Yes and I'm proud that he did. Thanks Jerry!

Interesting that DAVID HARMER CAN NOT EVEN VOTE FOR HIMSELF....he doesn't live in our district....a right wingnut trying to force his intolerance on us legislatively....He has never been politically elected to ANY office and a carpetbagger coming into my district rubs me the wrong way....

Rickshaw...you hit this site all the time, you have obviously seen stories of courageous children battling congenital illnesses or random cancers and the financial impact it has on their loving families and the resultant efforts they take to help offset the hundreds of thousands of ruinous healthcare bills they will face due to a random luck of the draw. How can you be so callous? Do you work for the insurers? I have done so as part of my healthcare career and know they are not bad folks, but the risk pools need to be enlarged given the costs involved...this is an actuarial fact you are not aware of obviously. It is time...no more bake sales for bone marrow transplants of childhood leukemia victims...the United States is the ONLY industrialized nation without cradle to grave government sponsored healthcare....every President since Nixon has sought to implement this...Republican and Democrat alike.

It would be impossible to find a better Congressman than Jerry McNerney. He made the right votes for our district 11 and the right votes for the country. We are proud of what Jerry did for us all and will proudly re-elect Jerry McNerney next week.

There is far, far better health care legislation that can and should be enacted that will deal with extreme health issues. ObamaCare is not it. ObamaCare is so ill-conceived and complex that few people (including McNerney) have read it either before or after enactment.

The real story of ObamaCare was that the House version was passed just before the Christmas recess. Everyone on both sides of the aisle agreed that that version was totally imperfect but that when the Senate and House conferred, major changes would be made.

HOWEVER, before the Senate could reconvene, Massachusetts elected Scott Brown and the 60th vote was not longer there. At that point what should have happened was a total re-write of ObamaCare that would make sense.

Instead, Pelosi decided to enact the existing poorly-designed bill by fiat. So we got the worst of all possible worlds instead of something approaching the best.

And McNereny did as he was told and helped pass the worst piece of left-wing legislation in years.

If McNerney and the rest of the House had done their jobs and enacted reasonable health care reform, none of the extreme resistance to ObamaCare would have existed. Remember that Obamacare is the principle reason for the rise of the TEA party movement.

Should government assist people who have extreme medical issues? Yes, of course. But ObamaCare ain't it.

Rick,

The only reason we got Health Care Reform that does not fully meet our needs is the fault of GOPers in the House and Senate way before Brown was elected. The GOPers were very determined to defeat Obama on Health care and it doing that the GOPers hurt all Americans and will never be forgiven.

The TEA party folks and I don't want socialized medicine - it hurts all Americans. If you like it so much, move to Canada.

Ricky -- you are your own worst enemy. Please keep posting!

Just because McNerney voted for Obamacare does not make him a socialist. He was told to vote for Obamacare by the democrat henchmen, and therefore was unable to vote his conviction.

I looked back at my previous postings and I can't find where I called McNerney a socialist. Can you point it out to me, please?

It's enough for me that you had to check your back postings to be certain.

Certain kinds of minds find it hard to detect sarcasm when they encounter it.

Dear Emily,

Welcome back!

As you review your efforts to clean up the forum, let's respect the reality of "what is a forum?" Unlike a blog that rambles into personal conversations mostly absent of content, a media forum is a discussion between the editor and readers on issues of substantial importance to a community, region, county, state, nation or our world.

