The health care fiasco is a joke and the citizens of the US are realizing it. Obama is way out of his league and his lies are no longer being believed even with the democrat propaganda pushers here at the Bangor Democrat News. This is being opposed not by just evil Republicans but Democrats as well. The Congressional Budget Office says it will bankrupt the country. You can't have a goofy plan like this by just taxing a few rich people. Obamas poll numbers are tanking and hope and change don't mean a hill of beans when you cease being candidate Obama and taxing and bankrupting the country.

Here we go again with the 37th ranking once again. Never a mention of how great Canada is at 30th....so far ahead of us. Maybe if the politicians can honestly tell us what it will cost and HOW they will pay for it instead of making it sound like just those no good rich people who we should hate are going to foot the bill, we might be able to believe that something better than our VA system or the Canadian system will work. This garbage of pushing something through so we can have a health plan..no matter how lousy it will be..is absurd. There is no one..and I repeat NO ONE who can show a very valid reason why this has to be done by tomorrow. It is NOT going to have an immediate impact on the economic situation, it is NOT going to make our helathcare any better immediately, it is NOT going to save money immediately, it is NOT going to impact a thing immediately. We have already seen how wonderful and costly these fast tracked bills being passed have been. Is the fear there that a complete govt control may not be in place after 2010 pushing these uncontrollable expenditures?

There is no doubt that costs for insurance coverage are somewhoat high in cases but a govt plan is no way going to provide better healthcare for people. Why don't they address the real issue, get insurance companies to be more competitive, allow people to go across state lines to obtain coverage that may be cheaper. The thing is, people aren't totally dumb, once they understand that there will be a cost for this govt service and it won't be just the rich paying, that the level of care is not going to be improved with govt intervention, they are now calling and writing their elected reps and giving them an earful. You can use the "fear" and doom and gloom tactic and it works, but then people wake up and find there is nothing to fear, except more taxes and less medicine.

I think some form of health care reform is reasonable, but it should not be pushed through as quickly as they are trying to. I would rather have it done right the first time than spending all this money and finding out the system is broken. Maine made the terrible mistake of pushing Dirigo health and ended spending $300 Million in order to insure only 10,000 people. It was a bad idea and if it had been thought out properly could have actually made a difference. I hate to see something like this pushed through on a national level and have it be as screwed up as it is in the state of Maine.

If you are one of some 45 million Americans with no health coverage, you might feel some urgency in getting a bill passed. If you are one of many more millions paying exorbitant prices so that the CEO of Blue Cross can pull down $15 million per year in salary, you might feel some urgency. That $15 million, plus all the administrative costs of competing insurance programs, could be spent on actual patient care. Those who oppose Obama on this haven't proposed any reasonable alternatives. All they do is shout "socialism!" and "taxes!" Is the present system really working when people are going bankrupt just to take care of their health? Unless you are very rich, all that stands between you and ruin is one unexpected medical problem. That is simply wrong, and if a few people have to pay a bit more in taxes to rectify it, I'm for it. The biggest obstacle to health care reform in this country is insurance companies making a profit from people's health, the Republicans (and some Democrats) in Congress in their pockets, and the free-market true believers who think everything is a commodity.

hankwilliams, agreed. With the exception that instead of as you wrote, "insurance companies making a profit from people's health," when actually what they make a profit off of is denying people coverage.

As for the rest of it, how the hell much more time do they need? The Congress and the Senate have been actively debating health care reform for the past 18th months, and the citizenry has been clamoring for it for 50 years for God's sake!

Infant Mortality and Life Expectancy for Selected Countries, 2007

Country Infant mortality1 Life expectancy2

Australia 4.6 80.6

Canada 4.6 80.3

Finland 3.5 78.7

France 4.2 79.9

Germany 4.1 79.0

Iran 38.1 70.6

Ireland 5.2 77.9

Israel 6.8 79.6

Italy 5.7 79.9

Japan 3.2 81.4

United Kingdom 5.0 78.7

United States 6.4 78.0

1. Infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

2. Life expectancy at birth, in years, both sexes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Database.

Showing latest available data.

