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Thousands rally to protest health-care bill

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basinboy | 12:17 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
The feds have done such a good job managing Freddie Mac, Fanny Mae, Social Security, welfare, military spending, the postal system, etc...why not give them a shot at managing health care?!
layton | 12:23 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
They are really shouting "KIll BILL". See Bill represents the thousands of uninsured hard working americans denied healthcare that can't get care for that cancer that is curable right now but won't be in 6 months. They have that blood on thier heads. And BTW will they then deny food and shelter to Bill's kids because they can't afford to pay it? No, the rest of us will take care of the family anyway with TAXES when Bill would have loved to live and do that himself. Not very bright.
And don't | 12:28 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
you dare put your dirty government hands on my Medicare, hear me!!!!!
Comments continue below
ditto | 12:31 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
basin boy. You said it all.
Anonymous | 12:33 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Hussein: socialism is NOT the answer
layton | 12:45 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
I imagine the got to Washinton on highways paid for by the government, managed by the govt and stood on the manicured grass paid for by the government so they could express themselves freely to the goverment made possible by this government and made sure by the miltary and police that are managed by the government............. And they don't want any government because it's all corrupt. So it's this or caveman rules? Please, go find a cave.......
layton | 12:48 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
That You use the word "ditto" says it all.
layton | 12:54 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
By that defintion we are allready socialists. So just get over it allready and stop protesting the taking care of the sick. And don't you dare call the fire dept when you have a fire..... or the police, or send your kids to public schools, or take social security, unemployment, medicare or use public roads.....
Re: Anonymous | 1:00 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Do you even know how silly that sounds when you use words like "socialism"? Do you even know what it means?? Some basic economics lessons at the local junior college might be a good start for you.

What kind of person would work against providing access to health care for poor children? WWJD?

These are the same people who vote to cut funding for education and job training but want more prisons and a bigger military. Something went wrong with these people in the womb or something.
G | 1:10 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
If that bill passes, I hope it's a Pyrrhic victory for the Dems.

Now the Chinese are going to loan us money for hospital visits and future generations of ever-diminishing numbers of taxpayers will have to pay it off with interest.

In the meantime, the bill will do absolutely NOTHING to reduce the cost of healthcare, or to increase the quantity of it available. All it will do is "fix" how you pay for it by hiding that cost.

The Obama administration is going to buy votes now and let future administrations find out how to pay for it later. A typically Democrat solution, worthy of FDR himself.

I'd rather pay for my health care as an individual but stealing from the future is the American way.

Anonymous | 1:13 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Basin boy my mail gets here on time. If I was forced to pay Fed X sending a letter would cost me $5. I'm glade you bought the Postal Service up. The Postal Service can't say we aren't delivering to Nome, AK in the winter six days a week. If you lived in the vast spaces of the American West, you would have seen small towns that are served daily by the good folks at our postal service. The reason is, the postal service isn't a corporation that would have cut off these communities for not being profitable.

If you read, you would have educated yourself enough to know you can keep your private insurance. Which is it, you didn't read or you are mimicked your favorite talk radio host be inflammatory statements?

If your ever on a sinking boat don't call the Coast Guard, call Rush Limbaugh and see if he saves you.
Worst Bill Ever | 1:14 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
FYI: This is a re-post of my comment on a previous article - it equally applies to this one.

It's interesting that the Wall Street Journal earlier this week branded the Pelosi Bill as one that "...may well be the worst piece of post-New Deal legislation ever introduced." The article went on to state "Critics will say we are exaggerating, but we believe it is no stretch to say that Mrs. Pelosi's handiwork ranks with the Smoot-Hawley tariff and FDR's National Industrial Recovery Act as among the worst bills Congress has ever seriously contemplated."

The lengthy article (much shorter than 1,990 pages of the actual Bill) goes on to explicitly "make its case" in significant detail. The article (Worst Bill Ever, 11/01/09) provides a good description of the Bill's potential ramifications.
layton | 1:17 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
I wasn't referring to the "don't put you dirty governemnt hands on my medicare" BTW. That was funny and so true. I get the humor :)
G | 1:34 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
"Basin boy my mail gets here on time."

I'm glad you get your mail on time.

I avoid the Postal Service as much as possible. It is impossible to get into and out of a post office without standing in line for at least half an hour. They lose about 10% of my mail. I recently bought something over the Web and it disappeared for three months into postal no-mans-land. The seller and I had to go through a dispute resolution over it.

I use private couriers whenever possible. I've never had to stand in line at one. They weigh the package, you fill out out a form, and its done. Neither FedEx nor UPS has ever lost one of my packages, although one did get returned to a sender once.

Government fails almost everything it attempts.


