A Challenge to Congress.................. (health care, solution, insurance, elect)

[burdell]

Since it would seem people reading the political section have some interest:

Many Americans have lost their pensions for one reason or another. I say write your elected officials and insist they vote to eliminate their own cushy retirement plan until the plans of all Americans are protected, then they can have their own plan restored.

Do you believe everyone should have access to affordable health-care? In a similar vein, write your elected officials and insist they vote to eliminate their own coverage until all Americans have access, then their coverage can be restored.

If nothing else it might serve as a wake-up call to Congress that there's actually people out here whose interests they are supposedly in DC to serve.

[Dd714]

I agree on the pension debate. Also this social security thing - why are they allowed a private social security plan while the rest of us are forced to contribute to a plan that will at best give us a mere 2% rate or return, and at worse and most probably we will never see a cent of in our retirement.

However, on the pension issue, I can't see how congress can fix it without dramatic business legislature that may hurt more than it helps. Still - I would like them to be on the same playing field as the rest of us.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by Dd7I4

I agree on the pension debate. Also this social security thing - why are they allowed a private social security plan while the rest of us are forced to contribute to a plan that will at best give us a mere 2% rate or return, and at worse and most probably we will never see a cent of in our retirement.

However, on the pension issue, I can't see how congress can fix it without dramatic business legislature that may hurt more than it helps. Still - I would like them to be on the same playing field as the rest of us.

I just believe an awfully large %age of Congress needs a wake-up call.

I actually believe a lot of them need to be taken out behind a wood-shed and given a good spanking. After all, half the time their bipartisan wrangling resembles nothing more than a bunch of whining five year olds, maybe a little old-fashioned five year old justice is appropriate, but I don't think THAT's gonna fly.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by burdell

Since it would seem people reading the political section have some interest:

Many Americans have lost their pensions for one reason or another. I say write your elected officials and insist they vote to eliminate their own cushy retirement plan until the plans of all Americans are protected, then they can have their own plan restored.

Do you believe everyone should have access to affordable health-care? In a similar vein, write your elected officials and insist they vote to eliminate their own coverage until all Americans have access, then their coverage can be restored.

If nothing else it might serve as a wake-up call to Congress that there's actually people out here whose interests they are supposedly in DC to serve.

I do believe health care-in the richest country-should now be a right. My brother is a physician, and they do pro-bono cancer surgery bcs people cannot afford it. The well-meaning and caring professionals DO care about this (even if Dubya doesn't) Where I work there is a 20 yr old with testicular cancer whose insurance (Aetna) just dropped him. He is dying and his insurance refuses to cover his chemo.

This is a disgrace.


sunny

[burdell]

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

I do believe health care-in the richest country-should now be a right. My brother is a physician, and they do pro-bono cancer surgery bcs people cannot afford it. The well-meaning and caring professionals DO care about this (even if Dubya doesn't) Where I work there is a 20 yr old with testicular cancer whose insurance (Aetna) just dropped him. He is dying and his insurance refuses to cover his chemo.

This is a disgrace.


sunny

That's exactly the kind of thing I think Congress needs to be asked "Why does this happen in America in 2007?" about. And I would caution them that "Because that's the way it is" IS NOT an acceptable answer if they'd like to be re-elected.

[Amaznjohn]

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

I do believe health care-in the richest country-should now be a right. My brother is a physician, and they do pro-bono cancer surgery bcs people cannot afford it. The well-meaning and caring professionals DO care about this (even if Dubya doesn't) Where I work there is a 20 yr old with testicular cancer whose insurance (Aetna) just dropped him. He is dying and his insurance refuses to cover his chemo.

This is a disgrace.


sunny

That's what family, friends, churches, and civic organizations are for. If you want a taste of nationalized health care, go to a VA hospital. Though the care is adequate in most cases, you would be appalled at somethings, considering how spoiled we all are with the current for profit system.

[LeavingFlorida05]

I don't see how a national healthcare system would work. It's too easy to abuse. What happens to the person who is brought to the ER with chest pains, but has to wait in line, because 10 people brought in their toddlers who have the sniffles? You can't ration visits. You can't set a spending limit. The only possible solution I can see is having a large deductable, but that would likely be viewed as discrimination against the poor.

I don't want anyone to go without the medical care they need, but you also have to keep people from exploiting, and thereby destroying, the system.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by LeavingFlorida05

I don't see how a national healthcare system would work. It's too easy to abuse. What happens to the person who is brought to the ER with chest pains, but has to wait in line, because 10 people brought in their toddlers who have the sniffles? You can't ration visits. You can't set a spending limit. The only possible solution I can see is having a large deductable, but that would likely be viewed as discrimination against the poor.

I don't want anyone to go without the medical care they need, but you also have to keep people from exploiting, and thereby destroying, the system.

Are we really that incompetent that it can't be done?

[LeavingFlorida05]

You could argue that we are...

[burdell]

Originally Posted by LeavingFlorida05

You could argue that we are...

Then I think in 50-100 years the US will be nothing more than a Chinese outlet mall.