Nobody is opposed to reforming the system so that it retains an ethical and professional level of standards.

The majority of people (52/42 percent) in the USA are opposed to the Obama effort to socialize our health care system because it goes way too far.

There are practical things that can be done to improve health care and lower costs. None of them demand that the government get involved as a provider.

The role of government is to regulate the free market, not to enter into it and disrupt it.

Provide portability, eliminate prior-condition restrictions, control litigation costs, promote competition and allow the free market to work.

Carole - The only people that are not going to agree with you have what you do not and have never been affected by the greed of corporate health care. Insurance companies do not want clients they can not profit from. I am sorry you had to learn the hard way. The good news is that I just saw a report from the Huffington Post (?) this morning, that said 57% of Americans are now in favor of healthcare reform. The numbers are going up quickly and if one looks at the money spent by lobbyists in the insurance companies recently, it just might be they might be running scared for a good reason :-)

Carole, i agree with your letter. The industry needs to be regulated to avoid the problems you listed. I believe that the lack of ethics is not just in the health care industry, it is accross the entire corporate realm, whether banking, auto makers, Wall Street or what have you. These people have become their own worst enemies and if they are heavily regulated or even nationalized they have no one to blame but themselves. It's very similar to the bank robber that pulls a few successful heists, if he would quit at that point he probably would never be caught but when greed takes over and he continues to pull heists he is guaranteeing himself an nice cozy cell for some time in the future.Observer, I don't believe anyone disagrees with the tacy that health care must be revamped, it is the way to do it that some people oppose. Personally as long as it doesn't take away what I already have, even if it doesn't give me any more I don't care what system is put in place. If they try to improve the lot of those in Carole's situation or the one of the uninsured, fine, if they want to take away from most to half serve a lesser group then I will oppose it.

Observer, did you really cite the Huffington Post? I can't stop laughing.

It just goes to prove that people embrace the information that support their causes and discard that which does not. Kind of like statistics. We can make the numbers say just about anything we want.

Additionally, the statement "The only people that are not going to agree with you have what you do not and have never been affected by the greed of corporate health care."

I have a family member who requires surgery at least one a year plus we pay out of pocket for lots of care that is not covered, and my parents who are covered but don't get the quality care they receive, and none of us want anything to do with Obama's heatlhcare overhaul.

He's over reaching and going to f*GHS the whole thing up. First, introduce reforms against healthcare which don't allow healthcare companies to deny coverage through "loopholes", and eliminate fraud and misuse in the existing systems. Second, open up options for healthcare for people to choose nationally who/what program and insurance company offers the best for them. Third, extend the current programs like Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP (which should be streamlined and more cost effective) as a safety net to those who choose to be covered by insurance. There should be a fee for those who can afford it but deny coverage currently which are a large number.

Reform. Seems everyone agrees a need for reform, at least in these neck of the woods. In Washington one Party is basically offering up no ideas for reform. Their objective is to torpedo any type of healthcare reform legislation. If we had an actual dialogue in Washington, we might have a chance for some real common ground.

Loomis - WhooHoo! Great comment! I wasn't really putting you in that heap of those who don't want to lose what they already have. You seem to be a thinking, generous man who already has a well-formed conscience. I would not want to see you or your family lose what you already have. In fact, if the government could make it better for your family, now and in the future, then so be it. You have grandkids that will be going to college one of these days and we all want them healthy. Life has a way of changing our best of plans and preparation and giving us the unexpected. Be well

Keeping - So much of the information out there, does what it plans to do. It keeps us confused. I do the best I can with what I have. To tell you the truth, I don't know how to make it better, I just see that it needs to be done. You seem to cover the bases...so what is the answer? Tell me, because now is the time to fix this. We can't let this opportunity go by...I am open for a direction that I can really support.

Observer, I didn't take what you said as offensive, I am pretty good at getting the meaning of what people say and try not to read between the lines.

Chrishamm said it right, what we need is dialogue, we cannot survive if any idea by one of the political parties is automatically nixed by the other party. We can be our own worst enemies at times.

By the way Observer, I have a granddaughter that just started College, I am hoping that she transfers up to this neck of the woods to either Davis or Sac State, she could live with us and save a bundle to boot in rent, food, etc. Please everyone cross your fingers for me.

Have a great day.

Loomis - Those are fine schools and I can do better than cross my fingers :-) She would do great living in your household. I am sure that she would learn some of the most important things from you, no college class could teach her. You also have a great day and please keep us updated about her from time to time :-)

Chrissham: Your DNC rhetoric is too transparent.

There is one party pushing through without allowing debate, and one that has been left out.

