What is the GOP position on Health Care Reform?

[driveby]

I work in the public sector and have not had a raise in salary for four years. What would have gone toward raises has been eaten up by rising health care premiums.

And while those premiums have risen, the quality of care has fallen. Our deductibles have gone up, our co-pays have as well. A gap policy was obtained to bridge the gaps our private sector insurer has in spades. This gap policy now no longer covers basic blood work.

I would like to have a better choice in health care providers.

But with all the debate in Washington, I haven't heard anything from the Republicans except NO!

Which begs the question: What is the Republican position of Health Care Reform? Do they see the status quo as sustainable, productive and the best possible for the American people? Are they acting in the best interest of the American people, or the best interest of the Insurance companies? And if it is indeed the latter, why do so many of the new Conservatives think that protecting Insurance companies and allowing them to continue to raise costs while eroding service is such a grand idea?

Tort reform is a state issue, and as such is out of the realm of Washington policy. The anti-trust exemption granted insurance companies seems to flout the competition and "free markets" so many Conservatives rely on to foist their ideology. Why is there no movement from the Right Wingers to enact real reform?

We might know if the dems would leave the door open long enough to listen. Instead the dems slam the door in their faces, then when the dems shitty plan is criticized, the dems say " look at the repub's, they have no plan " .......

Knowing the fact ( or maybe you don't know ) that not one repub vote isn't needed to pass this garbage, tell us all why this shit hasn't passed yet ?

A question i ( and others ) have asked a thousand times and not one moonbat has answered yet ........

 

[ElmerMudd]

Pilgrim and the rest; ideas do not make a comprehensive health plan.

All I saw were ideas even from the web sites that were linked.

I agree with most of the ideas brought up but they are worthless unless they are part of a comprehensive plan. Once the plan is put together , funding , individual and government costs can be discussed. The total affect can only be evaluated with a total plan.

The Democrats have brought forth a comprehensive plan. It has been evaluated and criticized.

The Republicans need to do the same. NOT JUST IDEAS BUT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN!!!!

Again Elmer, The republicans can not make any plans as they are in the minority in the house, the senate and the presidency. Their plans are blocked at each and every opportunity by the democratic controlled EVERYTHING, they can not offer amendments, nothing, they are not in control. they can not bring anything to the floor of either house for a vote.

I am not talking legislation.

I am talking a comprehensive plan they take to the American people through the media.

Politicians do it all the time.

The Democrats brought a war plan to the public rthat did not include going into Iraq durring the Bush administration.

Both Obama and McCain brought strategies to the public on key issues.

Being a critic without a solution is not the way anyone should go.

 

[Rinata]

I work in the public sector and have not had a raise in salary for four years. What would have gone toward raises has been eaten up by rising health care premiums.

And while those premiums have risen, the quality of care has fallen. Our deductibles have gone up, our co-pays have as well. A gap policy was obtained to bridge the gaps our private sector insurer has in spades. This gap policy now no longer covers basic blood work.

I would like to have a better choice in health care providers.

But with all the debate in Washington, I haven't heard anything from the Republicans except NO!

Which begs the question: What is the Republican position of Health Care Reform? Do they see the status quo as sustainable, productive and the best possible for the American people? Are they acting in the best interest of the American people, or the best interest of the Insurance companies? And if it is indeed the latter, why do so many of the new Conservatives think that protecting Insurance companies and allowing them to continue to raise costs while eroding service is such a grand idea?

Tort reform is a state issue, and as such is out of the realm of Washington policy. The anti-trust exemption granted insurance companies seems to flout the competition and "free markets" so many Conservatives rely on to foist their ideology. Why is there no movement from the Right Wingers to enact real reform?

What??? Have you been on life support or out of the country?????

 

[Nosmo King]

Tort reform is a state issue. That's where the malpractice claims are filed, in state courts.

Open competition sounds wonderful. right up until you try to take the anti-trust exemption away. then the lobbyists descend like locusts.

A small business pool sounds like a co-op. And yet there is resistance to that. Which GOP leader is pushing hard for such a plan? Name names.

That high deductible plan sounds as if you really don't care about preventative care, just care after a disease has ravaged a person. Cancer screenings, blood testing, prenatal care? Any of that included in the high cost plan?

So, you admit that there are plans....Just not ones that comport with the fascistic gubmint takeover you want to occur.

Glad we cleared that up.

The 'plans' do not include real accessibility to health care. High premium, high deductible plans exclusively for catastrophic care? Hell! Plans are folding if you file a claim! That's not reform. It's a new conduit for Insurance companies to siphon off profit at the expense of backing the bet they made with the policy holder.

 

[Polk]

How many times are you going to float that red herring?

What's in it for an insurance company to not custom build a program for those doing the buying?

