House passes health care reform bill - CNN.com

Your thoughts?

[DollBabyKG]

Blech. That's about all I can manage at this point.

[Jarheadwed]

I think America took a giant step in the right direction! We are the only nation in our wealth bracket that doesn't have national health care, and now we will have the option for those who need and want it.

[Tammyjh]

Are we trusted enough to talk about politics now?

It still has to go before the Senate so its not passed at this point.

[DollBabyKG]

I know this is TOTALLY idealistic, but I think I would have been less disgusted with this if there had been any shred of the bipartisanship that was promised. I think BOTH sides were so concerned with mud slinging that what the majority of American people want was just thrown to the side. I have friends on both sides of the political aisle, and none of them (democrat or republican) were thrilled with this bill. Not even close. On the same token, none of them (myself included) think that the current system is fine the way it is, and doesn't need some kind of reform. It was one issue we ALL agreed on, that reform was needed, but this bill wasn't it, but once again, our voices weren't heard.

I don't know, I know we're a majority rules government, but it makes me so uncomfortable for one political party to have so much control that they can pass bills with ZERO support from the other party. (I know there was 1 republican vote, but it would have passed without it, as well). I would feel just as uncomfortable if it were the republicans who had such a large majority as well. I guess I think there should be some semblance of working TOGETHER to come up with something that both sides of the American people will be comfortable with. But, again, I know this is sadly wishful thinking.

[smsturner]

Originally Posted by Jarheadwed

I think America took a giant step in the right direction! We are the only nation in our wealth bracket that doesn't have national health care, and now we will have the option for those who need and want it.

Yay. i agree!

[fluffycheeks]

$1.1 TRILLION dollars. That's all I can get through my head at this point.

Originally Posted by donomama

$1.1 TRILLION dollars. That's all I can get through my head at this point.

Seriously though, how much do you guys spend on the military and war?

Originally Posted by DollBabyKG

I know this is TOTALLY idealistic, but I think I would have been less disgusted with this if there had been any shred of the bipartisanship that was promised. I think BOTH sides were so concerned with mud slinging that what the majority of American people want was just thrown to the side. I have friends on both sides of the political aisle, and none of them (democrat or republican) were thrilled with this bill. Not even close. On the same token, none of them (myself included) think that the current system is fine the way it is, and doesn't need some kind of reform. It was one issue we ALL agreed on, that reform was needed, but this bill wasn't it, but once again, our voices weren't heard.

I don't know, I know we're a majority rules government, but it makes me so uncomfortable for one political party to have so much control that they can pass bills with ZERO support from the other party. (I know there was 1 republican vote, but it would have passed without it, as well). I would feel just as uncomfortable if it were the republicans who had such a large majority as well. I guess I think there should be some semblance of working TOGETHER to come up with something that both sides of the American people will be comfortable with. But, again, I know this is sadly wishful thinking.

I can understand what you're feeling. For years we had a liberal government majority here in Canada where they did whatever the heck they wanted to, spent billions of dollars, and were a corrupt government. Right now we have a minority government and even though historically they don't work for long, it's the best party cooperation I've seen. The conservatives HAVE to work with say the NDP to get something they want to pass. Due to that cooperation, it's great to see something where more people across Canada get a say.

Then at a provincial level here, they just did a reform here. Instead of having like 7 regions, there is only one. We used to have chiropractic care partially covered and now we don't. The upside (for me) is that midwifery is funded.. So I have so many mixed emotions about the latest reform. Yes we needed it but I sure didn't agree with it in many respects. I wanted our medical system to have more accountability and I didn't see anything in that arena.

[fluffycheeks]

Originally Posted by (.Y.)mom2dd(.Y.)

Seriously though, how much do you guys spend on the military and war?

Way too much. But I don't see what one has to do with the other. I think that justifying it that way is like putting a $900 pair of shoes on a credit card when you can't afford to pay for it, and then thinking "Well, I'm already out $900 I can't afford, so why not buy the $1200 purse to go along with it?" Congress needs to cut costs across the board before they think about adding another trillion dollars to the deficit. We are going to be in REAL trouble in a couple of years. I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that said "PLEASE don't tell Obama and the Democrats what comes after a trillion!" I'm thinking of making it into a blinkie.

