Second Presidential Debate

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Personally, I don't think anyone is going to be able to pass a comprehensive health care plan because the US is so different than any country with "successful" socialized medicine. Our patients (whether or not they have insurance) expect every test under the sun and perfect care. Unfortunately, in a socialized system costs have to be contained in order that everybody can get care. That means that somewhere, there is a board that gets to decide who can get expensive procedures. In other countries, you can't go on dialysis if you are over a certain age. In this country, there are no limits to dialysis and every dialysis patient is completely funded by Medicaid. In other countries, you can not be admitted to the ICU if you are over 50 years old. If you stop breathing, you get to stop breathing without a ventilator to save you.
The major problem with the cost of health care is the malpractice liability that causes physicians to practice "cover your ass" medicine rather than the evidence based medicine we all aspire to.

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

It's funny that you mention this...I was talking to a friend last night who thinks we should have socialized medicine. I was reminding him that my Canadian friends say that with socialized medicine, "you won't die," but the emphasis isn't on preventive medicine like it is here. I like the fact that I can call my doctor today and be assured a spot within the next week or so. I like the fact that older relatives can get preventive care. A lot of people, usually liberals, blindly believe that if US medicine became socialized, that we'd have the same quality of healthcare at a lower price. Wrongity wrong wrong wrong.

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Exactly! If we did have socialized medicine, we'd then have two different systems- one for free and the other with better care for a cost. We'd have to hear about how poor people don't get the same care, but there is no way you can do everything. Our resources are limited. We have too few doctors. Did you know that in Canada, doctors have a limit to the number of cases they can see in a year so once they see that many, you don't see anymore. Can you imagine not being able to see your doctor for 6 months because s/he already saw his/her quota for the year?

I hope y'all aren't suggesting that Obama's plan is a move toward socialized medicine. His plan doesn't call for government-controlled healthcare which is what socialized medicine is. Under his plan, adults would have the option to select whichever health insurance provider they wanted/could afford. Those who can't afford private insurance would, supposedly, be provided a better Medicare/Medicaid-like option. Children would be required to be covered under some plan, so parents couldn't decide not to provide their kids with healthcare because they want to lease a new car or something.

I like his plan better than McCain's ridiculous $5,000 tax credit (which is supported through taxing the health care plan) which is completely worthless.

Neither plan is golden of course, but Obama's isn't socialized. It still calls for competitive PRIVATE insurance.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I hope y'all aren't suggesting that Obama's plan is a move toward socialized medicine. His plan doesn't call for government-controlled healthcare which is what socialized medicine is. Under his plan, adults would have the option to select whichever health insurance provider they wanted/could afford. Those who can't afford private insurance would, supposedly, be provided a better Medicare/Medicaid-like option. Children would be required to be covered under some plan, so parents couldn't decide not to provide their kids with healthcare because they want to lease a new car or something.

I like his plan better than McCain's ridiculous $5,000 tax credit (which is supported through taxing the health care plan) which is completely worthless.

Neither plan is golden of course, but Obama's isn't socialized. It still calls for competitive PRIVATE insurance.

You are right; it would not be socialized medicine like in other countries, but once the government begins to subsidize the system, even by paying for policies through insurance companies, the government isn't just going to hand over money without a lot of stipulations. They also will likely dictate how much they will pay the insurance companies per person, which in turn will limit the coverage given to the average American. There is no free lunch.

[preciousjeni]

Has anyone on GC been talking about McCain's comments at the rally? I know he kinda had to calm folks down for the sake of his campaign, but I honestly appreciate that he was decent enough to do it in such a strong way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6YKOkfFsE

As I've said before, I have alot of respect for McCain and I think he really is a good guy.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Has anyone on GC been talking about McCain's comments at the rally? I know he kinda had to calm folks down for the sake of his campaign, but I honestly appreciate that he was decent enough to do it in such a strong way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6YKOkfFsE

As I've said before, I have alot of respect for McCain and I think he really is a good guy.

McCain acknowledges that he is someone you should not be scared of....sad that he has misinformed people in his crowd...good that he is trying to educating them

[epchick]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Has anyone on GC been talking about McCain's comments at the rally? I know he kinda had to calm folks down for the sake of his campaign, but I honestly appreciate that he was decent enough to do it in such a strong way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6YKOkfFsE

As I've said before, I have alot of respect for McCain and I think he really is a good guy.

Did that lady say that Obama was an Arab? Geez, i'm glad McCain seemed disgusted at her comment.

I do think he's a stand-up guy, and i'm glad he's taking a more postive turn.