In this exchange, featured on the Express home page, the town square forum once again returns to the lack of cleanliness in commentary that remains an issue for the Express. As editor, I suggest you insert yourself in forum exchanges each time they drift toward the personal and away from an issue.

halbailey@yahoo.com

Hey Rick,

Why don't you man up (a favorite term of tea partiers these days) and tell us what you don't like about the health care bill? Is it the fact that kids can stay on their parents health insurance until, the closing of the donut hole for senior prescriptions, the fact that 30 million now have access to insurance who otherwise were denied and you and I ended up paying for their visits to the emergency room? Is the pools for high risk patients? tell me which one of those you don"t you like? also man up and tell me what things you want in it? You want tort reform? Gee, I am glad you are focused on less than 2% of the total cost. Is it the out of state pools? tell me who will regulate those companies when a company from a state with poor regulations comes into California and sells insurance that doesn't help any one? Or tell me what happens when all the out of state insurance companies merge and we are left with 1 or two insurance companies, who set their own insurability criteria and jack up rates 30-35% a year (gee I think that happens now). Remember when you answer there are no death panels in the bill and most companies get tax credits to insure their employees (but you know that cause you read the bill)

BTW DAVID HARMER WILL NEVER VOTE FOR ME. His radical agenda is too far out of the mainstream. He is a carpetbagger who wants to shut down public schools, give your retirement social security money to Wall Street to gamble away and wants to return America to a land of the uninsured, high gas prices and no investment in our country by our government. he wants to keep a tax policy that helped create the largest deficit in this country, is one reason we fell into such a major recession in 2008 and lowered real wages for 90% of Americans. He has already failed twice to run for Congress and now he is taking advantage of tough economic times to spread fear and lies to represent a district he has no stake in. If elected he will fail us just like he has failed in most things he has done to date.

Man up,Give me some answers that don't sounds like mindless rehashing of Fox News buzz words. Also maybe we should have the health care bill Scott Brown voted for in Massachusetts. I think liberals would be very happy.

David Harmer put out a thought piece on education over ten years ago. However, he supports public education and can prove it. He said the following yesterday:

"All four of my children have attended public schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District from kindergarten through the present day — and our oldest is now in high school. My wife, Elayne, is a substitute teacher for the same school district. I’m in my third year as an officer of the local middle school’s education fund, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to reduce class sizes and provide technology support."

David's article was published ten years ago, but McNerney is in office NOW! McNerney is so out of touch with his people that he must be replaced. Do you really want Pelosi prime representing you in congress?

Talk about being out of the mainstream! Wait until tomorrow evening and you'll see what the real American mainstream looks like.

No Rick, that just shows his hypocritical two faced approach. Say one thing do another. He probably cant afford private schools so he sends his kids to public school. Again just another tea partier relying on government services he "claims" he wants to do away with. Amazing it took 10 years and an election where that article was uncovered for him run from it. I guess a thought piece means I can write anything I want and then say I didn't mean it when I am called on it. Has Harmer explained why he changed his mind in his last ten years. Obviously not, maybe it has to do with his wife's paychecks. BTW I am curious what SRVUSD school district he works for. Reducing class sizes was something we voted on and pay additional taxes to maintain. Now it is under threat due to budget cuts. How is Harmer going to address that? Oh yeah, He may be moving to Washington. He wont care.

Surprise! The budget cuts come from the lib-dominated state legislature. Glad to hear you're going to vote for Republicans.

Mcinerney needs to be removed. He was asked if he stood and applauded president calderone of Mexico after said prez bashed our country during a speech in congress. Mcinerny boldly said he did not remember! Folks--this was 8 dAys later! The man is a pelosi hack---drunk on power---out of touch. Add bold faced liar and u have the picture.

and when Prop 25 passes the "lib-dominated" state legislature wont have to compromise anymore with the Republicans who block everything and deny our kids a future.

Rich Pshaw - Troll Extraordinaire !

Give Harmer a break -- like Cartman's mom, maybe he was young -- and needed the money! Web Link

In my humble opinion McNerney has run one of the most duplicitous and misleading campaigns the Valley has seen in a long time. He reflects everything that is wrong with the, soon to be, minority party!

Regarding Harmer, the fact he has never been elected to ANY office, does not live in our district, has an extreme right wing theology influenced agenda which does not at all reflect the sentiments of the folks he hopes to represent makes Jerry the better choice. Let's start a pool to see where he will pop up next running for office..Orange County? Riverside? Rancho Cucamonga? Or maybe Fallbrook?

