are you happy with Obama's progress so far?

[CHEVYMAN]

You are so wrong , I am an independant , I dont like O....but I had to vote for him to keep Mc Bush and that ignorant POS out of office....if they were in office now , we would be in a full blown depression .

Like i said i wasn't happy with Bush's 2nd term But this one here has tripled the deficit in less then 2 years in office.If you had listened to his last rant you would have heard him say that the United States of America will not be the superpower we once were.That my friend is an open invite for all these countries to start to plan their attacks on this country. He wont even secure the borders because if he does he will lose the latin vote.It's sad to see where we are headed and i feel for the young kids because they are going to have to figure out how to pay for this mess.

 

[BigAl3]

thanks to everyone who has posted, it's interesting to see other's point of view...

 

[FROG]

Like i said i wasn't happy with Bush's 2nd term But this one here has tripled the deficit in less then 2 years in office.If you had listened to his last rant you would have heard him say that the United States of America will not be the superpower we once were.That my friend is an open invite for all these countries to start to plan their attacks on this country. He wont even secure the borders because if he does he will lose the latin vote.It's sad to see where we are headed and i feel for the young kids because they are going to have to figure out how to pay for this mess.

I do not disagree with what you are saying , the magnitude of the mess we are in really appears to have no bullet proof cure...I will say fighting between the two sides will not solve anything, for democracy to work their has to be compromises....the right just wont move on any issues. We, in our life time have seen a tremendous debt.....remember the old war debt ? under the slick willie years,the debt was paid down...if fact their was a surplus.It was a strong economy,the tax base was there and we were not borrowing.

Until we stop all the relentless importing of everything we use......everything.....try buying an American product , it like looking for hens teeth !......I would like to see a national effort implemented to try and buy american goods.

Joe bean counter that is always looking for ways to cut cost by moving a plant or closing it to find you might as well call it slave labor......they should be put on notice.....it should be against the law....and stick their azzes in prison.

 

[CHEVYMAN]

I do not disagree with what you are saying , the magnitude of the mess we are in really appears to have no bullet proof cure...I will say fighting between the two sides will not solve anything, for democracy to work their has to be compromises....the right just wont move on any issues. We, in our life time have seen a tremendous debt.....remember the old war debt ? under the slick willie years,the debt was paid down...if fact their was a surplus.It was a strong economy,the tax base was there and we were not borrowing.

Until we stop all the relentless importing of everything we use......everything.....try buying an American product , it like looking for hens teeth !......I would like to see a national effort implemented to try and buy american goods.

Joe bean counter that is always looking for ways to cut cost by moving a plant or closing it to find you might as well call it slave labor......they should be put on notice.....it should be against the law....and stick their azzes in prison.

I agree we need more companies here in the U.S.A. but when you tax the crap out of these companies they have no other option.I want to keep them all here. We need to create jobs and the economy will turn around. Right now people are afraid to hire because they still don't know whats in this health care bill. The cronies say "WE HAVE TO PASS THE BILL IN ORDER TO KNOW WHATS I THE BILL" *** is that all about, and it doesn't go into affect until 2014( WHAT? ).BUT THEY CAN TAKE ARE MONEY UNTIL THEN. That's like going to buy a car and the dealer takes your money and says come back in 4yrs and you can have your car then. Listen i know we go back and forth with each other on this and in the long run we are both Americans (GOD BLESS) but we both want to see a better country and a better future for our children, and right now this is the wrong way we are headed. Lets all hope for something better.

 

[WAS]

Uh, no. Not even close. It is because every time the government gets involved in anything, costs go up and quality goes down.

Hmmmmmmm, I will be honest in that I haven't had an American hospital stay, so it's hard for me to compare quality. That said, I find our quality of health care superb, no complaints.

I've got to disagree man, I'm Canadian, live here now, but spent 10 years in the US. I prefer their system, despite its flaws. All my in-laws are Americans, they know exactly how our system works and don't want it. I used to think they were nutty until I experienced both sides.

