Thank you Mr. Brown for your insightful and enlightened view of healthcare reform. You are an inspiration to the independently minded among us! Politicians are palying games with our health! It is time for something different, and you are right on track for a logical solution.

Bob Brown the epitome of RINO - Republican In Name Only. This hack was the GOP candidate for Governor a few years back. Exactly HOW is he different than Schweitzer???

What Mr. Brown does not realize is that government controlled/rationed health care is a violation of man’s rights in order to grant someone else a “right” they do not possess. Mr. Brown does not have the simple competence to realize the philosophical error of his short sighted thinking, namely; man is not a slave to the needs or wants of other men. Then he goes on to play emotional plea bargaining by mentioning a friend who had cancer. Again, what he fails to realize, on a grand scale, is that we ALL fall on difficult times. We ALL have our tragedies. We ALL have our mountains to climb, BUT how does having the State force me and you to pay up for someone elses need, take our money, decide who will get what treatment and when, further REAL and moral health care? Is slavery so noble? is having a poltician call the shots so wise? Is mortgaging someone elses work, money, effort moral?

The purpose of the “public option” is to ensure that private options are driven out of business. The most private option of all is the exchange, dollar-for-dollar, between doctor and patient. Shopping for health insurance in a totally deregulated market would be another option. None of these options will be allowed by the current regime. Why? Because they get in the way of government control. Under the coming monopoly, patients will be forced to undergo medical care only as the government prescribes it. Doctors will have the “option” to work for the government—or close up shop. Under a government run system, the only option is gunpoint. And that’s no option.Dr, Hurd

What got us to this point in the first place is government interference in that employers are required to provide health care insurance - look where we are now because of that.  Health care paid for by “somebody else” will only encourage people to take advantage of the system, like what is already done in the UK and other countries with government managed health care - driving the cost up even further.  Major procedures will require months or even years for approval, with the patient having to suffer while they wait - don’t tell me this doesn’t happen, because it does!!!  There are even “experts” on the health care system laws in the UK who tell people how to take advantage of the existing loopholes to get the care they need - is that the mark of an efficient system run by government?

Not that I needed confirmation that Bob Brown was not worthy of my vote for Governor, but his letter has everything all wrong.  Mr. Brown’s point of view is why we are in the sorry state that we are.  It is politicians like Brown that have failed us, and now they want us to trust the government made up of similar bureaucrats to “save us”.

No one can argue that the current health care system is acceptable.  However, the problem is government involvement and regulation, not the lack of it.  Government-administered Medicare is bankruptcy and will need a taxpayer provided bailout in the near future.  Its miles of red tape and complex reimbursement rules force doctors and hospitals to hire excess staff and raise the charges for those on private insurance so that they can remain solvent.  As far as I am aware, no private enterprise has been able to “compete” with Medicare.  State and federal regulations that ban private companies from offering coverage across state lines and ban consumers from shopping for the best plans raise costs for everyone else.  This puts consumers, including small businesses, at the mercy of private monopolies like Blue Cross Blue Shield, who not coincidentally, act as the administrator for Medicare in many states.

Mr. Brown, like all other bureaucrats, receives the benefit of taxpayer-provided health insurance which provides some of the best benefits with little real cost to the participant.  This gives them a skewed lens at which they look at the world, including the health care system.

Lack of personal responsibility has also led us to the current state of affairs.  This can be illustrated by Mr. Brown’s example of his contractor who he says lacked the ability to pay for needed dental and medical care.  If he was like most contractors, he could afford a brand new pickup and a trip to Hawaii or Mexico ever year.  If he is not, he certainly has the ability to go into another profession, perhaps working for the government, where health care coverage is provided.  Life is about priorities and choices.  If health care is a priority, people find a way to pay for it and get coverage.  Too often, people choose not to pay for health insurance knowing that they can go to the emergency room and receive treatment regardless of their ability to pay.  The cost is them passed on through higher charges to responsible consumers with insurance.

The only way to improve the current system is to reduce regulation, allow true competition among insurers and health care providers, and make consumers more informed and involved in the process.  That is the only way there will be true responsibility for controlling costs and encouraging innovation.  After all, that is what gave the United States the best health care system in the world before we screwed it up.

How about this little pile of STINK ??

Associated Press Writer Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar, Associated Press Writer – Fri Jul 3, 7:25 am ET

First you paid to insure your car. Soon you may have to add health insurance premiums to that stack of monthly bills as well. In a revamped health care system envisioned by senators, people would be required to carry health insurance just like motorists must get auto coverage now. The government would provide subsidies for the poor and many middle-class families, but those who still refuse to sign up would face fines of more than $1,000.
The details were unveiled Thursday in a health care overhaul bill supported by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fines would raise around $36 billion over 10 years. Senate aides said the penalties would be modeled on the approach taken by Massachusetts, which now imposes a fine of about $1,000 a year on individuals who refuse to get coverage. Under the federal legislation, families would pay higher penalties than individuals.

