State of the Union Address

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Ursa

Ursa

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I thought it would be interesting for us pre-meds and med students to discuss the State of the Union Address, which is tonight. Obviously we will all be paying the most attention to the portion pertaining to health care, so I ask:

What are you hoping to hear?
What do you dread hearing?
What are your reactions to what actually is said?

Open to any relevant comments!
 
a) resignation
b) obama
c) yet another pander fest, most likely
 
Not bothering to watch it. What does any president say during these addresses? "Nothing" in many, many different ways. It's little more than a political pep rally at this point and doesn't do much to inform voters in any meaningful way.
 
A. A better attempt to fix health-care. Our system and these supposed fixes are idiotic. Pretty soon, the US might rank close to any other developed country!

B. More unfulfilled campaign promises.

C. I'll be reading instead. Red or blue, it seems that all politicians are turning into the same person, save for AL FRANKEN!!!!
 
Ursa said:
What are you hoping to hear?
What do you dread hearing?
What are your reactions to what actually is said?
Click to expand...

  1. The unaltered word of God.
  2. Nothing in particular.
  3. Unqualified bliss.

I'm going to miss seeing Nancy Pelosi next to Obama though. :lame:
 
Dang, people are haters.

I'm really looking forward to what he says about health care.

I really liked one of his quotes so far "The future is not a gift. It is an achievement."
 
My favorite part is watching SCOTUS trying to look supernaturally bored. Also love the date night idea - watching people stand up in scattered patterns is much more interesting than watching each half of the room stand up at a time.
 
YEAH! I can do it!

/sarcasm


i liked it
 
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That's why there's no tv on? The state of the union address? This is the last straw obama! You messed with the good wife?! It's on brotha!
 
Ursa said:
What are you hoping to hear?
What do you dread hearing?
What are your reactions to what actually is said?
Click to expand...

I wasn't really hoping or dreading anything. I was happy to hear that he boldly stated his limits on different aspects, such as he wouldn't be willing to go back to a health care system where people can be denied insurance due to pre-existing conditions. I agree that he didn't actually say a whole lot and that it is kind of a pep rally; however, it is good to hear the president talk about the future of this country rather than hearing bits and pieces through various media sources. He is a great speaker which is part of why he was able to gain office, but even that I think he articulated well tonight how realistic he is about many different aspects of government and this country. I'm very glad that he said he would be rethinking the set-up of the government. Why do we need 5 different groups doing the same thing? Seems a little redundant and a poor use of money and educated people.
 
I listened to the Republican "rebuttal," and was disgusted with the overture to victims of the shooting that "shook the world" (even if the shaking was forced down our throats by the media). To that pandering, I give the biggest **** you I can to you Rep. Ryan... If the story wasn't given constant coverage, there would be mention of her, none.

I can't express the respect I have for Obama not making the speech, a speech about the state of the whole nation and it's direction, focus on her. He rightfully paid his respects to her and wished her good health, with one damn sentence, not relying on it to attempt to win brownie points with the "hey I saw her on tv, I like him more now!" crowd.

I liked the speech a lot. I was very skeptical of Obama, only voting for him when McCain decided to throw the illusion of integrity to the wind, accepting a caricature as a running mate, but I've liked him more and more through his presidency. Everything that he spoke on during that speech echoed my personal, pragmatic, thoughts on where our direction should lie.
 
The Healthcare Reform Bill is a socialized medical care system similar to the British and Canadian healthcare systems. One of the key aspects of a socialized system is rationing. The number 1 question is, "Who is going to pay for this extremely expensive plan?" Healthcare is not a right or a want, it is a product. The government cannot force citizens in this country to buy Obamacare, because of the U.S. Constitution. The insurance companies will make record amount of profits if this bill ever come into place. "In the United States, 5 percent of the population — the sickest members of our society — consume 50 percent of the healthcare dollar". Here are some of the possibilities that might happen under a socialized healthcare system: "Since there is essentially nowhere else for Americans to go, the new healthcare system will have to depend on severe, progressive rationing of healthcare. Many services will be denied (especially to the elderly). The elderly will be encouraged to terminate their own lives. Doctors who provide too much care will be punished." (The Blaylock Wellness Report is the source I used)
 
Tone was at least more in the middle than previous years.

One mark of how well Obama is doing in the next years will be how badly he pisses off the unions, Daily Kos, Keith Olbermann (firing him won't shut him up!), and Huff-Po readers. Generally, the angrier all those people are, the better a job Obama is doing.
 
Bleh.

