YOUR COMMENTS

God Bless Douglas Marino for being interested in the future of our country and its families, and for articulating his opinion so well. (He's 13) I have to wonder, though, where he got his figures for average family yearly health care premiums. My husband and I have spent (for only two people) $8,000 premium per year, plus a $6000 deductible (that is $14,000) for each of the last two years for our health care. Still, we are not in favor of government takeover of anything. We have been able to choose our doctors and hospitals and have had no government panel dictating what services we require. We have been looking forward to Medicare next year, which was to reduce our expenses. Now we are very concerned about what Obama care may mean to Medicare. Please consider the point of view of a couple who have faithfully paid premiums for health care that has been extremely expensive for us. The government has methodically taken money from the medicare system which we have faithfully paid in to. One more important thing -- the government is giving all kinds of benefits to illegal aliens in this country. The health care bill will do that in an even bigger way. We have taken the time to read a good part of it. We are happy to welcome immigrants, but why oh why don't they have to follow the law the same as we do? That is a very big question. It is so unfair to those of us who do follow the law, and who would be prosecuted if we tried to get benefits for which we were not legally qualified. Health care needs reform, but government takeover is not the answer. Listen to those from other countries with socialized medicine who come here for their health care.
- Margaret, Westerly RI

To Whom It May Concern,



My name is Douglas Marino. I am 13 years old, and I am a supporter of President Barack Obama’s health care policies for these reasons. President Obama has said that any piece of health care legislation that he submits to Congress must contain these three priorities:
First the plan must reduce costs. For too long American people are losing their family members and loved ones because they cannot afford to pay for insurance.
Second, every American will have the right to choose their own doctor and health care plan. Many Americans today are not satisfied with their health insurance companies. President Obama’s plan will give these people an alternate choice.
Third, every American will have the right to quality and affordable health insurance. Everyone deserves the chance to have a healthy life for themselves and their children.

After conducting some research here are some rough statistics that I found. In 1999 family health care premiums were at $1,543 a year. It has been steadily rising each year and I found that when I am 23, health care premiums could be up to $30,282 a year if we keep our current system. In 1999, single payer health care premiums were at $318 a year. When I am 23, it could be up to $6,420 a year! This does not have to be our future. We can pass President Obama’s health care legislation and in return get quality, affordable health insurance for everybody. We must pass this legislation because it is the right thing for America.
I can only imagine the pain that you feel if you have top look your children in the eye and say that if he or she gets sick, they cannot pay for health insurance. We can’t keep going on the failed health care system we are currently on. That is why I wrote that letter so that President Obama will be able to get health care reform legislation passed and bring health care the reform that is long overdue. President Obama’s health care policies Have given me and millions of other Americans hope for the future. Please support President Obama.
With your help, we can win this health care fight. We’ve done it during the election and we will do it again.
Thank you,
Douglas Marino
- Douglas Marino, Newfields, NH

Don't worry -- this 'town hall' is going to be a dog and pony show... better off to stand with us outside with your anti Deathocrat health scare sign in our 'free speech' zone.

Gregg doesn't have to meet with us -- he already recognizes that the majority is against it and he won't vote for it.

The other three met in places they could deflect opponents... a seniors home and a phone call. I wonder what lies Hodes told those poor old people?

Ezekiel Emanuel has written your death prescription folks -- he is dangerous and he is running this show! Fight this at all costs.

Please research that on your own!
- Sue, Manchester

If the right had demonstrated even a *little* opposition to government spending when GW Bush was pouring billions per month into Iraq, this recent "outrage" over healthcare wouldn't seem so phony.- Dan, Manchester
>So according to you Dan, there was no need for the Iraq war. It was all just a needless rouse by Bush to spend money. I don't think you would have the guts to say that to our returning veterans. You liberals make me sick. I'll be glad when we are rid of you.
- Bill Bartlett, Concord

If the right had demonstrated even a *little* opposition to government spending when GW Bush was pouring billions per month into Iraq, this recent "outrage" over healthcare wouldn't seem so phony.
- Dan, Manchester

I get really annoyed when I read long commentaries by people like Kevin in Compton who admit to not knowing anything about the legislation. Just how difficult is it to go to the Library of Congress web site thomas.loc.gov and look it up? If people weren't so lazy and did their homework instead of listening to right wing radio hacks our democracy would work better.
- LJC, Manchester

