President Obama's speech to American Medical Association

[Old Coot]

Source: USA Today

From the moment I took office as President, the central challenge we have confronted as a nation has been the need to lift ourselves out of the worst recession since World War II. In recent months, we have taken a series of extraordinary steps, not just to repair the immediate damage to our economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting and sustained growth. We are creating new jobs. We are unfreezing our credit markets. And we are stemming the loss of homes and the decline of home values.

But even as we have made progress, we know that the road to prosperity remains long and difficult. We also know that one essential step on our journey is to control the spiraling cost of health care in America.

Today, we are spending over $2 trillion a year on health care – almost 50% more per person than the next most costly nation. And yet, for all this spending, more of our citizens are uninsured; the quality of our care is often lower; and we aren't any healthier. In fact, citizens in some countries that spend less than we do are actually living longer than we do.

Make no mistake: the cost of our health care is a threat to our economy. It is an escalating burden on our families and businesses. It is a ticking time-bomb for the federal budget. And it is unsustainable for the United States of America.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-06-15-obama-speech-text_N.htm

[Alcibiades]

1. It was a good speech

I listened on XM. There was much of which to approve: his defense of the public option, the call for insurance providers to actually provide care, ending overpayments, etc.

Our healthcare system is very good at providing lots of profit for a few, but bad at providing care for everyone. I hope they get it done right this time, and don't give away the farm in the hopes of a "bipartisan" bill.