I *love* that Anna Eshoo is convening a face-to-face town hall on healthcare, and that she's the co-author of one of the bills under discussion. Somehow, I was invited to two telephone-based town hall meetings but - one arrived on my answering machine, and the other just as I was on my way out.

Is there a written transcript of the face-to-face or telephone meetings? Will there be another meeting? According to Rep. Eshoo's website, it looks like there might be only one more, today, at 7pm in Ben Lomond.

I hope there will be more meetings. I think it's important for every community to get on the same page about health care reform - at least, be agreed on the need to change.

We don't let people starve in this country because we believe it would be uncivilized to stand back and watch another die of hunger in this wonderful, wealthy nation. We don't let our fellow citizens die for lack of medical care if they are over 65. I'm not sure why we would if they are the near-majority who are unlucky enough not to have a healthcare benefit at their workplace.

Andrea

Andrea, we *do* let people starve in this country. We just make sure they do it out of public view. The statistics on childhood starvation in the US are frightening.

And, apparently there are very many in this country who are quite satisfied with letting thousands (18,000 is a number I read recently) of people every year die preventable deaths because their healthcare was cut off.

Until we face the fact that we are having a crisis of compassion, we can continue to sweep these problems - and the people having them - under the carpet.

Helping people who cannot afford health care is a WELFARE program. People do not need insurance if they have a welfare system (city, county or state) that provides health care for the poor. Amendment X of our federal constitution tells us that health care and welfare are not appropriate federal issues, they are "left to the states and the people."

Charlie,

What about the people that have insurance, but their claims are legitimate claims are denied by their insurer in an attempt to boost profits? Would insurers covering those medical expenses still be considered "WELFARE" as you put it? That's a key component of this issue, or do you just see poor people in your head lined up for miles ready to take money out of your wallet?

Sorry Charlie, there's no mention of health care or welfare in Amemndment X (Article X). There's no mention of Education either. Should the Federal Government NOT be mandating education of our children according to common standards? I support Health Care Reform.

I think we have to get educated on this and not act just on our emotions. I know a lot of people whose health insurance premiums have gone way up and who have been denied treatments that they really needed. I also don't like having to foot the bill for uninsured people using the emergency room unnecessarily.
I was very impressed by Anna Eshoo's poise, demeanor, and honest answers to our questions and concerns. Her point about not labeling is a good one. We don't have to label each other or the proposals.
I do think we need health care reform in our country and I believe that this proposal is a step in the right direction.

This should be done at the state level. The Federal government is too big.

Well, Old Ben, "leaving it to the states" is exactly what the Republicans did in the Great Depression, or are you not old enough to remember? They left it to the states, all right, and then, as now, the states did nothing.

There are no surprises there - where a Republican is involved, nothing gets done that helps anybody else. Business, yes, people, no.

If you want help, when Republicans are involved, you'd better be a corporation.

Any institution that is not run well and efficiently fails whether it's the "government" or private business. They are all run on money and by people. Our govt. actually does quite well in many services. Medicare insone of them. Ask any senior.
It is now underfunded because we are living longer. When the percentage of deduction to pay for it was determined was when folks died at a younger age. As a result reimbursement is poor to providers and they drop Medicare pts. Hospitals may get reimbursed for many procedures. Ask most seniors.
Most folks don't know that the claims processing of Medicare is done by private non-profit businesses like Blue Cross/Blue Shield. That's because they do a good job. There's an example of public/private partnership.
Single Payer is really the only real reform and it's basically expanding Medicare, which is only an insurance program. Health Care would continue being private. In fact you will have total choice of provider unlike now where the HMO, PPO plans have a list of providers. It's NOT a govt. takeover!! It just pays the bills as Medicare does now. Once folks understand its great benefits it's a no-brainer for both business and individuals.

