Now they have abandoned the frivolous law suit argument, and say it is defensive medicine caused by frivolous law suits that is the real problem. So let me get this straight. You are a doctor. A guy comes into your office and says I am having difficulty breathing and my chest hurts. You can listen to his heart, have him breath and say sounds like a chest cold to me, charge him $50 and send him on his way (90% of the time you will be right); or you can say, “Let’s do an EKG,” rule out heart attack and charge him $300. Is the very small possibility of being sued really the motivating factor in your decision here, and what is the right decision? If the doc goes with the chest cold option, you have a heart attack, lose your job, lose your family’s health care coverage, lose your home, are forced into bankruptcy, and the response of the doc is, oops I guess you are in that unlucky 10%, but at least we saved you $300, how will you feel?

Regardless of which of the three major groups you are in on this issue (i.e government health care (Democrats), do nothing material (Republicans), or everyone should be responsible for their own health care and let the sick people who can’t afford health insurance die (Libertarians)) we need to stop letting the insurance industry, the drug industry and the medical profession shift the blame for the cost of health care in the country. Small Businesses, like mine, can no longer afford the current health care system. It has to change in some way, and soon. Otherwise more and more people will be without health insurance as small businesses are forced to drop employee coverage. While I am willing to listen to all options, so far the Republican response to small business can be boiled down to, stop insuring your employees their health care is their problem not yours. The problem is that is not true. Sick employees are my problem.

At least the trial lawyers will fat and happy with their man calling the shots.

“I bet you a thousand dollars that Demint doesn’t know what country Waterloo is in. He probably thinks it’s a theme ride at Six Flags.”

=

You are a condescending, liberal douchebag. If you love socialized medicine so damn much, then move to Canada…

On the larger point, we couldn’t agree more. If you want to see real change in this country, start with a constitutional amendment to have term limits. Both parties are beholden to special interest groups. Note that both parties, and Bush and Obama, supported TARP. Enough said.

As for tort reform, I don’t know if that would be enough to substantively change the cost equation. I suspect not. But I agree that it should be on the table.

Pat

You democrats might get what you are asking for. We expect you to agree with the damn plan too! I will fight it until then. When Obama was asked during his pitiful press conference if he would live with the same guidelines, he avoided the answer. What a pompous SOB!

1. Please tell us what the Honorable Demint offers in the way of healthcare, then give me 5 dems. that have studied the proposal beyond the first page. Afterall, we have to have a few ’socialist’ votes.

2.Obviously, very few of you, if any, work in healthcare. When was the last time you were released from a fee schedule to determine your own fees, which you knew were feasible for reimbursement. Socialized medicine, Obama’s plan…whatever. It’s already here!

3. And define libertarian, I guarantee you everyone has a different definition…

That’s the irony. Demint is already on a government health insurance plan. I notice that he and his family don’t seem to complain.

Roofus, “fleeting mirth”? You’ve been reading too many of Mande’s posts.