Obama address to Congress - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

the_only_turek_fan · 09-09-2009, 06:49 PM

Did I just hear that the public option is still on the table?

Azure · 09-09-2009, 07:00 PM

He has to include the public option, or up to 57 democrats won't vote for his bill.

Of course, there are 44 Democrats would said they won't vote for it in the first place.

Displaced Flames fan · 09-09-2009, 07:02 PM

Senator Baucus has said on multiple occasions that the bill cannot pass the Senate with the public option. It helps to listen to the guy who is actually negotiating with opposition to get your bill passed.

Evidently, he's not listening.

Table 5 · 09-09-2009, 07:03 PM

Someone tell me again, why is having another option a bad thing?

Thor · 09-09-2009, 07:03 PM

Special interest already won this battle.

Azure · 09-09-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

Someone tell me again, why is having another option a bad thing?

Its a bad thing if the Federal Government is looking after it.

the_only_turek_fan · 09-09-2009, 07:06 PM

Yeah I have seen on TV that upto 70 Dems in the house wont vote for a bill w/o a public option, and there are only 42 votes in the Senate for a bill with a public option.

So much for having both Houses on your side....

OT: Katie Couric is pretty hot.

Azure · 09-09-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor

Special interest already won this battle.

No, sheer stupidity already LOST this battle.

Obama had the ears and the support of the majority of Americans when he started this whole health care bill. Now more than half oppose him.

the_only_turek_fan · 09-09-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

Its a bad thing if the Federal Government is looking after it.

The status quo is not working though......

I generally lean right, but I think having this public option is a good thing. 46M Americans w/o health care is unacceptable if I were an American.

Azure · 09-09-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

The status quo is not working though......

I generally lean right, but I think having this public option is a good thing. 46M Americans w/o health care is unacceptable if I were an American.

And this public bill is going to cover how many of those uninsured Americans?

Wanting a public option is fine, but let the States look after it.

Table 5 · 09-09-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

Its a bad thing if the Federal Government is looking after it.

There are many countries around the world doing a decent job that is miles ahead of anything that currently exists in the US. Even if it's not perfect, I'll take it.

Kjesse · 09-09-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

And this public bill is going to cover how many of those uninsured Americans?

Wanting a public option is fine, but let the States look after it.

The problem with the public options as of last month was, everyone knows full well that the 'one time subsidy' to kick it off would result in a continual subsidy, which would kill off the private insurers who then couldn't compete.

Obama promised a 'one time subsidy'.... sounds like the income tax, no?

The only way this gets through with a public option is for Obama to propose a system that keeps private insurance not just alive, but lucrative.

The speech was really good, but that's a lot to deliver on.

We'll see.

wittynickname · 09-09-2009, 07:15 PM

I don't care if it's Federal or on a state level, so long as somehow the healthcare BS gets sorted out, I'll be satisfied. Doesn't have to be perfect--but it can't be worse than what we have right now. $300/month for a healthy non-smoker, non-drinker 26 year old is just fataing unacceptable, especially since if I actually were to use the insurance, it'd go up drastically.

I've said it before--this isn't the final step. This bill isn't likely to pass.

But it's a step in the right direction.

Azure · 09-09-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

There are many countries around the world doing a decent job that is miles ahead of anything that currently exists in the US. Even if it's not perfect, I'll take it.

There are many countries around the world that aren't bankrupt like the US is.

Azure · 09-09-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wittynickname

I don't care if it's Federal or on a state level, so long as somehow the healthcare BS gets sorted out, I'll be satisfied. Doesn't have to be perfect--but it can't be worse than what we have right now. $300/month for a healthy non-smoker, non-drinker 26 year old is just fataing unacceptable, especially since if I actually were to use the insurance, it'd go up drastically.

I've said it before--this isn't the final step. This bill isn't likely to pass.

But it's a step in the right direction.

Again, you're actually expecting the US Federal Government to do something right for a change.

How many social programs does it have to screw up before people start realizing that a huge, bloated government does not work?

Table 5 · 09-09-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

There are many countries around the world that aren't bankrupt like the US is.

Well, then let's stop starting stupid wars. That trillion dollars spent in the middle east sure couldve been used more wisely elsewhere (or hey, not at all).

wittynickname · 09-09-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

Again, you're actually expecting the US Federal Government to do something right for a change.

How many social programs does it have to screw up before people start realizing that a huge, bloated government does not work?

It'll never be perfect, and I'm fully aware of that.

But that doesn't change that the current system doesn't work. I'm not even a patriotic person, nor a political one. I don't actually have much faith that it'll be perfect, that it'll answer all the questions and solve all the problems--but again, the current system, as it is, certainly isn't the answer.

Even if all that happens is some regulation of the private insurance companies, I'll be placated. The status quo just doesn't work.

Azure · 09-09-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

Well, then let's stop starting stupid wars. That trillion dollars spent in the middle east sure couldve been used more wisely elsewhere (or hey, not at all).

Absolutely.

Sadly, you can't just erase 8 years from the calender.

There are trillions of dollars in OTHER expenses that could be used in better places too.

Azure · 09-09-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wittynickname

It'll never be perfect, and I'm fully aware of that.

But that doesn't change that the current system doesn't work. I'm not even a patriotic person, nor a political one. I don't actually have much faith that it'll be perfect, that it'll answer all the questions and solve all the problems--but again, the current system, as it is, certainly isn't the answer.

Even if all that happens is some regulation of the private insurance companies, I'll be placated. The status quo just doesn't work.

I think a lot of people would be surprised what kind of effect proper reform would have on the system.

Sadly, it seems like nobody is even looking at that option to begin with.

Stumptown · 09-09-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

I think a lot of people would be surprised what kind of effect proper reform would have on the system.

Sadly, it seems like nobody is even looking at that option to begin with.

And why has "proper reform" not taken place in the 20-odd years that everyone in the country has known that it's been badly needed? Because the medical-pharmaceutical industry have bought enough congresspeople to keep it from happening. The only reform that the Rs are going to accept is no reform at all. That's why.