Author Topic: AP: "single payer" health care plan dies in Senate (Read 5161 times)

Angel Eyes · « **on:** December 16, 2009, 08:02:38 PM »

A bit of good news:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_OVERHAUL?SITE=TXMCA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Quote

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The liberals' longtime dream of a government-run health care system for all died Wednesday in the Senate, but Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont vowed it will return when the realization dawns that private insurance companies "are no longer needed."

The proposal's demise came as Senate Democratic leaders and the White House sought agreement with Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., to become the 60th supporter of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul - the number needed to overcome a Republican filibuster.

Nelson has met three times in the past nine days with Obama. His Nebraska-based chief of staff, Tim Becker, spent the day in Washington in discussions with administration officials on details of recent negotiations between his boss and the president.

...

Sanders, an independent and socialist, said his approach is the only one "which eliminates the hundreds of billions of dollars in waste, administrative costs, bureaucracy and profiteering that is engendered by the private insurance companies." His remarks drew handshakes and even a hug or two from Democrats who had filed into the Senate to hear him.

[more at the link]

I am cautiously optimistic. Oh, and Sanders is a twit.

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2009, 10:46:08 PM »

Quote

...his approach is the only one "which eliminates the hundreds of billions of dollars in waste, administrative costs, bureaucracy and profiteering that is engendered by the private insurance companies."

Do these numbnuts realize just how inefficient government is compared to private businesses, and that private businesses are more efficient because they're pursuing profits? Not many businesses gave significant raises during this economy, but there were raises given to employees at just about every level of the federal government.

The only "profiteers" in this are those in power who enrich themselves by spending our money.

I just hope this bill dies a full death.

AZRedhawk44 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 17, 2009, 12:28:04 AM »

This is a Trojan Horse, folks.

They're lulling us to sleep, and pulling a rope-a-dope with a false concern over the illegal alien issue... they're not done with health care yet. The edits to bills are flying fast and furious, and they just have a different way of getting the same thing ready.

My guess is that Medicare will be revamped in the next attempt: Less depth of coverage (meaning less benefits for seniors on it now) but greater breadth of coverage (to get the liberal base appeased). And a tax hike on those evil rich people. And a rider to re-examine the issue or trigger a mandatory change in perhaps 10-12 years (since they know they're about to lose power for overplaying their hand).

Standing Wolf · « **Reply #3 on:** December 17, 2009, 08:08:23 AM »

Quote

The only "profiteers" in this are those in power who enrich themselves by spending our money.

Yeah, but they get lots of money and lots of power, so they're "comfy with it."

longeyes · « **Reply #4 on:** December 17, 2009, 09:17:09 AM »

The problem with "revamping" (expanding) Medicare is that it's insolvent. The real issue, beyond autocratic control by the elites, is getting the saps to stand for the vastly higher tax increases that will be needed to implement it all, to produce the Obama "dream." Those are coming, and soon, and the real political war will center on whether the American people are willing to sign on to becoming tax slaves.

Clem · « **Reply #5 on:** December 17, 2009, 09:43:45 AM »

Expect it to be passed, in what ever form the Democraps can agree on, before Xmas. The House has ajourned until Jan, so when they get back, the Senators will press them to pass their bill so as to avoid going to conference. They will "fix" it later, to our additional detriment. The only chance we now have is if the Republicraps run against it in 2010 and 2012, win, and repeal it.

AZRedhawk44 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 17, 2009, 10:05:08 AM »

Quote from: Clem on December 17, 2009, 09:43:45 AM

The only chance we now have is if the Republicraps run against it in 2010 and 2012, win, and repeal it.

Rush and Hannity were talking yesterday about how Big Government programs never get repealed.

I do notice that they didn't consider Prohibition.

If we get riled up enough, we'll repeal whatever we need to repeal.

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2009, 10:30:24 AM »

Booze and sex are things that government can't take away from people and get away with it.

FDR ran on a platform supporting repeal. I wonder if anyone will be that bold in 2012.

Jamisjockey · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2009, 10:32:04 AM »

Quote from: longeyes on December 17, 2009, 09:17:09 AM

The problem with "revamping" (expanding) Medicare is that it's insolvent. The real issue, beyond autocratic control by the elites, is getting the saps to stand for the vastly higher tax increases that will be needed to implement it all, to produce the Obama "dream." Those are coming, and soon, and the real political war will center on whether the American people are willing to sign on to becoming tax slaves.

They write the check to medicare and will continue to feed it.

