Welcome aboard the independent american train. There is no doubt that government is out of control, and i agree fully with your opinions on that. I must stop short of agreeing with the idea that, if given a chance, the current president will somehow be able to bring the country together. Todays political landscape is more broad than it has been since the founding of this nation. The media likes to portray the american as staunch in his positions. In reality, the people are in agreement on almost every issue we face in this nation. Where the problem lies is the americans insistance to judge past actions. People always have great ideas about what should have been done yesterday, hind sight being 20/20 and all that. The problem most americans have with the new health reform bill, is that it lays all the responsibility at the feet of the public once more. It doesnt do enough to fix the problems in the insurance industry, or on the doctors end. These need to be regulated, instead of making the public bear the financial burdens. Why wont they fix the obvious? I would guess it has to do with the money the health and insurance industries spend in DC. As far as ammo costs go, I havent noticed. But i will lay the blame for any cost increases on HR 45, and peoples inability to use google to find the truth. I didnt stock up on ammo, because i knew there was no provision to tax ammunition. They only want to make it illegal to not register any guns you own. I wont even respond to the bush/cheny. 9/11 and iraq conspiracy..like i said, hind sight is 20/20, and the media profits from mis-information and propoganda.

X, bill 45 is trying to gain traction is exactly right! Is it Law? NO... Why are we paying so much for ammo? Gluttiny Capitalism! Republican scare tactic backfire actually.
If you can honestly say Bush and Cheney did not try their damn hardest and succeed to tie 9/11 to Iraq then you are dilusional or I am an idiot (the latter is still to be determined).
You jump quick to call me an left wing quack when you should know that I am not from our previous debates. I like to think of myself as some college, heavy dose of hard knocks, and a masters in common sense. If you can rally enough independant support I will be right on your side, I would like to see most if not all politicians booted from office (good or bad) just so they know it could happen, I would like to see farmers, schoolteachers and grocer store clerks in office (real people). In closing I would like to just say give this pres. a chance cause th last one sure fu...d us up bad

Link me a video clip of the words "we are going into iraq because they did 9/11" coming out of bush's mouth. As far as ammo, I said nothing of the sort. Google house resolution 45. This is the gun control legislation, and it is still out there trying to gain enough support. Read it and tell me that the government has no intentions of controlling guns. I do like how you always read these commnetary sections looking for something you can try and catch me on. I guess it is because your kind is afraid of my kind. When i say my kind, I mean the people who stand up for what is right. You folks can keep thinking like you do, because people like me write letters and ask questions that stops your rights from being infringed upon. No need to thank me though, I'd do it for anyone. Look at it like this. The main stream of america drives on the right side of the road. The far left freaks want to try and get everyone to drive on the left side, so they drive on the left side in hopes that everyone will be scared and start doing the same thing. Well, that is backfiring as more and more people gain knowledge of how stupid the liberal ideals are. Must suck to be a new liberal, knowing you are losing support every day. Dont pretend that everyone thinks like you do, because they dont. You people are in such a small minority, you are practically becoming non-existant. Not that you dont exist, but that people are just tired of the BS you all spout. Truth hurts, I know, but someone had to tell you..... X

Citizen X if you google "Bush ties Iraq to 9/11" You will get approximately 1,200,000 posts that a very large number support he did exactly that for his (initial)reasoning for war. Oh I'm sure you will read them all and say they are left wing nut bags spouting off at the mouth, but you asked for proof and there it is. Also if you remember our little debate about 7-8 months ago as far as weapons bans etc after Pres Obama was elected...I hear a lot of complaints these days about ammunition prices and what the hell have the Dems done now. Actually all the right wing nuts (not you X) have done this to yourselves, like lining up for 18 miles at the local gas station when a war is about to brake out you caused a huge scare about weapons/ammo that you have nobody to blame for but yourselves. no 500% tax has been put in place on ammo, or even introduced to legislation. You are paying up the azz for ammo because your ammo makers are forcing you! Gluttony Capitalism at its best! Don't get me wrong I am not against capitalism, just not for gluttony capitalism (AIG and the rest) I am all for the Capitalists that actually work hard, take care of their employees and don't rip off the rest to gain wealth beyond compare.

That was...well....awesome SB. I laughed pretty hard at that one. Best part is, it fits (no pun intended).

I wish to opine that medical mistakes and misdiagnoses lead to considerable costs to our already overburdened health care system, and are driving the need for change.

