So, do you think the government can't do anything right?

Sorry Mike, regardless of your party affiliation, you let passion get in the way of principle and therefore you are socially liberal.

You are not looking at the cost, affects on quality, or the affects on availability of this health care bill. You have to remember, most people aren't against reform, they're against THIS bill and the negative affects that come with it.

The cost speaks for itself, how can we afford it? More taxes...great. If you agree that more taxes are the solution then are you also fiscally liberal? Why don't we just work for the government and they give us how much we need to live.

The quality will go down because the doctors who do decide to stay in the medical field will have more people to see, spending less time with each individual just to fit the demands...that will affect quality.

Lastly, out of 1,200 physicians, 1/3 of them said they will either retire early or close their practice and quit the medical field. So to replace them do we just get a bunch of unqualified doctors both foreign and domestic to fill the void? That will affect availability and refer to the last issue, quality.

The Constitution says the government shall PROMOTE the general welfare, not provide it. I say government ensures our safety and freedom so we can make our own decisions in life to pursue happiness (health, wealth, family, land etc).

You can not be a republican....

Your questions and answer portray your true political ideology.

So, lets run your list.... shall we?

Government inspects food.... I'm assuming that by extension you are including that the FDA inspects drugs as well.

Failed. Vioxx, Bextra. Ignored human drug trials. Falsified safety reports during drug trials. Food recalls after FDA inspection. Google any topic.

The government enforces safety rules for cars....

Failed. Toyota seriously, that was too easy.

Government makes sure doctors have a degree in medicine... The federal government does not. State governments do, but you "C" in government and civics doesn't allow you to appreciate the difference.

However... it's still a failure. If that were true.... books like this would not be readily available http://www.practicingmedicinewithoutalicense.com/

There would be never be a cause to question a physician's credentials.

The government keeps cocaine and heroin out of the drug stores... and into the streets were it belongs.

Fail.

The government runs a first class postal system. Yes it does.

FAILED.... it's bankrupt and is going to five day work week to defray it's ultimate financial demise.

The government makes sure that airliners fly in regulated lanes... funny, then why are there mid air collisions?

The government makes sure the other guy has car insurance.... really, then why are there illegal aliens driving around without insurance in California and Texas?

The government is the reason you have paved roads... again, not the federal government, but alas that point is lost on you. Is the government also responsible for the huge pot hole at the corner of my street? Can I call Mr Obama and ask him to fix that?

The government runs prisons.... yes they do.

The government runs a first class military... yes they do....

Do you realize that EVERY disease outbreak this country has experienced in the last few years can be traced back to a USDA inspected facility? Not some local farm.

The government doesn't have to enforce any safety regulations-just be a clearing house for information.

Would you buy an unsafe car if you knew which one was probably going to kill you?

The postal system id failing-put your letter in a box and UPS or FEDEX will get it there also and probably faster.

I'll give you the FAA-they do a good job.

Our infrastructure is failing miserably. My brother in law is a road and bridge inspector-he says that more than 70% of the bridges now in use are considered unsafe.

Mine safety-I'll give you that one also.

The drugs I take safe? I doubt it, that's why I don't take any. They are probably pretty ineffective also.

The monsters of society would be wiped out if we were allowed to defend ourselves from them.

I'll give you our military also..... and possibly the police. the latter makes too much money and is beginning to get too big for their britches.

As for the power in our homes-we can thank George Westinghouse. The government just keeps perpetuating the myth that they need to control the flow-making it harder for the large energy companies to explore alternative energy.

As for the 40,000 that die because they don't have insurance......check your numbers compare it to the number of people that die who do have insurance. Only then can you come up with a balanced picture.

I'm an independent and always look at both sides.

Okay, you've graduated to being a government shill. Guess what? In this nation, the government doesn't need protecting from the free speech of us citizens. We need protecting from the tyranny of government.

And um, don't be too sure about those rat droppings.

