I think Republicans are succeeding at scaring people over health care again.

[Eraserhead]

I've noticed that even some of the marginally left-leaning (although generally not very informed) people that I talk to once in a while are scared of Obama's health care plan. Ask them for specifics as to why they are scared and most will spout wildly inaccurate information or nothing at all. Still, I'm not very hopeful. It is starting to feel like the 90s all over again only without the soothing sounds of Nirvana and Alice in Chains to help us through these dark times.

[Nym90]

I fear this as well, though one advantage we have is that we can (hopefully) learn from the mistakes of before.

In addition, Congress overall is quite a bit more progressive now than it was during Clinton's first two years. We have a more Democratic Senate, and while the numbers in the House are about the same, there are far fewer conservative Southern Democrats, so that alone makes the likelihood of passage quite a bit higher.

[Eraserhead]

The Facebook status updates from people I know on it disturb me.

Check this out: "John Doe thinks that this health care plan sucks. Sorry I voted for some dummy who could possibly put people I love out of work!" wtf, seriously?

Anyway, maybe it's just me. This sucks though, it'd be nice if my 53-year-old father could get some health coverage.

[Mechaman]

I've noticed that even some of the marginally left-leaning (although generally not very informed) people that I talk to once in a while are scared of Obama's health care plan. Ask them for specifics as to why they are scared and most will spout wildly inaccurate information or nothing at all. Still, I'm not very hopeful. It is starting to feel like the 90s all over again only without the soothing sounds of Nirvana and Alice in Chains to help us through these dark times.

My god do we need good music again.....

[Eraserhead]

I fear this as well, though one advantage we have is that we can (hopefully) learn from the mistakes of before.

In addition, Congress overall is quite a bit more progressive now than it was during Clinton's first two years. We have a more Democratic Senate, and while the numbers in the House are about the same, there are far fewer conservative Southern Democrats, so that alone makes the likelihood of passage quite a bit higher.

I suppose you are right, Nym. It'd be nice if they could pull their heads out of their asses, fall in line and get this thing over with though.

[Nym90]

Yeah, it is scary at how much the "OMG Big Government!!!" thing scares people. For some reason that logic doesn't apply to things like national defense or public safety, but yeah.

[Sam Spade]

After tomorrow (maybe Thursday), I'll read the health care bills and give you my opinion.  I know what to expect but I am curious as to the details.

Just as a simple political pointer, over each week of the last 6 weeks (at least) I have seen a different tax trotted out in the news to pay for the health care legislation.  Politically, that means that different ideas are being tested to see which ones people react less negatively to.

As in terms of numbers (without reading the bill, but I am close to certain) it translates rather simply also...  The health care legislation proposed will cost the proverbial "arm and a leg" and given the fact that it is health care, I would think it rather fair to project that it will also cost "a couple of unknown eyeballs in the future" as well unless there is a certain amount of rationing.

The math doesn't lie.

[Torie]

The trillion dollar number floating around cannot help, particularly in this economy and with spending out of control on seemingly everything else. It would have been wiser to focus on targeted insurance premium subsidies, and taking some action to make health insurance more transparent and portable.

[Eraserhead]

Yeah, it is scary at how much the "OMG Big Government!!!" thing scares people. For some reason that logic doesn't apply to things like national defense or public safety, but yeah.

But of course. I actually saw that you posted something to that effect on facebook too. Heh.

[Nym90]

I would argue that the costs of doing nothing are far greater than those of taking action, but of course those are less directly quantifiable.

But if y'all want to argue that Medicare/Medicaid have been colossal failures and that we'd be much better off without them, feel free to make that argument to the public, including citing such figures as poverty rates among the senior population today compared to 1965 to help prove your case. People in poverty don't pay much in taxes of course, hence my argument in paragraph 1 about the costs of doing nothing....that's even leaving aside any quality of life/moral arguments of course.

[Zarn]

I like how Democrats here make claims as if it were the complete truth.

[Boris]

It is starting to feel like the 90s all over again only without the soothing sounds of Nirvana and Alice in Chains to help us through these dark times.

New Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam albums will be released this September. It is 1994 again, my friend.

[Boris]

I know what to expect but I am curious as to the details.

What are you expecting?

[they don't love you like i love you]

From the last poll I could find:

Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care reform: Obama or the Republicans in Congress?

Obama 54%
Republicans 34%

[Marokai Backbeat]

I enjoy their latest claim: It's a plot to put old people to death.

[Eraserhead]

It is starting to feel like the 90s all over again only without the soothing sounds of Nirvana and Alice in Chains to help us through these dark times.

New Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam albums will be released this September. It is 1994 again, my friend.

Alice In Chains does not exist without Layne Staley, imho.

[Eraserhead]

I like how Democrats here make claims as if it were the complete truth.

... such as?

[Torie]

We all know what the end game of this, don't we, which is absolutely necessary. The word I am thinking of starts with an "r."  The trick is how to effect "r" politically, which is damn tough. Do you get my drift?

[Torie]

From the last poll I could find:

Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care reform: Obama or the Republicans in Congress?

Obama 54%
Republicans 34%

Ya, my party is singularly ineffectual at present, so the rating is deserved.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I'd like to know what the Republicans are pushing for healthcare reform?

The party of no is fresh out of ideas.

[Nym90]

We all know what the end game of this, don't we, which is absolutely necessary. The word I am thinking of starts with an "r."  The trick is how to effect "r" politically, which is damn tough. Do you get my drift?

Yes, reform is always difficult, as the deck is stacked strongly in favor of the status quo.

[Mechaman]

It is starting to feel like the 90s all over again only without the soothing sounds of Nirvana and Alice in Chains to help us through these dark times.

New Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam albums will be released this September. It is 1994 again, my friend.

Alice In Chains does not exist without Layne Staley, imho.

[Torie]

We all know what the end game of this, don't we, which is absolutely necessary. The word I am thinking of starts with an "r."  The trick is how to effect "r" politically, which is damn tough. Do you get my drift?

Yes, reform is always difficult, as the deck is stacked strongly in favor of the status quo.

No the "r" word is "rationing."  Write it down.

[Torie]

I'd like to know what the Republicans are pushing for healthcare reform?

The party of no is fresh out of ideas.

They are pushing for more competition and transparency, and have some good ideas about it, but can't get their arms around how to deal with the uninsured, and if you don't deal with that, along with the skyrocketing cost of all these new medical technologies, you just aren't in the game, but nibbling around the edges. It is pathetic really.

[??????????]

I'd like to know what the Republicans are pushing for healthcare reform?

The party of no is fresh out of ideas.

They are pushing for more competition and transparency, and have some good ideas about it, but can't get their arms around how to deal with the uninsured, and if you don't deal with that, along with the skyrocketing cost of all these new medical technologies, you just aren't in the game, but nibbling around the edges. It is pathetic really.

They need to sell the accurate fact that nationalized medicine will squash medical innovation. The uninsured are a small segment of the population. Why should we destroy the healthcare of the vast majority of Americans to cover 10-15 million Americans?