Letters to the Editor
Vote supported
November 11, 2009
Advertisement
To the editor:
As an American who has watched both friends and family suffer under our disastrous health insurance system, I’m proud that my congressman, Rep. Dennis Moore, had the political guts to vote for H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
I believe the United States would benefit most from the kind of universal system that has proven successful in Canada or Europe, where citizens have much higher life expectancy than Americans.
Nonetheless, Rep. Moore’s vote for this bill was a vote to provide secure and stable coverage for Americans with insurance, expand coverage for those who do not have insurance, lower costs for families and businesses, and begin to reduce the deficit.
I wish the rest of Kansas’ congressional delegation had the backbone to put people before corporate profits.
Thanks, Congressman Moore, for standing up to the insurance industry lobbyists and voting for the health of your constituents.
More like this
- Kansans in U.S. House cool to health plan 23 comments / October 30, 2009
- MoveOn having rally to thank Moore for supporting health care bill 50 comments / November 13, 2009
- Kris Kobach, 3rd Congressional District GOP candidate, chats online September 21, 2004
- Health care concerns aired at forum 3 comments / October 22, 2008
- States' rights issue 29 comments / July 18, 2007
Top ads RSS
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Blog: Palin Book Could Be Your Cheapest Source For Winter Fuel November 20, 2009 · 54 comments
- Blog: We Noticed November 19, 2009 · 114 comments
- Mangino denies validity of former player allegations November 19, 2009 · 157 comments
- Blog: Why Do People Repeat Falsehoods? November 20, 2009 · 45 comments
- KU's Chancellor issues statement putting support behind Lew Perkins November 20, 2009 · 36 comments
- Lawrence man charged in hit-and-run accident that killed bicyclist November 19, 2009 · 109 comments
- Muslim countries seek blasphemy ban November 20, 2009 · 24 comments
- Former independent counsel praises Constitution in speech November 20, 2009 · 17 comments
- Fatal mindset November 20, 2009 · 48 comments
- Poll: Should a "Botax" be imposed on vanity procedures such as breast implants, face lifts, tummy tucks and Botox injections? November 19, 2009 · 32 comments
- Lawrence schools preparing for another round of budget cuts November 18, 2009
- KU's Chancellor issues statement putting support behind Lew Perkins November 20, 2009
- Farmers' Turnpike reopens after four months of construction November 20, 2009
- Resident hopes to start rickshaw business in downtown Lawrence, pending city approval November 19, 2009
- New, legal, drug has law enforcement concerned — and it's already on a Lawrence store's shelves November 4, 2009
- Commission votes against including gender identity in Lawrence's anti-discrimination policy November 19, 2009
- Obesity activist crossing country to urge American Indians to embrace healthier diet November 20, 2009
- Tonganoxie child, 2, making remarkable recovery after traumatic accident November 18, 2009
- CLARENCE E. RINKE OBITUARY October 19, 1999
- What if KU stuns Texas? November 20, 2009
11 November 2009
at 1:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
notajayhawk (Anonymous) says…
Another uninformed Larryville Loon checks in.
Maybe you'd like to explain how the legislation recently passed in the House (and DOA in the Senate, btw) will accomplish any of those things you mentioned, other than because Obama says it's so? The cost will be over a trillion dollars. Even the 'public-option' will cost more than private insurance.
At least you're one of the few liberals who admits to wanting passage of this 'reform' package as a first step towards a complete government takeover. If it wouldn't kill the rest of us, I almost wish you you got what you're asking for, and had to live (or more likely die) with it.
11 November 2009
at 4:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
merrill (Anonymous) says…
Some out scream that the new insurance on the table will add a trillion dollars to the budget. That is probably correct because the insurance industry is controlling the design and maintaining the insurance policies.
However what these people are doing is pushing no change which will in fact increase the cost of insurance by about 25% or a trillion dollars. 2010 costs for insurance that will cover all of YOUR expenses no matter what looks like $18,310 annually. So if one has insurance that now costs $1,500 a month should figure in an increase of about 25%.
However there is one proposal out there that does NOT increase coverage cost by 25% or $1 trillion dollars. That proposal is National Health Insurance sponsored by 86 house members. It is being ignored to a large degree. Why you ask?
Because it eliminates the insurance industry thus eliminating elected officials as share holders,thus eliminates special interest campaign money,thus eliminates golden parachutes thus is eliminating the most expensive medical insurance industry on the planet.