At this point, since we don't know very many specifics about this legislation, it boils down to a simple statement: The government wants us to trust them to reform a virtual necessity in our lives. Frankly, wise men, with genius like abilities, created this republic with a guiding set of documents that have been used for nearly 250 years to steer us through many difficult periods in our history. One thing that comes through loud and clear in their guiding principles, was that government should never be trusted and should be kept on as short a leash as possible. There is no way anyone should trust this corrupt government (that includes the republicans as well as the democrats) to do anything in the public's interest. This government has destroyed the social security system, by taking money out of the trust fund that should have been left alone, and invested. This government, through its actions and inactions, has destroyed the financial services industry. This government has decimated the auto industry with mandates and regulation that forces the automakers into situations where they cannot compete with other non-union companies. This government has forced unnecessary regulation onto the backs of our manufacturing sectors, such that any company that wants to produce products, competitively, does so overseas. This government has destroyed our domestic energy industry (oil, and coal is soon to be regulated out of competitiveness) such that we send so much money overseas for oil that it is a national security threat. There are many other examples of things the government has done to destroy our country's affluence, but we continue to allow them to do so. We the people are the problem, and we the people are the solution, but it may be too late in that the government has become sufficiently powerful to disrupt the citizen's attempts to reign in the government, at which point the republic may be lost. Know this: Once we head down the path of ceding our freedoms to the government, we may not easily retreat from such a course of action. The bottom line is, never, ever trust the government to do anything, as they are the proverbial bull in the china shop. They destroy virtually everything the attempt to regulate, and our country's history is replete with examples.
- kevin, campton

Yesterday's print edition contained a Letter to the Editor from a voter who encountered SEIU (the government employees union) thugs at a political event. She recognized one later at a non-political event and he disclosed that he was a paid hand from the country of Trinidad. This, at the retail level, is one way that SEIU fakes a groundswell for "health care reform." It skims tax money off the top of state employee salaries, and can qualify for that $5,000 million in the "stimulus" package. SEIU is the face of ACORN in New Hampshire--self-preservation and expansion of the parasite sector by any means necessary.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

The healthcare question is finally being addressed. Rates and plans in this state are extremely high for the services provided. If you don't have the money for a plan or plans, then you don't get the care. What is the right thing to do? Perhaps, it is right in front of us. It is called Medicare and it works. There is a private component in the Medicare model and people can choose it. I don't know how many do, but it is available. There are many, many medigap plans available which you really do need with Medicare. So if this model is in place and has been in place for a good many years, why not expand it?
Just a thought...
- Joe Denning, Bristol

Call your supposid representative Porter and tell her "You are fired!"

It's their DUTY to represent US and LISTEN to US. Not ignore us.
- Jay, Manchester

Jim, Raymond,
Before attacking someone with legitmate concerns about our governments actions, think back to a few weeks ago when President Obama answered a question by stating that he didn't have all the facts and then went on to say that the Cambridge Police department "acted stupidly."
- Chris Kittle, Manchester

If the federal government wants to make it easier for people to pay for health care and health insurance, the federal government should allow people to deduct the full cost of health care and health insurance from their federal taxes.

If the federal government wants to increase competition in health insurance, the federal government should allow people and businesses to buy health insurance sold in other states.

People should be allowed to buy into Medicare or a health insurance plan similar to what members of Congress. Monthly premiums could be based on monthly incomes and coverage options.

People should NOT have to have health insurance.

Businesses should NOT have to provide health insurance to their employees or pay a tax if they do not. Requiring businesses to provide health insurance to their employees or pay a tax if they do not is likely to increase unemployment and inflation.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH

A guy at one of the town hall's said it best when he wanted to know why it took the Obama's six months to decide on the "perfect" breed of dog to get their family, but we have to pass his universal health care within a matter of weeks and prior to anyone reading and studying it at that!

Since most intelligent people have lost hope (or never bought the lie), let's vote for change and get rid of everyone currently in office next election. Perhaps that will send a message that we need statesmen not politicians, and we the people run the country and they work for us and they all better start listening or else. And guess what? Anger is not a sin and why shouldn't we be angry with extremely arrogant dictators?
- judy, bradford

Jim,
I don't know where you get your information, but what Eric is referring to can be found on Whitehouse.gov (hardly a right wing extremist site).
"There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov."
Your government at work comrade.
You said that Eric said he hadn't read the bill. Wrong again. Eric said he couldn't read the bill because it was so confusing and much of it was left to be worked out at a later time.
Have you read the whole bill Jim? Have you read all 1000+ pages of the bill?
I think you are willing to turn your life over to someone else. I personally won't do that and it looks like the majority of people in this country are with me.
- Jeannine, Weare