Curious, what provinces have you lived in ? I find that a lot of Canadians and their health care experience is directly related to the province they're in. I know in BC it's not a pretty sight (not enough money being put into health care and too many users using it). Here in the Yukon, the systems works great. We don't have an MRI yet, so if your doctor orders one, the file goes to the government, you get a plane ticket to either Edmonton or Vancouver, get a hotel room setup for you, get your MRI and come home. When I had to go to Edmonton for one, I was out of the territory within 4 days, spent 2 days in Edmonton and came home. And it wasn't for anything major or any "emergency" where you'd just get medevaced out. We also have what's called the chronic disease program, where if you're diagnosed with a chronic, long-term or terminal disease (ex: chrones, HIV, cancer, etc), and you can prove that you're not a high income earner (I think the cap is $70,000+ yearly) or that your quality of life will suffer, then the government pays for your medication. Assisted-living for the elderly is covered as well, all they pay is a staggered percentage of their CPP medical benefits.

 

[rt4x4]

yes lets let the republicans back in office so they can get back to what they were doing to this country and we all know what that was!

 

[CHEVYMAN]

Better than what it is now!! Hold on to your wallets here comes that tax increase Obama promised wouldn't come:nervous2:

 

[wannafbody]

Better than what it is now!! Hold on to your wallets her comes that tax increase Obama promised wouldn't come:nervous2:

And when he does see small businesses close and unemployment rise.

 

[fdresq4]

I always get a kick out of these discusions. Instead of blaming the President's HOW ABOUT CONGRESS? That is where the problems start.

 

[CHEVYMAN]

Thats true but when the president appoints all these progressives to the White house and most of Congress is one sided their isn't much you can do. Who do you think is coming up with all these radical plans.It happens to be all these Chicago thugs that he appointed to be "ZARS" that word alone should tell you something.You got to remember most of these nut jobs in the senate and in congress were the hippie generation and now is the time for them to try to take over the country.Thats why on most of the laws that they pass are voted only by the dems,not by the republicans,not that the republicans are any better.When you have the majority of the house and senate not much can be done.That's why the vote in november is very important.

 

[fdresq4]

Thats true but when the president appoints all these progressives to the White house and most of Congress is one sided their isn't much you can do. Who do you think is coming up with all these radical plans.It happens to be all these Chicago thugs that he appointed to be "ZARS" that word alone should tell you something.You got to remember most of these nut jobs in the senate and in congress were the hippie generation and now is the time for them to try to take over the country.Thats why on most of the laws that they pass are voted only by the dems,not by the republicans,not that the republicans are any better.When you have the majority of the house and senate not much can be done.That's why the vote in november is very important.

I absolutley agree with you CC but Pelosi, Reid, Dodd, and Franks also deserve the blame. I don't hear too many people talking about the Federal Government forcing banks to give loans to those who could never pay them back, ie Franks, Dodd, Waters, Clinton. When Pres. Bush, back in 2004 tried to warn everyone about Fannie and Freddie, Barney Franks and company blew it off and said that there are no problems that all was fine and nothing would crash. So started the ball rolling.

As far as comparing Obama to a Socialist, look up Van Jones, John Holdgren, Mark LLoyd, Cass Sunstein, Andy Stern and Anita Dunn, all individuals who he appointed to various positions. Then look up on YouTube there comments and statements, in their own words, and make your decision from there. That is if You Tube has not removed then for the world to see. You can tell a person by the company they keep.

I know in my post I have named many Dems but the Repubs and Bush have done things I did not agree with also.

That is why George Washington was right when he said the two part system would be the death of the country.

 

[CHEVYMAN]

I absolutley agree with you CC but Pelosi, Reid, Dodd, and Franks also deserve the blame. I don't hear too many people talking about the Federal Government forcing banks to give loans to those who could never pay them back, ie Franks, Dodd, Waters, Clinton. When Pres. Bush, back in 2004 tried to warn everyone about Fannie and Freddie, Barney Franks and company blew it off and said that there are no problems that all was fine and nothing would crash. So started the ball rolling.

As far as comparing Obama to a Socialist, look up Van Jones, John Holdgren, Mark LLoyd, Cass Sunstein, Andy Stern and Anita Dunn, all individuals who he appointed to various positions. Then look up on YouTube there comments and statements, in their own words, and make your decision from there. That is if You Tube has not removed then for the world to see. You can tell a person by the company they keep.

