The future of health care. . .

Thanks GOPHER60, you may be right. I saw John Edwards at the AFL-CIO Union trades meeting on C-span and he said he was for national health care and had a way to pay for it, which was rolling back the tax cuts that Bush gave to the highest earners which is about $190 billion a year. I also heard Al Franken speak of national health care on Letterman, and as much as you might think he is only a comedian, he has evolved over the years and right now has my vote as the next senator from Minnesota replacing the wishy washy Norm Coleman. Health care is breaking the backs of families, businesses and our country and I need more people to give a hoot and speak about this tragedy where 47 million people do not have health care because they cannot afford it. How does that happen in America, the richest country, ever, on earth? It happens when politicians, and this may be what GOPHER60 referred to, bicker and fight over semantics and fail to get the meat of the problem fixed. This is not a partisan problem, it is an American disgrace and no one knows that better than people in small, poor towns like ours. So rise up and demand to be heard!

GOPHER60,

Have you gone nuts!!!! I was on your side until your starting backing this nutcase woman!! She is bad news, and I'm not saying that because I'm a GOP'er. Do some research on her and slick willie, and they are as corrupt as can be. I'm all for a woman being in the white House, and I can think of alot of good ones, and she is not one of them. NORPOLE needs to ask his wife what universal health care has done for Canadians. And he wants that here is the USA?? First of all, I have had health care all of my life. You know why?? I "worked" all of my life and paid for it, even in my military career. Does the health care system need fixing, you bet it does. But people need to get out and work and pay for it like I did. But someone needs to get a hold on the rising health care costs. They keep on jacking up the costs and Uncle Sugar keeps paying the bills, (that the insurance companies don't). If we can get the health care costs under control, then the insurance won't cost so much. My kids have all grown up and got educations, then decent jobs and pay for their OWN health care. I didn't teach my kids to rely on "handouts". Those that are disabled need help with health care, but the women who are human "pez dispensers" DON'T. Give them free birth control, or sterilize them after two kids. As for Al Franken, he is a joke. He couldn't get enough support for a radio program. Maybe in Minnesota, but not across the country. I'm sure he is a nice guy, but deep down he is a liberal, who wants to give everyone a handout. Norm Coleman is a liberal. He just switched parties to get elected. He's not fooling me. I could keep going on here, but I have to get back to "WORK" so I can pay for MY own health insurance. No food stamps in my house!!

Deep down in your heart you know you are still on my side. can we not agree to disagree? check your messages. i sent you one this morning. forever friends! rog2000 & gopher60

TLJ,

Show's you how informed I am. I honestly thought the Canadians didn't pay anything into the health care system. I thought it was paid for by "high taxes". Many of my relatives live in Canada and that's what I understood them to be telling me. I just know that all I hear from them is complaints, such as being on long waiting lists for procedures, etc . . . . We pay so much for health care here because of the jacked up costs. My Doctors tell me that they keep getting less and less of a percentage from the Insurance companies. So what do they do, they jack up their prices in order to get a fair income. Some will say that the Doctors are over paid in this country, but I say hell no!! A basketball or hockey player get 10 times what my doctor gets. Anyone care to figure that one out for me. My doctor can save my life, but he gets one tenth of a ball players salary. I agree about the big shots at GM, etc.... They should give up just 1/2 of their bonuses and it would pay for the workers health insurance. Why can't we say McJobs anymore? I was in MickeyDees recently, and the workers looked like McSlobs. But they all were Manager trainees. I don't how to explain the longer life span in Canada. Maybe their stop signs are better placed than in the Falls.

OK, I'm open to hearing everyone's suggestions and proposals on how we can run and pay for such a program, without it being just another welfare handout. I left the Falls when I was 18 and joined the Military and had a very successful career. One reason I joined was because they promised me free health care for life. So far it has been pretty good. I have to pay some deductibles, but I also have insurance through my wife which off sets some of those deductibles. Because I don't want to have use only the Doctors the Military says I have to, I opt for her insurance also, which allows me pick any provider, etc I want. Once I turn 65, the Military pick up any costs that Medicare doesn't. So thats what I've done to ensure I'm covered. No food stamps in this house. So I wonder what other people are doing? I know people here in SC are paying out their nose each paycheck for insurance. I know this ALL can't be President Bush's fault. Yes, I agree that a young couple who are both working and trying to make a decent living and lifestyle for their family, should not have to pay hundreds of dollars for insurance each month. So what is the solution for these hard working individuals. I'm not worried about those bums who are laying around and getting free guvment cheese, etc. They have free healthcare and who knows what else, provided by Uncle Sugar. They use the same Doctors and Hospitals I do, and don't pay a dime. But some families are content with having generations live off the system. As for the puritan work ethic here in the good ole USA? What's wrong with a little hard work?? I thought we were supposed to work to pay for free food and healthcare for the ones who want to sit on their tails! So, again, please tell me how we can improve the system and get the "working class" health care premiums down. These "other" countries health care programs can't be that great. Any time you have everyone getting an almost freebie, the lines will be long, with long waits for prodecures, etc.... I wish NORPOLE would tell us what his wife thinks of the wonderful health care system in Canada. My relative there, tell me nothing but horror stories.