TRUTH PLEASE: David is in his third year as an officer of local Middle School Education Fund, that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to reduce class size and provide Technology support in public schools! His wife, Elayne is a sub teacher and all of his 4 children attend public schools. HE SUPPORTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS BIG TIME!
David is running to provide a better future for his children and ours. McNerney's "Pelosi votes" for runaway spending through Obamacare and Cap and Trade will destroy this country including kiling jobs and burdening our children with unsustainable debt.
Want jobs and lower taxes...vote Harmer! It is that simple. Our kids deserve better then status quo...

Match up McNerney's voting record with that of Oakland's representative (Barbara Lee).

They vote in lock-step with one another.

McNerney fooled us in '06 & '08 .... out extended family's 7 votes went to him.

This year expanded extended family's votes (8 votes) are voting for a change: David Harmer.

Prop 25. Do you really want to make it easier to raise taxes?!

Vote McNerney, plain and simple. Best candidate. This is Harmer's THIRD TRY AT A CONGRESSIONAL RUN PEOPLE!!!! He has lost the previous two, get a clue Harmer - you will NOT win here either! We like to elect officials that actually live in our district, not run for them in Utah.

hey Patriotic Grandma,

tell me what you dont like about "Obamacare"? did you enjoy the donut hole?, did you like having your grandkids possibly be uninsured when they first graduate school? did you like paying for other peoples health care when they went to the emergency room instead of a doctor? Do tell. Also answer this question, Where you for or against cap and trade when the republicans first proposed it?

BTW I am curious about that fund, tell me about it. Hundreds of thousands of dollars for one single middle school in the district? I doubt it. Also if education is so important for him why isn't it one of the top 10 issues listed on his web site? In fact education is one of the least mentioned topics on his website, not surprised considering his views

Tom...with all due respect. Socialism has never worked. Just look at history. I have friends from Russia, Vietnam, Canada and England, to name a few. We have also traveled to all of those countries and spoken with those who live there. They will tell you how it works with their socialized medicine...long lines...waits that can kill...fewer doctors. Stats speak for themselves on survival rates. Do you really want someone on a computer in Washington to decide YOUR care verses YOUR doctor, who knows you best to make those decisions? We already HAVE the best medical care in the world and no one in our country is denied care. Room for improvement?...of course, starting with Insurance sold across State Lines and Tort Reform. Common sense approaches.

As far as what is MOST IMPORTANT in this election...JOBS! Without jobs, we crumble. Just look at all the empty store fronts and numbers of people loosing their jobs and homes. I have never seen the likes of this in my life time. First things first my friend.

I enjoy reading the Obamacare positive comments regarding insuring 30 million more, plus kids covered to age 26, etc.. Have you all considered the increased cost to your medical coverage! Enjoy!

Gee, I've missed all of the lefty's propaganda here lately.... looks like you liberal progressives have been busy putting out all your miss information again. Before you get too caught up in trashing a Great Leading Candidate like David Harmer, how about looking in the mirror with Jerry and take a good look at what he's accomplished since in office.... If your happy with him being a rubber stamp for Queen Peloci and blinding passing the HC bill without even reading it or having most of his campaign funds coming from the Union Bosses and the Lawyer PAC's (check out his campaign contributions) then I guess Jerry's your guy.... kind of shows me what moral ground you're standing on to cast those stones you keep throwing.

As a small business owner here in the valley since 1966 and a Vet, I'm fed up with more government and more taxes... you on the other hand are use to feeding from the government troff and I can see why you would defending Jerry. I want change and the return to the "Rule of Law" as outlined in the Constitution. You remember the Constitution don't you? Hey I got an idea, how about trying to vote what is best for America and our future generations this election and vote for David Harmer. David is a "Reagan Conservative" that wants to lower our taxes.