Those fees are being pushed thru by the republicans - not the democrats -  well maybe some hack like baucus - who has taken more money from the INSURANCE INDUSTRY than any other senator.

Great system when over 70% of Americans want something - 

90% of democrats
50+% of republicans

and we still cannot get it done - it just shows the undue influence of the multi-national corporations to profit on the backs of WE THE PEOPLE.

What this shows is that many laws are written FOR THE CORPORATIONS not for WE the PEOPLE.

What we will see next hopefully- if health care reform falls to the corporate apologists - is Finance Reform -

It has only been in the last 30 years or so - that the lobbyests from the largest multi-national corporations have taken over the government.

But then again the libertarian wing of the republican party is in bed with the Corporations fighting to guarantee they can profit over WE the PEOPLE.

If your private system works so well then why are you all so afraid of the public option?

AND Mooseberry - Unemployement insurance is paid for by employees and employers - not fees -

the level of uniformed thought from the extreme rightwingnuts around here is staggering - 

AND when we allow Health Insurance companies to run in a unregulated environment then watch out - here comes more and more:

1. denials of claims -
2. higher prices
3. higher co-pays
4. more denials for pre-existing conditions - 
5. and when Insurance Companies can run across state lines - all the companies will re-incorporate in Deleware where they will face no fines if they get caught de-frauding the Consumer - otherwise know as WE THE PEOPLE.

The merger of corporate power and the Government was originally defined by Mussilin in Italy in the 1930’s as Fascism. Google it.  Every point you rightwingers push are the same points Mussilini pushed.  Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.

That would make all you libertairians FASCISTS.

Why not admit the truth - just for once!

OH GOOD !!!  Prepare for yet ANOTHER CZAR !

Need for federal insurance czar is questioned
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press Writer 2 hrs 30 mins ago
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s congressional allies want to create a powerful insurance commissioner to oversee medical plans nationwide. State regulators say it would duplicate what they do without better protecting consumers. Conservatives bemoan the big government mentality. A consumer group is defending the idea, saying not every state does a good job of overseeing the insurance industry. “We need a better health care cop on the beat,” said William Vaughan, a senior policy analyst with Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. “There needs to be a federal insurance commissioner to keep insurers on the straight and narrow.“Conservatives call the proposal a federal power grab.“This is not a federal-state partnership — it is federal domination of the states,” Heritage Foundation health policy expert Robert Moffit said in recent congressional testimony

Originally, the title Czar (derived from Caesar) meant Emperor in the European medieval sense of the term, that is, a ruler who claims the same rank as a Roman emperor, with the approval of another emperor or a supreme ecclesiastical official Occasionally, the word could be used to designate other, non-Christian, supreme rulers. In Russia and Bulgaria the imperial connotations of the term were blurred with time and, by the 19th century, it had come to be viewed as an equivalent of King.The word czar can also be spelled tsar. Czar is the most common form in American usage and the one nearly always employed in the extended senses “any tyrant” or informally, “one in authority.”

Is this not quite UN-American ???  Why does this administration always choose, and dub czars ??

@mooseberry - ACORN overseeing elections - that is almost funny if it weren’t so serious an issue; looks like they really will be standing by to help you with your ballot.

This comment from boston.com had me rolling -

“To all you carpet munching liberal leftist feminist sows and heifers…YOU’RE destroying our country. I hope you all end up overdosed on your government sponsored cheese, housing and healthcare. You are all pathetic!

YOU elected a president that might be an American, cheated his way into a state senate, and is sure to make us all have safe government jobs after all the over taxed companies leave America.
Good Job losers!”

Isn’t that just a gem?

no JB - it’s called bigoted -  that is what it is -

but I’m sure to you it’s perfectly acceptable.

Which just shows the pathetic nature of the neo-cons/libertarians that destroyed our country and then want the blame the guy who might actually be able to fix it - over all your objections.

Especially after you righties destroyed your party, the economy, started wars non-stop, spyed on Americans, broke the Constitution left and right, sold the country out to the highest bidder, destroyed the surplus clinton gave you and

oh yea -  ALLOWED 9-11 to happen.

that pretty much defines the word LOSER.

AND what we get is more idiocy from the braindead rightwing.

At least it got a rise from you, woody…that was the intent.  By the people, you mean the “sheeple”, right?

so you love to parade your ignorance and bigotry just in order to have someone reposnd

seems kind of self-demeaning to me but hey you righties are full of narcissism

Nope…I’m demonstrating your gullibility and your need to always have the last word by drawing you out…and it worked.  I’m demonstrating that you are a prime example of the “sheeple” that live in this country.  You can go back to your leftist websites and blogs now

anytime I see stupidity, ignorance and bigotry masquerading as rightwing patriotism I’ll call you out on it every time. 