Consider the following example: A nearly fatal misdiagnosis was recently noted when a man presented to a local health care institution with what appeared to be cranioproctosis. The patient was in considerable distress, considering that his cranium was actually lodged inside his rectum--a precarious position indeed. The misled (though well-intentioned) physicians slated the patient for immediate surgery, believing his condition to be life-threatening. Fortunately, the mistake was realized in time however, when further assessment showed that the correct diagnosis was actually a chronic and inoperable condition: the patient was a lifelong Democrat.
:)

I'm getting tired of reading all the anti health care industry arguments...they make to much profit, they charge to much....it's getting sickening.

Think about it for a second.

Just because they are FOR PROFIT doesn't mean they're going to rip off everyone.

UPS and FedEX ARE for profit companies. The U.S. Postal Service is not. FedEX and UPS are making money. The Postal service is $7 Billion in debt.
If the government option is so much better, why are people using UPS and FedEX? Healthcare is no different.

Where do you think all the drug / medical equipment advances come from? The government does come up with some of the advances (10% or less), but the vast majority come from FOR PROFIT companies.
The for profit companies are willing to invest BILLIONS in new drugs, and new medical equipment, because they will make a profit if they come up with the next advance in medicine.

How many companies would be working on cures for AIDS, Cancer, Parkinsons, Cystic Fibrosis, Alzheimers, or diabetes, if there was either no profit motive or no money to invest in the research?

Think of how much money has been spent researching cures for the above illnesses. Now we want to squash what medical companies can make? Not me.

We can improve the system, tort reform, cross state competition, high deductible health plans, etc. will lower the cost of heath care.

I fully understand that when the government gives something to someone else they are taking it out of my tax dollars. In the case of health care I think it is necessary to do so. I would have no problem seeing my taxes raised to be sure every person in this country has the same health care we all deserve. I would be happy to know my fellow citizens are willing to take care of me just as I am willing to take care of them. I would never be so selfish to think that if you can't afford to have health care then you don't get it. I see people everyday that have to choose between getting their health problems treated or going into bankruptcy and I think it is sad. I wonder why it is that the US is the ONLY modernized country that can't get this through their heads!

I still don't the current bill is all that clear yet. And as many others have said on fox news and on here, if a majority of the funding is supposed to come from fixing medicare-medicaid messups and mishaps, then why don't / why hasn't that been fixed yet... aparently something is wrong with it... yet the will only fix the wastefull spending if this bill gets passed???? something sounds fishey their......
anyway tho that said........ My thought still is what really does our current insurance companies really do for us???? They don't keep the prices down by competing with each other..... They are FOR PROFIT companies that make A CRAZY AMOUNT OF MONEY off of us and pay their CEO's and whatnot way way way to much money..... I would like to think our government could do a better job since they would be able to cut out alot of these rediculous paying jobs and advertisement money each of these companies use but that is wishfull thinking it seems. But as the bill is written it will most likely end up having to tax all americans to pay for it........ and NOOOO THE WAY THE BILL IS WRITTEN it does not guarentuee a tax increase will not happen.... BOTTOM line tho NEITHER DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN can accomplish a healthcare reform that is good for americans since the pharmacuitcal / special interests/ bla bla have way way way to much push into what happens and how it is written.

Some still don't understand that when the Government "gives" you somthing, they "take" from someone else.
The government has no wealth, They have ours.
So when you look your neighbor in the eye, ask yourself if you want the government taking their money so they can give it to you. EXTENUATING circumstances aside.
Yes we are a compassionate society. But there is a line we are about to cross that is not AMERICAN

Bart came to Gladwin last week to speak to the high school students about the proposed health care reforms.

I was not notified, I'm on Bart's email list.
wethepeopleofmidmichigan.com invited Bart to a town hall meeting. No response to my knowledge.
Why Can Bart make time to talk to the students, but not for the taxpaying adults? The Gladwin County Record seemed pretty proud that he visited their office. They should have done their job and asked why the student's time is more valuable than the parents?
Teacher's Union involved perhaps?
Don't surrender your liberty to Government controls.
This is just the begining.
The majority does not want this, nor cap and trade, bail outs, cash for clunkers whether vehicles or appliances. Drop the taxes, smaller government and I'm all for part time legislature. Make Michigan attractive to business again.

And with all that is going on around the world, THIS is the most pressing issue? I'd say border security and Energy independance with PROVEN resources are infinitely more important. Let's get out of the desert oil fields.

Clinton was the best on the economy and making financial decisions along the lines of averages. Most presidents policies on everything are to one extreme or the other. Being called the best president in 50 years isnt really a prize. We have had the worse presidents of all time over the past 50 years (and they keep getting worse). Politics has been taken over by people who are driven by greed instead of sense of duty to their countrymen. Most of the legislation passed in the past 50 years was bought by special interests. There is just something wrong with someone who would pay 4 million dollars for a job that only gives half a million dollars in paychecks. Only leads a reasonable person to believe they are all on the take. 100 million to be president when the job will pay you a million dollars over 4 years? Just doesnt add up... X

Come on people, everyone voted to keep these politicians in Stupak, Levin, Granholm, we need to take control and get these people out of office the next time around. They have done nothing for us but put us farther and farther in debt and ITS TIME TO WAKE UP!!! The answers we are looking for to turn us around obviously is not with the ones that have been put in office. I can proudly say, I never voted for any of these people!!!!