The Blue Dog Democrats and Republicans are just doing the will of the people who disapprove of this liberal monstrosity 54:42.

Date Approve Disapprove

Oct 16-17 42% 54%

Oct 10-11 44% 50%

Oct 2-3 46% 50%

Sep 24-25 41% 56%

Sep 16-17 43% 56%

Sep 15-16 44% 53%

Sep 14-15 42% 55%

Sep 13-14 45% 52%

Sep 12-13 51% 46%

Sep 11-12 48% 48%

Yosemite - While I know you are not in favor of government type healthcare, I have to say again, the clinic provides the same, if not better healthcare than I had with my 15 years of BlueCross/Sheild HMO and it is a whole lot cheaper

Y_S - could you please cite the source of your statistics? You neglected to do so in both posts. Observer gets ridiculed for using HuffPo but at least she referenced a source. I'd appreciate the same from you.

No talking point from me Yosemite Spam.

There has been an attempt at dialogue for months. There is NOTHING on the table being offered by the other side. A blind squirrel is able to recognize the sole objective is to kill any type of reform.

An honest man, would admit to that.

Yoyo said: "The role of government is to regulate the free market, not to enter into it and disrupt it. "

lol that's the funniest thing I've heard a Conservative say in ages. Thanks for the laugh.

Hey guys - take it easy on Yo. He has a disease he got from Fox News and right now, there is no cure for it, except to just wait for the virus to wear off. I remember the day my dad started to see the light. I think Jon Stewart had something to do with it. Anyway, I kind of like Yosemite and look forward to the day we can sit around the coffee table at Starbucks and make fun of each other in the open. He's probably a real good guy :-)

Come on Observer, you’re usually bigger than that. Leave that childish behavior to 2049er, Genmedowvista and Chrisham, etc. The truth is as follows. When the question is about reform, the results will show the majority want it; however, when the question includes a socialized reform, most have been against it. The republicans have been attempting to have their ideas put into the plan; they are simply left out. They have been requesting tort reform, broadening competition by erasing state lines, etc. Let’s tell the truth here.

Actually part of Chrishamm's statement is correct. "Reform. Seems everyone agrees a need for reform, at least in these neck of the woods."

The part where he solely blames the Reps for the party in power not passing any legislation is partisan garbage. The party in power could at anytime vote anything through and why aren't they doing anything? (Drumroll..... because they're afraid they will lose their jobs if they do, and they're afraid they'll lose their jobs if they don't - and it's always easier to blame the other guy, huh?)

This is more of the same but of a different flavor. You know the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Observer, I'm at a loss. I think reform needs to happen, but I don't trust this government to make it happen. I really think the primaries let us down and as much as I'm surprised to hear myself say this..... President Hillary Clinton who is a workhorse, would have gotten this thing done already. Or at least something.

But I don't think she would have gotten a Nobel Peace Prize for it, either.

Partisan my caboose.

Most Americans want some type of Health care reform. If the Republicans truly support this objective, then where is the proposal?

It doesn't exist. It doesn't exist, because they just don't want it to pass.

Anyone who really believes Republicans want to pass meaningful reform should dig up the plan and post it here. All the whining in the world saying the Dem's are meanies because they won't let the Republicans come to the table to negotiate is pure unadulterated hogwash.

The only plan is to kill the whole reform topic.

In the end, whatever is passed, will be passed with no help from the Republicans. Getting all Democrats to agree on something is like herding cats. The obstructionism amazingly is starting to make those cats line up.

I'd be much happier if there was a spirit of cooperation.

Keeping - As I said before, I too am at a loss. The medicare-for-everyone plan sounds good, but I would also make it a plan according to income. That way, it doesn't drain the coffers and everyone gets covered. Of course, fraud needs to be severely accountable and no one should get inferior care, machinery or politics. I pay 25% of my costs except for a couple "must have" prescriptions that are paid for by the companies who make them. It actually works well :-) People who want to buy their own, should still be allowed to do so.

Chris - Let's stop the partisan us vs. them. This is why I hate political parties. We already had the Civil War and we need to stop dividing our house, lest it fall...

The uninformed among us have been persuaded to act against their own best interests, supporting a failed system of insurance usury. How did this happen? Is it because the rest of the world enjoys adequate health care, and this makes them nervous? Is it because our health-for-those-who-can-afford-it system works so well for all American citizens? Is it their own greed telling them that by helping others who cannot afford health care, we act against our moral and ethical principals?

Observer - I agree fraud needs to be accountable and whoever gets caught cheating should go straight to prison where they will receive free government health care. But seriously, all Americans should be guaranteed a basic level of health care. Anyone who chooses additional niceties such as a private room should be encouraged to buy supplemental insurance. It's our duty as human beings to ensure no one among us suffers from disease or bad health simply because they can't afford to be well.