Rank Countries Amount

# 1 United States: 4,271

# 2 Switzerland: 3,857

# 3 Norway: 3,182

# 4 Denmark: 2,785

# 5 Luxembourg: 2,731

# 6 Iceland: 2,701

# 7 Germany: 2,697

# 8 France: 2,288

# 9 Japan: 2,243

# 10 Netherlands: 2,173

# 11 Sweden: 2,145

# 12 Belgium: 2,137

# 13 Austria: 2,121

# 14 Canada: 1,939

# 15 Australia: 1,714

# 16 Finland: 1,704

# 17 Italy: 1,676

# 18 United K: 1,675

DEFINITION: Spending per capita (PPP) in $US 1998.

SOURCE: World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC

So the difference from Japan spending and US is profit taking from our healthcare and or waste and or indigent care costs or combo or both.

The Kaiser Family Foundation website is a gold mine of information about health care reform. I just found this great "history of health care reform timeline" there, which shows that this country has been embroiled in this issue since 1912, starting with Teddy Roosevelt. That's 97 years folks. What's the rush, you say?

http://healthreform.kff.org/flash/health-reform-new.html

The voters who placed Mr. Obama in office generally do not vote for House and Senate seats. The 30+ Senate seats and 100's of House seats up for "grabs" will determine much if this juggernaut fails to pass this summer.

Mr. Obama is a quick study.

This is why he is cramming this down our collective throats.

There is a republican plan but the media has blocked the information....they actually have a well thought out option that address the uninsured, cost reductions, and it will not add to the deficit...do the research and hopefully you can call for represnetative.. the option they are discussing now is Dirigo on a National scale.. underfunded huge promise

U.S. District Judge John Woodcock in May sentenced Tuleh to 236 days in prison — more than twice as long as the recommended sentence of 114 days — for having false Social Security and employment authorization cards.

Woodcock said that to ensure Tuleh received proper medical care through the birth of her child and to increase its chances of being born free of HIV, he was sentencing her to federal prison until two weeks past her due date.

“Everything seems to be fine,” Zachary Heiden of the Maine Civil Liberties Union said Tuesday of Tuleh’s pregnancy. “She seems to be doing very..."

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/111218.html

Kudos to the judge for doing the tight thing.

However, it highlights that everyday US citizens, without healthcare insurance and with no means to pay for healthcare, also, like this women, would have a better chance to get the same healthcare we all enjoy, but without a bill, by going to jail? Or become a member of Congress for a premium, platinum healthcare insurance program for free. Our system is a ponzy scheme or shifting smoke and mirrors in who pays and doesn't pay, initially .

In any case we all pay, even if you have a healthcare insurance policy. The staffing levels at your local doctors offices or local hospitals are a direct reflection of the lack of revenue and the constant efforts to control costs mandated already by the trade off between the US regulations agencies, insurance companies rules and regulations, the cost of monitoring and reporting to justify or deny care, and the costs incurred from folks uninsured seeking care when it is almost too late via emergency room care, indigent care, insurance companies profit taking, waste, over charges, denied claims, denied coverage, etc., etc.

The "Republican plan" is a plan to support the poor who have no health care. history shows that programs which target the poor (Medicaid, AFDC, CETA, etc) are subject to short lives, or abbreviated service in time of economic downturn (which generally makes the "poor even poorer.)

The programs which are successful serve EVERYONE rich middle-class and poor alike. (Social Security, Medicare, The interstate highway system)

The best was to kill health care reform is to pass a program targeted to the poor, and then kill it down the road, by saying these "freeloaders" are getting well on our dime.

Having said this, the Obama plan stinks by keeping the worst of the old system (insurance company profits which cure no one) and adding onerous provisions like taking away freedom to "opt out" of the new system.

In a perfectly reformed health care system, the Government would be the "non-profit" insurance company, working to track down fraud, maximize each dollar spent, and giving incentives for healthier living choices.

In a free country, people need to be free to make unpopular choices. They also do not need another nanny!

I guess the conservatives think that since we''re the richest country on earth our health care should cost twice as much, even if it's strangling the economy. They're all about keeping status quo which is fine for the wealthy, only.