X picked Clinton as the best Pres in the last 50 years. I was shocked. I asked my self, why would X pick the do nothing President? And than I noticed, in my question, was the answer.
I may have been looking at things wrong. Here I have been giving this current Pres and the prior Pres credit. For saying what they want to do and doing it. Not to say I agreed with either one. But at least they were not just talking the talk. But maybe, smaller government comes from a Pres more interested in chasing girls and collecting his pay check, than shaking up Washington?

How come no one is willing to support tort reform? Insurance companies are paying out ridiculous amounts of money for so many frivilous lawsuits, the money has to come from somewhere.So they raise not only our premiums but the doctors,hospitals,and pharmaceutical companies too. (EVERY drug has side effects and risks, if you can't read the handout explaining this,ask the healthcare provider or pharmacist when you get your meds. If you don't think the benefit outweighs the risk, don't take the drug.Every procedure, treatment or surgery involves risks.If you think the risk outweighs the benefits,let nature take it's course.Our healthcare providers are not GODS, they are human beings, mistakes happen, sometimes things just do not go well.)Again, the money has to come from somewhere so the doctor,hospitals and drug companies raise their prices.If goverment reformed the tort laws, putting a cap on monetary awards, and opened up competition nationwide among the insurance companies, the price of insurance and healthcare would go down, making the system we have affordable for everyone and ensuring research would continue to advance.

Good idea. Clinton never had a budget surplus while president, and he increased the national debt by 1.2 trillion dollars while he was in office.If you know where to look, the real information is out there. Dont get me wrong, clinton did a good job while in office, and was the best president in the past 50 years. Now I need to respond to your "killing people who had nothing to do with 9/11" comment. I assume you are talking about the war in Iraq. I dont remember bush or anyone in that administration claiming that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11. That was hyped up through a liberal media to get people to watch the news. News these days is no more real than soap operas. Half of the stuff is just for entertainment. Feel free to correct me if you can post evidence that supports your commentary, as I cant just take your word for it. Dont give me any links to anything posted on the blogs from the daily kos either. Give me a news link (or better yet, a video clip of the accused saying what you claim they say) to a reputible news cast, and i will jump right on your conspiracy theory bandwagon. Either that, or you can save yourself the time and dont bother looking, because you wont find anything to back your claims, I already looked...doesnt exist. Lets try and post comments that are more in line with reality and not some BS you heard at a union meeting or coffee shop.... X

I'm SICK AND TIRED of the complaining about it being held in Negaunee. Why should one be held in Marquette? Anyone who lives in Marquette can just as easily drive to Negaunee for something, as all of us in Ishpeming and Negaunee can drive to Marquette for everything. Give me a break! I'm sick of "Marquette People" thinking they can never set foot in Negaunee or Ishpeming for anything - if its important to you, you can drive a few miles for it.

In regards to healthcare. Can we take a step back and realize that healthcare has gotten out of control because of the companies and doctors working for that company. They are greedy and selfish. They have raised healthcare costs to line their own pockets and we have all suffered. Maybe taking the control away from them will help make healthcare affordable for everybody...mostly our children in Michigan

Why Negaunee? Ya wonder why only 157 peeps? C'mon Bart, be a man, one in Marquette, one in Escy, one in Meno, Irn Mtn, Irn Rvr, Hghtn. Take 10 days and travel our crumbling roads meeting us face to face, and tell me again how spending money fixing downstate roads that don't need fixing, vs doing anything to OUR roads is a good thing. Face us all Bart, or next time I'll "call" in my vote for you!
The 30 mill. stimulus to Marquette. There IS more to the U.P. than just Marquette. We ARE 1/3 of this states land mass, I'd like to see you fight for that!! The "trickle" down stimulus money never made it past Jenny's desk and your O.K. with this...THAT bothers me.
If we had jobs that were able to offer reasonable insurance, we'd be insured. DO NOT TELL ME I HAVE TO HAVE HEALTH COVERAGE THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! If this government wants us all to be the same, then let all be ALL! You, the pres. everybody in the same boat. I know your boat, nor the presidents, will sink! Nobody in public office has ever given me any reason to think that they care about what you or me want, need, feel, think, or say. It's the Dem's vs. the Rep's, nobody stands up for you or me, or what's right and wrong. The special interest groups mean waaaayyyy more to politicians than you and me!
What's the BIG rush with this anyway?? Why not, when they come up with something put it to you and me, in ENGLISH, and let us decide with a public vote. The people I voted for seem to forget to who they work for, and just vote along party lines. Seriously, I'm tired of being told what I may and may not do, and when I may or may not do it. I would like the right to choose for myself.

