How Obama's Public Option is going to screw the young people of America

[Amina516]

And out of curosity, I've heard the X-ray tech program in the states is way different from the one here (in Canada, if you couldn't tell), the one here is 2.5 years long, with 1 month, 3 month and 10 month practicums throughout the course. I've heard in the states it's much shorter, just curious as to whether that's true or not?

Im not sure who you were asking, but I can answer that for ya!!

Most programs are 2 yrs, but some may require you to take some prerequisite classes before enrolling. My particular school starts clinical time right away practically. Starting with shadowing people and as you learn the systems and machines, you get signed off on certain types of radiology and body parts. I have a lot of friends in the program now actually and they all love it.

[Boozy]

It's odd to see a spelling error in a political cartoon.

But I got a chuckle out of it.

[Amina516]

Hah! I didnt notice til now.

[muses_nightmare]

I was just asking anyone who knew. Thanks for the info!

[Skunkle]

Okay, serious questions here.

Let me be clear: I did not care for the Bush Admin. Not everything they did was horrible, however. I DO like many of Obama's policies, but I don't like them all, by any means. I never, ever have found a candidate or elected official for whom I could I say I supported every last thing he/she did.

First off, I hear claims that it's horrible that Obama's plan is putting us in deeper debt. These usually go hand-in-hand with claims that, whenever Democrats take office, money goes down the toilet. This is spoken of as though our last President, Bush, didn't spend heavily. The Bush Admin approved billions in spending, much of it on defense, which is very important. So is health care.

Second, don't think of this as health CARE reform. Think of it as health INSURANCE reform. Insurance is, as noted, a business. One of the main reasons many can't get care is that many can't afford insurance. And is it not possible that maybe they can't afford insurance, not because they're "being lazy", but because it simply costs too darn much?

One of the most common mindsets I see is that those who can afford care (and anything else) must have worked very very hard to get there... but those who CAN'T afford it must have slacked, been lazy, to get where they are. What about the countless people who DO have jobs, have families, can't afford care? They must be "living beyond their means"? All I hear here is "Those people who can't afford care must deserve what they got. We don't need to think about them"

Here's my main question: I hear many reasons why Obama's plan is bad. What I never hear, from average joes, from pundits or from Congressmen who filibuster anything and everything the Dems try to do, is...what do you propose instead?

There is NO plan that will fix what's broken that won't cost the taxpayers a dime. Nothing costs $0. All I see from Republicans in congress is attempts to stop what the Democrats want. I see ZERO attempts to bring up what they DO want - at least in concrete terms. I hear "market-based" a lot. To me, "market-based" means "what's most profitable", which means things staying as they are; the insurance firms charge as high as they like and, if you can't afford it, sucks to be you.

The health insurance system, as it is, is NOT working. All people need access to health care that won't leave them destitute. What do you propose we do instead? I want to hear DETAILS.

Also: Tax breaks. I'm also curious here. WHY are tax breaks to those who make billions, and NO breaks to those on lower incomes, work? I don't think trickle-down has ever really proven itself, in any way; the people up top don't tend to POUR money into the economy-at-large when they have more, they simply amass more. I'm not saying that we must, as has been claimed, STEAL wealth and freely hand it to people on the bottom. I'm saying, give the people who are struggling to keep up the breaks that will help them do so. They're our great work force. If they're healthy and they stay afloat financially (and I don't mean grow filthy rich, I mean stay afloat - be able to afford health care, food and clothing, and at least a basic education) they will support our working-class positions, and give more able-bodied workers to the force.

The support by non-politicians of tax breaks for higher brackets rather than lower ones seems to me to be another example of "We on top worked very hard to get where we are" (does that include those who simply inherited it?) "and you on the bottom are just lazy. If you worked hard, you could make it. You're not making it, so obviously you're not working hard enough".

I don't mean to bring other crap into this, and I'm NOT trying to do any Bush-bashing, but I make note here of his off-the-cuff response to a woman who asked him about his programs... When told that she has to work three jobs, he said "Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that. Get any sleep?" And followed by a little chuckle.

This is, really (though I don't think Bush meant it as such when he said it) a good slice of the mentality we're working with. If you're working yourself to the bone and you can't pay for basic needs of life... Better work harder, hyuk hyuk hyuk! Look at me, I got a million bucks and three houses. Why, if you worked as hard as me, you'd be ridin' high too!

Incidentally, I am middle-class, and I DO have health care. And I want to know, for those who don't: If Obama's plan is so bad, what do you suggest instead? And if your suggestion costs the taxpayers NOTHING, I'm no longer listening; nothing costs $0. Big changes to a broken system are going to cost SOMETHING significant.

Also, think I need to say this: As noted, I don't agree with ALL of Obama's ideas. But for those calling him on not being the messiah some seemed to claim... No, he's not. The change we DO need will take years. Quit harping on him as though, since no massive changes are hitting, he lied. This isn't going to happen overnight. And for those who put this or that reason for why he shouldn't be in there at all... Just please, come out and say "I don't want him to be President" and be done with it.

[Skunkle]

One thing to remember: Health insurance companies are massive lobbying forces. For both sides, Democrats and Republicans. If they're charging too much... AND they're aiding campaigns in exchange for swaying votes, which is in essence what lobbying is about, again referring to both sides... Few in Congress will want to vote for anything that might make the insurance forms less money, even if said act, whatever it may be, might be something that assures coverage to far more people.

Again, it is my opinion that all people should have access to health insurance and medical coverage they can realistically afford, whatever their income. And I don't think "market-based" methods - letting the insurance firms decide what to charge "based on the market" - is working. Things can't go on as they are. If you don't like Obama's rather detailed ideas, tell others what you think we should do - in detail, too. All the pundits and politicians give is why Obama admin's plan is bad, and some vague ideas that we should do something (unspecified) else. The Republicans in Congress have been fighting anything the Democrats try - which is business as usual - but without actually trying to push an agenda of their own.

You don't win a race simply by tripping your opponent and then standing there.