American Morning
Health care debate going too far?
After a week of sometimes rowdy congressional town hall meetings on health care reform, the president wades into the superheated August recess debate. He's holding a town hall meeting here in Portsmouth where both sides of the issue are gearing up for dueling rallies outside of the event.
Over the last week, members of Congress have run head on into protesters at town hall meetings. But opponents of health care reform aren't just showing up at town hall meetings.
Here in New Hampshire last week, protesters descended on staff members of Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen who were holding a routing constituent services meeting. The meeting was not a town hall meeting. And the senator wasn't even there.
But she says one of her staff members needed a police escort to leave the meeting. Shaheen called the display "shameful." Just another sign that tensions are rising over health care reform.
Watch: Obama braces for town hall 
Is the debate over health care going too far? Do Americans really want reform or is this just politics? What do you think?
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I work in healthcare and have for many years. If you want real reform, you have to look everywhere, get everyone involved. Managed Care has done nothing but increase healthcare costs. The insurance companies set the prices, not the physicians. The insurance industry needs a major overhaul. Patients also need to take responsibility for their own health to some degree as well. In this country, we eat too much, eat the wrong things, don't exercise, smoke and then want the physician and healthcare system to fix it all and they don't want to pay for it. Let's all work together to make the system work better. What happened to that feeling in the early days of President Obama's campaign when many Americans were motivated to change. Face it, we all need to do something to fix the system!!
Everyone in the US deserives to have equal health care. Dallas Woodhouse is a jerk and a troublemaker. Pete Luter, Roanoke Rapids, NC.
Obama, years ago, said that he wants a single payer system and getting to that point is going to take time. A government funded insurance program is a step in that direction. The loud (uneducated) people at these townhall meetings are just scared of the government taking over healthcare, whet her it is now or years from now. If the government was making more laws that restricted insurance companies instead of putting their own option out there i don't think the debate would be so hot.
I travel for work and spend a lot of time in my car. I live in the Mid-South, and although I'm left of center, I primarily listen to conservative talk radio because that's all we get down here. The out right lies they are telling on these broadcasts and the health care bill are absolutely amazing. Even the Christian stations are spreading lies about the bill.
They are most definitely encouraging people to go to these town hall meetings and shout down the speaker. I hear it everyday. As a matter of fact, this week there has been an uproar because our local target is traveling to the Mid-East during the break instead of coming home for his medicine. It's political theatre being spun to the fullest for their advantage. Shock jocks are having a field day.
Hello My friends at American Morning;
It really is pitiful to watch my fellow americans lash out at what would make their lives temindously better. These shamless purveyors of fear go on without conscience bellowing steam and smoke without reason. It truly brings into question their real motivations so that my prayer is with those who can see through the Dragon's breath. Many of these are sincere for the wrong reasons. But so it is with love and war , many innocents shall suffer the most and when it's all said and done, as common criminals they will say; Oh I'm sorry, if only I can take it back and do it all over again. Can someone please step up and expose these LIARS. Shall the wicked always prevail?
Whether or not Americans "want" healthcare is not the appropriate question - of course they do! The question is why the major media are not reporting on the facts and details of the Obama healthcare proposal, or other alternatives (like universal, "medicare for all"). Rather, the focus has been on the disruptions of the town hall events, which have been shown to be the product of an organized PR campaign. Maybe the people showing up at the events have legitimate issues. Claiming that Obama's plan will "kill grandma" is not one of them.
Americans handed Obama a clear, unambiguous mandate for change in many areas. Healthcare is one of them. The problem with the healthcare debate is that we're being told that a universal "medicare for all" type system is not politically achievable. It'd be "socialism". Are highways, schools, fire, and police "socialism"? No. People living in a society have certain needs, like clean water, law & order, education, etc. Health should be at the top of the list of common needs that we should provide for. Why should individuals and families suffer financially from catastrophic illnesses, or even the absurd premiums that it takes to cover a family? So, the CEOs of insurance companies can make thousands of dollars / hour - more in day than most of their paying customers earn in a year?
CNN could do a lot more to shed light on the real issues instead of the bogus claims of "socialism", grandma killing, and whatever other irrational fears have been parroted from talking points.
Yeah. It's going too far when people start screaming instead of discussing. It's going too far when people threaten others with physical violence. It's going too far when people sneak guns into public town hall meetings. It's going too far when people accuse the President of the United States of America of being a communist or a nazi or an illegal alien or a non-citizen.
Has this gone too far. I'd say so, yeah. It's gone WAY too far.
Why is it that so many people dont want to help others. There are so many people out there without health insurance. Haven't people seen the videos on on the internet about people being ignored at hospitals? Don't these people even care about those who suffer? My question to those oppose "Do you really really believe that the system should stay the same"????
The Health Care Debate is really a useless debate, because we as Americans are influenced by "News Entertainment" rather than understanding the true issues. Rush Limbaugh and others are dedicating to Americans what their views should be, not because they care. But allows Rush to increase rating and feed his $400 million dollar deal. I'm sure the health care is high on Rush Limbaugh list and others who make $400 million.
"Wake Up America" – We focus so much on the differences, w can never come to a happy medium. It doesn't have to be my way or now way.
In the Northwest Florida there is a lot of hate. Now there 's an actual hatred. Talk of the president not a legitimate president therefor their actions are justified, Seceding from the union. And these are coming from the folks that are buying guns and ammo in record number before "they loose those rights too" I have not seen such hatred since the 70s when schools were being segregated. I am truly worried that people are going to get hurt. It doesn't help that Palin uses words like "evil" Those words only incite. They aren't used for healthy debate. It used to be when we had a politician i office we didn't like. wrote wrote letter, some protest and you just sucked it up and waited to elected time like we did for the past 8 years. For God sake some were even uspet that Michelle's mother moved in. I hope ALL the politicians ddefue this quickly
Give National Health a chance!
This is not an innovated idea of President Obama. President Clinton tried to introduce it to the American people but failed due to the reluctance for change. This is not a socialist agenda. National health insurance has been around democratic societies for ages. Germany is one country that touts their health insurance. Maybe it would ease their fears if only the news media would inform the American people how it works in Germany. A German once told me that America was light years behind that of European nations. When the wall came down and Germany became one, they received the East German into their health care system without much ado.
Common illnesses like cancer and a host of others know no racial or social boundaries. To build a home you start with a solid foundation, thus to have a strong America you need a healthy America. Let’s face it; the naysayers are those that are unwilling to accept the changing times and they are not willing to admit the reasons why they reject it either.