Where were all you nay-sayers when the country went from a Budget surplus when Clinton left office to Trillions in debt when Bush left office??? All that money was spent in a war that killed another country's people that weren't even involved in 9-11 you said NOTHING!! Now when we want to provide basic needs for our OWN people, you rant and rave? Talk about Backwards thinking, you guys take the cake!

People should not be given healthcare, housing, welfare, etc. There are far too many people who abuse the current system. I work 60 hours a week to pay for my house, medical insurance, and to get a paycheck. There are people that leech off the government, have tons of kids, and hardly ever work. Yet somehow these people arn't tarnished in a state of poverty - they get low income housing that is as nice of mine, they have money for 4 wheelers & snowmobiles, they have all the time off in the world, a from my understanding the vast majority have no problem spending that extra $60 a week on brand name cigarettes. What a joke.

The problem with the health care plan and the liberals in general is that they have no problem re-distributing our wealth. I don't make a lot of money but I work hard for what I get and unless I make a donation to specific charity I don't wany my dollars going to support the array of social welfare programs out there.

Sooner or later at the current rate a dollar won't be worth anything that this sort of "free handout" society we are in will have every single one of us in the dumps.

Appears to be more concern of bashing/backing political parties, versus actually knowing and debating the issue at hand. I find it sad, that the people of this country are more concerned about political parties, than the well being of this country.

The Right-Wingers have all the answers now, where were they for the past eight years? It was on there watch that got us into this mess.

H. Stanning: You are sort of on the right track. President Obama's plan is to clean up our current healthcare system and recover those billions of wasted dollars which will then be used to fund the new healthcare program. He has said that he will NOT sign any healthcare bill that requires the American people to spend one cent of their own money on this reform.

We need this reform. It is really win-win for everyone. You get to keep your private insurance, but the reforms will make it better: you will see lower premiums and your insurance company will be regulated in that they will not be able to drop you mid-treatment, will have to provide coverage for preventative care, etc. Those that do not have private insurance will be able to choose a government option. Not only does this lower everyone's premiums by introducing competition into the insurance market, but hospitals will no longer have to absorb the costs of unpaid bills when someone uninsured cannot pay for their treatments, which again, will lower the cost of healthcare for everyone else.

Stupak is NOT concerned about bringing jobs to the UP. Him and Barack Hussein Obama are on a mission to destroy America (and they are doing a good job). Stupak is more concerned about Great lakes cleanup (which is b.s) then bringing in long term jobs. Levin is concerned about the Hysterical Park in Calumet for his legacy. Nobody comes to Calumet to look at the Park, and we keep spending millions on it. Go figure. Bart, do us a huge favor and resign. Take Levin out the door w/ you.

What I would like to know is when you get a bill from the hospital or doctor for lets say $10,000 for a procedure and you submit it to the insurance the hospital or doctor settles for 50% of the total bill,but if the hospital or doctor bills you and you dont have any insurance they sue you for the entire amount.the should settle for the same 50%

MC, you talk about ignorant people, and how they could educate themselves, which obviously YOU didn't do yourself. You say that the stimulus bill was one of the best things to happen to the U.P. ARE YOU SERIOUS??? Increasing the national debt, devaluing the dollar, and giving the government yet more control is good for the U.P.??? Are you crazy?

WB in Keweenaw Bay "Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, government grants, and federal monies going to subsidize farmers, ranchers, tobacco growers, etc ,etc," are ALL unconstitutional.
The definition of socialism is: "a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole." If all those unconstitutional programs aren't socialist, what are they?

Jim Blanton, The unions will follow Obama because he supports "card check", which will take away the secrecy in votes to join a union. Who would vote AGAINST joining a union if their vote wasn't kept a secret from the union, knowing the grudges the pro union guys would hold against them? That means more union due paying members, which means more money for the unions. Also, for some reason, the unions were exempt from the healthcare standards being proposed in the health care bills....wonder why...

Diana Menhennick, I've found nowhere in the constitution where I have to show empathy towards other citizens. Should the government force me to involuntarily show empathy towards them? I put myself in the shoes of someone who doesn't have healthcare, nor can afford it. The shoes fit quite well since they are my own. Would I like to have health insurance? You bet. Would I take a dime from the federal government to support me? Not a chance. I refuse to be a burden on my fellow citizens.