It's not a red herring. In every other industry where this sort of thing has been tried, companies have done the same thing. Here in the real world, companies are out to maximize their profits. You think they're operating some giant charity.

Besides credit cards, which provide nothing but the ability to go into debt, name 'em.

After you get around to addressing the huge and obvious one that's already been pointed out, sure.

 

[Polk]

It's not a red herring. In every other industry where this sort of thing has been tried, companies have done the same thing. Here in the real world, companies are out to maximize their profits. You think they're operating some giant charity.

If that's the case, insurance companies are doing a pretty piss poor job of it. I guess you haven't seen the latest profit percentage numbers of major industries, have you?

Doesn't change the fact that they're out to make money, not provide a charity.

 

[Polk]

Pilgrim and the rest; ideas do not make a comprehensive health plan.

All I saw were ideas even from the web sites that were linked.

I agree with most of the ideas brought up but they are worthless unless they are part of a comprehensive plan. Once the plan is put together , funding , individual and government costs can be discussed. The total affect can only be evaluated with a total plan.

The Democrats have brought forth a comprehensive plan. It has been evaluated and criticized.

The Republicans need to do the same. NOT JUST IDEAS BUT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN!!!!

Again Elmer, The republicans can not make any plans as they are in the minority in the house, the senate and the presidency. Their plans are blocked at each and every opportunity by the democratic controlled EVERYTHING, they can not offer amendments, nothing, they are not in control. they can not bring anything to the floor of either house for a vote.

What prevents them from offering amendments?

 

[Polk]

For you Polk on Tort reform.

Pajamas Media » Tort Reform Can Lower Costs Without Harming Health Care. So Why Isn’t It in Obama’s Plan?

Which doesn't argue why tort reform is a good idea. Just a bunch of "it's not in the bill because Obama is bought and paid for by trial lawyers".

 

[ddye]

Your thread is too rational and thought provoking to get much of an answer from the knee-jerk "conservatives". I wish they would just change their name to the corporatist party and be done with it. They don't even try to hide it anymore.

Your post is completely irrational, emotional and typically Liberal. I wish you would change your name to the Socialist/Communist Party and be done with it. You don't even try to hide it anymore.

Wow, you're denying that the modern GOP values big business over actual people? The rich's income verses working peoples' income has skyrocketed over the past decade, and GOP is still concerned about getting tax cuts for rich people. Meanwhile, working peoples' incomes have been stagnant for a decade while health care costs have gone up by a factor of NINE TIMES.

Doug

 

[ddye]

Again Elmer, The republicans can not make any plans as they are in the minority in the house, the senate and the presidency. Their plans are blocked at each and every opportunity by the democratic controlled EVERYTHING, they can not offer amendments, nothing, they are not in control. they can not bring anything to the floor of either house for a vote.

So where was the GOP when THEY had control of Congress and the White House? They didn't give a shit about health care then, and they don't give a shit about health care now.

Maybe if there was a health care crisis for rich people...

Doug

 

[Oddball]

It's not a red herring. In every other industry where this sort of thing has been tried, companies have done the same thing. Here in the real world, companies are out to maximize their profits. You think they're operating some giant charity.

If that's the case, insurance companies are doing a pretty piss poor job of it. I guess you haven't seen the latest profit percentage numbers of major industries, have you?

Doesn't change the fact that they're out to make money, not provide a charity.

Now your rank bigotry against free enterprise is laid bare.

No business is out to provide a charity. They're out to provide the best service they can at the best value-for-price possible. Profitability is the thing that keeps them in business.

Claiming that you can give something of value to people for less than it costs -in terms of both materials and human capital- is the most cynical promise you can make and the biggest downfall of the gullible.

 

[driveby]

Again Elmer, The republicans can not make any plans as they are in the minority in the house, the senate and the presidency. Their plans are blocked at each and every opportunity by the democratic controlled EVERYTHING, they can not offer amendments, nothing, they are not in control. they can not bring anything to the floor of either house for a vote.

So where was the GOP when THEY had control of Congress and the White House? They didn't give a shit about health care then, and they don't give a shit about health care now.

Maybe if there was a health care crisis for rich people...

Doug

Maybe you can tell us about the six times your beloved Senator Obama voted against healthcare reform ?.........

 

[ddye]

Now your rank bigotry against free enterprise is laid bare.

No business is out to provide a charity. They're out to provide the best service they can at the best value-for-price possible. Profitability is the thing that keeps them in business.

Claiming that you can give something of value to people for less than it costs -in terms of both materials and human capital- is the most cynical promise you can make and the biggest downfall of the gullible.

Fuck insurance companies. They're lucky their executives aren't wearing orange jumpsuits and picking up trash on the interstate.