Celestino Salinas
Waco, Texas
The problem with our health care system is that yes it is the best in the world, but who can afford it? You have a lot of the people at these town hall meetings that are protesting the changes whom have no idea how hard it is working 2-3 jobs just to pay bills let alone pay to take their child to go a doctor. For those whom also consider themselves religious you should be ashamed of yourselves your hate and selfishness, helping your fellow man is a fundamental part of what you say you believe until it comes to your wallet.
The legislature is in recess until September, but you continue to over-hype this as a make or break month. The bill will not be voted on until September at the earliest. Why not report it as a continuing and growing debate? In a situation where civil discourse is diminshing, why does CNN seem to want to push the envelope?
I have medicare and tricare for life. I do not want it to be changed. My late husband served in the army 27 years so that I would have good healthcare (tricare for life), I want it to remain the way itis now.
As a registered nurse I want healthcare reform. The system is broken! I am so frustrated with the non educated people holding the town hall meetings hostage. I see people who don't have access to healthcare on a daily basis. The lack of preventative medicine is draining the system. The cost to care for a micro premie could be abolished if that mom would have had proper access to healthcare. The cost of a dying patient could be reasonable if the family didn't step in and stop their advanced directive wishes. All those who are opposing this are saying it's okay for the insurance companies and pharm companies to continue to get fatter and happier. How can a pill cost $150 in America and 5 cents in other countries? How can we be behind in infant mortaility to other countries? It's becuase people are in it for the money and not to provide good healthcare. Wake up America! Get educated.
My "congratulations" to the disgusting health insurance lobbyists and others who want to continue being the real ones who decide on Americans' health care. They want to continue with their outrageous profits at the expense of all Americans. We have a serious health care delivery crisis in this country undoubtedly causing deaths and needless suffering. – the President is trying to correct or at least alleviate the problem. The health insurance lobbyists have managed to spread false information and create false outrage to promote needless fear among people. The American people need to understand the truth and effectively support the President.
Would love to hear John Roberts (aka JD Roberts) opinion as he lived and worked in Canada...these scare tactics are completely false and funded by the HMOs and Drug Companies. Ask any Canadian how they feel about the quality of their health care, most are satisfied that they are getting the proper care regardless of age, employment, race, status etc. Why does a drug like Cipro cost $591.00 for 6 pills in America and about 40.00 in Canada?
I believe the debates over healthcare is going to far. The opponents of the bill are not making any rational arguments on why they believe the plan is not the good for America. They're crying fire, when actually there isn't any fires to put out.
It remind me of the tactics white america used for not wanting to get rid of slavery in the 1800s, and during the civil rights movement. If you will notice the peolpe in the crowds being uncivilized/unruley. Is this truly about healthcare or a black man leading this country?
CNN I NEED YOUR ORGANIZATION TO TRULEY FIND THE UNDERLINE REASONS BEHIND THESE INSIGHTED DISCUSSION.
I personally feel that things over health care issue are steadily getting out of hand for multiple reasons. First and foremost the defeat of Obama's presidency, second being many people not getting an explanation that they can understand, and Third being the fear of not having the right to choose ones own doctor. If this issue is not settled on a very simple level that all can understand there will be conflicts between both sides of the debate up to the point of violence and possible deaths.
I think there are far too many people afraid of change. There are these crazy republicans spewing fear and hatred everywhere trying to hold us back in the dark ages. I would like to see the day where we can work together toward a common goal that benefits all Americans. Lets face it: there are millioins of people here in the US that desperatly need heath care, why I ask you would anyone in this 'Christian' nation not want to help reform the current situation? Heathcare lobbyists. Do you think Rush Limbaugh says what he says for free? Nah. He is paid well and all these sheeple beleive his rants. He doesn't say those hateful things to benefit the American people; he rants to line his pockets.
There's not a problem on the planet that can't be solved with education – so get educated on the realities of the issues you are facing. The scaremongers refer to a "Canadian style" healthcare system as if there is something fundamentally wrong with the system. I grew up in Canada and have lived through the same life crisis we all do, from our first broken bones, to loved ones succumbing to cancer and, ultimately, the most important, caring for ill children. I can tell you that EVERY SINGLE time I have relied on our healthcare system it has been there for my family, from meningitis with my 4 month old son to kidney stones and cancers, our system has worked flawlessly for my family. Sure, when we're in the emergency department with a dislocated finger we could be forced to wait with our ice-pack in hand, but we respect the fact that attending nurses and doctors are following a triage process. Ultimately, we all will eventually need support, directly or indirectly and I relish in the fact that through my taxes I'm helping care for not only myself, but my fellow Canadians.
We are all human. I understand the problem with tax increase and health care. But we all deserve a chance to live a healthy life. We do not get the right to decide who gets coverage. Or to play god. Our government should do what is best for the people. I believe they are trying.
I live in northwest Arkansas, where Wal-Mart's headquarters are located. This is a conservative, predominantly Republican area. I have not heard any anti-health care reform hysteria around here, like is going on at some public meetings elsewhere. Most people I know around here are anxiously waiting for Congress to do something, after all these years of inaction, to make health care available to everyone. Many of us here make just enough to get by, month-to-month, but we can't afford health insurance and we make too much to qualify for Medicaid. We need help, not histrionics.
I am disappointed, but certainly not surprised, that the right wing of the Republican Party has once again allowed themselves to be easily manipulated by scare tactics and outright lies, on the part of insurance companies and others who want to maintain the status quo. While they refuse to allow even a dialogue, real Americans right here at home are suffering. I can't think of anything more self-serving and un-American.
This debate has not gone far enough!
If this Universal Health Care passes - our country will be out of luck. We've skated along the edge of socialism for years. The government is taking away our freedom - people ought to be outraged. And if you're not mad you're not paying attention, if you would only read and understand the things that this "health care" will do to the people of this country you'd be at the town hall meetings making a to do as well.
Our representatives are spineless for not speaking out against this plan.
I was hopeful that President Obama would unite this country, and make people proud to be Americans again. But if this passes, I will move to a more sane country.
Pure Politics. Some people just have thier heads buried too far in the sand to see every man woman and child needs and DESERVES healtthcare reform in the GREAT US of A. Its costs us more by not having it.
Americans, or now known as "People of the United States" aren't against reform. Stop calling it reform. We don't trust, nor should we, just look at their track record, the goverment taking control of anything.