I agree, hankwilliams and monroe. The conservatives have no plan, except to keep the disaster we've got. So they just yell "taxes" and "socialism". Meanwhile the insurance companies make out like bandits. Try getting really sick, with "insurance"--you'll spend half your time arguing for payment from them, even if you have a policy.

The other theme is "don't let the government get between you and your doctor". Well guess what? That's exactly what we have now, except its the insurance companies doing it. Just ask anybody (like my neighbors) who has lived in a country with national health insurance. They were in Canada for many years, and the system is great. One example: their son was born there. Net cost to them? $65.00! Don't believe the scare stories that you see about the Canadian system (and others), mostly they are lies, or greatly exaggerated.

peaches: Yes, and I have spoken to quite a lot of Canadians who seem quite satisfied with their healthcare system!! I am sure there are exceptions as with anything. It is way too slanted to the advantage of the insurance companies in this country, but some are unwilling to see that. Hopefully, before long those working on this will come up with some workable and acceptable plan. No, it cannot be rushed through, but cannot be held off indefinitely either.

And no, Sen DeMint, this will not be Obama's "Waterloo" nor anyone else's....nor would I think most decent people would want it to be.

Right, chersully2000. But look out for people (esp. Congresscritters) asking for delay to "get it right". Of course it's important not to rush things too much. But the way things work in Washington, delay is often the same as death to legislation. And people know that. So the ones who don't want any change at all in health care are among those saying that we should slow down.

DeMint's comment is very revealing, I think. He only cares about hammering Obama, not about fixing health care. Why don't the other Republicans denounce what he said? Makes you wonder.

What's the rush? Of course this has been a subject for many years (an unnecessary one), however, this is a new bill with many provisions that even Pres. Obama hasn't fully read, by his own admission. Why would anyone object to reading the bill and having a complete understanding of its ultimate effects on the American people? Why have a bill which includes coverage for 12 million illegal aliens? Why do we want government to deny older people quality medical care? Why do we want a bill that reduces the level of coverage and our freedom of choice? Sure, Obama says we can keep what we have, but how can insurance companies compete when they need to make a profit and the government does not? The only way government can provide medical care (and don't be fooled into thinking it is free!), is to reduce the level and quality of care. Why would we want health care for us, that the politicians in Washington do no want for themselves? It took Obama 6 months to decide on what kind of dog to get. Again, I ask, what's the rush? The rush is to push something through before the American people find out just how bad it will be! I'd rather pay more for people without insurance to go to the ER, keep my insurance and my freedom!

peaches: I could not agree more. And no, not a peep about that ignorant and "destructive"(or let's say, very unhelpful) remark from Mr DeMint.

No, healthcare reform cannot be, nor should it be, put off indefinitely, or even for long. This is long overdue....if the delay is really to get it right, that is one thing. But if they are stalling, trying to derail anything and everything , then that is another matter!

Final thought: People come to the US to get health care they can't get from their government. Does anyone from the US go to another country for health care?

Why yes, Saltoria, they do. Many of our young people are taking jobs in other countries, for a number of reasons of course, but one of those reasons is that there are no jobs here, and another is that other countries offer free health care.

chersully2000, no question that some of them are stalling. DeMint is not the only one who wants to "break" Obama.

Saltoria: yes Americans go abroad for health care (if they can afford to). People even fly to India--of course it costs a lot to get there, but the health care costs are so much less, and the care so good (if you go to the right hospital) that it can be worth it. Isn't our freedom lovely?

You will continue to see more businesses go overseas as they get taxed to death in the US between the increase in personal taxes, increased taxes on goods and services and in increase tax on your energy consumption. Isn't life grand now??

Oh sure, it's very very simple. Just get rid of ALL taxes. That will solve all our problems, instantly. Now why haven't I thought of that before?

How about we get rid of all taxes and all government? I hear anarchy is the way to go. I wonder how long the big CEO's could hold out before their paid security forces turned against them? If things keep going in the direction they're going. the poor actually could start eating the rich... Oh! Sorry. I must have dozed off.

Now you girls have some good ideas, but you obviously (secretly) agree with me. I give you credit for a trying to put a spin on my position however. Why do you suppose Obama's numbers in the polls are slipping? They are worse than Jimmy Carter's at the same point in his first term!! Yikes! There are people out there who are beginning to understand the effects of his socialized policies....