Every government program costs more and more the longer it exists, and usually that is forever, even if ineffective. We have few statesmen in Washington, only politicians whose main desire is to continue in office and enjoy the salary, healthcare benefits, and a wonderful retirement program that we all pay for as taxpayers. Some reputable organization should undertake an indepth study that describes, in detail, how our represenatives are compensated and then publish the results so that we all can decide if we are getting what we are being taxed for. Remember the following saying: " I'm from the Goverment and I'm here to help you." At the same time, they appear to be helping themselves first at the expense of whats in the best interest of the country.
- John Terravecchia, Bedford, NH 03110

Make no mistake, the president is not coming here to listen to concerns, he is coming here to tell us why we WILL get socialized medicine and that reason is because we have a lopsided socialist minded government in power.

Even Dick Durbin went on national television and claimed the majority of Americans want this even though the polls claim otherwise. We are not being asked, we are being told no matter how the President phrases the words on his teleprompter.

Wake up America. You are not gaining health care but loosing freedom and being dictated too. Once government removes all health care competition there will be no going back.
- Deb, Derry

I too am opposed to the health care reform bill and feel that the continued intrusion into our lives by a government that cannot even balance their own personal checkbooks is a complete perversion of what was once a great country. There is barely anything in the over 1,000 page bill addressing the continued abuse of Medicare and Medicaid by greedy, selfish doctors. THAT is where we should be reforming. Now, the politicians that work for us are hiding behind phone calls and dial in town hall meetings to pass a bill that they haven’t read? Are they even kidding? How stupid we are to allow this to continue.

How did we as American's allow these 535 imbeciles into office? Quite simply, because we weren’t paying attention to whom we were voting in. They are supposed to work for US! That is what we pay our taxes for to work for US! Instead they work for each other and I am very disappointed in the representation in both the House and the Senate for not doing their jobs and fighting for the people.

They want to continue to tax us over and over again, take away our liberties, take away our rights and continue to invade our lives...What are we going to do? Nothing. Because we are a fat, lazy despicably greedy society of “me's”, not “we's.”

There are over 20 “czars” that are slowly taking over every aspect of our lives our insurance, healthcare, finance systems, energy and automotives. Mr. Obama has lied his way into office and has not kept one promise he made. Now he is planning to tax the middle class to pay for the mistakes that his administration made in trying to fix a system that did not need his help.

Once, “we” as a country were faced with excessive taxation, we revolted. Look at these monsters we have empowered! I don't want anarchy but the only reform we should be making is to the politics of the USA...while there is a shell of one left!
- Rocco Castellano, New Boston

We need town hall meetings so people on Medicare who don't realize they are on a government insurance program [true story] can state that we don't need socialized medicine!
- Bill Siroty, MD, Manchester

Eric C. Davis,
What? Where are you getting your information? The White House is not hunting you or anyone else down.

You openly admit you have not read the bill and also openly admit you don’t understand its intent or verbiage yet you criticize what you admittedly do not understand.

This is the core of our problem, you see when you clearly don’t understand or comprehend what’s going on its kind of important to take some time and educate yourself on the issue rather than letting someone else tell you what your opinion is.

What you are suffering from is Right Wing paranoia, perhaps you should go see a doctor.
- Jim, Raymond NH

Regarding Obamacare, why should I and hundreds of millions of other hard working American taxpayers have to pay for medical care for millions of individuals who smoke, drink excessively, overeat and are obese, do not exercise or otherwise take care of themselves, use illegal drugs, all the while refusing to work to get an education or just refusing to work period? Obamacare must be voted down; now and in the future.


Before Medicaid and Medicare how did the people survive with these same healthcare issues - we did just fine without the Federal governments' involvement and we can do that in the future. People must take more personal responsibility for their own health - the federal government will break the American economy if we allow them to continue with this crazy ponzy scheme!

This country, and in particular our federal and state governments, must get back to basics, the bare minimum. Government cannot continue to steal everything from working people or there will be no one left working.

