I Don’t Understand The Health Care Plan

So the other day, League alum Dennis “Kinjani” Edwards forwarded me this insightful blog. He, like me, would like people to spend more time actually explaining Obama’s health care plan. Seems like the sensational rhetoric isn’t working for him. More from Kinjani below.

We’ve all seen the epic debates on CNN, Fox, and every major news network about President Obama’s proposed healthcare reform plan. We’ve heard arguments both exhorting and condemning the idea and when I flip through the channels on my TV, if I ever hear the words or see headlines that have anything to do with health care, my ears perk. To say the least, I’m no expert and with the little knowledge that I’ve been able to gather from all I’ve seen and heard over the years about healthcare but I can say that I agree with our President that there needs to be some change in our healthcare system and it would be great if quality healthcare was available to everyone and not just the wealthiest Americans. Lately I’ve been having some trouble. See, I want to support our President. And surely, his proposal that will mark the beginning of a new era in United States economy and politics but I have just one major problem.

After watching all the news and the press conferences and town hall meetings about healthcare reform, I still don’t know what it is. I heard a lot about what this new healthcare plan will not be but I really am not grasping what it actually will be.

Here’s some of what I’ve been able to gather from the press:

There are approximately 52 million Americans who have no health coverage. That means that if they get sick and they need an operation they will have to pay for the cost out of pocket or they will not receive treatment. Arguments against Obama’s plan say that if his healthcare agenda does pass that there still will be another 17 million people who fall through the cracks. 17 million people will still remain uninsured. Again, I’m no expert but I’d rather something be done and then perfected rather than do nothing and we’re left stuck with a huge disparity. Quite frankly, 17 million sounds much better 52.

Many people who are satisfied with their healthcare plan are worried that if Obama’s healthcare agenda passes that they will lose the plan that they like and will have all of their healthcare decisions made by the government i.e. their doctor, prescriptions, etc.

From what I gather, Obama says that none of this I true. He claims that if you like your insurance you will be able to keep it and that the government is not trying to monopolize the healthcare industry. Who has the answers?

Like I said, I agree that there has long been a need for change but maybe our President can be a little clearer when it comes to explaining the details.

Posted by:

Biko Baker

Barney Frank is a BAMF.

At a town hall meeting last night, Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) was confronted by a crowd of crazies, comparing health care reform to Nazi policy.

Let’s just sit back and watch his response.

Oh, do you hear that? That’s the sound of someone getting OWNED.
And that smell? That’s the smell of progress.

I’ve gotta say – there’s nobody in the world that I admire more than Barney Frank right now. The media isn’t calling these people out and Barney’s just telling it like it is. It’s the political equivalent of a diss track. More people need to stand up and call all these propagated lies on what they really are: pure, unadulterated bull.

Posted by:

Steve Romain

Health Care For Visual Learners

I got this helpful chart from the @CampusProgress twitter feed. Word to all of the flow chart nerds, this makes a lot of sense to me.

Posted by:

Biko Baker

Homes with a History Sicken Occupants

Been feeling sick lately? According to the New York Times, it might not be heat or a flu that’s to blame, but rather, your house. A steady increase in crystal meth use coupled with loose clean up laws means that more and more people are moving into homes contaminated with meth, remnants from former meth labs. This leaves unsuspecting home buyers with two choices: pay astronomical costs for a cleaning, or suffer the consequences of exposing their family and pets to high levels of a potent drug.

Since when is moving into a new home a cause for worry instead of celebration? And how the hell is no one responsible for ensuring old meth labs are cleaned out properly?

Find out more about this this teeth-rottin’ facial disfigurin’ menace at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/us/14meth.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss.

Posted by:

Yolanda Clatworthy

Who’s at Fault with Youth Obesity?

We’ve all heard about the “childhood obesity epidemic,” but the truth is it’s not about kids who are too lazy to exercise or parents who are too lazy to cook healthy food. It’s about the ways that we’ve built our communities and designed our food system over the last fifty years. Why don’t our schools stay open after hours so that families have a safe place to hang out and play? Why don’t local stores offer anything besides liquor, cigarettes, and junk food? The 40 youth leaders who run werefedup.com get that obesity is a lot more complicated than people making bad choices, and they’re doing something about it.

Let’s tip the scales after the jump! … Continue Reading

Posted by:

Ali Uscilka