A quick poll take two
 

Let's try again. Click on everything you generally agree with, more than one is okay.

There is nothing to click on. I disagree.

Is prematurity a constant problem with you?

I clicked every american should have the same access to healthcare.

I must define the same. as I think every american should have access to health care, but it should be with private companies, not with the government.

"Equal" ("same") access to health care is kind of an important point in the poll.

What happens when private insurance companies refuse to insure somebody?

Or when private insurance companies will insure the patient, but not for any medical problem the patient already has? (like heart disease, diabetes)

Or the private insurance company says that they will insure the patient, but it will cost the patient $1288 a month?

Do you realize that now, when people move state to state, they often have to give up the health insurer they may have had for 20 years, and get another? And the new company won't necessarily cover them for anything the other company had to?

These are very serious questions, and I really would like to know your honest and best opinion on those problems.

if the person is unhealthy and the only way they can get insurance is by paying 1288 per month. then they should pay 1288 per month.

i'm all for eliminating a life time cap, and exclusions, and not being able to deny someone coverage. But if the cost is high, then pay it if you want the insurance. or shop around or take lesser coverage.

I had to pay over 500 per month when I was unemployed for a short time. You didnt hear me bitching about it. 500 a month is cheap if something big happens and you need hospital care.

No one should get free health care. it's a service you pay for.

okay I'll go back on no one.

i'm totally fine with needy children getting free or very cheap health care if their parents cant afford to insure them.

You make good points. Well, the problem is, what if no private company will insure you for a price that is affordable, even if you have a good job and plenty of money? (let alone make less than $40K a year)

So what if you can't afford insurance? That means you can't get health care?

I think that was the point of my poll question, which I didn't state clearly - is everyone in America entitled to get health care? Or is it only for those that make a certain income level and above?

These are serious questions. We have 60 million uninsured people in this country, and we are paying for them right now.

BTW, I just called my GP's office - an extension of the University of Kentucky Hospital system - and asked how much an office visit was for those without insurance. The answer was $193. That includes nothing but the office visit fee. I was shocked. If you can't afford insurance, you sure as heck probably can't afford $193 to walk in the door and see a doctor.

everyone in america should be entitled to pay for their health insurance / care.

So if you can't afford insurance, and you can't afford the non-insured rates, do you think it's a general basic human right, in America, to get health care, or not?

Really, that's not the final question we should back into, that's the beginning question: is everyone in America entitled to health care, or only those of a certain income level?

That goes to basic beliefs we hold as a society of Americans, as citizens of a great nation. Then work from there.

If the answer is "only those of a certain income level are entitled to health care", then we should determine what income level that is.

Because right now, there are people with very good incomes can't afford insurance or doctors care if they have pre-existing conditions; and people below rather significant income levels can't afford insurance or health care. So right now, even an income cut minimum amount for getting health care doesn't exist.

tough question. i guess honestly i'd say no. its not a basic human right.

but people should have the opportunity to purchase insurance, whether they get it through a job or not. There should be basic, fairly inexpensive plans that would cover emergencies.

You are right, very tough questions.

If we go with "health care is not a basic human right", should we force private insurance companies to provide low cost plans to try and insure more people? Or provide free clinics (who would pay for it?) I don't see the point, if health care isn't a basic human right. What about sick people (diabetes, heart disease) - should all their non-emergent, routine care be forsaken?

Right now, that's what we have. Those that have, have health care, and those that do not, are screwed, and the rest of us are paying for their emergency-only care.

I take the view that health care, in a first world, wealthy nation like America, is a desire, indeed a right, for every citizen.

It's part of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" to not die when you can be readily saved, to be not be sick when a ready cure exists.

they should go to the doctor and pay for a visit.

doctors can choose to provide pro bono work. People can provide money towards charities to help poor people with their health care.

but #1, lawyers need to get out of the heath care business so it can become much more affordable.

That's what we have now. With our American system, we have 60 million uninsured, that the rest of us are paying for when they go to the ER. They can't afford to pay for a visit, or buy insurance.

What happens to those that make less than about $40,000 a year, who cannot afford routine doctor visits, the cost of meds without a copay, etc? No health care for them?

I don't think Americans should be limited in seeking redress for unhappy outcomes in medical care. Some are justified, some are not.

These are tough questions.

the people from back in the day when the constitution was written were lucky if they made it to 40.

If we wanted free, socialized medicine in this country everyone would have to be taxed at 50% or even higher. We'd have to wipe out capitalism and replace it with socialism. I'd rather be ruled by the individual than ruled by the state.

you want to have your cake and eat it too.

if you want cheaper health care in this country #1 thing is to get rid of the lawyers.

Nobody said it would be "free" ;)

A single-payer system isn't, in my view, "socialized medicine", as a national health care system could be. Those two things are quite different. I am in favor of the former, not the latter.

That does not require "socialism", as we provide that, as a democratic republic, right now with Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIPS. So no "socialism" necessary.

And even completely free health care wouldn't require taxes at 50% of income or higher. It doesn't in any socialized national medicine system that I am aware of now (if you know of one, bring it up)

BTW, the definition of socialism, a term commonly misused, is: a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole; a procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.

Even nationalized health care isn't "socialism".

Naw. First, I don't think that the cost of malpractice insurance, although great and indeed forcing doctors out of certain practices (for example, delivering babies), that isn't driving the cost of medicare care in this country that I've ever seen documented. If you have documentation, please post it.

Secondly, I don't think people should be legally limited from seeking redress in this country.

At what point do high taxes become "oppressive government" ?

