Obama stands up Australia

Me says:

08:46am | 19/03/10

Only in America could you successfully stir up majority opposition to reforms from people that will actually benefit from them. Half the country are wetting themselves because of some scary thing called socialism being broadcast across the airwaves, they don’t really know what it means, but they get the impression that it’s bad.

And that’s with a bill that actually isn’t a government take over, there isn’t a public option in sight!

In contrast you have about 80% of the populace in Australia saying that they actually do want a complete federal takeover of health. Political partisans here are no doubt looking to the US for ways to stir up opposition about it however.

Eric says:

08:48am | 19/03/10

The majority in the US is in favour of health care reform.

However, they don’t favour this particular bill, which is a corrupt payout to Democratic Party interests and will contribute to bankrupting an already shaky economy.

You would know this if you actually bothered to look at the issues, instead of making assumptions.

Me says:

09:13am | 19/03/10

I have looked at the issues Eric and the Obama reforms are very reasonable, all the reasons I see argued against it are things such as you have out here, that it is a “a corrupt payout to Democratic Party interests and will contribute to bankrupting an already shaky economy.”

But that is just baseless rhetoric and doesn’t actually mean anything, especially when the bills own costing and independent analysts forecast that it will actually cut health costs and thus the deficit over the long term.

It is interesting that when asked if they support or oppose the health reforms, a majority will say that they oppose, but when asked about all the individual provisions in the bill, a majority support almost all of them. They support pretty much everything that is in it, but don’t support the bill! Why? I have no idea, possibly because a significant number of people are just caught up in the narrative and have the impression that is bad, rather than because of anything that is actually in it. Opposition to the bill is almost self propagating, because of mindless and often false rhetoric such as “a corrupt payout to Democratic Party interests and will contribute to bankrupting an already shaky economy.” nothing that is actually in the reforms is being discussed.

Lie after lie after lie has been told about this bill and nobody seems willing to pull those doing it up about it. From the Death Panels lie to the lie that it will increase premiums, when half its aim is to reduce them, to the lie that it will increase the deficit, it goes on and on. With so many outright lies being propagated about it, it’s no wonder a majority oppose it.

Kate says:

09:25am | 19/03/10

So the insurance companies are corrupt parts of the Democratic Party?

Come on - All that lobbying money is not going to Democrats.

Me says:

09:39am | 19/03/10

And here is Michael Steele, chairman of the RNC, claiming that the independent costing just completed by the CBO is a “lie”

“sked to responded to calculations that the bill would save $1.2 trillion in the out-years following the first decade after implementation, Steele replied told CNN’s Rick Sanchez: “I got two words for you—or three words. Three words… That’s a lie.”

It’s not, of course. It is an estimate based on a formula and data. And while it surely won’t be dead-on-accurate, it’s a well-respected basis for considering legislation. Steele, at the very least, should know this. Back when he was delivering a tour-de-force takedown of the health care bill in late July, the RNC chair cited CBO data eight times in an effort to claim it was a deficit killer.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/18/michael-steele-says-cbo-l_n_504947.html

The dishonesty is staggering.

Eric says:

09:41am | 19/03/10

The proposed healthcare bill will harm insurance companies and doctors. However, it will benefit drug companies and lawyers. That is one reason for the split in support and donations.

Another reason is that it will create a deficit estimated at around $200 billion a year, which will have to be paid for by more borrowing and more taxes. This is on top of the Obama administration’s already record-breaking trillion dollar deficits. At some point, the camel’s back will break, and Americans know this.

Despite all the lies told by the Obamites, most Americans can see the basic flaws of the legislation, which is why they oppose it.

Me says:

10:11am | 19/03/10

The claim that it will add $200 billion a year to the deficit is either pure ignorance or a bald faced lie, especially now with what the CBO is saying.

The Reforms will not increase the deficit because the costs are offset with increases to taxes in certain areas, none of which effect 99% of the population, and reallocation of funding from sections of medicare and other already established health initiatives which will be reworked into the new structure.

