US: Sen Chuck Schumer says Democrats will go it alone on health care

Same Bob, I've taken to hiding the status updates and link postings of my cousins on facebook because I'm tired of the constant stream of anti Obama sentiment and ill-backed flimsy arguments.

The fact of the matter is the American people dont have to accept socialism... they dont have a choice. We need to act on the utility for the greatest number of people.  it's time to stop fearing the communists under the bed.

That's what I was saying; I do not think the American public will ever accept socialised healthcare. I have only one aunt who supports this. The entire rest of my family could have been those in that video. I get this sh*t on FB from the family, I get sh*t emails with all this crap about about Obama, just constantly running healthcare and Obama down. It just goes on and on. I do sometimes think I was switched at birth. I didn't vote for the guy nor did I vote for the other. But he is in and I wish they just let him get on with things. Can't they afford him the respect to get on with it? I mean after all they afforded and respected Bush in his quests.

But that video re-enforced why I can't live in that country. And why does GOD have to always be the central pivot point?

By contrast, my whole family supports it, I think even the sister that used to send me pro-Palin propaganda. In fact, whenever I talk about repatriation, my dad always asks how I could leave the NHS.

The US has an excellent healthcare system – it’s the state of the medical insurance system that’s abysmal and needs to be reformed.

Unless the wording of the discourse is shifted and it is acknowledged by both sides that the issue is simply about medical care costing too much then the country will never truly get good medical care for all its citizens.

It seems important to me to call Obama’s plan exactly what it is -- insurance reform --  because by using other terms, like healthcare reform (which isn't quite right really) it allows critics to also use language to describe what the plan isn't and sell it as something that it is most certainly not -- socialised medicine.

If Obama gets at least some form of his plan passed it will be a great achievement. I too feel that it’s time that elected officials get on with it and get it done and I'm glad the Democrats are finally showing some backbone.

It seems important to me to call Obama’s plan exactly what it is -- insurance reform --  because by using other terms, like healthcare reform (which isn't quite right really) it allows critics to also use language to describe what the plan isn't and sell it as something that it is most certainly not -- socialised medicine.

This is a good point.  For a really long time the Republicans have been excellent at quickly framing debate on their terms.  Had the Democrats figured out what you've figured out here ("health care" reform vs. "insurance" reform), this whole thing might have been easier.

yes, actually, I would completely agree with that.

It does seem that people are worried that hospitals are going to be run by some schlub in DC and not doctors when, in fact, we're only talking about changing how health care is paid for, not changing how it's provided.

It seems important to me to call Obama’s plan exactly what it is -- insurance reform --  because by using other terms, like healthcare reform (which isn't quite right really) it allows critics to also use language to describe what the plan isn't and sell it as something that it is most certainly not -- socialised medicine.

EXCELLENT point!!

Can't they afford him the respect to get on with it? I mean after all they afforded and respected Bush in his quests.

But that video re-enforced why I can't live in that country. And why does GOD have to always be the central pivot point?

Excellent point also Bob. 

And yes, the first time I saw that video I thought, luckily, I'm moving to England... I've got some of the same nut jobs in my family too... gets very frustrating sometimes.

I mean after all they afforded and respected Bush in his quests.

And it wasn't even this really, we supported invasion because our feelings were still raw from 9/11.  Now that we're there, and it's been dragged out for so long, we simply cant pull out in one swift movement and say "well... that's that" (as much as I would support said decision, it's not practical longterm).  So we're left blaming the current administration for the previous one's mistakes.

It seems important to me to call Obama’s plan exactly what it is -- insurance reform -- 

So spot on.

Had the Democrats figured out what you've figured out here ("health care" reform vs. "insurance" reform), this whole thing might have been easier.

Got a feeling these 'nutjobs' in my family would still be snarling regardless.

So we're left blaming the current administration for the previous one's mistakes.

I can't see how anyone could place blame on this administration for the wars, I know they do but I just can't understand their logic. There will be time down the road to blame them for something else. Maybe. Surely 'they' know he can't pull the troops out over night. But he should tread very careful on any decision to bolster the troop numbers.

Got a feeling these 'nutjobs' in my family would still be snarling regardless.

Haha!  Yes, I'm sure they would, but the battle isn't for the nutjobs; they're going to hate whatever plan is put forward, so fcuk 'em.  The battle is for the people in the middle who want a solution, but don't want to wind up with an expensive solution that isn't appreciably better than what we've got now. 

The way this has played out, we've wound up with the Democrats defending the ability of government to provide efficient, cost-effective solutions to complex problems, which is going to be a tough sell considering two words most people wouldn't associate with the government are "efficient" and "cost-effective."

Had the Democrats had gotten out in front of this and started calling it "insurance reform" they'd have put the Republicans in the position of defending the current insurance system.  People don't think the government is efficient or cost-effective, but they don't think of insurance companies in these terms, either.  Add in all the horror stories about insurance companies fcuking people over, and you could put the Republicans on the defensive and frame the debate in terms that win over the middle ground.