How Voters Think

[RashanGary]

Another big solution in this country is going to be to find a way to tax gained wealth rather than taxing the piss out of the upper middle class. Those people really work for their money. There are people out there who just steam roll it by doing nothign for society but they were born rich so they will stay rich as long as it's easy as hell to steam roll.

I think wealth and money overall is something that should be earned through decisions, ability and hard work, not through aristocratically passing it through families. By taxing the piss out of the upper middle class it becomes very hard to enter into the extremely rich category. However, the extremely rich are in a position where it's nearly impossible to drop status, no matter how useless the person. In these cases it's not based on what your capable of, how hard you work or the decisions you make. It's based on what family you were born into.

AGain, overall I think something should be done to take the burden off the upper/middle, allowing people to pass into the extremely wealthy sector more freely and the extremely wealthy sector should get taxed in a way that makes it more possible for bad decisions and low contributions to beget bad results. Basically, you decide your lifestyle with the way you live.

For the most part it's that way, but there are some things happening that defy the American ideal of getting what you put in.

[Harlan Huckleby]

The extremely poor get health care through state programs already. We all pay for the poorest of the poor.

JH, you came to the right place, because I have just been through some painful first-hand experience on this issue, and I have found-out that the safety net you envision is a myth. Its true that they will sew-up the poorest of the poor in the emergency room. But that is far from providing them with health care. They aren't gonna schedule a poor person for surgery that they need.

On paper I am among the poorest-of-the-poor, because I've been living largely by selling stock I accumulated in the past, my income is tiny - just the capital gains. I've had to deal with major health problems without health insurance. (I actually have health insurance now, through a state program, but it is very expensive despite my low income.)

Its true that in some states, some categories of poor people are taken care of. Families with children in Wisconsin, for instance, are covered by Badger Care.

I've learned ALL about the reality of health care for the poor and/or uninsured the past couple years, and I assure the system is a disgrace. I am just lucky that I had the means to escape disaster, but I suffered along the way.

[RashanGary]

I think the way it gets paid could be changed HH. I don't trust governement at all to get it done. I think they'll find ways to line their pockets and their friends pockets and they'll make an inefficient system even more inefficient.

I think a system should be thought up (with the flexibility to change as the conditions change because it's going to have some suprises along the way). The system should not be dreamed up by Hilary Clinton, Bill Clinton and the democratic party filled with contracts that line the pockets of their friends and indirectly themselves along the way and on top of that employ more cushy govt jobs to their friends to go to work and basically do nothing on the tax bill.

Whatever the libs do is going to be a crock of shit. That's my problem with it.

[The Leaper]

JH, we're the only developed country in the world that doesn't offer health care to its citizens. Its not a fantastic idea.

Most developed nations OFFER health care, but it also is often relatively pitiful coverage...not at all timely or effective. In terms of immediate care when needed, those nations you refer to often fall short. There is no point in rushing to creating a system like that.

There are a lot of issues in solving our health care system woes...just throwing out universal coverage alone is not an acceptable solution IMO. It certainly should be considered in the solution, but we need a larger bandage that also covers the over-regulation of the industry and addresses the growing complexity of insurance.

[The Leaper]

I think Obama should consider Clinton because she will serve him well in office.

I'm sure Obama would consider Clinton...I doubt Clinton would ever consider a VP role. She's in it to win it...she wants no part of anything less.

[MJZiggy]

JH, we're the only developed country in the world that doesn't offer health care to its citizens. Its not a fantastic idea.

Most developed nations OFFER health care, but it also is often relatively pitiful coverage...not at all timely or effective. In terms of immediate care when needed, those nations you refer to often fall short. There is no point in rushing to creating a system like that.

There are a lot of issues in solving our health care system woes...just throwing out universal coverage alone is not an acceptable solution IMO. It certainly should be considered in the solution, but we need a larger bandage that also covers the over-regulation of the industry and addresses the growing complexity of insurance.

Most, often. Words like this would suggest that MOST do it poorly, but there are a few that do it well. What's wrong with modeling a system after the best universal health care system in the world regardless of where it is?

[RashanGary]

Most developed nations OFFER health care, but it also is often relatively pitiful coverage...not at all timely or effective. In terms of immediate care when needed, those nations you refer to often fall short. There is no point in rushing to creating a system like that.

There are a lot of issues in solving our health care system woes...just throwing out universal coverage alone is not an acceptable solution IMO. It certainly should be considered in the solution, but we need a larger bandage that also covers the over-regulation of the industry and addresses the growing complexity of insurance.

