What’s on Tap – Wednesday, July 22, 2009

soundoff (16 Responses)

1. Monika
   

   President Obama has already convinced on healthcare reform. However, as a person with special needs, I want to make sure I can see all my specialists on a timely basis. I do not need any special procedures done, but some people do. If the President can convince those people that they do not need be on a waiting list for the procedures, than I think Obama will have most people convinced.

   As a person with special needs, I have a lot of respect for the couple on adopting 13 of them. It is not easy to take care of those kids and that many of them. My heart goes out to the loved ones of the couple .

   July 22, 2009 at 12:03 pm |
2. Bernice
   

   Well Good morning Mr.Millander, Jr! I think the problem for the president on the healthcare issue is that both the Republicans and the Democrats finally DID listen to what the president had to say! It was about time, too! It is a govt. run program that not even they themselves would want to have for themselves and thier families, so why would you? Let all of the democratic and Republican parties go ahead and break in that wonderful program by using it first! Give them the very same that they are getting ready to dish out to the American People! When thier children have to wait in pain for days, when they are denied medical procedures, when they just find that they have horrible long lines awaiting for doctors care due to the decrease of doctors because of thier lack of pay, then...THEN!!!! ONLY THEN! If it is so good, let them try it first. Just for a couple of years! That should be quite enough time to END THIS DISCUSSION! They claim that they CAN right now cover most all Americans without problem. SO< what is the problem exactly? All of the medical places, including the pharmacies stated that they would cut the costs for the people! If this would be done, the costs are cut and the irresponsible spending, then why are we not doing it now? This is an issue that has become a serious problem so the American People will cover all of the costs for the Mexican/Cuban illegal immagration problem. WOW! That is the only thithat we will be covering then in the long run!! STOP THIS!!! NO GOVT. run healthcare!!! Look at what they have done with the govt. run healthcare for our vets ...and for the soldiers coming home from Iraq!!! They got shafted! How do you think that they will treat you in the end? They will be the ones to decide if you are worth spending the money on (for your medical needs)!!! YELL NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

   July 22, 2009 at 10:39 am |
3. David Scott
   

   Dear Heidi,
   Conservative legislators of both parties seem to be deaf, dumb and blind to the plight of American families struggling to provide health care for themselves, their children and sometimes their parents.
   As a graying sixty-something dual citizen (Canada and the USA) with significant experience of both health care systems, I am appalled by the misinformation (especially generated by Senators with a vested financial interest in the current discriminatory health care system like McConnell) about Canada’s health care system.
   The Canadian system is superb. It is rational. Every Canadian citizen is covered from womb to tomb at a fraction of the US cost per person. Waiting times are minimal. All pre-existing conditions are covered. There is no direct cost to businesses, so some American businesses have moved to Canada for this benefit alone.
   I encourage CNN to schedule more interviews with former Canadian provincial and federal health ministers who know the facts, and fewer, and not bogus, often made-up-on-the-spot anecdotes from so-called critics.
   My premature daughter received a month of the very best care possible at Toronto’s Mt Sinai Hospital. My late wife underwent one-hundred (100) hospitalizations in the last 5 years of her life at Toronto’s Women’s College Hospital. No cost, no wait. Superb care.
   In Canada, when any Canadian citizen requires emergency and intensive care, it is provided, then private care as needed, then semi-private care as needed, then ward care as needed, then convalescent hospital care as needed, then visiting nurse and visiting homemaker care as needed–as well as traditional GP and internist follow-up as needed, and experimental drugs as needed–all included. Cost 000.00 (zero).
   Parenthetically, since there is a strong emphasis on primary care, fewer people need secondary or tertiary care. Since everyone has health insurance, there is no need to wait for serious illness or tragedy to strike to go to the (expensive) emergency room as a last resort.
   Moreover, when you go to the hospital, admitting runs your provincial health care card, and your entire medical history pops up on the computer. No redundant questionnaires, no forgotten information.
   When I have needed, fortunately infrequently, medical care, I have received it, same day, whether from my GP, my internist, or a specialist—in their office, at a lab or at a hospital—whether a simple exam or blood work, an MRI or a CAT scan.
   Mindless, uninformed criticism of the Canadian system gets my goat.
   Please continue to separate the sheep from the goats for your viewers.