The latest and greatest version lowers the Medicare age and raises the medicaid requirements. Its more of an inroad to single payer than the actual government Health Insurance option was. I've emailed both my senators in vehement opposition to the SB.

makattak · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2009, 10:37:55 AM »

Quote from: Monkeyleg on December 16, 2009, 10:46:08 PM

Do these numbnuts realize just how inefficient government is compared to private businesses, and that private businesses are more efficient because they're pursuing profits? Not many businesses gave significant raises during this economy, but there were raises given to employees at just about every level of the federal government.

The only "profiteers" in this are those in power who enrich themselves by spending our money.

I just hope this bill dies a full death.

Actually, no, they do not realize how inefficient government is. Or, rather, they realize how inefficient government is, but think the reason it is inefficient is because it is not done "right." When they are in charge, they will fix it.

These people look at things unrealistically. They see government waste and think it can be fixed. (They don't realize it is the nature of government.)

They then see private sector profits and think that is waste and fraud. ("Look! We could do the same thing they do, but NOT take profits and people would be better off!)

So, they compare the way the economy ACTUALLY works to their idealized view of how government SHOULD work and they "know" it will be better when they take it over.

It's a delusion.

Desertdog · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2009, 01:39:25 PM »

The Obama Care bill is not written yet, so anything they say is hot air. If something passes the Senate it has to go to Conference Committee to consolidate the House Bill and the Senate Bill. Then, and only then, will there be something to send to the president.

longeyes · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2009, 04:51:34 PM »

Big government programs may not get repealed, but regimes do, populations do, nations do. It is folly to extrapolate the current situation and believe it will evolve in some linear way. The wheels are going to come off, folks, and this baby ain't stayin' on the road. So much for Obama's favorite expression, "the rules of the road;" there is neither road nor rules up ahead.

stuckonpolitics · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2009, 10:25:56 PM »

No matter what is in the current bill, it will pass. Anything they write out of it now will find its way back in over time.

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2009, 01:23:16 AM »

It looks like the bill is going to pass. I wonder, though: when is the media going to report that Reid had to bribe what's-her-name from Louisiana with $300 million for her support? Who in the media is going to report that Obama and Rahm Emmanuel threatened Senator Nelson of Nebraska with closing the Offut Air Force Base, home of the Strategic Air Command?

Dammit, we've got gangsters in the administration, and the press doesn't say a word.

Balog · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2009, 01:51:23 AM »

The mainstream press won't, which is why they lose credibility every day. And more and more people get their news from the internet and talk radio...

RocketMan · « **Reply #15 on:** December 20, 2009, 02:54:08 PM »

Quote from: Balog on December 20, 2009, 01:51:23 AM

The mainstream press won't, which is why they lose credibility every day. And more and more people get their news from the internet and talk radio...

And more and more people still vote for socialism. It really doesn't seem to matter where people get their news.

Balog · « **Reply #16 on:** December 20, 2009, 11:32:36 PM »

Quote from: RocketMan on December 20, 2009, 02:54:08 PM

And more and more people still vote for socialism. It really doesn't seem to matter where people get their news.

I'm thinking that may change. Waking a sleeping giant and all...

RocketMan · « **Reply #17 on:** December 20, 2009, 11:57:41 PM »

Quote from: Balog on December 20, 2009, 11:32:36 PM

I'm thinking that may change. Waking a sleeping giant and all...

It would be nice if you are right, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Balog · « **Reply #18 on:** December 21, 2009, 12:20:22 AM »

Quote from: RocketMan on December 20, 2009, 11:57:41 PM

It would be nice if you are right, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Yeah, I'm personally expecting Great Depression 2, but "pray for the best" is the second part of that saying...

ilbob · « **Reply #19 on:** December 21, 2009, 12:36:01 PM »

There are some legitimate problems with the health care system. But there is little evidence that government intervention will improve it a whole lot, being as it is mostly government intervention that created the serious problems in the first place.

Why do people not understand that when a person who is not a party to the transaction is paying for something that this might cause an issue. The third party system is the real cause of most of the problems with the health care system and that situation has to be admitted to and dealt with or the system will just eventually collapse as it has started to in Canada and the UK.

longeyes · « **Reply #20 on:** December 22, 2009, 11:45:03 AM »

Gangsterism, yes. We're going Third World, no doubt about that.

And, yes, people are voting for socialism.

But that's because they still think our socialism will be benign, all fun and games and easy times and partying and free stuff and no tax hikes or restrictions on freedom.

Well, there's an interesting "teachable moment" ahead.

News:

Author Topic: AP: "single payer" health care plan dies in Senate (Read 5161 times)