By the way Anne, with all due respect, I think you might have been sleeping for quite some time.....like since November???

And for all of you who think Demint's comment was off base and horrible, he was merely repeating what the president already said. I'm sure you want to know both sides, not just a slanted view, so I am offering a link to that conversation:

http://www.examiner.com/x-4124-Phoenix-Republican-Examiner~y2009m7d22-Obama--Youre-going-to-destroy-my-presidency

How can people be this INCREDIBLY STUPID! If this passes the government will be able to control EVERY aspect of our life! That is exactly what this is about....CONTROL.......NOT HEALTHCARE!

Saltoria, with all due respect, I am not a girl. And I do not agree with you. You don't think that a public health care option will take some of the financial pressure off of American businesses? What about the small businesses that can't afford health insurance for their employees? Are we supposed to only be "for" big business now? I am amazed at how many of you are siding with the health insurance companies. Oh, I keep forgetting, you all have employer-sponsored health insurance. Of course you're for keeping the status quo. There's an old Bob Marley lyric that fits in with that, "Every day the bucket goes to the well, but one day the bottom will fall out."

conservative4life: Don't give up hope! MANY people are coming around to understand what this means for us. As time passes, more people will have a grasp on what it means to have the government control banks, auto industries, guns, health care and the list goes on and will continue to go on if we aren't careful. That is why the big rush!!

Sorry...I thought Anne was a female's name! I like that Bob Marley song. It illustrates the way our government is spending our money (those of us who work and pay taxes) and what has already happened. The bottom IS falling out. Honestly, I think you are so vested in having "free" health care (NOT FREE) that you aren't paying attention. You don't have the facts Anne...read the bill!!! God knows Obama and congress haven't read it. Even democrats are reluctant to pass it. What does that tell ya friend??

I'm for a National Health Care plan but am opposed to the plan in motion. It will hurt small and medium size companies and lower and middle income working people. It's a BAD plan. I also HATE the extreme fincancial penalties they're proposing for anyone without insurance.

However, I hate saying that after reading some of the statements from the conspiracy theorists and chicken little's that post here. Being on the same side makes me constantly re-evalute my position. -- If "they" agree I must be looking at it wrong.

Did it occur to any of you that conservatism would be more popular in America if you didn't get so carried away?

And Anne, you actually illustrate my point perfectly. I WON'T have choice. I will HAVE to go with the public option as will most other Americans because small business and unions will stop offering shared coverage....

There goes my freedom, again!

Anne--look out for Saltoria. It's a waste of time responding to her, mostly. She just keeps on ranting, regardless of what anybody else says.

Well Saltoria, I don't have a choice now. Is freedom just for people like you who have someone else paying for their health insurance?

I admit I get a little emphatic when I see BIG GOVERNMENT getting BIGGER and taking away my freedoms...and I don't care if they are democrat or republican. I don't belong to either party....

Yes government is our enemy. It just keeps growing, and making our lives worse. So to prove it, we'll screw up everything even more.

Signed,

George W. Bush

(and lots of other Republicans)

Anne, you can go to the ER and get health care when you need it........if illegal aliens can get health care, so can you! Why don't you get Maine Care, or Medicare if you don't want to go to the ER? I went without insurance for years. If I got sick, I'd go to the ER, and I saved a few dollars for such emergencies. People need to take some personal responsibility and stop thinking the government should take care of every aspect of their life...

Peaches...put Snowe and Collins on that list! I'm done with those two!

Oops...I actually agreed with you Peaches. I must have been ranting :)

Don't worry, peaches. Saltoria and I go way back. (Saltoria, you don't belong to a party? I thought all Michael Savage listeners were Republicans. One learns something new every day I guess.)

As I have written before, 61% of the non-elderly population has either public or employer-sponsored health insurance, 5% of the non-elderly population pay for their own insurance, and everyone else is covered by SCHIP, Medicaid, or MediCare. So it is the 17% of us in the non-elderly population who do not enjoy the same "freedom," as Saltoria put it, that everyone else does.

