YOUR COMMENTS

I think that this is another Republicanic plot like that of Isakson of Georgia that resulted in the "death panel" stuff being inserted into the health care bill. Just who is in line to kill grandma now?
- Robert, Deerfield

Spike from Brentwood: " imposition of total socialism." So, you're saying that our public education, military, police, highways, etc. etc. are "socialism"? You and your ilk are determined to undo a landslide election. You selfishly want to deny millions of people healthcare. I don't know what you do in Brentwood, but you obviously didn't receive a thorough education. If you don't want to participate in public insurance/healthcare don't, but if you accept Social Security + Medicare ever in your life you are a hypocrite!
- weena, wolfeboro

Why are people talking about "rushing" a health care plan that will serve all Americans? Presidents since Harry Truman in 1948 have been working for this. 60 years is "rushing" it?

What is the talk about a plan that serves all Americans being "rationing" of health care. Health care is rationed every day according to what job you have (if any), what existing conditions you have, and how much money you have.

Why is it that people who say only the private sector can deliver good services are worried about a "public" option. If the private sector services are that much better they will be the winners. They will have 40 million more Americans signing up for their services.

Why are people shouting "socialism?". Because more health care money will be coming from the government? Almost all the money for our schools comes from the government. Almost all the money for our roads comes from the government. All the money for the Army comes from the government. Is the Army socialism?

Let's say there is a "public" option. Let's say 1 out of 6 Americans joins. That leaves 5/6 or 83% of $700 billion going to private sector health care plans. $575 billion for private sector health care is "socialism"? NOT!

A lot of people are worried. There are questions to be answered and compromises to be made. But why do journalists and politicians who don't agree with the plan intentionally trying to scare people with talk about "death panels" and "socialism"?
- David Allen, Center Barnstead

Mr. President, thank you for taking my question on why you chose not to chastise congress for a two tier healthcare system; one for Congress and one for the rest of us. In your answer, you stated government employees including members of Congress can shop for healthcare as a group and as such have considerable negotiating power with insurance companies. During your presentation you mentioned several times how unfair the big bad insurance companies are. What you and Congress have completely overlooked is that current restrictions are on citizens, not the insurance companies where they belong. Ordinary citizens, you know the kind who founded this country, are prohibited by law from forming a group for the purpose of obtaining insurance. Small businesses, individuals and others not working for large companies are prohibited by current law from going to insurance companies as a group and as a result pay the highest rates for the least amount of health insurance. Neither the house nor senate versions of healthcare reform address this. Shouldn’t the government empower and enable its citizens to obtain the best healthcare possible? Any restrictions, including not denying pre-existing conditions, should be placed on insurance companies, not citizens.
The current proposals for healthcare reform may be the best current members of congress could come up with, however America deserves and should demand a lot better.
- Michael Layon, Derry

Mr. Obama, I find your claim refutable, that such a large piece of legislation will not have an impact on the national deficit. I find this very hard to believe. The 787 billion-dollar stimulus bill has, and will continue to accrue, billions of dollars to a debt which cannot be indemnified. The bureaucrats in Washington, do not seem to be concerned about the rising deficit.
- A.T., Laconia

I'll tell you what, Mac; why don't you just stick with whatever insurance you've got and let the people who WANT a public option administered by the government go ahead and set one up.

And when you lose your benefits or your job because your private company would rather pocket some more profits then you can just go without coverage. That's capitalism for ya, so have at it.

No-one said you had to join a government program, so don't.
- Bob V, Manchester

"They do it all the time," he said. "UPS and FedEx are doing just fine. ... It's the Post Office that's always having problems."

Great example, Mr. President. Oh, did you know that UPS and FedEx are private organizations while the Post Office is government-run? That for YEARS, the Post Office thought overnight delivery was impossible. I guess private enterprise proved that wrong, huh?

You're not fooling anybody.

The questions I ask about the healthcare reform bill are rooted in simple common sense:

1) If we are getting access to the same plan members of congress and the president now enjoy, why not just drop that plan in the mail to us? Why are you creating a 1,000+ page bill from scratch? Just drop the plan in the mail and you save both time and money.

2) Why have you shot down ALL attempts to put yourselves on the same plan you are trying to pass? If we are getting the same plan you have, wouldn't you want to prove to the American people that this really is disinformation on behalf of the republicans and the insurance and drug industry? Put your money where your mouth is and propose it yourselves. "We (congress) will give up the program we are currently on and go on exactly the same plan we are trying to pass." That right there would shut down virtually ALL opposition. Care to do it?

3) Why not refer to page and paragraph of your plan when questions arise by your opponents. Don't just say "it's in there." Where is it referred to EXACTLY?

If anyone is spreading fear, it's Obama and congre$$.
- Jim D, Hillsboro

David Goss, where does the reform bill dictate who lives and dies? I'd say the current system, where people who don't have health insurance die, is a worse state of affairs.
- Texter, Newfields

Obama holds a cherry picked "town hall" in a far Left area of the country where he received 80% of the vote. His speech is big on campaign Left-Wing talking points, but short on specifics. He did not specifically address any of the bills pending before Congress - particularly HR3200.

