Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

[Digidiver]

The English-language side of the Arab network, Al Jazeera, examines the political struggle -- drenched in special interest money -- that is being waged to stop or dilute President Barack Obama's proposals for overhauling U.S. health care.

In a second part of an investigative report, Al Jazeera’s “Fault Lines” program traces the battle as it rages in the halls of Congress, with foot soldiers from the medical industry coming armed with hefty donations to key members of Congress. Industry lobbyists, the report notes, are spending $1.4 million a day.

The report also describes how the United States finds itself some 60 years behind other developed nations in creating a system that serves the needs of all citizens.


Part 1:



Part 2:

[Digidiver]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

Video above now plays as "removed by user"..

Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU45fQ0paQ0

[Rekutyn]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

Video above now plays as "removed by user".. [/url]

Video above is now marked as "private".
You can view this programme online via AJE's website:

http://english.aljazeera.net/program...722846685.html

[metalman]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

Video above is now marked as "private".
You can view this programme online via AJE's website:

http://english.aljazeera.net/program...722846685.html

no one left to represent the interests of the american people... there will be blood... buying more guns and gold soon...

White House appears ready to drop 'public option'

By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer Philip Elliott, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 1 min ago

WASHINGTON – Bowing to Republican pressure and an uneasy public, President Barack Obama's administration signaled Sunday it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance as part of a new health care system.

Facing mounting opposition to the overhaul, administration officials left open the chance for a compromise with Republicans that would include health insurance cooperatives instead of a government-run plan. Such a concession probably would enrage Obama's liberal supporters but could deliver a much-needed victory on a top domestic priority opposed by GOP lawmakers.

Officials from both political parties reached across the aisle in an effort to find compromises on proposals they left behind when they returned to their districts for an August recess. Obama had wanted the government to run a health insurance organization to help cover the nation's almost 50 million uninsured, but didn't include it as one of his core principles of reform.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that government alternative to private health insurance is "not the essential element" of the administration's health care overhaul. The White House would be open to co-ops, she said, a sign that Democrats want a compromise so they can declare a victory.

Under a proposal by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., consumer-owned nonprofit cooperatives would sell insurance in competition with private industry, not unlike the way electric and agriculture co-ops operate, especially in rural states such as his own.

[Rajiv]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

Just been moved -- here they are

[metalman]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

why does it keep moving?

[cjppjc]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

why does it keep moving?

Now comes the hard part of dividing the loot.

[marvenger]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

in relation to the question above video ont he homepage,'has the FIRE economy ruined our nation?' I think it's important to look beyond the FIRE economy, its also important to look at problems with the profit motive, externalities and concentrations of power, I don't think these are problems that solely pop up in relation to FIRE.

[goadam1]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

Great article in the Atlantic this month on healthcare.

[jmdpet]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

This one? http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200909/health-care

[marvenger]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

i started reading that article but it was pissing me off too much. Seriously a major part of health care is prevention and why the hell would you be preventing anything if you were in the business of health care. Simple bloody question, how the hell does the magical market get around that one?

[Chris Coles]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

i started reading that article but it was pissing me off too much. Seriously a major part of health care is prevention and why the hell would you be preventing anything if you were in the business of health care. Simple bloody question, how the hell does the magical market get around that one?

The answer is really easy, for the practitioners. The Hippocratic Oath.

But you are correct to note that on the business side, the pressure is to increase the billing by ignoring health care.

But notice the leader of the health team featured at the start of the video is clearly English, not American.

Yes, we have some comparatively minor problems with the UK health system. But compared to the US, there is no comparison.

[LargoWinch]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

This one is for cjppjc!

Matt Taibbi on Health Care on Aug. 20./09 (7min.):

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

[cjppjc]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

Thanks LW. He is sure making a name for himself. Agree or disagree, Taibbi is the flavor of the month.

[marvenger]

Re: Fault Lines - Healthcare reform

you could view it as paying some taxes for a long and fruitful engagement with the market if so inclined. public system clearly works better at providing a quality base for health care, private can always work on top of this.