This 17% includes working people who cannot afford insurance and people who cannot get insurance because of pre-existing conditions.

Saltoria, are you seriously recommending that I go to the ER for non-emergency medical care? You sound like Marie Antoinette!

maineex..the very same thing could be said about socialism and liberalism as well as conservatism as to not getting carried away with any of those ideologies. As for how wonderful all the overeseas health plans are..yes..I see people flocking to leave and go to other countries just to have use of their wonderful systems. As for canada, yes, I am also sure you will have happy canadians as well as just as many who are unhappy. Maybe we only speak to those whose happiness we want to hear.

I am not so sure that everyone is against a good program that would work no matter what party your ideals swing with. What I do think is that many Americans are getting fed up with the rushed through spending bills that are nothing but garbage. I for one would like to very much see a prime time national debate with the architects for and against. I would like to hear exactly what we will be getting..when..how..and most importantly how much the cost. To listen to the dems and repubs is like listening to everyone here..no one can say what is for sure and what isn't. Some want to make sure it is correct and done correctly..others seem to think the world will end if it isn't rushed though by tomorrow. Haven't we learned what these bills being slammed through have been like already? Sure, lets all have a nice health system. But why doesn't the govt look to fix what is there already? Many studies have already been done showing the billions..not millions..billions that have been wasted by fraud, duplication of payments..etc. in medicare alone. To think this won't be more of the same is being wishful thinking as long as it is flown right on by us.

Maybe people should take the time to read all 1000+ pages of this bill and if you can understand it, please come and explain it.I am on page 150 and although I am not a rocket scientist, I do think I have a little intelligence and much of it is gibberish. Now when I don't hear a politician coming straight out and telling you for a fact how it will be paid for...what it will actually do..other than provide insurance for 50Million uninsured which is another number you can take with a grain of salt unless you believe all you are told or spin it by your party preference, then I want more answers. Not everyone in this country wants canada's healthplan or europes. We are one of very few largest poulations in the world and some of these countries that rate high have populations a lot less than us...way less. And for those who think YAY we got a bill....this sure isn't going to happen overnight anyway. If you read the bill, there are provisions to train and fund for education..not something that will all of a sudden put tons of trained professionals into the medical field. We are going to be providing interpreters and and translators for non-English speaking people. Sounds like another United Nations complex coming. These are things I would like to hear more about...do it on national prime time sit, down between the opposing sides and tell the people what is proposed and what isn't being listened to. I do not need one party to tell me this is the way it is...I want it done where we ALL can live with it and say..yes..I CAN support this initiative. If that is asking too much..I guess I shouldn't expect too much.

To the above comments regarding high taxes, it might also be worth taking a historical perspective on federal taxes. At the inception of the federal income tax in 1913, the lowest rate (bracket) was 1% and the highest 7%; by the Eisenhower administration in the mid-50s, those rates were 20-22% and 90-91%. That trend began to reverse in the 1960s, and during the Johnson administration those rates fell to 14% and 70% respectively. Rates at present are at 10% and 35%, relatively low by international standards. In fact, in 2003 (from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_around_the_world , the most recent data at hand in the 5 mins I have available just now), TOTAL federal, state and local taxes in the United States were 24.2% of our gross domestic product, ranking among the lowest in the world, with only Mexico at 19.5% with a lower tax rate. Along with the higher taxes, the difference between the U.S. and some of the other industrialized countries are increased social services, such as pensions and health-care funding (see http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Taxes/P148855.asp for data).

Go get a job that provides health care and quit complaining all mighty one. .

Let's look at the record. This community organizer with a Muslim name pissed away $787 trillion on a stimulus bill he promised would keep unemployment below 8 percent, but golly gee... it's 9.5 percent, 7 million jobs have been lost -- and even he admits unemployment will climb to 10 percent soon, more like 11 to 12 percent better minds say. This community organizer with a Muslim name put a tax cheat in charge of saving the banks, pissed away a trillion or more on the tax cheat's big bank buddies to land money, juice up the economy. That hasn't happened. This community organizer with a Muslim name pissed away billions trying to save the auto industry from bankruptcy. Opps, GM and Chrysler went Capt. 11. So as a reward, this community organizer with a Muslim name gave virtually all the equity of both companies to the UAW, whose gold-plated work rules, pensions, health benefits made it impossible for US companies to compete with foreign brands. Opps. The sales figures for Governmemnt Motors, formally GM, came out today. Down 22 percent. Nice work there.

