House Passes Health Care Reform

[palemale]

The House of Representatives passed health care reform tonight with 220 votes, but only one Republican voted for it. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/07/house-health-care-vote-br_n_349468.html

Here's hoping the Republicans, the enemies of human progress, fail in their benighted attempts to withhold health care for millions of Americans.

 

[JB3]

The House of Representatives passed health care reform tonight with 220 votes, but only one Republican voted for it. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/07/house-health-care-vote-br_n_349468.html

Here's hoping the Republicans, the enemies of human progress, fail in their benighted attempts to withhold health care for millions of Americans.

Oh please. How about you actually debate the merits of the trash that they just passed? It makes the senate's bill look sane...

 

[MystikWizard]

I am ecstatic to hear that it passed, but at the same time, deeply disturbed.

220 Yea
215 Nea

I find the closeness of this vote very unsettling. Not sure what the deal was with the 39 Democrats that voted against it.

 

[palemale]

Oh please. How about you actually debate the merits of the trash that they just passed? It makes the senate's bill look sane...

I'm happy to debate the merits. I'm also happy to point out how the Repulicans are, once again, on the wrong side of history. The Republicans, as a conservative party, are the enforcers of the status quo and, after Lincoln, have repeatedly been on the wrong side of history. They opposed the League of Nations, the reforms of the New Deal, and entry into WWII. They opposed Medicare, Civil Rights legislation (the conservative wing did, not the Northern liberals in the GOP). I could go on. Now they are opposed to any meaningful reform of our disastrous health care system. Let's debate whether the Republicans. Let's debate whether the Republicans ever will learn that sometimes countries must adapt to new circumstances. Let's debate whether they will remain a viable and meaningful political party.

 

[NickCole]

The words you will hear about this the most tomorrow: Historic and landmark. But for the wire coat hanger amendment, that might be true.

 

[opinterph]

… I find the closeness of this vote very unsettling. Not sure what the deal was with the 39 Democrats that voted against it.

Some of the Democratic Representatives need political cover for their future reelection efforts.

 

[lostnfound]

Do you guys think this is the first step towards a single-payer system?

 

[Kulindahr]

Here's hoping the Republicans, the enemies of human progress, fail in their benighted attempts to withhold health care for millions of Americans.

Um...
That's so full of nonsense I don't even know where to begin.

I am ecstatic to hear that it passed, but at the same time, deeply disturbed.

220 Yea
215 Nea

I find the closeness of this vote very unsettling. Not sure what the deal was with the 39 Democrats that voted against it.

Maybe they and the Republicans read it.

The words you will hear about this the most tomorrow: Historic and landmark. But for the wire coat hanger amendment, that might be true.

The what????

 

[Ambrocious]

Do you guys think this is the first step towards a single-payer system?

I think it's a first step into "We are your government and you take what we offer or die" kind of system.

To hell with options...we can have other people make up our minds FOR us! Oh happy day! Now if I get into a really bad accident and I may want to live, if the doctor says that I should probably just die, his voice is more important!

And for anyone of you elderly out there, hope you enjoy your restrictive health care not to mention your "every 5 years of death counciling" on why you should die for a greener environment".

I love not being able to choose! So happy that I no longer can get what I want! I told them I wanted an apple but they gave me a pissed off angry cat! Now THAT'S what I call a darn great job!


Now that I'm finished with my "SCRUBS" like rant, I'd just like to say that we should all have a choice to seek treatment from wherever we want. With this bill passing we do not get all those options. But for the millions of mindless backwoods inbreeds, this bill will do WONDERS for you since you think the best way to cure syphilis is with some gun powder and a match! Oh yes...the health care bill is far better than that...but it still bites.

 

[mega]

Wire coat hanger amendment would be a reference to the abortion restriction... not good for women's rights.

 

[Kulindahr]

Wire coat hanger amendment would be a reference to the abortion restriction... not good for women's rights.

Oh -- the soap box stunt.

That's a throw-away, 'cause they know it won't stick in conference.

 

[Dobson73]

Some of the Democratic Representatives need political cover for their future reelection efforts.

I wish they could think about their constituents for once and not themselves.

Dreams are free, I guess.