Doug

 

[ddye]

Again Elmer, The republicans can not make any plans as they are in the minority in the house, the senate and the presidency. Their plans are blocked at each and every opportunity by the democratic controlled EVERYTHING, they can not offer amendments, nothing, they are not in control. they can not bring anything to the floor of either house for a vote.

So where was the GOP when THEY had control of Congress and the White House? They didn't give a shit about health care then, and they don't give a shit about health care now.

Maybe if there was a health care crisis for rich people...

Doug

Maybe you can tell us about the six times your beloved Senator Obama voted against healthcare reform ?.........

And that has to do with the post about the GOP's health care legislation when they had control, HOW again?

Doug

 

[Oddball]

Now your rank bigotry against free enterprise is laid bare.

No business is out to provide a charity. They're out to provide the best service they can at the best value-for-price possible. Profitability is the thing that keeps them in business.

Claiming that you can give something of value to people for less than it costs -in terms of both materials and human capital- is the most cynical promise you can make and the biggest downfall of the gullible.

Fuck insurance companies. They're lucky their executives aren't wearing orange jumpsuits and picking up trash on the interstate.

Doug

Thanks, Doug...Can always rely upon you to elevate the conversation.

Sure you're not a drummer?

 

[Polk]

If that's the case, insurance companies are doing a pretty piss poor job of it. I guess you haven't seen the latest profit percentage numbers of major industries, have you?

Doesn't change the fact that they're out to make money, not provide a charity.

Now your rank bigotry against free enterprise is laid bare.

No business is out to provide a charity. They're out to provide the best service they can at the best value-for-price possible. Profitability is the thing that keeps them in business.

Claiming that you can give something of value to people for less than it costs -in terms of both materials and human capital- is the most cynical promise you can make and the biggest downfall of the gullible.

It's not bigotry. It's understanding how markets work. Businesses are out to make a profit. It has nothing to do with providing "the best service", it's providing the most profitable service.

 

[Oddball]

It's not bigotry. It's understanding how markets work. Businesses are out to make a profit. It has nothing to do with providing "the best service", it's providing the most profitable service.

It's bigotry. plain and simple.

No product delivered to a satisfied customer = no profitability.

Insurance is expensive and service is crappy because the anti-trust exemption carved out for them has allowed states to force them to provide services that customers don't want, and for them to fix prices within the several states.

 

[ddye]

Now your rank bigotry against free enterprise is laid bare.

No business is out to provide a charity. They're out to provide the best service they can at the best value-for-price possible. Profitability is the thing that keeps them in business.

Claiming that you can give something of value to people for less than it costs -in terms of both materials and human capital- is the most cynical promise you can make and the biggest downfall of the gullible.

Fuck insurance companies. They're lucky their executives aren't wearing orange jumpsuits and picking up trash on the interstate.

Doug

Thanks, Doug...Can always rely upon you to elevate the conversation.

Sure you're not a drummer?

LOL. Sorry, I just get tired of people who think that anything done by any corporation is good thing, just because it's nominally "capitalism".

Greed is definitely a part of free enterprise, but that doesn't mean that all greed, or extreme greed is a good thing. If "free enterprise" allows for babies to be denied coverage, or for working people to be screwed over after paying premiums for decades, maybe health care shouldn't be "for profit" in the first place.

It's not always lazy people who end up without insurance. It seems to me that the most powerful, prosperous country in the history of the world could work out a system where citizens didn't stand in danger of losing everything they owned due to bad luck.

Doug

 

[ElmerMudd]

Again Elmer, The republicans can not make any plans as they are in the minority in the house, the senate and the presidency. Their plans are blocked at each and every opportunity by the democratic controlled EVERYTHING, they can not offer amendments, nothing, they are not in control. they can not bring anything to the floor of either house for a vote.

So where was the GOP when THEY had control of Congress and the White House? They didn't give a shit about health care then, and they don't give a shit about health care now.

Maybe if there was a health care crisis for rich people...

Doug

Great point

 

[Oddball]

LOL. Sorry, I just get tired of people who think that anything done by any corporation is good thing, just because it's nominally "capitalism".

Greed is definitely a part of free enterprise, but that doesn't mean that all greed, or extreme greed is a good thing. If "free enterprise" allows for babies to be denied coverage, or for working people to be screwed over after paying premiums for decades, maybe health care shouldn't be "for profit" in the first place.

It's not always lazy people who end up without insurance. It seems to me that the most powerful, prosperous country in the history of the world could work out a system where citizens didn't stand in danger of losing everything they owned due to bad luck.

Doug

You can't hold the skunks up as the norm.

That insurance and medical services have become terribly expensive for some is as much a product of gubmint edicts as anything else.

Who is harmed by removing the restrictions from selling insurance across state lines...What of that "interstate commerce" thingy??