McCain: We Can Do For Health Care What We Did For The Economy
September 21st, 2008, 10:41 AM EDT
A published article by John McCain in Contingencies Magazine, a publication of the American Association of Actuaries (I wonder who the centerfold is this month), has him saying:
“Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation.”
Paul Krugman picked up on this and reminds us that McCain has probably changed his position by now, anyway.
Meanwhile, McCain is proposing a tax on health care benefits for American workers. He offers measly tax credits for those who buy their own insurance: $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families. According to Joe Klein, the average cost for health insurance per family is $12,000. The Obama campaign should be screaming about this! See http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/mccains_health_care_tax_increa.html
September 21st, 2008 at 11:02 am
And, if McCain and the conservatives hadn’t been stopped by smart liberals, our Social Security fund would be in the dumper, too.
September 21st, 2008 at 11:14 am
McCain’s plan for healthcare is A NEW TAX on your premiums:
>>> McCain, on the other hand, would use the tax code to shift insurance from the workplace to the marketplace. Under his plan, employees would start having to pay income tax on the value of the healthcare premiums they receive from their employers, making it a less attractive benefit.
>>> http://tinyurl.com/3nblqt
To be fair, he is also plans a tax credit, but you’re screwed if you are working poor (or not working at all!)
September 21st, 2008 at 11:20 am
The longer Demcorats prevent Social Security from being reformed the bigger and more catastrophic will be the day of reckoning.
The Democrats have nearly plunged the world into a Great Depression due to their mandate that bad loans be integrated into the global financial system… now they will continue on with thier policies that will impoverish everyoe.
September 21st, 2008 at 11:33 am
HOW LOW CAN OBAMA GO. SCAREING THE ELDERY WITH OUT RIGHT LIES. OBAMA MAGGOT OF THE YEAR
Annenberg’s FactCheck.org, hardly a right-wing organization, has this to say about Obama’s new ad, in what they call Scaring Seniors:
A new Obama ad characterizes the “Bush-McCain privatization plan” as “cutting Social Security Benefits in half.”
This is a falsehood sure to frighten seniors who rely on their Social Security checks. In truth, McCain does not propose to cut those checks at all.
The ad refers to a Bush proposal from 2005 to hold down the growth of benefits for future retirees. Compared to the buying power of benefits paid to today’s retirees, that would not have been a “cut” for anybody. It would have been a “cut” of half only in relation to benefits now promised to retirees who have yet to be born. And for average workers, that “cut” in 2075 was projected by one of Obama’s own economic advisers to be 28 percent, not “half.”
The ad also says McCain voted “in favor of privatizing Social Security.” The term “privatizing” could give the wrong impression.
September 21st, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Obama explains National Anthem
Hot on the heels of his explanation for why he no longer wears a flag pin, presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama was forced to explain why he doesn’t follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
According to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171, During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.
‘As I’ve said about the flag pin, I don’t want to be perceived as taking sides,’ Obama said. ‘There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing.’ If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.’
WHAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this could possibly be our next president. I, for once, am speechless.
He better take sides……….if he is not on the side of AMERICA why should he EVEN BE CONSIDERED for the office he is seeking. We do not need a man in office that will not salute the flag. The world knows how to sing, what they need to know is that the USA will defend what that flag stands for.
September 21st, 2008 at 12:56 pm
McCain’s health care plan:
DON’T GET SICK!
September 21st, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Not really related to this particular post, but EVERYONE needs to read this – specifically the haters on this site: http://www.redroom.com/blog/tim-wise/this-your-nation-white-privilege-updated
It would probably benefit a lot of people. Like you, Daniellea.
September 21st, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Daniella: that quote from Obama is false.
The quote is from a mock column a columnist wrote as if he was Obama
http://azconservative.org/Semmens118.htm
September 21st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Julia: why would lefties go to that link ?
September 21st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
BIG bombing in pakistan and Jimmy Carter wants to [meet] with hamas???? PRICELESS ! Its going to be ALL out war with Islam and We’re [it]. Jimmy Carter disposed the shaw of Iran and is the FATHER of radical Islam. [THANKS JIMMY].
September 21st, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Julia H.
Been drinking the kool aid? Someone could turn around and write a paper entitled “Black Privilage” full of opinion like that column was, and claim to be “right” in their thinking.
That column was divisive, full of rhetoric and hate,
and not intellectual in in any way.
Surely you can base your political stance on something with a little more substance?
Vince: I am assuming she believes that democrats must think like that guy?