So, in a panic, his poll numbers slipping, this community organizer with a Muslim name is pulling out all stops -- relying on his famous personal appeal, charisma -- you know, the head turn to the left teleprompter, head turn to the right teleprompter, to plead with the American people to be lemmings and jump off the cliff for this great health care plan, which the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says is such a diaster it will bankrupt the country while still leaving 35 milliions uninsured. JUMP. YOU MUST JUMP BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL RECESS. JUMP YOU LEMMINGS!

Watch this guy tonight. One hour of prime time, with useful idiots in the audience to applaud. No questions by the press. He is America's Hugo Charvez. Let me amend that. Charvez served in the military. Our community organizer with a Muslim name does a photo opt shooting hoops with the troops, thinks he's Douglas MacArthur.

Given his track record, why would anyone believe this community organizer with a Muslim name has the experience, know how to move another 17 percent of the US economy into socialism. Fredie Mac, Fanny Mae, a trillion or so in bailouts to the kind of government-run disaster Obama wants to impose on America's hospitals, doctors, medical research firms. He's going to keep costs down, but not at the price of limiting medical liability lawsuits, because Democratic trial lawyers like John Edwards make their millions suing doctors and hospitals. Amtrack, which was a government bailout decades ago, has never turned a profit. The Post Office is billions in debt. Medicare is going bankrupt in a few years. Ditto for Medicaid. Social Security is a Ponzi scheme.

The funny thing is, 70 percent of Americans say they are happy with their health care plans. The bottom line is this -- this community organizer with a Muslim name has to come up with a way to move the 12 to 20 illegal aliens under his government unbrella, give them free health care, which they already get when the go to the emergency room, which we already pay for by higher private insurance premiums. The theory being the illegals will be so thankful they will always vote Democrat, as will the 16 million new government union employee bureaucrats who will run Obamacare, thus replacing 16 milliion private jobs held by people who sometimes voted Republican.

This is my prediction. By the time the 2010 mid-term elections arrive, the post-president approval ratings of former President George W. Bush will be hither than the current approval ratings of this community organizer with a Muslim name, who looks left, reads from the teleprompter, looks right, reads from the teleprompter, and the media says ``he's so smart.''

pokeybo.. interesting stuff. Thank you.

Telefunk, shut up, You may not be aware of this but health insurance companies continue to raise their group rates by 8 to 15% each year, while the cost of living increase is 1 1/2 to 3 percent each year... meaning... Every year that passes more and more companies (have not) and will not be able to continue to give health benefits to their employees. Within 5 years that 50,000,000 uninsured could be 75,000,000 or higher. And YOU or I could be in that number. Something needs to be done before then.

zanadume, your post may have been brilliant and life changing but I wouldn't know. Whenever a post starts out with "community organizer" and Muslim anything I ignore. You probably don't care but if you're posting to get people to read I thought you might be interested.

Telefunk, I knew you weren't addressing me that didn't matter. Do you not get the concept that within 5 years? 10 years? no company is going to be able to afford offering health care - so your "shut up and get a job" isn't real bright.

I didn't say shut up, you did.

I do agree it's just a matter of time...

ok... you agree! You know that's all that ever matters.

I suggest you call your congressman/woman (and Senators) and tell them you oppose the health care plan. And, if they do vote in favor of it, you insist they change their current health care plan and subject themselves to the same plan they are imposing on the rest of us. I can guarantee you they won't!! But, I have already made my calls...I hope you all do the same. They need to hear from US!

Oh yeah, steveydee, I mean "telefunkinu47," (why are you allowed to post under another username, by the way?) That's the American dream: work for Walmart so you can get health insurance, either that or shut up. I'll be sure that to remember that.

Where is the Small Business Administration on this issue anyway? (OMG I just looked it up and the most recent article they have re "health reform" is Oct. 01. So much for government help for small businesses.)

