Obama's Healthcare Legislation

[illinoisprogressive]

Here is a link to a story about Obama's legislation for health care. he has done legislation here in Illinois that covers kids under the age of 18.
Thought some people might be interested.

www.mydd.com/story/2007/1/1/202216/0107#8

[bobbolink]

1. So, us old folks don't count, eh?

Geeeez, I guess the rest of us can just suffer, or throw ourselves off a cliff.

I'm so tired of this.

The US can have REAL healthcare, if people like Obama would just get with it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. How about we start with kids?

It may be easier to accomplish if we do it a piece at a time.

[bobbolink]

4. ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Who the hell is gonna take care of the kids, when their parents are sick or injured and can't get health care???

And, what about people like me? We just off ourselves?

Come on, this country can have REAL health care, if we start demanding it, instead of playing silly games.

[eridani]

24. When I was a kid, I had more than my share of hungry nights

--because my partially disabled PARENTS couldn't get health insurance at any price and everything was out of pocket. Us kids were all healthy rugrats--that's why private insurers don't mind adding them in. They're even better than working adults as a low-risk insurance pool.

[Warpy]

27. HELL NO

They started with old folks when Medicare came in. Johnson and Nixon both wanted universal health care and it was thought this was a stepping stone to it. We know how that's worked out, right?

If we allow them to stop with the cheapest population to insure, children, they will be able to stall universal insurance for another 40+ years on the theory that working people SHOULD have coverage at work and if they don't, IT'S THEIR OWN FAULT.

No more incremental bullshit. Health care is a human need and a human right. You don't outgrow your need for access to health care and you can't put off getting sick until your mid 60s.

Single payer NOW. Nothing else will do!

[w13rd0]

6. The concept behind...

...programs like Obama's and Dean's Dr Dinosaur is that preventative healthcare, and establishing good medical habits, in early life, pre-18, lowers the overall medical health care costs over the long run. It isn't that we don't care about the elderly, but those who are aged now grew up in a time when it was encouraged that kids eat generous helpings of bacon fat and chain smoke. We're trying to prevent the long-term health impacts of that for the next generation.

And yes, the US CAN have REAL healthcare. A good start would be for the lobbies representing the interests that CAN vote making sure that those who can't, even though they might live in a family without the economic means to do so, have adequate health care. For decades now, moving the debate forward has been crippled not only by the health care and pharmacuetical industries, but by those that want to ensure a positive outlook for them over the next 20 years at the expense of the next 100.

Yeah, I know, I'll never be elected with the campaign slogan of "F'k the Old"...

[bobbolink]

10. So, as I asked, people like me can just be thrown overboard?

And, yes, that's what you *are* saying... you really don't care about folks like me.

And, what in the hell makes you think I *DON"T* have "good medical habits"? Do you think that people who have good medical habits never have need of medical care?

That's quite an assumption.

You won't get REAL changes, and REAL medical care unless/untill you have *EVERYONE* in the same risk pool. Just targeting kids, or any group won't make any change. You have to have *EVERYONE* covered in order to make it work.

Oh, and BTW, I've never smoked at all, let alone chain smoked.

I'm really getting tired of these false arguments.

[rebel with a cause]

23. I believe in health care for all, but

sometimes we have to be reasonable. I live in Illinois and did not have health-care for a long time. I even complained to Obama personally about this and he said that was one of his main goals in running for the Senate.

The problem is that on the state level they cannot afford health care for all. They can barely afford the health care for the children that they are providing. You should hear the people here complain because they are doing this, because we pay pretty high states taxes. What do you think they would do if it was health care for all? Those that don't need it would be having a cow.

Besides that, I know that when my children were young that I would rather had health-care for them than for me. If there had to be a choice, then I would chose for my children every time.

[w13rd0]

33. You assume a great deal...

...in response to my attempt at explaining the possible logic behind the concept of universal health care for children. What's up with that? I believe that health care should be a right, and universal health care for all is the only way to stem the rising costs of health care for an aging population. But I also see the wisdom in target groups.

Oh, and "I really don't care about folks like you". I don't have the foggiest notion WHO you are, so that's a rather reaching statement.

