Posted by: iBlogWestHartford | November 25, 2009 11:16 AM

"It has been enacted that in every place in which Jews live, the community sets aside a fund for care of the sick. When poor people are ill and who cannot afford medical expenses, the community sends them a doctor to visit them, and the medicine is paid for by the communal fund."

- Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | November 25, 2009 7:23 PM

The real deal on the health
bill,

http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=content/whats-really-house-and-senate-health-insurance-bills

Posted by: Walt | November 26, 2009 6:36 AM

I pray that Senator Joe will defend those on Medicare rather than to vote to take a half trillion $$ from Medicare funds to give to other folk , as proposed by the Obamacrats.

Posted by: jim | November 26, 2009 10:49 AM

So Walt,
You are praying that Joe will continue to lead medicare down the path of destruction??
Do you know that in the health care plan that the donut hole in medicare part D will go away??
Did you know that relief will start in year 1 and increase yealy till the hole is gone??
Did you also know that relief for seniors will start 3 years before anybody else sees relief??
Did you know that the money taken out of medicare is the moneies allotted for the insurance companies and Big pharma???
I am sure you do know that Walt but you can't scare the bejesus out of seniors with the truth so it's much easier to deal out those Chamber LIES that we are all seeing.
I wonder if those innocent small business people that would benifit from health care reform know that the Chamber is using tens of millions of their dues dollars to push these lies around the country???
I am sure the must. What do you think Walty?

Posted by: Walt | November 28, 2009 4:49 PM

JIM

Better check your facts. Your post is primaril;y untrue.You either lie or are misinformed.

(Reducing the "Gap" is good, but means nothing to most seniors who are very concerned that their basic coverage will go down the drain)

A small percentage of the funds ( somewhere around 15 to 20% it appears) taken from Medicare totals does come from Medicare Advantage Plans, which now give many extra benefits not available to seniors under regular Medicare.

It is that killing of extra-value at little or no extra cost to seniors, and which is filtered through private insurance companies which the Obamacrats and you complain about, but which millions of seniors currently enjoy.

The remaining 500 or so trillion $$ is to be taken directly out of Medicare by further reducing payments to doctors and hospitals which can, even now, barely afford to handle Medicare patients

Many have already, even before the Obamacrats' proposed cuts are passed, begun to refuse to serve those on Medicare.

(Example: I had to go to Milford for a Urologist for tests which showed my cancer early this summer, as no New Haven area Urologist would accept my Medicare coverage)

I'm just a senior talking from experience and knowledge while you are just spouting the Obamacrat line and appear to know really little about the topic.

Yes, I hope Senator Joe helps protect Medicare. So do millions of other old folk.

Posted by: Ben Ross | November 28, 2009 7:54 PM

Joe has been in the spotlite way too long. The monies spent by our government need to be looked at very carefully. Health care is and should be easily within reach (we could do it). Only a crook would keep poor folks from health care. That is the message we are getting from corporate,chamber of commerce Joe. Not one improvment or ounce of good have come out of all the $ spent to steal Iraq, Afghanistan, or Palestine/Israel, could those $ we are spending ad nausium pay for drugs and health care?

Posted by: Lothar | November 28, 2009 11:48 PM

I'm getting fed up hearing from seniors who are worried "their" health care will go down the drain. What about the rest of us? Frankly, if we're all sick we're not going to be able to take care of the burgeoning senior population. Time to share people.

Just hope for the best. It's definitely hard to figure out what the heck this plan is going to do. There's a lot of talk but the reality here is that they're trying to legislate an insurance plan. Has anyone ever tried to actually read and understand their whole insurance plan? Now put 100 senators and hundreds of representatives in a room to try to agree on all the terms. It's actually kind of a ridiculous expectation that they'll come up with something clear and easy to understand. Too many chefs can spoil an insurance plan, so to speak.

I'm hopeful. Keep the faith.

Posted by: jim | November 29, 2009 8:56 AM

Got the facts Wally and if you would like to debate the FACTS I would certainly accomadate you but but you righties would much rather do it on blogs and call people giving facts liars.
But not to worry my feelings are un hurt. LOL
Saw an ad this morning from some so called female doctor her southern twang was so pronounced I am sure she's from Alamama or somewhere in the deep south.
But that's not all that got me, what got me was what she said what she said as a lot of these Palin-oligists LOL do is say she fears this may or fears this will one thing or another but NEVER NEVER EVER say's her fears are fact.
Then I listened to 3 others most paid for by the corrupt US Chamber, and they ALL state fears not facts.
Went to 2 forums last week Wally that stated facts and not one of them said it was bankrupting Medicare not one.
The CBO a NON PARTISAN office in Washington say's YOUR claims are FLAT OUT LIES.