September 21st, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Wake up people, it’s not the government’s responsibility to provide us with healthcare and retirement benefits. It’s my responsiblity to provide healthcare for my family and save for my own retirement. Why is it that democrates want the government to give, give and give more instead of being responsible for their own futures. And these comments are coming from a middle class voter.
September 21st, 2008 at 1:36 pm
ALL liberals to the front lines please; on the war on radical Islam. [to show your patriotism].
September 21st, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Mark,
Well said. The United States is full of people who want the government to take care of them (healhcare, income, retirement etc.). Pretty soon we will be living in a full fledged welfare state if they have their way. Dumbed down, lazy people who wait for a hand-out.
September 21st, 2008 at 1:52 pm
No we won’t be living in a welfare state.. there is no money for it.
However, the Democrats will deny we have no money and instead falsely led people to believe the govt will be there for them.
The people will then live their lives with the uynderstanding that things they should be preparing for on their own , will be done for them.
Wont they be in for a shock when those things are not there for them.
Just like the idiot said about Social Security… he gives the false promise that it wil be around for much longer. It will not. People need to realize that and start to plan now. The Leftists are living in a fantasy world. Their fantasy equates to disaster in the real world.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:00 pm
“Obama explains National Anthem.”
This is so last year. Bark bark bark! Woof woof woof!
“McCain’s health care plan: DON’T GET SICK!”
And oddly enough, this is the same exact plan I have right now!
“…it’s not the government’s responsibility to provide us with healthcare and retirement benefits.”
The government’s responsibility is what we say it is.
“Why is it that democrates want the government to give, give and give…”
Why is it that the “republocrates” want the government to get bigger bigger bigger and spend spend spend and borrow borrow borrow?
“Dumbed down, lazy people who wait for a hand-out.”
Maybe where you live. Nobody like that around here.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Speaking of fantasies.. here is news from NASA.
The sun has been so inactive this year that NASA is doing a live press conference to discuss how whatever is going on with the sun is alterating the nature of the solar system.
http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/news-nasa-to-hold-press-conference-on-the-state-of-the-sun/#comments
NEWS: NASA to hold press conference on the state of the sun
This is unusual. A live media teleconference on the sun. Even more unusual is this statement:
The sun’s current state could result in changing conditions in the solar system.
As you may recall, I posted an entry about the Ulysses mission back on June 16th and the findings of a lowered magnetic field in the sun, from the JPL press release then:
Ulysses ends its career after revealing that the magnetic field emanating from the sun’s poles is much weaker than previously observed. This could mean the upcoming solar maximum period will be less intense than in recent history.
We live in interesting times.
===============
The noteworthy thing here is that the last time the sun has done this, tempatures on Earth were unusually cold.
This is from NASA:
WASHINGTON — NASA will hold a media teleconference Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 12:30 p.m. EDT, to discuss data from the joint NASA and European Space Agency Ulysses mission that reveals the sun’s solar wind is at a 50-year low. The sun’s current state could result in changing conditions in the solar system.
Solar wind is at a 50 year low.
We’re facing a mini Ice Age.. all this crap talk about CO2 is meaningless.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Old Lefty. You are either a pathological liar or a miserable pervert. You twist and lie constantly. You must be a paid propagandist for the Democratic Party. Lets cut to the chase. Obama is a lying class envy socialist communist gay Islamist terrorist supporter. Simple that is it. Obama received more money or bribes from Fannie May then any one. Obama was financed by Ayers and various Middle Eastern covert financiers. I just retired from an Intelligence service and I can tell you with out a doubt. Obama and a handful of Democrat politicians are funded by Iranian Intelligence. They say Obama is their secret weapon. Also George Soros is a KGB operative. The Democratic party has been compromised. Laugh all you want. It will come out very soon. Soros will have a accident soon because he has been compromised. Obama is a traitor and will destroy this country if elected. Lefty you are a fool. a liar and a political whore and useful idiot. By the way you have been on a watch list for over 15 years. Now your controlers will have to comprimise
September 21st, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Remember what I said. It is true and part of a misinformation plan is to make the truth look paranoid. Just look around and see the media and DNC parroting the party line. The Christian Religion is evil. Homosexual is normal. Patriotism evil. Rebellion and changing the Constitution normal. Disarm the citizens normal. NRA and hunters evil. The Military and heroes evil. Anti military and ridicule heroes normal. Success and hard work evil. The government owes me normal. Shocking this is right out of the handbook of communist and Islamic terrorism guides to revolution and over throwing a country.. Schools teach the government is evil and socialism utopia normal. Divide the races through agitators and media. Destroy marriage and the families. The state is the parent. Call evil good and smear and destroy good. Look at the Hollywood crowd. McCarthy was right and history has proven it. They flock around dictators and tyrants Chavez, Castro, Iranian, and Syrians. Wake up and vote for McCain if you want freedom. After 40 years of Intelligence service I can just say look and watch. Look at Obama’s friend’s Islamic terror operatives. Rev. Wright preacher of Racist William Ayers radical terrorist. Farakhan. Research the hidden years at Columbia University. Also the overseas trips. Victor Marchenco, Ivan Scholos, Gory Machlinsos. Fhaad Hussan these are a few of the KGB friends who financed and open doors here through contacts. I am not long for this earth. A Terminal Sickness has attached to me. I want to warn my beloved country.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Bruce from Bruno,
You said this same thing yesterday.
