Cheat Sheet

According to the CBO, the rising cost of healthcare in this America is unsustainable. That is indisputable.

http://www.cbo.gov/publications/collections/health.cfm

The Republicans/Conservative agenda in this debate, is not to provide options or answers that will help the American people. Their motive is simply to "break" Obama and appease insurance lobbyists.

This is Republican Senator Jim Demint laying out the Conservative agenda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHV4nDS501Y

"If we're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him and we will show that we can, along with the American people begin to push those freedom solutions that work in every area of our society."

Since then, the Republican party have used flat - out lies to move forward the "break Obama" portion of their agenda, without supplying any type of "freedom solution" until Boehner released the Republican reform bill last week. The problem with that, is those solutions DON'T work in every area of our society. Another lie.

http://cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10705/hr3962amendmentBoehner.pdf

In comparison to the Republican bill, the Democratic plan covers "covers 12 times as many people and saves $36 billion."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/11/congressional_budget _office_th.html

Here is a link to the CBO's analysis of the Democrats' plan to verify:

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10710/hr3962Dingell_mgr_amendment_up date.pdf

Now, we've already had people on this blog try to politicize the results of these analysis', saying that the Democrats' used "smoke and mirrors" to get a more beneficial result. However, math equations cannot be politicized. Numbers are numbers. Math is math.

The CBO has no agenda. They are the accountants of Washington. The life purpose of an accountant is to save money. They've sniffed out and busted every source of smoke and every funny mirror imaginable.

So, once their "freedom solution" lie was busted, they fell back on old tricks and railed against illegal immigrants and abortions and again flat - out LIED as a delay tactic.

Here is the SPECIFIC language directly from the bill that covers both of those areas, beginning with undocumented aliens:

18 SEC. 347. NO FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED
19 ALIENS.
20 Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments
21 for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are
22 not lawfully present in the United States

Now for abortions:

SEC. 258. APPLICATION OF STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS RE4
GARDING ABORTION.
5 (a) NO PREEMPTION OF STATE LAWS REGARDING
6 ABORTION.-Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
7 preempt or otherwise have any effect on State laws regard8
ing the prohibition of (or requirement of) coverage, fund9
ing, or procedural requirements on abortions, including
10 parental notification or consent for the performance of an
11 abortion on a minor.

Now, because I a, cursed with a brain that dictates the idea that facts and sources have relevance in debate. Here's a link to the Democrats' bill for anyone and everyone to see for themselves. It's very simple, type in the term "aliens" or "abortion" in the search box if you don't have the time to go through the whole bill:

http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf

As anyone who can read/understand English can see, there will be NO money given to undocumented aliens and in NO WAY will it change abortion laws that are already on the books.

So, despite the fact there is a proposed bill on the table that at least begins to address the problem of our astronomical healthcare costs, despite the fact that the Democrats have made concession after concession to try to appeal to "moderate" Republicans, despite the fact that there is INDISPUTABLY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE in the bill addressing Conservative concerns such as UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS AND ABORTIONS, and despite the fact that their own plan has been proven to be ineffective, there is not a single Republican vote behind this legislation that will directly help the American People.

The Blue Dog Democrats are just as much to blame as they, along with their Republican cohorts, have sold out 45,000 American dead every year simply to "break Obama" and keep their campaign money.

Call your Congressman (202) 224 3121. Tell them to IGNORE THE NONSENSICAL SIDESHOW OF LIES the Conservatives have regurgitated over and over.

You cannot reconcile with those who do not seek reconciliation.

dont worry jay

we saw this in Jersey, Christie Whitman budgeted $25mm in fines to build EZPass. WHich means the expected deadbeats who wouldnt pay a 25 cent toll to answer her letter for a 25 dollar fine. of course they didnt and it blew a hole in the budget.

can you imagine the enforcement mechanism required for this, we'd need a police state. Somehow the government is going to have a database of all insurance policies and you'll have to submit yours with your tax return, if you file one, and then if they dont match they are going to have to come after you and make you pay a $750 fine

we're talking about people who refuse to buy insurance, think theyre gonna file tax reutrns?, or answer mail?, what are they gonna do send the US Marshalls out to arrrest these people?

As they unite in a big daisy chain to oppose health care reform, I hope that if they are religious they will be thinking of what to say when they meet their maker. The deaths of the 45,000 a year will be at their hands.

Why would anyone who is not a millionaire and a white male vote Republican.

If your a woman.
They were against giving women equal pay for equal work.

If your a Christian.
They were against insuring under privileged children.

If your a minority
They were and are against civil rights.

If your breathing.
They are against helping the government provide affordable health care.