Fallser4life,

Thanks for the excellent comments!! Finally someone thinks like me. I am still waiting for people like NORPOLE to let us know what his wife thinks of the Canadian health care system. Is that the system that Hillary and the Democrats are promising us?? The bottom line is that we need to get the health care costs down. One way is for ALL Americans to start paying their own way. This includes the Pez Dispensers, and deadbeats. I don't care if they make minumun wage, they should be putting their fair share back into the system. Many cities, including the one I live in and I-Falls, are full of these welfare for life people, who need to get off their butts and work and help pay for some of these benefits. THEY are draining the system. They account for some of the highest payouts in services rendered, but don't pay a dime into it. That costs then have to be passed on to us, who work and have to pay high premiums. So to the Liberals, what system do you have to offer, other than more welfare and freebies?? I refuse to pay more taxes, so that the deadbeats can get even more guvment cheese. I want someone to present an alternative plan, that makes sense, and makes everyone accountable for paying into it. Not just us hard workers.

norpole,

WOW!!!! I thought I was losing my touch, but you proved that I still have it. I'm sorry I offended you with me comments on Hillary, but I guess you think it is alright when people in the good old USA call President Bush, names like Hitler, a killer, etc.... ?? I have no problem with the "pez dispensers", as long as a) they pay for their "own" medical costs, or b) have the guts to go after the sperm donors, and have them pay for the medical and raising of the child. You have my word on that. You say I come up with off the wall ideas to shoot down some legimate ideas. Well, when was one presented on here? Other than more taxes and the same old handouts. I do not pretend to know it all, but there have been some very smart people who have written on here, who appear to know how to research these ideas, and I sure would like to hear their prescriptions for health care cost reform. Are you offended because some of what I said applies to you?? And don't you dare compare the heathcare I earned from servining 21 and a half years in the military, to that of the people living on welfare because they just want to sit back and let the guvment serve them. I spent over five years of my life under water in submarines, protecting this great country, and believe it or not, our missles were protecting Canada also. So I believe I paid into the health care system in more ways than one!!!! You are right in the fact that many Americans are forced into bankruptcy because of medical bills. I think it is one of the leading causes of filing for bankruptcy. But I have also seen people file for medical bankruptcy, when they were not bankrupt. The husband and wife were bringing in $34.00/hr, but just decided they didn't want to pay the 47K in medical bills, etc. . . . So who paid for those costs? You and me did. So norpole, that is how I as a proud American and Republican see the world tonight. I could go on and on, but you get my drift!! But don't you EVER dare put down again, my service to my country and the few benifits that came from being away from my country, family, and life in general.

Humor, even abusive humor, always gets better ratings than cold, clear logic. You lucky folks in the Falls probably don't have to listen to Michael Savage [nomen est omen] doing what he does best ["red-diaper doper baby" is his slam against baby boomers], insulting anyone he doesn't agree with. One of the most educated people on talk radio, Savage is the poster child for a style of rhetoric called ad hominem abusive. It is easy to do -- abuse your opponent rather than hold a civil discussion about the merits of their ideas. On the left, Al Franken, who wants to be our senator, is just okay at it. Call Rush Limbaugh a big, fat idiot and you don't need to have an educated idea in your head. And you probably don't. One problem with a style that is totally ad hominem abusive is that it is an intellectual dead end -- about as productive as torturing small animals. The other is that it makes grown men cry -- or even worse, retaliate. In the tiny world of the blog, that is not a big deal, but let's hope we don't start electing them to public office. Powerless, they just ******; in power, they become demagogues.
Good night International Falls.

TLJ,

So, you must listen to one of my favorite people, Michael Savage?
He like you appears to be very educated, but you two are at the oposite ends of the spectrum, I would guess!! But you gave a fair opinion of the "ad hom" talking heads. I guess I am so outspoken is because I refuse to "roll over" and give into every little whim dreamed up by the people I usually don't agree with (yes, some are liberals). I stopped listening to Rush quite a few years ago, he actually gets quite boring. And Michael Savage, is quite intertaining. Do I agree with every thing he says? Heck no!! But he (like you said) is very educated and actually comes up with some interesting ideas, buts also likes to rant and rave (like me) on others!! So call me a Michael Savage wannabe, that's OK. Actually a compliment I would say.

NORPOLE,

As for you. I was not threatening you!! Just because I say, don't you ever dare", you should not become paranoid that I will do harm to you or your family. Many people on these blogs have said to me, "don't you dare" or "how dare you". Did I grab a gun and go after them?? Calm down. I am only throwing verbal barbs your way. And I wouldn't consider myself a "bigot", even though Webster might try to define me as one, since I am "fanatically devoted" to my polital party. But as I have said before, nominate someone like Joe Biden and I will race you to the voting booth. But I think we "ALL" should get back to where this blog started (by you), and that is funding health care. I don't think you or I have any magical wands we can wave to fix it. And we surely have differing opinions on how any money alloted should be allocated. I think if the top 1% rolled their money back, and everyone who works contributed their fair share into the system, it would help. But the key issue is to get the healh care costs down. What (in your opinion) is driving them up so much, and causing these high premiums? I know I don't have all the answers. And I don't trust ANY politician to have them!!

roj2000, it was insensitive of me to be so crass, and i thank you for your understanding. I hope that together we can find ways to make our beloved int'l falls and indeed our america the best it can be. People like you who have stepped up to the plate and dedicated many years of service are truly the heroes we need to thank, so again, my friend, I am sorry and please have a wonderful day.(By the way, I asked the wife about Canada's health care system and she gave me the Bronx cheer, which is when you stick your tongue out and blow, so you were right, no answer from up north.)