Look at the state of Medicaid, Medicare, and the VA Hospital System. Do we really trust another government health program to be run effectively? I DO NOT!!
Further, I don't understand why individuals engaging in their right to participate in the democratic process are so heavily criticized. President Obama encouraged larger participation in the democratic process, and this debate is reflecting just that.
It would be nice to see a greater level of civility during this important debate. It would also be nice to see individuals take more time reading the various bills and doing some research into American and foreign health care systems rather than relying on organizations with special agendas to provide "talking points" for them.
People from all over the world come to the United States for health care. People from all over the United States go elsewhere for health care. Both statements are true. Around 200,000 people die annually from health care errors in this country. Over forty million do not have health care. We are a great nation, but we are not as great as we can be. Our history is one of struggling to be a "more perfect union." Let us continue that tradition and have open, civil discussions that lead to a better America.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message.
Good morning,
I am a French National and like many Europeans living in the U.S., I have a really hard time to understand American people who endorse that their government bails out AIG, GM, the banks etc... but reject the idea of a more fair and broader health care coverage. As a tax payer, don't you want your tax money to work better for you personally and the people than let's say the big corporations?
What is also hard to grasp is why the cost of health care in the U.S. is 4 times -yes 4 times- more expensive than in France. Somewhere in the system, something went wrong. President Obama instead of being lethargic like the previous President is tackling all the issues.
He is doing an amazing job and does not get discourage by the road blocks, the misinformation, the dishonesty in front of him.
Great JOB Mr. President.
Christophe
Why do so many people oppose spending less money on their health insurance premiums? It does not make sense to me to continue paying the health insurance executives over $800,000.00 PER DAY.
Although there are those wtih serious questions about health
care, too many of those protesting are operating on manufactured
"facts" and talking points. This is democracy at its worst when a
handful of vocal people demagogue an issue in order to try to
gain political points. There are too many among us who worhsip
the god of right-wing talk radio and listen to the Sarah Palins of the
world who knowingly misrepresent an issue or a person in order to
further themselves and their politics.
What the American people want is problem-solving, but it can only
happen if they seek the truth, not bow down to political ploys
and games.
Nobody wants to say it, but these "debates" are about much more than health care. It is about RACE! Look at the crowds at these so-called "debates." It is likely that not only were they McCain supporters, but they tend to be people who are stuck in the past and refuse to acknowledge that their President is black– at least half black, but that's another conversation. They would do anything, even cut their own throats, to take President Obama down. Newsflash! Even if this fails, President Obama will be a success people....he's already a self-made millionaire. These people are only shooting THEMSELVES in the feet!
The health care debate is not going too far. In congress, the debate was one-sided on the Pro side with minimal input allowed on the Con side. When the Pro side made remarks indicating they had not read the bill, it was evident they were not Pro because of what was in the bill but because this was what their party want them to do. They were being pulled down a path without serious consideration of what this meant for their constituents. When the American people began understanding parts of the House bill, many were appalled by their ‘representatives’ in congress. This stimulated individuals to obtain information regarding the House bill, which has increased the Con side of the debate. Many Americans did not feel their voice was being heard through their elected representatives. So, they are trying to make their voices heard at the town hall meetings. The debate now is moving forward. It is wonderful that our country allows different ways for the American people to be heard. I pray that congress and the president will not attempt to silence these individuals. Americans have a constitutional right to debate issues. Shutting down one side of the debate eliminates debate.
This status quo is fine, if you like corporate run health care, but I'm pretty sure that if a government plan tripled your premiums over these last ten years as the corporate plans have, with their top execs pocketing millions and millions of our hard-earned dollars, there would be such a public outcry it would dwarf today's arguments.
The extreme left liberals that caused the banking disaster to begin with were re-elected and produced the most dishonest peace of legislation in United States history, the Recovery Act and didnt even read it. Now you want to trust these people to work on health care? Thats insane and the Democrates are going in the wrong direction. When your personal budjet is out of balance you do not increase your spending before you increase income! Its insane what the Democrates are doing. Its not like they have ever been sucessful or honest. All socialist programs are a failure. All of the past Socailist experiments have failed and are currently bankrupting our County and Democrates want to add more? Obama is finishing Binladins job of destroying the American Economy. Wake up liberals and think!
Why is it that the only "news" segments, on the town hall meetings, seem to be showing the dissenting viewpoints. Is it because they are the ones screaming the loudest, and therefore more "newsworthy" by today's standards.
The only ones who will benefit by the lack of Health Care reform are the multi-billion dollar Insurance and Pharmiceutical Corporations.
It is amazing that the US is the only developed country in the world which does not provide universal health care for its people and yet your citizens are so opposed to it.
Small Caribbean nations are able to provide free healthcare for their citizens. Does this not make you feel ashamed?
The passion displayed in this giant mess is both overwhelming and misguided. This is not the debate America needs to be having. In fact, as much if not more news coverage has focused on the inability to discuss the reform than it has on the reform itself. It's a cheap tactic that has paved the way for many baseless lies to become common place.
Health care ran by the government is a very bad idea. If you want an example of how bad it will fail, then look no further then the VA health care systems. It is so horrible and the government controls all aspects of the system. Well I guess that at least veterans wont be the only one getting proper care if it goes through.
i think Obama's Health Care program is more about putting a good Stamp on the country with his name on it than it is about the good of the country. I mean what would the president do if his estimate for the Health Care Reform fell as short comaritively as his cash for clunkers program? Which again was just another way to get more money to the American Auto industries
Health care reform should start with insurance and pharmaceutical industries.
What is really sad is to see people who don't even know what is in their own best interests because they're easily controlled by emotional rhetoric and fear tactics. The health insurance industry is not the good guy. The health insurance industry and their current uncontrolled practices is exactly what is wrong with the health care system–not the quality of care, not the quality of doctors, nurses and professionals, not the superiority and quality of our medical technology. The insurance industry and how they go unchecked in scamming the citizenry is. the. problem. And even still, the insurance reform is not about getting rid of them (though I personally think that would be a good start to have a pure single payer system), it's about providing *competition* so that they lower their prices which are out of control. The emotional reactionaries are being duped into cheating themselves from the medical care and access to it that they deserve.
For God Sake People. Best plans out there are the Medicare plans. No denials, you can get brand name medications. So how in the world you say especially (Eldery) I don't want the government take over my health care while they are the ones providing it for you as we speak!
Good Morning,
I've noticed that all the negative comments re health care reform are coming from people *with* health insurance.
