Healthcare Breakthrough

It looks like some progress has finally been made. A Republican has decided to throw the opposition a bone and cooperate with the Dems. However, consider the amount of time this has taken, time that could have been used on other problems with our country. Should Obama continue with the push or should he just give up the ghost and move on? I sincerely hope a plan gets passed that will help our country improve, however I am losing faith that this will ever happen.

Lost cause? More than likely, but what can I do besides hope for the best. I have to admit I'm a bit apathetic towards the situation. I don't have health insurance, and there isn't a damn thing Obama can do to change that because I simply can't afford it. I know it's cold-hearted to say, but why should I care about health care when I can't even get some? *shrugs*

I know how you feel. I can barely afford car insurance let alone health insurance. And all of that effort and time to convert ONE Republican? For crying out loud...

Move to Canada. Problem solved.

Do you have igloo building skills?

I've heard about Obama getting the healthcare reformed during the elections, but anyone cares to explain the current US healthcare system and what the reform would do for us, foreigners?

Senator Snowe has only voted for the Senate Finance Committee bill. There are still 4 other bills being drafted, and the SFC bill was pretty watered down and pathetic, still her cooperation is notable. It's not a huge breakthrough but what remains to be seen is whether or not she'll vote on the subsequent compiled bill when it comes to the senate floor.

A plan will be passed. I would bet my account on it. I do not know what details will solidify because the other bills are still being drafted. I'd be pleased with a public-option and an opt-out for states that don't wish to participate (although I'd rather the opt-out not be included at all). I'm also against the fine system in place for those who choose not to have insurance, so hopefully that will be excluded. We won't know until December or January though.

A R.I.N.O hardly counts as a republican support. All the talk shows were raving "We have bi-partisanship! OMG WE HAVE BI-PARTISANSHIP!"

I want this to die on the vine and have the government go in a different direction than follow Europe. The Baucus bill is the most conservative of all the bills floating around congress and it still sucks. How about a congressman (or woman) come up with an original idea that doesn't try to mimic Europe nor maintain the status quo? Millions of Americans and yet we can only come up with TWO ideas.

One major factor of a survival of a bill:

Whether or not the goddamn Filibuster is used.

If you don't want to read the article, a Filibuster is a bill killer. The mere mention of Filibuster can cause a bill to be discarded.

It will be used on the senate floor if we don't get 60 votes. If we do get 60 votes there will be no filibuster. This is the obvious goal and I don't see them putting forth a bill that they don't predict getting the votes for. My guess is it'll go through.

It takes a few seconds to cut yourself, but the wound can sometimes take weeks to heal. Obamas plan needs time and dedication, nothing will be happening untill atleast his second term. (if he has 1)

Here we go, here is the real question

Can the Government in a huge deficit, pay for this?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA NO.

It won't be paid for with borrowed money.

The fact that they are still going through with it says whether or not it can be paid for.

It was doomed from day one. Public Option is out of the window, so why even bother anymore?
You'll probably get some earmarked-to-shit bill that turns up the radio to shout down the rattling rear wheel, but nothing of value.

Not that Obama would have ever had the brass balls needed to instigate actual reform anyways, but it sure is fun to watch from 9000 miles away.

Public option is far from out the window. I wonder why so few people really pay attention. The Baucus bill aka Senate Finance Committee bill never intended to have a public option, it wasn't drafted with one and amendments were voted against by the committee. The 4 other bills DO. It's very very likely that when the bills are compiled later the final one will contain a public option. It's not certain, anything can happen, but it seems likely.

The public option is supported in:
4 of the 5 committee bills, including all 3 in the house.
The House of Representatives (overall).
The Senate (overall).
The White House (overall).

The public option is not supported in:
The senate finance committee.

It's highly unlikely a public option will be sacrificed because ONE committee consisting of only a small portion of the legislators in congress does not support one.

Better question, will the wealthy 10% of the country actually stop bitching for five minutes and pay for it themselves so the average work force doesn't have to see an increase in taxes for it.

$380m[size=10]1[/h] in bribes have been spent thus far in opposition the health reform. I therefore don't think it's nearly[size=10]234[/h] as "highly unlikely" to be sacrificed as you make it out to be. In fact, sources cited make it clear that moderate senators will likely vote down any bill that contains a public option.

[size=10]1 The Guardian: "Revealed: millions spent by lobby firms fighting Obama health reforms"
2 The New York Times: "Public Option Fades From Debate Over Health Care"
3 The San Francisco Chronicle: "Snowe vote aids health plan, sans public option"
4 Examiner: "President Obama's health plan passes; public option out"[/h]

The thing that really bugs me is the influx in anti-democratic health care reform bills spewing off this crap about higher taxes. Not one single televised ad has bothered to mention that only the richest of the rich will have a tax increase, most average Americans won't pay a dime more in taxes for health care or anything else.

Edit: Haha, oops. Didn't realize this was the topic I already mentioned that. Oh well, just chalk it up to how much it annoys me.

lol man whatever. Of course opposition is going to spend money. Almost all the Republican votes are bought out because of it, and it's affecting public's opinion. The anti-health care campaign spreads misinformation, and there is already a base ready to be riled up (already are in fact). The near super majority should be all but enough to guarantee passing the bill. One or two swaying votes should be enough and you can bet they are going to be under serious pressure from both parties. I predict that it'll go through. I'm optimistic.