Keeping: You are right on.

Chrissham: Rasmussenreports.com

Septic: Tort Reform..where is the tort reform?

Why is it that the government should regulate every portion of our economy except for lawyers?

How about we limit the amount lawyers get for ambulance chasing class action suits? About 15 years ago, a couple lawyers won a multi billion dollar lawsuit against GM for exploding gas tanks. They took the money and gave me (owner of a Chevy PU) a $2K discount on a brand new Chevy. I would have rather had the $2K to buy skid-bars to prevent my tanks from exploding...and I could easily get more than $5K off invoice without a coupon, so why did the lawyers get anything?

Today, you see these shills looking for victims of various disease...whether there was cause or not...just so they can make a few more million bucks. Talk about your evil rich...and yet the left seems to love them.

Obama was at Wall Street today. "When I said that Wall Street was evil and you all make too much money, I was only talking about the Republicans on Wall Street, not you guys". (quote: American Soothsayer)

We have been dumbed down far enough that the unscrupulous and greedy people have easy pickings. This really started with payroll deductions for taxes, insurance or other payments. If you don't actually see the money, you don't know how much things cost. How many of us actually know or maybe care how much is taken before we get our check or automatic bank deposit? Lenders explain that if you have automatic payments you won't have the chance of having a late charge, in reality it is just like taxes and fees we pay our government.

Since we don't write the check and we have some money left in our account we become oblivious to the actual cost.

Government has been the largest perpetrator of this. If you had to write a check for your taxes and fees instead of those charges being hidden, we would have rebelled long ago. What the writer is asking for is a way to hide the cost so she can't see it.

We need a lot more then just health care reform. We need a government that stays out of our lives but regulates private industry justly.

"There is NOTHING on the table being offered by the other side" Should read there is nothing of any worth on the table from either side, as the lobbist are having their way. Check out Senator Baucus and how much he has received in donations from health insurers and Pharma.

It is his bill that is being considered in the Senate.

YS, Don’t expect Chrishamm to put down his partisan sword any time soon. What he doesn’t understand is that they have made written proposals to the finance committee, but it doesn’t even get a vote. It is shot down before it can even become a bona fide proposal, not that I care much for their proposal. The problem with Skeptic’s plan is that we don’t want “adequate” coverage. How do you truly define adequate coverage? What’s adequate for some may not be for others. You have a much greater chance of dieing from prostate cancer in Europe that in the U.S. There are many other diseases you are far more likely to die from in the European countries. If their TRUE goal was to have everyone covered, they would like the idea of mandated coverage. I don’t think that is their TRUE goal, however.

LOL. YS.4gen, P 50 cents. keeping.....

True honest conservativs are running for the exists....

At least people with principles are values would admit the truth.

There is ONE agenda. Death to reform.

You all know it. You embrace it.

What sad excuses for human beings.

Enjoy the typo's.

You tread upon your dead and dying countrymen.............................................

chrishamm, I second Observer's call for you to tone it down a few notches. If all we're going to do is fight why bother with these forums. They just become a place for people to insult each other.

chrishamm, what a bunch of poppycock!

Your hatred for your fellow countrymen and lack of respect for anyone who holds a different point of view makes your opinion mute. You join the screamers and the pointers and become one of those who can't have a civil discussion or debate.

Divide, divide, blame, scream it's all their fault, after that's the way to compromise.

No sir, you tread upon your own dignity by insulting and namecalling. Next time, try a different tactic.

Seems to me that chrishamm is calling it how he sees it. Democrats caved to the health insurance and big pharma lobby and Republicans did nothing but spread lies and false information and scare tactics to try and kill this whole thing. I asked for the source of your statistics and you have failed to do so. Now I see further claims of more people being against "socialized" reform, with no data to back it up. This is contrary to what I'm seeing, so why don't you direct me to who you are listening to on this matter.

I'm tired of the lies and misleading information, and I want a source. What are you afraid of?

Unfortunately, Kitty, you’re going right back to being one of the Chrishamms with your attitude lately. I posted the poll showing more were against the socialized medicine on another string. I don’t watch them by the week. I know it’s close. I’m not sure that was the point anyway. I get so sick of this partisan cr#$. The Republicans have attempted to get their ideas on the proposals, but the Democrats won’t have it. Anyone who denies this isn’t watching the news or simply denies reality. It’s not a matter of opinion. Even some Democrats have referred to this. I’m not very much in agreement with the Republicans on their proposals, but I’m not going to lie like I think some of the more partisan bloggers are doing. I haven’t heard very many people say that no reform is needed. Most of us want reform. It’s how best to achieve it; that is the answer everyone is looking for. The inflammatory statements that come out of the mouths or fingers in this case, don’t facilitate in anything constructive; it’s pathetic.

