Pollster.com

The result of second poll question "How do you rate the U.S. health care system?" is interesting. Puting together the second and the third question leaves me with the following deduction: The cost of US healthcare is too high. That's why it will be apt for the democrats to couch their healthcare reform message on "reducing cost" and "benefits." It is asinine not to do this at this point. The message must also target the insurers (who refuses to insure people on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions, keep raising rates while incomes stay flat, standing between doctors and patients as to who gets certain procedures done, etc) spending about $40 million on lobbyists and making huge campaign contributions on Democrats (especially blue dogs) and Republicans to kill the public option. Also, the health industry spent $133 million in the second quarter alone.

The first two polls show that people like their own health care but believe that others aren't receiving good care, which obviously isnt the case. We get similar results about schools with most favoring their kids' schools but believing the U.S. public school system is bad.

The poll also shows that a radical alteration to the system like the Dems are proposing are not necessary and will be harmful in the long run. Costs are the problem with access secondary. The dem plan looks at it from the opposite direction.

Increasing costs are the fault of the public portion of the system (which is 55% of all health care dollars)that is the reason for the rise in health care costs. By running a grossly inefficient system, Medicare and Medicaid must continually decrease the amount they reimburse doctors and hospitals for services. Thus, these providers of care are forced to make up that lost revenues by increasing the rates they charge to private insurers.

Put the answers to the third question next to the comments by Geithner and Summers this weekend, that taxes will have to go up to pay for health care reform. BO and company have a lot of selling to do.

Isn't it time to drop this and move on to the real business of govt? Fix some potholes or something!

Only a liberal like you can say that with a straight face....

Hey, lets add 50 million people to the system and not allow to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions......and that will make costs come down...............geeeez. Youguys really are hopeless aren't you? The "only" way to drive down costs would be to ration care, deny needed treatment to people, most likely the elderly and have long waiting lists. You can't just add 50 million people and expect costs to come down....

Liberals once again display there unctrollable urge to think with there heart and not their head. We cannot afford it.

G'ment will bring costs down,riiight! They have such a great track reocrd of doing that don't they? Who cres the g'ment is out of money,it sbankrupt, no biggie, let's throw 50 million on public options for health care and it will bring costs down........heheheh! This is madness and liberals can't figure out why they are getting ripped to shreds at these town hall meetings.

I just love how Obama and the g'ment elitists are setting up two health care systems, one for them and one for the rest of us. One for th people at the top like elected officials and one for the rest of us.......and you liberals just love them for it.

I'll throw my support towrds obama on this one when they remove the exemtpion for themselves.....they are not stupid, they know full well a public system will be horrible and if a senator needs heart surgory, well he doesn't wna tto have to wait in line with the peasants...........but if I ned it.....we'll see you in 3 months, maybe.............

If the rest of the town halls this month go like the one Specter and Sebelius had this mroning then we may not get anyreform. The people are out there speaking and they are not wanting a g'ment takeoever! Geeee, I wonder if that is because g'ment is broke, can't run any other entitlement.............

Hmmm, look like Obama is goign to have to break yet another campaign promise.....they will have to raise taxes on people making less than 350,000, or whas that 250,000? Or 200,000? Wait a minute, it might have been 150,000, hmmm, the numbe rkept changing to much.

This whole debat eis a joke. Only in America can you be 12 trillion in debt, have a deficit over 1 trillion and then say lets add 50 million people to ehalth care and it will bring down costs..............

@Field Marshal
You're very wrong. It's not due to the medicare and medicaid that the insurers keep increasing rates. Did you look at the newly released balance sheets and income statements? The kind of profits they're making during a recession doesn't give the impression you want us to believe. It's without a doubt a ring wing talking point without basis.

@Bigmike

No. We're not dropping the healthcare reforms. No way. No way. No way.
It's tied to the economy and we're going to get it done.

