Would you support a public health insurance option if it's run by the states and is only for people who can't afford private insurance?

What part of unconstitutional do you people not understand?

I will not support ANYTHING proposed by this administration, we should be looking for ways to get him and his cronies out of office.

Instead of complaining why don't you come up with a solution? There are problems with the current healthcare system. I am not saying that the current proposal is the answer, but we need to have the discussion of how to better provide for people who cannot afford insurance. My family is lucky that we have great coverage from our employers, but others are not so lucky. Our healthcare system is overloaded with people who come to the emergency room with a cold and other non-emergency issues. Preventive care does work and it helps to reduce the costs by preventing catastrophic health issues.
How about some solutions? Be part of the solution!

This question is a perfect example of how polls can attempt to ask questions that will skew the result of the poll...in this instance, the poll writer is attempting to do everything they can to elicit a favorable response to the "public option" by stipulating that the states will administer the program and that its only for those who can't "afford" insurance...the poll writer is assuming that we know what a "public option" is...I don't think many Americans know what a public option entails...that it involves the government takeover of one sixth of the remaining private economy in the country...that it will grow government to a size as a percent of our GDP that will begin to slow economic growth simply due to the size of government....that it will lead to trillions more in debt for a system that is already tens of trillions of dollars in debt...that it will most certainly lead to tax increases to pay for the tidal wave of debt that this administration is creating...and that our existing unconstitutional income redistribution health programs like Medicare and Medicaid are not only broke...they have over $40 trillion dollars in unfunded liabilities that will hit our budget by 2050 requiring over a doubling of tax rates if these programs are not dramatically cut and reformed....so how about we fully inform our citizens of the unconstitutionality of socialized medicine....and let's fully inform our citizens about what a takeover of one sixth of our economy means in job losses and in tax increases....and let's fully inform our citizens why we can't spend another dime on health care and that we must begin to dramatically cut the programs we have if America is going to remain the land of the free....then ask the question again.

Get a job, and get your own health insurance. Stop milking the system. What else do you want for free? A car? Flatscreen? Air conditioning? Let me just give you my WHOLE paycheck.

I am of mixed emotions on this one. On the one hand I like helping those in need but on the other I am well aware that this is a "slippery slope". If the libs get a tiny corner of the bed covers they will not quit until the rest of the country is freezing.

I voted no. I do not trust this crowd PERIOD. When legislation that fundamentally changes our world has to be sneaked out of committee and voted on without time to study - never mind time for public comment - it is bad legislation.

If it cannot stand the criticism that comes from a close review - then not just no - but HELL NO!

There is no problem with health care in America that cannot be traced, usually quite directly, to government interference with the system. Anything that increases government involvement in the system is a move in the wrong direction.

The problem with this proposal is that it will be a federal program administered by the states. The feds will set all the rules, decide on the funding, control access to the program, control pricing, etc. This is nothing more than a way to get the camel's nose into the tent. The chance that it will be constrained and not metastasize into another full-blown government catastrophe is nil.

Remember people:

WHEN A GOVERNMENT IS BIG ENOUGH TO PROVIDE YOU WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED, ITS BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE

We already have that - it's called Medicaid. Now, we need to remove the means test and open the program up to all Americans.

Health care is not the problem. Health care INSURANCE is the issue. There is nothing wrong with our health care professionals. Best in the world. The problem is the cost. Rampant law suits, competittion for technology "firsts", and those who go to the emergency room because they get a sniffle that there is no cure for anyway, (and by the way don't want to pay, otherwise they would have a doctor) all contribute to the high cost. We need to fix the problems (or symptoms if you will) with more than this LARGE, COSTLY band-aid.

I dare them to pass this. I've got an idea, lets play piss Americans off to see what we have to do to make them revolt.

Poll results here clearly show the point-of-view of this conservative crowd -- adamantly opposed to any proposal to help anyone behind themselves. Fine -- keep being pigs and pig-headed and watch the country drown.

