I do not have any expertise but my observations are different than yours: in this small christian community, there are many families and working poor that really have trouble making ends meet paycheck to paycheck not because they buy things. . . its a constant struggle to pay all the bills when one spouse can’t or does not work or if one spouse is medically incapacated

I like you agree that we need more patient-focused care. Isn’t the goal of health care reform to refocus our efforts on preventive care and quality universal care? Think of how diverse our nation is and our habitat – both things that impact a patient’s access to care. There are many variables and yes terribly complex but its never going away until we as a nation act. We must act and move forward.

You do agree that government regulation is warranted for pre-existing conditions. My parents are 78 and have medicare

We need health insurance reform and reform in the government programs known as medicare and medicaid. The former is out of control and needs limits and guidelines that are much more pro-patient and the latter is out of control with fraud and we could save billions just by cutting out fraud.

BOTH parties are guilty of not naming the problem and thus not naming the solution. That being said, the health sham bill currently up in both houses would do NOTHING to help but rather hurt by adding BILLIONS of dollars of overhead to an already bad system. I read the bill(s) with the help of some friends (we pieced it out) and it is one of the worst written pieces of shit I have ever seen (two of my friends worked for years in senior advocacy and I did a stint in the Domestic Peace Corps assisting the Food for Seniors Program before law school so we know a thing or two about such things). In addition to being a sham, it added a tax on those not able to pay (think thousands a year) for insurance and gave the govt. permission to basically steal $400B from seniors to give to poor people. I think the sham bill is unconstitutional on its face too because I don’t know if the govt. can actually force people to purchase health insurance.

Most people I know fall into two categories regarding health insurance:
1) Would rather have new car, cell phone(s), new clothes, cable tv, party and think of health insurance as non-necessary. A healthy person can get a Blue Cross program for about $300.00 a month. This should be the FIRST thing you budget for after housing, food and transportation. MOST people can easily afford this, but do not want to give up luxuries they view as necessities.
2) Have pre-existing conditions or too many children and cannot get or afford health insurance. The former group is why we need govt. intervention and more guidelines for pro-patient treatment by health insurance companies. The latter is two fold lack of planning and also more pro-patient behavior by HIC.

We already have FREE MEDICAL CARE IN THIS COUNTRY. It is called Medicare and emergency rooms. Believe me the last thing you want is a govt. who can’t even produce 1/10th of the Flu Vaccine after 3 years of epidemic rates of the flu in America being in charge of your life and death.

Yes, concur that is scary having Roe chipped away – but it ain’t Hyde doing it – it’s the Democrats! Led by Pelosi, Reid and Obama. They are pushing and continuing even after to MA to push an unpopular reform that would include (whether Stupak or Nelson) the biggest setback since Roe.

That’s why we propose finding the common ground – because our politicians on the Dem side clearly will not protect it. Women must look after ourselves. And the vast majority agree that this should be a personal issue.

As for a common ground – perhaps it is time but what is there to discuss about this issue. Tolerance? Understanding? Respect? Isn’t that what privacy and ROE is about – what is to discuss> Why do we have to keep defending ourselves?

If NOW and pro-choice ladies feel less than tolerant at this point it is because we have never been able to rest on ROE – Henry Hyde, the States and the religiouis right continue to chip away at us and this continues to polarize women – as long as any woman is denied safe access to health care – the net impact falls on woman and is discriminatory. I don’t wish to have tea and discuss it – there is really nothing to discuss.

I wonder how you would feel if a pro-choice ad was placed on TV during the Super Bowl with no “pro-life” ad to offset it. Frankly, I would be appalled as well. As a woman, don’t you feel like a punching bag sometimes? I say, just leave us alone to decide for ourselves.

By the way, China’s laws do not apply here in the US. I was not speaking for China.

I’m not arguing with you, I’m just bringing other viewpoints into this conversation. Don’t patronize me! I’m fully aware what CBS is, I’m just questioning how they use their powerful platform, which by all the evidence available, shows that they are being hypocritcal in how they use their power.

I also believed that in any discussion, bringing in more information for analysis and seeing as many sides as possible, is a good thing, and clearly not an affront to you.

I thought the “Women’s Rights” website made a good point that should be considered.

I think it would be really helpful if you would consider also posting your comments at MORE. There is a new audience there looking at this issue with us. I think we might all benefit from having your voices in the discussion over there too!

Thanks,
Amy