To answer Patriotic Grandma and Jasmine,

Grandma, i don't think anyone is talking socialism here. Heathcare should be afffordable and available to all, just like it is for seniors with medicare and for veterans with the VA. Right now our healthcare programs produce lower a life expectancy than most industrialized countries and most of them have government support in ensuring availability to all people. I travel around the world too and most people in Canada and England are fine with their healthcare. In fact if you looks at England where the just started major cost cutting to government, the one area they are not touching is healthcare. In Canada where I have heard a few people complain about waits for elective or non life threatening surgery they quickly shut up when they learn how much we pay for our healthcare. You are just taking talking points from Fox about the healthcare reform. No government official will get in the way of you and your doctor. That talking point is pure crap. As for waits how long do you have to wait for medical care when you dont have insurance and cant afford the cost of a doctor. I think the time is forever unless you go to an emergency room and you and I pay for it. As far as Tort reform you are talking about less than 2% of the cost of providing medical care and offering insurance across state lines has a host of potential problems that i outlined above with Rick. It is not a simplistic approach and it will require a lot of regulation with the potential for much higher costs(though I think it is humorous that states rights people use that argument when they also think states should make state only decisions).

Jasmine, I would be willing to pay a little more to provide those types of services to all people in this country. However costs will actually go down over time not up. In fact I got my 2011 health care cost from my company and my healthcare is only going up 5% next year vs 11% in 2010. They cite the cost of adding kids to the plan as one of the reasons but also say other cost savings and new tax credits as reasons for the lower overall increase. Sounds like the plan is already working.

Tom...There was a hidden provision in the Stimulus bill passed in 2009. It created piece of the framework for the healthcare bill called the Coordinating Council on Comparative Effectiveness Research. It is based on the premise that doctors in consultation with their patients don’t have the ability to make the right healthcare choices. The council consists of 15 people appointed by the President....and THEY will decide YOUR CARE starting 1/1/2013.

A second board created by the stimulus bill called The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology will determine treatment at the time and place of care. They deciding the course of treatment for the diagnosis given by the doctor....

Those physicians and hospitals that choose to practice individualized patient care in consultation with their patients will be punished because they are not “meaningful users of the system over time.” Beginning January 1, 2013 penalties for doing the right thing for a patient will cost the doctor $100,000 for the first offense and jail for the second offense. This will end the doctor patient relationship.

Tom, were you aware of this hidden provision in the Stimulas Bill? Were you aware of the Coordinating Council on Comparative Effectiveness Research comprised of 15 people appointed by Obama?...and The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology that will punish doctors for treatingtheir patients?

We are in trouble friends...Government control over OUR Health is just the beginning. Read up on Saull Alinsky, Cloward & Piven and Democratic Socialists of America to learn more on where all this "Fundamental Transformation of America" is coming from. We need candidates that follow the Constitution, and not those who are CHANGING our Constitution. Harmer is the honorable choice.

Patriotic Grandma,

You need to STOP WATCHING FOX NEWS! It is hard to argue with people this uninformed. You clearly have not read the bill or even taken the time to understand the healthcare bill. If you think 15 people could possibly make those decisions or that the The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology does anything more than help American companies, doctors and people utilize IT to provide better care to their patients then you obvioulsy dont understand or care to understand the bill. I am sure you also believe the words death panel are in the bill as well. To claim there is a provision that will fine doctors $100,000 and send them to jail is just ridicuolus.

As a woman go vote for Harmer, then go utilize your medicare, visit a VA hospital, cash your social security check,be happy the disabled have ability to live a normal life in this country, and some day go drive on the new Bay Bridge or the Caldecott tunnel. But dont forget to thank the Democrats as without them none of that would have happened.

BTW can you give me the names of the writings you have read from Alinsky, Coward and others. I have read some Alinsky and this is my favorite quote when he was asked if he had ever considered joining the communist party ""Not at any time. I've never joined any organization—not even the ones I've organized myself. I prize my own independence too much. And philosophically, I could never accept any rigid dogma or ideology, whether it's Christianity or Marxism. One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're right.' If you don't have that, if you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated. The greatest crimes in history have been perpetrated by such religious and political and racial fanatics, from the persecutions of the Inquisition on down to Communist purges and Nazi genocide." [1]

Which quotes resonate with you?