If your over 55.
They were against Social Security and Medicare.

How does this party exist.

Here dear yokels in my Health care Solution. My idea will cover all and cost less!

I am an independent candidate for president. My Health care program does not involve insurance companies or any government bureaucracy. This is an issue that ties up one sixth of our economy!

We can agree our economy, as heartbeat, is near collapse; the dollar is in the dumpster for months, and could permanently go lower; one of our prob limbs, the growing rolls who lost their health care insurance along with their jobs.

My Loose Penny Program, presented here, is a capital injection that will instantly begin to repair our economic muscle, by repairing our health care delivery without government intervention, but to create actual jobs, mission critical diplomacy is required.

President Obama needs to get off the fly around health care campaign trail, wipe down the makeup on his eyelids (with cold cream) and summon all our fast foods, supermarket; Target and Wal-Mart CEO's to the White House to ink my proposed infusion solution.

The only thing wrong with this proposal is it's mine. It is my 'out-of-the-box approach, and personally I have an expressed stake in the political process as a candidate for president. Were his advisors only willing to set that issue aside we would all benefit!

Obama went to Cairo and Copenhagen. He can meet with KFC. Your loose pocket change will make the critical health care diff rinse.

Every chain must participate in my Loose Pennies Program, regardless the size of their enterprise. My purpose: an additional two-cents in the cash registers of many thousands of locations nationwide, wherever we fast food eat and shop. For every item registered over the counter we want two pennies extra, added as patriotic gratuity.

This proposal is not for a government mandate. Anyone can refuse to pay the voluntary two cents gratuity. Burger, fries and a drink totals six extra cents, pennies off the pavement. Regardless what we purchase at the market; we are only pitching in some loose change out of pocket. 40 items at the supermarket could easily add up to $150. Does another 80 cents inhibit your generosity?

A worker chosen by the workers to represent them can meet with the managers to approve the total pennies for everything out the door the week before, dividing that total by everyone's hours worked.

Then we include up to $2 dollars extra for every hour in the worker's paychecks. A $5 deduct for a Medical Malpractice Pool is on my planing board, which employers don't have to match, so their sticker prices won't rise from any extra cost of doing business. The chains won't be squeezed from our Medical Assurance pay raise, that, a plus minus spreadsheet wash!

The worker's pay increase doesn't come out of management's pocket, but work place production will grow. When someone quits, the crew might ask the boss to leave them pick up the slack, so they earn more money!

The overage, beyond the $2 dollars hourly extra in every pay, goes to interest bearing Medical Savings Accounts, with the worker's name on his or her portion. Two dollars an hour in a forty hour week is more than $4000 a year. There are other innovative possibilities because the prime issue inspiring our voluntary gratuity is Health Care.

The president can ask everyone on the low end of the economic chain to divide their bounty as follows, at least what I am guaranteed to do as president: The president can order the $2 an hour extra be a take home half in cash, with the balance going to dramatically grow these proposed Medical Savings Accounts, a health care solution for at least ten million uninsured people.

More than ten million of the uninsured people will have their medical care access guaranteed with a Medical Savings account they can share with their spouse, significant other, and off spring. The medical savings account, as a health care solution beats health insurance!

Insurance companies are dedicated to making money, not protecting the sick from financial disaster. When an insurance company cancels your policy because you have an expensive disease, they don't refund your premium. But with a Health Assurance Savings Account, when you quit or get fired from the job, your medical savings account goes with you!

After a year behind the fast food counter, a 40-hour per week worker could have more than two grand in their Health Assurance account. Ten million uninsured people at the bottom of our economic food chain might not have health care insurance but all would carry Health Assurance. In the event they don't feel right they have access to medical care, and a second opinion, because the money to pay is there! When it's your money, unneeded procedures evaporate.

Other companies, besides the fast food chains could have the "public Lev option" of creating Medical Savings Accounts, in lieu of providing an insurance policy for their workers.

A sensible choice solution eliminates the insurance company monopolies. A worker could opt out of his company's insurance policy. The employer's end would go into his paycheck, a raise in take home pay. The half the worker was paying would still be withheld, and go into the worker's Medical Assurance Savings Account.

Small businesses unable to afford insurance coverage for their employees could set up Medical Assurance Accounts.

Is there any government bureaucracy involved in my program? Is my proposal 1500 pages of unreadable language?

This two cents program works for the medical professional, too. You agree to the fee, the doctor swipes your Medical Assurance card and the money is debited from your Health Assurance account. The Dr.'s cost layer represented by his required compliance with the insurance company bureaucrat is out of the mix.

