I guess what you are saying is that the republicans are that small minded that they don't give a crap about the 47 million people who do not have insurance. By the time the bill is presented I am confident that the economy will be on an upswing. Most people I feel care enough about their fellow Americans that they won't mind paying a little more so that everyone is covered. It is the human and humane thing to do.

Healthcare Reform is the only reason I'd vote for Hillary (otherwise I think she's a self-serving person mainly interested in furthering her own career), but I've heard Obama has some good plans on Healthcare Reform also. I'm gonna wait and listen to both of them talk more...

I agree. I think Obama's plan is ok too. They are so close on everything which is why it is so close. The only difference I see in there Health Care programs is that Hillary wants to make it mandatory like car insurance.

There may be 47 million people without health insurance but that does not mean they do not get or cannot get health insurance. Many of these people work and under either democratic plan people who work will still not be able to afford it. That means the government will cover them and where will they get the money. They will raise taxes. I already pay too many taxes. More taxes means less business development fewer jobs and reduced revenues to the government. You say the American people will be willing to pony up and pay more but the reality is the payment comes just a few people. Also, I am dead set against building a welfare state where everyone is depending on the government for all their services. That is inhumane and wrong longterm. The solutions are not giving people everything but teaching them how to get for themselves.

You obviously have never gone without health ins and have had a devastating illness. I have and I don't know how I am going to get treated. I lost my job and my health ins.and I cannot afford cobra. I went thru 6 chemo treatments. 4 were covered. 2 were not, to the tune of $28.000. I know I am not the only one that something like this has happened to. Talk about inhumane! What is wrong with this country that we cannot take care of our sick. If I should have a reoccurance, I don't know what I will do. I am tryint to find a job with benefits but it is very difficult when you are 62 years old and have had cancer.

BRAVO drsib!!!!
This country was not founded on providing handouts to everyone. This entitlement mentality will be the downfall of the country.
Anything run by the government will be loaded with fraud and unaccountability. Freedom is what we are all about here in the United States, and if you want the government running every part of your life, there are plenty of depressed socialist regimes around the world to choose from.
The government is already trying to dictate what kind of car I drive, what type light bulbs to buy (only mercury laden CFL's by 2012), what type of TV to buy (HD in 2009), and where I can smoke if I so choose (personally, I don't, but I am losing that choice).

As a person who is more closely in tune with the republican line of thinking, I take issue with the statement that I don't give a crap. My disproportionate amount of taxes I pay covers a lot of services for those who pay no taxes or very little taxes. My annual charitable contributions have helped a lot of people. I tend to focus on programs that help children and those in poverty situations. I ask for nothing in return and am glad to give and in all honesty I don't mind paying the higher tax rate. I do get bothered when I am told I am not doing enough. I do get bothered when I am told I don't give enough about people. I feel sorry for those that are caught in the middle. It happens regardless of the system or how much I and others pay in taxes. One option is to file bankruptcy if you cannot pay. That is not a very good solution but it is a solution. Negotiate with the hospital or doctor. They will negotiate. and many will write it off. Hospitals typically budget 8-10% of their billings as bad debt that they will not collect. Of course the rest of us are paying for that too in higher prices. Anita it sounds like you got your care. Now it is time to find a job and get health insurance. You will soon be eligible for medicare and the government will take care of the bulk of your expenses. I also pay more than most so you can have medicare. I am not a cruel person I just am perplexed as you are on how to fix it.

You say that like it is so easy. Just find a job with benefits. At my age it is hard to find a job period let alone one with benefits. Even if I find one with benefits I have a pre-existing condition. As far as the money that I owe, that is the least of my worries. I have three years before I can get medicare. In the meantime I am suppose to be getting blood tests and CT scans etc. to see if the cancer is gone or is it returning. But even if does return how do I get the care that I need? I am scared to death. If this were happening to you or a family member you would be singing a different tune.

I never implied that it was easy but it is your best choice to get what you want or need. Many companies hire people your age and most group insurance policies do not have pre-existing conditions. You seem intelligent and well spoken. You should be able to some kind of opportunity in upscale retail at a minimum. Most of them offer benefits.

Thank you for the suggestion about high end retail, but I have done that for years. I cannot do it anymore. For one they are straight commission jobs. Plus the hours are herrendous and you are on your feet all day. I don't have the stamina anymore. Yes, most of them do offer med. ins., but I have never been in one that did not have a pre-existing condition clause. Even the last one I had made me swear before God and country that I had not been diagnosed 12 mos. prior. I even sold Real Estate, but in this market it is out of the question. Plus no benefits. Not a day goes by that I don't apply for something. I know I am not going to change your mind about Universal Health Care, so I will quit trying. I am glad it is not up to you. I have faith in this country that things will change, not just for my sake but also for the millions of people without med. ins. that are going without treatment.

HI..I am new here. But I also don't quite know who I like. I want to do whats best for my daughter- she is a type 1 diabetic. I just bought insurance and it is pricy and not all the great. I dont know...

HI..I am new here. But I also don't quite know who I like. I want to do whats best for my daughter- she is a type 1 diabetic. I just bought insurance and it is pricy and not all the great. I dont know...

I am so tire of all these people who act like it is the poor who are destroying this country. If that is the case get rid of all the weak unproductive people and let all the over archivers have this country, and or world. See if they can find one of their buddies to work for the lousy benefits and wages some of their companies in this country pay now, which help make people poorer. If it were not for the poor I would say the some of the over achievers would be up shit creek most likely. There will always be people in this world who just can function as well or well enough to take care of themselves. Seems to me like it is time to help people instead of punishing them because they can not work or produce as well as others. I would say this country is on a down hill slide anyway and we have had 8 years of so called republican bliss. What we have now evidently does not work too well in our government. We need health care for all and living wage jobs.

I have a perfect illustration of why we have a health care crisis in this country - it's the doctors.
My wife has a cold, it might be moving to her chest. So she calls her pulmonologist to see if he could prescribe a safe antibiotic or something.
What does he do, sends her to the ER....FOR THE SNIFFLES. What a waste of time and resources. If he wanted just wanted to deflect the responsiblity, he could have said "go see your internal medicine doctor tomorrow".
No "go to the ER".

The question was, "What President can best solve our health care crisis?"

I was for John Edwards, but now that he dropped out, I am voting for Hillary!