I know in my post I have named many Dems but the Repubs and Bush have done things I did not agree with also.

That is why George Washington was right when he said the two part system would be the death of the country.

Amen to that brother. It's great to talk to someone who has their head on their shoulders and understands the direction we are headed. Everything you stated is the absolute truth and the sad part is ,is that a lot of people either don't care or will not believe the facts.I wish everyone out there would read the CONSTITUTION and then they would know what this country is based upon.like you said they think that everyone should own a house and that just doesn't ring true, because some can afford one and some can't and that's just the way it is.case in point,the government has taken over loans for colleges.I can see where this is going, The government is going to decide who can go and who can't. They think everyone should go to college if they want, but it just doesn't work that way.

 

[WAS]

like you said they think that everyone should own a house and that just doesn't ring true, because some can afford one and some can't and that's just the way it is.case in point,the government has taken over loans for colleges.I can see where this is going, The government is going to decide who can go and who can't. They think everyone should go to college if they want, but it just doesn't work that way.

+1. Loans, both housing and educational, should be given to those who qualify, not just to everyone who wants them.

 

[Lenny]

+1. Loans, both housing and educational, should be given to those who qualify, not just to everyone who wants them.

Way back when (late 1970's, early 1980's), you had to qualify, but just about anyone, who was middle class, who was NOT any only child, was pretty much going to qualify for something. It depended on need, determined by your parents income & assets, and how expensive the school you were attending was. That was the National Direct Student Loan Program, and interest rates were guaranteed to be low, lower than anything the banks offered (this was a high interest period in recent history), and all payments and accruing of interest was deferred until 12 months after you graduated. Program ran great, contrary to what all the conservative critics said.



The second loan you could get was the State Guaranteed Loan, which was still a federally funded program, where you applied for the loan through a bank or a credit union. Payment was deferred until 12 months after you left school, and the Feds paid your interest while you were in school. Also ran great.



Then by Reagan's second term, they changed the programs, in a way that has made it much harder to get a student loan, and the student loans that you can have repayment start from the minute go. Sucks for today's parents.



As far as I'm concerned, they can't return to the old National Direct Student Loan and State Guaranteed Loan programs fast enough, and keep the banks out of education financing completely.

 

[WAS]

Way back when (late 1970's, early 1980's), you had to qualify, but just about anyone, who was middle class, who was NOT any only child, was pretty much going to qualify for something. It depended on need, determined by your parents income & assets, and how expensive the school you were attending was. That was the National Direct Student Loan Program, and interest rates were guaranteed to be low, lower than anything the banks offered (this was a high interest period in recent history), and all payments and accruing of interest was deferred until 12 months after you graduated. Program ran great, contrary to what all the conservative critics said.



The second loan you could get was the State Guaranteed Loan, which was still a federally funded program, where you applied for the loan through a bank or a credit union. Payment was deferred until 12 months after you left school, and the Feds paid your interest while you were in school. Also ran great.



Then by Reagan's second term, they changed the programs, in a way that has made it much harder to get a student loan, and the student loans that you can have repayment start from the minute go. Sucks for today's parents.



As far as I'm concerned, they can't return to the old National Direct Student Loan and State Guaranteed Loan programs fast enough, and keep the banks out of education financing completely.

Very interesting. Here in Canada, we have something called the National Student Loan program, which is administered by the federal government. The government waives interest until the day you graduate, and you don't have any pay any principal payments until 6 months after you graduate (or you can apply for an extension, in case you can't find work in the field of your study within 6 months of graduating). Excellent system. Believe it or not, I got this exact loan to attend the University of Illinois.



