tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post8056855301848536319..comments2023-08-13T05:40:53.959-06:00Comments on The Mormon Left: Healthcare Debate in the Infortainment AgeJacob S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16519032754947817876noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-34058871240038914022009-08-17T08:13:28.462-06:002009-08-17T08:13:28.462-06:00Lets see. Too lazy to read a short post. Uncontr...Lets see. Too lazy to read a short post. Uncontrollable temper. Lack of sophistication and nuance.<br /><br />Must be a Broncos fan.Jacob S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16519032754947817876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-51039126595867435502009-08-16T16:52:09.865-06:002009-08-16T16:52:09.865-06:00I didn't have time to read your post. It was ...I didn't have time to read your post. It was way too long and not even remotely entertaining like CNN or Fox News. But I will say this, I can tell immediately without even thinking about it that your post is without merits. If you ever post another story supporting the democrats and their crappy healthcare I will punch you in the face dozens of times. You better watch out, because I'm comin' after you sucker.Henlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13097267318999635130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-127316481578697172009-08-15T21:17:05.708-06:002009-08-15T21:17:05.708-06:00"And how is providing a public option sociali..."And how is providing a public option socialist? Wouldn't a plan that competes in the open market be capitalist?"<br /><br />How can a plan that is run by the government (with it's coffers and leverage) not have an advantage over the other insurance companies? Is it only a public option in that it is not-for-profit or is it a government organization? I have yet to have anyone explain what exactly a public option is. <br /><br />And why aren't people jumping on the drug companies more? They have played their own huge share in running up medical expenses. They market expensive drugs (we're the only country to allow drug companies to market directly to consumers) to people who don't really understand whether they need the drugs or not, but like the feel good emotions emanating from the TV when they watch the commercial. The drug companies also "sponsor" and pay for a large part of medical research and are way to cozy with the FDA and other "authorities" of medical knowledge. (I really would recommend the book Overdo$ed America by John Abramson...it was enlightening.)<br /><br />And as for the current insurance run by the government as being the best...yeah, employees get great coverage, can't deny that. It wouldn't be the same plan they offer to the rest of the country. And Medicare and Medicaid are great for recipients...pay for a lot of things, but government reimbursement for physicians through these programs is almost too low right now to cover costs and they are talking about cutting physician reimbursement for these programs as a cost saving measure in this bill. Not to mention that at least Medicaid decided to not pay a couple of physicians here for a couple of months because they were short on funds...Not my idea of an ideal business model. And the VA? The care is pretty good, but they definitely have the "waiting" that is experienced in countries with single-payer systems. The VA is also full of beaurocrasy and is no where as efficient as the hospitals and system most Americans are used to. <br /><br />It's getting late, I could say more, but I won't.<br /><br />Kristypeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08067910269067338674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-68495957403581845502009-08-14T12:56:55.378-06:002009-08-14T12:56:55.378-06:00A well-timed post, I'm sort of in the middle o...A well-timed post, I'm sort of in the middle of an "unplugged" period myself. I'm trying to take time out to read a book instead, in this case I'm re-reading "Move Your Shadow" by Joseph Lelyveld (highly recommended, by the way). I think South Africa's plight may be instructive; as demographics change and those who were once in power (WASPs) will be in the minority in a few years, some of the same kind of thinking is starting to pop up. Anyways, I agree that we need to step back from the 'net and/or TV (I don't have cable) to think about things. In the latest issue of the USC alumni magazine there's an article about a study suggesting that the "higher" emotions (i.e., anything beyond anger or pain or sadness) take as long as 8 seconds to develop, while the "baser" emotions set in almost instantaneously. The researchers even mentioned the possible ramifications in our world, dominated as it is by fast news. With that, I'm off to read.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09755808950832071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-37624487861605988882009-08-13T20:32:25.054-06:002009-08-13T20:32:25.054-06:00"It's distasteful to demand answers from ..."It's distasteful to demand answers from a lying, coniving government?"<br /><br />If the only way to do so is to shout down government representatives, bully and intimidate those with opposing viewpoints, and generally cause disruption, then yes, its distasteful.<br /><br />I've heard a lot of arguments about the healthcare plan, but what I haven't heard yet is that Pres. Obama is lying about it. What, specifically, has he lied about?