[Vinca]

34. I agree!!!! Of course I want kids to have health care, but

I feel as if every day is a lottery for me. Will I get through without slipping and breaking a hip? Now entering year 3 with no health insurance and years to go before Medicare. Health care for EVERYONE!

[sniffa]

35. oh jeez, this shit again?

:eyes:

[Imagevision]

3. It beats a blank, let's get the show on the road!!

[Nite Owl]

5. How is it universal if

it's just for kids? Universal is everyone. All I could understsand of this is there would be lots of meetings. There are plenty of ideas already out there for single payor healthcare that would cover every American. We need action. Doing it piecemeal would take off a lot of pressure, the rest might never get done and there would end up with merely stopgap coverage and employer based plans that continue to enslave people to corporatations.

[illinoisprogressive]

7. The states have only so much money and not getting any from Bush

But, it is something. Why be angry when someone is trying to do something. anything. At least it's not just empty promises and talk. This state has been doing alot of stuff to cover for the lack of governmment response and there are only so much funds available.
As the Bush administration has been pulling more and more programs away the states have to do something and if it's only partial it is usually due to funds.

[eridani]

25. They can get it by abolishing private insurance--

--and using the premium money to provide health care instead of exorbitant profits. We are already paying for universal health care--we just aren't getting it.

[Nite Owl]

31. I'm very interested to see what his plan

would be in the Senate or if he runs in '08. I would hope it would then cover everyone, it has to be seen as a basic human right not a gift that corporations are willing to let you pay dearly for.

[ripple]

9. This was a plan he sponsored in Illinois

It's not the universal health care plan he'll be running on in 2008. In state legislatures, one must look at what is likely to be passed and signed into law.

Personally, I think it's cool that he did something for health care before he was running for president.

[hfojvt]

29. Covering uninsured kids would take off alot of pressure

Exactly why I would be against such a proposal. Once again childless people would be asked to pay for something that does nothing for them, but does help other people's kids.

[Nite Owl]

30. My college aged kids would not

be covered either. It's a great thing to cover kids, they should be receiving the health care that they need but so should everyone else. It all comes down to is health care a basic human right or isn't it. A plan needs to be comprehensive not stop gap.

[rebel with a cause]

32. Nite owl (edited for spelling)

Did you take note that this was only on the state level where funding is limited. Obama is actually for universal health care of all at the federal level. When he campaigned in 2004 for the Senate this was one of his platforms. I am not pushing him for president in 2008, for me it is too early to be pushing anyone. But I am getting tired of it being open season on him tonight by some people.

The article posted by Illinois progressive was to show what Obama did on the state level, not what he wanted on the federal level. You know, I was unemployed and without health insurance when this passed in Illinois, and I was happy about it. Did I want health insurance? YES! Did I need health insurance? YES! But I did not begrudge the children of the working poor of getting it.

I almost died because I could not afford preventive health care, but I'm sixty years old and I would rather die because of this than some child who is only beginning. I understand your position about your older children not being covered, I also was in this boat. When they went to a university, they got reasonable health care provided on campus. But when they were not in school and/or unemployed, they were in the same situation that I was in. Right now they are both working and have health insurance. Their big problem now is getting off work to see a doctor. Workers don't have the rights they once did.

[bobbolink]

8. Please see this short video on *REAL* health care!

http://www.grahamazon.com/sp/whatissinglepayer.php

We *can* have this--for everyone, if we will fight for it.

[illinoisprogressive]

11. True, but, there is the little problem of money

There is no money in the treasury for anything. We are bankrupt. thank you chimpy.
States are doing what they can to advance the needs of the people
I am not in my twenties. I'm older than that and i have alot of medical bills. I have a couple of conditions that require medication. I have insurance for half the year and then they do the same thing as Medicare. donut hole.
but, I've worked in government and social services and know the practicalities that are dogging programs. Most of the time it is funding. If there is no money, you can only do so much no matter how much you want to help everyone.

[bobbolink]

16. Did you watch the video????

The "issue of money" is covered.

It is explained.

This is doable, if people like you really want it.

Otherwise, if all you're wanting is to support a particular candidate, regardless of the policies of that candidate, and to heck with those of us it hurts, then....