AS for being a sheeple - that would be the rightwing bloviating machine -

Have you ever heard of FACTS jb?  If so - try mixing one in every once in a while -

www.democracynow.org

go here and you might actually learn something besides your hannity and rush limbaugh garbage -  whats amazing is you really do believe that stuff - if it’s in a viral email from the likes of the rightwingnuts like newsmax and glen beck and michelle malkin etc -  you fall for it every time.

and if you don’t listen to those losers from the HATE AMERICA FIRST crowd how come you spew the EXACT SAME THINGS as they do?

We do have a terrorism problem in AMERICA - a rightwing terrorism problem.

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/files/letters/

go there to read TRUE stories about the “profits over people” USA health care instead of the garbage you righties read in your viral emails….

notice and reflect on why do they call your news sources on the right “viral”.....

the last fact granny tried to use that wasn’t from the old testament was from some nutcase named adrian peters who thought a return to slavery could end the welfare problem and really wanted to start a war in the middle east in order to bring about the “end times”

Where do you people on the right get these FREAKS?

And why choose to follow them blindly?

Your “facts” don’t tell the whole story, woody.  I pay attention to those in the know.  You don’t become wealthy by listening to complainers and whiners - you listen to people that know how to create wealth, how to create something out of nothing, how to be self sufficient instead of depending on the government for everything!!  Why don’t you try making a difference in your life instead of ######## all the time about how things suck because the so-called “right-wing” destroyed everything!  You act like a victim of the system - so you are a victim of the system!!  Why don’t you stop being a victim and start making something out of life!!

Have some pride in yourself and your life - maybe life will seem different afterwards.  I fight for myself because I love my life, and I enjoy the fruit of my efforts!  Why don’t you try doing the same, instead of complaining all the time!!

EXACTLY JB !  Thats the point I have tried and tried to make, everyone has the same chance to step out here, and give it a go. Start a business, make investments, try to make life better for yourself, and the ones you love !
I know that I for one was FAR from born with a silver spoon in my mouth…... BUT I wanted more out of this life then trying to constantly make it by the edge of my seat, so we started businesses, we have failed, we have succeeded, but we keep going. It is by our own will to make it, we in the end control our destiny !!!!  I’ll never work this hard for anyone, as I would myself, and my family !  thats my motovation !!!

Did you catch this news ?
An amendment based on Congressman Ron Paul’s House bill to audit the Federal Reserves was blocked by the Senate this week on procedural grounds.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Republican Senator Jim DeMint and supporter of an audit said, “allowing the Fed to operate our nation’s monetary system in almost complete secrecy leads to abuse, inflation and a lower quality of life.”

Just finished reading, and then listening to the interview on Yahoo Finance…. Read the peoples comment area , whew there are alot of people that are HOT under the collar after this !!!!  BUT of course they would block this, can you imagine what an audit would find ????  BOY, dont have to think on that one for long in order to come up with a list a country mile long !!!!

Yep, granny, saw that…this was bound to happen that there would be those who pick this bill apart - amazing the lack of press coverage on this bill, but then again, you know how the mass media of this country is…

you guys have no idea about me and if I have a job or a “nice” house - I want social justice and a better system for health care that puts the patient above the profits of a corporation so I must be a poor loser.

ANY day you want to put your wage and house up to mine lets do it - granny probably lives in trailer and i have a 3000 sf house on the flathead river….so what!

I know this comes as a surprise to the GREED is GOD righties but not everyone lives only for their own self-interest and their own greed.

That is called having a severe lack of empathy -

and it is a sign of being a sociopath.  BUT why be proud of it?

I honestly don’t care about your source of income or the kind of house you own - it’s not about that, woody.  But you also know that there is only one entity out there that looks out for your best interests - and that entity is YOU.  You depend on something else, and they will let you down every time. 

Our government is not a government of the people - its a government of those who only work to keep themselves in power.  That is the point we are trying to make.  If all you can do is point fingers and lump everyone who doesn’t fit with your narrow vision into the “rightwing” bucket - then you are obviously myopically shortsighted.

I just received an email reply from Senator Baucus today - obviously a canned response from one of his staffers - extolling the virtues of his health care reform plan and a 96 page report outlining it.  It’s obvious to me that Baucus only represents his own self interest - so it’s pointless to even try to talk to him any more.

Dont you just LOVE those generic responses you recieve ???
I have a number of them in my e-mail, even had a few that were delivered to my rural mail box !!! WOW !!!  Oh well JB, at least it can’t be said that we did not try, that we did nothing !!!!
I think I will save them for proof to my Grandchildren that granny did NOT sit back and just let it happen, nor did I support it, I did the best that one working American could do !!!!
They may forgive me one day for the America that I handed down to them !

Yeah…I doubt if I would get any better response with a phone call, or even showing up at his Washington office.

Some above comments were taken down. Please stick to debating the topics and refrain from personal attacks.

It sounds like ” DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT 200.00 !!!!!!  Maybe even GO directly to jail !!!
Grab your life jackets, rough water ahead !!!