Patriotic grandma....you are sooo misinformed on healthcare. I don't know where to begin to address your falsehoods and it probably would be a vain effort to do so. I have been in the healthcare industry for over 25 years, worked for a leading global medical device manufacturer for 10 years, launched a sucessful start up on the provider services (home healthcare) and worked for Anthem BCBS...all in executive capacities. I assure nothing substanciates your claim "we have the best system in the world"....our infant mortality and life expectancy is among the worst in industrialized nations. You write that a doctor will be fined $100,000 for "doing the right thing" for their patients is patently absurd. Care path deviations should be looked at, many physicians stop going to medical conferences or keeping up on the latest Journals because they simply do not have the time. Sadly, there are huge variations in how care is delivered for the same disease diagnosis in spite of published scientific peer review journals documenting best practices. The recent "Octomom" is a great example...that doctor SHOULD face disciplinary action and large fines.
My company has large offices in Ottawa, Canada and I assure you my colleagues at that facility love their system, and think the fact that one of the largest reasons for bankruptcy in the US is for health care related expenses is outrageous...that simply does not happen in Canada.
This election cycle has taught me when someone wraps themselves in the patriotic flag be very suspicious of their "I'm more of an American than you are" attitude. I loved Ronald Reagan, but the fact is he doubled our debt, and Bush doubled it again, you seem to not be aware of that economic fact. Additionally, it was Richard Nixon that first advanced the need for healthcare reform...how do you reconcile that?
Harmer an "honorable" choice? The lead counsel for Providien credit card company? Please, google Providien and see how they preyed on their cardholders, it is a matter of record. Lastly, I challenge you to back up the claim Harmer was publicly elected as a trustee of a school district fund amounting to several hundred thousand dollars. What school district and who elected him?

Tom...re-read my post. I said "Stimulas Bill" in 2009, not Healthcare Bill.

The National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). Keeping doctors informed is important, but enforcing uniformity goes too far.

New Penalties: Hospitals and doctors that are not “meaningful users” of the new system will FACE PENALITIES. “Meaningful user” isn’t defined in the bill. That will be left to the HHS secretary, who will be empowered to impose “more stringent measures of meaningful use over time” (511, 518, 540-541)

The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479). Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system. Yes, Tom, the Government will have the ultimate say over YOUR Health Care starting January 1, 2013.

We need leaders who care to keep America as it was founded...with Liberty and Justice for ALL. Harmer says:

"Will we allow ourselves to be subjected to bigger government, more regulation, higher taxes, and increasing debt? Or will we renew our commitment to preserving the personal and economic freedoms that have set our nation apart from all others?

Ronald Reagan said, “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” I agree. My votes in Congress will promote individual liberty, not stifle it."

I am voting to keep my Freedom. We have never seen boat loads of people fleeing America for Freedom...let's keep it that way!

Patriotic Grandma,

You ROCK my friend..... What I love about your message is that you too see the light of Freedom being turned off by these progressives that have been stinking up Washington. We need to get thee new "Young Guns" to help turn this country around instead of "Business as usual" crowd that are there now. I believe that we should also have Term Limits so we don't get this group of bums that are career politicians (Peloci, Reid and Boxer) that aren't there to represent "We the People". David Harmer wants to go to Washington to help all of us take back our country.... time to get on board before the train leaves the station.... Come on America it's up to us and we have the power with our vote.....

Patriotic Grandma,

I guess there is no way for you to understand what the bill really is meant to do. I am sure going back to the old way will be just fine. I can read their website as well (glad you finally took the time to do it) How you can get from those innocuous statements to government take over of health care and creating uniformity or else is is laughable. You sound like some bizarre conspiracy theorist. By the way stimulus is spelled with a u not an a and there is nothing in that bill that does what you say.

