Residents turn out for 'Hands Off My Health Care' bus tour

Protesting health care reform: The Hands Off My Health Care bus stopped at Southgate Shopping Center Monday to a local crowd of nearly 150.

[local yocal]

Again, it seems even the proponents of this plan think they are getting Health Insurance Reform when in reality, they are getting Health Care Reform. Why would we alter one of the best health care systems in the world? Less government would be more desirable.

[Thad]

When Americans focused on the contents of the proposed legislation and found shocking, scary components that do not appeal, they began voicing their dislike. The Democrats, guided by David Axelrod and others, pivoted adroitly to distract by claiming those who disagree are a "mob", they're being bussed to rallies to disrupt, and yesterday in USAToday, Pelosi and Hoyer assert dissenters are "un-American" (read enemies of the state). This outrage is, of course, part of the effort to draw attention away fromt the substance of the bill.

[Eric W Pretty]

local yocal wrote:

Again, it seems even the proponents of this plan think they are getting Health Insurance Reform when in reality, they are getting Health Care Reform. Why would we alter one of the best health care systems in the world? Less government would be more desirable.

You better be careful,
With obamas domestic spying website you may be reported for opposing king obamas plan and sent off to a goulog in suburban Maryland for re-education.
Withg obama fresh off his .4 trillion spending spree on cash for automakers plan whats 10 trillion for health care? A mere bag of shells my friends.....
The facts about obamas health care takeover are clear....
1. The government will run it..... into the ground! Anything the government runs turns to crap, it will cost 10 times what "analysts" predict.
2. You WILL be forced out of your private plans.
3. Clueless federal bureaucrats will decide how much health care you will be rationed. Not too different from insurance companies doing it, but government employees seem to be the least educated and least caring bunch I've ever met.
4. There will be waiting lists for treatment , Just like in Canada, England, Germany, France.....
This proposal will fail, and thankfully bring the o'spending administration to a screeching halt.

[Tom]

Eric W Pretty wrote:

<quoted text>
You better be careful,
With obamas domestic spying website you may be reported for opposing king obamas plan and sent off to a goulog in suburban Maryland for re-education.
Withg obama fresh off his .4 trillion spending spree on cash for automakers plan whats 10 trillion for health care? A mere bag of shells my friends.....
The facts about obamas health care takeover are clear....
1. The government will run it..... into the ground! Anything the government runs turns to ****, it will cost 10 times what "analysts" predict.
2. You WILL be forced out of your private plans.
3. Clueless federal bureaucrats will decide how much health care you will be rationed. Not too different from insurance companies doing it, but government employees seem to be the least educated and least caring bunch I've ever met.
4. There will be waiting lists for treatment , Just like in Canada, England, Germany, France.....
This proposal will fail, and thankfully bring the o'spending administration to a screeching halt.

FYI, The Treasury is auctioning off 38 Billion more debt today.

[BGSU]

They're protesting the very thing they're supporting. They just don't see it.

[Citizen]

If the left continues to follow the leadership and direction of Obama / Pelosi / Emanuel by labeling health care objectors as a mindless mob with no legitimate agenda, they do so at their own peril. Fair minded and rational thinking Americans will not tolerate leaders who demonize normal folks who are simply trying to make sure their point of view is heard and understood by their elected representatives. Despite the fact that the left has total control of our government, America remains predominantly a center-right country and, under the present make-up of congress, there is no ability for politicians to effect legislative policy if they are to the right of the political spectrum. So “right-minded” citizens are taking over where politicians who share their point of view have faltered. While the liberal politicians can silence their conservative colleagues with parliamentary maneuvers, the left can not silence determined citizens by voting for cloture. If this tactic by the left continues, Republicans will make dramatic gains in 2010 and the Obama presidency will suffer the same fate as the Carter presidency.

[Dave]

Read these comments & read what the protester were saying and you know the problem.

Misinformation.

