We then run into the problems mentioned in the first response, namely the existing problems with Medicare, the looming insolvency of Social Security, and the general waste in everything the government has tried to do for fifty years.

I also find it hard to believe that we have the 37th worst health care in the developed world when places like Canada and the United Kingdom require waits of 6+ weeks for routine medical exams. Which countries are those 36?

Also, the medical industry is not driven by greed, but by profit. That’s the same thing that drives Mr. working class. No one wants to do a job for nothing – be they doctors, accountants, managers, teachers, or dump truck drivers. Most jobs in the health industry require some sort of training, from lab techs to nurses to doctors and scientists, as well as accountants, etc. Yes, some costs can be cut, including malpractice costs. But I believe that government waste in a government-run program will be greater than the padded profits some health insurance companies show, ultimately costing us all more.

Finally, if we really have a health care crisis, then shouldn’t we take time to actually develop the best plan we can, rather than rushing to meet the President’s arbitrary deadline?

We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means.

I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. A trillion dollar taxpayer funded private health insurance bailout is all you really get without a robust government-run public option available on day one. Co-OP’s ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION. They are a fraud being pushed by the GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry that is KILLING YOU!

YOU CANT HAVE AN INSURANCE MANDATE WITHOUT A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION. MANDATING PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE AS YOUR ONLY CHOICE WOULD BE A DISASTER AND UNETHICAL, CORRUPT, AND MORALLY REPUGNANT. AND PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL.

These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS!

Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it’s President Obama’s fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS! And President Obama has done a brilliant job of turning things around, and working his heart out for all of us.

But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World.

But you don’t have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist.

Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections. Doing this will give you something more to do to make things better in America. And it will make you feel better too.

There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this. But be nice. These are your neighbors. And most will want to help.

I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT!

You have been AMAZING!!! my people. Don’t loose heart. You knew it wasn’t going to be easy saving the World.

God Bless You

jacksmith — Working Class

I REST MY CASE (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)

Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010.

* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
* Bob Bennett of Utah

It is hilarious to be accused of wanting to enrich insurance companies when only Pelosi’s two options would require anyone to buy ANYTHING from insurance companies. We think if there is a preexisting condition coverage issue, that should be dealt with separately and the entire country shouldn’t be dragged into subpar medical care.

If even progressives see that government designing this has buckled every stage of the way to special interests, what on earth would make you believe MANAGEMENT of the health care program would be better? The wonderful track record of government programs, perhaps? When special interests rule government, I don’t want government ruling my health care, thanks.

And be reasonable. When we are told by our president that covering tens of millions more people, including those with expensive preexisting conditions will be paid for 2/3 by cuts to an already insolvent medicare, without cutting service, that sure sounds unbelievable to me. And to the CBO. So give us details, because we don’t believe it.

Medicare has been very badly managed. People try to say it is inconsistant to say don’t change medicare and don’t add yet another program for all, but it isn’t. People have paid in all their working lives through employment insurance for medicare, are now at the end of or PAST their employable lives and can’t change their planning, and depend on it. Cancelling a poor insurance policy that is fully paid for is still cancelling (or cutting) something that already belongs to someone else.

Putting the rest of us under that same ‘to be cut at will’ system is insanity.

Beyond that, we have a limited federal government in our Constitution. Where does it have the right to force everyone to give insurance companies money?