its starting to get reall of topic ought to move this to the forums about healthcare but i grew up with military medicine, and i dont have a complaint about it. it was the model. regonal and feeder hospitals, to major medical centers, like what they have now. not every hospital did open heart surgery, but the system worked pretty well. the prpblem lies in that 35-40% conservativly of each healthcare dollar is siphoned off as profit and administrative expense. its incumbant of us to recature that and redirect it into provideing healthcare. healthxare is a service, its not a business.

Other countries with socialized medicine realize it doesn’t work,just as they are realizing big government control, big spending and high taxes don’t work-so why go down a road that is proving to be a failure for others? Why not learn from others mistakes instead of repeating them,all for “hope and change.” It will be interesting to see what the next 3 1/2 years brings-there may be a lot of people HOPING this had never happened, and with a pocketful of CHANGE,as the government owns the rest.

So what happened to Obama’s stance that politicians children were “off limits?” Or does that just apply to Demo kids? HAS the Whitehouse had any comment?

There is a big difference in government mandating what kind of healthcare you receive (or don’t) as opposed to them subsidizing it. Yes, Medicaid is government subsidized-but those folks get the same care as anyone with private insurance-they get mammograms, speciality visits,etc…Medicare,on the other hand,though PARTIALLY govt subsidized, is privately funded-remember that little line on your pay stub that takes out FOR Medicare taxes? It was designed to be a healthcare account for old age,but the system grew faster than the input allowed, plus they have folks receiving benefits FROM Medicare, that never paid into it. If they want to re-organize the healthcare system, they need to look at things like THAT. The government is also handing out SOBRA benefits to illegals. No wonder the system doesn’t work.

I think the main concern about socialized medicine would be that you are going to have beauracrats making MEDICAL decisions,not doctors,which is where it needs to stay. Sure, cut the cost of Tylenol in the hospital from $20/pill,to the 50 cents it actually cost. But DON’T tell someone they cannot have that chemo treatment, because they are 65, or make them wait 6 months for a mastectomy.

yes, i think moderates are leading the country, there are a few far left out there but the majoority is moderate, on bothe sides. large invasive government? it already is. sorry but i think history has proven in some cases it needs to be, especailly down here.tax and spend dollars we dont have? your guys inherited a budget with a surplus,same guys left the biggest deficit on record. weak national defense and cut back on missile defense? we dont have the need for the cold war force we maintained through the 80’s. the mission and our response has changed, we fight lighter, meaner, more precise, and with greater destruction with a much smaller force. missile defense? we’re still working on it for rouge states but if you think we have a chance against an all out barrage, we dont have a chance. nationalized healthcare? this would have solved a lot of problems. we already oretty much do anyway, anyone out there on medicaid or medicare? >65? chips? state or government employee? ? soldiers? its not like you can deny access to someone who is sick anyway, they still get the service the question is how do you want to pay? free speech and bear arms? the only ones i see advocating denying someone free speech are the posters decrying lettermans joke. right to bear arms? law hasnt changed. bought two 17 round clips for my pistol last week. ammo has gone up but the dealer said people are hoarding it now, how many rounds do you need, 250 meets my needs.

Moderates are leading the country? Now that is news! I consider myself moderately on the right, and from my point of view,we are so far left with this administration, we might as well bow to Socialism,or communism-whichever comes first…

Clay - Just what are your political beliefs?

Large, invasive Federal Govt?

Tax and Spend dollars we don’t have?

Weak national defense and cutback on missile defense system?

Nationalized health care that will lead to rationing with no way to pay for it?

Give up your individual rights of free speech and the right to bear arms?

A govt. run media spreading presidential propaganda instead of facts?

What about the social issues?  Do you take a stance on any of those?

The last election was not the blowout you like to cite.  Almost half of the votes were for McCain.  The electoral split just made it look like a much larger win than it actually was.

Take a look at this 2008 county map and tell me what you see.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/campaign08/election/uscounties.html

That is so very true.

Especially when you’re a passenger with a driver headed straight for the brick wall.

You left the Socialist party out of your equation.

i looked at your graph and conservatives still represent less than 40% of americans, not enough to effect an election. the key aghain is moderation, the moderates are able to attract more liberals than the conservatives are able to attract moderates, thus the election results of this year. stop the hating, stop being the party of obstructionism and snide comments, and get on board. you can be as right as you want but it doesnt matter when your in the passenger seat.

okay bob, if conservatives are the single largest group in america, why did they get trounced so bad in the last election? this one wast even CLOSE we knew by 10 pm election night? and actually in the senate lost even MORE gound to where now they cant even effect a fillibuister? (Post election defections and party changes) NO group enjoys a clear electoral majority, its a coalition of idealogies similar to the rest of the world now, again, heading towards the middle, not poloraized on either side.