Mick March, why do so many people from all across the world come to the U.S. to have their health problems taken care of? It's because our health system sucks right? I have NEVER known anyone to be denied the medical attention they need if they don't have health insurance....myself included.

GW, I agree with you. We shouldn't be spending money in Iraq. The war is unconstitutional. Also, just because you have an education doesn't mean you're smart or intelligent. Your statement on that proves my point.

I have heard what both pro and con sides of the health care issue have to say, and personally I tend to lean on the side of not passing this current proposal. I do not have health insurance myself, so one might think I would be in favor of it, simply to get insurance myself. I'm not.

First, I'm wondering, why do we have to completely scrap what is existing, and try something totally new? What if it tanks completely? Then what? We are way worse off than we were before. Isn't this issue of health care reform something that can happen in small doses? I know, and you all know too, that what the pharmaceutical and insurance companies are doing is crooked and awful. Can't we start with some reform there - make them be accountable for things that they have been allowed to do for all this time? Then, begin to slowly make changes toward a new health care system? I am just really worried about erasing the slate, and starting new, that if this is worse than what was going on before, we might be in even bigger trouble than we are now.

Also, does ANYONE know where we can go for information about this bill? 'They' are saying that it is 1000's of pages long, and even our elected officials don't know what it says...but I want to know for myself. I do not wish to rely on any slanted media (left OR right) to explain to me why I should or shouldn't agree with it. But there are so many conflicting reports out there, that it seems impossible to find the REAL truth. If someone knows, I sure would be glad for the information!

Finally, I do have to say that a relative of mine, who has Type 1 diabetes, drinks daily, smokes, misuses his insulin so that meals can be skipped to accommodate the drinking schedule, and misuses the current 'system' in such a way that would make most taxpayers blood boil. It is people like this that I don't see how or why everyone should be responsible for by having a universal health care system! People who have chronic health issues, and TRY to take care of themselves, by all means, but what about the ones who take advantage of well-meaning people, only to continue their bad habits and selfish agendas? Is that going to fall on everyone's heads as well? Will there not be any guidelines to follow, or will it be open for one and for all?

The whole thing is confusing, and you can't find anyone to give you straight-up answers, because they are either a democrat - and 100% for this plan; or they are Republican - and 100% against it. No one will just explain it, what it says, and what it means for 'we the people'!

A pretty good sized deficit???? Really Bart? Do you realize Obama's budget deficit is larger than all other budget deficits since George Washington COMBINED? That's what you call pretty good sized? What would you consider large? Or huge? Enormous? Bart Stupak is nothing more than a political prostitute who has sold his soul to the DNC. He does not care about the people in his district. Bart Stupak cares about Bart Stupak and how far he can get in the party. Now before you all get your panties in a wad, I am not picking on Democrats. The Republicans are as much to blame. There is no real difference in them anyway. Let's call them Republicrats. Both parties are taking us to the same destination. Just down different roads.
We need to stop looking to the government for equal outcome. This is the land of equal opportunity. I don't know how we can look our children,grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren in the face and say,"Sorry we spent it all there is nothing left for you". All the crybabies that are whining because they don't have this or they don't have that need to wipe their nose, change their diaper,and think about those that will come after us. This selfish me,me,me attitude of us and the politicians have bankrupted this country and destroyed our kids future. Hard words I know. The truth is seldom easy to swallow.

After reading almost daily letters to the editor in various U.P. papers about Mr. Stupak's failure to conduct a town hall meeting here in the U.P., I thought the town hall Saturday would be packed. He gave them what they wanted and a total of 157 people showed up. 157. Now I'm sure more than 157 people were able to watch past interviews on tv where Rep. Stupak informed the public of the health care plan. Why would he need to conduct any future town hall meetings here in the U.P. when he can reach far more people on tv in a civilized manner?

Some of those 157 people had their chance to yell and scream so they too could act like those people from other town hall meetings that were often replayed on tv. But I think it is important to point out that very few people actually showed up here and even fewer spoke up in such an irrational way.

There will always be loud and obnoxious people who think they have all of the answers (including many on radio and tv!), and many would never consider another point of view. They will occasionly "get the grease" like those asking for the town hall. But most people here in the U.P. are level-minded and understand that Rep. Stupak is looking out for us the best he can and will continue to do so.

The blowhards will continue to make noise and try to stir things up because that's what they need to do. They don't have the numbers of followers to support them, so those followers they do have need to be extra obnoxious to make it appear as they have a bigger following. So do as I plan on doing and enjoy reading the letters and comments that people make as you enjoy a cup of TEA. On second thought, let's pass on the TEA...we've all had enough of that already!

