Those who say the President is taking on too much, remind me of a group of parents from my kid's school a few years back. They complained that the third grade teachers were assigning too much homework because they expected the students to spend at least 20 minutes a night completing assigned work. Of course, these same parents were concerned with reading and math levels at the school, and some even suggested that foreign-born students were bringing the scores down!
There comes a time when you have to get your priorities straight! With my parents, 'too much homework' would have been an oxymoron! Homework came before all other activities and I was expected to complete it...even if I had to stay up late on occasion (of course, this was usually when I left some work to the last minute...I got punished a lot for this :)
Telling the Obama administration to not tackle our health care problem, is like telling a drowning man to stop trying to get his head above water!
Health care challenges are 'killing us' literally and figuratively. Every family is either struggling with this problem, will be struggling with this problem, or knows someone who is.
We can't afford to get sick, and the American economy can't afford for us to get sick... the way the health care industry currently operates.
Money being spent on escalating health care costs, can't be spent in retail establishments, at car dealerships, for college education, to pay mortgages and debt, to buy gas, ...or most importantly, SAVED!
Doing nothing and watching millions more Americans give up on trying to pay for health care, will only cost us more in the future as they show up at hospital emergency rooms.
I am wondering....who are these people opposing health care reform?
Surely not American families who can't afford rising premiums, deductibles, and co-pays.
Surely not employers who are also faced with escalating costs to insure workers.
Surely not the unemployed who are praying for a job before their COBRA runs out (if they can afford COBRA.)
And, surely not our aging boomers and seniors, some of whom have to choose between food and medicine.
Even with everything on his plate, President Obama has to reform health care to prevent an America full of sick and bankrupt citizens.
posted by johnH56
I heard more than one complaint that Preident Obama took off a few moments to have a private dinner with his wife in paris recently. What will people say when he is not there to ok a heart transplant?
Seems to me like President Obama also faces a social security and pension fund crisis as well.
Now President Obama may walk on water but you have to admit he's got a full plate without taking on health care. Two prior presidents tried and failed to reform America's health system-- and none had two wars, the economic crisis of today, the banks in government hands and the auto companies on life support. And none saw social security go into deficit as we are currently doing.
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posted by LinnieFB
You Asked: "So many issues here. Why is the drowning man in the water in the first place?
My Response: He’s in the water because we asked him to jump in and save us….by that I mean we elected him to reverse eight years of disaster which caused the waters to rise (and I’m not just talking about Katrina!)
You Asked: Is he in the middle of multiple wars?
My Response: He is in the middle of two wars…one a war of ‘choice’ by the previous administration, that he is trying to get us out of. So much of our treasure went to fight this war…the WRONG war. Lives lost…many injured physically and psychologically…and gas prices continue to rise!
You Asked: Does he have an economic crisis?
My Response: He will have a worse crisis if we don’t reign in health care. You speak as a person who doesn’t need or use health care right now. Even those of us with ‘good’ insurance, see the limitations of our current system when we need it. As we boomers age, the need to reform health care will only increase. Let’s tackle it NOW!
You Asked: Interest rates are jumping right now. There are concerns the US debt rating is going to be changed? Our debt is near 100% of our gdp-- few banks will lend money to a private person with that debt burden. Has that drowning man already taken over nearly 35% of the US economy - which is about where we are with the auto nationalization and the seizure of the 19 largest banks?
My Response: Some agreement here….I probably would have let the car companies fail without a bailout….however, that’s saying NO AUTO INDUSTRY for America and that’s a tough one. Even hearing about GMs much-expected bankruptcy made me feel sad and a little nostalgic. Some of the banks should be able to re-pay, and I understand what you are saying about our growing deficit…however, give him credit for trying to jolt the economy forward instead of doing nothing – again a reference to the prior eight years.
You Said: I heard more than one complaint that President Obama took off a few moments to have a private dinner with his wife in paris recently. What will people say when he is not there to ok a heart transplant?
My Response: Yeah lots of whining from people who obviously have nothing better to do, or workable policies to offer. There were lots of trips to Crawford also. People who work hard can have a dinner with their wives. This guy is doing more for diplomacy than a thousand diplomats or bureaucrats daydreaming at their desks.
You Said: Seems to me like President Obama also faces a social security and pension fund crisis as well.
My Response: Agree. That's next.
You Said: Now President Obama may walk on water but you have to admit he's got a full plate without taking on health care. Two prior presidents tried and failed to reform America's health system-- and none had two wars, the economic crisis of today, the banks in government hands and the auto companies on life support. And none saw social security go into deficit as we are currently doing."
My Response:He can’t walk on water. He’s just a man. And, even if he did, you would probably berate the shoes he wore as he walked.
If he’s got a plan to keep me from getting 30 health care bills from 10 different providers for minor surgery…then I’m all for it!
thanks again John H!
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posted by seattle99
Great blog and follow-up, THANK YOU!
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posted by johnH56
I would point out the nation has lost more than 2 million jobs since he took office. And we've taken on nearly 3 trillion in new debt before considering the cost of health care reform. And the wars-- is there some sort of magic wand to make those disappear. And there is North Korea and the Palestinians and other things.
And if President Obama wants to deny current responsibilities, what gives you any reason to believe he can take on a new problem where two prior democratic presidents failed. Clinton and Carter- both of whom I supported- were unable to get anywhere with the health issues. Both men had far greater experience than our current president. Both had the benefit of a supportive Congress. Carter was even more popular than Obama.
President Obama's shoes- mmm- not sure what to say in response to that one. Never been one to pay much attention to a man's shoes. This old farmer just wants shoes that fit a job and are sturdy. Grew up on the thought of walking a mile in another man's shoes to understand the fellow. But what was your point again- and how did the shoes fit?
Focus is a criticial tool for getting something done.
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