People are missing the boat here. A public option can logically be thought of as extension to Medicaid - really not a big deal if a way to pay for it can be found. More offensive in my opinion is the health care exchange concept which puts EVERYONE, not just the poor, into a government run system.

Well James, you clearly represent the kind of peron who is proabaly on welfare and too lazy to get a job so you have to have free healthcare. I have no respect for lazy people, and it is not government's role to provide free healthcare. You appear to be the pig to me, James. And James, this poll does not reflect the conservative crowd-it reflects the REAL American crowd. You are not a REAL American-yes you are technically an american by birth, but REAL Americans stand up for their constitution.

James,
You and other libs certainly are so sure that conservatives are not at all charitable. Who told you that? Some stale tenured college 'prof' who was probably devoted to some 'Green' initiative? Drag your ass into the 21st century and mind your own business.

PAB, I believe it will come to that!

James,

That's right. We need more entitlement programs to take care of those who are too lazy to get up off the couch and live a LIFE. Take care of me, for me, in spite of me. As an earlier post explained "WHEN A GOVERNMENT IS BIG ENOUGH TO PROVIDE YOU WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED, ITS BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE

Medicare, Medicaid, VA system. Why add another when those need fixing?

Yes, just what I need! A public option run by the states. Has anyone checked lately about how much of the local and state budget goes to the current medicaid system? If you did you would be horrified at the major expense medicaid and welfare services are to the taxpayers. Taxpayers, that's you James and Kathy! You do pay taxes, don't you? And obviously you feel that you are not paying enough in taxes.

I have a proposal; everyone that believes that everyone should have health insurance should just donate a portion of their income to the cause. Let's say $200 per week. That money should go to those that don't currently have health insurance to help them buy some. Now, I have health insurance so I don't need that money, but since I already have insurance, I shouldn't be forced to contribute any either. This is just for those that think everybody should have it and everybody should pay. How about it Kathy and James? Since you want everybody to have it just contribute some of your money to someone that needs insurance. That will make both of us happy. You, knowing you are helping your fellow man and me for being left alone.

PAB
2009-10-20 11:45:03 ET
Remember people:

WHEN A GOVERNMENT IS BIG ENOUGH TO PROVIDE YOU WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED, ITS BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE

And it is.....it is.

You trust NC to administer a public option program? The same state that is going to release approximately 20 violent criminals out on the street next week? Murders and rapists that mostly targeted young women? I guess that is Bev Purdue's answer to the budget shortfall. Release a few murderers out on the street to kill again and lower the cost of providing social services. Dead people don't need welfare.

One question. Where is the outcry?

The constitution doesn't mean anything today to our elected officials, and with it neither do we as we become wards and servants of the state... the very place we were prior to our fight for freedom. Want to solve the health care "crisis" ? 1. Congress can enact litigation caps so fat cat lawyers like John Edwards won't make hundreds of millions on a single case like he did. We pay for that in the cost of our care. this is constitutionally legal. 2. Congress can enforce the constituion for free trade between the states and allow national competition for healthcare policies like Geiko does for car insurance 3. send the 20 million illegal immigrants back home and reform our immigration laws to allow decent, law abiding, working immigrants to come here in a responsible fashion. These make up half of those unisured , and this is not only constitutional, its a crime NOT to enforce it. Bush and Kennedy both should have been impeached for failing to defend our borders. 4. Congress can reform how companies treat healthcare, transistion company policies to personal policies that are portable and new people can sign in just as in group insurance today. Campanies can contribute to the cost, just like a 401K, if, and only if they want to. No mandates. That is constitutional and effective. 5. Create a national endowment that encourages local direction, state governed and private contributions to open free clinics and charity hospitals for those that do not have insurance. No frills here, just really really basic coverage, but nobody without insurance can demand care at a private hospital, no more emergancy rooms filled with deadbeat patients, they must go to the charity ward. this way, all the lines, mediocre but free healthcare is put upon those who are not paying into the system, but it would give care, and that is humane. Oh, but there is a flaw to all of this; it cuts out all of the powerhouse money to big business, and it keeps the power of government at bay and out of the hands of the DICTATOR. you see, that is really why we need Obamacare, because our benevolent DICTATOR wants power over us all.