Again, if you are a liberal playing a role to discredit conservatives, it’s a brilliant, although dishonest tactic.
If you are seriously trying to pass yourself off as so many on anonymous websites do, ( one guy on a newspapers’s comment section, got caught over months claiming to be an Iraq war veteran, a Gulf war veteran, a Viet Nam veteran, AND a WW11 veteran at various times.) well, at least you are entertaining.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pm
These uppity atheists seem to have no uinderstanding that their ability to be tolerated and live in Liberty in soceity is a direct conssequence of Christianity. It is Christian belief in the inidivudal dignity of each person, and that each man has his own personal relationship with God which led to the freedom of conscience.
That they now begin to turn the tables and declare Christians to be the intolerable ones is getting to be something I can no longer bear.
If you want to see the result of a Post-Christian Secular Socialist state, look at Western Europe.
- The abort thier future away
- They are not patriotic
- Their economies are poor
- Their welfare is unsustainable
- They have to import Muslims
Because the Europeans have thrown away their Christian heritage, there is nothing for the Muslims to assimiliate into. Therefore they have retained their identities and that involves jihad and submission.
Humans need an ideological purpose for their lives. The one the Left provides is a cold dead hedonistic world. A soul-less mindless collectivism in the name of man.
Islam offers something even darker but does so in the name of deity.
When you push Christianity out, and replace it with nothing, somcething will come along to fill the void.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Rocky,
Obama is pushing for the largest government expansion and redistribution of wealth since the LBJ administration.
There is nothing anywhere in our country’s framework that guarantees healthcare, income, retirement, etc. You don’t even have a right to be happy. You do have the right to pursue all those things though.
I am still trying to figure out why so many want government to take care of them? Sorry, I don’t want to rely on anyone for my well being. I can handle my future myself.
Vince,
Well put.
September 21st, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Wow — I’m not the only one who thinks you’re stupid and ugly, Colmes. And for Patrick on another post — you are just as anonymous as I am. Tell you what Patrick — my email is posted on this blog just like yours is. You want to get up close and personal with me — come back Bitch. I’d love to slap you silly.
September 21st, 2008 at 9:10 pm
“We’re facing a mini Ice Age.. all this crap talk about CO2 is meaningless.”
Ok, great. Let’s all fire up our Hummers and invent new ways to waste resources and turn the environment toxic. It doesn’t matter anyway because in 50 billion years the earth gets consumed by the sun!
Why just live as Alastair Crowley suggested: “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”
“There is nothing anywhere in our country’s framework that guarantees healthcare, income, retirement, etc.”
There’s nothing there about a right to privacy either, and until recently there was no individual right to own guns. And the bottom line is people want health care. And they’re sick of being screwed by insurance companies who run them into bankruptcy and leave them to die like dogs.
And you want to stick up for these thugs in the health insurance business you go right ahead.
“I can handle my future myself.”
Yeah, sounds good. It’s pure fantasy, but if that’s how you want it fine. Maybe the system can be designed so you can opt out. And then, if anything happens, you’re on your own. And if you don’t have the cash for the drug that’ll save your life for a thousand bucks a pill, or the $100,000 surgery, well that’s how it goes.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:45 am
If you have an issue with insurance companies, then deal with the insurance companies. Look to the north and you will see how an ill conceived, ill run socialized healthcare system DENIES QUALITY of care via months of waiting for necessary surgeries, tests and simple doctor visits.
Quantity and cheap does not equal QUALITY.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
BTW, wasn’t our right to keep and bear arms drafted as the Second Ammendment in our Constituation in 1791?I think that is actually a RIGHT we have in this country.
If you think we should disarm our citizens, perhaps you should examine the increase in violent crimes in the UK and Austrailia after they enacted tougher gun restrictions. Criminals will get guns regardless of the law (that is why they are criminals).
If they don’t have a gun, they will use knives.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 am
Absolute bollocks T. Here in the civilised world we have maybe 5% of the gun crime that you do, and our ‘other weapons’ murders are a fraction of yours as well.
