? | 2010/07/12

In Ohio and Pennsylvania children whose parents do not have health care already receive it for free. My guess is that most other states provide this, as well. Insurance is provided for children of the working poor or children of the unemployed. Why are the needs of children being (mis)used in this political movement?

Lois | 2009/10/20

Ouch, Dan & Melissa! (1) I am an educated person and that is why I try to seek the truth. The 3 major networks were all very influential in getting Obama elected, and were biased in the liberal sense. (2) ? I think the reason our education system has failed is that we are getting too much government involvement. I am in special education and the paper work we are required to do is ridiculous! (3) As I said before look to see who Obama is surrounding himself with and you might be surprised. I personally do not want a person that is a declared communist, socialist, or radical to have the president?s ear. He has surrounded himself with ?community organizers? and in a speech 5 days before the election, he told a group of community organizers that in 5 days they would be part of transforming the government of the United States. Our government is a democracy and does NOT need to be transformed!! I?m sure our founding fathers that wrote the constitution are rolling over in their graves to see what the people of the United States have done to their document.

Bob J | 2009/10/19

Single-payor, universal coverage, and nothing less. Period.

dan | 2009/10/18

I can't believe anyone with an education can watch FoxNews and NOT recognize it as pure propaganda for right-wing extremism. Forget test scores, THIS is what proves our education system has failed--people who can't tell inflammatory blather from actual facts.

Terry | 2009/10/16

Well said, Pam. Thanks for being a voice of reason & a voice for kids!

Jenny | 2009/10/16

So glad to see everyone is not drinking the NEA(get out of the politics please) OBAMA BIG GOVERNMENT TO MEET ALL MY NEEDS NO MATTER THE COST KOOL-AID

Angela | 2009/10/15

It's interesting that when Republicans disagree with Obama it's "outrageous distortions", but when Democrates disagree it's "rational debate". What a joke! We do still live in a free country where we have the right to disagree. Unfortunately, I fear this is quickly changing.

Melissa | 2009/10/15

Glenn Beck, Fox News, facts? You have got to be kidding me!!! They use scare tactics to go against everything the President tries to accomplish simply because it doesn't fit into their ideology. It is obvious that something needs to be done about the health care system. It doesn't make sense to me that the greatest country on earth can't afford to give all of its citizens, especially children, appropriate healthcare!

Rod | 2009/10/15

Since when in the history of this country has strong philosphical dissent ever been anything but vocal. Vietnam comes to mind. Tea Party groups were very civil in other venues. Health care yes, but Obama's plan is not reform

Lea | 2009/10/15

Well said, Pam!

Lois | 2009/10/15

As I said before I do believe some changes are needed, but Obama?s cronies (socialists, communists, and radicals) (may I remind you of Van Jones) are the ones writing the bills, not Congress. Obama has his "community organizers" doing it. Maybe you and Pam need to check out ACORN, SEIU, and TIDES. Better yet, watch Glen Beck and you can get the REAL facts!!! (Fox News) Glen has a phone that has a direct connection with the White House so if he states ANYTHING that is not true they can call immediately and tell him the information is incorrect. They actually have a person watching Fox News. (Fox News is Obama's new enemy)(Gee, I thought the enemies were Iraq and Bin Ladin.) Since Glen has started his program on Fox, he has been "called on the carpet" about two times. One time he called Van Jones a CZAR and the White House informed him he did not have a CZAR title. Nothing was said about Jones ties to communism. (I guess Glen was right about that) In one of his speeches Obama said to look to see who he surrounds himself with. Take a look...it's REALLY scary!!!

Jill McCracken | 2009/10/15

I've negotiated 5 contracts that have accepted lower salary to keep excellent health care benefits. This Baccus health care plan has a 40% tax ON these benefits. This plan stinks, it hurts NEA members and NEA is dead wrong to support this. NEA can count me OUT of support if it continues to work against my interests.

Sally | 2009/10/14

Call me a socialist if it pleases you. I support a single payer system for medical care. And just like Ben Franklin, I also support a fire department that serves all. In addition, I support a police department, and public schools that serve all. There is room for well placed social programs in our capitalistic Democracy.