Way too much compromising. Why did he extend those tax cuts? You can't talk about cutting the deficit and keep doing crap like that.
 
Lokhtar said:
Bleh.

Way too much compromising. Why did he extend those tax cuts? You can't talk about cutting the deficit and keep doing crap like that.
Click to expand...

Allowing people to keep more of their own money that they earned isn't the problem. Even if you taxed every single person at 100% in the US, you still would not have a balanced budget.

In fairness, Republicans and Democrats have proven themselves to be completely inept, so there is little hope that any budget will get balanced. Bush drove towards a cliff at 70 miles an hour, and he handed it over to Obama who sped up to 80. Democrats are scared to talk about cuts to the welfare state; Republicans are afraid to talk about cuts to the warfare state.
 
patel2 said:
Allowing people to keep more of their own money that they earned isn't the problem.
Click to expand...

LOL. Yea it is, for the top income earners. There's a greater income disparity now than there has been for many many decades, and it's getting much worse. The middle class is being suffocated and you can't have a healthy society without a strong middle class.
 
apples
 
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Well the highlight of the speech for me was about "medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits." WOOHOO! Who's idea was that again?
 
Ursa said:
Well the highlight of the speech for me was about "medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits." WOOHOO! Who's idea was that again?
Click to expand...

Well I don't know how old the idea is, but some very cursory research on the topic shows that the idea dates back to at least the mid 1970's when MIRCA was passed by the California legislature and signed into law by the once and future govenor Jerry Brown.

Maybe you could ask Jerry Brown whose idea it was.
 
Reticent said:
Well I don't know how old the idea is, but some very cursory research on the topic shows that the idea dates back to at least the mid 1970's when MIRCA was passed by the California legislature and signed into law by the once and future govenor Jerry Brown.

Maybe you could ask Jerry Brown whose idea it was.
Click to expand...

Haha, touche! I was referencing what Obama prefaced that statement with last night. I think he said it was proposed by Republicans last year, but you are right, it's most likely a very old proposal.
 
UnitedWeStand said:
The Healthcare Reform Bill is a socialized medical care system similar to the British and Canadian healthcare systems. One of the key aspects of a socialized system is rationing. The number 1 question is, "Who is going to pay for this extremely expensive plan?" Healthcare is not a right or a want, it is a product. The government cannot force citizens in this country to buy Obamacare, because of the U.S. Constitution. The insurance companies will make record amount of profits if this bill ever come into place.
Click to expand...

A socialized system with record corporate profits? There just has to be a contradiction in there, somewhere.
 
Ursa said:
Haha, touche! I was referencing what Obama prefaced that statement with last night. I think he said it was proposed by Republicans last year, but you are right, it's most likely a very old proposal.
Click to expand...

Malpractice/tort reform is an issue traditionally left to the states. This is just going to be another government takeover.
 
Parts Unknown said:
A socialized system with record corporate profits? There just has to be a contradiction in there, somewhere.
Click to expand...

Let's remember that Health Care Reform has not been implemented yet.
 
Ursa said:
Let's remember that Health Care Reform has not been implemented yet.
Click to expand...

It's just that a truly socialized system would be owned by the public, not corporations. This is simply another knee-jerk use of the term.
 
I did not like the superbowl comment....Its def more important than science winners....
 
UnitedWeStand said:
The Healthcare Reform Bill is a socialized medical care system similar to the British and Canadian healthcare systems. One of the key aspects of a socialized system is rationing. The number 1 question is, "Who is going to pay for this extremely expensive plan?" Healthcare is not a right or a want, it is a product. The government cannot force citizens in this country to buy Obamacare, because of the U.S. Constitution. The insurance companies will make record amount of profits if this bill ever come into place. "In the United States, 5 percent of the population — the sickest members of our society — consume 50 percent of the healthcare dollar". Here are some of the possibilities that might happen under a socialized healthcare system: "Since there is essentially nowhere else for Americans to go, the new healthcare system will have to depend on severe, progressive rationing of healthcare. Many services will be denied (especially to the elderly). The elderly will be encouraged to terminate their own lives. Doctors who provide too much care will be punished." (The Blaylock Wellness Report is the source I used)
Click to expand...


LOL Death Panels return!! Is this Sarah Palin? Its amazing to me that people are dumb enough to believe that our country will turn into Lord of the Flies with health care reform, and that everyone will begin opting to kill each other over prescriptions.

