Hillary is going to garnish our wages to cover health care?

Oh Peachy, how I wish I would not have to pay almost 1/2 of the property taxes that go towards the school system. We never had children, no grandchildren yet I still HAVE TO PAY the taxes for the school district.

What would they do if I didn't? After 5 years of not paying they would confiscate my house and sell it at public auction for back taxes. Is THAT fair?

LOL!  I never said people shouldn't have health insurance!  I think it's pretty stupid to not be covered.  But I don't think the answer is mandating a law that you either pay or it will be taken from you.  That's crazy!  Just do something to make the costs affordable for everyone.  I don't know the answer, but I do know that if we just roll over and give them permission to take what they want we will regret it. 

grelo, there are a lot of things that aren't fair already.  Do you want to just keep adding to the money that the government wants to take from you?  They already get enough!  It's MY money and MY business what I do with it!  I don't want them taking any more.  They should learn how to manage their money better and stop wasting rather than keep taking and taking from us.

You go ahead and tell THEM, Peachy, and see how far you get.

You complaint is no better or worse than mine. Why should I pay to educate children of other people when we did not have any?

I do nit think they will collect fro those who pay for their own insurance or have it through employment. Supposedly only those who can aford but do not buy insurance would be made to join the program and that is no more than right. Otherwise they can go to the ER, have operations and claim the have b no insurance and can't pay for the services and everybody else has to pay through their nose to carry those deadbeats.

I grew up with "socialized medicine", it has worked in Germany for about 100 yrs. You hear horror stories about thigs in every country, incl. the US. Medicare is a form of socialized medicine people have had  to pay  for through wage deductions. Just because it is supposed to be for their old age doe not make much difference, they are forced to pay it as long as they are ganfully (and legally) employed.

Let's face it, it has been a democartic dictatorship for quite some years, ecer since FDR. and his New Deal.

peachygirl_GA:

But I don't think the answer is mandating a law that you either pay or it will be taken from you.  That's crazy!  Just do something to make the costs affordable for everyone. 

 

Car insurance is mandated in every state. Forget affordable; do you think that's "crazy" too? I "regret" having to shell out the premiums for all the different insurances we have -- by necessity -- acquired, but I couldn't afford the higher risk of going without either.

 

In its present form, universal health insurance is the State -- and there by the taxpayers -- saying they are not willing to assume the risk/cost for your lack insurance, thereby putting the onus of 'personal responsibility' back on the individual... ooh, doesn't that sound s-o-o like a Republican talking point? 

 

LP your horror story leaves out the fact that countries that had socialized health care do NOT give better health care than what we already receive in this country. Unless you are very well off, your regular doctor is the ER. That is NOT good health care. nor is much of the long term care needed for serious illness.

 

Turtle that is my point, in socialism the government decides everything for everyone in an attempt to make it all equal. That can never happen and have a good, solid economy. People can try to put her ideas in the best light and they are still socialistic. Heaven forbid you don't buy insurance because you would rather use that money for something else, the government thinks you should have to pay, they will make you pay.

 

PG it was implied in what you said from the way I read it. As if anyone who refuses to buy insurance has neither and the government must make the decision for them.

 Many health care costs are high because of how hospitals do their billing. Lets say they use 2 gloves in your exam, they charge you for the entire box. Until patiants start really looking at their bills and demanding laws be passed preventing that cr@p, m those costs will never go down. Many costs are because people who do have good insurance are given every test imaginable, when they do not need them. I think most people would agree that HMOs are horrible, yet if this idea of Hillary's gets going, what kind of insurance do you think you are going to end up getting?

You know what LP, I'm not crazy about all of those things either, but should we just go ahead and add another mandate?  Nowhere in the constitution does it say that the govt should provide healthcare for people.  It IS personal responsibility. 

It's like this:  What if there were a certain classroom, and 5 of the 20 kids refused to study or work hard to pass the test so the teacher MANDATED that the other 15 kids GIVE the 5 kids part of their grade that they WORKED for.  Those kids did nothing to earn that grade, yet the other kids who did work hard didn't get what they deserved in order to make up for the other kids.  That's just not fair.

WASHINGTON - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday she might be willing to garnish the wages of workers who refuse to buy health insurance to achieve coverage for all Americans.