Not only that Nationa/ Health Insurance provides a reduction of cost in the amount of $400 billion dollars annually according to the CBO. National Health Insurance provides coverage 24/7 no matter what.
IF a person and their employer cannot afford one of those $18,310 policies consider anything other coverage as under insured. Being under insured puts any family one major cancer problem away from bankruptcy. Welcome to the working under insured.
Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04…
11 November 2009
at 4:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
merrill (Anonymous) says…
Congressman Dennis Kucinich was one of the Democrats voting against HR 3962, The Affordable Health Care for American’s Act. The following is his well-founded and fully understandable justification for that vote:
Kucinich: Why I Voted NO
Congressman Kucinich 111th
Washington, Nov 7 -
After voting against H.R. 3962 - Affordable Health Care for America Act, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement:
“We have been led to believe that we must make our health care choices only within the current structure of a predatory, for-profit insurance system which makes money not providing health care. We cannot fault the insurance companies for being what they are. But we can fault legislation in which the government incentivizes the perpetuation, indeed the strengthening, of the for-profit health insurance industry, the very source of the problem. When health insurance companies deny care or raise premiums, co-pays and deductibles they are simply trying to make a profit. That is our system.
“Clearly, the insurance companies are the problem, not the solution. They are driving up the cost of health care. Because their massive bureaucracy avoids paying bills so effectively, they force hospitals and doctors to hire their own bureaucracy to fight the insurance companies to avoid getting stuck with an unfair share of the bills. The result is that since 1970, the number of physicians has increased by less than 200% while the number of administrators has increased by 3000%. It is no wonder that 31 cents of every health care dollar goes to administrative costs, not toward providing care. Even those with insurance are at risk. The single biggest cause of bankruptcies in the U.S. is health insurance policies that do not cover you when you get sick.
“But instead of working toward the elimination of for-profit insurance, H.R. 3962 would put the government in the role of accelerating the privatization of health care. In H.R. 3962, the government is requiring at least 21 million Americans to buy private health insurance from the very industry that causes costs to be so high, which will result in at least $70 billion in new annual revenue, much of which is coming from taxpayers. This inevitably will lead to even more costs, more subsidies, and higher profits for insurance companies — a bailout under a blue cross.
con't
11 November 2009
at 4:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
merrill (Anonymous) says…
con't
“By incurring only a new requirement to cover pre-existing conditions, a weakened public option, and a few other important but limited concessions, the health insurance companies are getting quite a deal. The Center for American Progress’ blog, Think Progress, states “since the President signaled that he is backing away from the public option, health insurance stocks have been on the rise.”
Similarly, healthcare stocks rallied when Senator Max Baucus introduced a bill without a public option. Bloomberg reports that Curtis Lane, a prominent health industry investor, predicted a few weeks ago that “money will start flowing in again” to health insurance stocks after passage of the legislation.
Investors.com last month reported that pharmacy benefit managers share prices are hitting all-time highs, with the only industry worry that the Administration would reverse its decision not to negotiate Medicare Part D drug prices, leaving in place a Bush Administration policy.
“During the debate, when the interests of insurance companies would have been effectively challenged, that challenge was turned back. The “robust public option” which would have offered a modicum of competition to a monopolistic industry was whittled down from an initial potential enrollment of 129 million Americans to 6 million.
An amendment which would have protected the rights of states to pursue single-payer health care was stripped from the bill at the request of the Administration. Looking ahead, we cringe at the prospect of even greater favors for insurance companies.
“Recent rises in unemployment indicate a widening separation between the finance economy and the real economy. The finance economy considers the health of Wall Street, rising corporate profits, and banks’ hoarding of cash, much of it from taxpayers, as sign of an economic recovery.
However in the real economy — in which most Americans live — the recession is not over. Rising unemployment, business failures, bankruptcies and foreclosures are still hammering Main Street.
“This health care bill continues the redistribution of wealth to Wall Street at the expense of America’s manufacturing and service economies which suffer from costs other countries do not have to bear, especially the cost of health care. America continues to stand out among all industrialized nations for its privatized health care system.
As a result, we are less competitive in steel, automotive, aerospace and shipping while other countries subsidize their exports in these areas through socializing the cost of health care.
“Notwithstanding the fate of H.R. 3962, America will someday come to recognize the broad social and economic benefits of a not-for-profit, single-payer health care system, which is good for the American people and good for America’s businesses, with of course the notable exceptions being insurance and pharmaceuticals.”