With the complete understanding that Michael Moore makes his movies to portray things the way he wants to, I just watched Sicko a few days ago, and well, it made me sick. I've heard of stories like what you see in that movie happening in European countries where health care is privatized, but to imagine such things happening in the USA, it's really sad. There's a detailer on this forum who's trying to keep his business above water, while being homeless and broke and horribly in debt, all because he got sick and had to go to the hospital. Seriously, as a neighbour to the north who's never, ever, had to worry about money when it came to going to the doctor or going to the hospital, it really astonishes me that Americans continue to accept such a system where insurance companies basically dictate your health care and treatments. These private insurance companies care about one thing and one thing only, and that's how much profit they get to post every quarter to their shareholders. I'm not saying our system is perfect, but there is no way in hell you'd ever walk into a Canadian hospital, only to be told that your insurance company doesn't cover services there.

 

[sulla]

I've heard of stories like what you see in that movie happening in European countries where health care is privatized, but to imagine such things happening in the USA, it's really sad.

Yes that's crazy...Sicko really opened my eyes...Before I watched that movie I never understood how bad US health care system is.. Cubans had their citizens's health better than the americans and that's appaling....Most advanced military, Most advanced technology, Richest nation on earth with a 3rd world country standard health care system.... I don't understand how americans take that sick joke till now CMIIW...

 

[brianshaeffer]

It's sad to see how misinformed people are about the state of health care in the US. Privatization has encouraged the advances in technology and increased life spans. We lead the world in innovation (in heath care) as a result. Public health care will certainly reverse this trend, bringing us down to the lowest common denominator with the rest of the world. You might get health care in Cuba, but it's quality is no where near what people get in the US. I've also talked to many Canadians who have come to the US for care that they would have to wait for months to receive in Canada.

 

[sulla]

There's no doubt privatization brings advancement to medicine but what i found saddening is in a 3rd world country a person may get diagnosed with a certain disease and he dies because the disease has no cure.. In the US a person get diagnosed and the doctors offer him various treatment packages ranging from remedies to total cure.. When you can only afford remedied and your loved one eventually dies..It's sad to know your loved one can be cured but there's nothing you can do about it.. You feel guilty you didnt try/earn hard enough and let your loved one die..At least in the 3rd world country you think your loved one dies of natural causes CMIIW

 

[Lenny]

It's sad to see how misinformed people are about the state of health care in the US. Privatization has encouraged the advances in technology and increased life spans. We lead the world in innovation (in heath care) as a result. Public health care will certainly reverse this trend, bringing us down to the lowest common denominator with the rest of the world. You might get health care in Cuba, but it's quality is no where near what people get in the US. I've also talked to many Canadians who have come to the US for care that they would have to wait for months to receive in Canada.

I have family, not just acquaintances, in Canada, and while some people do come to the US for elective procedures, it's not true that they have to wait for non-elective procedures in all of Canada. It varies a little.



It's also a huge, HUGE misconception, that private health care is responsible for the innovation in health care. People need to understand that health care research, in the United States, even that done by private industry, is publicly subsidized through the National Institute of Health (NIH), part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, at last report in 2000, to the tune of 36% of all medical research in the United States. It's a joint effort. Also, of the top 21 drugs developed between 1965 and 1992, 15 of them were developed using information and methods from federally funded research, and the remaining 7 were completely derived from NIH's own research.



NIH is also the worlds top research institution, not any private health research, in the US or elsewhere, funding more than 35,000 research grants each year to scientists across the country making advances against heart disease, cancer, and many other diseases. NIH-funded scientists have won 93 Nobel Prizes over the years, and researchers in the NIH’s own labs have won 5 Nobel Prizes. Not completely private research. Publicly funded research, coupled with publicly subsidized research.



That's right, conservative sports fans, over one-third of supposed private medical research is actually publicly funded. So you may please stop with spreading the misnomer that private research is the innovator. It's simply not true.

 

[Lenny]

There's no doubt privatization brings advancement to medicine but what i found saddening is in a 3rd world country a person may get diagnosed with a certain disease and he dies because the disease has no cure.. In the US a person get diagnosed and the doctors offer him various treatment packages ranging from remedies to total cure.. When you can only afford remedied and your loved one eventually dies..It's sad to know your loved one can be cured but there's nothing you can do about it.. You feel guilty you didnt try/earn hard enough and let your loved one die..At least in the 3rd world country you think your loved one dies of natural causes CMIIW

And like I said above, private innovation is actually publicly subsidized. As it should be.