The New York senator has criticized presidential rival Barack Obama for pushing a health plan that would not require universal coverage. Clinton has not always specified the enforcement measures she would embrace, but when pressed on ABC's "This Week," she said: "I think there are a number of mechanisms" that are possible, including "going after people's wages, automatic enrollment."

Clinton said such measures would apply only to workers who can afford health coverage but refuse to buy it, which puts undue pressure on hospitals and emergency rooms. With her proposals for subsidies, she said, "it will be affordable for everyone."

Clinton also suggested that Obama would be more susceptible to Republican attack ads in a general election because he has not been scrutinized for years as she has.

"I've been through the Republican attacks over and over again," she said. When Obama was elected to the Senate from Illinois in 2004, she said, he "didn't face anyone who ran attack ads" comparable to those aimed at her.

The presidential contenders in both parties campaigned all-out on Sunday, two days before the Super Tuesday voting in 24 states holding primaries or caucuses.

Clinton was campaigning in Missouri and Minneapolis. Obama scheduled a rally in Wilmington, Del., while some of his highest-profile surrogates — his wife, Michelle, Oprah Winfrey and Caroline Kennedy — were rallying voters in Los Angeles. Among Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain was stumping in Connecticut and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney scheduled stops in Glen Ellyn, Ill., and the St. Louis suburb of Maryland Heights. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was concentrating on the South, with appearances in Georgia and Tennessee.

McCain told "Fox News Sunday" he would veto any tax increase passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress. McCain, who opposed President Bush's first two tax cuts, now says Congress should make the reductions permanent, and that there also should be further tax reductions for business investments.

His chief rival, Romney, told the ABC program that McCain "doesn't understand the economy" and that his advocacy of a higher gasoline tax to combat global warming would hurt U.S. consumers.

Romney also called on Huckabee to drop from the race. In response, called the suggestion "ludicrous," noting that only a fraction of the delegates needed to win the Republican presidential nomination had been apportioned thus far.

"I've got a different take on that. I think it's time for Mitt Romney to step aside," Huckabee said on CNN.

Roma, I am well aware of the myriad complexities of the US medical health care system including the pharmaceutical industries part in it also. I suppose that the best thing to do is nothing. Now if a State has a mandated health care insurance is that not also a form of socialism? Hmmmmm it appears okay for states but not federal right? I figure also that the best ones to comment on another Countries Socialized medicine policy are those that actually live there and utilize it. After raising 5 kids,sick,wounded in accidents,born with problem and other sundry medical necessities I think I have learned a little about the problems we are now facing. I'm just happy that we were able to have a good Health Insurance Plan when we needed it. But no one can deny that costs are spiraling out of control and something must be done about it, you have to start somewhere.

After thinking about this, I wonder if anyone knows how will it be determined if a person can afford health insurance? Also, has anyone said what affordable means?

 

 

I do not know how to fix the healthcare system but I know it is severely broken. I have insurance but the cost for prescriptions is prohibitive for me to get the ones I need. With insurance 9 pills will be $153 for me without insurance those same 9 pills are $298. So due to this cost I have stopped the meds and have gone to a generic that does the same job just with a lot more nasty side effects.

 

I am glad we have insurance so we only pay $20 for an office visit as long as there are no prescriptions given all is ok with our insurance all name brand prescription medications are unbelievable high. I have no idea how people with no insurance cope with these prices that seem to go up with every refill.

I have a question.....who determines who can and cannot afford their own health care? Is there some kind of chart or something, like say how much you earn, how many in the household, what your bills are, ect?  Personally I think health care is a personal choice and if you don't want it you shouldn't have your wages garnished or whatever the suggestion is. If you run up a high medical bill and make good wages you should expect to have to pay for your care in that facility. It's about priority, too. I was a single mom for 12 years with 4 children and we had medical insurance. I was a waitress and never made minimum wage so wasn't exactly wallowing in money but it was a priority for me to have it.  I suppose some people don't buy it because they figure why should they when they can get it free from the state?  If you want socialized medicine move to Canada.

There is no such thing as a free lunch...somebody has to pay and that's you and I with more taxes.

Elizabeth

gr_elo - you may not have children or grandchildren but someone paid taxes so you and other family members could get an education.  And you benefit from others being educated.  If others weren't educated you wouldn't have doctors, dentists, accountants, etc.  I'm sure you use the services of those whose educations you have helped pay for.  Can you imagine the mess this country would be in if we didn't have public education?

hikerchic:

Do I think this is a good idea,making people have insurance???   NO!!