Dan, dont comment with half truths and misinformation in one sentence, then make complete sense in another. Voting independent is the only way we will get real change. With that, I agree, but to parrot liberal propoganda about making buddies rich and exchanging americans blood for oil is crazy talk. Iraq barely makes the top ten for imports to this country. If we wanted to invade someone for their oil we should have invaded canada (they are number one when we get our crude). The reason to demand independent leadership is the exact reasons you gave for not liking one party or another. The propoganda machine keeps grinding along every day, and americans fall in for it every time. Thats why this country is divided like never before along political lines. This health care bill is a prime example. Though 60% of the public sees this bill as bad for americans, the government is determined to pass it into law. Either the politicians are looking for a big payday through kickbacks and bribes, or they have simply lost touch with reality. The one poster mentioned how people should have a right to care. Well, this is true, but the government wants to force people to obtain coverage at their own expense. If people cannot afford it (and a house, food and etc.) they face fines and prison time. Seems like the party that is supposed to represent the poor, is taking full advantage of the poorest of americans with this legislation. Lets face it, 40,000 dollars a year is poverty level these days. 15 years ago 40 grand was a pretty good living. Not anymore. With increased taxes and cost of living doubling or tripling, that kind of money is barely enough to squeak by if a family has a house and a car. The government thinks that the poverty level for a family of 4 is about 22,000 dollars. If you make 23,000 dollars you are considered middle class. That to me is amazingly blind thinking. Congressmen probably spend more than 23,000 dollars dining out over a year, and americans are supposed to live on that? If a family makes 23,000 dollars a year, can they afford an insurance premium that will cost them upwards of 10,000 dollars a year? Probably not, but they will fork over 1,000 dollars to stay out of jail (so they can feed their kids), and still not have health coverage. The public option would be a great idea, but I doubt it would ever work. Look at the medicare and medicaid. This fund is broke even though all working americans pay a certain percentage of their income into it (about 2.9% with employer contributions). Though they have money coming in constantly, the funds are not managed properly and end up wasted. I dont suppose the government would have any better success of running a health care fund. Trusting the government to be wise with money is the equivalent of giving a crack addict money to hold onto for you. Next thing you know, the addict is feeding their addiction, and you are broke. ... Thats enough of a rant I reckon.... X

If you choose to disagree with President Obama that is your right as an American, but to disrespect him by calling him Osama is ignorant and unpatriotic! Shame on you and your disrespect to the elected president of this great country.

I'm not against everyone having health-care, but if anyone thinks for a second that our government can run it efficiently and effectively, think again! They couldn't run something as simple as the "Cash for Clunkers" car program without messing that up. If the current system is so wasteful and broke, why don't they first focus on cleaning up the waste and then review what is left? Obama's crew said there is billions wasted in the current system, go after that first. As far as Stupak, if anyone votes for him in the next election, they are fools. Enough said about him.

No one is denied health care...lets see, I have an income of about $2000 per month before taxes. My employer does not offer health insurance. My income level puts me out of range for publicly funded programs. I cannot purchase insurance on my own because a pre-existing condition. My medications cost me in excess of $500 per month. My budget is more than maxed out. I ran out of my medication a couple days before payday. Because I did not have the money, I was denied needed medication. Some say that health care is not a basic right. If I should get sick or my condition should worsen, I guess my basic rights only include death or bankruptcy. For those that say there is no basic right to health care, please show me where we have any basic rights to housing, food or other necessities.

OK first of all I am not a huge fan of president obama or 99.9% of our politicians. But i have been thinking about the flak the president has been receiving since pretty much the first day in office. I have decided that George w. Bush and the republican party are geniuses. My reason for coming to this conclusion is that they spent 8 years screwing this country up (not that it hasn't been screwed up for decades already), obtaining fat war contracts and Iraqi oil for their buddies corporations, and stripping us of even more personal rights than any president has ever done before.but then they lose the 2008 election maybe on purpose. why? so the democrat that has to spend obscene amounts of money trying to fix what the republicans screwed up originally receives 9 years of blame for the one year he is in office. crazy.......I do believe that I am done voting for republicans and democrats forever and i urge anyone else that really wants a country that is run for the people and by the people to start voting for independent representatives that will work for our best interests and not the party backing corporations that are controlling our country's politicians. Wouldn't treason charges for politicians that sell out their constituents be a step in the right direction too? They should bring back the ccc too.

Stupak has been outstanding. watch cspan and he's always on the ball thinking for us folks in the U.P. I swear some of yous just watch fox news all day and have no minds of your own. i want my insurance, so we need this reform pasted now, or will all be in the poor house with the rich folks owning us.

