2010 Could Easily Be Disastrous For Democrats

[Razgovory]

As a Republican I want that.

Why are you a Republican?  What sorts of things do you think they will do if they take control of both houses of Congress again in 2010?

He likes to hang around with people who hate him?

[Valmy]

Yes, and I am charitable.  I just don't like forced charity.

Well I think there are certain structural elements that could be reformed yes?  You are not actually saying the broken health care system is great and dandy I presume.  We discussed this earlier and you indicated you were in favor of some sort of reform.

After all there is the way the insurance works is that it discourages small businesses and the self employed by giving making them pay enormous prices for insurance while big business gets all sorts of breaks.  The worker with a family to think of might decide it is safer to simply work for big business and get his insurance than venture out on his own.

[Martinus]

To the opponents of Obama's health care plan: how do you propose to address the fact that a portion of the American population has no health care and can't get one because they are unemployed, can't afford one and/or cannot get one due to an existing illness (e.g. people suffering from HIV)?

Or is this not a concern to you?

My biggest concern is the extent that health care costs are skyrocketing and the middle man, the insurance companies, have all the power and a ridiculous amount of the costs goes to the overhead of supporting this middle man.

I feel that if we can get that under control we have a chance of the market becoming more accessible in the future.  The leftist solution is to create a competing public option to drive down prices but I think that has the potential to blow up the federal budget in the future and I hope more moderate reforms can be tried first.

I can only hope the Republicans see the need to reform the system even if they come to power because I believe it is needed.  Reforms that might be able to address the problems alot of people have in getting coverage as well that hopefully will not continue to saddle us with huge and unsustainable entitlement costs.

Ok. So you are saying that you do not like the Democrat idea because it costs money, but you offer no alternative solution, just platitudes.

I wonder if the big hole in the federal budget that you predict would be sealed if you just spent the money that were wasted on the Iraqui invasion, on the healthcare of your own people instead.

[Eddie Teach]

He likes to hang around with people who hate him?

Dude, Republicans don't hate Mexicans. 

[Strix]

Why are you a Republican?  What sorts of things do you think they will do if they take control of both houses of Congress again in 2010?

A better question is what sort of things have the Democrats done that would justify them maintaining their seats? Why be a Democrat?

I could be wrong but Bush never went to any Republican governor and told them not to seek re-election. I also could be wrong in noting that the Republicans never created a law to appoint a replacement Senator only to have that law expire once a Democrat has taken the seat as they did in MA.

The country has a lot of issues and problems at the moment but this has seemed to escape the notice of the Democrats who are too busy trying to consolidate power to actually USE that power for the good of the people.

[Valmy]

Ok. So you are saying that you do not like the Democrat idea because it costs money, but you offer no alternative solution, just platitudes.

I wonder if the big hole in the federal budget that you predict would be sealed if you just spent the money that were wasted on the Iraqui invasion, on the healthcare of your own people instead.

Compared to the money we spend on entitlements today the money for the Iraq war is pocket change.  Our government already spends more on providing health care per capita than any other country in the world right now.

[derspiess]

social conscience.

Why not throw "social justice" & the word "progressive" in there as well.

[Jaron]

social conscience.

Why not throw "social justice" & the word "progressive" in there as well.

Is it your position that citizens of our great republic should have no responsibility to one anothers well being?

[Valmy]

A better question is what sort of things have the Democrats done that would justify them maintaining their seats? Why be a Democrat?

Hence why I am neither.  To the extent I support the Democrats it is because I am fundamentally opposed to social conservatism.

[Strix]

Is it your position that citizens of our great republic should have no responsibility to one anothers well being?

Should they?

[Admiral Yi]

Then I'm glad I do not live in a country where greed and egoism trump compassion and social conscience.

I'm generally for health care reform.  I used to have serious concerns about the Trojan Horse effect on the deficit of a public option before it was killed off, and still have serious concerns about the effect of employer mandates on large, low wage companies (i.e. Walmart). 

But here's what I don't get about angry liberals like Mike Moore hyperventilating about uninsured Americans: why don't you go ahead and do it yourself?  Why not pick one or more deserving people and buy them health insurance?  Pick a person with expensive pre-existing conditions that can't afford insurance on the open market.  Call up some like-minded friends, pool your capital and form a non-profit insurance company that would provide "quality, affordable insurance." 

[Martinus]

If you find nothing wrong in the fact that people die of curable illnesses in the richest and most scientifically developed nation on Earth, then I don't really have anything to say.

I hope you will enjoy your revolution, when it eventually comes.

[derspiess]

Well I think there are certain structural elements that could be reformed yes?  You are not actually saying the broken health care system is great and dandy I presume.  We discussed this earlier and you indicated you were in favor of some sort of reform.

Oh, I do believe there is a need for reform & would like to see more competition & efficiency in the healthcare industry.  And yes, it would be nice if more people were covered.  I prefer free-market solutions, however, not more government involvement.

[Admiral Yi]

If you find nothing wrong in the fact that people die of curable illnesses in the richest and most scientifically developed nation on Earth, then I don't really have anything to say.

My guess is you'll come up with something anyway.

[Valmy]

If you find nothing wrong in the fact that people die of curable illnesses in the richest and most scientifically developed nation on Earth, then I don't really have anything to say.

Who exactly are you addressing?