Originally Posted by donomama

Way too much. But I don't see what one has to do with the other. I think that justifying it that way is like putting a $900 pair of shoes on a credit card when you can't afford to pay for it, and then thinking "Well, I'm already out $900 I can't afford, so why not buy the $1200 purse to go along with it?" Congress needs to cut costs across the board before they think about adding another trillion dollars to the deficit. We are going to be in REAL trouble in a couple of years. I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that said "PLEASE don't tell Obama and the Democrats what comes after a trillion!" I'm thinking of making it into a blinkie.

at the blinkie!

While I see what you're trying to say about too much debt, I meant more about the concept that spending money on health care, something that truly helps people, compared to spending way more money on war ~ I just don't understand the priorities? Shouldn't it be a drop in the bucket compared to the many programs that the US spends money on? It's just a balance here, right? ETA: like you make an unexpected pregnancy work, the US will have to learn to balance in health care.

[BonitaAppleBomb]

From my FB page:

This makes me very happy. The change that was promised is finally happening...so LONG overdue for so many unnecessarily insured people. Somebody has to care and I do.. We can't continue to send aid to other countries all over the world when we have people in our own house (the US) that can't afford to get treated for simple health procedures...that is mind boggling to me. HOWEVER, I do realize that the House win is only half the battle. The Senate has to be overcome as well, but this win is a good sign that the Senate opposition can be overcome as well. I'm sure that the GOP just knew that this would never pass in the House...well.....look what has happened.

Originally Posted by (.Y.)mom2dd(.Y.)

Seriously though, how much do you guys spend on the military and war?

Yup. It's not just that either - we already spend more on healthcare NOW, this broken pathetic system that has murdered thousands of Americans for profit, than ANY COUNTRY ON THE PLANET. Somehow, I just can't get upset about a trillion dollars going to fix our current system - we've lost much more than that in forty years (our humanity comes to mind... ahem). I just don't think people care anymore about people, and this bill can help to save lives - and people are so hung up on partisan bullcrap and fed party lies, that we see all this ridiculous bickering, and hatred that is so prevalent now. The system MUST be fixed - and thanks to capitalism and forty years of profiting off sick and dying people, it's going to cost quite a bit to fix the mess we're in. And considering we are the only health care system in the entire world that is purely based on profit and does not offer a nationalized or "universal" option, and our system flat out SUCKS, you think people would get the point that for-profit healthcare was a pathetic failure for everyone but those who can afford it and insurance company CEOs making $46 MILLION a YEAR. Yeah, can't get too hung up over the cost - this reform HAS to happen - and no bill about healthcare would ever have even passed the very first stage in Congress in any Republican or conservative majority, and it is naive to assume otherwise. This reform flat out would NEVER have taken place in a Republican majority - what would they have said? "leave it to the insurance companies!" We did that for forty years, let's try a different tactic that doesn't blatantly kill people for profit, hm?

Anyway, it's half the test. I hope it passes the Senate.

And I for one am extremely sick of the partisan crap, and all that bull is EXACTLY why I am not affiliated with any political party and why I refuse to be a part of a specific party. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, this is a caring about ALL people issue - but it has become so polarized into a "party issue" that blatant hatred of either side is apparently encouraged among each party. I wouldn't care if you're a staunch conservative who hates everything I believe in - I'd still do everything I could to save your life if you got in trouble and help as much as I possibly could - because I CARE, no matter what your political beliefs. And THAT humanity has been missing from our government, and especially Congress and certain media pundits, for a very long time. Stop the bickering - and things will get done, and this country will be better for it. What was that saying... "Divided we fall, united we stand"? Perhaps those who are fighting on both sides against each other purely because of ideology should reconsider that. Honey is always better than vinegar at catching flies.

That's my rant for this morning. Ahem.

