News, Obama would tax wealthy to pay for universal health care. (health care system, vote)

[John1960]

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama on Tuesday offered a plan to provide health care to millions of Americans and more affordable medical insurance, financed in part by tax increases on the wealthy.

Bemoaning a health care "cost crisis," Obama said it was unacceptable that 47 million in the country are uninsured while others are struggling to pay their medical bills. He said the time is ripe for reforming the health care system despite an inability to do so in the past, most notably when rival Hillary Rodham Clinton pursued major changes during her husband's presidency.

"We can do this," Obama said in a speech in Iowa City at the University of Iowa's medical school. "The climate is far different than it was the last time we tried this in the early nineties."

Obama's plan retains the private insurance system but injects additional money to pay for expanding coverage. Those who can't afford coverage would get a subsidy on a sliding scale depending on their income, and virtually all businesses would have to share in the cost of coverage for their workers.

Obama would tax wealthy to pay for universal health care - CNN.com (broken link)

[spunky1]

Yep, that's what ya get if you vote for Obama. . .the old sliding scale. Don't say you weren't warned!

[saganista]

Speaking of sliding, the Republican plan seems to be to stand by while more and more Americans slide into the no-insurance zone, and then the bankrupt and poverty zones as well. Better that than to ask rich people to cough up a dime or two, I guess. Wonderful people, the Republicans...

[spunky1]

Originally Posted by saganista

Speaking of sliding, the Republican plan seems to be to stand by while more and more Americans slide into the no-insurance zone, and then the bankrupt and poverty zones as well. Better that than to ask rich people to cough up a dime or two, I guess. Wonderful people, the Republicans...

Typical . . blaming the government for individual's problems. Personal responsiblity is not a term some want to accept.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

Guess Obama would get my vote if this type of
thought process continues.....
The wealthy have been taking from the middle class for
so long there almost isnt one anymore. ITs about time they give
back.

[YapCity]

Originally Posted by spunky1

Typical . . blaming the government for individual's problems. Personal responsiblity is not a term some want to accept.

You can't be entirely personally responsible when corporate America is enjoying record profits in the last few years, and not paying in proportion. You can't be personally responsible when Republicans are letting illegals walk right into the hospital emergency room, and run up a bill they'll never pay.

You can't be personally responsible when medicare is not increasing for seniors in proportion with their needs, and so they help drive the price of private insurance through the roof.

There is no such thing as "personal responsibility" when it comes to healthcare, especially insurance. Insurance costs are based on the rest of the population. There is simply no way to be "personally responsible".

I've had the flu once in the last 10 years. I have not had an insurable medical procedure in excess of $200 at ALL in that time. Yet, I've paid out over $30,000 in insurance premiums. I'm sure as hell not paying for myself!!!

So yeah, it's about time the top 1% started footing some of the bill, in proportion to the amount I have had to spend relative to my income.

~T

[spunky1]

Originally Posted by YapCity

There is no such thing as "personal responsibility" when it comes to healthcare. . .
~T

This statement is scary and pretty much stands alone in the difference between conservatives and those who are not.

[YapCity]

Originally Posted by spunky1

This statement is scary and pretty much stands alone in the difference between conservatives and those who are not.

Do you even understand how health insurance works? The individual pays for the group. There is no personal responsibility. Where in the world are you getting that statement from?

~T

[Amaznjohn]

Originally Posted by YapCity

You can't be entirely personally responsible when corporate America is enjoying record profits in the last few years, and not paying in proportion. You can't be personally responsible when Republicans are letting illegals walk right into the hospital emergency room, and run up a bill they'll never pay.

You can't be personally responsible when medicare is not increasing for seniors in proportion with their needs, and so they help drive the price of private insurance through the roof.

But, isn't it amazing that many of us CAN be personally responsible enough to pay for our own health insurance, even thought that those EVIL corporations who provide so many jobs are out to get us. I don't believe that I have had any more opportunities than anyone else, maybe only more ambitious and willing to take responsibility for my own needs.

So yeah, it's about time the top 1% started footing some of the bill, in proportion to the amount I have had to spend relative to my income.

Yeah, it's not enough that they must pay for their own insurance but they should be mandated to provide for others' insurance, others' jobs, others' public services, others' food stamps, others' medicaid, all through the enormous amount of taxes they pay.

[spunky1]

Originally Posted by Amaznjohn

But, isn't it amazing that many of us CAN be personally responsible enough to pay for our own health insurance, even thought that those EVIL corporations who provide so many jobs are out to get us. I don't believe that I have had any more opportunities than anyone else, maybe only more ambitious and willing to take responsibility for my own needs.

Yeah, it's not enough that they must pay for their own insurance but they should be mandated to provide for others' insurance, others' jobs, others' public services, others' food stamps, others' medicaid, all through the enormous amount of taxes they pay.

Yes it is Amazn, john!

And it's too bad instead of the norm your are the exception to the rule.
There are so many examples of people who refuse to accept responsibilty and expect the goverment to take care of them. And unfortunately it is only going to get worse.