I have yet to hear a person *without* health care insurance spewing negativity towards people who are working towards including them in what is becoming a basic right for Americans.
P.S. As a veteran with a service-connected disability, I have received health care from the VA for 23 years, and I applaud the system. It has its imperfections, but I continually see improvements.
Thank you and please enjoy your day.
I think that is the goverment gets involved in the health care plan it will be in big troulbe. Everything the goverment gets into goes to pot.
Have your correspondents ask the people at the town hall meeting what type of coverage they currently have and are they happy with it? That is the question.
I think the American citizens are tired of being taken for granted. Our elected officials should start to remember we elected them to help us and not to pass whatever laws help their greedy lobbyist backers. The time is coming to replace them all with independent candidates to represent us. This health care reform is needed, but not the scam they are trying to shove down our throats.
I find this so stupid okay so you dont want health care okay just shut up .There are so people that would be grateful for any health care .I find this sickening they spend so much time on trying to get a healthcare bill pass ,we have so much town hall meetings for this reason .Please tell me why we did not do the same to hear people out on ideas on fixing the economy .More people are going to get sick and homeless from the state of the economy .People are something else everyone is screaming healthcare they all forgot about the mess we are facing with this economy .
I have been living in this country for twenty years this is the first time that i cant get a job it is scary .I also want to know why is it that from 2004 to now i have been trying to get a meeting with any with any congress rep any senator ,mayor ,you name it i have tried on ways that would have prevented this economy downfall no response .I have certified reciepts for letters dated back as far as 2004 to prominent people who could make a difference .I have reach the conclusion it is all talk no one truely cares about the lowerclass .
So i am giving up i have wasted 20 years of my life in this country ,i have no healthcare ,no permanant job ,i go to work everyday feeling like i am in prison ,feeling like i am going to get a heart attack because i work with an animal for a boss .He is so verbally abusive that he was put in a class on people skills guess what i think he learn how to be a moron .I just went home to my homeland i think i need to start focussing my energy on going back .This country is too cruel selfish and rich serving .Meaning the small people dont matter where i come from everyone matters ,.
I was able to meet with the government rep for my area in 2 days and i am not even living there .It has been been over four years of trying here guess what still waiting .The reps have an office in they area once a week they work until about 11 pm at night trying to resolve everyones problems .They do not just show up at election time trust me that will not get it on the islands .You wanted that vote you got it now you did not get the position on your own .The people put you there so guess what it goes both ways if not you can be guaranteed you will not be re elected .
I believe that if this plan that Obama has drawn up passes that every elected official in Washington be forced to switch over to his plan, with no exceptions. I think if this is part of the plan, than this thing does not have a chance in YOU KNOW WHERE of passing, because from what I hear about the reform it stinks.
Thanks
Health care premiums are too high,deductibles are too high, people who like private insurance bloodsuckers can keep private insurance. I prefer to have options. REFORM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and one more thing. Those who make reference to this plan and being "Hitleresque" and "Nazi-like" are just making use of their EXTREMELY LIMITED grasp of history to take cheap pot-shots at something they don't understand.
These people should go back to school and take history over again. They should realize that it's racism like the kind that exists in their hearts (which is making them speak out so hatefully) that led to the atrocities of Hitler and his Nazi regime.
Access to universal healthcare is not SOCIALIST... it is right. It is in the best interest of everyone. I believe that anybody who thinks differently is an elitist if not a racist.
If you tell me that you deserve better treatment because of your race or your social status then you are much closer to naziism than anybody advocating for universal healthcare. The Nazis thought they were the master race and all other races were inferior... that sounds an awful lot like what you anti-universal healthcare people are saying.
By the way, I am white and approaching my middle age.. just so you know where this is coming from.
Yes the debate has gone to far, Between the lies and the false ads that appear over our airwaves and lets not forget the very poor job many in the press has done by not debunking these lies spread by the uneducated base of the Republican party. This debate shows what happens when there are too many media outlets own by a few. The end result is American citizens left to search for the truth. It's very sad what I am seeing. Uneducated Americans on television repeatedly shouting out false statement. There are two failures here. The officials who make up lies ( Death Panel, Sarah Palin) and the American press not reporting the facts. A sad day for America
Let's just call the loud screamers in one phrase..."The Bigots Brigades".
This is Not about healthcare this is about the minority of Americans who hate the fact that President Obama is half black. This cannot be debated at all because the motivations of the anti-reform brigades is not a discussion of Health Care its a rouse for Bigotry.
Under the Bush administration our family's health insurance went from about $300.00 a month to a whopping payment in excess of $700.00 per month for the same coverage!
We are two healthy, non-smoking, non-drinking, exercising adults with very few medical needs. We had to shop for less costly health insurance, found an affordable policy, but with far less benefits.
We welcome President Obama's health-care reform!
People yelling about government control over our health care plans seem to be forgetting that now, the insurance company people are guarding the gates against paying out claims!
People are forgetting that tax payers are currently paying high premiums partly because of the massive amount of uninsured people obtaining health care in our emergency rooms.
We need all USA citizens to be able to obtain health care benefits!
Reform is certainly needed now!
The GOP are really great at scare tactics and misinformation. They offer nothing positive and only seek to divide this country. I've watched these Town Hall Meetings and they are nothing more than a modern day 'Lynch mobes'.
NO GOV HEALTH CARE. NO GOV HEALTH CARE. NO CHANGES TO MEDICARE. NO TO TAX INCREASES TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE RATIONING.
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.
When is Newt coming back?
Let's just call the loud screamers in one phrase..."
As a Canadian living in Toronto I find this whole debate highly amusing and perhaps a little sad. The health insurance industry and there right wing lackeys are spending millions of dollars to denigrate OUR system while offering no solutions to the millions of un-insured in the U.S. I can categorically state that I have always received Cadillac Health Care here in Canada and indeen I believe that it is Canada that has the finest health care system in the world. If nothing is done to correct the health care problems in the U.S. , the very people that caused the problems in the first place, will end up once again – on top. Business as usual, money talks!!
Since your own John Roberts is so opinoinated on political and other news stories without staying out of a news story instead of reporting just the facts.Then maybe he may help disspell some of the myths about healthcare in Canada since he is from there.Did he come here for the healthcare or the money from CNN? Maybe he can learn a little from Walter about being honest.
The amount of mis-information on the Health Care reform issue is mind boggling, but in a society raised on sound-bites it's to be expected. We seem to be going from rule by the silent majority to rule by the raucous minority.