Some of you folks need to stop talking and start listening. You can be dropped from your insurance at any point, and theres no regulation to prevent that, if you think otherwise, your wrong. We need some laws in place to protect us old folks are loosing our insurance, land , and all our money.

Yea lets invest 2 TRILLION in Iraq, but not our own country. Lets pay are Irag's health care, not our own. Some of you people have no education. do the rest of us who are smart a favor, and don't talk

I have worked in Healthcare here in the U.P. for 17 years or so. I have not heard of one patient who was cancelled by their insurance company due to illness, maybe there are some that I haven't met. I have talked to several people who have no insurance so I have informed them of programs available. Medicaid has some pretty generous guidelines if your turned down by them then you can talk to your local health department they have medical assistance programs available I know in Houghton and Marquette counties, (probably others too that I don't know of) and if you are not eligible for those you can try your hospital. I know some offer a Community Assistance Program which covers medical necessary appointments.

I have heard several responses from people when I suggest these options. Most people are grateful but there are a few who complain about having to fill out all that paperwork. It is a bother to them to have to prove their income and wait for a response and maybe have to fill out another. So they get their office visits with the doctors as a "Self Pay Patient" and then are offered a discount for being self pay and then another if they pay their visit at time of service but can't be bothered with that and want to be sent a bill. Then they try to make an appointment few months later and are "Shocked" to learn that they have Bad Debt and can't have an appointment until they speak with the billing department. WOW do these people go to the grocery store and ask the clerk to send them a bill? Do they use that line at the bars? Or how about the gas station?

I do believe there needs to be changes in the Healthcare system. But I don't see the right ones being offered yet. I don't feel like I should have to be at work and have some voluntarily unemployed drunk come into my office bragging about how they come in several times a week for minor problems that are self inflicted and state how they are "paying my wages".

I agree that if there is a government healthcare that the people on it should have to have a job, work out and diet if their overweight, and lets throw in a drug and alchohol and nicotine test. I am sorry but if a person can support those kind of habits they can afford to pay for health insurance.

Patrick Henry, Skandia: No, we do not have the best healthcare in the world; we just have the most expensive. Look up the rankings on healthcare and see where we stand. It’s sad that we rank so low in so many areas.

Yes, people are refused medical care in this country. Only public hospitals are required to treat you (and you do still get billed, which often leads to bankruptcy). Private hospitals can stabilize you and put you out. It’s done all the time.

Try getting some ACTUAL facts instead of the Hannity-Beck-Limbaugh version!

Bart Stupak and the rest of the imcumbent professional politicians must be removed during the next election cycle. He is no Yooper, just a D.C. politician out of touch with we the people. It's time we take responsibility for our lives and elect responsive representatives.

I am ashamed of the U.P. after reading these comments. Are you this ignorant or just narrow minded? Come on people! Lack of health care insurance has sent many to the bankruptcy courts. How about some empathy? Put yourself in the shoes of someone who does not have any access to affordable health care. It is easy for those of us have health care to throw stones at a glass house and state it is not a right. Something needs to be done. This is not just about those who do not have health insurance it is also about those who have it and are not being covered or have had their insurance dropped in the middle of Cancer treatments. The health care system is a mess due to numerous factors like the third pay party system that regulates what care YOU get. They won’t make a profit if they have to pay out for YOUR health care. Think about it!!!!!!!!

It is just amazing how the Union's in the U.P. continue to follow the path the president and congress is taking the working man down. They are telling us that health care is a right! What about having a job! With the amount of people out of work up here we need work, then we can pay for health care. But the unions keep sing the same old tune! And the members keep dancing. WAKE UP look what is going on!

I recently wrote to Stupak for some help with a health care problem. Our premiums are way over the top and my husband had a procedure done at Marquette General. Bottom line...it cost $40,000 and this procedure did not require an overnight stay nor did we use the emergency room facilities.

Mr. Stupak did answer my letter and it took four pages for him to say "how sad". I read the first paragraph and threw it in the garbage. He could have cared less.

All he is doing is peddling what Washington wants. He is a career politician..enough said.

What is a trillion or even a billion to our National Debt? Bart is the king of earmarks! I would love to see the new 15 MSP Troopers and 3 Sergeants or the new Soo Locks Bart promised for the U.P. Bart keeps advocating spending and more spending in which equates to Generational theft. China and Japan own us, and what does Obama and Bart do, spend more. It's quite SIMPLE, you cannot spend your way out of a recession, you lower taxes. You cannot spend money we do not have or borrow it from Country's that do not like us much. I wonder if Bart knows what hyper inflation is? This country spends $500 million a day in just interest payments on loans alone. I think the Tax payers comment sums it up best: "I am not sure that being part of the problem would allow you the insight to help correct it." Extremely accurate statement!

when the moronic Bush administration was running America off a cliff? I suspect the very vicious, vocal minority that spews their uptight and paranoid rhetoric(direct from radio's hate/fear radical right pundits) were content and chewing their cud while Cheney and Bush did their damage! These stupid rants about creeping socialism are pathetic! What is Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, government grants, and federal monies going to subsidize farmers, ranchers, tobacco growers, etc ,etc, No body yells when THEY are the recipent of government grants or assistance! I support Stupak and Obama's health initiatives. Those hypocrites that think that America's health care should be left to the generousity of private insurance and drug companies need to take a cold shower and listen to something besides Glenn Beck!