Joan Schneider | 2009/10/14

As a retired NEA-WEAC and WCEA)Retired member, I have had time to study and attempt to stay current on health care reform. All teachers must see the need for health care reform. You must see this great need in the eyes of many of your students!! I have traveled to Washington, D.C. twice recently to help make seniors aware of the need for health care reform for them as well. I must ask...have you seen the long lines at the free clinics? many of those in lines have jobs but health care coverage. Many are recently laid off workers who can't afford coverage. If you have coverage you might not for much longer. The costs of health care will exceed what employers can pay and then we will only have more without insurance. We are penny wise and pound foolish if we don't make major changes. A single payer system would work best and if that doesn't have enough support, we at least need a public option.

Tom | 2009/10/14

What bill? Have you read it? No you haven't and neither has Congress because it's still being written! I agree that healthcare needs to be updated, but not run by a Fascist Government

christine | 2009/10/14

Let's see if this post goes through... Lois~ Thank you I couldn't have said it better myself. The authors depiction of the "tea parties" was very offensive. We are tired of government controlling our lives and spending our childrens future. We are moms and dads who love our children and want a future of freedom, not bondage for them.

Chris | 2009/10/14

My family has only had health insurance for seven out of the last nine years. The last school district I worked for didn't even offer it as a benefit! We have children, my husband is 50, we pay out of pocket when we go to the doctor. I live in fear of one of us having to go to the hospital, we'd lose everything we have trying to pay the bills! I am all for constructive dialogue that gets us somewhere, but threats and extreme exagerrations stop the whole process.

Sue Bradford | 2009/10/14

Our country was created on the preface that all men are created equal. That should include health care for all. How can we turn our backs on the millions in our country without adequate health care? How can we sleep when they can't? Those that say health care reform will allow death courts. The death courts are already here. It's called the insurance cartel. If you really want to weep, go to MSNBC and watch Keith Oberman's commentary on health care reform. I haven't been able to sleep comfortably since. Soorner or later the travesty of health care in the USA today with bring us all down. It is so sad that a few Democratic senators and congressmen can destroy what the country mandated in last November's election. I hope they all will have to go before a death court some day. But sadly, they have great federal health care for the rest of their lives. It's easy to say no when you won't be affected.

Jenny | 2009/10/14

The Government is not the answer to healthcare! Look at Medicare with a conservative 60 trillion dollars in unfunded liabilities. That is not going to be paid by your tax dollar or my tax dollar, that would be our grandchildren's future debt. Please, keep an open mind. Check your facts. Look at the national bank, the treasury and see what our Year to Date Deficit is..and ask yourself, can the government mandate healthcare? http://www.fms.treas.gov/mts/mts0809.pdf (THIS IS NOT A TALKING POINT, THIS IS MY GOVERNMENT's BALANCE SHEET)

SamA | 2009/10/14

Health Care Reform and the proposed Health Care Bill are not synonymous. How about some regulations on Insurance companies and some enforcement of Insurance Fraud. And how about allowing doctors to make the decision on individual treatment rather than the Insurance companies?! If we have health insurance, then our illnesses should be covered until we get better, not until the covered limit runs out. Let's reform health care but let's not "jump out of the frying pan and into the fire" *PS: When someone's opinion differs from your's, you should not feel threatened, you should rejoy that our country still affords you that freedom.

catherine | 2009/10/14

Yes, Nixon, LBJ, and Truman all wanted the plan that Britain has. then the Reaganites came and convinced too many people to deregulate and get gov't out of our lives! I'd love to have Medicare for all - my husband, an att'y, says lawsuit caps are bogus/ smoke screen. let's do it right - gov't option for all! let's join the rest of the free world and take care of our citizens instead of corporate insurance companies!

Tater | 2009/10/14

Everyone needs affordable health care. Everyone does not need this "porkbelly" bill. What kind of a bill needs "so" many amendments when it hasn't even become a bill yet. Are we well educated, intelligent individuals or are we "cattle" waiting for the gate to open?

Ginny Unanue | 2009/10/14

Yours is, I'm afraid, a voice of reason crying in the wilderness of Republican outrageous distortions or outright lies. Thank you for this call for rational, polite debate.