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text

All 1,000 pages of it - hope you know a lawyer to explain.

Nevertheless, it seems like the “enlightened” Progressives have an inability to perform simple math while wallowing in their sheltered enclaves of upper class northeastern suburbs espousing the virtues of social engineering. About 60% of the population does not want a government forced, socialized medicine program of rationed health care, and the gargantuan bureaucracy that will inevitably come with it - a new system that’s even more flawed and less efficient than our present one.

Obama and Democrat leaders in Congress tout the "public option" while not mentioning the fact that the closest thing we have to a "public option" (Medicare) is beyond broke. Nor do the Democrats precisely explain how they plan to pay for the program without increasing taxes on the middle class, or increasing the government's deficit. Trusting a "public option" to reform heath care costs, is like trusting the Obama administration's failed "economic stimulus package" to fix the economy and create / save jobs. In short, the far Left's spending plans have not worked. They only create a society that relies not on a strong economy and liberty, but instead relies upon federal government dependence. As Thomas Jefferson once commented, "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government".
- Mac Wade, Newmarket

So let me get this straight...you dont mind overpaying for lousy coverage while the insurance companies make billions of dollars Thats ridiculous.Health care reform will force these companies to be more competitive and provide a better product.Its too bad there are so many people commenting here who dont have a clue.Since when is that socialism.You people are the joke
- duncan leary, bedford

David,

I'm sorry you don't care what anyone else thinks, but health care plans have been around for decades. Just because you haven't been paying attention doesn't mean this hasn't been a long, drawn out process. It has.

I have no idea what you're talking about with "who lives and who dies," but I suggest you hit the books to learn what's really in the plans -- stop getting your information from the likes of Sarah Palin.

I'm relieved that Obama is taking this hard work on.
- Todd, Arlington, MA

Gerri Monteforte, I am dismayed that people like you vote.

You DO NOT RUSH things that dictate who lives and dies and who pays for it. EVER.

I don't care what you think. If that's how you want to live, go to Europe. That's not America.
- David Goss, Manchester

"They do it all the time," he said. "UPS and FedEx are doing just fine. ... It's the Post Office that's always having problems."

So he wants to run our health care like he runs the post office? Seems like a waste of a trillion dollars to me. He can actually hold the post office up as a model of efficiency? This guy is a joke.
- Wayne S, Manchester

Remember when Obama was running for president and he said reforming health care was one of the first things he would do? He wasn't lying.
- Jeremy, Goffstown

Mr. President, I really appreciate all you've done, you reallycame to a huge mess and it cn't be easy to work with people who have the same old politics as usual attitude. I for one like your approach as I don't like the speed in which things have been done in the past. I have never been prouder to have voted for someone as I have for you. I am sure things will work out great. Hang in there Mr. President and keep explaining to people the way things really are I'm sure you're gaining the trust of more and more people by the day.
- Gerri Monteforte, Brookfield

What is really scary after listening to our President is that even he does not know what is in the plan. My god what are the Democrats doing.

The Democrats cannot be trusted as they have shown over the last 6 months with money.
- Bob, Salem

I don't think these people are trying to "scare and mislead the American people". I think they are just real ignorant. It's like calling the proposed health care changes socialism. These people really believe it which just makes them ignorant.
Or to say the bill has "ghoulish components" which it does not. Though the current system is definately goulish, health care decided by desk jockeys at insurance companies, private companies raising rates 3 times inflation, anybody sick losing there job goes bankrupt. People dying because they don't have access to health insurance,#37 in the world for health system that cost twice as much as all other health care systems, 3-4 month waits for specialists. Anybody that likes the status quo is really out of touch with reality.
- Kevin, Derry NH

He's telling them what they want to hear, rather than what is in the legislation, both HR3200 and the Senate Version released a couple of days ago.

As to fearmongering, why are we being exhorted and lectured to by our President about having to pass this legislation now before the sky falls and the roof caves in around us? Because he wants it passed before too many more people figure out it is all a big lie to control another segment of American industry and the American people.
- Sandy, Thornton

I've watched this closely. The misinformation isn't coming from the people, it's coing from Congress and the President. They either don't know what is in the bill or are directly lying to us. People are reading this bill and the more they do, the more Obama and the Dems face opposition. I trust people and private industry more than I will ever trust Congress and Washington. I can hold my insurance company and doctor accountable by virtue of choice. The government take over of our healthcare system eliminates choice. It's in the bill Mr President....there is a provision for the elimination of private insurance.
- michael, londonderry

Mr. Obama seamlessly accuses his opponents of relying on fear while trying to advance a bill (whose contents he cannot defend, and sometimes claims not to have read) by creating an atmosphere of panic and insisting that we need to race to pass a bill that has truly ghoulish components.

He cannot have it both ways, unless he can convince Americans to bask in his coolness rather than analyze his words.

The fact that Americans spend a lot of money on our health is not a statement of a problem and does not require imposition of total socialism.
- Spike, Brentwood NH