Willie | 1:35 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Killing this poorly crafted, vague bill is legitimate only if there is an alternative that addresses insurance portability, the uninsured, preexisting conditions, fraudulent billing/medical waste, deficit spending, undocumented aliens, personal choice and responsibility (mandatory insurance for those who can afford it). "Just say no" is great for drug use, not health care legislation.
@ G | 1:36 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
"If that bill passes, I hope it's a Pyrrhic victory for the Dems."

You do realize that you are hoping for harm for the entire country, right?

See, this is the attitude I don't get - why would you hope that things turn out so bad under the Democrats that the United States suffers and fails? Is your hatred really that strong?

Your opinion scares me a lot more than socialism ever could.
layton | 1:37 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
"G" That's the thing, this isn't about you. Or me for that matter because I have a nice job that pays for my insurance. This is about the actuall life and death problem many people in this nation face because of a healthcare industry that denys them coverage and care because they are sick. So if God fearing people don't believe this nation will be blessed for healing the sick, who are we really?
to layton | 1:51 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
tired old arguments. Because we already have socialistic elements in our society, we shouldn't look at the cost-benefit of others? Because we have roads and mail and military and police (which are all authorized by the constitution, by the way), we can't complain about socializing health care? Can we complain when they decide to socialize housing, clothing, and food, too?

The bottom line is this--how in the world will taking over health insurance reduce the cost of health care? It'd be like regulating car insurance to reduce the cost of repairing cars. It doesn't work that way.
Henry Lewis | 1:54 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
That's funny, you realize the postal service gives Fedex its its largest contract, almost all airmail is flown on Fedex aircraft. I move two entire md-11 planes of it a night at work. The government has allowed me to keep my job in these slow times because of it, people forget how much the government really is actually us.
layton | 1:56 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Worst bill ever? Only if the insurance industry gets thier way with it. And you believe Wall street anyway? The people that brought us Bernie Madoff, the bank scandals and bailouts ( done during the Bush years btw) unbridled greed and corruption and the unreported insider wink wink trading that goes on with our 401k money. Great.

The question really is what is the right thing to do. Let the sick people die, or save them? Which would bless or make us deserving of our blessings. Aren't we the best-est, richest-est country ever? So it's really about priorites then?

Sure we shouldn't be borrowing money as a nation. Fine, just cease our emperialistic military dominance spending and "free trade" policies that led to the trade deficit that actually caused the debt. Wonder why it's "communist" China that has all that money to lend? Well they have those manufacturing jobs and only lend us cheap money so we can keep buying thier stuff. That's not even a real economy. Wonder why Mexico got all those manufacturing job but the people doing the work are still living in shanty towns made of cardboard?
G | 1:56 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
"You do realize that you are hoping for harm for the entire country, right?"

No. I mean I'm looking forward to Democrat incumbents being kicked to the curb next election cycle for their fiscal irresponsibility, of which this bill is only a part.

That would be great for this country. It'd be even better if people would take some responsibility for their own lives without something so blatantly un-Constitutional as a Federal mandate requiring us to buy insurance. (Just wait until THAT goes to the Supreme Court!)

If my opinion scares you, well, you aren't the first liberal to have a problem with free political expression.



Heidi Phillips | 1:56 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
I sure wish I could have been there. Let's hope the blue dogs and "purple" congressmen realize that we don't want government to run our lives. If everyone would read the bills, then all of America (unless they are liberal nuts and commies) would agree that we don't want Cap and Trade and we don't want Obama Care.
Re Re: Anonymous | 2:06 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Are you kidding me. Do you know what Socialism is? Our country is on the path to Socialism/Marxism. You obviously accuse others of not being educated, but you obviously didn't pay attention in college if you really went to college. And yes, I have a college degree (MBA). You are blinded by the liberal media. Our government is going socialist little by little, well not little anymore. They have majority stock in banks, automobile companies, and now they want Health care. As for Health Insurance, something needs to be done, but not a public option where government has control. Government don't worry about running deficits because it isn't their own money whereas small business owners take the risks associated with the company. The consequences of public health care will kill many businesses, then the individual workers will lose more jobs. You better come with a better argument if you want to back up this plan. You probably support Cap & Trade as well. Research the negatives along with the positives before you spout off.
G | 2:09 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
"Because we already have socialistic elements in our society, we shouldn't look at the cost-benefit of others?"

The socialist policies we already have are abysmal failures.

Thirteen years of "free" public education costs around $120,000 per student. And many of them can't be bothered to learn anything. The government actually has to spend money encouraging them to make use of this handout.

Our existing government-run healthcare system, the VA, last spring was caught re-using disposable colonoscopy components. In previous years the media has reported on the VA's rat problems and crumbling buildings.



