Universal Healthcare?

[teggy]

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama unveiled a multi-trillion-dollar spending plan Thursday that would boost taxes on the wealthy, curtail Medicare, lay the groundwork for universal health care and leave a string of deficits dwarfing any in the nation’s history. Obama unveils multi-trillion-dollar spending plan

How do these changes affect you? Do we want a universal Healthcare system in place like the one seen in Canada and Some of Europe?

I’m all for Universal Healthcare, but the only drawback or rather the concern is the quality of service. Not sure how it would be any different from the current setup where you can get free or nearly free treatment at the County Hospitals throughout the country, but you wait and wait for hours on end. What is it likely to cost us citizens? Especially those of us who are not on PublicAid or are above the age of coverage which shields those under 21.

Share your views.

[navid83]

Re: Universal Healthcare?

I'm for it. Works well in Aus.

[Spock]

This is where the affluent capitalists will have a gripe at him; the increase for them, at the same time curtailing increases for the low/mid income levels. I am not sure, its a tough call but in the end a mediocre healthcare system that is there for everyone is still better than one a really good one, for those who can afford it, from a totally humanitarian point of view. Everyone deserves to live a lifetime.

[navid83]

This is where the affluent capitalists will have a gripe at him; the increase for them, at the same time curtailing increases for the low/mid income levels. I am not sure, its a tough call but in the end a mediocre healthcare system that is there for everyone is still better than one a really good one, for those who can afford it, from a totally humanitarian point of view. Everyone deserves to live a lifetime.

The U.S. system is bloody awful. It makes me laugh how some yanks whinge about the state of health care in Europe and Australia, when it is heaps better than the joke it is in America.

[uzzybuzzy]

The UK has had a national health service for the last 60 years.

[teggy]

@Spock

This is where the affluent capitalists will have a gripe at him; the increase for them, at the same time curtailing increases for the low/mid income levels. I am not sure, its a tough call but in the end a mediocre healthcare system that is there for everyone is still better than one a really good one, for those who can afford it, from a totally humanitarian point of view. Everyone deserves to live a lifetime.

The only issue i can see being posed is after the budget has passed is that they woo Biden who is overseeing its spending, and can possibly influence his decisions. Or become well aware and lobby strong to ensure no such measures are passed that tighten the noose around their necks, for next time.

I believe Obama knows that he won’t get it all, but pitch the bargaining chip high and you may end up close to the desired results. There’s alot a stir in motion from the following excerpt of the headlines:

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s prescription for the nation’s ailing health care system comes with Medicare cuts and tax hikes — usually poison pills that doom any overhaul effort in Congress.
But the budget Obama proposed Thursday is not a finished blueprint for overhauling health care. Rather it’s the opening bid in a tough negotiation.** Anybody who’s been in a bargaining session knows you never end up with your opening bid.**
Obama is asking Congress: If you’re going to cover an estimated 48 million uninsured Americans in the world’s costliest medical system, how do you pay for it?
Obama’s plan would set aside $634 billion over 10 years in a major effort to cover all Americans — a goal that could cost more than $1 trillion. Half the money would come from tax increases on upper-income earners; the other half from cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. Private insurance plans serving Medicare seniors would take the biggest hit, but hospitals, drug companies and home health agencies also face cuts. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090226/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_budget_health

Hospitals also face cuts…Which hospitals? Public sector or Private?

[Bonbonniere]

Re: Universal Healthcare?

I dont know why it hasnt been put into place yet.

[teggy]

@Spock

This is where the affluent capitalists will have a gripe at him; the increase for them, at the same time curtailing increases for the low/mid income levels. I am not sure, its a tough call but in the end a mediocre healthcare system that is there for everyone is still better than one a really good one, for those who can afford it, from a totally humanitarian point of view. Everyone deserves to live a lifetime.

You were correct. Raising taxes on the wealthy is already meeting fierce opposition in both the Congress and Senate.

WASHINGTON –** President Barack Obama’s call to raise taxes on high earners and greenhouse gas polluters met fierce opposition Tuesday from congressional Republicans and also a few Democrats.** “I would never want to adversely affect anything that is charitable or good,” Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said of Obama’s call to limit high-income taxpayers’ itemized deductions for charitable donations and mortgage interest.
Republicans said the president’s plan to charge fees to industries that spew greenhouse gases amounts to a stealthy tax increase for all Americans that will far exceed the new $400 annual tax cut for workers that he wants to extend beyond 2010.

Obama’s plan to hike taxes meets fierce opposition