I agree 100% and I think insurance as a 3rd party lowers direct competiiton. If yoru doctor or hospital pisses you off or over charges you, you should want to go somewhere else. Natural markets have a funny way of driving prices down.

I'm not against a system that covers everyone, but I think it should be based in competition and personal responsiblity to spend wisely. When you put those things together, I think industries clean themselves up.

[The Leaper]

Most, often. Words like this would suggest that MOST do it poorly, but there are a few that do it well. What's wrong with modeling a system after the best universal health care system in the world regardless of where it is?

It is not an easy solution...and the options I've seen from all the candidates fail to address many of the most common issues with our health care system, such as malpractice litigation, insurance, industry regulation, etc.

Most aspects of our health care are world class. However, there are several gaping holes...and universal coverage is not the answer to most of those gaping holes. Sure, it is the answer in terms of getting coverage for everyone...however, it also brings with it new problems without addressing many of the old ones.

IMO, with some commitment, we can solve the health care woes without federalizing our health care system. Just because everyone else is doing it certainly does not mean it is the best way to go. Many nations with "universal" health care will probably be tottering on the brink of financial disaster in 15-20 years without drastically increasing the tax burden on their citizens. That will be even more true of our own nation, where a massive generation is about to enter their senior years, sending health care needs skyrocketing.

However, the lemmings who follow our political leaders love catch phrases and simiple solutions to issues that should be solved with a far greater debate and examination.

[MJZiggy]

Sure, it is the answer in terms of getting coverage for everyone...

Ding, ding, ding, ding!! We have a winner! This is the problem they're trying to solve. I don't think they're trying to be a cure all, end all right now. This is the problem that needs solving--uninsured people dying on hospital floors and dying after being sent home without having been properly cared for because they were uninsured and got the minimum treatment. People going bankrupt over medical bills because they can't afford healthcare and uninsured kids is what they're trying to fix. They ain't trying to fix the whole works.

[The Leaper]

They ain't trying to fix the whole works.

Of course not.

They are merely trying to get elected.

They don't give a rat's ass about your health care...once elected, they don't have to worry about their health care system either.

[MJZiggy]

They ain't trying to fix the whole works.

Of course not.

They are merely trying to get elected.

They don't give a rat's ass about your health care...once elected, they don't have to worry about their health care system either.

They sure as hell do if they get elected on a healthcare reform platform and want any hope of getting re-elected next term. Hillary wanted that HC initiative passed in 93 and I have never once heard her back off from that objective.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Romney just dropped out of the race. I don't think a guy as rich as him got rich throwing his money away.

good riddance. (actually, I don't really know what kind of man he is, he might be ok, i just didn't like him.)

[Harlan Huckleby]

I was watching a panel discussion on "Democracy Now!", the lefty news show on cable access. The panelists were all villifying Hillary as the Enemy of the PEople, because the far left (and right) operate this way - they need a bogey man to rally against. But to her credit, the host Ellen Goodman kept pointing out that Obama is identical to Hillary on nearly every position, and he takes money from many of the same corporate donors. It was fun to watch. People on the fringe don't like dealing with ambiguity.

They kept refering to the "Clinton Machine", as do many pundits. "Machine" has the connotation of corruption, as in the political machines in Chicago and Kansas City etc. in the early 20th century. It also implies that their success is driven by money and organization, rather than popular support.

Hog Warsh!

Obama has raised money at 3x the rate of Hillary of late. And the Obama campaign is built on superior organization - they have won all but one of the caucus states. Whenever the contest is a straight vote of the people, Hillary more often than not wins. He has a lot of donors, which is certainly admirable, but its important to note that he has much more affluent supporters than Hillary.

Why, this daughter of a poor Mill Worker (I think that's her story ) recently had to dip in her piggy back and pull out 5M$ of her baby-sitting money just to keep the campaign afloat.

Clinton - the voice of the little people. Down with the big money Obama Machine!!!

[MJZiggy]

Are you just hoping she's gonna be looking for a White House intern to get a little revenge on Bill? You have quite the crush!

[Harlan Huckleby]

Are you just hoping she's gonna be looking for a White House intern to get a little revenge on Bill? You have quite the crush!

I admire her strength and intelligence. She has taken a lot of shit over the years with grace and dignity - go ahead and if you want, but its true. And ya, I'd do her, might take a little K-Y jelly these days, but who am I to be picky?