Any thoughts on the new 23 trillion cost of free healthcare?

[WACF]

l have two words for that HORSE SHIT! My cousins wife needs a heart transplant..... Obviously US healthcare will not pay for it and she has no insurance because she is "here" illegaly so we make a mad dash to take her to her family in Canada thinking that their healthcare will help her get her heart transplant being that she is a Canadian citizen and the great healthcare system . Nope but they are going to perform surgery on her cataracts....... Can't figure that one out

Well...it is illegal to buy an organ.

Like anywhere...you get put on a list... if one becomes available you get lucky.

It's not like they have fridges full of them.

Sorry to hear your story.

All the more proof that a single payor system is good...what would happen if the heart was available and you had no insurance...or...where denied because of some little glitch within your policy.

[FORD]

*****Here it is, the REPUKES' Health Care Plan*****

After Weeks of Delays, Republicans Release Controversial "Single Prayer" Healthcare Plan
August 01, 2009 09:58 PM EDT



Washington, D.C. - Citing a growing impatience amongst their constituency, House Republicans have released their long awaited alternative to the Democratic Healthcare Bill. Utilizing the power of prayer, H.R. 777, dubbed the "Single Prayer" Plan, is likely to cause quite a stir inside the beltway

Under the new plan, American Citizens would spend between 15 and 30 minutes daily praying for the country's infirmed. House Minority Leader John Boehner was amongst the first of Representatives to tout what he perceives as the merits of the bill; "It seems like a no brainer to me." he said, "In the past six months, we've seen this country engage in a rapid decline into Godless communism. We're not going to fix healthcare in this country by continuing the course we're on. Rather, we need to exploit the most powerful and underutilized resource this country has, prayer, in order to heal the nation's sick." New Congressman John Fleming, MD (R, La.) lent some of his credibility as a longtime family physician "The healing power of prayer is not only documented many times in the Bible, but has even been proven by science as having concrete medical benefits. So whether you go by the democrat god of science, or the Real Republican God™, you have to admit that prayer works."

Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann also lauded the plan; "I, as well as all the wonderful people of Minnesota, applaud this bill as not only a way of helping Americans remove themselves from the tyranny of high health care costs, but as a way of bringing God back into a country that has forsaken Him for far too long. If Christianity was good enough for all of this country's founding fathers, it should be good enough for us.

When it was suggested that perhaps not all of the country's founding fathers were Christian, Representative Bachman became combative; "You're one of those Godless liberals, aren't you?" Bachmann demanded, "Once my HOORAA bill becomes law, people like you won't be able to walk the streets without facing the scorn you so rightly deserve!" HOORAA or Helping Out by Ostracizing and Resenting Atheists and Agnostics, would require those who have a non-belief in God or are on the fence with regard to their belief in God, to receive several brands on parts of their body, at least one of which must be on prominent display at all times while out in public. The bill is currently in committee.

Anticipating a great amount of confusion regarding the details of the House bill, Representative and part-time theologian Spencer Bachus brought out a large cardboard panel to explain further how the bill would provide cost effective, even free medical services to the country's sick; "As you can clearly see by this chart my dear grandson helped me make with his wondrous electronic answer box, while even the smallest prayers are answered in some respect by the Lord Almighty, as the amount of active and simultaneous prayers are increased, the healing power increases quadratically. So much so that by the point you reach 100 simultaneous prayers, inflictions even as terrible as homosexuality or liberalism can easily be cured." Communications with Representative Bachus's grandson revealed the referenced box to be an 18 month old laptop with Microsoft's popular Powerpoint presentation software.

Not all House members, however, expressed the same amount of optimism regarding the efficacy of H.R. 777. Ohio's 10th District Representative Dennis Kucinich expressed his reluctance to support such a bill on the House floor; "While I deeply respect the religious views of the House members who have crafted this bill, I don't feel confident that prayer alone can solve the nation's healthcare crisis. As a supplemental bill, I could see myself getting behind this. But for the millions of this country's poor and uninsured, traditional western medicine and therapy will be required, and unfortunately, that will require large amounts of money and not just prayer alone." Missouri Representative Roy Blunt shot back out of turn; "I'd expect to hear nothing less from a Godless vegan like Representative Kucinich." Kucinich, a long time Catholic, simply responded with a puzzled stare.