James, you are wrong. People love helping people...... WHO HELP THEMSELVES! Got it? Good. I am not helping my next door neighbor who REFUSES to buy health insurance for him and his wife because "we are very healthyh people and never spend more than what we would have to pay, per year, out of pocket". He doesnt help ME to his new car every two years. NOR does he help me to his VACATION 2 to 3 times per year. He doesnt HELP ME pay for lawn service, while I trudge through my lawn on a 90 degree day with my PUSH mower. He doesnt want anyone's help, nor do I want HIS help. He's made a choice, based on the freedom that this nations foundation is built on. He's a nice guy and all that but I am not giving him a DIME toward helping him gain access to a healthcare system that is accessible to EVERYONE. There is nothing"PIG" about it, except for bleeding heart jackasses who spout out stupidity - such as you have. The PIG, it seems, is you. You walk up to the trough and wait for GOVCO to supply you with whatever you demand of them. You are not much different that the fat people who love to eat at Golden Corral. I would never support one damn thing that this fraud of a president and fraud of an administration has proposed. This doofus president, backed by a dimwit called Pelosi and her cronies Reid, Schumer, Kerry, Boxer, Dodd, Rangel, Frank and the rest of these buffoons and in many cases tax cheating idiots and WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE. Intolerant, you say? YES! I reply. I demand that my representatives pay their taxes, do not fly off to other continents and cheat on their wives, dont take kickbacks and handouts in exchange for votes, that write, READ, vote on and enact legislation and NOT that they ADMIT to not reading what is about to be signed into LAW as well as refuse to show the citizens the proposal!, that DO have the BRAINS to do what is right for the United States of America and NOT what is right for themselves... This nation's needs come WAY before the needs of any one or all of these idiots that DO NOT represent me, or the grand majority of the citizens of this nation. They are a runaway train and are out of control and MOST of them need to be removed from office - right from Obama, down. ASAP before they fully destroy this nation. Dont read the bills? My GOD. I am not a Constitutional Attorney but damn me if this doesnt sound WRONG. Something is very WRONG with everything going on these past 12-14 months. Ever since the Paulson "the sky is falling! help me prop up my friends on wall street" whining and crying last September to this health care bullcrap. Something doesnt add up. Everything seems to be backward and upside down. What do you mean "we never read those things" (legislation). Then maybe you should QUIT, Kerry. And anyone else who doesnt understand that language because YOU ARE PROPOSING AND VOTING ON IT - you shit head.