Tomorrow when you make your choice remember the years 2000-2008. America became a much poorer country, health care costs skyrocketed and education standards declined and people's real wages declined. All we did was borrow both on a national and individual level and it was a disaster. What Obama is doing is trying to restore our growth and prosperity. If you want to go back to that way of living I fear for you and this country. And don't think some tea party candidate is going to do anything different. If they get their way we may go back to the 1830's and end up with a 3rd world economy. Their radical idea's will destroy this great country. But don't worry I am ready to plow the fields with my hoe!

Grandma...the bill is principally focused on finally incenting those healthcare providers who have delayed moving to electronic medical records and an overaal IT platform to facilitate their routine healthcare transactions and communications. Surprisingly the hospital and physician community have been slow to convert and have lagged far behind the financial services industry and government. Using computers save time and money...and more importantly lives as well. It is estimated over 50,000 Americans die each year from medication errors, and there are a number of software programs available to prevent that now. Another example is the so called "scribble bill" enacted by a number of states, in that in those states a doctors prescription must be electronically generated because the physician's handwriting as so often can read incorrectly. This is not a govenment takeover of any sorts, you are just way off base.

Grandma,

RE: The new health care law (known pejoratively as ObamaCare).

Turn off Fox News and try to learn the TRUTH. Here is a link to what the Public Policy Center of U Penn’s FactCheck.org says about it at Web Link

A liberal University's "public policy center" with a "fact-checking" website.

Get real.

Stupid Libs---congress exempted themselves from obamacare! May u b the first to face the death panels.

Rick,
Just so you know, the founder, Walter H. Annenberg, was Ambassador to Great Britain during the Nixon administration. And according to Wikipedia: “the Reagans often celebrated New Year’s Eve with the Annenbergs.” So, it must have been Republican or at least impartial to start with. It would be interesting to know how the left-wingers took it over.

What is the impeccable source of YOUR information?

If you don't like the analysis of the health care reform act done by FactCheck.org, how about this one done by Pulitzer Prize-winning PolitiFact, a website created by the St. Petersburg, FL St. Petersburg Times? (Hint: It corresponds, because "while everyone is entitled to their own opinion, they're not entitled to their own facts".

Web Link

I so hope Rickshaw, Grandma Patriot, American and the rest will proactively remove their disrespectful signs from 680 promptly after the results come in regardless of the outcome. Amazing how they forget which administration gave us these historic deficits, I sometimes wonder what they read (assuming they do read, not watch TV) to get their deficit historical information....indeed, are they college educated?

Thank You Farmer Dave...for educating others how health care reform was a core Republican issue years ago....this is not a radical concept folks, we are the last industrialized nation that we compete against that has not taken this model...

This is one reason that reasonable people don't like ObamaCare.
From NCPA, Nov. 1, 2010:

"Even CBO Is Skeptical of ObamaCare

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Douglas Elmendorf recently spoke at the University of Southern California about the economic impact of ObamaCare. He predicts that ObamaCare will further depress the nation's employment picture, says the Heritage Foundation.

CBO's analysis of ObamaCare predicts that it will reduce the amount of labor being used in the economy by roughly half a percent.

Elmendorf states that...a half-percent loss in jobs in the American economy today would translate into about 750,000 additional Americans losing work.

The reason for the job loss is twofold.

First, ObamaCare raises costs on businesses with additional mandates and taxes, which will negatively impact hiring.
Second, ObamaCare increases the social safety net with a massive Medicaid expansion and generous subsidies to purchase insurance -- this increases implicit marginal tax rates and discourages work."

total rubbish sam uncle, whom ever you are....

Getting back to my original post -

McNerney voted for ObamaCare against the wishes of the majority of his constituents and the majority of the American public.

You can argue both sides of ObamaCare until you're blue in the face, but the bottom line is that we don't want it and we don't want McNerney.

Good old Sam Uncle repeating some rubbish from the right wing heritage foundation (the same guys that try and make thomas sowell seem intelligent.) No basis in fact just an opinion of someones talk. If you knew anything about the CBO they are forbidden from offering an opinion.

and Rick, change the word we to you. you don't represent we.