Still others wonder how a bill such as H.R. 777 could be enforced equitably if even at all. An anonymous congressional page noted "I don't see how a bill like this is enforceable in the least. I mean, even if they managed to mandate the 15 to 30 minutes of prayer a day through some kind of God Czar, how could they be sure that those praying are actually praying for the health of U.S. citizens? What if they instead choose to pray for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? What if they choose to pray for world peace?" When presented with the conundrum, House Leader Boehner responded "While it may never be possible to determine precisely what the citizens under this plan are praying for, God will know. And my God is not one to be mocked." Boehner added "God Czar, huh? I like that!"

Atheists and Agnostic groups have predictably responded less than favorably to the bill. Co-Founder of the atheist activist group Rational Response Squad, Brian Sapient had this to say; "While frankly I think it's silly to have to address a bill as silly as H.R. 777, I believe its passage would be disastrous in terms of turning a country that is already overly reliant on religion, into one that is even closer towards becoming a theocracy. If prayer is so effective, why is it that God has never once provided an amputee with his or her limbs back? While modern medical advances are far from perfect, it is man and technology that has provided increased mobility to the many thousands of veterans who have lost limbs in service to this country, not God."

Former Governor and current MILF Sarah Palin immediately held a press conference to combat the statement by the drive-by media member; "While God is all-knowing and all powerful, he reserves his tremendous gifts only for the deserving. If your prayers toward God go unanswered, there's a darn good reason for it.(Palin winks awkwardly) You betcha!" The comment immediately stirred the members of the media in the presser. One unknown journalist commented; "You're not actually saying that the men and women of the U.S. military who have sacrificed one or more limbs on the battlefield are actually deserving of their condition, are you?!" Palin only responded by saying "They know what they did."

Senate Democrats face the bill with the unusual position of being in a strong majority, yet strongly encouraged to moderate their legislation to appease the Republican minority. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had this to say; "I'm very much looking forward to seeing a finished H.R. 777. While the bill doesn't seem perfect as of yet, I'm confident that through reconciliation, we should able to make this a bill that benefits all citizens." Democratic Senator and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Max Baucus expressed similar enthusiasm for the bill; "While there is much to like in this bill, I'd very much like to see more be done to help with the nation's most needy." Baucus then promptly invited the nation's top pharmaceutical groups representatives to a closed door session to determine just how the needy could further benefit from the bill. Less than a half an hour later, Baucus exited the conference room and promptly called for another presser. Pulling a handkerchief from his jacket pocket, Baucus quickly wiped off his chin before stepping to the podium; "I have long advocated for a more Godly healthcare system in this country. And with as many merits as H.R. 777 has, it doesn't go far enough. For many decades, this country's pharmaceutical corporations, HMOs and health insurance corporations have given selflessly to ensure the public good. With the passage of H.R. 777, they'll be able to do their job even more effectively. But it wouldn't be fair to them for us to expect so much more of them without them getting a little something in return. That's why I'm proposing 'Cap and Pray'. You see, there is plenty of evidence that due to their intense knowledge of the healthcare system, the prayers of these saintly health insurers, HMOs and pharmaceutical corporations members are doubly, perhaps even triply as effective as the prayers of common folk. That's why we need their prayers more than ever. I have proposed that for each additional prayer man hour expended over the course of a year, these corporations will receive a one thousand dollar tax deduction. Of course we understand that CEOs don't always have time for prayers due to their steadfast work in guiding their companies through these tumultuous economic times, that's why we've allowed their employees to pick up the slack. If you have 100 employees and they each manage a meager 10 hours of additional prayer over the course of the year, that's a million dollar tax reduction right there."

Confident that House Democrats would be able to reach a deal soon on the House bill, House Leader Nancy Pelosi grabbed the hands of Harry Reid and Max Baucus and raised them triumphantly. "For years I've been trying to rub off this seemingly indelible label I've had as a Godless San Francisco liberal. With the passage of a Single Prayer healthcare system, not only will the country benefit greatly, but I'm sure that my Republican peers in the House will finally see me as I really am." Representative Bachmann shot back "That's exactly what I'd expect a Godless San Francisco liberal to say!" Pelosi smiled in return.

After Weeks of Delays, Republicans Release... | Gather

[hideyoursheep]

If I post a single picture of a casualty of the war all the people that supported it get all pissy at me like I have done something wrong.

Why is that?

Is it a casualty of war, or a casualty of terrorism? Because the kid is dead doesn't automatically make it the fault of the right-wing Christians against abortion and stem cell research...it could have been a Sunni for all you know.

Post all the casualty of war pics you want. I just think it's tasteless sensationalism.

[hideyoursheep]

Remember everyone believes they are entiltled.
It will be fun to see when a person goes to ER for an injury.

Something like this.