This proposed over-the-counter voluntary two-cent gratuity, $344 dollars monthly doesn't bash government. These out of pocket pennies go to the working not so rich, without intrusion. Government bureaus are by-passed, except to investigate anonymous complaints about businesses that may be cheating their workers.

In all the dry cleaners add a nickel to every shirt pressed, a dime for every dry cleaned piece. In all the family operated dry cleaners, medical savings accounts will replace the worker's share of their family's health insurance.

This 2 cents extra covers 90% of all the minimum and lower wage jobs in USA, juicing the recovery by pumping the bottom of our economic chain, enriching the people most likely to purchase goods with their money!

The fresh dollars these people spend will create jobs. Those in low echelon hourly jobs, working 40 hours a week will have $80 extra weekly in his or her pay envelope, the diff rinse between scraping by and getting ahead; the advantage of $75 after a $5 per week set aside for our Medical Malpractice Pool, $40 in their pay with a minimum $35 earmarked for Health Assurance Savings.

To restate: $2 an hour X 40 hours is $80 fresh dollars a week, $344 a month, more than $4000 fresh dollars a year going to more than ten million UNINSURED working people, based on our voluntary two pennies on every item over the counter in all the fast food chains, WalMart, KMart, Target, and every supermarket chain.

The $80 extra a week is divided in half. $40 for pay envelopes, $40 for Medical Savings Accounts. Then $5 out of the pay raise for a Malpractice Insurance pool, which Dr.'s are invited to join, by putting in $5 per office visit; and $5 from your Medical Savings Account into a Catastrophic Illness Pool.

You are working for five years at Burger King. You are an assistant manager. You started out flipping burgers and stayed with your Medical Assurance Savings. You have kidney failure, need dialysis while waiting for a kidney transplant. That is catastrophic.Your Medical Assurance Account won't be depleted on the spot.

Relative to Malpractice Insurance doctors and dentists, the med professionals are invited to participate with $5 per visit, so they can down the road, cancel their Malpractice insurance. Then we establish a reasonable award for all the different malpractice possibilities, allowing the aggrieved party to get a lawyer in the event there is a disagreement. This lowers the cost of a Doctor being a Doctor and gives us a chance to develop a public access data base that identifies doctors who are repeat malpractitioners.

Millions of uninsured not so rich people building Medical Assurance Accounts will directly benefit from this voluntary deal. We gain from tipping our pennies to working folks, as these millions of uninsured won't be crowding emergency clinics for care, which we all pay for, a tremendous savings for the taxpayer!

Emergency health care cost is infected by the actuarial projections of how many uninsured people might use an emergency room walk-in for care during the course of any year.

Working people in min-wage jobs with Health Assurance accounts pay for their access on a need-to-be seen basis. In addition to medical savings accounts, the two cents gratis could secure a million mortgages near default, a contribution to neighborhood health as deserted house disease is a cancer that devalues the whole street.

For the rest of our uncovered citizenry, doctors and dentists must be allowed the volunteer opportunity to do tax deductible charity, treating them. A charity patient is anyone without insurance. The plan: doctors do $50,000 in charitable medical services and deduct the $50,000 off the top of their federal tax. Then, after all the deductions, the doctors take an additional half off their bottom line; twenty-five thousand or half, whichever is greater.

Medical professionals could perform $100,000 in charity and deduct $50,000 off their tax, and because they only owed $49,000 in taxes, earn a one thousand dollar income tax credit. This health care approach cost effectively makes sense.

Doctors won't be at the mercy of an insurance companies,' take it or leave payment for services rendered. People suffering from unaffordable premiums, with pre-assurance from their physicians, will begin to cancel their overpriced insurance policies.

Every doctor will have a waiting list of patients waiting to be classified as charity. Doctors will have more patients, their work incentive: Freedom of Income Tax.

Isn't this one-line change in our tax code easier to digest than a fifteen hundred page med-reform tax increase stick-it-to-us vaccination, unread even by its authors, our congress? Would insurance company's shills show up at town hall meetings screaming, "It's a communist plot! Down with their two cents for medical savings accounts?"

Every doctor and dentist will have a sign on the door: "No insurance? I'm here."

These ideas will enrich our economy from the bottom up, possibly save a million mortgages, and insure access to health care services for many, if not all the millions of uninsured people, whilst leaving the rip off insurance companies out.

The long-term solution to our health care prob limb is free medical education for doctors, dentists, and all related personal, our goal one hundred thousand doctors graduated every year until we have one family doctor for every thousand people. A national marijuana tax could fund this program, as could a three per cent reduction in military expenditures. Politishinz are good at identifying issues but fold their intestinal fortitude as those who finance their campaigns govern the solutions.