11 November 2009
at 5:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Healthcare_Moocher (Anonymous) says…
I hear that eating to much tofu makes you spam the blogs.
11 November 2009
at 6:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
bkgarner (Brent Garner) says…
Dennis Moore = Pelosi/Reid/Obama lapdog—an uninformed lapdog at that!
11 November 2009
at 7:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
Why'd you stop plugging HR ***, merrill?
11 November 2009
at 7:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
quik (Anonymous) says…
Did she really use “guts” and Dennis Moore in the same sentence?
11 November 2009
at 7:45 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
TomShewmon (Tom Shewmon) says…
America is one of the most overweight, sedentary, substance abusing nations in the world. About 25 million American adults have diabetes and one in four don't even know it. It's not a poor healthcare system, it's poor lifestyle management.
11 November 2009
at 8:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
TomShewmon (Tom Shewmon) says…
And what kind of example is President Obama setting for Americans who smoke?
http://www.gunslot.com/files/gunslot/…
11 November 2009
at 8:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Cappy (Anonymous) says…
Shrewman,
If you remember Michael Moore's Sicko, you know that under Britain's National Health, doctors actually get paid more for getting their patients to quit smoking, lose weight, and make other lifestyle changes. It saves the system money in the long run.
11 November 2009
at 8:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
TomShewmon (Tom Shewmon) says…
Don't watch Michael Moore movies. They are to me what the left claims Fox News to be: fiction. Same goes for Al Gores' movie.
11 November 2009
at 1:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Thing (Anonymous) says…
If Cappy believes anything that that morod Michael Moore says, then Cappy too is a larryville loon!
11 November 2009
at 6:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
mr_right_wing (Anonymous) says…
How many out there 'can't afford' decent health insurance because they got a little carried away with the credit cards, or they've got a few to many 'rent to own' items in their house…or perhaps they're struggling because of unpaid 'payday loans'? Your irresponsibility got you into the situation and I don't think the government, using our taxpayer money should help you. I am completely in favor of helping those who, truly through no fault or irresponsibility of their own cannot get decent health insurance. I'm convinced that second group is the minority. Most of the whiners on here could afford decent health insurance had they been more financially responsible. That's YOUR fault, not mine or ours.
12 November 2009
at 9:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Cappy (Anonymous) says…
Shrewman and his Thing,
Actually there's this guy, Potter (can't remember first name), who is a whistle-blower on the insurance industry. He spoke about how the insurance execs were scared poop-less because Michael Moore's Sicko was dead-on accurate. FOX news even had to admit he was correct though they were part of the big push to discredit him in order to serve their republican and corporate masters.
12 November 2009
at 10:14 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Satirical (Anonymous) says…
Cappy…
Clearly you aren't swayed by and can easily detect propaganda. Did Micheal Moore describe in SickO the criteria used to determine U.S. Health Care was ranked so low?
Also, I would like to thank Dennis Moore for voting on legislation which was promised to be available to the public 72 hours before the vote, but never was. What happened to increased transparency in government? Oh wait, that was just when you weren't in power…
12 November 2009
at 10:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
Mr. Right, Weed isn't free. They gotta have priorities ya' no.
12 November 2009
at 10:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
Correction, (Ya' Know).
12 November 2009
at 10:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
As far as micheal moore, we won't need to worry about his propaganda machine for long, He will be a product of early death due to his incredibly fat slovenly ways. He is just barey on this side of the dirt.
12 November 2009
at 11 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
75x55 (Anonymous) says…
merrill - do you even read the crap you cut-n-paste anymore? Dennis Kucinich quotes don't even make sense on the most basic level. Insurance company 'profits' are the reason for high health care costs?
Not the vast and varied interference of government meddling and interference in the marketplace, in no small part to the crazy system known as Medicare, unrestrained legal predations and skyrocketing malpractice insurance (have ya b*tched about those insurance profits lately?), not to mention a host of other cost-affecting factors.
No - it must clearly be the SOLE cause of greedy fat-cat insurance executives and their republican shareholders…./sarc.
It really is too bad that the majority of voters are so easily swayed by this sort of class envy drivel - it will be the death of us all.
13 November 2009
at 11:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
ahimsa (Anonymous) says…
Thanks Dennis Moore!
I am a college-educated (masters degree) working person in my mid-50s with health insurance. However, I am one major illness or accident away from destitution. Shame on the lawmakers who, as puppets of big insurance, allow greed to rule in the health care industry. Isn't the role of government to protect the people?