It is time to enact term limits, we cannot continue to allow elected representatives to become lifetime politicians - nobody is that good, nobody is that great, nobody is that important that they should be granted a lifetime political position - that only gives them license to steal and the attitude that they are deserving of whatever they can take.
- Pat Spooner, Windham

Why am I not surprised that the members of our Congressional delegation are taking the easy way out on this issue? Phone calls and radio interviews and "open houses" for seniors is because they are afraid to go out in public and hear the reality of what their constituants feel. Going to senior communities is only trying to get the sympathy of the elderly who do have issues with the healthcare they get in a lot of cases. I am not saying that is not to be considered , what I am saying is that we ALL need to be considered. Hand picking who you talk and respond too is not dealing with the real issue. Can anyone go to this town meeting by the president or is it going to be as I suspect only open to those that are hand picked? Because you disagree with this does not make you a radical or a bad person or as Andrea Mitchell says "not knowing what is best for you." It makes you part of the political process and gives you the voice that they so desperately want to silence.
I say the two congress members and one senator( we will see what Gregg does) are cowards.
- Bill B., Pelham

If our politicians do not listen to us then we should vote them out.
- Bob, Salem

What did you expect? Shea-Porter is showing her cowardice by hiding behind a telephone. You folks who voted for "Hope & Change" well, you got it. The only thing we can pray for is Hope that we can Change this Prtesident & our Democrat Senator and Congresspeople. How do you like "Hope & Change" now?
- Michael King, Epping

I am a senior citizen, a veteran and consider myself an ordinary guy, not a fringe nut case as depicted by the media. But I am upset and angry. Senator Shaheen was asked a specific question about the House draft of Healthcare reform last night and it was clear she was not up to speed on it. Susan of Bedford on the town hall call last night was on the money, in her concern that legislators won't even read the bill before they vote due to the length and complexity. Like many folks on Main Street, I see a legislative process producing huge bills that the people voting for don't understand and in come cases (Conyers, D(MI) claim they are unable to read. They are being crafted by legislators who are under investigation for eithics violations and tax cheating (Rangel, D(NY), Conrad, D(ND), Dodd, D(CT).
So why should I believe this huge bill won't be full of speical interest provisions? Angry? You bet your bottom dollar I am. And when I, as a citizen, go online and read one of these huge bills that President Obama says we "must pass right now", like Cap and Trade, it is so full of "laters" and "to be determineds" that it is impossible for me to really grasp how it will affect me. Afraid? You bet I am, afraid that we will be changing America to the detriment of my three little grandsons. I didn't spend years of my life under the North Atlantic in a missle submarine defending this nation during the Cold War to now have our country changed overnight by politicians that don't deserve our support. This goes to both sides of the aisle in Washington, D.C.
- John Linville, Wolfeboro

I am writing to voice my concerns over the ‘‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009’’.. The media is reporting today that the White House is interested in the names of people opposed to the bill. I Eric C. Davis of 294 Lake Ave, Manchester, New Hampshire 03103-4817 am opposed to the ‘‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009’’ as it is written.
If I had the charm and charisma of a President Bill Clinton or President Obama I would organize a grass root organization (a mad mob) against the bill.
I tried to read the bill but became confused and discouraged over the cross references to one ACT or another, so I have relied on the Internet and news media outlets, for information as to what is in the bill.

Health care providers, states, and pharmaceutical companies alike already have services in place to help greatly reduce or defer altogether the cost of health care and prescription drugs for those who qualify.

America does not need Health Care Reform if anything what we need is insurance reform. To reform health care implies that something is wrong with our health care system. Nothing could be further from the truth the United States has the best health care system in the world. Our government does not need to get into the business of providing health care. Providing health care is best left to the professionals who have trained for years to do just that. As for the 46 million or so people that do not have health care lets put our efforts into finding a way to make health care insurance more accessible and affordable for them. I would think that 46 million people should be able to get one hell of a group rate!
- Eric C. Davis, 294 Lake Ave Manchester, NH

This bill must horrible if he blaming the GOP for blocking it. If this bill is so wonderful then why didn't he use his supermajority to pass it?
- Broch Landers, Keene, NH

Senator Shaheen was pleasant ..... when she was able to be on the phone with us in between votes. But here is the big take away:

She controlled the tone…
She controlled the questions…(those of us lucky enough to ask her a question were NEVER given the opportunity to follow up!)
More often than not the questions were not given a straight answer!
It was sincerely -- a missed opportunity.

In the end, I deemed it to be a HUGE waste of time.

Senator wants stable health care coverage for us all. Senator wants to address insurance premiums, and the Senator wants to help control cost.
All great, but how are we going to pay for it? I sincerely do not recall her asking what is it that we want?
These tele town halls are an act of a coward!
You can take the bows, but not the blows. This is part of the job, right ??
Lastly, the technical difficulties were numerous on the call. Why not go low tech and meet with us in person. You owe us, the voters, that much!

Show some back bone! Meet with the people that you are being well paid to represent!

IT'S YOUR DUTY SENATOR!

P.S.
I am not a mobster, I am not a rabid partisan, rather I am simply a concerned American who has requested to speak with those who represent us in Congress.
- Abigail Adams, Bedford NH