@Stillow
I just heard the same thinh you typed above on Fox News. It seems you don't have your own mind. You keep repeating right wing and Fox News talking points and catch phrases. That's sad to say the least.

Ya gotta give Idaho credit....when he drinks the kool aid, he really really drinks it...

Why do all Rasmussen polls make Republicans happy and Democrats sad?

jack
You're somewhat right. However, I don't take Rasmussen polls serious because I know without an iota of doubt what it's intended for. It's foolhardy or asinine as a democrat to worry about Rasmussen poll. The only time we as democrats should take Rasmussen poll seriously is a day or two before an election.
Anyway, I like the gallup numbers released today.

I'm not happy,and most who are are drinking the health lobby's koolaid. The healthcare system we have now is fine for your occassional checkup and when the kids have the flu or chickenpox. When it comes time for the company to pay up for something that costs them, or they think that they are going to lose money on you, they deny and it is like an act of congress to get them to pay up in appeals process. I've experienced this. I'm not buying any propoganda, I know that the system we have now is pitiful. You may be happy, and that is fine, but don't clump me into your group of who is dilusional or not. We need common sense reform. These companies have to start acting like compassionate people instead of robots. When you deal with people, it's much different than credit default swaps and collateralized debt obligations. People actually die from greed in the healthcare system. I don't expect you to agree with me. Most people are hard set in ideology, and I think that is the problem with congress. They care more about principles than real life situations. I think what you fear in terms of rationing of care already exists, but it is not the government. Capitalism can take on tendencies of the socialism that you fear so much. It is called a monopoly. Health care companies have merged and consolodated. Your choice that you talk of doesn't exist like it used to. Your the one living in a fantasy. In 5 or 10 years, if nothing is done, you will see your insular world begin to collapse. Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

Idaho,

I am not wrong. Profit margins for the 5 largest insurance companies were 3% and that's with economies of scale. Its razor thin when it comes to the smaller insurers.

Medicare has pricing power. Insurance companies have very little. Second, Medicare is grossly inefficient. Check out this article.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/HealthCare/wm2505.cfm

Think of health care costs like a tube balloon. One half (medicare) can artificially reduce prices and thus squeeze half the balloon. What happens? The other half of the balloon expands, thus raising costs.

Medicare is a disaster so to simply remove the "over 65" requirement for Medicare and apply it to everyone with just make it a total disaster. It is $50 trillion in the whole. In addition, it pays for less and less of the average elderly persons medical bills. On average, Medicare pays $0.44 for every health care dollar for people over 65. Thats down from $0.75 when it started. This is why so many are buying Medigap coverage to fill the holes.

@Jimbo

Go google people dying waiting for treatment in England or Canada.

Your under the blind impression g'ment will pay for all treatments for all people. Wake up, that is impossible. There isn't enough money in the entire g'ment to do that. Rationing will occur and depending on your age, type of illness, etc you will be treated or you won't. In addition, you will not have access to second opinions, etc. the g'ment simply won't be able to afford to send you to multiple doctors for numerous opinionns.

In addition, last I checked money simply does not grow on trees. We don't have the money. Mostly due to all other g'ment entitlement bankrupting us.All the g'ment handouts in this country have racked up trillions and trillions. China has basically told us to stop running u pthe debt or they will not finance it....when tha thappens you can kiss all your handouts goodbye.

Why is g'ment rationing of care better than what we have now? At least now I can choose my doctor, get ssecond opinions and can go see my doctor the same day I call....why do you want to subject yourself to waiting lists and rationing? If the public system is as great as pliticains tell you it is, why did they exempt themselves from being subject to it?

If this system is oso horrible why do people with the means flock to this country for treatment? Its because they cannot get it in there own countires.

Its not ideaology, it is the FACT that g'ment has run NO entitlement successfully, do you hoenstly beleive health care will suddennly be different? Even though g'ment has bankrupt everything else, its supposed to somehow get it right with health care? Your nuts.