Actually, many of us absolutely despise the insurance industry. It is not a requirement that you like them or even do business with them in order to be a Republican. I do not believe 40k people die due to lack of insurance. This is over-simplifying a complex issue. People die, insured or not.

how much do you give to charities that help the poor? 1%, 5% 20%? do you go without so that others can have or do you have cable and cell phones and go out to dinner twice a week? do you have vices that you could give up so hat you could give more to groups that support the poor like red Cross and salvation army or do you want to keep what you have and take from others?

Great question but most seem unable to think for themselves and believe all the rhetoric thrown at them by opponents of anything Government run. Coulda swore you all get the chance to vote them out every 4 years if they mismange things? Isn't that why elections are every 4 years? Looking forward to reading the responses from this, great question and insight Mike.

Remember when the govt tried to run a wh*re house? The Mustang Ranch? They literally could not sell pussy and booze! Those things sell themselves! And they are not going to "run" health care" it's just TAXES nobody is going to get anything you ignorant rube.

In the United States about 3,700 babies are killed by abortion each day or approximately 1,350,500 annually. That's one every 24 seconds. For every 100 births in the United States, there are 31 abortions.. For a Christian country this is unforgivable.

What happens next if Obamacare is pushed through?

Nexts they will pass a bill called the The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA).

* FOCA will do away with state laws on parental involvement, on partial birth abortion, and on all other protections.

* FOCA will compel taxpayer funding of abortions.

* FOCA will force faith-based hospitals and healthcare facilities to perform abortions.

would eliminate every restriction on abortion nationwide.

FOCA Would Wipe Away Every Restriction on Abortion Nationwide

This would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

* Bans on Partial Birth Abortion

* Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion

* Only licensed physicians can perform abortions

* Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter's abortion

FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

What is the Practical Impact of FOCA?

In elevating abortion to a fundamental right, FOCA poses an undeniable and irreparable danger to common-sense laws supported by a majority of Americans. Among the more than 550 federal and state laws that FOCA would nullify are:

*

Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003

*

Hyde Amendment (restricting taxpayer funding of abortions)

*

Restrictions on abortions performed at military hospitals

*

Restrictions on insurance coverage for abortion for federal employees

*

Informed consent laws

*

Waiting periods

*

Parental consent and notification laws

*

Health and safety regulations for abortion clinics

*

Requirements that licensed physicians perform abortions

*

“Delayed enforcement” laws (banning abortion when Roe v. Wade is overturned and/or the authority to restrict abortion is returned to the states)

*

Bans on partial-birth abortion

*

Bans on abortion after viability. FOCA’s apparent attempt to limit post-viability abortions is illusory. Under FOCA, post-viability abortions are expressly permitted to protect the woman’s “health.” Within the context of abortion, “health” has been interpreted so broadly that FOCA would not actually proscribe any abortion before or after viability.

*

Limits on public funding for elective abortions (thus, making American taxpayers fund a procedure that many find morally objectionable)

*

Limits on the use of public facilities (such has public hospitals and medical schools at state universities) for abortions

*

State and federal legal protections for individual healthcare providers who decline to participate in abortions

*

Legal protections for Catholic and other religiously-affiliated hospitals who, while providing care to millions of poor and uninsured Americans, refuse to allow abortions within their facilities

Notably, pro-abortion groups do not deny FOCA’s draconian impact. For example, Planned Parenthood has explained, "FOCA will supercede anti-choice laws that restrict the right to choose, including laws that prohibit the public funding of abortions for poor women or counseling and referrals for abortions. Additionally, FOCA will prohibit onerous restrictions on a woman's right to choose, such as mandated delays and targeted and medically unnecessary regulations."

FOCA will not make abortion safe or rare. On the contrary, it will actively promote abortion and do nothing to ensure its safety.

Thats why Bart Stupak and other pro-life Democrats are are against this healthcare bill.

All things that can be done (better and cheaper) in the private sector, so what's your point?