I used to be poor and I didn't have health insurance for many years. Then I thought to myself, wow, I'm poor and I don't have any health insurance, I better work really hard so I can improve my situation. I never wanted or expected the government to give me free healthcare. Why would I want my tax money to pay for my neighbor's health care who is a drug dealer and doesn't pay any taxes? It starts with mortgages and healthcare and new cars but before long you will be paying for your lazy neighbor's cable TV, internet and credit cards too. I can't believe you all voted for Obama because he has a nice smile and still defend him after what he is trying to do. Obama lied. That is not a catchphrase that I stole from the Bush era, it is the truth. He totally misrepresented himself during the campaign. This nation is rapidly approaching communism. I know you don't want to believe it and neither do I, but it is true. Wake up and look at the facts instead of being captivated by Comrade Obama and his fairy tale. The conservatives used to be the whackos but now I am sad to say that is not the case anymore (although there still are a few). You ever heard of Thomas Sowell? Do a youtube search on him and listen to what he has to say.

"TrueDem," I assume you still expected to be provided with healthcare at an emergency room.

I don't want to live in a society where we leave people to get sick die in the streets. A democratic society of that sort seems like it would be unlikely to last long. Furthermore, the declining number of us with quality healthcare would face much exposure to contagious diseases. And, of course, there are the obvious moral arguments, though I don't expect a social darwinist to put much stock in them.

Sent to the President
President Obama

Subject: Healthcare Coverage for Everyone

Here is just one point that people cannot agree on. Should everyone be covered, the poor legal or illegal? Adults without healthcare could be walking around in stores and have a non curable tuberculosis. Another bad situation; their children have not had shots or are coming down contagious diseases (whooping cough, swine flu, etc.) Their parent’s wait and have them out shopping until they become so sick that they need to go to the emergency room.

Yes, everyone is covered in the most expensive system – the emergency hospital room – an we all pay for it including the idiots that think they are not paying for it.

How stupid can Congress be not to include coverage of everyone in the healthcare bill?

Please cover everyone, including illegals. – Single Payer or Public Option, that protcts us alll.

We expect the general public to decide on healthcare when the readers of MV Voice cannot decide agree on who is left wing and who s right wind. (Most people the have health care do not know what is cover and what is not covered – they find out only when they get sick.)

Here is just one point that people cannot agree on. Should everyone be covered, the poor legal or illegal? Adults without healthcare could be walking around in stores and have a non curable tuberculosis. Another bad situation; their children have not had shots or are coming down contagious diseases (whooping cough, swine flu, etc.) Their parent’s wait and have them out shopping until they become so sick that they need to go to the emergency room.

The people that cannot agree that everyone, I mean everyone, needs to be covered for basic healthcare for the good of the community, then they are too just too stupid to decide anything on healthcare.

Since Congress think US citizens are not vulnerable to diseases carried by the poor and the illegal residents of this country, they also are too dam stupid to be writing a healthcare bill!

This is not being discourteous or impolite; it is stated fact. Maybe Congress thinks they if they keep “Under god” in the pledge and “In god We Trust” on the money their mythical god will keep the privately insured people safe for illnesses.

"Amendment X of our federal constitution tells us that health care and welfare are not appropriate federal issues, they are "left to the states and the people.""

Funny, your constitution reads differently than mine.

10th Amendment of the US Constitution - "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution - "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"

One thing's for sure, the way things are going your health care needs in the future will be decided upon by politicians, lawyers, and businessmen or women. Funny how doctors and patients (present or future) seems to get little say on how it should be set up to work best for them.

Posted by Jon Wiener, a resident of another community, 5 hours ago

"TrueDem," I assume you still expected to be provided with healthcare at an emergency room.


I did need to go to the emergency room during this time. I went to El Camino Hospital and they took care of me. A couple weeks later I received a very large bill in the mail from them. They allowed me to setup a monthly payment plan and I paid the bill in full myself. No handouts needed. Thank you El Camino Hospital and god bless America.

I'm sorry to hear that you required emergency care. Note that you would have received it regardless of your ability to pay for it. That is a form of government-run health insurance, paid by society at large rather than government, and one that most of us should be rather proud of. As you said, though, the e.r. was quite expensive. In many cases, those expenses can be avoided when people have access to decent preventative care.

If we are going to cover illegal aliens with health care, all those who enter a doctor's office or a hospital should be required to prove legal status in the US. For those who cannot provide that info, after they are treated they should be turned over to the Immigration Control Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. Then we will not have to worry about their germs or their illegal status.