Biden discusses health care

Patrick Jenson — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:38:09 GMT

While Kucinich discussed the "is health insurance a right all Americans have or a privilege" argument, Biden countered, saying, "We are well beyond that argument."

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Really? When did that debate happen? Probably right after the global warming is caused by man argument was agreed on?

These meetings really need to be open to the public. NBC could put them on in prime-time. Bill the show as a comedy. It would have ratings like Seinfeld had. Harry Reid could play Kramer.

Biden discusses health care

--NSMSNBC — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:40:47 GMT

Here is what the Mayo Clinic recommends for both the healthcare and health insurance systems. It's not political, but it is informational. There's a lot more information on the site. I will paste a number below.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthpolicycenter/recommendations.html

Move from employer-based insurance to portable, individual-based coverage. Employers could still help finance a portion of their workers' health care expenses and should be encouraged to promote employee wellness.

Create a simple mechanism (similar to the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan) to offer private insurance packages to buyers.

Require individual ownership of health insurance, with sliding-scale subsidies for people with lower incomes.

Center care around the needs of the patient.

Realign the health system toward improving health rather than treating disease.

Develop a "portfolio of incentives" to encourage teamwork among health care professionals.

Provide complete and accurate information so patients can make informed decisions about their care.

Develop a definition of value based upon the needs and preferences of patients, measurable outcomes, safety and service, compared to the cost of care over time.

Reward consumers for choosing high-quality health plans and providers.

Hold all sectors in health care accountable for reducing waste and inefficiencies.

Design payment systems to provide patients with no less than the care they need and no more than fully informed, cost-conscious patients would want.

Create payment systems that provide incentives for colleagues (physicians, hospitals) to coordinate care for patients, improve care and support informed patient decision-making.

Pay providers based on value.

Biden discusses health care

Scott, PA — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:49:06 GMT

I like his pragmatic approach on these issues. He is not so far to the left as other candidates.

Biden discusses health care

Shelby, Atlanta, GA — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:55:14 GMT

This meeting was pretty open to the public, Patrick: webcast live for anyone on the internet. You can go watch all the videos at your leisure. And the right-versus-privilege argument hasn't so much been settled as rendered moot: our products are handicapped in global competition because our rising health care costs are built into the cost of business. Regardless of whether it's a right or a privilege, it just makes economic sense to deal with it. Even as a Democrat, I've been willing to concede, philosophically, that health coverage isn't an inalienable right -- we didn't have it in the state of nature, did we? -- but as the greatest nation on earth, we certainly OUGHT to be able to make sure our citizens don't have their whole families ruined because of unforeseen health crises. Faith seems so important in the GOP race -- well ain't that the Christian thing to do?

Biden discusses health care

jerry/corpus christi texas — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:56:54 GMT

LOL Patrick......

I think the Liberals best humor is on Air America...

Specially the idiot that said President Bush is going around setting the California fires......

Biden discusses health care

karlos — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:01:02 GMT

here's that racist biden again advocating universal health care for children, a position that would benefit minorities as their children are most adversly effected and lack insurance i believe. and damn this mans honesty to say his priority is the war which is projected to cost 2.4 tril in next 10 years. enough for any health plan and especially healthy for the ending of injuries to our troops stuck there. will the press nitpicks his statements he's putting out poicies and priorities that are honest and best for us. he's not a racist or pragmatist that shifts with the wend or popular choice on votes. stick with it joe and maybe the h&o express will derail along the way and america will see you as the clear choice.

Biden discusses health care

--NSMSNBC — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:11:49 GMT

Scott, PA: Can you get an Amen?!?!

Biden discusses health care

TEC-Spring -TX. — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:13:42 GMT

No manner if you are a Republican, Democrat, employed, unemployed, self-employed with or with out insurance you should be concerned about health insurance. Many employers will try to reduce or eliminate the health care coverage in the future. If not they will move jobs to countries that have government sponsored healthcare. The cost continues to escalate for insurance premiums and medical procedures. Without increasing taxes the government cannot pay for everyone to be under Medicare or Medicaid. If you currently have health insurance, you are only a job loss away from not having coverage, and the cost of COBRA is higher than most people can afford after a job lost. If you’re a civil servant, congressman or federal employee you do not have to worry about medical insurance. Not sure what the solution to health care is, but I am sure we are facing a crises.

