Obama says "let me know" if there's a better idea for healthcare. My privilege, Mr. President!

[UrbScotty]

But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-payer_health_care

Single-payer health care is a public service financing the delivery of universal health care to a given population as defined by age, citizenship, residency, or any other demographic.

Single-payer health insurance collects all medical fees and then pays for all services through a single government (or government-related) source. In wealthy nations, this kind of publicly-managed health insurance is typically extended to all citizens and legal residents.

Australia's Medicare, Canada's Medicare, the United Kingdom's National Health Service, and Taiwan's National Health Insurance are examples of single-payer universal health care systems. Medicare in the United States is an example of a single-payer system for a specified, limited group of persons within a country.

[dflprincess]

1. http://www.whitehouse.gov/

use the contact form and send them what you posted here. As soon as that line left his mouth I used the form to tell them I had a better approach called "Medicare for All".

[brooklynite]

2. and this will "bring down the deficit" how?

[IndianaGreen]

4. You worry about the deficit? END THE WARS!

And bring all the troops home!

[mike_c]

7. exactly!

eom

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. + a google

[sandnsea]

20. Answer the question within the realms of reality

It's easy to have all the answers when you pretend there's a magic wand out there.

[IndianaGreen]

21. Don't need a magic wand or anything magic. He is Commander-in-Chief!

Just give the order, bring the troops home, and fire any general that gets insubordinate!

[sandnsea]

22. You forgot the part about security

Where does he find the magic wand to make everybody love each other?

[IndianaGreen]

23. Our wars are not making us secure, on the contrary!

Plus we are losing precious lives and treasure.

[sandnsea]

24. Another dodge

It's really not realistic to just say bring all the troops home and the world will be a happy place who will never have a problem again. Sloganeering isn't governing. I've never seen Nader or Kucinich or even Cindy Sheehan lay out a plan that was just "end the war" when you got past the first five sentences. They all acknowledge the short term need for US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[IndianaGreen]

38. There is no need for US troops in Iraq or in Afghanistan

We are not the world's policeman!

[yurbud]

28. you're kidding, right? Obama said it himself about student loans: doing it through the private

sector added an unnecessary layer of fees.

The only way someone couldn't see the cost savings is if like a republican, you think the only money that matters is money that passes through government hands.

If I pay a lower premium, it won't hurt my feelings that it's going to the government in the form of taxes.

[Vincardog]

41. It would provide inexpensive medical care for everybody and rein in the run away increases

that are driving the deficit.

[senseandsensibility]

3. K and R

:shrug: And of course, he knows this already.

[Lorien]

5. Intentionally obtuse. nt

[mike_c]

6. single payer universal health care is the only genuine reform....

Single payer NOW!

[sunnybrook]

8. dontcha think he was talking to

legislators?

[Cali_Democrat]

9. Great! Now figure out where we will get the votes for single payer

Please post the names of all the Senators who would vote for single payer.

You see....there's a little something called reality and it differs from the utopia you seek.

Welcome back to Earth.

[Sebastian Doyle]

13. The President asked for a better solution.

He didn't say anything about getting fucking idiots like Baucus, Lieberdouche, Nelson, and the rest of the Repukes in Democratic clothing to vote for it.

[depakid]

18. To be fair, he did scold them (along with the rest of the Dems) at one point. Obliquely. Sort of.

Just before reminding us that he's about to meet with Republicans in the House.

[dflprincess]

15. We'll never know who might have supported single payer

because they were never allowed to discuss it.

Those who are out of touch with reality are those who think the insurance scam that the Senate wants to foist on us is reform or that coverage equals access to care. The bill does nothing but protect an industry that will collapse if it's not handed millions of new victims to steal from.

[subterranean]

16. Even if it didn't have enough support...

just bringing it into the discussion as a possibility might have gotten us a better final bill.

[dflprincess]

17. Exactly

starting negotiations with what should have been the compromise was stupid and Obama isn't stupid. I fear the insurance bill is what Obama and Rahm had in mind all along. They never intended to help anyone but the insurance companies and pharma.

[Lorien]

10. Done. I just "let him know" and sent the info in your OP. nt

[Generator]

11. What an utter fraud

I laughed out loud. Noooooooooooo there is nothing better at all. He's NEVER even heard the idea. Single payer must have been something in an alternate universe-and public option was the love child he won't acknowledge.

[bvar22]

12. K & R

Countries with Single Payer pay 1/2 as much for BETTER Health Care.

Get rid of the For Profit Health Insurance Industry for an immediate saving of at least 20%.

[sandnsea]

19. How much will you have to raise taxes?

You can't take any money from the rest of the budget.

[Stardust]

25. Meanwhile, I'm yellin' at the teevee, SINGLE PAYER, SINGLE PAYER!

It may not reduce the deficit but it's the only legitimate way to achieve universal healthcare.

[avaistheone1]

33. My family was all yelling it too!

Time for the CBO to score single payer, Mr. President.

[slipslidingaway]

26. knr - email sent to the White House. n/t

[grantcart]

27. Yep no problem getting 60 Senators on board for that.

[johnaries]

29. You missed the point. He likes *that* idea. He's calling out

the obstructionists.

Don't pick a fight that doesn't exist just for the sake of fighting.

If you want to fight, GOOD! But fight the people who oppose you, not the people who agree with you.

The fight is hard enough, already.

[ClassWarrior]

30. He may *like* that idea, but he took it off the table before the table was even set.

"Doesn't exist?" Sort of like single payer doesn't exist?

:eyes:

NGU.

[slipslidingaway]

31. kick n/t

[Zenlitened]

32. K&R (n/t)

[andym]

34. Single payer is the most efficient form of health care, but it does increase the deficit

HR676 was estimated to cost about $2 trillion/year by the CA nurses association study last year.
That compares with a total federal budget last year of 2.9 trillion, so it increases the budget by 69%. It would increase the deficit by 2 trillion/year unless various tax increases are passed.

For comparison the Senate/House HCR bills cost about 90 billion/year. So single payer costs about 20 times more.

Note that overall single-payer would save consumers money overall, but as far as the deficit is concerned there are hurdles to overcome.

[eridani]

35. But it gets people health care for less, which is a huge economic stimulus

The current Senate disaster just throws a trillion dollars at a totally non-productive sector of the economy.

[avaistheone1]

36. In context single-payer still costs less

Single-Payer (HR 676 and
S 703)
Expanded Medicare for All

Cost
Saves over $400 billion/
year primarily by reducing
administrative waste,
negotiating budgets for
hospitals, and purchasing
drugs in bulk.




“Private
insurance with Public Option”
Reform Plans

Cost
Increases annual health
care expenditures by at
least $600 billion over
ten years. Does not slow
medical inflation or
control health care costs.

http://www.healthcare-now.org/docs/spreport.pdf

[andym]

40. Overall substantial savings, but it shifts costs to the federal budget

that's why reconciliation would be problematic

[swilton]

37. A Big Kilo Romeo

[Starbucks Anarchist]

39. What's so hard to understand about not having the votes?

[glitch]

42. What's so hard to understand about wheeling and dealing for them? nt