I'm glad to see Chairman Kaine is on top of this and that President Obama is describing the gravity of the problem in clear terms instead of arguing tactics.

As far as I'm concerned, this is a problem that has to be fixed no matter what the cost.

It's like when a major pipe bursts in your kitchen, you have to fix it. Sure you can get bids from a lot of plumbers, but in the end it's going to cost you big time no matter what contractor you go with.

The pipes have burst all over the house with this health care crisis. It's going to be expensive to correct, but the house will be worth far more after it's fixed than the way it is now. And in the meantime, why are we having to live with buckets all over the place, bottled water, and using our neighbor's toilet?

The Republicans are asking us to live with these ridiculous conditions forever...just so the rich don't have to pony up their fair share of taxes and insurance carriers can continue offering an outrageously high shareholder return.

The economic meltdown and TARP changed everything. Those who used to live like kings will just have to learn to live like average Americans again. If it's not good enough for them, they can always move to the countries they have been using as tax havens.

Give us a bill that fixes the problem once and for all. It's an investment in our future quality of life as well as strengthening our economy. The costs and benefits will pay for themselves long-term.

It's like taking out a 30-year home mortgage. You pay to improve your current living situation while your payments act as a hedge against future inflationary living costs. And you own something of worth in the end.

Problem... You go to the declare website and it then never gives you a chance to make optional comments as it states in the fine print. It also leads you to an effort for the DNC to get donations from you! Where did my optional comments go? Now I am down as supporting a health care initiative that does not go far enough! You guys are corrupt! I also will not give you any money until you come out in 100% support of the present status quo of firearms legislation. Meaning NO CHANGES! Till then I will only donate money to the NRA. If you want the money I give every year to the NRA, you need to support the NRA.

Yes I am a real left wing liberal and gun control is not a left wing agenda, it is a right wing agenda!

I did read President Obama's health care principles. At face value who would not support them?

* Reduce Costs
* Guarantee Choice
* Ensure Quality Care for All

However, the current proposals coming out of Congress actually do not reflect these principles. From everything I read, the health care reform bill will increase costs, reduce choice of both health care plans and physicians, and eventually decrease the quality of care for everyone.

Why is it that Governor Kaine asks us, the voters, to support President Obama's health care principles when the Democratic legislators do not seem to support them? Blindly supporting everything that comes out of Congress just because you like the way President Obama has defined the issues is not going to produce effective health care reform. I am actually surprised at this request to sign a silly petition on the Internet while congress throws the baby out with the bath water.

I am a Registered Nurse with 27 years experience in the industry. I have watched health care financing go from fee for service to capitation to the HMOs. None of these "reforms" really addressed the root causes of spiraling health care costs. Because of this they were not very successful in creating a better health care financing model. The current proposals I am hearing about in the health care reform bill are even less on target. The Congress seems to be content to implement massive change, regardless of the predictable consequences of that change. It is as if they are saying, "If it is broken, change it" as if simply changing it will produce a better system. I fear it may produce a far worse system.

President Obama should show some leadership and reiterate his health care principles to the leadership in the House and Senate. I don't think they are trying to achieve the same goals.

me thinks you guys who cling to, and cry about your guns are a little bit too strange and insecure!

I will repeat on here one more time: ASK ANY POLICEMAN, STATE OR LOCAL, WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT THE FACT THAT CRAZIES, CRIMINALS, CHILDREN AND THE LIKE CAN WALK INTO A GUN SHOW AND GET A GUN. ASK THEM WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION AND OTHER HOLLOW POINTS BEING AVAILABLE. ASK THEM IF THEY THINK SEMI AUTOMATICS AND UZZIS ARE A RIGHT THEY SHOULD HAVE.

I have never met a policeman that I asked this of that was not for gun control. Now YOU go and do your own research, and decide whether gun control is a left or right issue, OR just a common sense one!!!

CSLedbetter,

All I know from observation over the years, is this:

IF THE REPUBLICANS HAD MET HILLARY CLINTON EVEN HALF WAY ON HER PLAN BACK 15 YEARS AGO, THIS COUNTRY WOULD NOT BE IN THE TROUBLE IT IS TODAY, WITH 46m PEOPLE UNINSURED.