 

 There is a huge difference between a case of the flu, even a bad case, and cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and a ton of other illnesses that will force you to go through untold suffering, when a visit to a doctor might either cure you or help you through the illness. There's been a lot of talk about health care in Canada. And yes, we pay higher taxes, because of our universal health care, than do our American counterparts, but I, for one, would rather pay higher taxes than think of my single fellow human being, legal or illegal, to go through an illness without health care. And I'm sure there is a lot of abuse in our system, but it still makes me feel better to know that every person in this country is receiving the same health care regardless of who pays for it. Not being an American I don't vote in your elections, but I'm having diffuculty understanding why universal health care is so scary to so many people. Yes, it's going to increase taxes for all but not by such huge amounts that most people will miss it much. And in this country taxes are geared to income, so those who can least afford it pay less than those who have higher incomes. Except for the very rich who pay very little for anything. But then some of them contribute to charities as tax write-offs, so it evens itself out somewhat. As for higher taxes - I already pay for a lot of worthy causes like schooling, social insurance, roads, 90% of which I will never use, and heavens know how many other foolish ones that my government thinks I should pay for. Health insurance is one of the worthy ones. As for paying school taxes - my one child hasn't been in school for years, but I feel that it's only fair for me to pay school taxes - when I live to be 102 and will be living in publicly funded facility, I want everybody's children well educated and well employed and paying taxes to keep me in those said institutions. Somebody without children paid for my kid to get educated and I'm just doing my bit. Do I wish I had more disposable income? Of course I do, but given the alternative I'll just keep paying taxes and live in this free, wonderful country of mine. I'm still better off than 95% of the world's population. 

Having said all that, I do wish my government would save money in other areas, and direct it to health insurance, environment, schooling, social programs, etc, but it's never going to happen. Too many empire builders in different levels of government who don't want to limit their spending or power or importance for that to happen.

One thing we can do, though, is to educate the public - don't run to the doctor with every sniffle, cold, cough, ingrown toenail, scrape and scratch. Don't go to emergency unless absolutely necessary, and keep health insurance out of the hands of for-profit companies. Nobody should make a decision about people's health except the people and their doctors. Keep the beaurocrats away from it. At least as far as you can get beaurocrats out of government.  

There are no easy answers to this, but given that governments of all countries seem to be spending money on all kinds of less important things than social programs, seems they could spare some for something as vital as healthcare. 

starchild:

don't know what that means, like taking a certain amount out of salaries to pay for health care?

 Isn't this what they do in Canada?

 

Edited:    Pipsgran I think I was writing this at the same time as you, but I will leave my post as it:is  You have expressed yourself, very well,    I agree with everything you have said, regarding our Canadian Health Care System.

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I can speak for what they do in Canada.     Money is not taken directly from your pay cheque, but is part of the calculation for your income taxes when you pay or get a refund each year.

What is taken from our pay cheque is CPP (Canada Pension Plan)  to a pre-determined maximum each year  and Employment Insurance, also there is a max.   Canada Pension entitles you to a Pension when you reach either age 60 (reduced amount) or age 65. of approx. $715.00 max. per month. (this applies only to people who work during their lifetime)  

 All residents who reside in Canada for 10 years or more prior to age 65, receive OAS  Old Age Security which is now currently $502.00 per month

If you are in a low income, you would not be contributing, but you still have access to all the Health Care that you require.   Granted there can be waiting lists for certain types of operations, but people with serious illnesses, Cancer, Heart, etc are all looked after, and not just with ER doctors.   You have your own Doctor, who is paid for your visits by the government of the Canadian province where you live. If you have Cancer, for example, your Dr. would send you to a surgeon, or an Oncologist, at the Hospital.   

Prescriptions are your responsibility, unless you have a plan through your employer, or if you are over 65, then you pay a minimum for your drugs, which is equal to the pharmacy's dispensing fee.  There are also plans which are available for people that are responsible for their own drugs.

Hope this might give you an idea regarding the Canadian Health Care system , nobody is turned away because they cannot afford Medical Care, or have to mortgage their homes, or be left with horrendous amounts of debt..

Heidi