   Footnote:
   Some Canadian doctors move to the USA seeking higher incomes (but often pay outrageous malpractice premiums). Little is mentioned about the fact that medical school in Canada (for Canadian citizens) is heavily subsidized by the provinces.
   In Canada, the legal system (precisely because of its universal health care system) rarely grants malpractice claims or slip and fall-type awards–hence reducing cost.
   The provincial health ministries work hand-in-hand with the provincial community and social service ministries to provide integrated outpatient support for citizens of every age and condition.
   Also the health care system is not federal; instead it is provincial, albeit the provinces cooperate seamlessly.
   The role of the Canadian federal government in health care is miniscule (5 percent max). In the main, it makes small, top-up payments, if necessary, to one province or another if they have unusually high costs (defined as a percentage point or two) in any given quarter.
   Doctors and hospitals and labs bill individual provincial governments for patient consultations, hospital stays and lab fees, all according to a single, rational provincial schedule–not based the vastly varying schedules in the US system.
   Lastly, it is difficult, because of the way the system is structured, for a Canadian physician to make less than $100,000 per year, but equally difficult to make much more than $150,000. Moreover, the cost to physicians for items like education and malpractice insurance is minimal.
   The exception, of course, proves the rule.
   Please fact check and corroborate each of my assertions, as well as the assertions of your interviewees as you enhance your balanced reporting.
   As the health care debate ratchets up in the coming days and weeks, I again encourage you to continue to schedule more interviews with current and former Canadian provincial and federal health ministers who know the facts.

   July 22, 2009 at 9:57 am |
4. Joan Weytze
   

   About the bill that would allow concealed guns to be carried from state to state: There is a misperception that packing a gun will make the average person safer. Most people do not have the training to use a firearm to defend themselves or prevent a crime effectively and safely. The other factor is situational awareness. For example, let's say everyone on campus is allowed to carry a gun. You hear shots and see someone lying, bleeding, on the ground . You look up, and you see a stranger pointing a gun. What do you do? OK, let's say you want to play good Samaritan, and you shoot that person. Congratulations, you've just shot another good Samaritan (who had a bead on the real killer). This happened because you did not have situational awareness. So, how can the ability for everyone to carry a concealed weapon from state to state possibly make anyone safer? I for one do not want to get hit by some vigilante's bullet.

   July 22, 2009 at 9:21 am |
5. Alonzo
   

   I have a license to carry and the process I had to go through to get my permit was long and timely. Bleeding heart Liberals and their Lobbyists put up all sorts of "Roadblocks " to limit my "RIGHT" to own and carry a gun. Right Wing Conservatives want guns for everyone. Why does Middle America have to pay for the ideological war of these two extremists. Allow those of us who "Follow the Law" to own and carry guns and do not penalize us for the mistakes of a few.
   This is America people

   July 22, 2009 at 8:58 am |
6. Steven Dulin
   

   Do you people want to give your jobs to lesbians, do you people still believe in heterosexual activity, why should we support gay rights, when it means destroying our own natural born heterosexual rights, and why are the homo sexuals even bothering us, I am not asking them to have coed sex, so I really do not want to heat every time I watch tv, about some lesbian.

   July 22, 2009 at 8:50 am |
7. Steven Dulin
   

   either talk about gun control, but please we do not need lesbians with marriage license carrying guns to other states.

   July 22, 2009 at 8:47 am |
8. Dave
   

   I love how these gun-toting nuts just love to depend on the vagueness and dated nature of the 2nd amendment.

   However, the whole "created equal" part is dissected and put under a "moral" and religious microscope when it comes to the simple idea of 2 people in love not being allowed to marry.

   Good job, Federal government. Thanks for making sure 2 people in love can't marry but at least they can carry concealed guns around.

   July 22, 2009 at 8:44 am |
9. Don Lubecki
   

   Yesterday's interview with Senator John McCain was sad. the President has been in office for six months, the republicans had 8 years to mess up the country. Instead of moaning and groaning about everything, do something to help or shut up. By constantly complaining all it shows is that you can't accept that you lost.

   July 22, 2009 at 8:27 am |
10. michael armstrong sr.
    

    Well I guess we did get a change instead of president Bush crying for 80 billion dollars every three months for war now we have president Obama wanting one trillion dollars every year for health care theres alway's a catch in the fine print.

    July 22, 2009 at 8:19 am |
11. Linda Sloan
    

    Healthcare needs to be FIXED NOW! President Obama is correct to push for Congress to get something done NOW before the August break. Make them stay until the job is done!!
    He still has my confidence to do what is right for this country and I respect his desire to have a bi-partisian vote on this, but the Republicans will NOT let this pass if its up to them. The Democratsand Independents that are not backing this President at the time when finally this nation can pass healthcare reform should get voted out of office next time around!