[*Jaime*]

Originally Posted by (.Y.)mom2dd(.Y.)

Seriously though, how much do you guys spend on the military and war?

Isn't Congress STILL spending on military and war AND health care now?

Carla: I don't think there is anyone that didn't think this was going to pass the House. *Hope* maybe, but realistically, it was going to happen regardless.

I sincerely hope this helps all the people the Democrats think it will in the ways they hope it will. And I hope it doesn't negatively affect all the people in the ways that the Republicans think it will. I guess it's inevitable that we are about to find out. I am curious though. If it affects the people WITH health insurance negatively, will Congress have the same sympathy for them as they do for the uninsured now? Will they try to "fix" that problem with the same fervor??? I guess we'll see....

[BonitaAppleBomb]

So now the real fight begins with getting the bill passed.

[Banned-Fergy]

Originally Posted by donomama

Way too much. But I don't see what one has to do with the other. I think that justifying it that way is like putting a $900 pair of shoes on a credit card when you can't afford to pay for it, and then thinking "Well, I'm already out $900 I can't afford, so why not buy the $1200 purse to go along with it?" Congress needs to cut costs across the board before they think about adding another trillion dollars to the deficit. We are going to be in REAL trouble in a couple of years. I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that said "PLEASE don't tell Obama and the Democrats what comes after a trillion!" I'm thinking of making it into a blinkie.

This. I'm against this bill and hope it doesn't make it through the Senate.

[kittycat]

Originally Posted by DollBabyKG

I know this is TOTALLY idealistic, but I think I would have been less disgusted with this if there had been any shred of the bipartisanship that was promised. I think BOTH sides were so concerned with mud slinging that what the majority of American people want was just thrown to the side. I have friends on both sides of the political aisle, and none of them (democrat or republican) were thrilled with this bill. Not even close. On the same token, none of them (myself included) think that the current system is fine the way it is, and doesn't need some kind of reform. It was one issue we ALL agreed on, that reform was needed, but this bill wasn't it, but once again, our voices weren't heard.

I don't know, I know we're a majority rules government, but it makes me so uncomfortable for one political party to have so much control that they can pass bills with ZERO support from the other party. (I know there was 1 republican vote, but it would have passed without it, as well). I would feel just as uncomfortable if it were the republicans who had such a large majority as well. I guess I think there should be some semblance of working TOGETHER to come up with something that both sides of the American people will be comfortable with. But, again, I know this is sadly wishful thinking.

There was plenty of bipartisanship that went in to the MANY ammendments that the GOP got added to the bill (and in provisions removed from the bill). Just because they didn't vote on the final product, does not mean they didn't vote on the many aspects that the bill was comprised of. Many of the areas where I have issue in the bill, it's because of those GOP Amendments.

Further, to claim there was zero support in the final vote is incorrect. There actually was a republican that voted in favor of it. He's a freshman, Cao, and he did so out of conscious.

[**Badfish**]

As far as I can tell, the only people who are against the bill are the ones who are lucky enough to have affordable health coverage. And luck does have everything to do with it. People like to pat themselves on the back and say they have health insurance because they worked hard to get it, but that's bull. It's hard enough to get a job in most fields right now, that very few people can turn down a position if the health benefits aren't affordable or even existent.

[kittycat]

Originally Posted by donomama

Way too much. But I don't see what one has to do with the other. I think that justifying it that way is like putting a $900 pair of shoes on a credit card when you can't afford to pay for it, and then thinking "Well, I'm already out $900 I can't afford, so why not buy the $1200 purse to go along with it?" Congress needs to cut costs across the board before they think about adding another trillion dollars to the deficit. We are going to be in REAL trouble in a couple of years. I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that said "PLEASE don't tell Obama and the Democrats what comes after a trillion!" I'm thinking of making it into a blinkie.

The bill has been scored by the CBO to reduce the deficit over the next 10 years, not add to it. Contained within the bill are many provisions to cut waste and fraud, particularly in Medicare (which should be something that Republicans agree on). Those provisions couldn't be enacted without the passage of the bill.