We could probably benefit from an in depth CNN segment,(not just soundbites), on the Health Reform bill that separates the fact from fiction. The constant segments of people telling us their "opinion" of the health bill, is doing the issue a great deal of harm, as most of these "opinions" are from ill-informed people.
My thoughts are exactly this. If and when anything in the health care industry happens. The government will let us know. I can't deny that I have had great medical coverage here in California. But I still have to call a week in advance for a doctor visit for the flu. Not everyone will get what they want with this reform. I'm getting ready to move to Massachusetts where it is a law to have health coverage. Being forced to make a decision on health care is actually a good idea. Most people say "I'm a tax payer". Ok. That doesn't give you the right to be rude to those who determine the future of this country. I am concerned about what could happen in Mass. But believe it or not. This is going to happen. Change will happen.
I wonder why the insurance companies are spending more than $1 million a day on ads against health care reform...and why do they feel it's necessary to purchase these ads under any number of "concerned citizen" activist groups? Things that make you go hhhmmmmmm....I work near the Canadian border and since this health care debate started, I've been asking Canadians every chance I get about their health care. NOT ONE would trade their health care for the health care (lack of) we have here in the states. NOT ONE was unhappy with their health care. NOT ONE can understand why we're even having the debate. They think we're the most uncivilized people on the face of the earth that would deny children and others the health care they need...because they don't have health insurance. Doesn't anyone remember the footage of hospitals taking drugged patients to homeless shelters and dropping them off outside? Why? Because they didn't have health insurance. I have friends who work in private hospitals and they say that they are "encouraged" to move people without insurance out of the emergency room and back out on the street whereas they are "encouraged" to keep and treat those with insurance. I'm sure Republicans don't see anything wrong with this. I question their morals. If they don't see anything wrong with this I have nothing to debate them on.
This healthcare debate thing is totally getting out of hand. You can tell that the special interests do not want it and then there are all of these groups which have suddenly popped up, and as soon as the bill passes or not, they will disappear. Like the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, who also mislead us. Anyway, living in FL I know a ton of Canadian snowbirds, in winter 1/2 of my street is Canadian. And having asked them about their healthcare, not one would vote to get rid of it. If it is so bad then why don't they vote to choose our kind of health system? What about the British? Then I look at my neighbor who lost her son last year at the age of 42 because his health insurance wouldn't cover his treatments, or even in my own family, my son lived in CA and was paying $400 per month for his insurance. He had a major stomach and his doctor kept giving him test after test and couldn't find out what was wrong. He had to go to Canada on business, felt so bad he went to a hospital up there, nobody asked him for insurance, and within an hour they told him it was acid reflux, gave him some samples of zantac and told him to not eat after 6 pm and that was 4 years ago. He has been fine since. We need healthcare reform, and if these special interest groups would spend their money on fixing the problem, we wouldn't have it.
I'm from Canada, so I'm a little partial to my own healthcare system. I really don't understand why there's so much fear about a "Canadian-style" health system. The fact is that if I get hurt (say I break my arm) I go to the hospital, my problem gets fixed, and I don't get the bill. All of that is taken care of through my taxes, which aren't really that high. The only thing I have to pay for are my prescriptions really... and medical procedures that are elective (and therefore not really affecting my health). And for like $30 a month I can even have THOSE things covered. So what is so bad about Canadian-style healthcare?
I'll tell you why certain Americans are afraid of Canadian-style healthcare: They're RACISTS. Yes, that's right. RACISTS.
Have you noticed that nearly all of the people who get up to yell at town hall meetings are WHITE and MIDDLE-AGED? It's true... screaming down the speaker at town hall meetings seems to be a thing for red-faced white people. Why is that?
I'll tell you why. Because these people are afraid that in a system where everybody is equal that they'll have to stand in line behind a minority... they're afraid that the (to use the parlance of a Massachussetts police officer) "porch monkeys" will get served before they do. That's what this is about.
It's racist on another level as well because there are some people who won't accept anything you president says just because he is black. Your country is full of racists and bigots who will never change. The only way you'll get rid of them is when they start to die out naturally... you just have to hope they don't spread their poisonous hatred too far before that. But with media coverage and the internet being what it is, it is now easier than ever to get a person's point of view out than ever before.
Another problem with this whole situation that isn't directly tied to racism is that the medical insurance companies (run by middle aged white people) have such a vested interest in keeping the status-quo that they're likely to say anything at all to derail this healthcare plan. They'll lie, cheat and steal in order to kill it.
But I'll tell you something right now. And this is a truth for all the ages:
NEVER TRUST SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO SELL YOU SOMETHING!!!
They are liable to say anything and do anything to make that sale.
Will Congress and the President and their families be required to give up their current health care and be required to join the “Universal Health Care Program” that the rest of us will be on? In other words, will it be mandatory for them to be on the same health care plan as us with the same benefits?
My biggest issue with the anti-healthcare protests is that they have inhibited actual debate and they have kept people from being able to get their questions answered. Shouting down congressmen and women keeps everyone from getting the answers they need right now. I think the protesters do have good concerns, but how can anyone deal with concerns and get more information on the health care place if everyone's shouting and a congress person can't even speak.
That said, I am for health care reform. Insurance companies these days play with peoples lives on a regular basis. My sister had to leave school and be hospitalized for a sudden illness. Costs for her stay topped 100,000 dollars and my father had to fight the insurance companies to cover it. We have insurance and still had to fight to have it help us! My grandmother was just telling me that one of her prescriptions is close to 100 bucks a pill. a friend of mine has to chose her jobs based on health benefits because no insurance company will accept her because she has a pre-existing condition. These things show me that the insurance and pharmaceutical companies have been toying with our lives for some time to fill their greedy pockets. Why wouldn't we want to fix that? I feel like many of the protesters are out of touch with the issues at stake and simply bristling irrationally at anything that seems like a change.
They complain that they'll lose their Medicare...but have they forgotten that that is a government run program. I don't' see anyone calling Medicare socialist medicine. I hope these shouters will close their mouths and open their ears long enough to see that our health care system needs repair and we can all get there if we work together to bring our concerns to the table in a civilized manner.