Biden discusses health care

nuanced — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:23:15 GMT

jerry, for once we liberals can say Bush was ahead of time with the right solution. He knew it was important to clear brush.

Biden discusses health care

diana chandler fredericksberg,VA — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:35:50 GMT

I feel people like myself should have healthcare. I am disabled and should be allowed medicaid, but since my husband is disabled and makes 1400.00 a month, I can't receive it? He gets medicare and medicaid pays for him. We are below poverty level so why should I be left out in the cold?????????????????????

Biden discusses health care

Phil Goldstein, Suffern, NY — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:40:13 GMT

Amen, karlos. With the MSM beating the "Hillary is inevitable" drum, and mentioning Obama or Edwards as distant rivals, it is a shock that Biden is starting to get the press play that he deserves. Don't be surprised if his status changes from Dark Horse in Iowa to being right up there; he's playing a very smart ground game.

Biden is the most knowledgeable, competent and pragmatic voice the US has on foreign policy, his domestic agenda makes sense and he is definitely electable. The man is brilliant and has been my choice since December, 2006.

For all of those who think we should just quit the primary season now and annoit Hillary, go have a conversation with President Dean or President Gephardt about it. I'm studying in London now and when my peers as me who they think I'd vote for and I say Biden, they say, "Who? There's more than Hillary, Obama and Edwards?" The MSM coverage of this primary season-- which started insanely early and is caught in a perpetual cycle of money and polling stories--has been deplorable, devoid of many stories about policy, with the media wanting to turn this into a one horse race(at most two), as early as possible: They're up in the polls because they're raising money, and they're raising money because they're up in the polls. Never mind that Biden has more legislative experience and accomplishments to his name than Clinton, Obama and Edwards combined; or that his plan for Iraq is the only one tailored to the reality on the ground instead of fallacies like getting out in six months (I've been opposed to the war from the start, but sorry folks, that's not going to happen); never mind that he's willing to level with people and tell them that if Democrats can't must enough Republican votes to overturn Bush vetoes on Iraq then there's nothing that can be done. We should just choose Hillary...or maybe Obama, because hey, they've got money, and that means they're the most qualified candidates and that they're going to be excellent presidents.

Biden has the knowledge, the spine, the experience to be president (not to mention lower negatives than all other candidates). I want a Democrat to win in 2008 no matter what, but simply aying, "Republicans are dissatisfied and disillusioned, it doesn't matter who we put up," is not a strategy. Buyers remorse can set in, especially if this coronation happens in February (9 months before the election). In the real world of Republican smear and fear, Hillary will lose in a general election, and Obama and Edwards are relative lightweights that won't be able to take on Rudy & Co.'s inane, inaccurate and ignorant stances on foreign policy the way Biden will. That's my opinion, and though I know money talks, just ask Dean and Gephardt where all of their poll numbers and money went in 2004.

Go Joe! Joe Biden, 2008.

Biden discusses health care

Patrick Jenson — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:46:40 GMT

jerry: <I think the Liberals best humor is on Air America..>

Air America? That still on?

Shelby: <Patrick: webcast live for anyone on the internet. >

Didn't see it. Must be on one of those porn sites. Perhaps you could supply the url? Is it shelbinator.com?

Biden discusses health care

Sierra, SF — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:10:30 GMT

'...Health insurance companies would not be required to pay for anything above $55,000 for catastrophic injuries or illnesses; the government would pay the rest....'

GREAT !!
That will save the insurance companies BILLIONS !!
Thanks Joe, insurance companies are people too !!

'...that said President Bush is going around setting the California fires...... jerry/corpus christi texas...'

WOW !!
Thanks for the info, jerry !!
Bush started the fires ?
Wouldn;t you know it ?
That dummy is starting fires in REPUBLICAN AREAS !!
Maybe Dick will show him where the Democrats live
I guess he'll do ANYTHING to keep Republicans in the White House.
;-0

Biden discusses health care

Glenn Sills, Clearwater, FL — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:27:55 GMT

Health care is a right that should be guaranteed to all Americans. Health insurance is only a very inefficient mechanism to provide that right.