And to Jean, who seems to like to repeat popular phrases - there HAVE BEEN proposals and ideas given to Mr. Obama and he SHOT THEM ALL DOWN. In fact, he "humored" us all with those town hall meetings during the summer. Why? So he could have time to golf and kick back. But when summer ended, what did he say? My turn to repeat popular phrases. He said "time for bickering is over; the time for games has passed" Bickering? Games? Now, dont paint me a Bush fan at all. I, for one, believer that they engineered this latest recession but then so has Obama continued to stoke the embers of unemployment by taxing everything to hell and with his decision to grow GOVCO and not the private sector. But "bickering"? "games"? Imagine if Bush had said that? Everyone would have pinned him as a belligerent jackass who thumbed his nose at the process. Thats precisely what Obama is doing. He believes that the discussions regarding the reform of health care in the USA are "bickering" and "games"? WTF? Wow. This goes to show you how unpolished this guy is, how much he does NOT belong in the position that he's been bought into by his buddy Pelosi and friends from around the world. He's given me NO REASON to trust him thus far (though believe it or not, I was OPEN to him at the start and thought he might actually DO SOMETHING for this nation). But nothing has changed. He sticks with this health care fetish of Pelosi's and after that it will be Cap and Trade and after that it will be Immigration Reform and you know what? After that, it wouldnt matter if he had 3 years remaining - Obama could quit and be happy because that is all he was HIRED TO DO BY PELOSI, et al. Its been so clear that the Obama administration has been astoundingly incompetent. I am sure he's a nice guy and I surely would enjoy having a cheeseburger with him but as President--he sucks. My plan would be to FORCE Obama and ALL elected officials to get on the SAME EXACT health care reform we are going to have shoved up our butts. Or else, they are fired. And, before any of that happens - reform Medicare. If he says there are BILLIONS to be had in waste and fraud - well, then show us all how you can reform it. EARN OUR TRUST before you get one more damn idea about this so-called "reform" of health care by, not smart medical people but by POLITICIANS OF ALL PEOPLE! How on Earth do you want me to believe that YOU have all of the answers to our health care problems? Thats like you telling us that actors know everything about global religions and war and poverty and illnesses. They DONT. But, if you want us to believe you - then put your money where your mouth is and show us how you fixed Medicare and show us that your own wife and kids are on the VERY SAME GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE PLAN YOU ARE SHOVING DOWN OUR THROATS! If I dont see you take this medicine then I will NEVER EVER believe or trust you, period. Its that simple. You work for us, remember that? Good. Every last one of you elected people - you work for us. Otherwise, we wont be talking about health care reform. We'll be talking about GOVERNMENT REFORM and it WILL be initiated FOR the people and BY the people, as that document you love to trash states. There is plenty of FRAUD and CORRUPTION in our government. Just ask anyone who works in a local federal office. Maybe its time to REFORM your own back yard first. Start FIRING people who DO NOTHING and sit around all day on the tax-payer's dollar. FIRE THEM and hire people who are smarter, faster and more efficient at that job. Imagine. Government Reform. Now that is something I WOULD vote for.

To Loafer: "Where's the outcry" ? Exactly. I firmly believe that its coming....... and I wouldnt want to be on the opposite side of that outcry when it begins.

We already have that, it's called Medicare & Medicaid and they are BROKE!
No, no, no!

Vin,
I have been telling people for months that Obama is a puppet. Seems as though you are the first to actually have that same basic opinion.

A state-run system is not the solution either, but I understand that the administration wants to put it out there to get some republican support. I, for one, say screw the Republicans. Now is the time to make radical improvements to our system, and Democrats are wasting their time trying to get opponents on board. They need to bring a bill to the floor, cut off debate once all the opponents have had a chance to bla-bla-bla, and then pass it with a simple majority. Just get it done for God's sake. I am so tired of all the debating and bickering. There is more than health care that needs fixing.

i've found over the years that the more that you give to people for nothing,the less that they'll work for anything.

Jim, Vin, etc. All politicians are puppets. It's the puppeteer that changes.

dlr, they are broke because Republicans keep increasing benefits without increasing taxes. If you want to give people more, you also have to charge people more. Reagan called that "revenue enhancements".

Loafer, NC has one of the best-run Medicare programs in the country. It could serve as a model of how government can run a program well, if you accept that government should be involved at all.

Senior, most people are not paying enough taxes. Why do you think we have deficits?

Will, Will, Will, you and that whole "real" American thing. You remind me of American cheese, which is, of course, no cheese at all.

I do not support it as it is unconstitutional.

Camel's nose under the tent.

IM DEM I know it is without a doubt you need the mommy goverment to take care of you and that is fine. But stop forcing americans with self respect and pride into your programs that you need because you cant stand up on your own. I know you like only some parts of the constitution but the government does not have the right to force us to do this.

Well I might not be "cheese," but at least I am American. You are a F$#@ed up version of a European. You would fit in perfectly in Europe. TriciaNC: Thats OFFENSIVE! AND WACIST-BOO HOO.

the question should be simple. are you in favor of a public option yes or no. me and 57% of the rest of the people in this country are totally in favor of a public option, but i know we have to hear from a very small % in this area who drink the koolaid of the drugster of how the world will come apart and how some will take up arms and revolt. just go ahead and see where that will get you. NO WHERE and not like you, we do not live in fear of you and your threats. it only enforces the fact that you are a unamerican idiot.