Maybe if you libs weren't handing out freebies and money to everyone with a hand out we could afford some kind of public option, but your spending has already bankrupt the entire country.....there's no money.........and if you think the g'mentis goign to cover all treatment for all people your totally insane! Your parents and grandparents will suffer the most. These aren't theories, these are facts....we have existing models around the world you can look at. Long waiting lists, rationing, etc is how it is with g'ment run systems.

You liberals are simply under the impression the g'ment is there to solve all your problems, they have an unlimited supply of money to take care of you. Well maybe i nfantasy land, but out here in real life they don't.

Also you libs are being totally dishonest with wanting real reform because nowhere are you calling for legal reform to do something about frivilous lawsuits......not a word of it in the bills........so your lying to yourselves if your convincing yourselves you want real reform.

I've almost turned to tort to settle some of the utter quackery I've experienced. Tort reform has already taken place. More of it won't solve anything. Time for big pharma and hospitals to take a hit, not me. $500 for a pair of crutches and $300 for minor surgery that never took place unless you call putting a cast on my leg minor surgery. Time to root out waste, fraud, and quackery. Tort = Think next time before you screw me over. You conservatives overstate the real cost savings of tort reform. Tort Reform = talking point.

jimbo is a perfect example of a modern day liberal.............someone else will pick up the bill for me.

jimbo do you even realize those $500 crutches g'ment would give you would cost $1,500 and that you would pay for them probably 5 times over thru higher taxes?

I think you libs honestly think that when you give g'ment most of your money and then they do something for you, that you feel your getting something for free.

Well imbo I hope you win your lawsuit, we cannot have people paying for their crutches i nthis country!!! Usually with meidcal bills you can work out very modest payment plans?

Anyway good luck with your lawsuit....the neve of the hospital to charge you for crutches angers me to no end! Go get 'em!

"jimbo is a perfect example of a modern day liberal.............someone else will pick up the bill for me."

I agree. When i read that he advocated "letting big pharma and hospitals take a hit, not me", i knew the convo was over and that no amount of logic and thought will alter that mindset.

When the hospital gets 'it stuck to them', and then it closes and the next closest one is 20 miles away, i bet you will be the first one out there complaining about its closure.

We currently have the worst generation of people leading the country in our history. They are the biggest bunch of looters this country has ever seen. Its all "me, me, me" and nothing else. Currently half of all people pay no taxes. Ridiculous.

Ya know, after thinking about it some more, maybe these liberals are onto soemthing. I went to Sears yesterday to get the oil changed in my gas guzzling Nissan Armada and those bumbs charged me $51.50 for the fancy sintehtic stuff. I'm kind of thinking the g'ment should cover that cost or at least stick it to some rich guy, after all having a car is a quality of life issue right?

Then I had to buy my daughter some pens and poster board for a school project and that cost me another $15, do you beleive that? Again, why is that my responsibility to pay for that? I'm starting to liek this liberal stuff, I think someone else with more money than me should pay for that.

We went grocery shopping last evening too, $320 on food for a family of 4? Are you kidding? This is clearly capitalsm out of control. I am in favor of the g'ment paying for that....they should just send that bill to the rich guy down the street, he can afford it anyway, why should i have topay for it? That simply isn't fair to me.

Lets see, what else.........oh, I had to buy a new belt for my evil gas powered lawn mower, can you beleive that cost $12 at Lowe's? Boy I'll tell ya, they have some nerve charging me for that part. The g'ment really needs to do something about this madness. First Jimbo has to pay for his crutches and I had to pay for a fan belt, this is out of control. The systemis clearly broken and in need of repair. I am in full favor of g'ment stepping in and paying for all these things, this stuff shoudl be paid for by the rich people, what do they need the money for anyway? Bunch of evil mean spirited heartless bastards....driving around in there BMW's wile Jimbo needs crutches and my daughter needs posterboard for school.