Enjoy your last days as Congressman Mr. Stupak the people of the 1st district are fed up with your being an Obama follower you no ones interest in mind other then your own anymore. You say thats its created jobs let me guess got the info from Osama Obama right. You and every DEM who votes for this health care train wreck will never see re-election hope Osama likes a REP house see what he gets done then!!!

Bart,

You swore to uphold the constitution; not add to it or change it. Health care is not a right.

We have the best health care in the world; by-the-way no one is refused medical care in this country.

If this health care bill you worked on, is so good, then why not you Bart? Not good enough for a congressman?

The U.P. has a jobless rate of 11.7% and Marquette County is at 10.3%. Your stimulous bill has really helped out. Great, just great.

Just keep talking Bart; the people of our district are finding out just whom they elected--a Washington insider.

Last year you took credit for the local economy boom along with the expasion at Cliff's, all the new jobs they created; you may have remained silent when the expansion was table and over 300 miners were laid off, but you did get credit for it too. Can't have it both ways.

Bring Obama to the UP to face a town hall.

Back to the phones for Bart...Must not like face to face questions.

Bart calls our huge federal deficit a challenge!? That's political speak for let the next generation worry and pay for our federal deficit spending. Keep those printing presses cranking out the dollar bills. Right Bart?

Every one in this country should be angry in the way obama is running this country .Every single day there is more news to make your head spin ! Stimulus,clash for clunkers have done nothing but make the rich richer and the health care is gonna hurt the middle class even more if it gets passed! Wake up America!!!!!!

Yes a small percentage is going to the sewer and water in Negaunee but that is nowhere near 30 million. He can take his health care and place it directly it is most uncomfortable to sit. We have a pretty good deficit? No kidding it is huge and since they bail out everyone under the sun it will get worse. Why would we want them to either oversee or manage our health care when yet they cannot even get the budget settled? They wont. When are they gonna take pay cuts?? Oh they don't. Instead they jump on a PLANE and fly all over the us at what cost ?? I am not sure that being part of the problem would allow you the insight to help correct it.

Bart is completely wrong when he says health care is a basic right. With rights come responsibilities. What will the responsibilities be of those under government insurance? Will the government dictate to them if they can smoke or how much they can eat. Maybe make them run every day? Doubtful, instead they will raise taxes on food that both healthy and unhealthy people eat(i.e. the talked about tax on pop). This way we'll all end up paying for this plan.
Health care also cannot be a basic right since it relies on the services of others to happen. Every other fundamental right we enjoy is ours, we don't need to rely on anyone else for the freedom of speech or to worship or for anything else in the bill of rights. With government run healthcare you are dictating to a doctor that he must treat everyone and the rest of us must pay for that treatment. Basically doctors will become slaves of the federal government. I for one don't want to be treated by someone who has to work under those circumstances. I for one will not be voting for Bart in the next election. He's completely out of touch with reality and needs to be replaced, I don't even care if it's by a Republican or another Democrat.

Bart Stupak is a good man and I trust him to do whatever he can to help out his constituents and the nation. By all means let your voice be heard, but give the man the respect he deserves.

I thought Stupak was suspose to go to Washington to represent the people of the UP. Instead he comes here to get us to suport what Washington want. I'm sorry to say I voted for him. What a mistake.

the breaking point for me was when he was plastered all over the news announcing the Cliff's expansion in June of 2008. When the company laid off 350 people I work with he was nowhere to be found. There was no support from him or even a statement. You would even think he could have tried to get the Miner's answers on the sudden layoffs after expansion was announced we know the economy was the cause but still... he should have stood up and gotten the miner's questions answered. USELESS.

I feel bad he had to deal with the most ignorant of the bunch. Most folks are able to educate themselves and perform moderately detailed research to answer their own questions and make logical decisions. The stimulus plan was probably the best thing to happen to the U.P since the CCC. Look at the roads you are driving your cars on, who built that? Healthcare reform is needed now, everyone knows it who has any education. We are the only nation to have a for profit health care approach, which makes it immpossible for average people to buy their own insurance.