 

[lostnfound]

If the public option turns into a take-over, then it's going to put a strain on the quality and number of doctors out there. I have a few friends who are med students and I know someone who is an advisor for pre-meds and they all agree: most, not all, enter med school for the high-earning salaries. Yes, a small number are in it for altruistic reasons, but let's be real here. Anyways, that's another issue. So, if it's a single-payer system, salaries will be lowered, by how much I don't know, but you can't deny that this will impact physician salaries. This will mean in less interest in people to become doctors. If less people are interested, then there will be a shortage of practicing physicians. So, by supply and demand, to meet an increase in health care consumers (via expansion of coverage) there has to obviously be an increase in physicians. How to do that? Ease up medical school admissions significantly. Med school admissions rate are notoriously low (2%-24% of applicants get in, depending on the school); average GPAs are about 3.7. So if admission standards are lowered, the high standards of doctors will go down. On the other hand, a tougher admissions process results in a lot of hard work in students--ever meet a pre-med or med student? They are always studying their butts off because it is extremely competitive. Imagine being a student, and you know it's easy, wouldn't you just study up to the minimum to get by? Also, Med school is extremely expensive and many end up $200K -$300K in debt. Would people want to be in that kind of debt and make a slightly above average salary?

I wish I could say that there are doctors and students that have good intentions, look at Doctors Without Borders, but I'm speaking from personal experience. People want to be doctors for a number of reasons, but they want to be justifiably rewarded for the hard work that goes in it.

I hope that the public option, if it passes in the senate, will have specific details about how they will limit it's expansion.

 

[evanrick]

I am ecstatic to hear that it passed, but at the same time, deeply disturbed.

220 Yea
215 Nea

I find the closeness of this vote very unsettling. Not sure what the deal was with the 39 Democrats that voted against it.

39 democrats could AFFORD to vote against it.

the easier thing to do would be nothing.

just be glad the bill passed without ANY republican support (OK 1 REPUBLICAN HAS A CONSIENCE)

Look at it this way, those 39 democrats are still democrats, and if they voted for the bill, their republican challengers could use that against them when they face re-election.

its politics 101.

it does not matter the margin, THE BILL PASSSSSSSSED!

A HUGE VICTORY FOR THE PRESIDENT!



and to Lostnfound, saying doctors are in it for the money is short-sighted. 70% of physicians support a public option, and doctor quality is already a problem.

Im guessing your med student friends wouldnt support any kind of health reform, so their opinion is a minority position.

as for doctors salaries, and their competitiveness, is a moot point.

doctors really dont practice medicine anymore, they practice sick-care, and most doctors out there only do the minimum because its easier to give someone prescription drugs then to tell them they need to live a healthy life!

 

[NineOfClubs]

This bill, in its present form, will never make it through the Senate.

And, what a sad day for freedom and capitalism.....

 

[evanrick]

Oh -- the soap box stunt.

That's a throw-away, 'cause they know it won't stick in conference.

HAHA SO TRUE!

The problem is the republicans DIDNT WANT "Taxpayer funded abortions" but they support every kind of capital punishment and endless war out there.

democrats AGREED to placate republicans on this- BUT THEY STILL DIDNT VOTE FOR THE BILL

 

[evanrick]

Do you guys think this is the first step towards a single-payer system?

ABSOLUTELY! We would have single payer LIKE EVERY OTHER MODERN DEMOCRACY if it were not for the perpetuation of sick-care, billionaires-for-wealthcare mantra the insurance industry espouses.

 

[NineOfClubs]

HAHA SO TRUE!

The problem is the republicans DIDNT WANT "Taxpayer funded abortions" but they support every kind of capital punishment and endless war out there.

democrats AGREED to placate republicans on this- BUT THEY STILL DIDNT VOTE FOR THE BILL

The Dem's didn't do this "to placate the republicans" but to satisfy Rep. Stupak (D) and many other pro-lifers who are Democrats.

Or maybe you just haven't been paying attention...

 

[bynm27]

i don't know why y'all are happy about this, being that it only takes effect in 2013. shit, we need healthcare now, SINGLE-PAYER. not this bullshit bill that will only be watered down even more once it hits the senate.

 

[NineOfClubs]

i don't know why y'all are happy about this, being that it only takes effect in 2013. shit, we need healthcare now, SINGLE-PAYER. not this bullshit bill that will only be watered down even more once it hits the senate.

Exactly, it will be almost four years before anyone benefits, but many will begin paying now...