Where do I sign up for the free ride too? Gimme gimme gimme!

One of my kids' birthdays is coming up, which g'ment agency do I contact to pay for the cake and presents? If someone could help me out here I would really appriecate it.

I don't sue over crutches. I am no liberal. I don't want a free ride. I want to stop getting raped by these robber barrons. I understand your concern for debt, but you need to stop being paranoid. I'm a beleiver in the free market, they just need some laws on the books to set em' straight. Name-calling will get you nowhere. I don't drink anyone's koolaid, and the faster you realize that the better. I am not liberal or conservative. I'm pro-what works, and deregulation always fails. Too much of anything does not work be it the free markert or the government. Don't assume anything, because it makes an a** out of you and me.

Jimbo,

Give me one thing that the government runs that has "worked". Since you say you are pro-what works, how bout the last 2 decades? That seemed to work since it was the greatest two decades in the history of mankind. I believe deregulation was a centerpiece for that too.

In addition, the banking sector was the most regulated industry in the US outside of nuclear power. Its interesting that anything the government touches becomes crap.

Our current health care system is closer to socialized medicine than free market. Government is the problem, not the answer. (someone great said that once).

@Field Marshal:

Correct, the banking system in America was heavily regulated as was the mortgage industry thru Freddie and Fannie....isn't it intresting that at the core of this recession was banking and mortgage collapses which just happaned to be heavily regualted!

Anytime the g'ment gets involved it makes things worse and more expensive!

Did I say that the past few decades were the greatest in mankind? I didn't say that. Did you? I thought we were sliding into a socialist plot created by George Soros and ACORN, at least some people think that. What works well let us see? The G.I. Bill, that works, lots of young men and women going for college for serving. Medicare, giving quality, affordable coverage to seniors, now that works. The interstate highway, created by a Republican, now that works. Our public schools are pretty good, not great, well nothing is perfect. I'm pretty satisfied. That is my notion. Nothing is perfect, or ever will be perfect. Our goal should be to encourage our leaders to pursue things that work within reason without growing out of control or running too much over budget. I also beleive in a countercyclical monetary and spending policy. Make investments in down times and pull back and raise revenue in good times. I disagree with your notion on the banking sector. It used to be the most regulated, then some people slacked off. Democrats and republicans. Obama's regulation policy isn't the best. Some steps are in the right direction and some aren't. I think he trusts the Fed too much. Th Federal Reserve is an illegal institution. Giving Bankers the power that the constitution gave to congress to coin money. Read article 1 section 8. Pretty good stuff.Don't mind me, I'm just a silly liberal and my opinion doesn't matter. Just a little insight, take from it what you wish. Maybe you'll become enlightened and maybe not. God bless you in your future endeavors, Field Marshal and Stillow, whatever they be. Just because I agree to disagree doesn't mean I'm mean spirited. I'm glad your content with the way things are. Perhaps, it is better off that way. The loyal opposition. There is one guy you might like. Ron Paul. I agree on some things more than others, some things not at all, but you're folks should rally behind him not Palin or Romney. They will just bring you right-wing big gov't or whatever you call it. The stus quo of the GOP will simply move you toward statism, instead of socialism. Gov't under Palin will ration Sex and God not just healthcare.

@Jimbo

The GI bill is military releated....the highway system was built and engineered by the military as a means to move troops around the nation quickly in case of a soviet invasion. Most thins the military does or are involved in do work. The armed forces is about the only thing the g'ment runs well and that is mostly because its run by trained generals and not so much politicans. For the most part anyway.

The schools are not great or good, htey are horrible.

Your kind of missing the point, there isn't enough money that exists in the system to provide g'ment run health care, if we didn't ahve a debt, maybe we could do it, but we have 12 trillion in debt. We simply cannot afford it, the "only" way the g'ment can run the system is to wipe out the private sector carriers and then go to severe rationing. There just isn't enough money to cover treatment to everyone who has it now and the 50 million who htey want to add to the system....the money just isn't there.

