort to mistruths about the costs of this bill. The CBO scored this bill, absent the gimmicks used by Democrats, at $2.3 trillion over the next two decades. <a href="http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2010/03/21/its-not-a-health-bill-not-a-medicare-tax-and-it-cant-possibly-cost-only-940-billion/" rel="nofollow">There are no savings. Not now, not 20 years from now</a><br /><br /><i>... if they would have allowed a majority vote in the Senate like the Constitution provides for there would have been no need for tactics.</i><br /><br />I'm sure that is just what you will say when it's repealed using the same tactics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-18500433319062485792010-03-29T16:08:18.176-04:002010-03-29T16:08:18.176-04:00Its sad that you have to resort to untrue right wi...Its sad that you have to resort to untrue right wing talking points about the spending in the health care bill. It is true that most of the bill takes until 2014 to be implemented. It does raise moderate amounts of money before spending it - but that is called fiscal responsibility - not an effort to mislead the American people. (A clear graph about spending can be found here http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/03/what_does_the_health-care_refo.html) The bill saves the American taxpayer over 1 trillion over the next 20 years. That is the most aggressive move to lower the debt since Clinton's budget in 1994. <br /><br />The reason that the Democrats had to resort to parliamentary tactics is the unprecedented obstruction by the Republicans - if they would have allowed a majority vote in the Senate like the Constitution provides for there would have been no need for tactics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-23863511173616985692010-03-29T13:23:39.271-04:002010-03-29T13:23:39.271-04:00If this bill is so wonderful and necessary to savi...If this bill is so wonderful and necessary to saving children's lives, then why don't the benefits start immediately? Why wait until 2014? What about all those children that are supposedly suffering and dying for lack of care?<br /><br />If it's so wonderful, why did Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have to bribe members of their own party to pass it? Why was it necessary to resort to consensus destroying legislative tricks and gimmicks to get it passed? Why did the people who wrote the bill seek to exclude themselves from it's provisions? Why did the Democrats have to manipulate the CBO scoring in an effort to mislead the American people about it's true cost? Why does it call for the collection of 10 years of taxes to fund 6 years of benefits?<br /><br />This isn't a "monumental moment", it's a travesty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-73995493363614618382010-03-29T12:27:02.893-04:002010-03-29T12:27:02.893-04:00... health care companies fought but they forgot a...<i>... health care companies fought but they forgot about the people they should be fighting for, the American people. Instead they decided to fight and kill a bill for their own personal reasons.</i> <br /><br />Health care companies did not fight this bill, they wrote large parts of it. <a href="http://reason.com/archives/2009/08/13/big-business-goes-big-for-heal" rel="nofollow">Big Business Goes Big for Health Care Reform, Reason</a><br /><br /><i>Then you had a stipulation on health care plans some companies call, preexisting conditions. A stipulation that came from greed and the driving philosophy of the business, to make a profit.</i><br /><br />Preexisting conditions clauses did not come from greed, but from common sense. The cost of insuring an event with a 100 percent certainty of occurrence, is the actual cost of the event plus administrative and other costs, plus a profit. In other words, it would cost more than the event itself. If they charged any less, they would be putting their other policy holders at risk of not having their claims met when they arose. Try starting a company that sells fire insurance to people after their houses have burned down for the same price as those whose houses are still standing and see how long you're in business.<br /><br />And profit, by the way, drives innovation. We have CT scanners, MRI machines, cutting edge drug therapies and the like, not because of charity, but because people were trying to make a profit. The U.S. leads the world in medical innovation because companies here have been able to make a profit. <i><b>It's greedy capitalists who create the machines and therapies that save people's lives, not community organizers.</b></i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-11646551695937949412010-03-29T12:25:44.982-04:002010-03-29T12:25:44.982-04:00I find it hilarious that many of the postings whic...<i>I find it hilarious that many of the postings which highly criticize the health care reform are anonymous. It makes me wonder whether you would even have the audacity to tell a child with a pre-existing condition that the price of this reform is more important than potentially saving his or her life.</i><br /><br />Before this bill was signed, no child needing care was ever turned away from a hospital, period. First, the law required that hospitals treat anyone in need, regardless of their ability to pay. Second, we had a program, SCHIP, that specifically covered the health care needs of children. So, save your moral preening for someone who doesn't know the facts.<br /><br /><i>Many of you can support a war that has cost this country trillions of dollars and killed thousands of people, but oppose a bill that will promote life. Something is wrong with this picture. Clearly, your moral compass is broken.</i> <br /><br /><a href="http://scottthong.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/bush-saved-750000-iraqi-lives/" rel="nofollow">The war, saved hundreds of thousands of lives.</a> Further, it liberated millions from sadistic tyranny. Your claim, that it cost trillions of dollars, is just gibberish. I would argue that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4PgpbQfxgo" rel="nofollow">anyone who thought that allowing hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children to die of hunger and disease</a>, not to mention the thousands of adults who were tortured and executed, in order to maintain a sanctions regime that seemed designed only to make certain U.N. officials rich at their expense, is the one with the broken moral compass.