anticon of city in, ME Let's see...women's law center, AFSCME, UFCW, SEIU...Yup, good point CJ. After all, women and working people don't pay taxes.

Jamesdean, if you really are that desperate to know how "your generation" has been so terribly swindled, call the social security office and ask for a report of your quarters. Again, personal accountability. Personally, this sounds far less like a reasoned argument for privatization than a personal grudge or sense of having been slighted.

Do you really expect me, or anyone, to gauge the government, or its ability to provide for its people, based on how it ran some filler "hearing" about an irrelevant topic...with a baseball player? Are you for real? Diversionary garbage like that, and people buying into it so readily, has a lot to do with the state we're in. I'm sure there are many that are quite grateful that you and others are so quick to sink your teeth into pap while real problems go by ignored, but you'll have to forgive me if i don't applaud your political savvy.

and then you outline how america is great because the people aren't lemmings. Oh, the irony would be rich indeed if i could actually choke it down. The fact is, all those other nations have some level of care because they don't necessarily share the american view that anything and everything is a commodity to be bought and sold, be it toothpaste, cars or physical well being. I understand why politicians agree to such an idea when they're paid to do so...but why average people have bought into is it just beyond me. Is doing the research into how american healthcare is tanking just too much work?

Although the patriot act has nothing to do with this, i am against it, yes. But because of concerns over my medical records? No. My issue is simply with the use of fear to push an agenda. I associate patriot act supporters with people who respect rudy giuliani, who really think the president cares about them. Or, for that matter, that their HMO does.report abuse

CJ of Randolph, ME Anybody else notice the groups agitating for this all represent people who won't be paying for it?report abuse

JamesDean of Portland, ME Anticon,

The reason I don't have any information about Social Security is because the government has SPENT all the money they were supposed to be saving for us. It is impossible to get that information. These are the same people you want to entrust your health care to?

Did you watch the Roger Clemens Congressional hearings? These yahoos are clueless and I want them as far away from me as possible, nonetheless making decisions about my family's health care.

Unlike my 401 K (run by evil profit takers), I can't log into a website and see my current Social Security balance and track it on a daily basis to see what I am earning for my retirement.

They have essentially screwed my generation out of billions, probably trillions, of dollars.

As far as I'm concerned, they can end the program now and have all the money I have put in.. I don't want to play anymore. I am personally responsible, the government I find personally apprehensible. I don't look for handouts.

Our country is great because we are not Lemmings that bend in the wind to follow what other countries do. Because other countries offer socialized health care, does that make it right or the best system possible.

The real question is, what is the most efficient means to distribute health care/services to people - the private sector.

I do remember that the private sector is driven by profits, and that is what makes the system work far more efficiently than the government. The profit motive is the most efficient means to distribute ideas/products/services in our economy - including health care.

Curiously, do you support the Patriot Act? I would suspect that you don't because you don't want the government to pry into peoples' personal life. Are you ready to hand over your health records to them? How would you like the current administration to handle your health care?report abuse

anticon of city in, ME I find it ironic, jamesdean, that as you defend nonny and her blaming of people who expect too much of the government...you fault the government for not telling you what your benefits are. Follow the advice the people on welfare here..Take up some personal accountability in finding out.

I wonder if you can explain to me why, if single payer or universal care is so bad, such a bad idea..Why does every major industrialized nation in the world utilize it, EXCEPT for the US? While I don't doubt that you honestly believe the whole world is supporting a bad idea and lacks american insight into the right way to do things, remember: just because you honestly believe something, doesn't make it absolute truth. Again, refer back to nonny's remarks on her faith.

I don't fully trust the government, granted, but I sure as hell don't trust my healthcare in the hands of corporate interests. Blather on about being pro business all you want, but remember that when push comes to shove and you need care, their decisions are driven by serving the shareholders, not the patient. That isn't healthcare, that's commodification of life.report abuse