Kennedy, Baucus say 'common ground' on healthcare

I'm all for putting the government's finger on the scale here. The only parties making money are insurance companies and pharmaceutical firms. Maybewith a public alternative, they'll have to be a little less greedy to compete.

I'm not greedy, I'll take the equivalent of the Congressional healthcare benefit. I mean hey, if it's good enough for them...

I'm all for putting the government's finger on the scale here. The only parties making money are insurance companies and pharmaceutical firms. Maybewith a public alternative, they'll have to be a little less greedy to compete.

Posted by Kathleen Hussein in Maine June 1, 09 11:22 AM

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If the government starts up its own it will bankrupt the private sector. Nothing good can come from it. Do you really think companies will keep their own private stuff if they just shove it off on the taxpayer? People grow up!

I agree with Kathleen's comment. Private insurers, like Blue Cross/Worst Shield only care about profit at the expense of lives. As for the pharmaceutical giants, they are too busy working on male enhancement, pattern baldness, and eyelash length to give a damn.
e.-

Universal Healthcare is a cruel hoax! Perhaps Teddy would like to donate his trust fund to offset the costs. Will John and Jane Doe get the same care as Teddy?
Between Universal Healthcare and "Global warming" the inmates are running the asylum

Putting this article under "Political Intelligence" is an oxymoron. Anything that Kennedy thinks up is destined for failure. Think Immigration Bill of the 80's.

Please Ted, for the sake of the country, go gently into retirement.

I agree with #1. If we are to move forward on this "overhaul," we cannot have more of the same! A public component is the very least we must have. Tough if the insurance companies and the pharmaceuticals don't like it [what are they afraid of -- that they'll lose their billions in profits? Please.] Why should citizens have to sacrifice while these behemoths trample over us -- e.g., crushing the drug component in Congress, etc. Of course, Congress MUST NOT CAVE this time!!

As for the pharmaceutical giants, they are too busy working on male enhancement, pattern baldness, and eyelash length to give a damn.
e.-

Posted by keesh June 1, 09 01:07 PM

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Male enhancement and Viagra are the engines that drive the profits for the development esoteric cures. Where do you think the money comes from? Some people here are just so ignorant and have no idea how business works. Like government run health care and a bureaucrat adding up your societal value before you get a transplant will be so much more fairer. Rationed health care is the only way a single payer system can work, your parents and grand parents will become cheaper when dead, and I quote from HHS nominee's book Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis, he states that old people should just accept the conditions of their age. He was going to be HHS secretary, now he is on the board of Healthymagination for GE, look up that on Google if you were mad about Dick Cheney and Haliburton this one will make your head spin.

I also agree with Kathleen. A government plan will promote competition and encourage private insurers to hold down administrative costs, a huge contributing factor to the health care crisis--more so than the actual costs of care. Enacting legislation or regulations to limit private administrative costs would be far less effective than having a public plan competing in the market.

"RIDING THE RAILS OVER A CLIFF:" ( The latest and truly horrific description of the perilous journey of our nations uninsured.) A large portion of this unfortunate group falling through the cracks are middle class Americans. The non group premiums are so outrageously high that they could break the financial back of the family home. Even then there is no guarrantee that the for profit health insurance companies will even pay their claims especially vulnerable non group claims. I have a question for Senator Max Baucus: Senator do you have any idea of how many uninsured Ameicans suffering from untreated cancers,and thousands of other deadly afflictions have succumed to premature death? Some estimates put it in the millions since the Truman Administration. I firmly believe that it is God's will that you should join Senator Ted Kennedy and make available what you and fellow law makers possess for your own famillies duplicate in form ,affordable, guarranteed renewable, non denial of claims and including preexisting conditions.
They shoud not pay one penny more than what fortunate members of the House and Senate pay for the same coverage.

We have a single-payer government run health plan called Medicare, which currently has 33 trillion (with a "t") dollars in unfunded liabilities.

Name one government program that is cost effective, or even well run. What we'll end up with is a healthcare system that has Mass Pike managers and MBTA union workers.

Medicare is a single payer system and costs 2-3% of claims to administer. Private insurance costs 25-28% of claims to administer. Look it up for yourself. With emergency room visits and no preventive care all of "those" people without insurance are being paid for by you and me anyway. All lobbyists and the pharmaceutical industry will fight single payer to the bitter end as their gravy train would come to an end. If you like lobbyists, high administration fees, high executive compensation, 20% increase/yr, no cooperative group pharmaceutical purchasing then keep saying that a govt. plan costs too much. I'll see all of you at the poor house in ten years, only the rich will be seeing your and my doctors. Viva no health care.

Simple question... why does Edward "Silver Spoon (aka "Chappaquiddick") Kennedy keep getting elected? At the very least, term limits for everyone!