We really need reform. All the people you see on the stepts of congress have the best health care for life for free. Why should they have better than the taxpayer. Why don,t they take their families to the ER for care. All americans should have health care, I don,t understand why the people who don.t have it or pay 1,000s a month don,t speek out.
the french drink more wine, that's why they live longer....come on people, take off your soundbite earmuffs and look at ALL the facts
the president is playing the american people for stupid. talking points just aren't going to cover up the facts. We can read, we can see that what he says and what is being done is nothing less than a Hitleresque takeover of the country, right down to his gestapo style union stormtroopers. If more people would have stood up and bucked hitler in the beginning, he could have been stopped too.
We are not a mob, we are concerned citizens.
If he was offering reform to fix what's broken with the system instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, we might be open to "change" let him clean up the fraud, send the violators to jail. The money saved on fraud could fund the coverage of the small segment that needs a safety net. If he brought a real plan for healthcare instead of a stealth takeover we might support it. Let him emulate a successful model, not a BROKEN model. It's really appalling how dumb he thinks we are. The congress isn't worried, they won't be using the same system as the masses. He riled up middle america and we're not going to be silenced. The more he pushes, the more he will see that we are millions strong.
Signed: A lifelong Chicago Democrat
I think we do need to make changes to our current healthcare system but not the major ones the Dem's our talking about. I think a good set of laws controlling the insurance companies is what we need the most.
Keep the government out of healthcare, just my few dealing with Medicare let me know it's a bad thing for them to be controlling it directly.
I want the President and politicians to stop calling it "health CARE" reform and start calling it "health INSURANCE" reform. I want them to explain that the Government is simply offering another medical insurance plan, what it does and does not cover, what king of deductables if any, what kind of co-pay, if any, and what kind of maximum benifits, if any, there will be. If America would go read their own private insurance policy, they will find all of these items covered and discover that their own insurance company is "rationing" their health care "coverage" (a.k.a. amount they will pay for you.)
There is a distinct difference between the protesters and those of us that support H.R. 3200. Those supporting the Bill have taken the time to listen, read the Bill, and reason to the logical conclusion that the Bill will do what the President wishes it to do – reform health care as we know it.
It is extremely unfortunate that those opposed to the Bill, and reform of any kind, have resorted to misinformation and outright lies to disrupt the process of reaching a solution acceptable by the 'majority'.
I think it's going WAY too far. The big mistake Obama and the Democrats made was not being open enough about some of the details. But these protesters are NOT interested in a dialog. Their just interested in spouting right-wing and insurance-industry talking points.
The costs of health care are spiraling out of control. As people can't afford them and drop off the insurance rolls, we will end up paying for more ER care for sicker patients. That will only fuel the spiral. The talk is that with the current system in place, we'll end up spending 40-50% of our take home salary on health insurance premiums.
I don't understand why people always rush to the defense of industries against their own best intest. The lies that are being spread by Sarah Palin, among others, would have, in the past, discredited the anti-reform movement, but instead they just keep being propogated. Part of the problem is that the media is afraid to call them on it.
I'm all for a discussion, but it has to be THAT, not rabble rousing, shouting down, and outright threatening.
I am looking forward to the implementation of Pres. Obama's Health Care Plan. In my opinion special interest groups, insurance companies, Conservatives and Republicans are using people for their dirty tricks and misleading the debate. If I call any one of my doctors for an appointment I have to wait at least three months for an appointment unless I require urgent care. Their office will then recommend going to the ER! My husband and I split our year equally between NH and FL. As a result of living in two very conservative minded states, I have come to know firsthand many, many people who don't have health coverage in each state. Employers get around providing health care benefits by hiring their workforce as part timers. These very people are so very desparate for a job in order to provide basic needs for their families. Where is the justice and fair play? Shame on the forces behind the shouting and disruption at public forums!
The glaring hole in the argument against the President's plan is simple: over a decade of Republican control of both houses and the White House, and they declined to bring healthcare costs and quality to the table in order to protect their corporate buddies. That albatross was critical to crippling the auto industry and other segments competing with manufacturers from social-medicine countries. It is imperative to bring our healthcare costs under control, and reduce the cost-increase curve if the economy is to recover in any normal, healthy way.
In short, when they shout talking points, a blunt retort might be: "You had over 10 years to fix this, it's breaking our economy, and now all you can do is rudely rail against change? Have a seat, Mr. Linbaugh."
SOMETIMES I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CANT THINK FOR THEMSELVES. I HOPE PEOPLE REMEMBER BACK IN THE 90S WHENTHE SAME GROUPS WERE FIGHTING OVER THE SAME ISSUES. SINCE THEN HEALTH INSURANCE AND COSTTS CONTINUE TO RISE.HOSPITAL BILLS CONTINUE TO RISE AS DOES THE COST TO GO SEE YOUR DR. ITS TIME FOR REAL REFORM. INSURANCE COMPAINIES KEEP GETTIN RICHER AND THE PEOPLE KEEP GETTING POORER TIME TO TELL ALL THE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS TO BACK OFF AND LET THE PEOPLE THINK FOR THEMSELVES IF WE ARE SMART ENOUGH.
Bernice's comment is a good example of how those opposed to health insurance reform are not presenting good arguments, and don't even have their definitions correct. "we already have the best healthcare in the world! Why mess anymore of the gr8 things about America?"
This is uttered over and over at the townhall meetings. Get your basic terms correct people! Don't believe everything you see on a TV commercial! The President does not want to change health care, the actual medical care available to us in this country. It is the best in the world but it is inaccessible to many people in this country because it is far overpriced because of the insurance industry.
Oh no! Someone might come between you and your doctor! This is the fear they are preying on. Guess what? THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY CURRENTLY IS WHAT COMES BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR. THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS WHAT CONTROLS HOW YOU ARE TREATED BY YOUR DOCTOR. Do you not see this?
They are an overpriced and unnecessary middleman. You give them money and they give it to your doctor after pocketing most of it. Get it? They have no competition to speak of in our free market to make their prices more reasonable for US the consumers.
Wow, the images and noise of all those heretofore civil middle-class people acting like Rush Limbaugh inspired, Sarah Palin chummed, Stepford Zombies is remarkable! These folks who are so vociferously complaining about the Government health reform, must all have their health insurance intact… at least until they lose their jobs, or for whatever reason can no longer work. Don’t they understand that they are one COBRA payment away from financial disaster? The insurance companies are rapacious bastards who will not be held in check unless the Federal Government makes the proper reforms. And that means a public-option government insurance plan.
Note to The White House: Please, don’t back away. Stick to your guns. You know that without a government run public option, health reform will be as emasculated as the Medicare Prescription Drug Law.