In that light, the above proposed change in our tax code, encouraging doctors and dentists to treat the uninsured as a deductible charity, could not pass either House of our current congress absent a million person public outcry first.

Robert J. Samuelson wrote, in the Monday, September 14, 2009 The Washington Post:

"Americans generally want three things from their health-care system. First, they think that everyone has a moral right to needed care; that suggests universal insurance. Second, they want choice; they want to select their doctors -- and want doctors to determine treatment. Finally, people want costs controlled; health care shouldn't consume all private compensation or taxes."

The above Loose Penny Solution covers all of these issues. On Sixty Minutes, September 13, president Obama repeated, "All Americans will be required to have insurance, but those who can't afford it will get subsidies." Health Assurance Savings accounts are a better idea.

Obama's plan: Subsidizing an insurance policy creates a whole new layer of bureaucracy which is unaffordable and unnecessary.

I am the unknown poet, a long-time candidate for president, roasting in the sun.

Once upon a time our Fourth Estate was independent, standing watch, reporting true. Today's corporate approach to politics locks out the unknowns who seek public office, a primary reason there aren't any candidates. You announce, "I'm a candidate." The editor's don't ask, "What are your ideas?" But, "Show us twenty million dollars." And without access to buckets of ducats, the access to broadcast speech, to present their platforms is also blocked. Blog in the bog, dog.

We need to renew our politics, starting with the reestablishment of our First Amendment Right to televised political speech. Upon this essay, I requested e quill time of our television networks, to give my independents' response to president Obama's health care speech to the congress, which was broadcast by the networks and cable networks aired live, September 9, 2009.

I have to stop posting and prepare my petition for the court. The issue of my First Amendment Right to speak will go to the Supreme Court.

michaelslevinson.com

1/6 of the economy for earmarks is pure bs. The people don't want it and won't accept it. At least it'll expel another democrat majority for the next fifty years

The insurance industry and its flock the US congress do not want "single payer" health insurance because it is the best choice of insurance out there and the insurance cartel cannot compete with it. Single payer is an insurance policy and not a healthcare system. Only the doctors, nurses, technicians and others in the health system provide medical services. Single payer insurance simply pays for the service. Secondly, polls show in both Canada and the USA that a majority prefer single payer insurance to continuing with the insurance industry. Third, taxes would decline and quality health care for millions would be enhanced with single payer insurance. The bottom line is that for every dollar spent through a conventional insurance policy only about 65 cents worth of service is provided. With single payer insurance about 97 cents worth of medical services are provided.
Please do the math. You'll get a lot more bang for your buck with a single payer insurance plan. Believe it or not industry in this country would benefit and become more competitive if we were covered by a single payer insurance plan and the USA would become more financially healthy as well as physically healthy overall. The Baucus/Obama plan mainly benefits the insurance industry and continues with a worsening insurance industry system. The insurance industry has stymied economic growth in this country. Again, do the math.

Republicans are not against healthcare reform. they are against this bill, which mandates that in 2013 you will lose the right to choose any plan but the government option, pays for abortion, insures illegal aliens, will raise, not lower costs and rewards special interests. When Democrats get serious about not being hogs at the trough, maybe something will get done.

Today November 7TH 2009, will go down as an infamous day in the history of the U.S.A. This health care bill is a fraudelent pkg. put together by two idiots from the Senate and the House. Sen Harry Reid and House Leader Nancy Pelosi. You are required to take out a $15,000 policy. . Where is the transparency and the 72 hours of reading this bill on the internet? Americans who do not maintain an acceptable health ins. coverage and who choose not to pay the bill"s new individual mandate tax of 2.5% of income are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties including criminal fines up to $250,000 and imprisionment of up to five years.

Is this the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA????????.

Republican=Asshole

The ultimate betrayal of the American people by the Republican Party in this healthcare dispute is asserting that the status quo will not cost more money, when in fact, according to various studies, it will cost at least $1 trillion more than the Dem plan, which is projected by the CBO to be revenue neutral.
This is the Big Lie that the Republican Party promotes. Not because it's in the best interest of the country, but because it can "harm Obama," and keep the sleazy donations from the Healthcare Insurers coming.

Republican
I got mine
To hell with you

The R's had six years of both houses and the presidency and didn't do anything but pander to the seniors with the "donut-holed" prescription drug plan. "Tort reform" will greatly benefit tobacco and asbestos interests (big Bush contributors), but does little for true health cost containment. "Buying across state lines" is just a bait-and-switch game of lower prices for substandard coverage. "Portability" avoids any meaningful reforms on pre-existing condition limitations. All of these do nothing to help those who either can't get access to or can't afford health insurance.

