Lisa Benson for November 21, 2013

Nearly every new gov’t program started like a 48 chevy truck on a 2 degree day… even the ones on which BOTH parties were willing to work. Ever since the editorial cartoons began talking about the ACA even before 2012, I repeatedly stated my sadness that both parties failed to come together to repeal the “Emergency Room Tax” insurance companies and citizens pay to cover patients with no insurance and who had not had the means to afford preventative care that would have kept them out of ERs. Having spoken to many Canadians, Brits, Germans, et al, I have little patience for Americans who complain socialized medicine will destroy our nation when I compare it with what has been happening to our health based economy over the decades.The ACA is a deeply flawed program. Why aren’t Republicans offering a better one?My own answer is that Republicans want a profit based healthcare system that increases the wealth of shareholders and investors to the detriment of the middleclass and poor who cannot afford to invest. If the ACA is repealed, the Republicans will return to their pattern of talking about the need for healthcare reform when running for office, then focusing on tax breaks, deregulation, and Congressional job security until the next set of elections.The Dems aren’t much better… but if one is measuring height.. an inch taller is still taller.End the ER Tax and end the sky rocketing healthcare costs that is bleeding our economy. The only other alternative is to allow hospitals to turn away people who can’t pay for treatment.Something I believe some of our more conservative commentators would find useful as it would filter out some of the ‘dregs" of our society they feel are dragging us down. The collateral damage to the ’acceptable’ members of society would just be part of the cost of getting rid of “jack ass libtard dumbacrats” who are "ruining our nation’.Not a very civil way to live, but as long as “MY SIDE” wins, it’s all good, right?Wrong.Respectfully,C.

At least it is a solar powered submarine….

So True!!!!

Wow a Green submarine!! Nothing like that Lib mindset.

46 million had not insurance and a fifth of those didn’t want insurance. So to fix a “problem” affecting 30 million people, we changed the rules for 300 million? How does this even make sense. It’s like slapping a tourniquet on a paper cut.

You apparently haven’t read much of my past writings, Zipi. My complaints on how the ACA was drafted are numerous. My question to which you and Ansonia and others never give answer is this…How do we end the Emergency Room Tax on medical services in the US?Zipi, are you willing to allow hospitals the right to turn away patients who can’t afford service?Zipi, are you going to require that insurance companies and the rest of us pay the higher prices created by people who get services they can’t afford?And while you, Ansonia, and others have said several alternatives were offered, no one has ever provided to a link to those bills or their authors. Even when I’ve watched Fox, I’ve seen no Republican offer any ideas of substance, not Ryan, not Cruz, nor McCain. If you can’t cite a bill, then there’s no bill in sight.So – no money, no service?or what? The current system is untenable and getting worse.Curiously,C.

Ansonia, the gov’t has done many things right. Then politicians came in and messed it up. All of the programs you list had rocky starts and successful histories until Congress began borrowing money from those same services, some of whom were paying for themselves, like Social Security and the Post Office. Amtrak suffered as subsidies went to airlines and suffered further when freight trains were given priority over human travelers. Investors in oil and gas encouraged politicians, also investors, to give subsidies to those fossil fuel companies in order to increase profits in sales to truck and car travelers. There is an interrelated web of profiteering and corruption that those in office, in both parties, have used to enrich themselves and their ‘friends’. These tactics have been the subject of literature and movies for over a century but the fact is, Greed IS good, and Crime DOES Pay. You are once again stating the talking points, Ansonia, but like Zipi and Debt Free, you offer no solutions in moving forward. Give me something I can use so I can have hope. The job creators aren’t creating jobs, and those who serve and protect are self serving and protecting too few of our neighbors. Polls mean very little when so few of those polled know that of which they are being asked. Comedians prove this nightly. And do you know how few American even know history as written in the letters of those who founded our nation? It is too easy for the ignorant to say yes or know to a question, and too hard for them to admit they do not know.You told me that the “poll” I mentioned of over 90% of weather professionals who thought climate change was real and a threat wasn’t valid because of writings you supplied by people who represented less than 10%.- a group you believe over the ones I believe.If you know something I don’t, please educate me.I am not going to believe you when my eyes see the reality in front of me. Prove to me that the way our healthcare system has been managed is actually better than the ACA, not the ACA website, but the ACA itself. Prove to me that a better plan is out there that would make scrapping the ACA practical.Prove it. History has already proven that we need to either create a long term affordable healthcare system, or… we need to give hospitals permission to turn away people who can’t afford care. We can’t afford the ER Tax much longer.Respectfully,C.

The ’toon accurately represents the Republican “activity” for the last five years in both House and Senate: all they want is to be U-boat commanders, sinking anything and EVERYTHING the Democrats, or even the minority in their own party who WANT to make the country work, try to do.

I don’t care for either Harry Reid’s or Nancy Pelosi’s “leadership” on the left, but UNLIKE Boehner, Cantor, and McConnell, they’ve never set out to sink the economy, and the people, taking away all the lifeboats, while heading the ship of state directly at the iceberg.

(Proof was back when Pelosi came in with the gavel and her first action was to state “Impeachment is off the table”, when articles, for several reasons, should have been brought to the House floor for review regarding "W"s actions getting us into Iraq. She wanted the nation to run, and NOT be divided further at that time.)

“Forward!”The truth is evident – it actually means “Downward!”

Adrian, I am left of center so can’t be considered a Republican, and I refuse to become party affiliated as it would make me a hypocrite to myself. I have voted both sides of the ticket until 2004 when conservatism became counter to my 9 most important issues. Geo Washington said political parties should be avoided as they would divide and weaken the nation.I thank you for your many kind words over the weeks and months, but if I have ever given you cause to think I was loyal to any party, I must apologize.Respectfully,C.

Clark are you seriously recommending that the government run the entire health care industry in the US?! They can’t even manage to do 98% of what they do now efficently or even competently.Look at the utter and complete blunder Obamacare is as but the latest disaster of a social engineering program the government has trotted out.

Sorry, Lisa….propaganda as you wish but health care reform will be part of the American landscape. There is no stopping it despite the lies, disconnect and corporate sponsorship of the GOP.

And you can say that you heard it here first.

Thank you for the links, Harley.The scalise article was the only one that actually came up for me though. The Post article said it was no longer available? And the Klein link took me to a series of his writings, but I didn’t see, or overlooked, the title you listed.The scalise article was good and had good ideas in it. I would want to see some details regarding the tax reform segment and a couple of other of the listed proposals, but it is the first actual offering and I am grateful you took the time to link it. Mr. Ryan’s plan also didn’t add up without cuts to other programs. there are some very good ideas out there, and several states getting good results from their methods. If our legislators will stop competing and start working together, they could actually accomplish something.To your previous post, Obamacare, an overcomplicated form of Romneycare, is a good idea that needs work. I do not understand why Republicans are so unwilling to offer ideas instead of accusations when interviewed. Your link is the first one I’ve seen with the preexisting conditions rule. It is frustration to see so much division and so little compromise. And please recall, I am a strong critic for how the Dems presented this bill. Thank you again for the links. You are a good spokesman for your side when you don’t give into frustration.Respectfully,C.

I’ve talked with people who use the systems, SWR. They like it. They see the doctors they want and the costs aren’t too high they tell me. I hear stories like the ones you mention, but no first hand accounts. Perhaps you can find some links to stories from Brit or Canadian papers where citizens have died because of no access to care? I can only go by what the people with whom I speak tell me.Respectfully,C.

If you really want to know, write to me at sanesaint@hotmail.com, Ansonia. It is too hard to keep up with the fluidity of this forum.Respectfully,C.