Nurse: What brings you in tonight?
Unemployed person: i got hurt at my job.
Nurse: Where do you work?
Unemployed Person: Any corner i can.
Nurse looks surprised, but knows she shes this all the time now.

Nurse: So what happened?
unemployed Person: I got stabbed over a dime bag.


thanks obama.

You are soooo fucking stupid.

You ARE aware that if you are a victim of a violent crime, that the city in which you were attacked is responsible for the medical bills incurred for your injuries, and that OBAMA had nothing to do with that?

You need to and get both feet out of your mouth.

Imbecile.

[Angel]

l have two words for that HORSE SHIT! My cousins wife needs a heart transplant..... Obviously US healthcare will not pay for it and she has no insurance because she is "here" illegaly so we make a mad dash to take her to her family in Canada thinking that their healthcare will help her get her heart transplant being that she is a Canadian citizen and the great healthcare system . Nope but they are going to perform surgery on her cataracts....... Can't figure that one out

If she's not a resident of the country, she doesn't have the medical coverage. Pretty fucking simple. You have to live in a province for 3 months before you can have coverage in that province.

Our healthplan is for those who actually LIVE here. She's lucky she's getting the cataract surgery, I'm not sure how she even managed that one.

If I was to move out of Canada (never happen), I'd at least have the brains to know that I would need health insurance.

[ELVIS]

Yeah, to pay for your brain transplant...

[ELVIS]

So you are against the war now?

If I post a single picture of a casualty of the war all the people that supported it get all pissy at me like I have done something wrong.

Why is that?

Yes I am, but i'm not pissy...

People can actually change their minds, you know...

I've admitted I was wrong about supporting the was(s) several times...

[ELVIS]

To be honest I think you need to prepare yourself for the fact she's probably fucked...

Nice to see you choose your words so delicately...

[Nickdfresh]

Is it a casualty of war, or a casualty of terrorism? Because the kid is dead doesn't automatically make it the fault of the right-wing Christians against abortion and stem cell research...it could have been a Sunni for all you know.

Post all the casualty of war pics you want. I just think it's tasteless sensationalism.

Nevertheless, the United States invaded Iraq and set forth a cataclysm that killed 600,000+ Iraqis. Not directly necessarily, but the security meltdown caused by the rapid destruction of Iraq security forces and the subsequent societal breakdown is partially the US' fault...

[Big Train]

I came across this and I found it very interesting. This list isn't meant to bash on other countries, but to just point out what is good about our current system.

Hoover Institution - Hoover Digest - Here’s a Second Opinion

Medical care in the United States is derided as miserable compared to health care systems in the rest of the developed world. Economists, government officials, insurers, and academics beat the drum for a far larger government role in health care. Much of the public assumes that their arguments are sound because the calls for change are so ubiquitous and the topic so complex. Before we turn to government as the solution, however, we should consider some unheralded facts about America’s health care system.

1. Americans have better survival rates than Europeans for common cancers. Breast cancer mortality is 52 percent higher in Germany than in the United States and 88 percent higher in the United Kingdom. Prostate cancer mortality is 604 percent higher in the United Kingdom and 457 percent higher in Norway. The mortality rate for colorectal cancer among British men and women is about 40 percent higher.

2. Americans have lower cancer mortality rates than Canadians. Breast cancer mortality in Canada is 9 percent higher than in the United States, prostate cancer is 184 percent higher, and colon cancer among men is about 10 percent higher.

3. Americans have better access to treatment for chronic diseases than patients in other developed countries. Some 56 percent of Americans who could benefit from statin drugs, which reduce cholesterol and protect against heart disease, are taking them. By comparison, of those patients who could benefit from these drugs, only 36 percent of the Dutch, 29 percent of the Swiss, 26 percent of Germans, 23 percent of Britons, and 17 percent of Italians receive them.

4. Americans have better access to preventive cancer screening than Canadians. Take the proportion of the appropriate-age population groups who have received recommended tests for breast, cervical, prostate, and colon cancer:

* Nine out of ten middle-aged American women (89 percent) have had a mammogram, compared to fewer than three-fourths of Canadians (72 percent).

* Nearly all American women (96 percent) have had a Pap smear, compared to fewer than 90 percent of Canadians.

* More than half of American men (54 percent) have had a prostatespecific antigen (PSA) test, compared to fewer than one in six Canadians (16 percent).

* Nearly one-third of Americans (30 percent) have had a colonoscopy, compared with fewer than one in twenty Canadians (5 percent).