First of all, I do believe health care is a right. I believe that any peoples who assume control over another body of people have a responsibility to take care of and provide health for said body. And that being said, for universal health care to work, everyone needs to buy it (or else this causes problems). And what do you mean the government can't force you to buy something? they do it all the time! It's illegal to walk down the street naked, that's a government mandate to buy clothes. It's illegal to not feed your children, that's a government mandate to buy food.

In one aspect you're right, this reform isn't perfect, and it does add a large cost to something that other countries are doing for much cheaper. But the real solution to this problem is for Americans to man up and pay more taxes. I think last year around 47% of Americans paid NO federal income tax. None! (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Nearly-half-of-US-households-apf-1105567323.html?x=0&.v=1) That's lost money for things such as health care reform.

All I know is the US ranks around 37th in the world for quality of health care (WHO) and in terms of life expectancy and infant mortality we're 49th and 47th respectively. I think the OP and other readers need to consider these numbers and post more solutions and less bull**** about how changing the status quo will purge the USA into some post-apocalyptic wasteland.
 
I did not bother watching it since what is being said has no direct impact on my life and if does there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. I can agree or disagree with what said by him or any previous president, still nothing that I can do about it.
 
Lokhtar said:
LOL. Yea it is, for the top income earners. There's a greater income disparity now than there has been for many many decades, and it's getting much worse. The middle class is being suffocated and you can't have a healthy society without a strong middle class.
Click to expand...

LOL. Looks like you've drank Obama/Krugman's kool-aid on social justice. You can't have a strong middle class with trillion dollar deficits and inflation of the US monetary supply. Taxing the rich isn't going to make food, gas, or heating/electricity bills any cheaper for the middle class. Are you going to take the "rich" peoples money and send stimulus checks to those lower-income workers to bridge this divide? Small-business owners create the majority of the jobs in this country. Tax them more, and they'll just hire less individuals, further eroding the middle class.

But it's okay for an individual to philosophically support tax-hikes for the "rich", even if they don't make sense economically, so long as they also have a vision of massive spending cuts to balance the other 98% of the deficit. Again, even if we followed through on Obama's views of the wealthy, and taxed them 100%, we wouldn't have anywhere close to a balanced budget.
 
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MeowMeowCAT said:
I did not bother watching it since what is being said has no direct impact on my life and if does there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. I can agree or disagree with what said by him or any previous president, still nothing that I can do about it.
Click to expand...


You can vote. That's the great thing about America.
 
patel2 said:
LOL. Looks like you've drank Obama/Krugman's kool-aid on social justice.
Click to expand...

What is with the ever present kool-aid slam on those with oppositional views than the Repubs? This statement is more than a cliche now.

patel2 said:
LOL. Looks like you've drank Obama/Krugman's kool-aid on social justice. You can't have a strong middle class with trillion dollar deficits and inflation of the US monetary supply. Taxing the rich isn't going to make food, gas, or heating/electricity bills any cheaper for the middle class. Are you going to take the "rich" peoples money and send stimulus checks to those lower-income workers to bridge this divide? Small-business owners create the majority of the jobs in this country. Tax them more, and they'll just hire less individuals, further eroding the middle class.

But it's okay for an individual to philosophically support tax-hikes for the "rich", even if they don't make sense economically, so long as they also have a vision of massive spending cuts to balance the other 98% of the deficit. Again, even if we followed through on Obama's views of the wealthy, and taxed them 100%, we wouldn't have anywhere close to a balanced budget.
Click to expand...

Why doesn't raising tax cuts by 3% for those that make over $250,000 dollars a year not make sense economically? And explain how a 3% tax increase sounds like taking the rich peoples money.

Here's CBO's new estimate:
Washington (AP) — A new estimate predicts the federal budget deficit will hit almost $1.5 trillion this year, a stunning new record.
The latest figures from the Congressional Budget Office are up from previous estimates because Congress and President Barack Obama teamed up in December on bipartisan legislation to extend Bush-era tax cuts that were due to expire. The new estimates will only add fuel to a raging debate over cutting spending and looming legislation that's required to allow the government to borrow more money.
The nonpartisan budget agency predicts the deficit will drop to $1.1 trillion next year.
Legislation passed in December to extend tax cuts, unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless and provide a 2 percent payroll tax cut this year adds almost $400 billion to this year's deficit.
Click to expand...
It is quite disappointing Obama passed this legislature. While your point is understood that even if he taxed the wealthy more, the budget would still not be balanced, that isn't the issue. The tax cut will now make this a more difficult task. Obviously trying to balance the budge while fighting wars and nation building in Iraq and Afghanistan doesn't help too much either now does it?
 