1) No one is talking about cutting medicare benefits. They are talking about the mechanics of how it is paid & not the patient benefits. If you are told otherwise, it is a lie.

2) There is nothing to force anyone into any particular plan. This, Eric, is a lie.

3) No one is saying there can not be dissent only that the deissent should be fair, orderly, and allow both sides to speak.

4) There is no rationing. Eric is a liar or too ignorant to know the truth.

5) There are waiting lists here in the good ole USA. I waited 5 months to see an orthopod. The idea that these 45 million ininsured will crowd out our systenm is ridiculous. The average family doctor sees 20 - 25 patients a day. Seeing 3 more patients a day will not flood the system.

The bus "Hands of my healthcare" is fear mongering. Under the plan currently in Congress, there is nothing that will force you to change your current coverage - the only difference is that is might cost you less in the future.

Come on people. Learn the facts.

[mom of a 2nd grader]

Citizen wrote:

If the left continues to follow the leadership and direction of Obama / Pelosi / Emanuel by labeling health care objectors as a mindless mob with no legitimate agenda, they do so at their own peril. Fair minded and rational thinking Americans will not tolerate leaders who demonize normal folks who are simply trying to make sure their point of view is heard and understood by their elected representatives. Despite the fact that the left has total control of our government, America remains predominantly a center-right country and, under the present make-up of congress, there is no ability for politicians to effect legislative policy if they are to the right of the political spectrum. So “right-minded” citizens are taking over where politicians who share their point of view have faltered. While the liberal politicians can silence their conservative colleagues with parliamentary maneuvers, the left can not silence determined citizens by voting for cloture. If this tactic by the left continues, Republicans will make dramatic gains in 2010 and the Obama presidency will suffer the same fate as the Carter presidency.

I have to say this is the most well written and informative post I have ever read on the Public Opinion. Good job.

[Dave]

Remember this. The last time there was a serious effort to reform healthcare was 1993-95. It was defeated by the Republicans using the exact same tactics & arguments.

Oh, the Republicans say we need reform.

Yet, from Januarey 1995 thru January of 2007, the Republicans held voting majorities in both houses od Congress and NEVER, EVER attempted to reform health care.

Healthcare costs are taking more & more of our incomes every year as its cost rising so much faster than our incomes. It is adding more & more to the expemses of businesses every year with small business especially getting nailed.

The Republicans think this is great.

I think when your health insurance is more than your mortgasge, it is a problem. We need reform

Take the time to learn the truth.

www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck & watch some videos - you don't even have to read.

[Herb]

Stagnant unemployment, shrinking tax revenue and a struggling economy threaten to quadruple the size of last year's federal budget deficit, raising more questions about the timing of costly proposals to overhaul health care. As the White House and Congressional Budget Office (CBO) prepare to release new deficit estimates this month, several economists say the news is likely to be as bad as or worse than forecasts. Pelosi, Hoyer, and the other Socialists will slowly realize that they are peeing into the wind on scrapping our current healthcare system for their Socialist version. Why? Lack of funds. The nation has a huge debt burden.

[Tom]

Dave wrote:

Remember this. The last time there was a serious effort to reform healthcare was 1993-95. It was defeated by the Republicans using the exact same tactics & arguments.
Oh, the Republicans say we need reform.
Yet, from Januarey 1995 thru January of 2007, the Republicans held voting majorities in both houses od Congress and NEVER, EVER attempted to reform health care.
Healthcare costs are taking more & more of our incomes every year as its cost rising so much faster than our incomes. It is adding more & more to the expemses of businesses every year with small business especially getting nailed.
The Republicans think this is great.
I think when your health insurance is more than your mortgasge, it is a problem. We need reform
Take the time to learn the truth.
www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck & watch some videos - you don't even have to read.

We do need reform, but not the type Obama is selling.