The real cost to the Health Care industry, is the uninsured that must be treated. People with no insurance having to go to ER because of no PCP.

Another huge effect is the cost of drugs! We watch as Drug Companies spend millions of dollars trying to convince the public to insist their doctor gives them their latest product, we watch as they court Doctors to prescribe them, and then they charge catastrophic prices!

For instance, when Clariton reached the point where it had to go to OTC, I watched as the Drug company came out with a new product, so miniscule in any difference, but had to have a RX. My employees came to me when they had their Dr. give them a Rx for the newer drug got rejected by the insurance company. You see the employees did not want to pay the full OTC cost, wanted the insurance company to pay for the new one instead.

Those Democrats who are dragging their feet on this health care plan, are those that like to call themselves Moderates. Instead of playing to the entire American public, they merely play to their state so they can get re-elected.

And it is those very states that NEED the help the most! LA? Nebraska? come on....

PAMB: People with no healthcare who go to ER are certainly one cost of healthcare. That cost is borne by those of us who do pay health insurance premiums because hospitals raise their prices to cover the unfunded care they give, and insurance companies raise their premiums so that we end up paying for it. If the government pays for health care insurance for those 46M people, we still end up paying for it--in taxes instead of insurance premiums. The predicted cost savings from insuring the uninsured will never happen. In fact, it can be predicted (human nature) that once health care does not cost anything to those 46M that they will flood the system and waiting rooms, actually consuming more of the health care dollar than they do now.
If you don't believe me, take a bowl of candy bars to your place of work and leave them on the counter with a "Free" sign next to them. Even though people at work don't "need" a candy bar enough to actually go out and pay for one, they will take one or more of yours and eat them. The same is true for ANYTHING that you put a "Free" sign on. Rather than once-in-a-while ER visits, the 46M will seek health care for every sniffle and cough, just like the majority of Medicaid (Medi-Cal here in CA) do.
I would say that a Democrat who is dragging his feet on this health plan is probably exercising good common sense, and wondering where the rest of the plan is. Where is medical malpractice tort reform? You think the 46M uninsured are costing us money? You should look at how much the Trial Lawyers cost us. There is no good reason to attempt to fix health care without addressing tort reform. Do you seriously think that just because we need health reform the current bill is magically going to be the right plan? Do you seriously think that the Moderates don't have any valid concerns wiht this plan?

and me thinks PamB has no clue as to what she is talking about... Since I have not touched a firearm since I got out of the military in 93, yet since Obama's election I decided it is in my best interest to get several.

First off to purchase a firearm in any legal form a call will be made to confirm information on a national database. The decision as to whether or not the person can legally purchase that firearm is made according to information that the government is legally allowed to collect. If I buy ten different guns, from ten different dealers, ten different calls are made. What you do not comprehend is that there is a difference between guns and cars. The right to bear arms is covered under the constitution, it is not a privilege like a driver license. I am not asking for anything extra, I am just exercising my rights. Rights that I do not lose, unless I am a convicted felon. As for information that can be given to anyone at gun shows (since I have already debunked your belief that guns are given to anyone at gun shows), that same info and questions can be achieved online, in books and probably in your local library. What is next, you want to stop knowledge because it does not support your belief pattern?

Ask me what I think about cops? Ask me what I think about someone who suffers a loss due to a legal or illegal firearm? Ask me what I think about about Reagan and Brady getting shot? To put it bluntly... I do not care! Your logic makes about as much sense that we should outlaw cars to stop drunk drivers. If there are no cars, there can be no drunk drivers.

Health care...

The efforts of both parties are beyond pathetic. There are working systems in Europe and Canada, hell even Cuba has a better health care system than the USA. Cuba has similar longevity and infant mortality rate as the USA, all while under the world's longest embargo. The insurance industry, AMA and GOP like to pick on the Canadian system and European systems, yet the total cost per citizen, percentage of their GOP are both lower than the US spends on health care. All while providing equal or better longevity, quality of life and infant mortality rates. No matter how good a system is, you will always find people that fall through the cracks. Yet the Dems are not going far enough for a plan to be effective. It is health care costs which will drag the US down as a world power and destroy its economy. All because the US mentality is everything has to be done for profit.