Yes, wonderful things from government.
One Question | 2:11 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Who is going to pay?? The money has to come from somewhere. There is no such thing as free health care, someone has to pay the bill. Can one of you enlightened libs answer my question? With the government in control health care will get MORE expensive. The question is, who is going to pay? Name one program the government runs efficiently. Anyone that has half a brain can see this will not work. It sure sounds good. Free health care for everyone!!!
what in tucket? | 2:12 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
So are there any incentives if this catastrophic health care bill. People on health savings accounts save about 30% on the health care costs with comparable groups. Why can't we have them?
Get reallity based | 2:15 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Really just stop watching FOX news and get some actuall facts. You're against taking care of the sick and you're agaist clean air, water, stable climates and you don't really know why except that "government is bad an corrupt" and you believe that nonsence from politians and haters. That's probably only because you are not the ones suffering the effects of any of those things.
MILLIONS | 2:17 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
BAUCHMAN, PAlIN, LIMBAUGH, HANNITY and those of that ILK, promised MILLIONS would come to DC today ARMED with VIDEO CAMERAS to document the TERROR thet have created for members of the congress and senate.

As with NY 23, these haters, have FAILED AGAIN.

G | 2:20 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
"Fine, just cease our emperialistic military dominance spending"

Our "imperialist" military spending is a smaller proportion of our GDP than the UK, and only slightly larger (1%) than that of France.

We have the largest military budget because we have the largest economy. Also, we, the UK, and France do most of the world's policing. Without us, there'd be a lot more local and regional war going on. We're a Hobbesian Leviathan in that respect.

"and "free trade" policies that led to the trade deficit that actually caused the debt"

Our trade deficit is not related to the debt. In fact, by deflating the dollar it actually reduces the real cost of our debt.

Our debt originates in our runaway entitlement spending.


"Wonder why it's "communist" China that has all that money to lend?""

China has not been truly "communist" in a long time. Capitalism in Hong Kong is stronger than capitalism here. And Hong Kong is where the money is going. Wonder why?
Obama & Gibbs ... | 2:23 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
... are doing a very dangerous thing by downplaying / degrading / ignoring the protesters. Send your thoughts through history a bit to see what I mean -- Czar Nicholas II, Nixon, Romania's Ceaucescu, Iran...
RIght wing nuts | 2:25 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
It's amazing that right wing rhetoric is so consistant. It's like they are brainwashed to say blindly that goverment is bad, cap and trade is bad and health care is bad. It's all bad because government is bad, it's socailism. It's marxism, comunism bad bad bad, scared , scared ,scared. Scared of those... those communist and muslims....

So we can just ignore every christain principal because it might resemble socialism. Here's the catch, it's not something else like comunism - it's CHRISTIANITY! How many times have we given aid to foregn countries becuase it's the christian thing to do? Support invading muslim countiries because it might open a future mission often ? Yet ye protest now?
G | 2:26 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
I was reading the "Marxist Internet Archive" website the other day. They had a plan on how governments could become Communist.

The first suggestion was that governments would buy large sections of the manufacturing industry.

The second suggestion was for governments to institute public companies to compete with the private sector, and use the tax budget to run everyone else out of business.

Do either of those sound familiar?
G | 2:29 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
"Really just stop watching FOX news and get some actuall [SIC] facts.You're against taking care of the sick and you're agaist [SIC] clean air, water, stable climates "


I don't subscribe to FOX, none of those accusations are true, and people who attack the messenger are usually the ones that don't have any facts behind them in the first place.
Fine, u save them.. | 2:31 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
This is life and death too many people not some rhetorical anti-comunizm debate. So you have a better plan? Thought not. Your plan has let countless americans die allreay. The right wing nuts opposed to this never are the same people working to help people that are sick and dying.
Tjhe GOP has a plan | 2:33 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
The problem is the GOP #1 covers very few of the uninsured, #2 doesn't decrease costs as much as the Dem plan #3 still costs a bundle.

Republicans were in control of Congress for 12 yrs. They did nothing to address healthcare (except Medicare Part D gift to big Pharma). They really don't believe everyone should have healthcare. "Survival of the fittest."

Bob | 2:37 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
I carry only "liability" insurance on my cars, because thats all I can afford. I think there SHOULD be a government plan so that if I crash my car and it is rendered inoperable, all THE OTHER taxpayers have to pay for it so I can get to work, and thus contribute to the government health plan!!

I tried buying "comprehensive" insurance but it costs too much without giving up my cell phone, cable tv, and boat. I will rely on the government to solve my dilemma!
bye bye | 2:40 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
impeach Pelosi
G's hopes | 2:45 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
"Kick the Democrats to the curb"... in favor of what? Republican candidates? Republicans proved (only a couple years ago!) that they're equally willing to spend money.