Good night all, tomorrow might be a bad day for democracy and a good day for fear and lies.

Jerry McNerney delivered on Health Care Reform just as expected as we had elected him and Pres Obama on the promise of Health Care Reform. Jerry has been one to deliver whenever possible on his campaign promises. That is one of Jerry's many outstanding qualities.

ObamaCare is not health care reform - it is the destruction of health care in America.

McNerney's most outstanding quality is voting with Pelosi 96 percent of the time. That doesn't take much in the way of a thought process, now does it?

It's clear that America needs a new approach to health care. Do you want to be bankrupted and lose everything you have worked for your entire life because of a life threatening condition? Do you dear reader want to lose everything you have worked for just because you have acquired a fatal disease or have a family member who is ill?

That is what is happening to millions of Americans every year because of our antiquated health care system. One example. My wife, who is a healthy and active college professor, was diagnosed with lymphoma last November 2009. To confirm the diagnosis, she had to undergo two needle biopseys and a surgical biopsy. These procedures cost more than $200,000.

Bottom line: in our country today we have a health care crisis. People are suffering and certain vested interest are making a killing.

Mike's situation is very real folks..I have been there too. All the healthcare reform haters have probably never had to deal with a chronic illness of themselves or a family member. The leading reason for bankruptcies in America is healthcare related expenses and that is a fact. Healthcare reform is way overdue for a country as advanced as ours, we stand alone as the only industrilized nation without a government funded cradle to grave healthcare system. Wake up all you reform haters...it could happen to you next!

Thank you, Jim. Many people continue to frame the health care issue in terms of politics. It is not political. It's a life, death, and financial issue. It is shocking what health care costs. If you don't have iron-clad health insurance you are in major trouble in our country. Not so in many "socialist" European countries. Our son recently attended a hi-tech conference in Denmark. Guess what? They have universal health coverage and according to a Forbes Magazine survey are the happiest nation in the world. Universal, affordable health care is not socialist. It is good public policy.

I think in order to appreciate the issue you need to be on the "wrong side" of what health insurance companies consider a good risk to insure. Sadly, my daughter, through no fault of her own, has a medial condition that is considered a bad risk. She is now out of college and my husband and I are paying over $500.00 a month for COBRA benefits. We barely scrape by, but she deserves the right to have a physician for her health care needs. She has a part time job, but they don't offer benefits. I am so happy that starting in January, we can put her back on our family plan. Obama, thank you for finally getting this country on the right track.

There are thousands of families who go bankrupt paying for necessary health care out of pocket - in spite of doing nothing whatsoever to compromise the health of their family members in any way.

I had a physical.

Insurer called it treatment and denied coverage for pre-existing condition.

So I got provider to resend the info per their instructions. They denied it as miscoded.

So I got insurer AND provider on phone so there'd be no mistake when they resubmitted.

Then they denied it as a duplicate claim.

Stay tuned.

I wish my experience was unusual, but I suspect my premiums were going to the political campaigns of friendly legislators -- rather than to provide, you know, insurance...

Thanks Cardinal..as the saying goes...."you don't know unless you have been there"....this is not a political issue, it is a quality of life issue...truly, all your assets are vulnerable only in America if you are diagnosed with a chronic illness...that is why all other civilized nations have adopted government funded healthcare.
May I make a point if you are still reading...the opponents of health care reform are launching legal challenges based on the premise the new standards say you must have healthcare coverage, and they say it is illegal you can force someone to have health insurance or otherwise be fined...but these same folks agree it is a good law we all should have auto insurance, and carry the card in our automobiles at all times. The same logic applies...and the auto insurance law was supported by Republicans...who wants to get hit by someone who has no car insurance? And therefore who wants someone to get by with no health insurance so I must pay their health insurance bills via Medi-Cal? Truly, their challenge makes no sense if you buy into the auto insurance logic..

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