5. Lower-income Americans are in better health than comparable Canadians. Twice as many American seniors with below-median incomes self-report “excellent” health (11.7 percent) compared to Canadian seniors (5.8 percent). Conversely, white, young Canadian adults with below-median incomes are 20 percent more likely than lower-income Americans to describe their health as “fair or poor.”

6. Americans spend less time waiting for care than patients in Canada and the United Kingdom. Canadian and British patients wait about twice as long—sometimes more than a year—to see a specialist, have elective surgery such as hip replacements, or get radiation treatment for cancer. All told, 827,429 people are waiting for some type of procedure in Canada. In Britain, nearly 1.8 million people are waiting for a hospital admission or outpatient treatment.

7. People in countries with more government control of health care are highly dissatisfied and believe reform is needed. More than 70 percent of German, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and British adults say their health system needs either “fundamental change” or “complete rebuilding.”

8. Americans are more satisfied with the care they receive than Canadians. When asked about their own health care instead of the “health care system,” more than half of Americans (51.3 percent) are very satisfied with their health care services, compared with only 41.5 percent of Canadians; a lower proportion of Americans are dissatisfied (6.8 percent) than Canadians (8.5 percent).

9. Americans have better access to important new technologies such as medical imaging than do patients in Canada or Britain. An overwhelming majority of leading American physicians identify computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the most important medical innovations for improving patient care during the previous decade—even as economists and policy makers unfamiliar with actual medical practice decry these techniques as wasteful. The United States has thirty-four CT scanners per million Americans, compared to twelve in Canada and eight in Britain. The United States has almost twenty-seven MRI machines per million people compared to about six per million in Canada and Britain.

10. Americans are responsible for the vast majority of all health care innovations. The top five U.S. hospitals conduct more clinical trials than all the hospitals in any other developed country. Since the mid- 1970s, the Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology has gone to U.S. residents more often than recipients from all other countries combined. In only five of the past thirty-four years did a scientist living in the United States not win or share in the prize. Most important recent medical innovations were developed in the United States.

Despite serious challenges, such as escalating costs and care for the uninsured, the U.S. health care system compares favorably to those in other developed countries.

This essay appeared on the website of the National Center for Policy Analysis on March 24, 2009. An earlier version was published in the Washington Times.

Scott W. Atlas is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and a professor of radiology and chief of neuroradiology at Stanford University Medical School.

[Baby's On Fire]

Dude, you're so intelligent, but seem so afraid of God, it's silly...

You are an absolutely great guy, but the the thought that you think the end of your earthly life is the end baffles me...

God is real! I know it beyond a shadow of a doubt. I pray you let down your guard and your incredibly analytical mind (I have that trait myself) and look at it with an innocent attitude...

It's not easy, I know, but dude, you're missing out...

And I wouldn't bother if I didn't care...

Of course God is real. I saw him just today looking down from the clouds. He waved, and gave me a big old thumbs up and said "Hey Dude".

Plus, the Virgin Mary was seen in a stack of flap jacks. So how could anyone ever doubt?

[Baby's On Fire]

When the hospital is in it to make a profit...and the only way an insurance company makes money is by turning down some claims...I would say you are fucked.

There are many models in the world today.

Take them...look at them...and try to make the best one you can.

Who cares if every one pays into it but some reap more from it because...they got sick.

I hope to get through life without a tragic health condition...and I am happy to know my tax dollars help those that are.

....because it is only right to help our fellow countrymen/women when in need.

The lunatic right-wingers call that communism.

A moderate degree of Socialism is a very important element of true democracy. All for one and one for all. Isn't that what democracy really means?

The every-one-for-themseves (if you can afford it) in the US healthscare system is not democracy.

[Baby's On Fire]

Ignore that "thanks"... it was an accident. Because I'm calling bullshit on your post. As I'm sure our Canadian friends here will do the same.

Maybe Bandit thinks you can get a heart by popping some coins into a vending machine.

Organs-on-Demand. One hell of an idea. Who woulda thunk it?

[Baby's On Fire]

Is it a casualty of war, or a casualty of terrorism? Because the kid is dead doesn't automatically make it the fault of the right-wing Christians against abortion and stem cell research...it could have been a Sunni for all you know.

Post all the casualty of war pics you want. I just think it's tasteless sensationalism.

60 Minutes did a segment on this story. It was a US bomb that killed the little boy.

You know 60 Minutes? The most reputable news show ever?

Face it. Your beloved illegal and immoral war actually has killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

[FORD]

Keith Olbermann steps up to the plate and hits a "bi-partisan" home run......

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