Ben | 2009/10/14

I support no new legislation that does not put medical lawsuit caps into effect. Our president has backed away from this issue because of the tremendous financial backing he has enjoyed form the legal community, but you don?t have to. Frivolous lawsuits are the single largest problem in the medical industry today, and are the driving force behind what is call defensive medicine. If you really want lower healthcare cost for all you cannot fail to address this issue.

Joan | 2009/10/14

There is no doubt that health care is expensive. Before we overhaul the current system, though, medicare fraud (to the tune of millions) be stopped. In addition, as long as our Senators, Congressman, and people in the White House continue to receive a "gold" standard of health care, real reform will not happen. Our elected officials pay roughly the same monthly premium as most Americans lucky enough to have health care (subsidized by the taxpayers) while their yearly income is triple that of most of us, no lifetime maximum, pre-existing conditions do not matter, access to health care at work, the best doctors, hospital, etc. and they enjoy this coverage for life even if voted out of office. Until our elected officials are affected by any reform voted for, I don't see much hope for the rest of us.

Aida | 2009/10/14

I support health reform and I want a lower out of pocket payment for my health insurance. I have a pre existing health condition and therapy alone cut most of my pay check in half.

Marcia | 2009/10/14

I am in favor of reform. Not reinventing the wheel. My brother has paid health insurance all his life. He got sick two years ago. His insurance company raised his insurance from 600 to 960 and this year to over 1200 dollars. He pays more than 50% of his take home pay for health insurance and he has no options as he has pre-existing conditions. Reform is what is needed.

margaret | 2009/10/14

Everytime I put in a response not in favor of the liberal agenda, my response is not accepted....hmmmmm.

Andy | 2009/10/14

We as a country want it all. We are the only country that ties sports on the backs of the schools, yet we want what "all the other country's have". Lets face it folks you can't have everything, where would you put it all. Figure out what you can do without. Isn't that what you do at home. I don't want to pay for your health care and I won't let you pay for mine. My coverage costs 16k a year, I pay 20% of it. But if I drop it to get my own, which costs 5k with a 5k deduct, I don't get the 80% they pay. THAT IS WHATS NOT FAIR. I can get a better deal, but not with the money allotted for my health care. We need to reform how employers dictate how we spend our money, and how the gov throws away our money.

Ted | 2009/10/14

Don't just dump on Republicans. 30 years ago Richard Nixon proposed a Health Care Plan which at the time would have been much more affordable than Obama's. Who lined up against it? Every Democrat, including the late Ted Kennedy, who finally admitted before he died, that Nixon's plan probably should have been adopted.

Carol | 2009/10/14

When we label our opposition as "radical" "gripped by fear" "paranoid," it is an attempt to de-humanize and therefore dismiss arguments which contract our own. Your article even says "ignore all the frenzy!" WOW. The liberals are now trying to say the only "reasonable" belief is one that they agree with. You have bought into the spin, Pam. This is not the freedom of exchange of ideas that I thought was so highly valued in our "free" nation! Label and dismiss our "enemies" is the new order of the day!

Mike | 2009/10/14

I do agree that Insurance premiums and coverage need to be addressed and made more affordable but I personally know of two people currently being treated for cancer on an outpatient basis and the one is running $50,000.00 a month for just two visits. Multiply that by several thousand people and try and pay that bill. My point is that all aspects of healthcare need to be addressed across the board.

Rob | 2009/10/14

I disagree with most people on this, we need a completely new health care system. Insurance is a complete fraud anymore, the cost is around $15,000 for family coverage in my state and they are proud of keeping increases around 10% a year, what other business can survive by increasing prices by 10% a year! It will take a complete remodel to change health care.

Mike | 2009/10/14

Healthcare reform is not something that can be pushed through just to make good on a campaign promise. It is such a complicated issue with far reaching implications that just to approve something for the sake of doing something is ultimately irresponsible. The other problem that I see is that there is such a focus on insurance companies and their policies with the high premiums but until we contain the medical and prescription side of things we are just kidding ourselves that a balance can be reached. The other big topic is that no one with a pre-existing condition should be denied. If you are a healthy young adult,what really will keep you from buying insurance until the need arises? The government has a terrible time managing fraud with the current services that are provided now what will make this any different? Maybe we can use the money that we get back from bailing the auto and banking industry out to get this rolling along.

