By shot down, I meant that the ideas didn’t fit the “ideal” dreamed up for the reform plan.

And about not all Dems being on board… many more may NOT be on board by rightfully listening to those that put them in office. (May being the operative word.)

First, I want to commend those that are holding town halls and not shying away from the public.

Second, those that oppose the proposed health care reform are infact REAL PEOPLE with REAL OPINIONS. These are not professionals skilled in the arts of community organizing. It seems that instead of dismissing them and/or calling them names, those that support the proposed health care reform and that say they just want civilized conversation would do well to LISTEN to the valid concerns, without contempt or deciding upfront that those with concerns are ignorant of “facts”.

This isn’t about being “just angry”.

It isn’t about losing a job (many with concerns still have their job and if they’ve lost it, their concerns about this plan isn’t wrapped in the fact that they lost their job).

It isn’t about being unable to pay household bills.

This is not about the other party being in power. Ironically, Independents and Democrats are also expressing concerns at the Town Hall meetings.

This is most certainly NOT about what color the President may be. (Yes, some are racist. It is wrong. It is wrong to be racist toward blacks and it is wrong to be racist toward whites. This has nothing to do with the proposed health care reform. Socialism is NOT the new “n” word. That is more hateful communication from those that support the proposed reform toward those that do not. Disgusting.)

So, if all those that fit those categories would “shut up” as you requested, not much would change as those with real concerns continue to voice those concerns.

I respect that it is your opinion that the proposed health care reform is exactly the solution we need. I disagree with you but do not respect you any less nor dismiss your opinion, even if I do feel you have bought into misinformation (as those that oppose the proposed reform have been accused).

There are a lot of Americans that feel we are throwing money into the wind and doing so at a very rapid pace. Whether or not programs or actions actually “worked” is debatable. Just because we are “told” it did, doesn’t mean that is actually correct.

Most of the concerns about the proposed reform come down to just two things:

(1) We cannot afford it. The USA simply does not have the funds to underwrite the proposed reform. History has shown that whatever the estimates are given for a government program, you have to start multiplying that number to get to real figures. It is said the reform would be defecit neutral the first ten years (although the first four of those years the plan wouldn’t even be in place and the next few years would see more and more people gradually moving to that “provider”, which then lands us toward the end of that 10 years – then what? Still defecit neutral the following 10 years?

(2) People are concerned that government is seriously over-reaching, becoming too large, as well as allowing for undesired scenarios by using vague language in the proposed reform, some not so vague, refusing to allow clear language asserting some possibilities would not happen, etc. People are frustrated that our reps are spending unseemly amounts of money without even knowing the details of what it is being spent on (ie: stimulus – though I disagree with that term for it).

Anger? Yes. Some are quite angry and had to actually, finally, get to that point before finding a voice. Once they find their voice and speak their concerns, they are dismissed and falsely labeled using endless hateful terms. This does not say, “let’s have a conversation”. With that response to honest concerns, the anger grows.

These are not uncompassionate souls who don’t care about the uninsured, they just do not believe this proposed plan is the best way to get from A to B, that it may not even get us to the “B” we are told it would, and that it could create more issues than it solves. There are differing ideas suggested and routinely shot down.

There are enough Democrats to pass the reform, so this isn’t about Republicans or concerned Americans attending town halls. It seems that not even enough Democrats are on board (and more may be – rightfully so – listening to those that actually put them into office).

It makes me sick to my stomach to hear the verbage thrown from the left – especially the elected officials – toward the average, everyday American.

It is also worth mentioning that every mention of Fox News is only beneficial to them. It is actually amusing to me that they are considered extreme right simply because they happen to be to the right of the extreme left.

Questions shouldn’t be condemned and should be answered – in full. This is a simple part of conversation, but instead the questioners are attacked and questions left unanswered.

Just my two cents – LOL!

In reference to this post, I have to say that you actually do not “get it” when it comes to those that have a differing opinion than your own about health care reform.

You claim to want to have a civilized conversation on this issue, yet you personally use insults, name calling, stereotyping, and misinformation as you vent. And you are not alone. The name-calling from those that are supposed to represent Americans are also resorting to name calling and other hateful speech toward those very same Americans.

First, I want to commend those that are holding town halls and not shying away

Despite what the propaganda would have you believe, many of the uninsured in this country are not just the poor (though I fully believe the poor have the basic right to quality health care as well) but many are – as Sharon noted – small business owners or self employed people who cannot afford the monthly premiums for insurance, and then when they seek care they pay twice or three times as much for that care.

I recently went through a bankruptcy due to medical bills from years ago that I just could never catch up with and just out the 10 or so people who were in the hearing room with me, 4 of the others in there were in that situation because of medical bills. It’s ridiculous that people face losing everything just to be able to get medical attention.

The problem is with equal access. In places like Canada where comparable health care services are offered – everyone has equal access to the best health care. It’s not socialism; it’s just a country that has made health care a national priority. Kristi should take a visit to Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal one day to determine how “socialist” it looks to her. I’ve lived and worked in the U.S. and Canada, so I’m not just making up scenarios.

Okay, so that is my background. When my son was 2 days old he was transferred to another hospital to their NICU for seven days where we received the most amazing care ever. I didn’t pay a dime. My insurance (thru my hospital) covered the entire bill.

When he was 5 months old he had heart surgery at another major children’s hospital where we received phenomenal, literally life saving care. My insurance, thru COBRA ($1249 per month, which might seem expensive, until I consider that my son’s teeny tiny heart and vessels were operated on and saved. There is no cost too great for that type of repair.) paid for the entire thing.

Up until July he had at least two specialist appointments per week. My insurance – covered it (COBRA after January) except for $40.00 co pays.

Yes, we are fortunate that we had saved enough to pay for COBRA. Yes we are fortunate to have access to such indescribable care. Yes, we are fortunate in so many, many ways. But sometimes our system does work. We have never waited for appointments, meds, or even his emergency heart surgery.

We just moved to NY and will move to a new insurance plan thru my husbands new employer next month, I don’t know if it will be as simple for us, but I know we can see who we need to (for the most part) and my son’s level of care won’t be compromised.

I don’t think heading in a socialist health care direction is the right answer. We need to improve the system so everyone can have the same experiences we have had. But letting the government run our health care system does not seem like an effective way. Just my two cents from someone who uses her insurance weekly and speaks with the insurance company many, many times per month.

Hope you guys are hanging in there!!! Tell Aaron we said, “Hello!”

1) I live in Britain now, and haven’t been killed yet (although it can be frustrating waiting to get treated for chronic conditions that are painful and tiring but not life-threatening). I also grew up in an actual socialist system, and I have to say with a few exceptions they were very good to me. (And the exceptions came from being in a really resource-strapped country rather than meanness or incompetence).

2) As I understand it, the nationalised health care would not be ompulsory. If you wanted to have private insurance, that would be OK.

3) I am very curious where the high anxiety comes from.

I just want to ask why folks would choose to argue against ensuring that all Americans have coverage? Is it okay that 48 million people are without coverage and clogging up the ER with routine issues or worse deadly issues that would have been routine had they been able to afford a primary care physician in the first place?

Americans now have an opportunity to have the best system anywhere – taking existing health care practices that work and improving them with ideas from Canada, from Britain, etc….and coming up with something truly befitting the nation that positions itself as the gold standard for human rights, education, business etc.