I think every American should have the same access to health care.
Agree
Everyone should have the same access to healthcare. Like car insurance, insurers should base rates solely on expected risk. In addition people in California and New York should be able to shop for a policy with a company based out of Alabama or Mississippi and vice versa.

25% of American children live in poverty. That is their parents responsibility, not society's.
Agree
Probably in 25% of the time it is the parents and more commonly an absent mother and father. When a kid lives in poverty yet sits in front of a flat screen with cable wearing his Nikes while Mom sports more artwork on her body than is hanging on the wall are simple clues of it being the parents’ fault.

The greatness of America is my freedom from oppressive government.
Agree
But that is changing for the worse every year. Now I get to pay for insurance policies for people who have spent a lifetime smoking and not really giving a crap about their health.


Health care is only for those that can afford it.
Agree
The best healthcare is for only those that can afford it. There are plenty of free clinics and county hospitals that provide care. Plus 9-11 is still available to all.

People should always pay their own way. If they can't afford something, including food, tough.
Agree
We have a giant food stamp program to go with neighborhood pantries, soup kitchens and churches. No one should starve especially a child, disabled or elderly person (and especially person who has made SS payments all their life that were wasted by the Fed)


Elderly Americans can't get health care, nobody will insure them. We should do something about that.
Agree
We did it’s called Medicare. We should though make sure the elderly who paid into SS all their lives be treated with priority as opposed to the elderly who spent their lives collecting from, in part, the formers SS payments.


I don't mind paying a little, so every American knows they will not be in poverty in their old age.
Agree
Provided the money I pay via a deduction every paycheck goes to people in their old age and not to say some crazy solar panel company that is doomed from the start.


25% of American children live in poverty. We should all contribute a little, to help them.
Agree
We should ALL contribute a little so the 50% who pay taxes don’t have to pick up the whole tab. Even if ‘contributing’ is making sure the children get their homework done and keeping in contact with their teachers.

I don't know, Joey. Taxes have never been lower. You'll have to go back in history. What do you think? Is your SSDI an oppressive tax on all the rest of us?

Baloney. What ignorance of reality you have, and complete lack of empathy for anyone not in your personal situation. We have a healthcare crisis in this country. We have one of the worse healthcare systems in the world regarding access and overall health of our nation. Those "free clinics and county hospitals" are paid for by us. Duh.

"No one should starve" - you're full of unrealistic silly imaginary talking points that don't mesh with reality. The reality is that 25% of our children are living in poverty and not eating. Where are all those food stamps and church food banks you pretend exist?

Where do you get this SSDI thing? Are you that juvenile to start making things up about me here? Did I frustrate you that much?

Get a grip lady. You need some couch time with a shrink.

I know that and am willing to pay for it. It also is far from the best healthcare available.

Tell you what. For every child you post that has starved to death due to poverty (not neglect) I'll post a food pantry and homeless shelter and I bet I won't have to leave the city of Chicago. In fact, I likely won't have to leave Michigan Ave and State Street.

I thought it was you who posted here that you receive a Social Security Disability Income check. If that was not you, I apologize. Although I don't see why you'd be angry about that. Is that you, or not?

It was not me. Apology accepted.

You've never been "willing to pay for it". You've always said exactly the opposite.

Sorry. Then fill in whenever I wrongly put that, with, "Whoever the Dee Tee'r is that gets a SSDI check" - because I know somebody here gets one (the talked about it, it's value).

The whole point of my saying that is to point out that these are not only political talking points, these are real people, fellow Americans, even people we know here on DT that are affected.

This is an excellent troll poll. Cheers.

Food pantries are bereft of donations right now. This country is starving and poor and the majority are getting poorer every day. If what you said "worked" in reality, we wouldn't have the problem, would we? Duh!

Wasn't meant to be. Some of those espousing positions without any self-recognition are still doing so. So it's a fail in that intended regard.

I am against paying for someone's insurance and then waiting behind them for care. I'm against paying for some high risk insurance policy that was largely the fault of the insured.

I'm all for you subsidizing someone else's insurance if that's what you choose.

and if the problem was as dire as you portray it to be we'd have more dead children in the street due to starvation than from bullet holes. Wouldn't we? Duh!

Cool.

What's your take on the Colorado earthquakes last night? Lots of fracking in that area and the 5.3 quake was about 4 kilometers deep.

If there is an earthquake and only 25 people live in the area did it really happen?

Dell, they won't let me put 8 trophies here. But well done!

Yes.

Not much seismic activity in this area. This is the 3rd largest quake recorded in Colorado since 1880.

Plenty of extinct volcanoes surround the area. Some people say La Garita Caldera caused the cat gap 25 million years ago.

Geeshus cripes. You really haven't got a clue. You live in a completely insulated imaginary world. You've got yours, you want everything you can get from this country, but you don't want to participate or contribute. You begrudge the majority of Americans that care about fellow citizens their actions. You're the ultimate selfish, unpatriotic, spoiled American hypocrite.

All I want from my country is the continued ability to peruse happiness and to be safe while doing so. I don't want/need a babysitter or a parent. I don't want to be told what light bulbs I have to use and don't want to be asked to pay for someone's health insurance that has spent a lifetime becoming unhealthy.

And you are the ultimate moocher who spends far too much time being envious and in a state of resentment/guilt for anything that remotely represents American success. It's not only un-American it's very ugly. Stop the loathing you have for America's success. We are not an never should be a socialist country. You want to provide more healthcare? Send a check to the Ronald McDonald house or St. Judes. They'll be able to do things with that money the government can't even dream about.

By the way just got a Fed Ex package that was promised by 4pm (sent yesterday). Still waiting on several pieces of mail sent over a week ago? But it wasn't my choice to use the USPO.