Right-wing Americans protest to keep healthcare private.

[DanMc]

This would be electoral suicide in the UK, but it seems that in the US keeping healthcare in the hands of big business to sell to the well off is a vote winner.


Discuss.

[Guesty]

But only cause they tell lies about the NHS. As someone who works in the service, I can see why people love and value it so much, but the US system is based on money, not need. Their portrayal of the NHS as some sort of Soviet Union system is hilarious, until you see people taken in by it.

[H. Franklin Layne]

When you boil the whole argument down to its concentrated form, it says "what's good for big business is good for everyone." That has always been the right wing mantra, and as has been all to perfectly demonstrated throughout the years, it is simply a lie. They want us to believe that when business is doing well and turning a profit, that everyone benefits. However, the states only have a select few companies in the insurance industry that have the clout to put forth real health care coverage, and that doesn't not add up to competition, it adds up to price tampering, and gouging. The reaganomic principle says the good for business trickles down to the end user..... and that is a well known crock of shitt. Now the playing field is under construction, for a level surface, and here comes rightie to chain themselves to the goal posts to stop the machine.

I say have them arrested, or doze them under.

[bigwillie]

Dont forget the crooked politicians who say they are for the little guy & instead they line thier own pockets

[tidho]

Its not just right wing Americans, its middle America including moderates of both parties.
The only ones pushing for it are progressive liberals....who happen to be in complete power right now.

There is nothing a public option can provide that regulation and taxation can't. The public option is a tool to expand the government. There is no other reason for it.
Proponents claim that the free market has failed, but sadly we haven't even seen the free market in healthcare because government got involved and restricted it.

Open up cross state competition and prices will go down. We know that works because its effective in the auto insurance industry.
What hasn't been proven in the ability of the US government to effectively run anything. Given the trillion+ dollar defecit a case could be made that they aren't even capable of running a government.

[azraelle]

Its not just right wing Americans, its middle America including moderates of both parties.
The only ones pushing for it are progressive liberals....who happen to be in complete power right now.

There is nothing a public option can provide that regulation and taxation can't. The public option is a tool to expand the government. There is no other reason for it.
Proponents claim that the free market has failed, but sadly we haven't even seen the free market in healthcare because government got involved and restricted it.

Open up cross state competition and prices will go down. We know that works because its effective in the auto insurance industry.
What hasn't been proven in the ability of the US government to effectively run anything. Given the trillion+ dollar defecit a case could be made that they aren't even capable of running a government.

This is true, to a great extent, but I have no sympathy for the insurance industry at all. THEIR unfair practices and high prices are what have gotten us to this point, and they have only themselves to blame--if they didn't want the Government to get involved, all they had to do was reform themselves. Besides, a couple of million unemployed insurance executives competing for burger flipping jobs with America's teenagers is an alluring vision, don't you think?

[tidho]

Besides, a couple of million unemployed insurance executives competing for burger flipping jobs with America's teenagers is an alluring vision, don't you think?

Not at all because taxes on their income is what's providing food and shelter for half the people they'd be slinging burgers to.
Its time to stop villifying people that make money.

[jobey]

Americans will apparently fight to the death for the right of their insurance carrier to be able to cancel them when they get sick. We see 24/7 propaganda espousing this 'right' and since most Americans are more interested in their TV stars than real life the situation isn't likely to change anytime soon.

[azraelle]

Besides, a couple of million unemployed insurance executives competing for burger flipping jobs with America's teenagers is an alluring vision, don't you think?

Not at all because taxes on their income is what's providing food and shelter for half the people they'd be slinging burgers to.
Its time to stop villifying people that make money.

I'm not villifying all people that make money--just Insurance Executives, Bankers, and Liers, er, Lawyers.

What I have a problem with is the WAY some people make their money. Reminds me of something my daughter forwarded to me yesterday on my cell phone:

Some people are like Slinkies--not really good for anything, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs!

[tidho]

What I have a problem with is the WAY some people make their money.

The way they make money is the same way everyone does. They provide a service people want at a price the parties agreed to. If people paying them weren't doing so willingly they wouldn't make money.

[shelby_w]

Never overestimate the intelligence of a teabagger. I'm surprised they can come in out of the rain.

[bigwillie]

If this healthcare billasof 12-15-09 is the answer for the public ,then why doesn't it apply to the elected officials ,they have thier own plan no deductables co pays.If this healthcare is good enough for the public then the govt. shouldn't be able to allowed to get better coverage.

[duke350]

Most American people simply do not know that the cost of their health care system is huge, 17% of their GDP, vs. 8-10% in other Western countries which all have universal health care.

[Lena]

Good point

[himerus]

I still don't understand what happens to people in America who cannot afford to pay for health care.