Social Security and Medicare were both decried as "socialism" in their day and the over-65 crowd would be destitute and ill without them.

The USA needs Medicare for All!

Does the bill stop insurance companies from denying treatment?

America ranks 40th in the world on life longevity. We are far below those countries that have a public healthcare system. But the Republican Party and their suicidal followers tell you to ignore that.
America loses over 44,000 people each year in the age range of 18 to 64, because they lack health insurance. This is more than double this number was back in the 1990s. This costs America because most of these people were productive citizens who paid taxes and contributed to our economy. The loss in dollars for their premature deaths is estimated to be over $1 trillion in the next decade.
We could be saving that trillion and more if the Democratic plan, modest as it is, were adopted.

The bill isn't perfect and I'm sure there will be changes over the years. But it's the best bill that could be written after 9 months of intense negotiating. We MUST pass it. The Republicans had the same 9 months to come up with alternative solutions, and the best they could do was to right a bill that according to the CBO, insures less people, reduces the deficit less and doesn't help anyone with pre-existing conditions.

Instead of being the party of no, maybe they should try and come up with real solutions to real problems instead of just complaining.

As for the Democrats, they need to stop the infighting about issues that are not central to health care reform. This is not an immigration bill or a pro/ anti choice bill. It's a health care bill. Pass the bill and these other issues can always be debated later. If they fail to pass the bill, these tangent issues they are fighting about are irrelevant.

wow some really great comments so far very informative.

So Obama's strategy of bipartisanship cost us single payer, and a real public option.
And in return he received 0 votes from the House Republicans.

A refuse collector is driving along a street picking up the
wheelie bins in Melbourne Australia, and emptying them
into his compactor.
He goes to one house where the bin hasn't been left out, and in the spiritof kindness, and after having a quick look about for the bin, he gets out of his truck goes to the front door and knocks. There's no answer..
Being a kindly and conscientious bloke, he knocks again - much harder.
Eventually a Japanese man comes to the door. "Harro!" says the Japanese man.
"Gidday, mate! Where's ya bin?" asks the collector.
"I bin on toiret," explains the Japanese bloke, a bit perplexed.
Realising the little foreign fellow had misunderstood him, the bin man smiles and tries again.
"No! no! mate, Where's your dust bin?"
"I dust been to toiret, I toll you!'' says the Japanese man, still
perplexed.
"Listen," says the collector. "You're misunderstanding
me. Where's your wheelie bin?'"

"OK, OK." replies the Japanese man with a sheepish grin, and
whispers in the collector's ear. "I wheelie bin having sex wirra wife's sista!"
Come on, that's a funny story
LOL

This is all smoke and mirrors by both parties. As if they actually care what we think! This is their job; to waste time by not looking like thats what they're doing and to spend OUR money with complete disregard for how hard it is to earn it.

"Save Grandma unplug Pelosi"

lildbraebrae-

perhaps you should know that the autism society of america has endorsed this bill.

IHello,everybody,is there a place where we can go and read what is going to be available. I am tired of my Democrats and republican friends and in beetween. I believe this president wants to do good for mainstream,and all, There is something in him that does say, that. I am confused, our families are divided,groups of friends argue, and Im not sure anyone has a grip.Is everyone going to be allowed to choose different programs, at better prices?Is there a cap on who the government will insure, like the 66,000.After that what happens to the persons,who do not get into the govt. program?Those of you who understand it or know where you get info please advice. There is too much comotion.8 years the former administration did nothing, now everyone is against each other. And mobs do not help anyone know what to do.And no one should carry a picture of the Pres of the US,with a mustache.He is no hitler,thats offensive and he has won the Nobel prize, and all those mobs do not answer our questions.Forget the alliens, they are going home there is no work,everyone has to be offered health,you cannot let people die in the streets.Young people,like a waiter said today,he is not paying any insurance.So who pays,the owner,small buss. ?Will the insurances be bought across states.?This should have been available, years.Is it going to be programs like the congress gets to choose from?I have to say that alot of Drs, that we go out with,and some of my clients, say they will retire.or change professions.They say the load will be impossible to care for,less money,not enough doctors,,they wont be able to give quality attention. There is a point to that. But i know there has to be an answer and many people are confused,and mixed up and concerned,and want to understand

nortonclybourn,are you saying it will be a requirement,the same as car insurance, that makes sense.If there are good prices, fair competition,no one wants a free ride.But is the quality going to be like what the congress chooses from?

Does anybody know where RitaRita went.?I found her, to be fair and explanative.She was not rude,where is she.?