fcol, (9/14/2009 5:03:22 AM)

In my opinion, Congressman Weiner has the solution - a single-payer system that completely eliminates health insurance companies from the equation, but what's being proposed is far better than what we have.

Aetna, BCBS or any of the other health insurance companies devour roughly 30% of all premiums paid in, yet they don't actually do anything to diagnose or provide actual healthcare.
They are middle-men and the additional layers of paperwork created by their involvement in the process increases the costs for both doctors and hospitals.

Take them out of the picture and the actual cost of providing healthcare is immediately reduced by well over 30% with no change in the care provided.

If you owe a utility bill of $100, would you pay $130 or $140 for someone else to deliver the payment for you?
That's precisely what we're doing.

fcol, (9/14/2009 5:12:30 AM)

In addtion to adding nothing of value to actual healthcare, insurance companies routinely deny or restrict care to reduce their risk and increase their profit.
Denying payment is the same as denying care for most people since they cannot afford the treatment without the insurance.

On top of that, most of them dictate which doctors, hospitals and pharmacies you can use.

Our doctors and hospitals must employ many just to deal with the enormous volume of paperwork and rules created by the insurance companies.

Ask yourself honestly, what your insurance company has done for you.
They did not diagnose your problem.
They did not treat your illness.
They did not provide care or therapy.
They simply charge you to deliver the payment for those services and in the process, create additional overhead for those who actually provide the services.

LesGuvment, Sand Springs (9/14/2009 5:47:26 AM)

Right on, fcol. I think we will see some changes. I sure hope so.

Alan Shore, (9/14/2009 6:16:08 AM)

No wonder there were good seats at church...

oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (9/14/2009 6:52:15 AM)

Are the DC elected going to listen?

justiceawaits, Claremore (9/14/2009 7:30:32 AM)

Fixing the economy, building roads and bridges, improving schools and providing healthcare to the working poor costs too much: but spending billions on an illegal war so warmongering politicians can get rich on no bid contract, thats`s ok.
Freaking morons.

Phil # 3, Yukon (9/14/2009 7:45:38 AM)

Speaking of morons, obviously there are some who still believe it when they hear "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you". Our own country is a political mess (which also means a social mess) and now we're forcing other countries to adapt to our instructions or die.
Whether the final decision to not treat a disease or condition comes from an insurance company executive or a government official, the result is the same. We are long on hope; short on memory.

AdamM, Tulsa (9/14/2009 8:10:26 AM)

I am a fan of protesting. As long as it is peacefull. When you try to supress others opinion, you have lost the conversation. Disagree, but stopping peoples speech is not the answer. All of the people who protested this weekend did one o the most patriotic things our country is founded on.

Ignatz, Broken Bow (9/14/2009 8:40:05 AM)

Seig Heil goodoleboy. Did you wash your sheet after Sunday's hate fest?

my view, Sand Springs (9/14/2009 9:16:17 AM)

Boy Oh Boy, that racist card get throwed around a lot lately. Just because you disagree with the current President your a racist. Talk about attempts to control free speech, it nothing more than that.

lgnatz,

I studied the photographs provided and failed to see anyone wearing a white sheet. Had there been any you can bet the media would have plastered those on the front page. As President Obama has said "don't make stuff up".

Obama was elected by a majority vote last November, he'll not see that majority again.

oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (9/14/2009 9:47:43 AM)

Would it not be hoot, if a bunch of folks showed up at ACORN offices with undercover video cameras?

Ignatz, Broken Bow (9/14/2009 10:24:19 AM)

Sorry, but I can't see any other reason why you folks hate this guy so much and the birth certificate silliness just confirms it. You guys started all this with your shouts of "kill him" at Reichfuhrer Palin's rallies.

007, (9/14/2009 11:01:09 AM)

If Bush or McCain were president, these protest would never happen. These programs started under Bush, but all of a sudden these poeple now care. This nothing but right wing neo con goose stepping anti Obama protest!!!!

aviator, (9/14/2009 11:52:33 AM)

5,500 people???? Are you kidding!!??? Unbelievable! There was 10 times that amount! Any idiot could look at an aerial picture and see there were WAY more than 5,500. Slanted reporting?? Hmmmmmm....

Welcome to America !, Claremore (9/14/2009 11:53:50 AM)

Obama, his goons, ACORN, and these moronic liberals at the Capitol have had I.V.'s surgically implanted so they can continuously drink the kookaid Obama is serving up. Great to know that many more opposed them than the few who showed up in support of this idiotic legislation.

aviator, (9/14/2009 11:54:04 AM)

my fault.. my bad...I thought this was the D.C. rally.

my view, Sand Springs (9/14/2009 11:59:38 AM)

Ignatz,

Many on the left hated Bush. I don't hate Obama just don't agree with him, still I don't call him names.

Most on the right don't agree with the birthers, just as most on the left don't agree with the truthers. Both groups are made up by the far left and far right, both are rather small groups.

I know, I believe Obama to be American born. There is no way it could be kept secret with the number of people it would take to cover it up.

Somebody would talk.

Royce, Tulsa (9/14/2009 3:02:24 PM)

Phil # 3 writes: "Speaking of morons, obviously there are some who still believe it when they hear "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you".

That's quite true. It's been wisely said "Government is a lot like your liver. When it's working properly you're not even aware that you have it".

Lanceman, Broken Arrow (9/14/2009 7:34:52 PM)

Our health care system is a mess. Every year, premiums rise, copays rise, and benefits are decreased. All of you people who are apparently so happy with our current system should see that extra amount deducted from your paycheck and smile... Obama is trying to help people! I better not hear anyone of you that attended this rally complain about your insurance, because you deserve what you get... the rich insurance company executives are laughing all the way to the bank...

HeLIES!, (9/14/2009 10:42:02 PM)

KUDOS to the hundreds of thousands that marched on obummers afro turf in D.C.

Queen Pelooney and her ilk are trying to say that anybody who is against obummer is racist. Ridiculous.

Many of us LOVE Condi Rice and Colin Powell BEFORE he went turncoat, and who doesn't love Tiger Woods, or Stevie Wonder, or Bill Cosby, and I could go on and on and on .

This is definitely NOT about race HOWEVER, obummer's party is TURNING it INTO a race issue and by default, making it one.

There is a lot of discontent about insurance companies so, why not make the issue more about
HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM. Why try to change the entire freakin' country's medical care for cryin' out loud.

MAKE those greedy insurance companies conform to the country's health care needs.