Will Obama go through with HealthCare Reform

[CatInASuit]

On becoming POTUS, One of Obama's big schemes was to revitalise Healthcare in America. He has laid out in broad strokes what he plans to do with the finer detail to be set out through Congress.

Now with his popularity starting to slump in the polls, and objections coming from Congress, mainly from the Republicans who are totally against it, is he likely to go for a compromise to try and get something through?

Also given that the US is still in recession/just coming out of it and has a massive deficit can it really afford to implement the plans that have been mentioned, without a massive impact to the economy. After all the money has to come from somewhere.

How much effect is this having on the average person or is it just politicians arguing? Are you in favour of it or do you think it is a waste of money and people should stick to the current system of Medicare and private medical insurance?

And if you had to change Healthcare in America, how would you do it?

[What Exit?]

I believe he will keep pushing and campaigning for it. I think it will not be close to what he was hoping for in the end though. He will get something in place before he is done.

[EddyTeddyFreddy]

Yep, he'll get a bill through and signed. As Jim says, it won't be all that he wants but it will accomplish significant chunks of it, such as health insurance exchanges, no denial for pre-existing conditions, stuff like that which is important.

I'd prefer single payer, maybe by throwing open Medicare to everyone, but that ain't happening.

[What Exit?]

Yep, he'll get a bill through and signed. As Jim says, it won't be all that he wants but it will accomplish significant chunks of it, such as health insurance exchanges, no denial for pre-existing conditions, stuff like that which is important.

I'd prefer single payer, maybe by throwing open Medicare to everyone, but that ain't happening.

I'll settle for the first big step approach. Get this through, show people that it is not the end of America and then slowly phase the insurance companies out of the picture and getting it over to single payer.

[vison]

My word, I hope so. What an unbelievable brouhaha, over something as civilized as the public good of public health insurance. I know that they aren't HERE, at Mellophant, but man, there are some stupid Americans.

[Julie]

I think something will pass, and I think that this level of vitriol is unsustainable so future Congresses will poke and prod and shift and change and it will eventually maybe not suck.

[Cluricaun]

I’m still surprised that with all the economic issues facing the administration that they chose this particular hill to die on so early on. Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather they were mucking about with this than gun control, I just thought fore sure that they would wait at least a year into it before trying something so apparently radical.

[Exy]

Obama just needs to get the Dems onboard and pass something decent, and then the GOP will just look like the worthless, idea-free obstructionists they currently are. Since he seems to have done an excellent job of consolidating Dem support over the last couple weeks, I'd say it's looking pretty good.

[vison]

I’m still surprised that with all the economic issues facing the administration that they chose this particular hill to die on so early on. Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather they were mucking about with this than gun control, I just thought fore sure that they would wait at least a year into it before trying something so apparently radical.

I made a similar comment somewhere else and was told "it's now or never". He can't wait until next year, because of midterm elections. He can't do it after that, cuz he's up for reelection in 2012. I don't know if these are valid opinions, but it made sense to me.

I don't see them "mucking with gun control". If we are to talk of political suicide!