Its like G wants a ride home, but thinks his Democrat friend is too drunk to drive, so he hands the keys to his SLIGHTLY less drunk Republican friend. LOL. Good luck, G!
@G | 2:48 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Why is the money going to Hong Kong, Malyasia, India, China?
LOWER WAGES
There is no shortage of people in the world who will work for 60 cents/day as opposed to $40/day, which is the reason why jobs are being shipped overseas.
(spouse of VP tax for international company)


momof4 | 2:52 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
The best way to lower healthcare costs is not to have some of us pay twice, once for us and then again for others. But to have everyone take responsibility for themselves. They may also want to consider letting Drs write off unpaid bills, they currently can't even though every other business can. Drs and hospitals raise prices to cover unpaid services. No other industry is required to give service with no pay and then we wonder why our bills go up? Someone has to pay for the overhead, supplies, and personnel required to treat those who can't and don't pay anything for their care.
Pagan | 2:54 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Oh yes, because our CURRENT healthcare system is fine.

120 Americans die, per day, due to unafordable healthcare. Nothing to see here.

You know the first president who wanted healthcare? Theadore Roosevelt. In 1912.

When you can't afford to see that Dr., for that surgery, I want you to remember today.
metamoracoug | 2:54 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
here's what scares me most about the present healthcare bill: it's 1900 pages long.

this bill has been available for our congresspeople to read for one week. And Speaker Pelosi wants to vote on it this Saturday. Doesn't this concern any of you?

This bill is equivalent to vol 5, 6, and 7 of Harry Potter and I'm certain it isn't nearly as engrossing. As much as I love the last three Harry potter novels, there is no way I could plow through them in one week.

Now add all the legalese that is contained in this bill. What is the possibility that anyone (including Speaker Pelosi) is familiar enough with this legislation to know what is really in it? How can our congresspeople make a sound decision about supporting a bill if they are clueless (as are all of the rest of us) about what is in it?

What's more, this legislation was written by attorneys. It's a medical bill. Doesn't this concern you?

I don't want an attorney determining my medical care.
Re: G | 2:59 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Fact: The Dept of defense spending is 4.9 percent of GDP not 1%. And that's just above board spending.
G | 3:03 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
"Republicans proved (only a couple years ago!) that they're equally willing to spend money."

Republicans have a long history of overspending.

But there's nothing "equal" about the two!

Obama spent more money in his first six months than W did in two wars and eight years in office.


RE:G "facts | 3:08 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Our defence spending is closer to 5% of GDP and way beyond our needs.

Hong Kong has been separated from China for decades and was last ruled by England until 97' ish.

Most Chineese factories reffered to are in mainland communist party southern and eastern china not Hong Kong.

The government spends a lot of money on entillements. And they COLLECT a lot of money for meant for those entitlements. So they are paid for now and have had a surplus. They only way they go into the hole is to let healthcare costs keep rising.
Anonymous | 3:10 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
The Good Samaritan Trail.

Christ taught in the parable of the good samaritan to take additional action, in addition to pray and spiritually bless them, to also take care of their physical needs (eg. Nursed them, pay for the stay at the inn through full recovery)

So if you cannot afford your healthcare charges, go to your church and see if they practice what they preach, do they provide for those needs?

Churches are given tax breaks and charity status from the government because their purpose is to be helping their people with their needs.

If they cannot because of unaffordable and outrageous healthcare costs, maybe they should demand healthcare change from the government.



Did the math | 3:12 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
from politifact

We read the entire House version when it came out in July. Certainly, at just over 1,000 pages, it was long. At times, it was exceedingly boring. We took frequent Diet Coke breaks. Day passed into night, then day, then night, then ... memory fails. We're sorry to report that we didn't think to time how long we took.
So, we wanted a back-of-the-envelope estimate of how much time it might take the average person to literally read the text of the bill. A computer program told us the House bill weighed in at 163,000 words. The average adult, meanwhile, can read passages aloud at an average rate of 154 words per minute, according to a 2003 measurement of basic adult literacy by the U.S. Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics. At that rate, the average person would need about 18 hours to read the bill aloud. So if you had the three days Pelosi would guarantee, you'd only have to spend six hours per day reading the bill, assuming 3 days to read the bill.

(of course the more current version of the bill is longer)
Bill is long | 3:12 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Bills are always long because they have to refer to all the laws and statutes that they supercede. Not because they are scary..
@G | 3:14 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Hey how did George W Bush finance his daddies war (go back to Irag) and the Afghan war? I am pretty sure he went around congress and the budget requirements and our children will still be paying for it.

Not saying its an excuse, I don't like being spent into oblivion, but I seriously doubt you were crying about it back then.
Attorneys | 3:17 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009
When your insurance company denies you coverage for a bogus pre-existing condition you will just accept it and die? Or will you get an attorney (gasp).

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Harry Hamburg, Associated Press

A group of people sit during a health-care protest in the office of Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., Thursday on Capitol Hill in Washington.

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