Its a good thing that just because 57% of people in America want "free healthcare" (how selfish), means nothing. The reason? America is NOT a democracy-it is a REPUBLIC!!! We are ruled by law, not tyranny by the people. Unless you people are going to shove it to us without law. Then we will see what a REAL democracy looks like.

This will be no different than any other program. It will expand eligibility exactly as the "CHIP" / "SCHIP" program has done. Now we are using taxpayer funds to cover children whose parents are making well above poverty.

IT is unconstitutional and serves only one purpose, to increase government control over people's lives.

I apologize in advance for the coming comment:

If you are easily offended...please do not read what follows:

This technique of initiating an action (program) by trickery reminds me of youthful indescretions by young men who seek to deflower young women and tell them..."We can just lay down together and snuggle...nothing will happen.

Friends, half the population has perpetrated this...the other half has, well, you know.

So, please don't fall for it when it involves considerations of life, death and freedom.

pratt, you constantly refer to a "drugster", so I must constantly remind you that your Obama is an admitted cocaine user.

I.M.Dem, to run a deficit you must first spend more than you take in. Not take in less than you spend. You have it backwards, my friend. It's not that we don't pay enough taxes, government is spending too much. If you feel that you aren't paying enough, the treasury will gladly take any extra money that you want to send it.

No, Will I Am, I am not on welfare and I am sure I work just as hard for my paycheck as you do, though you can believe what you want. Guys like you always think you represent all Americans, and anyone who disagrees is a poor loser. Here are the poll results (from today's Washington Post):

"If a public plan were run by the states and available only to those who lack affordable private options, support for it jumps to 76 percent. Under those circumstances, even a majority of Republicans, 56 percent, would be in favor of it, about double their level of support without such a limitation."

Seems like America (even Republican America) is a little more progressive than you guys.

James the rasmussen pole yesterday had the numbers almost exact opposite. I dont think i know who believe.

James, there is a public plan run by the states for those that cannot afford health care. .....It's called medicaid!

Loafer, according to your logic, we could never go to war. I like that. So, since we were already running a deficit under Bush, he should have never started two wars, right? I will never understand why so few people complain about spending gazillions on wars, but they don't want to spend anything on health. But, don't get me wrong, I would love to see spending cuts. There are several hundred billion Dollars sloshing around the DoD, and since that is discretionary spending, we should be able to cut it, right?

Mark, prove that it is unconstitutional. I don't believe it is.

Will, where do you get that the public option is free? You need to read the proposals.

pm, forcing you to do what? Be specific, please. See note to Will. Read, people, you need to read! Turn off Faux News and turn on your brains.

Will, I did not say you are cheese. I said you remind me of something fake. Or even better, a quote:"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."

TriciaNC, see note to Mark.

James, if you really think that you are more than just an American by birth then why do you not give a damn about the US Constitution? As kathy said herself as a reminder to all of us: "I do NOT [emphasis added] take the constitution litterally." Let me just explain this to ALL OF YOU like I have like twice. The constitution tells the fed. gov. what it can do. Does it say anything about the entrance of the private sector by the fed. gov.? NO!! YOU IDIOTS!! And their will be hell to pay if it is attempted. You just watch. SOME Americans will not take tyranny lying down.

I.M. DEM
Please identify for me the article and section that AUTHORIZES the federal government to take control of the healthcare system, to dictate earnings of private sector employees, to take over business entities.

As usual, you democrats think that the Feds can do anything that is not specifically forbidden by the constitution...NOT SO. It can only do the things it is authorized to do.

I am sure that you subscribe to the "living breathing constitution" which of course is tantamount to playing a game of checkers with a "living breathing rulebook." If the rules can change based on whose move it is...(which party holds office) then the players can never be sure what is legal or not.

We are watching the dissolution of this country at the hands of those who wish to do so, aided by a media that is complicit and people too stupid to know that the man and party they support is extinguishing the shining light on the hill.

I did forget to mention...that this is happening while many Americans who should know better, continue to stay at home while their concerned neighbors are attending rallies and tea parties to attempt a peaceful and lawful intervention to stop the theft of the country.