Your parents should put you to bed without supper. LOL

Posted by: jim | November 29, 2009 9:02 AM

Gee Wally just finished reading your garble and YOU ARE on Medicare!!
So government run health care is good for you but not anybody else.
As for payments to doctors under the Health Care reform plan it increases payments to providers which is why your uroligist is more likely than not for it as are the vast majority of doctors that take care of seniors, So you are praying that Joe preserves the system that underpays doctors because of YOUR idiology.
Gee Wally thats a little more than self centered. Aint it?

Posted by: Walt | November 30, 2009 9:06 AM

jimsybaby

You are griping about the USChamber and seem to blame me for their positions despite the fact that they were neither mentioned in the article above or in my posts(Immaterial, but I am familiar with the USChamber, and rarely agree with its aims.

You go on to tie me with the anti- govt option movement when I have never, above, or in other posts taken any position on that topic.

Please get someone to read this stuff to you, and explain what is and what is not really written.

The CBO position seems to be that payments to doctors would increase slightly over what they would be if the current provision for a 20% plus reduction in the fees were not postponed as it has been in the last several years, not that current low fees would be increased as you claim.

(If you do not suspend the scheduled 20% decrease and put in a 1% increase, obviously have a big net loss.)

(Fuzzy wording by the CBO, Could be taken either way )

Senior-centered would be a better description of my position, I believe.

Twice, on CSpan, once with the House Committee, and once with the Senate Committee, I have seen the Dems vote unanimously against an amendment to require proof of citizenship for those receiving government health benefits under the Obamacrat Plan making it easier for illegal aliens to illegitimately claim federal health benefits.

I have seen Obama promise that anyone will be able to keep their current plan if they wish and then, almost in the same sentence making it impossible for me, by urging the death of my plan, a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Doctors I have spoken to, my GP. Urologist and Cancer specialist seem to agree with my position.

What the AMA says, is certainly as immaterial to me as the USChamber is to you.

Yes, they are taking over a half trillion $$ from Medicare, and I and millions of informed seniors think it stinks.

Please help us Senator Joe!

Ignore Jimsybaby and the lefties!

Posted by: jim | November 30, 2009 10:22 AM

Wally,
If you do nothing the insurance companies and big pharma will bankrupt your medicare in less than a decade.
unless your 107 chances are you will be on hand to see all your dreams go up in smoke.
Senator Joe is the niether yours or anybody elses savior, you see Joey cares all about Joey and could care less about you or your family.
Once again you have fairly agreed with my position that it would increase payments to providers, save medicare for decades to come, make insurance companies responsible corporate citizens and insure virtually all americans. Your problem is????
You are a right wing ideologe and you would rather see the country fail rather than thrive under a democrat.
You sat idley by as the nut job from Crawford ran the country off a cliff.
And how come all my docs can't wait for this plan but yours mysteriously have a counter opinion???
Wally I don't want to call you a liar but I believe you are not entirely truthful in your statements, but then again you guys lost in '08 and I understand your feelings are hurt but you did lose.

Posted by: Walt | November 30, 2009 2:46 PM

Jimsybaby

Your math is apparently no better than your reading comprehension or spelling,

Please get someone to explain it to you,

Thanks

Posted by: jim | November 30, 2009 4:32 PM

Wally,
Math and reading comprehension is fine.
Fact is you gave no real facts at all so the basis of your argument is nothing less than venting your political philosophy.
I really don't need anyone to explain your babble, it is what it is, right wing non sense. Good luck getting some one to buy your sky is falling junk cause it aint working here!

Posted by: Walt | December 3, 2009 10:26 AM

Jimsybaby

Do not know about your docs but my Urologist office called today to switch a nasty procedure from mid-January to December 30 because he does not want to get in a hassle because of possible Medicare payment changes effective with the new year.

Good idea, I agreed.

Doesn't sound very enthusiastic re AMA positions. Maybe you should warn your docs.