    July 22, 2009 at 8:12 am |
12. MARTY
    

    For years insurance salesmen have said that "wives complain about the high cost of life insurance, but widows never do!". The same analogy can be made of the healthy/insured citizens of our country in opposition to health care reform–since they simply do not need any help at this time. Try losing your job and either losing your health insurance, or having the premiums quadruple to an absurd and unaffordable amount on the COBRA program (which only lasts 18 months anyway). I have type 2 Diabetes, and cannot purchase health insurance on my own without the benefit of an employer's group health plan regardless of the cost. I am simply un-insurable in our current system-as are millions of other people with other health challenges. How about the surviving spouses who are left with monumental medical bills to devour whatever life insurance and assets are left behind with the intent of providing sustinance for that spouse rather than wipe out a life time of savings to pay final medical expenses. Try going to any hospital emergency room (where by law they must see every patient regardless of their ability to pay their bill) with a serious ailment only to wait 5 or 6 hours while the indigent and uninsured are seen ahead of you for common colds, flu, and headaches. Let's face it–the system as it is today is seriously broken and must be fixed. The finest health insurance program available in our country is only available to top elected officials in Congress–the same people who oppose a better system for everyone might sing a different tune if they to found health insurance beyond their reach like millions of people in this country. It is time to stop talking and start doing something to correct this problem once and for all.

    July 22, 2009 at 7:48 am |
13. Karen
    

    Government run healthcare for all, what a JOKE! It will cost TRILLONS of dollars and not work! Healthcare is not a right to be paid for by and administered by the government. A bunch of bureaucrats who can't do anything more than spend money that doesn't exist, these are the people you want to put in control! WAKE UP! Since when has it become a crime to be wealthy, voice a different opionion, and urge caution in this country. Last I looked we had a democracy and we were allowed to voice our opinions, make as much money as we wanted and urge others when they want to rush ahead to SLOW DOWN! Obama wants to rush yet another badly concieved bill through Congress just so he can have it on his desk by the beginning of the August recess, so he can sign it without allowing anyone to read it. SOUND FAMILIAR!! If not, then remember the STIMULUS PACKAGE that he rushed through Congress! Where was the transparency then or now?

    July 22, 2009 at 7:42 am |
14. Barbin
    

    On the health insurance debate–it is a moral imperative that we insure those who don't have insurance. We are the only industrialized nation that does not. What a disgrace. How can we lead the world, if we won't take care of our own people? We should have had insurance for these humans all along–the bill is now due. My husband and I are retired, we do have health insurance, but we are not rich. We would have no problem with including the benefit in our income and be taxed on it. Employees who have a car as a perk from their companies pay taxes on it, why not health insusrance?

    Ron Paul wants to preserve the doctor/patient relationship–says the govt will take over health care. Ron, get with it. The medical profession through HMOs and other plans already limit health care. He wants deductions on everything that's medical. Ron, there's no free lunch. Drs and hospitals costs big bucks, get with it. Let's get some medical IT going. And let's get more medical students into a primary care specialty instead of all these doctors who want to make big bucks taking patients through surgery when non-invasive procedures would do.

    July 22, 2009 at 7:19 am |
15. Lucius L Millinder Jr
    

    Why aren't Americans, Democrats and Republicans, listening. Mr. Obama's Health Care Reform is high-minded, cost-effective and would effectively resolve two key issues: (1) the rising cost of medicine (prescrptions) and health care especially for those of who have it and pay more than 1/2 of paychecks in family plan premiums, and (2) finally offer health care to those who currently have nothing – no health care at all. The savings because of the hidden costs to "Joe Taxpayer" who doesn't see the cost as FICA or local, state or federal payroll taxes, and to small and medium sized businesses would be tremendous. Unfortunately, the Dr. Gupta's, who likes to stress to the press his reasons for turning down Obama's Surgeon General offer, and members of the mainstream press don't seem to want to talk about why the AMA, Joe Taxpayer and members of the DNC and RNC are making political fodder of Obama's Health Care Reform – the reasons are mostly specious (oh the price tag is too big, we'll go too far in debt to fund it, what could more ridiculous), when we know the current circumstances support the status quo and doing nothing or inaction is more dangerous and the permutations are endless.............

    July 22, 2009 at 7:14 am |
16. Bruce Hermansson
    

    Healthcare, what healthcare; as for me right now it is GAU(General Assistance Unemployable) through the state of Washington, which is affiliated with Community Health Plan here in Washington. I have been on it for about a year now and have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Depression, and Hypogonadism, plus sundry other ailments. My "healthcare" will run out in September and then I will have nothing; my pills alone that I am taking now and getting for free, would cost me more than $300.00 per month, not to mention having to see doctors who charge you $300.00 just to walk in the office door. We must reform our healthcare system now; as for me, I know that there are many other people who are in worse shape than me; but all of us uninsured are not political pawns, we are not just numbers used in calculation, we are human beings who are worthy of a system that cares for all of its people...reform now, before it is to little to late.

    July 22, 2009 at 6:19 am |