Patrick - I can't find this referenced poll you posted recently, so I'll go ahead and give you the latest so you don't have to continue to post false info. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/19/AR2009101902451.html?hpid=topnews

Now, if you disagree with this poll or the source, then please, by all means, give me a different one that backs up your assertion. I asked Y_S (why are you even responding?) to give me the source of his data, and he won't. Why? As for your partisan accusation, I'm angry at both parties, I think the Baucus Plan is BS and that citizens are about to get screwed. Republicans, (and by that I mean those in Congress Patrick, unless you are in Congress quit taking that so personal) have not offered a plan, so what proposals are you talking about? Trying to add or reinvent plans offered by Dems is not the same. Many of you did NOT agree with reform until the Luntz talking points memo came out, then the tune changed. http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/frank-luntz-the-language-of-healthcare-20091.pdf

This issue IS PARTISAN. It shouldn't be, BUT IT IS. And that's not my fault, blame the politicians and the spin doctors, not Chris, and not me. As far as I'm concerened, Democrats are offering in the Baucus Plan a big load of crap, and Republicans more than made that possible, they can both kiss my ***. And next time, spare me the spanking daddy, cuz I think both parties suck, and I'll say what I please.

Good kitty;)

I have a friend in his 40's. (40's!!) Just found out he has cancer. They are going to try a new medication on him which will be covered by his insurance. His work will not cover his insurance after 12 weeks off. He can pay it himself $1200.00 a month while he's not working which will be difficult. The meds are not covered by any kind of disability insurance. He should stop working (and may have to soon). In the meantime, he drags himself to work, keeps his health problems as quiet as he can, so that he can continue to work for the insurance benefits.

So what's the answer people? Keep working until he drops? Go on disability and change to a less successful therapy? Quit his job and apply for Medicare disability which will pay for NOTHING? Just crawl away and die? Really, this is a serious question. What should he do? And you might as well give it some thought, because there, but for the Grace of God go any of us.

kitty, I'm afraid those imbeciles everyone voted in are going to F*## up the little insurance I have now, You yourself said there's not a plan out there you support, (no transparency), so stop slamming those of us who have no confidence in Washington. I hope you went out and took a walk or your vent helped stave off that high blood pressure,

Chrishamm was beneath any kind words given his insults and dismissive eff off attitude. If you want to embrace that kind of divisive vitriol, you're not the person I assumed you were,

Hey, Obama & Congress supporters, stop blaming those who don't worship the party in power, for them not doing what THEY PROMISED they would do. They have the votes and they're doing nothing because they only want to place blame not take responsibility, It is only a partisan issue because those who want to keep the status quo (the power), want someone to blame the next time they come up for election.

Oh and kitty, we all can say what we please, but it doesn't make us any better to insult and name call.

Carol,

ethics and morals don't pad the salaries of CEOs. Until the public demands ethical treatment we will always be at the mercy of greed and until we come to the understanding that we all must account, there will be those unwilling to stand for their fellow (wo)man.

Kitty and P50, both of you realize that neither your opinion or those of any poll will change what's bound to happen in Washington DC. They don't listen to the people, they know better, both parties suck IMHO. I think there is a lot of agreement on the subject by those outside of DC, we may have some differences but I believe that if we throw out the radicals on both sides that we, the people could find a viable solution. Unfortunately, since we are a representative Republic, not a true Democracy it will be the boys and girls in Washington DC what will seal our fate. Oh how I long for a solid third party.

And kitty, they can kiss my *** also.

All of you, try to have the best day possible.

KittyV: Favor Oppose

PPP (D) 42% 45%

CNN 49 49

ABC/Post 45 48

Rasmussen 42 54

Fox 35 54

Pollster.com

The point is Kitty that you have become a big supporter of those that use inflammatory remarks as long as it is coming from those that think as you do. I never posted false information. Those are the kind of Cr$%%y remarks you have lowered yourself to making. You are a big disappointment. You seem to think it’s OK to spout off when YOU are upset by something, but if anyone else speaks their mind, you are right there to spank them. I could accuse you of printing “false information,” but I won’t because I know how these polls work. I can find a poll to support anything I want. They’re very subjective depending on how the questions are posed. You are right there with CR, Chrishamm and all the others that spew their anger for everyone to witness. You have lost much credibility with me.

Ya, that’s what I expected, no response.