What the hell do you think you’ll achieve by lying through your teeth? Become VP or something?
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:53 am
Here are some examples that prove I am not “lying through my teeth”. There are many more I could post, but I won’t. If you want more information you can look it up.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2002/02/04/3fb040202.xml
http://www.americandaily.com/article/4939
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB109416390461308573.html?mod=googlewsj
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/knife-uk-the-rise-of-knife-culture-422661.html
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:50 am
“BTW, wasn’t our right to keep and bear arms drafted as the Second Ammendment in our Constituation in 1791?”
No.
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/27/nation/na-scotus27
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
John,
I am not “lying through my teeth.” There are NUMEROUS articles written about the correlation between stricter gun control laws and a rise in violent crime. I might add that the rise in knife related crimes has been tied to the same issue. Are you going to ban knives as well?
The fact remains that criminals will continue to be criminals regardless of what laws are passed. Disarming your law-abiding citizens is not the answer.
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Rocky,
Unless I am reading that differently than you are, the Supreme court sided with the 2nd ammendment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
“Wake up people, it’s not the government’s responsibility to provide us with healthcare and retirement benefits. It’s my responsiblity to provide healthcare for my family and save for my own retirement. Why is it that democrates want the government to give, give and give more instead of being responsible for their own futures. And these comments are coming from a middle class voter.”
Mark, it IS the responsibility of gov’t to provide these things…if we have been paying through the nose for them with our taxes.
If you don’t want the gov’t to take care of the country, then stop driving on our roads and bridges (DOT), stop eating food (FDA), stop breathing air (EPA), and keep your kids out of our schools and universities (DOE).
Then see how long you can remain self-subsistent.
United we stand, divided we fall.
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Incidentally, the universal healthcare I experienced in Italy was efficient, professional, expedient, and dirt-cheap.
Get an X-ray? Take your receipt to this window and pay. Visit with the doctor? Take your receipt to this window and pay. Need crutches? Here’s your receipt, pay at the window.
X-ray, painkillers, crutches, visit with orthopedic surgeon and intern-translator?
About $400 euros. That’s it. Didn’t even use our American insurance, which carries a $1,000 deductible, and 10% copay after that’s been “met.”
I come back to this country, where I have to make an appt. for my well-woman’s exam ONE YEAR in advance. With a couple of simple tests, the bill’s about $1,200. Then there’s the months-long back-and-forth amid insurance agency, various labs, hospitals, etc. The bills might as well be in sanskrit.
T Mason, do you really not care that some people, with a catastrophic illness, will be made destitute by our current healthcare industry?
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
It is not the responsibility of the Government to provide health care for us unless we all agree, via a legislative enactment by our governmental representatives, that the Government SHOULD be responsible for providing all citizens with health care. Last time I checked, the Constitution does not provide the right to health care.
I don’t think the Government should be responsible because it is a limitation on my freedom. I want the ability to choose whether or not I want to pay for health care, the size of the premium I want to pay, or whether I take the money I would have spent on health care and use it to fund a sweet new Beemer. And, yes, I want to be able to take the risk that I may be subject to a catastrophic illness that that makes me destitute. It’s my life, let me make my choices. By forcing me to pay for your health care program, you are limiting my freedom.
The Democratic position on this issue is very antithetical to the pro-choice position.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Murder rate (per 100,000 people)
United States 8.40
Canada 5.45
Denmark 5.17
France 4.60
Portugal 4.50
Australia 4.48
Germany 4.20
Belgium 2.80
Spain 2.28
Switzerland 2.25
Italy 2.18
Norway 1.99
United Kingdom 1.97
Austria 1.80
Greece 1.76
Sweden 1.73
Japan 1.20
Ireland 0.96
Finland 0.70
Nasty, pesky little fact things. Gosh, how they get in the way of a good wingbat argument. Please T, do call us back when the US has earned any kind of right to lecture the rest of us on gun control…
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Sarah,
It is common to schedule a well woman visit one year in advance. That provides the Doctor with a schedule permitting regular visits stacked with OB visits which fluctuate.
You keep saying our “current healthcare industry”. You need to be saying with our “current insurance industry” Your issue is with insurance, not healthcare right??
I have said before and I will say again: Quantity and FREE do NOT EQUAL QUALITY.
Here is an article about the lack of quality of care that the people of Italy receive. If this happened in the U.S. where healthcare is PRIVATE and regulated the hospital would be shut down, the doctors sued, and the nurses would lose their license to practice nursing.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E6DE103EF93BA35752C1A962958260
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:05 pm
John,
I don’t give a rip what you do in your neck of the woods. But my second ammendment right says I have the right to keep and bear arms.