When will people learn that insurance companies do NOT provide health care. They simply 'tax' folks (individuals or the employers) in order to pay for the health care and of course skim as much as they can off the top for profit. Their profit motive encourages them to do the job badly while always erring on the side of not paying or paying late.

Personally I prefer to pay my taxes to a democratically elected government rather than to a for profit company. It would be one thing if the health insurance companies were doing a good job but please!

Biden discusses health care

Dr Coles — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:12:38 GMT

The government caused the problem with health care in America by over socializing medicine to the extent it is not completive, and we want to exacerbate the problem? U.S. Capitalism refers to an economic system in which the means of production are all owned and operated for profit, and in which investments, distribution, income, production and pricing of goods and services are determined through the operation of a market economy. It is the right of individuals and groups of individuals acting as "legal persons" or corporations to trade capital goods, labor, land and money (see finance and credit). See http://www.InteliOrg.com/

Biden discusses health care

common sense — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:40:15 GMT

Hey Jerry, what about Faux News' story about a Arizona news article that was written 5 days ago which speculated that Al Quaida wanted to set the fires as a terrorist act?
Only problem with that is that it wasn't 5 days ago - it was from an article dated July 2004, the reporter doesn't even work for the paper anymore and the fires weren't even supposed to be set in California!

Biden discusses health care

Nick, Ohio — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:53:39 GMT

Go Joe Biden!!! We need your commentary and insight to be infused into whomever is elected.

Bush fans fires all the time... look at the war on terror and the war in Iraq and the "please, please, let me bomb Iran, daddy" rhetoric he's firing off. Such hot air is a first for the US. Let's hope the fires are snuffed-out ASAP.

Biden discusses health care

Elizabeth Sullivan, San Diego, CA — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:06:33 GMT

Sierra,

How many people have costs over $55,000 for injuries? Probably not the average citizen. Government paying above that amount allows the cost of health insurance to go down and more employers and individual can get coverage and use that coverage to help prevent many of the catastrophic charges that come from lack of preventative measures.

Example: I do not have health insurance right now. I stubbed my toe 2 weeks ago and have been hobbling around because I am pretty sure it is broken. If I go to the doctor I am going to need x-rays right off the bat. Have you ever paid for an x-ray. They are more expensive than you might imagine. So, I will hobble around until one of two things happen - my toe heals incorrectly or I accept the high cost of health care and pay up. Down the road my toe will cause me problems and eventually I will need to get it fixed at a higher cost than if I had taken care of it immediately. Getting it fixed immediately would not have cost $55,000. Getting it fixed later, if surgery is required, could.

The government benefits from affordable healthcare because costs are kept down when people can use the healthcare system for its preventative benefits.
Lowering cost so that all of us can afford healthcare is key to solving the problem....that and me watching where I am walking.

Should we create a system intent on punishing insurance companies? That wouldn't help me or my toe and seems counterproductive.
So many of my fellow Democrats can't wait for Hillary because they think she will be punishing all those industries/people you hate.
FYI - she ain't gonna do it. Where do you think all that money is coming from?
Hillary had her chance at health care and instead of doing what so many Democrats and Republicans urged (scaling back her massive government program) she forged ahead and got nothing. And, my toe is pissed.

Biden discusses health care

Long Live Capitalism — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:11:08 GMT

All you lemmings follow Hillary and her whacked out bunch of socialist goofballs right into the sea where you belong. And take that national health care crap with ya!

Biden discusses health care

Leslie, Georgia — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:11:59 GMT

Phil -

Way to go. Couldn't have said it better myself. The only reason H&O are up in the polls is because the media covers them to the exclusion of everyone else. And they get the money because they are up in the polls. It is a vicious circle which the media has, for some reason, limited to H&O.

Biden discusses health care

Phil Goldstein, Suffern, NY — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:04:34 GMT

Thanks for recognizing it, Leslie. I really hope Joe can break out and do great in Iowa; I really do think he's the best candidate and can take on any Republican.

Biden discusses health care

Glenn Sills, Clearwater, FL — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:17:27 GMT

Has anyone else noticed how amazingly 'intelligent' the right wing people commenting seem to be?

Biden discusses health care

Phil Goldstein, Suffern, NY — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 07:25:03 GMT

Thanks, Leslie. I hope Biden can break out of the pack and do well in Iowa. He's got Joe-Mentum.