[Truth Seeker]

I was with the group of distinguished citizens from three counties who showed up on less than 24 hours notice to show that there are two sides to this issue. What a shock to see that expensive bus appear, complete with crew. The chair of the county Republican tried to counter the sizable "protest" crowd by implying that we were not "well dressed". This of course lead to lots of laughter from both sides and is an example of how low some Republicans will go to try to discredit any opposition to their views and agenda.
So many of our citizens are being fed propaganda by local radio stations and other sources about issues, and then are persuaded to tavel in a luxury bus to Harrisburg for a cause that basically is designed to protect the profits and bloated expensive management structures of the drug and health insurance companies.
Well, Democrats and good citizens who support our president's efforts to better the lives of the majority of our citizens ARE respectfully and appropriately dressed, and are among the better educated people of Franklin County. We are for smart system-wide change instead of just letting big business, old-style congress, and special interest groups have their way, But there are complex issues yet to be worked out.
It's too bad so many nice people are willing to be led like sheep by these right-wing organizations.
Note: Reaction from former NASA scientist and Vietnam era vet who worked in the Obama presidential campaign.

[qwerty]

Tom wrote:

<quoted text>
We do need reform, but not the type Obama is selling.

I suspect what you meant to say is that we need reform but because Obama is involved you will object to what ever plan is proposed.

[All You Need Is Love]

It is so sad when Americans protest something that would actually help improve their lives. This is because they are gullible and allow the huge insurance corporations and those that do their bidding (e.g., Republican politicians) to feed them lie after lie so that these citizens end up doing the companies' dirty work. So, so sad.

Oh, and by the way Local Yocal, the U.S. does NOT have the best health care system in the world. We're ranked 37th, I think. Where has your grand nation gone? To the pockets of those with money and influence, that's where.

Dave, thanks for trying to point out the truth. Some people are just too blind to see it.

[Tom]

No, what I mean to say is we need reform but not the kind Obama is selling.

Start with tort reform and then fraud and abuse of the current system instead of adding trillions to the debt!

I also find it funny how Dave puts the White House website up as his argument.

[MSPC]

My wife just had a baby, the total cost due to minor complications for the baby, my wife, and the time in the hospital itself came out to be approx.$16,000, of that 16,000 my insurance company had to only pay approx 4000, so how is it fair that if I didn't have the luxuary of having insurance I would have been forced to pay $16,000, when the cost of 4000 is acceptable. How can the people who are anti- health care reform justify that? People wonder why people end up on welfare and medical assistance, I am a lower middle class worker who is not eligible for any kind of gov't assistance b/c I make to much an I work very hard for what I have and thankfully I have the oppertunity to get insurance through my job at a cost of almost 200 bi-weekly.

[One Question]

If this plan is so great why are members of Congress excluded from having to be a part of it? Ask every congressman that one question.

[swampmudd]

local yocal wrote:

Again, it seems even the proponents of this plan think they are getting Health Insurance Reform when in reality, they are getting Health Care Reform. Why would we alter one of the best health care systems in the world? Less government would be more desirable.

It is not the best system in the world, just the most expencive in the world. Twice as expencive as number two. Over all we are ranked around twenty eighth.

[taxes]

MSPC wrote:

My wife just had a baby, the total cost due to minor complications for the baby, my wife, and the time in the hospital itself came out to be approx.$16,000, of that 16,000 my insurance company had to only pay approx 4000, so how is it fair that if I didn't have the luxuary of having insurance I would have been forced to pay $16,000, when the cost of 4000 is acceptable. How can the people who are anti- health care reform justify that? People wonder why people end up on welfare and medical assistance, I am a lower middle class worker who is not eligible for any kind of gov't assistance b/c I make to much an I work very hard for what I have and thankfully I have the oppertunity to get insurance through my job at a cost of almost 200 bi-weekly.

Why aren't you as outraged at your lack of take home pay? It's taxes that are killing you.

[speak for yourself]

I guess they all had healthcare. Those of us who work full time and are not offered healthcare and can't afford to go out and buy it just might feel differently.