I think we started our own country because we didn’t like the whole dictatorship/king set-up you had going on.
It sounds like maybe you need to start regulating the use of knives in the UK too. Maybe then you can move on to forks and spoons?
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Sara, remove the sippie cup full of kool-aid from your mouth. No one is saying we shouldn’t pay taxes for roads or security (military,police,fire,FDA,boarder patrol) I don’t need the govt. taking additional money from my family to pay for health care for those who decided to commit crimes, quit school or laziness. I am a fair thinking person, if someone is laid off from their job,or they are physically/mentally handicapped (not as a result of committing a crime) I don’t have a problem helping them however; I do not believe it should be an entitlement to those who have never and/or do not make any positive contribution to society
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Yeah, Mark. I just read the first few words of your post to me. What would induce me to read the rest of your hate-filled crap? Clearly, you prefer anger and scorn to reason and solution.
T Mason: “You keep saying our “current healthcare industry”. You need to be saying with our “current insurance industry” Your issue is with insurance, not healthcare right??”
No, YOU NEED to be saying “current healthcare industry,” because there’s plenty of blame to go around, including pharm companies that bribe doctors with lobster dinners in order to shill their stuff. The problem lies also with doctors who whined about malpractice suits, but have you seen their charges go down?
Incidentally, I plan to become a gun-owner myself, very shortly. I’m not in favor of gun ownership (having known some very nice people who have died by guns), but after reading some of the militant right-wing, hate spewing garbage on this site, I’m feeling a little paranoid about all these gun-owners, myself.
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Sarah,
If you were a physician/nurse/pharmacist/nurse practitioner/physician assistant who dealt with treating people on a daily basis you would not chime in so lightly and proudly when you discuss lawsuits.
You have lawyers like John Edwards to thank for that fiasco. You have no clue how much debt healthcare providers have when they graduate NOR the OUTRAGEOUS cost of liability insurance not only for Dr’s, but nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, etc. Every day you go to work with the realization that someone might get angry because they didn’t get the drug they wanted so they will file a frivolous lawsuit.
I will agree that some drug prices are outrageous, but Some of the blame lies squarely on the consumer. We are a drug loving country and we want a pill to fix everything. Ever heard of supply and demand?
I never realized that guns killed people on their own. I am assuming your friends were killed by criminals? There was an elderly lady close to where I live who saved her life by having a handgun in her bedroom when a pervert decided to break into her home and rape her. Criminals will obtain guns no matter what the government says.
I wonder how we would have won the Revolutionary War if idiots back then tried to ban their citizens from being responsible gun owners?
Talk about militant, and hate filled. maybe you should try reading your own posts before you start pointing fingers.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
T Mason: “We are a drug loving country and we want a pill to fix everything. Ever heard of supply and demand?”
–Agreed…to a point. Ever heard of doctors who over-supply their patients? Ever heard of doctors receiving kickbacks, gifts and bribes from drug companies? I sure have.
I also live in a rural area where the healthcare borders on negligence, at times. People who can’t shake their “pneumonia” for a year or longer, die of cancer. Women give birth, only to be rendered infertile when the doctor “leaves a little something” inside the woman during the Caesarian. I have other horror stories too numerous to mention, as well as HIPPA (sp.?) violations.
T Mason: “Every day you go to work with the realization that someone might get angry because they didn’t get the drug they wanted so they will file a frivolous lawsuit.”
– EVERYONE who works, has that possibility hanging over their heads. Only hospitals have deeper pockets, don’t they? And why? Because they can charge whatever they want. People want to live and be healthy.
T Mason: “I never realized that guns killed people on their own.”
Dynamite doesn’t kill on its own, either. But it’s highly regulated, isn’t it? As a health care worker (and possibly pro-fetus-adoption), I assumed you’d be all about Life.
But you’re right, guns are a tool, to be sure– For anyone wanting to kill another person quickly, effectively, cleanly, and from a great distance, it’s the preferred weapon. Less messy or personal as knives or rope. More effective than bludgeons. Less skillful as archery.
I know about 8 people who have been shot to death. Some family members, some friends of family, some accidental, some suicidal, some homicide. And I’m a nice little white girl, a Lutheran, coming from an upper middle class Republican family (most of whom, by the way, would like more gun control).
You’re saying, because I’m tired of people being shot to death, that *I* am “militant and hate-filled?”
Again, you defy logic. I guess, for you, “relaxed and full-of-love” means we press a hunting gun into the hands of every 4-year-old, and arm every elderly person and hope they don’t shoot themselves or other innocent people with guns.
September 24th, 2008 at 6:32 pm