Honestly, I think it has gone way too far. I find it funny that people can come together for national tragedies but when it comes to the basic needs for some Americans to survive; we protest, we shout, we scream, we even go as far as slander just so we can have something to say. Majority of our problem is not being properly educated on the issue with politics sprinkled on top for effects. What really grinds my gears is that the groups'/persons' that are educated on the issue only gives us partial information (their side) so we the people are not making informed decisions.
CNN – Stop trivializing the healthcare debate! Give us the facts and stop with the pundits. The facts are that WE DO NOT Have the BEST Healthcare system in the world. YOU KNOW THIS!!! So stop letting you guest repeat this falsehood. We pay more money and have the shortest life span. How does that equate to the BEST in the world. You know and the world knows that FRANCE spends less money; has a longer life span and lower child mortality rates. PLEASE Give us the REAL NEWS and not the BULL!! That's your job and your viewer would reall appreciate it if you return to journalism!
As a Canadian I watch with amusement as many of the opponents of US health care reform continue to fight the last election. I also watch with amazement as opponents of reform talk about the Canadian system completely unfettered by fact. The Canadian system is not socialized medecine. Doctors are independent entrepreneurs. They don't work for the government. I chose my own doctor, and, in consultation with him, decide on a course of treatment. No government boards, no panels, no second opinions required. The only thing the government does is pay. Governments, of course, get their money from the taxpayer, so indirectly we are paying. The biggest problem we have is dealing with some of the private healthcare insurers we have up here. Now that's a real test.
Lets 'not' lose focus on the idea of 'health care' reform'. Its for 'all' americans and especially the ones that 'cannot' afford health care insurance. Reform means.., 'to correct a problem and or to 'fix' a problem'. Lets fix the problems with our current 'health care' for all americans and especially the ones who can't afford expensive health care insurance. Lets let Senator Max Baucus and the Senate work out the details and fix a major problem within our current 'health care' and keep big business health care insurance companies and lobbyist out of the picture for awhile. Yelling and screaming is 'not' going to solve the problem with health care. Working together as americans will solve the health care crisis.
Where is the input from working-class people with no insurance like those that stood in line, even camping the night before to be seen at annual clinic at Wise VA fairgrounds? This was only 2 weeks ago, what about them, and millions like them, my family included that don't make enough to afford insurance, and have health issues that go untreated, but are working full-time, some over 40 hours a week at physically hard jobs? When enough people doing the dirty work for these selfish anti-reformers with health coverage are too sick (or dead) to it anymore, will the Republicans work in the meat factories? pick crops? change bedpans? landscape own yards? babysit own kids? Don't forget all the chemicals and biologically sickening conditions many have to work in, not sitting at a desk, chatting over coffee cups. Could you support a family of four, including a special-needs child on $27,000 a year (gross) like we do? Option to "buy" insurance won't do us any good, nothing left over. Too many in the media are so far removed from who is really hurting that we don't even seem to exist. And unlike the people showing up at these shoutfests, we don't have the luxury of taking off work.
As an former Dutch citizen now living in Canada ( 5 years) i have experienced two different health care systems. The Dutch system ( as many European countries) is a mandotory insured plan where you pay $ 125 euro`s per month minimum and get everything you need , people have a deductable of $500-1000 euro`s per year. The canadian system is a free system ( except prescription drugs which are by the way much cheaper here than in Europe) I recently have been hospitalized , had surgery and needed an ambulance ( cost of ambulance $ 134 Cad dollars) The care was phenomenal, even was given morfine, the post op care was tremendous. At no time i felt rushed, or kicked out too soon or without pain medication. You Americans would be so much better off having even one of these two systems. The thought in the rest of the Western world about American healthcare is a frightning one. Pray to God nothing happens to you when visiting the US states, If you can`t prove insurance they leave you at the curb. How about your poor 45 million without insurance i think your current system is pure discrimination, Good luck president Obama you are one of the smarter Americans. Stella van der lugt Chester Canada
No. I don't want healthcare reform if it puts the government in that business where they don't belong. I want them to set the rules and let the system bring about the changes.
At least it is good to see the American people to get passionate about something that is not Reality TV. The main problem I'm seeing here is most of these town hall meetings have disintegrated into shouting matches
As a 52 year old with nearly life-long Type 1 diabetes I have needed to use doctors my entire life. Having also had health insurance my entire life, I can tell you that the premiums, deductibles, and co-pays I pay now vs. 20 years ago are exponentially absurd. America needs to better understand this issue and the fact that insurance companies are making astronomical profit margins. I have one of the best insurance policies available in the private marketplace, and my co-pay for an MRI last year was $750. My co-pays for life-or-death prescriptions are thousands per year and premiums are escalating ten times faster than our household income over the past 20 years. The American Health insurance industry is fueling a sick economy and the virulent propaganda at these townhall meetings from people who haven’t done their homework is a symptom is ignorance.
I am sure that this behavior shown by the protesters is going to lead to violence - The same type of violence that has come to pro-choice advocates. I don't believe for one moment that this is as much about health care reform as it is about squelching the President Obama presidency.
The way they're going about this is not to promote dialogue. These are supposed to be town hall meetings where both sides can respectfully express opinions and discuss differences with neighbors. I as a citizen want to hear and participate in the healthy discussion. I just don't know where to go to find it. I refuse to listen to or give credence to these undignified, disrespectful, and bigoted protesters who are eroding the democratic process.
ask fokes without care i have been there
i now have coverage
mr. obama is right health care is a right for everone not only the
lucky ones
the other party would let all but the elity go to hell
Caring American citizens want reform. People are tired of 'pre-existing conditions' and overpriced services. Insurance companies are paying big money to prevent reform through scare tactics. Our citizens deserve to have their healthcare needs met, and if it means the weathly help foot the bill, why not. Middle income americans are tired of paying for every program created. Forget comparisons with other countries and concentrate on people's needs.
Some people can not speak louder or stronger than others can! Whether it's age or other physical problems and it does not take clinched fists in people's faces to have freedom of speech! The only free speech some care about is their own! A lot of this is racist from those wanting Obama to fail regardless if he is trying to do something for the better of everyone. Those that are shouting the loudest if they lost their health care OR had so many medical bills they were losing their home many would probably be the first to accept charity from anyone!
It only shows me what kind of America many want. One without compassion towards anyone but their self! One that does not care who dies as long as it is not them dying. It is pathetic those that want the continue high costs of medical care making it where people can not afford to get the medical care they need! There is not as many doctors anymore that work with people that does not have the money upfront. For those that have doctors working with them, that's great but many do not!!
