David Johann wrote on February 28, 2008 09:33 PM: Herb, below, is in the minority. Many presidential scholars believe W. Bush is, if not THE worst, among the handful of worst US presidents of all time:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/01/AR2006120101509.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_United_States_Presidents

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/profile/story/9961300/the_worst_president_in_history

David Johann wrote on February 28, 2008 09:08 PM: Health Care
Poll: Broad Support for Requiring Health Coverage

by Richard Knox

Morning Edition, February 29, 2008 · A new poll on health care from NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health finds that a majority of Americans are backing key elements in the health reform proposals of Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

The poll also found very strong support for doing something about the problem of 50 million Americans being uninsured — 93 percent call it a serious problem, with 74 percent saying it's a very serious problem.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87783148

Herb wrote on February 28, 2008 06:08 PM: This is why I am a Republican and approve of our great President George W Bush. I am against SCHIPP. Middle income parents should pay for their own families health insurance. Poor people shouldn't reproduce unless they can afford to raise their children. The tax payers owe other people's children nothing. It's bad enough we pay for the awful, crime infested public schools.

Warren Clark wrote on February 28, 2008 12:02 PM: We have now defined middle class as earning between $42.000 and $75000 for a family of four. God only can help any family with one making $20,00/hour and the other one making earing 15.00 /hour without overtime they will never be able to save. pay taxes and retire at 66 to 69.

John F wrote on February 28, 2008 08:41 AM: Jeez, I don't know where to begin. Private insurance is not available to everyone even if they have the money to pay for it. If you are not profitable to insure (i.e., you're elderly, have a chronic or catastrophic illness, or have simply outspent your limited benefits), you're not getting insured. It's that simple. That's why Medicare was created; because the private sector wouldn't insure the elderly.

Second, if you have insurance, you're already paying for the health care of those who don't have insurance either through taxes (Medicare and Medicaid) or through higher premiums and deductibles to cover the cost of the uninsured or delinquent. The actual cosy of covering those without insurance is probably higher than it would be if we picked up the cost of insurance for them, as these people generally wait until their problems are acute before seeing doctors. Preventive care (which they could get if they had insurance) is much less expensive.

Third, putting everyone on to Medicare would only change the way our money is funneled to our medical care providers. Instead of going through a private insurance company (which takes a cut), it would go through the government (which would not).

Fourth, there are about 300 million people in the US and nearly 50 million of them have no medical coverage, and many more have coverage that is woefully inadequate. How can anyone look at those numbers and say our current system works?

Finally, to those who say just get another job to cover the cost of your insurance: let's assume that the 50 million without insurance are made up of about 12 million families of four. When was the last time the economy created 12 million new jobs? World War II?

Tim wrote on February 28, 2008 08:26 AM: This country has always been a headache and a bore.

Wow, BJ (AKA br)you have lived overseas. So have I. Big deal.

We are not perfect but we are working on it.

What exactly is being done? Depriving citizens access to health care? Arming school kids so they can shoot one another?

Waylon Bilter, I make a damn good living and can take care of myself with LVRJ idiot readers or the fascist Bush regime.

I bet I make more than YOU....ha....ha...ha.....

Willard Roker wrote on February 28, 2008 08:14 AM: I am amazed at how many people think a for profit Insurance company is more concerned for your health than your government. Might I suggest that you talk with people from Florida or the areas Katrina hit and see how well insurance companies took care of them.

Some things are too important to national security to be left to the mercy of the market.

br wrote on February 28, 2008 08:06 AM: Here you go again, Tim. I have noted your pathetic rantings about how lousy our country is. You seem to think other nations are wonderful. I have lived in Europe, the Far East and the Middle East for a total of 7 years. I have traveled extensively in many countries. I've also covered almost all of the US. America puts all those other countries to shame. No, we are not perfect, but we are working on it. It's too bad we have to endure idiot politicians and people like you. I guess it's just part of the price of freedom.

helen weils wrote on February 28, 2008 07:34 AM: I am far from rich, within the so called income cap which the Democrats seek to expand this insurance program too. Our health insurance costs $765 per month with a $5,000 deductible.
Yet, I don't expect the government to
pay my bills. I'm sick of the entitlement society that the Democrats
espouse. It's time to kick these people off of the government dole.
While we're at it, WE SHOULD NOT BE
SENDING $30BILLION TO AFRICA, WE SHOULD
NOT GIVE ANY GOVERNMENT BENEFITS TO ILLEGALS AND WE SHOULD PULL OUR TROOPS FROM 136 COUNTRIES. I'M SICK OF THE GOVERNMENT GIVING MY HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS AWAY!!! REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS!!!!!!!!!!!

Waylon Bilter wrote on February 28, 2008 07:20 AM: Hey Tim,
Is that the best you can do. You have a job you chose that does not pay you enough money. So...........instead of you doing something about it, usually called harder work, you want the government to do something about it so you can have what the rich have. The point you miss is "You didn't earn enough to take care of your own health insurance." So why shoud I pay for your laziness via more taxes. Get another job and go to work like I do.

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