[silverojo]

22. Great link!

Health care for EVERYONE is a MUST in this country.

[Cleita]

12. Covering children is a start but poor children are covered

by Medicaid for the most part anyway. We need to extend Medicare to everyone. Then we will have true single payer universal coverage. I don't know why Obama is walking such a conservative route with this. We need bold leadership on the issue of health care. The time has come.

[illinoisprogressive]

18. Medicaid has been seriously underfunded and cut.

I worked for that and the funding was tight then. when Bush came that program is struggling with funding, people had to be cut and with job loss, even more were in need. This was to help in that as well. There are alot of kids who don't qualify and end up with out medical care. Usually kids of working parents. Like my niece.

[rebel with a cause]

26. We are speaking the same words, so I will just add on to this

Obama campaigned in 2004 on the hope for universal health care on the federal level, and has made that one of his goals. I am not campaigning for him but I see a lot of unfair attacks on the man and cannot stand by and say nothing. He did what he could on the state level to help the working poor. Our governor also has worked for this. I know where I live, they do not like the governor because of his programs. They do like Obama. They like him because he talks to them about what should be done, and then works toward getting it done. He is a freshman in the Senate and as such has done more than some freshman have.

Illinois progressive can tell you about the part of state that I live in, and how surprising it is for Obama to be so popular here. Let me say this, bush carried this part of the state by a large majority. Thank goodness for Chicago, or we could have been a red state.

[silverojo]

13. Older people have more illnesses than kids do

Therefore, older people need health care first. If it comes between ER visits from a kid with the flu and an elderly man with final-stage congestive heart failure, at least the kid with the flu isn't going to die from fluid building up in the lungs. Get the old fella on oxygen and pump some diuretics in him, that's priority one.

And what's this nonsense:
"Those who are aged now grew up in a time when it was encouraged that kids eat generous helpings of bacon fat and chain smoke."

Those who are old now grew up when people said smoking was bad for your health, and Jack La Lanne was telling people to eat right and exercise.

[bobbolink]

14. Thank you, silverojo... I can't believe I'm on a Dem board, and feel

like I'm being cast out on an ice floe!

[illinoisprogressive]

15. Conservative????

I don't think so. conservatives don't do anything for people. I know how things are here. We have massive job losses and have programs for people to get jobs, alot of weight added to the social service programs and schools that need funding. We have stem cell research going on here. We have to fund alot of it. When chimpy was elected he punished the blue states with funding withdrawl first. We have alot of things that need addressing and trying to do what they can.
alot of this anger is emotional and not thinking pragmatic. I need universal health care as much as the next person -more so. But, I also know how much money has to be spent to keep programs going.
If you think it's conservative to cover kids and mean then be so. It's alot more than anyone else is doing and not just empty words and promises.

[bobbolink]

17. Yes, Conservative!

Please, before cheerleading for Obama on this, familiarize yourself with HR676, a REAL healthcare bill!

You are willing to sacrifice the rest of us for the sake of your favorite candidate.

[illinoisprogressive]

19. You can think what you want, that is your right

but, I am happy that someone is doing something. My niece is 7 and my sister works full time with no insurance. I am damn glad Veronica has access to heath care

[bobbolink]

21. It's not a matter of "thinking"--it's a matter of KNOWING, and

caring about ALL, and not willing to throw some to the sharks.

Too bad you aren't as damn glad that *I* have medical care.

As H2Oman said, "Think for yourself, and act for others."

[rebel with a cause]

28. Are you from Illinois?

If you are not, then this does not affect you anyway. Probably where you live there is no promised health care for any of the population. Obama does not want only child health care on a federal level. He wants universal health care for all! I don't understand why you are attacking him on something he did on the state level which is well beyond what is being done in most of the other states.

I am not willing to sacrifice anyone for any candidate, but I know what Obama has done for us in Illinois. I know he has helped some of the older people down here get their benefits that the federal government was holding up. I know what he has done, and I respect him for it. I am not pushing him, as you say. I am not pushing anyone. I wonder if you can say the same?

[Imagevision]

20. Bush must start giving some of those BILLIONS to OUR states