My message to Republicans would be to STOP exaggerating and lying about what does NOT exist in the proposed Health Care Reform because it is only making some not want to listen to them on things they could be telling the truth about.
For those that think hate, lying, cliched fists in people's faces, death threats, anger, etc. is going to help others see it their way will lose more people listening to them than they will gain!
I am very concerned as to what has become of our country. The fear tactics used by the conservatives make me wonder what is going to happen to our democracy. If conservatives don't rule, we all have to pay the price. They are worried about socialism. I worry about a conservative dictatorship. We sat through 8 years of the Bush administration, now it is our turn to rule. We paid $18,000.00 a year when my husband was on Cobra. Currently we are on a plan with a $2,000.00 deductible. When is anyone going to listen to us. Please, we need reform now. The future of this country is frightening!!!
ABSOLUTELY! It's no longer a debate...simple minded wingnuts (nuts!) are histerical and full of hatred. My complaint is that the health care reform doesn't go far enough. Insurance companies and hospitals making a profit off of sick people is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! When did we become the country that "make a buck" is always the right thing to do? It's not just health care...have you noticed that more and more of our highways are privately owned toll roads? We have more people in prison per capita than any other country on earth...why? In addition, those prisoners spend longer terms in jail than any other prisoners on the face of the earth...why? Because prisons are privately owned and they are incentivized to get and keep prisoners. Does putting away more people for longer times work? No, as a "civilized nation" we have the most violent population on the face of the earth. When are people going to wake up and take our country back from these backward, simple minded, right wing, republicans. And why do I keep seeing all these white 60+ men and women at these protests...they already have government run health care...it's called Medicare. Why are they even part of the debate?
I am ashamed of the unbecoming conduct of the hecklers at some of these town hall meetings. They sound grossly uneducated and not very well rehearsed. Republicans should send more intelligent speakers. And Sarah Palin, "Oh my God, I can't believe any party would have been dumb enough to choose her to represent them." If the republicans really want to oppose healthcare reform, they should skip the rhetoric and provide factual arguments against it.
I hear a lot in the American media about how horrible it would be for America to have a Canadian style health care system. I can tell you as a Canadian that the vast majority of us would not trade our universal health care for any other system in the world. Our healthcare is second to none. I have known americans that have come here to have babies and other procedures but have never known anyone who felt compelled to travel to the U.S. for any medical procedures. Up here we don't understand why there is even a debate. Sick children are being denied healthcare because of lack of insurance and some our worried about having a system like us. That doesn't happen here. America would be lucky to have universal health care like us. Anyone who doesn't believe that should come up here and tour a hospital.
It is amazing to me how misinformed Americans can be. But that's only part of the problem. This isn't about health care reform nearly as much as it is about Republicans being extremely angry about Obama being elected. The seniors that are raising so much ruckus at these town hall meetings are probably on Medicare. I would like to ask them if they are willing to give up Medicare??? After all, it is a government controlled health insurance system.
We need reform, that goes without saying. BUT, we already have the best healthcare in the world! Why mess anymore of the gr8 things about America? What they should do is ....STOP unneccessary medical spending, STOP these children under 18 years of age from obtaining SSI benefits!(which is costing the Americans TONS of money for children that thier schools deemed a little slower than the norm, STOP...paying for illegl immigrants... with no legalization. Send them home and stop the immigration problem! That is the issue here! He is trying to figure out how to have us pay for the illegals! He even told the Mexican Prez yesterday that he wished to legallize them at the beginning of the year! So, that just means that including NOT covering the illegals in the bill was to go into writing, but this is why they will not do it. They misled us into thinking that we would not have to pay for them anymore, but then told the prez of Mexico that he was going to make them real citizens! I could go on here ....without the illegals in our country, there opens up some other good jobs that could betaken by the needy American People! People, have yyou fiigured it all out yet? We, as the People, are being lied to and misled! Speak up!! Call your cngressmen and tell them about your fears. Show up at townhall meetings and act civil, even if the "tella tubbies" (purple) are physically assulting you! That is just a total un-American group of people who care only for thier very own interests. NOT OURS! Since when do they have our best interests in mind? No need to think back about it, it was just a joke! They don't.
Keep our healthcare the way it is. Fix the medicare and medicaid programs. Have those who can not afford insurance go there ...or adult basic. Another low cost medical plan for the poor. STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION! Get our jobs back, and no longer will we, or should we, have to pay for them! We really do not have many to cover then, if they are real Americans! We could all be covered then!
Be so careful. They are misleading you and I terribly! Educate yourselves! We do not have many to cover at all, if we only send them all home. If we went overseas and tayed without a visa, they would have us thrown on a plane asap! Do you honestly think that thier countries would pay for us? Heck no! Send em home! No legalization of immagrants! He is planning to mislead us on that issue as soon as January! This is all being done as a plan. One horrible act, after the next...then the next....then the next! Listen to Fox news for 3 days. Research what you hear. You will soon figure out how WE THE PEOPLE are being lied to and terribly misled.
Fix the medical. Don't break it! We already have great medical. If this administration, all of congress, and thier families say that they will also take it (because WE THE PEOPLE have to pay for it all, then....only then. But, I assure you....they do not want this garbage medical plan! Tell you something??
I think it's going too far simply because most people don't have enough facts. A lot of the people yelling and screaming at town halls are doing so because someone else told them to. That doesn't sound like they have a very good reason to be there. I think it's become way too political as far as who's right and who's wrong. We'd save so much frustration, angst, and time if we actually took the time to come up with a plan that satisfied both sides instead of trying to blitz right through it. The only reason I think we're trying to rush through this is because the economy may be improving, and in a few months, it's possible that only half as many people will care about a national health care program. I, for one, am against it. The board at my mom's hospital (Parkland Hospital – Dallas, TX) is already terminating people because of the worry that if this actually goes through the way it is now, it will hurt county hospitals. We don't need this right now. We need to take time- this is something that could seriously hurt our country for decades if done hurried. A few months won't matter that much if we've been suffering for years... come on.
Too far? Not at all. It was continually said during the last election that people were participating in greater numbers, Did the Dems think that was going to be one sided? This is America, protest is part of the basic rights we have. When the other side is totally ignoring you, you have to speak stronger and louder so they know you will not be ignored. Until the protests started we the people were being ignored in favor of the Obama-Reid-Pelosi timeline. If we had not have spoken up this fight would be over. Too far? Nope. Almost too late.