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Triplet said:
What is with the ever present kool-aid slam on those with oppositional views than the Repubs? This statement is more than a cliche now.



Why doesn't raising tax cuts by 3% for those that make over $250,000 dollars a year not make sense economically? And explain how a 3% tax increase sounds like taking the rich peoples money.

Here's CBO's new estimate:
It is quite disappointing Obama passed this legislature. While your point is understood that even if he taxed the wealthy more, the budget would still not be balanced, that isn't the issue. The tax cut will now make this a more difficult task. Obviously trying to balance the budge while fighting wars and nation building in Iraq and Afghanistan doesn't help too much either now does it?

My kool-aid must not have worn off!
Click to expand...

Because this discussion (not on here, but in America) has turned into grasping for straws on both sides. We can argue about the fairness of tax cuts and hikes and the philosophical views of them all day, and reach a different consensus. But whether we raise taxes or not, that is less than 5% of deficit spending. Peanuts. It's similar to idiots like John McCain who act like eliminating earmarks will solve America's problems, when they only save like 20 billion a year. It's silly to pick something so small as a trademark issue, and then ignore everything else.

It's disingenuous to hear Democrats saying that we need tax-hikes, while also calling for new stimulus and gov't programs. It's disingenuous for Republicans to talk about tax cuts, while also promoting an expanded military and gov't. How about both parties fixate less on this issue, and work together to find ways to slash government spending by a trillion dollars? That's where "bipartisanship" needs to come from.
 
There are two main reasons why we Americans have a huge deficit: The Federal Reserve & The Military Industrial Complex. The Federal Reserve- Congress does not control our monetary policy the Fed Reserve does. We have to borrow the money from the Feds and then pay interest on the cash we borrow. That is what you call Fractional Reserve Lending- they create money out of thin air & then tell us that we have to pay them back with interest. Then, we have our troops fighting a make believe war with Al-CIA-duh in the middle east.(Your more likely to die from a bee sting then from a terrorist. Also, we have troops in every country in the world to promote democracy (We're a Constitutional Democracy). Send the troops home and protect our borders.
 
UnitedWeStand said:
The Healthcare Reform Bill is a socialized medical care system similar to the British and Canadian healthcare systems. One of the key aspects of a socialized system is rationing. The number 1 question is, "Who is going to pay for this extremely expensive plan?" Healthcare is not a right or a want, it is a product. The government cannot force citizens in this country to buy Obamacare, because of the U.S. Constitution. The insurance companies will make record amount of profits if this bill ever come into place. "In the United States, 5 percent of the population — the sickest members of our society — consume 50 percent of the healthcare dollar". Here are some of the possibilities that might happen under a socialized healthcare system: "Since there is essentially nowhere else for Americans to go, the new healthcare system will have to depend on severe, progressive rationing of healthcare. Many services will be denied (especially to the elderly). The elderly will be encouraged to terminate their own lives. Doctors who provide too much care will be punished." (The Blaylock Wellness Report is the source I used)
Click to expand...

Ah the death panel argument. The only place in the country with a death panel is republican controlled (http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/01/05/arizona-death-panel-claims-another-victim/).

Also, I often here that Canadians hate their healthcare system, but I've never met a Canadian that hates their system. Rather, I meet a lot of Canadians that refuse to come to America without buying short-term insurance, or that go back to Canada to get care rather than trying to wade through our mess.
 
UnitedWeStand said:
There are two main reasons why we Americans have a huge deficit: The Federal Reserve & The Military Industrial Complex. The Federal Reserve- Congress does not control our monetary policy the Fed Reserve does. We have to borrow the money from the Feds and then pay interest on the cash we borrow. That is what you call Fractional Reserve Lending- they create money out of thin air & then tell us that we have to pay them back with interest. Then, we have our troops fighting a make believe war with Al-CIA-duh in the middle east.(Your more likely to die from a bee sting then from a terrorist. Also, we have troops in every country in the world to promote democracy (We're a Constitutional Democracy). Send the troops home and protect our borders.
Click to expand...

👍 agreed 100%. The biggest threat to national security is the national deficit. bring the troops home, close the military bases around the world, and do a thorough audit of the fed. Ultimately, if Bernanke wanted to be responsible and not be a tool of the executive, he would raise interest rates and not monetize debt, which effectively forces government to live below its means.
 
There's a whole lot of blahblahblah here but, to the person that made the superbowl comment, I think you missed the point. Just sayin...

Good discourse, guys. 🙂
 
I propose we reduce spending by eliminating unnecessary trips to India and renting out the Taj Mahal! Ursa for president!!
 
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