Politically incorrect Formersnag. says:

10:32am | 19/03/10

@ Eric, did you notice the latest “green shoot” in their economy? About the mortgage foreclosures being only 6% more for the same month last year. Which means that, the rate of increase in economic bad news is slowing. Or the angle of the dip, in the graph as they slide into recession, is not quite so steep.

China’s leader was also talking about a slow down as well, for both America & China. The last thing the Americans need now is more debt.

i have met a number of “American tourists” out here, to look around. Wonder how long it will be, before some of them start arriving on boats or jumping the immigration queue.

Nicky R. says:

11:25am | 19/03/10

I guess you think Medicare here is just beyond the pale too Eric, and I’m sure your don’t avail yourself of it, do you?

Eric says:

11:28am | 19/03/10

Nicky R,. you guess wrong.

It’s better to think than to guess.

Fr John Fleming says:

02:33pm | 19/03/10

Paul is right.  There is very strong support for the health reform.  But one of the sticking points is abortion.  There are those who do not want the state to pay for abortions.  In the US the abortion issue is more ‘out there’ than in Australia.  The Catholic Bishops, for example, favour the Bill but not with the abortion provision, while the President wants no changes to his reform.  It will probably go down to the wire.  A pity really.  Compromise by Obama on abortion would see the long overdue reform go though.

Brian says:

10:29am | 19/03/10

awwwww poor kev, you won’t have you little playmate obama playing with you, thats ok, you just go outside and play with tony abbott lol, good post kevin07

CO2 lover says:

11:07pm | 19/03/10

What a pity I was hoping Kevin 07 The Ealking eagle would goback to the USA with Obama’s 747 sooner rather than latter!!

Brian says:

10:35am | 19/03/10

if he doesn’t you could always cuddle up to kevin lol

acker says:

10:15am | 19/03/10

@Chris…Melbourne might get the visit now, Barack and Eddie Maguire chugging on a few Crownies at the AFL on a Friday night. Michelle and the girls doing a shop to you drop with Jennifer Hawkins at Myers

Kate says:

04:08pm | 19/03/10

And hopefully Chas Licciardello and The Chaser team breaching the security arrangements.

Peter says:

10:56am | 19/03/10

Comparative levels of interest and importance, methinks.

Could you imagine Bush doing that to Howard?  No, because Obama sees Krudd as the cyncial, “look-at-me” wannabe UN big-wig that he actually is!

Rover says:

01:05pm | 19/03/10

More likely because when this announcement was made, it was already after 1am here but still only 9pm in Jakarta.

Eric says:

01:23pm | 19/03/10

Good point, Rover.

But still the Obama Administration could have sent a message of some kind. I’m pretty sure Canberra has an around-the-clock communication presence.

Andrew Goff says:

05:57pm | 21/03/10

“Citation needed”.

Tom says:

02:16pm | 19/03/10

It should be obvious. Rudd snubbed our Kristina “I’m nobody’s gal” Kenneally and O obviously has the hots for her.

Aitch B says:

01:07pm | 19/03/10

@Julie

Heard Julia Gillard in Question Time lately?

Thought not….....

Louie says:

02:17pm | 19/03/10

Aitch B, obviously while listening to Julia Gillard, you have conveniently tuned out Tony Abbott. He has a line of invective second only to Paul Keating in Aus. political history

Tom says:

02:28pm | 19/03/10

Think you just aced it, Ryan. Americans aren’t ever happy about lack of respect for their highest office even if it is their opponents in power at the time. Rudd was a bit too cute at the time and will pay a price.

Peter says:

07:04pm | 19/03/10

Who gives a rats anyway.  Obama knows that his Left crap is affecting his Presidency and, like Krudd, ideology to the cause of Socialism comes first.

Didn’t care about Bush (2) , LBJ or Clinton coming.

American politics regard us as nothing in their scheme of things.

Eric says:

01:36pm | 20/03/10

Wow, Nicki, what an incoherent comment.

You hate the article, but you never explain just what you think is wrong with it. What’s your objection, exactly?