In the meantime, why don't you tell your employer that you want them to stop paying for your health insurance and that you'd rather go it alone. That would level the playing field here.

P.S. MainEx, you're alright in my book.

Saltoria, 4:32 pm. Good answer, Queen Marie.

I just happen to know the right people that's all..

"..........Breaking with the business community, Wal-Mart is backing President Obama’s plan to require employer-backed health insurance coverage for all employees.

The nation’s largest private employer has shocked other retailers by sending an open letter to President Obama supporting a mandate to require large employers to contribute to their employees’ health care coverage......"

.............If it were its own economy, Wal-Mart Stores would rank 30th in the world, right behind Saudi Arabia. Growing at 11% a year, Wal-Mart would hit half a trillion dollars in sales by early in the next decade. .."

So one of if not the single most successful business in the world today and in this current economy to boot, baring the some oil giants, supports the President's healthcare plan. And you can guess where the 100,000 + suppliers to Walmart are on this issue too as well?

"....he Wal-Martization of the world is changing commerce around the planet, for good and ill. .... " and HealthCare.

LOL

What a crazy World with the latest support for the Yes We Can programs.

This article sets up a false argument and then argues it.

I have not heard a single rep or senator in the last couple of years (including DeMint) say that there does not need to be health care reform.

If you have heard differently please post the quote.

The difference is in HOW this is accomplished. Some people believe that it should be done in the light of day. Some believe that it should be rammed through in a bill nobody has read, much like the stimulus bills of GWB and BHO.

zanadume - 2:56 PM - I read it and it was brilliant. Way to go! I also gave you a thumbs up to get your comment back up. Whoever gave it a thumbs down didn't read it, or maybe can't.

3:19 pm, re zanadume, I second that.

Yup Anne, awful waste of typing when they start out with a "I only listen to Fox" kind of statement. Only about 20% of the public will even bother to read after that.

After watching Obama's health care press conference:

What a pile of nothing. Pathetic questions by the WH press corps. Obama put the nation to sleep quoting snipits from his campaign speeches. No actual plan. Look to the left teleprompter... ``some in Congress believe...,'' look to the right teleprompter ``these are important issues to be debated.'' Even Salon.com, the left-wing web site that worships Obama, termed this performance to be sleep-inducing. Demint was right. This will be Obama's ``Waterloo.'' The guy is in way over his head. If he can't get results from a Congress with huge Democratic majorities, why would Putin, the mullahs in Iran, the nut in North Korea ever take Obama seriously.

Next year, with an unemployment rate of 10, 11, 12 percent, Obama becomes Mr. Irrelevant. Democratic congressional candidates will shun him, run for reelection against him. He lost his presidency when he ``voted present'' on the stimulus bill, let Pelosi package $787 billion in pork and political payoffs (twice as much money is going to counties that voted for Obama than McCain). He promised the country unemployment would not break 8 percent (can anybody say ``Mission Accomplished'') pissed away close to one trillion in borrowed money, national debt. Pissed away more money that Bush spent in six years on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, got nothing for it. At least Bush got rid of Saddam, established a vibrant Democracy in the Middle East that has spilled over into Iran. Obama pissed away $787 billion, got nothing but put the nation in debt. For him to open his press conference with the line claiming to have ``saved'' the economy is the biggest lie since Nixon told Dan Rather, ``I am not a crook.''

Does anyone from the US go to another country for health care?

Actually yes!

Wealthy US citizens are going to India to get the same level of care we get here for a third of the price.

www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/cheaper-health-care-1007

You did see the movie, ``Slum Dog Millionaire?'' Do you really believe that the average citizen of India receives better health care than in this country?

Does anyone know...will our congressmen/women and senators all be on this very same program? Are the ones trying to run this right through all saying they are signing up to be on it? Is the president going to have it along with his family? Are the same folks willing to volunteer to give up what they have to be on this great program and be covered like the rest of us? Has anyone found one of them who said they are willing to come for the ride with us? Or do they have excuses and other reasons why they can't? When teddy and his family...nancy and her family...harry and his family..barack and his family...lead us and say they will use the SAME coverage and plan we will have....then it may be a good plan. Until they say they will..no thanks!