<br /><br />And how is providing a public option socialist? Wouldn't a plan that competes in the open market be capitalist? Why should the tens of millions of people that can't afford private health insurance, or who have been denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, not have a choice to be covered? Is it just capitalism if those tens of millions are denied the option, the choice, of coverage?<br /><br />You know this isn't government takeover of healthcare. Its true there is a government option, but there are lots of legitimate private options as well. People just cry "Socialism" when they want to scare the public without providing any real analysis.Jacob S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16519032754947817876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-669868536545664902009-08-13T19:35:36.306-06:002009-08-13T19:35:36.306-06:00Josh -- they're not demanding answers. They&#...Josh -- they're not demanding answers. They're showing up with every intent of stopping the representatives and senators from presenting their side of the argument. A proper debate, a proper CONVERSATION is both sides talking to each other. Not one side badgering the other into shutting up. That's not conversation. That's bullying.<br /><br />The whole thing smacks of sour grapes.<br /><br />I'm all for getting answers from the government. But these "protestors" aren't there to get answers. They're there to cause trouble. Period.Kengo Biddleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12083962910965544925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-50924981794573897632009-08-13T18:11:43.115-06:002009-08-13T18:11:43.115-06:00It's distasteful to demand answers from a lyin...It's distasteful to demand answers from a lying, coniving government? No distasteful is a president, setting the police on protesters for disagreeing with his administration, and lying to our faces about this health care legislation. I believe as heartily as the next guy that the health care/insurance system needs to be overhauled. The current, Socialist plan, though, is not the way.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17266150313741808907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-69595532079894690382009-08-13T12:05:42.752-06:002009-08-13T12:05:42.752-06:00It’s funny we hear Republicans say that they do no...It’s funny we hear Republicans say that they do not want “faceless bureaucrats” making medical decisions but they have no problem with “private sector” “faceless bureaucrats” daily declining medical coverage and financially ruining good hard working people (honestly where can they go with a pre-condition). And who says that the “private sector” is always right, do we forget failures like Long-Term Capital, WorldCom, Global Crossing, Enron, Tyco, AIG and Lehman Brothers. Of course the federal government will destroy heathcare by getting involved, Oh but wait, Medicare and Medicaid and our military men and women and the Senate and Congress get the best heathcare in the world, and oh, that’s right, its run by our federal government. I can understand why some may think that the federal government will fail, if you look at the past eight years as a current history, with failures like the financial meltdown and Katrina but the facts is they can and if we support them they will succeed.<br /><br />How does shouting down to stop the conversation of the healthcare debate at town hall meetings, endears them to anyone. Especially when the organizations that are telling them where to go and what to do and say are Republicans political operatives, not real grassroots. How does shouting someone down or chasing them out like a “lynch mob” advanced the debate, it does not. So I think the American people will see through all of this and know, like the teabagger, the birthers, these lynch mobs types AKA “screamers” are just the same, people who have to resort to these tactics because they have no leadership to articulate what they real want. It’s easy to pickup a bus load of people who hate, and that’s all I been seeing, they hate and can’t debate. Too bad.Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-58993660054341269232009-08-13T11:50:13.322-06:002009-08-13T11:50:13.322-06:00You're right, too many people don't questi...You're right, too many people don't question what they are told by the "news media." I worry about whether people are still able to think critically or if they take everything at face value. <br /><br />I know we don't see eye to eye on how to fix healthcare and I worry about the bill that is going through...whether it fixes the right problems or if it ends up being a band-aid that plays into the pharmaceutical/medical industry coffers or is a massive government powergrab. Either option I think is wrong. However, I am also bothered by the people who are saying that everything is great and we shouldn't touch the healthcare system at all. That isn't true either.<br /><br />Kristypeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08067910269067338674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-53510161418099458752009-08-13T11:12:21.668-06:002009-08-13T11:12:21.668-06:00I agree with you entirely. For this very reason I...I agree with you entirely. For this very reason I don't have cable at home. I like having respite from the constant barrage. And I think we really do need to step back and think -- the constant barrage doesn't let us form our own opinions. We're asked to accept the conveniently predigested opinions of pundits from both sides, rather than form our own.Daniel Hnoreply@blogger.com