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-77342615614992954692010-03-29T11:31:43.706-04:002010-03-29T11:31:43.706-04:00Well it's about time. I'm very happy to be...Well it's about time. I'm very happy to be alive during this monumental moment. I was beginning to think that America would never be able to pass a Healthcare Bill. I've seen many different people fight past health care bill proposals at every different angle. Some people didn't think certain contents of the bill was constitutional, some didn't like how it was being funded and some thought we should take years to think about the bill and its contents, before we even try to pass one. Democrats fought, republicans fought, health care companies fought but they forgot about the people they should be fighting for, the American people. Instead they decided to fight and kill a bill for their own personal reasons. It doesn't make sense for millions of people in America to be uninsured. Then you had a stipulation on health care plans some companies call, preexisting conditions. A stipulation that came from greed and the driving philosophy of the business, to make a profit. Stipulations like the preexisting condition makes people lose hope in healthcare companies. They would rather not have health care and try to save money. Why pay hundreds of dollars every month, only to have your health care company drop your coverage for failing to disclose a condition you didn't know existed? <br /><br />I'm very happy that Health care reform was finally achieved. In addition, I hope the system places some checks and balances on the amount of money wasted in healthcare each year. It doesn't make any sense to spend 2.2 billion dollars in healthcare each year only to lose 1.1 billion to carelessness. This is how our past health care system operated. However, I don't find it surprising that people are still upset and are trying to fight the Bill even after its passage; I guess you can't please everyone. At the end of the day, the optimal decision will be made at the margin and whether we like it or not, the concept of, opportunity cost, exists.GERMAINE ANTHONY AUSTINnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-67296429592131365892010-03-29T11:28:34.879-04:002010-03-29T11:28:34.879-04:00Well it's about time. I'm very happy to be...Well it's about time. I'm very happy to be alive during this monumental moment. I was beginning to think that America would never be able to pass a Healthcare Bill. I've seen many different people fight past health care bill proposals at every different angle. Some people didn't think certain contents of the bill was constitutional, some didn't like how it was being funded and some thought we should take years to think about the bill and its contents, before we even try to pass one. Democrats fought, republicans fought, health care companies fought but they forgot about the people they should be fighting for, the American people. Instead they decided to fight and kill a bill for their own personal reasons. It doesn't make sense for millions of people in America to be uninsured. Then you had a stipulation on health care plans some companies call, preexisting conditions. A stipulation that came from greed and the driving philosophy of the business, to make a profit. Stipulations like the preexisting condition makes people lose hope in healthcare companies. They would rather not have health care and try to save money. Why pay hundreds of dollars every month, only to have your health care company drop your coverage for failing to disclose a condition you didn't know existed? <br /><br />I'm very happy that Health care reform was finally achieved. In addition, I hope the system places some checks and balances on the amount of money wasted in healthcare each year. It doesn't make any sense to spend 2.2 billion dollars in healthcare each year only to lose 1.1 billion to carelessness. This is how our past health care system operated. However, I don't find it surprising that people are still upset and are trying to fight the Bill even after its passage; I guess you can't please everyone. At the end of the day, the optimal decision will be made at the margin and whether we like it or not, the concept of, opportunity cost, exists.GERMAINE ANTHONY AUSTINnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-231564446051727492010-03-28T23:18:04.445-04:002010-03-28T23:18:04.445-04:00I definitely agree with MLK when he said the injus...I definitely agree with MLK when he said the injustice in healthcare was inhumane. The new health care bill gives hope to Americans, but specifically to middle and lower class Americans who often run into obstacles when trying to afford healthcare.<br />I do believe that this bill will uplift society and restore hope in America, which many citizens have lost over the past decade. Many critics of the bill are individuals who have never been sick and unable to pay for, people who have always had medical coverage. It's saddening to hear so many critcs attack such a positive bill. In reality, the healthcare bill may affect our economy; however, there is no value that can be placed on saving lives and promoting a healthy America. The result of this bill will be healthier citizens. Citizens who probably would have died because they couldn't afford healthcare. In 2010, it is truly sad to know that there are still some Americans who are so involved with their "world," they fail to look at reality, and reality is "our world." The world that we all live in consists of people who aren't wealthy, people who don't have insurance, people who are struggling. This bill addresses some of the needs of the people in "our world." At this point, its time for Congress to continue to pass legislation that will positively impact "our world."Titichia Mitchellhttp://www.yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-28511341136570967612010-03-28T19:09:59.818-04:002010-03-28T19:09:59.818-04:00I can honestly say that I am appalled by some of t...I can honestly say that I am appalled by some of these blog postings. It seems that some people have missed the point of the health care reform. The purpose of this bill is to HELP ALL AMERICANS. It’s easy for many of us to oppose this bill when we currently have health insurance. But, what do you say to that child who has a pre-existing condition or mother who simply can’t afford insurance? Many Americans live a life oblivious to not having such a privilege. As such, we grow insensitive to others who desperately need our help. Furthermore, I find it hilarious that many of the postings which highly criticize the health care reform are anonymous. It makes me wonder whether you would even have the audacity to tell a child with a pre-existing condition that the price of this reform is more important than potentially saving his or her life. <br /><br />For those who are concerned with the price tag of this reform let’s review the logic. Many of you can support a war that has cost this country trillions of dollars and killed thousands of people, but oppose a bill that will promote life. Something is wrong with this picture. Clearly, your moral compass is broken. Economically, I do agree that this bill will expose many people to the health care system and ultimately improve the economic growth of this industry.Alyn Goodsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12747369206307947045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194375569044391746.post-86424177449341594522010-03-28T15:34:39.501-04:002010-03-28T15:34:39.501-04:00I believe that the health care bill, like all thin...I believe that the health care bill, like all things, has both good and bad aspects about it. Yes, a lot of people are going to be helped, however, this will be at the expense of others whether it be taxpayers, those already insured, etc. I am also interested about the bill's take on the elimination of pre-existing conditions as a basis for coverage. I think this is a good thing in some regards because now individuals with legitimate ailments will be able to receive coverage without "jumping through hoops" per say. However, this also opens the door for people coming forward with health problems that may not even have an adequate medical solution thus creating overcrowding in an already crowded health care system. Either way, I believe it will be awhile before we see the full benefits and consequences of adopting this bill.Brittany Garrisonnoreply@blogger.com