And its not as simple as just doing it, because g'ment and politicans have sold us down the river we have to answer to our debt holders like China. The world is slowly moving away from dollars and when that happens our system goes bust.

We are running a giant ponzy scheme, but they are unsustainable in the long term. Look at everyone's favorite Democrat, Bernie Madoff, his scheme worked for a while, but it eventually collapsed and a lot of people lost a ton of money.

G'ment cannot sustain its current level of spending and adding national health care woudl break the nations back bone. Unless we as a nation are prepared to have severely rationed health care then its not sustainable, there's no way to pay for it.

Forgive the debt. Ever heard of mutually assured destruction, China would never ask for its money back knowing it would lose its consumers. It would create a domino effect. Then their ecomony would tank, and disolve to their debtors. China is not so foolish. We're more valuble as friends than as enemies. In regards to health care, the states are run fairly good. The states should do reform. Federal Gov't should just enact consumer protections. I don't wanna run up the tab just as much as you do. Medicare and SS need to be adressed too. Too long has it been a third rail. People would respect frankness rather than lying to people's face. We can find a way to fix those, but it's going a lot of political capital. More than Obama has. More than anyone has. You should read "Reckless" by Senator Dorgan. If you can get Bill Moyers, Lindsay Graham, and Lou Dobbs to agree on something, you must be on to something. He talks about what you and I speak of: spending, debt, and the programs we speak of. Dorgan didn't vote to bailout banks. See not all Dems are what you think. Are you even Republican? You don't seem it. Liberetarian or conservative independent. You don't strike me as a big McCain fan.People of all sides should shake this whole ideology thing. I bet you agree with me on some things. I bet. Of the banks, in our prior comments, you said that Goverment ruined the banks by regulation. No. The Gov't ruined the crisis by cherrypicking laws and meddling. Swings from one extreme to another. The federal reserve cannot help but be biased. Their actions created this mess. It is ruled by Bankers. The right of congress to coin money was outsourced to bankers in 1913. Audit the fed, then democratize it. I agree with you though, on debt. To allow us to become free from neoliberal principals that ship jobs overseas, we need to pay down some debt. That'd give us some leverage to become a manufacturing giant like the good old days. Let's not get crazy like Andrew Jackson though. He kinda got obcessed with that notion. Ruined the banks too. Balanced budgets are a pretty rare comodity these days. Pretty sad.

I've finally figured you out. You must be retired military. How do you pay for that? NATION BUILDING INCLUDED? You probably collect a pension from my hard earned taxpayer dollars. Maybe, you should go pay the Chinese? By the way, have you payed your dues at the country club? I'm giving up on this furum thing. Maybe, you should too. Fox News may be a better outlet for your paranoid tendencies. Then, some Australian (Rupert Murdoch) can tell you what to do. Better yet, why don't you move to to Australia? They don't suck like America does like you suggest.

You were doing good until that last dopy post of yours....you revelaed yourself to be a typical liberal....btake a shot at the military and attack fox news, geee, where have I seen that before....

You libs are so generous with everyone else's money aren't you? Your way off on China.

Spending is all you know how to do, you clearly see no danger in our debt being this high. You simply cannot forgive the debt like you suggest, it doesn't work that way.

Obama, like Bush is nothing but an irresponsible spender. G'ment control of health care will lower the quality of care beyond your ability to comprehend. You whine about paying for crutches now....at least you got them.................

Its pointless to go further, since you simply don't get it.

The reason there's a disparity between the two question is due to the fact that the biggest problem with insurance companies is that they deny/drop people from coverage arbitrarily. Of course the people who aren't sick are going to be happy with their coverage. The game doesn't change until they actually *need* coverage. Fortunately, many of the people who need coverage most (i.e., the elderly) have "socialized" health care.