Health-care reform poll

[leftofthedial]

Do you think meaningful health-care reform in the U.S. is coming?

I leave it to you to define "meaningful."

[Donnachaidh]

1. I think people are at the point that if reform doesn't happen in the first 4 years

You can pretty much kiss that second term goodbye. And that would apply to whoever was in the WH, period.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. I define "meaningful" as universal single-payer healthcare, like most developed countries.

Any change will require a dismantling of the insurance industry.

and I doubt that will happen any time soon.

I hope it will, but I don't see it soon.

(EDITED TO ADD) I hope I'm wrong.

[leftofthedial]

11. we'd have to become a developed country before we deserve real health care

that would mean rebuilding at least a modest manufacturing base.

[MercutioATC]

3. Change in the first 4 years, but not single-payer.

...and I think that's fine.

[Donnachaidh]

5. typical *fuck you, I'm covered* response. n/t

[MercutioATC]

7. Not at all...but your response says volumes.

Expand FEHBP to cover all Americans with premiums on a sliding scale. You'd preserve consumer choice while providing access to everybody.

Your dismissive reply, before even hearing an alternate plan, suggests you're a single-payer zealot. If I'm wrong, feel free to enlighten me.

[LSK]

9. typical no content, instant attack reply that is destroying DU n/t

[demodonkey]

4. It's gotta be single-payer or we'll just feed the greed-driven insurance industry.

Yesterday I compared the insurance industry to a spider, tying up a fly (the USA) in a web and then injecting paralyzing venom before sucking the life out of the poor victim.

I think I'm pretty much on the mark with that image, too.

[Donnachaidh]

6. but the flies that THINK they will survive longest have health insurance

You'll see those little boogers hugging their insurance cards to their chests, while the un-insured literally die in the streets.

"Fuck y'all -- I've got mine" is the latest rant from american sheeple. And the only ones who benefit will be the insurance companies. They benefit from the small-mindedness and stupidity of the public.

[MercutioATC]

10. Nope. We can offer both coverage and CHOICE.

Expand the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP) to cover all Americans. Premiums would be scaled to income.

Advantages: It'd be easier to get up and running so more people could be covered quicker and it would offer the consumer CHOICE.

[demodonkey]

17. Yep. We can offer single-payer with CHOICE too!

The meme that single-payer means no choice in doctors is GOP-thug crap. Oooooooh! Eeeeeeeeee! SOCIALIZED MEDICINE!! No choice in doctors! Socialism!! Communism!!! Run for your lives!!!!

The fact is that HR 676 allows full choice of doctors and other providers, and will maximize the percent of each dollar spent for actual care as opposed to "administration" (paperwork and greedy-insurance profits.)

You want to talk about CHOICE?? Well, I have NO CHOICE in my healthcare right now because I have no healthcare. NONE. ZERO. Or, look at it this way -- if I get really sick my "choice" is 1) I DIE or 2) at the very least I go bankrupt and lose everything I have.

What the hell kind of choice is THAT??

Single-payer will cover more, cost less, and is the only real way out of this mess.

[leftofthedial]

18. God bless you for saving us!

Love, The Insurance Companies of Amerika

[gravity]

8. There might be a children's plan first

but I still think there will be some form of universal coverage by the end of his first term.

[anonymous171]

12. Should be the first item on Obama's agenda.

We need to get the white working class to vote democratic. The best way to do this is to give them free healthcare. How can you despise the federal government if it is the only reason your daughter gets her meds?

[leftofthedial]

13. if democrats are seen as the providers of such a benefit (which government ought to provide anyway)

and repukes can be shown responsible for the current meltdown,


Democrats can keep control of Congress for a l-o-n-g time.


Now if we could just eliminate the DLC pretenders and turn "democrats" back into Democrats.

[anonymous171]

14. If we succeed in HC reform, the center would be moved leftward.

Thus, the DLC would become the GOP, and the GOP would probably live on as a fringe 3rd party confined to the deep south.

[leftofthedial]

15. could happen

except that the repukes and the DLC currently own the only two parties the oligarchy lets play.

[Rhiannon12866]

16. Obama is offering universal health care?!

You mean he's offering health care to the entire universe?! Including Osama bin Laden?! :sarcasm:

Quote from SNL... ;)