Bob P | 2009/10/14

I taught for 36 years and reading Pam's comments make me think that liberal pressures on her have made her subject to their propaganda...she is not an informed free thinker.

Josh | 2009/10/14

Yes there is a clear need for our students to have access to healthcare to learn. But we need to be careful that the debate does not turn into "if you don't support the type of reform being proposed you don't support kids." Which is unfortunately what is happening in many circumstance. I have kids also and many reports suggest the current plan will lower or tax my benefits and make my premiums go up. That is not good for my kids or my family and I must protest. The reality is Congress plan, although appearing compassionate and accessible is really one thing: UNSUSTAINABLE. That will be worse for all our children in the long term. Why not open up state lines for competition and see what happens. If Montana insurance is getting expensive, let them shop in Maine where the rates are drastically cheaper. Opening up state lines reduces state insurance monopolies and will drive down costs. Reform Now: Absolutely, we need it! Congress's reform plan: will cripple our economy and have long term negative impacts. The most compassionate thing we can do for our kids is reject this plan and regulate health insurance, open competition beteween states, and not let the government get their foot in the door!

Frank | 2009/10/14

It is scary when our union and the radical left abandon all reason. I would like to reiterate the commment left by another blog. What exactly has our government run in an efficient manner? To all the leftists out there think about this: Eventually we will elect someone you think is inept like George Bush. Do you really want him to run health care?

Tammy | 2009/10/14

I also agree that we need some reform, but we don't need a whole new system. As an educator at a day treatment, I do see many families that should take part in programs that are already in place. Many of them choose not to apply or keep up the monthly paperwork to stay eligible. We do not need to start over. All we need is a few changes to an already good system. We should get rid of preexisting conditions, lifetime maximums, and create group plans for each state for those that buy insurance on their own. We do not need a board deciding who can get treated and who can't that is for the doctor to decide with the patient. We don't need to end treatments for those older that 65 and those with disabilities. We don't need another government program that wastes our tax money. We don't need to tax insurance benefits and make more of us insurance free because our companies can't afford the benefit any longer. We need health care reform, not health care system replacement.

Emily | 2009/10/14

Pam, I could not agree with you more, and I endlessly respect your ability to reach across party lines and take a good, hard look at the status quo. It's time for us to grow up and stop the bickering! We need to realize that health care is as much of a right as education is and, like education, should be made available and affordable to everyone. Lois, in respons to this: ["Truly, Pam, do you know of ANYTHING the government has control of that is running smoothly???? "] I'd remind you that Pam is a public school teacher. Those of us who work in the public sector as teachers realize that certainly the system is not perfect, but the government mandated schools are preferable to not offering education or only offering it privately! Same goes for healthcare. It won't be perfect, but it's better than the alternative. The horror stories from other countries are exist, but in comparison to the horror stories of people being denied coverage and care right here in the U.S., it seems like it might be a better alternative.

Jay | 2009/10/14

As a republican, have you heard of all their recommendations for health care reform? Of course not Obama won't work in a bipartison manner or invite the republicans into the heathcare discussion. If you want proof that Obama is not making a "true effort" for reform just watch as he won't make an effort to tackle Tort Reform or allowing insurance to compete across state lines. The proof is in the pudding. Please check on the republican reform ideas and how they are being ignored!

Lois | 2009/10/14

Pam, I think you need to check your news source. The "tea parties" are NOT angry crowds that are disruptive. The 9/12 project in Washington D.C. had no arrests, and the large crowd was under control. However, in January when Obama took office the crowds were unruly, many arrests, and lots of trash was left on the mall. Truly, Pam, do you know of ANYTHING the government has control of that is running smoothly???? Private business and a healthy competetion is the only way to go. I'm not saying health care doesn't need SOME reform, but it certainly doesn't need a one coverage government controlled plan!!! Have you NOT heard of the horror stories about countries that have a govenrment controlled health care plan??? God help us all if that happens!!!!!!