Taking Debate

[vovat]

I think it was kind of funny that McCain criticized Obama for not wanting to engage in any more town hall style debates, when he was obviously MUCH less nervous with the more typical style of last night's debate. He only said "my friends" (or maybe it was just "my friend") once that I noticed. I did get rather tired of hearing about Joe the Plumber (hey, he and Alexander the Great have the same middle name), though. Yeah, his taxes would go up if he owned his business, but wouldn't he also be making more money? I don't know. I wish they'd occasionally direct their responses to those of us who DON'T want to own our own businesses.

I also found it absurd when McCain was criticizing Obama's health care plan, saying that it might not let employers choose the plan that they think best for their employees. Um, do employers EVER do that, except possibly when their employees are friends and family? Besides, I've never totally understood the "you don't get to choose your doctor" argument, as I don't really WANT to choose my own doctor. I mean, if I'm looking at a list of doctors, how do I know which one is the best? I'd like the freedom to STOP seeing a particular doctor if they suck, but I don't think anyone is considering taking that away. Of course, this is kind of a moot point anyway, considering that Obama never said you WOULDN'T be allowed to choose your own doctor or plan under his proposal.

I appreciate that Obama actually brought up some of the things that McCain's supporters had been saying about him, and I don't think McCain really came up with a good argument. "Yes, there are a few bad apples, but the people who come to these rallies are great people!" I always figured they were just people who had enough free time and money to go to the events, which says nothing about their character. It's not McCain's fault if someone yells out "terrorist" when he's talking about Obama, but he didn't even say anything about the comment. And what about how your vice-presidential candidate claimed that Obama was "palling around with terrorists"? Is she just one of the few bad apples you mentioned? The whole Ayers thing is really grasping at straws anyway.

Oh, and I liked how the moderator called bullshit on both candidates' claims about not raising taxes. Yeah, I'm sure that, what with the economic crisis, two wars, and a huge national debt, we can cut taxes with no problem! And speaking of the economic situation, remember how McCain mentioned how throwing money at something (it might have had to do with education, but I can't recall for sure) was a bad idea? You mean like the government threw a bunch of money at Wall Street?

Comments

[dragonxbait.livejournal.com]

Obama's health care plan sounds *really* similar, from what I have heard, to what we have here in MA. It's been way more expensive than they expected and I can't see that it has really helped very many people. I really hope that Obama plans to do something to regulate costs and coverage levels, because otherwise mandated health insurance pretty much only helps the insurance companies.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm in favor of national health care (despite its flaws), but not mandated health insurance. I don't think you should be FORCED to have insurance if you don't actually want it.

I really hope that Obama plans to do something to regulate costs and coverage levels, because otherwise mandated health insurance pretty much only helps the insurance companies.

Yeah, although I think McCain's plan would only help the insurance companies even more. {g} Really, I think the insurance companies will find a way to benefit from just about any system, unless the government gets wise and drops them from the equation altogether, or at least regulates them a lot more strictly (getting rid of the "precondition" crap, for instance).

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

The precondition crap, oy vey. To qualify for the kind of mandated health care plan they are talking about, you better not have had a lapse of any more than 2 months in your coverage, or they will make you wait to have preexisting conditions covered. The length of time they make you wait depends on what you have or HAD. If you've lost your full-time job and maxed out COBRA, watch out. The choice you have ends up being either to pay a lot out of pocket until you make your outrageously high deductible, or to pay outrageously high premiums directly to the insurance companies to cover all your anticipated costs.

I mean, think about that. Why does anyone need health insurance, i mean really need it? Because they have health issues. Why do insurance companies deny you coverage? Because you have health issues. How do the insurance companies make their money? Off people who've been sick or injured, and probably won't ever be 100% again. So, because you need it, they make you pay exponentially more to keep it.

No wonder the fastest growing category of personal bankruptcy cases are healthcare ones.

If we don't get someone with the courage to get us decent national healthcare that doesn't require us all to have corporate 9-to-5 jobs, this situation is only gonna get worse. Of course the insurance companies will find or keep a way to benefit.

My daddy had an expression he used in times of frustration, "Do something, even if it's wrong!" It's about gotten to that point IMO.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

If we don't get someone with the courage to get us decent national healthcare that doesn't require us all to have corporate 9-to-5 jobs, this situation is only gonna get worse.

I've always thought it's ridiculous that the people who aren't making as much money, and hence less able to afford health care, are also the ones who get charged more for it.

My daddy had an expression he used in times of frustration, "Do something, even if it's wrong!" It's about gotten to that point IMO.

Yeah, I kind of feel that way, too. If that "something" is McCain's plan, though, it might not be such a great idea.