Dullupone, I forgot to ask, do you have a job?

The reason I ask is, you remind me of an interview I saw on TV with some folks from Detroit. They and tens of thousands of others had lined up for some "free" Obamacash, and when a reporter asked them where the money came from, naturally, they said "Obama." So, he pressed a little further. Where did Obama get it, he asked? "I don't know, from his stash, I guess."

You noted that the democrat party had "given" us social security, medicare, etc...but, if the liberal democrats had not taken the income earned by hard working folks, they could not have "given" you anything, could they? Where does "Obama's stash" come from? A money tree? Therein is the danger; our Founders warned that when the people learned that they could loot the public treasury and legally steal from others, the death of our nation was not far away. That is the case today. Many think they have a right to essentially knock on their neighbors door and ask them to pay for their food, car, insurance, medical care...when did the "bum" mentality take over in America? Started in the 1930s...EVERY dollar taken from someone's hand, the product of THEIR labor, confiscated by the government and redistributed in the true spirit of Karl Marx, is one dollar that will never hire anyone, never be invested, never generate tax revenues, never be spent on a true product or service, and hence employ someone else. That is one huge reason we have the mess we do right now. Obama's solution is to tax working people more, tax businesses more, waste it on a so called "Stimulus" which clearly has not worked, then sit back and wonder what on earth is going on with the economy? Clueless, totally clueless. All he can do, like most of his kool aid drinking followers, is blame Bush. Well, what good does it do to follow up on Bush's errors, only make them a thousand times worse? It took from George Washington to Ronald Reagan to spend the first 3 trillion dollars on our federal budget; Obama spent that much in 19 months. Go ahead...keep cry about Bush, we the people elected Obama, right?

...and I wish you the same good health and ability to continue working.

As for the hypothetical situation you describe, I don't know, because it has not happened. I do expect to work and earn what I use, as well as provide for my family, I do not expect now, or in the future, to go knocking door to door asking my neighbors to pay for my car insurance, my car payment, my food, or MY MEDICAL CARE. But, looking at the current model, are there not 101 "Safety Nets" already in place in our society? Nobody can be turned down at an emergency room; that is what is bankrupting CA; Medicare, which Obama CUT BY BILLIONS, assists; Medicaid, assists; personal savings, work, insurance, relatives, etc...

I don't think you understand the point about "state lines." Presently, if I understand correctly, only one company sells health policies in WV; if you have 2 or 3 selling, which is increased competition for the consumer's dollar, price goes down. Works every time it is tried...imagine if there were only one car dealer in WV-what would they charge for a vehicle?

Sure, sadly, there are lots who cannot pay, and a great deal of that is due to Obama and his policies. Free markets and free competition lift the poor out of poverty and provide more opportunity than any other economic system in the world. There is a reason the rest of the world is always trying to get into the USA, and it is not because we are communists/socialists like Obama is.

"The idea under Obama..." Wow. The big idea could not have ever happened, you cannot show me even ONE government sponsored program that meets it's budget or contains costs, not even one. I saw an interesting piece in Friday's USA Today newspaper, a little block back around page 11 or so, announcing that the price tag for Obamacare is going up, instead of down. Weren't we told our health care would be "free?" Did you go to the doctor the day after it was passed and ask for your free care? How'd that work for you? We were told it would not add to the deficit, it does; we were told it would not cover abortions, it will; we were told it would save money, now they admit, it will not; there will be tens of millions left uncovered when this monstrosity kicks in, IN FOUR MORE YEARS-where is my FREE care, NOW???

You answer your own question in reference to increasing rates-keep filing lawsuits and awarding outrageous sums, and guess what? Doctors don't pay those awards, their insurance companies do, then the doctor's rates get raised, WHICH THEY PASS ON TO YOU!! Then, for good measure, they run every test in the book to try and help defend against lawsuits, and what happens to costs? They rise. SIMPLE TRUTH: there are risks in everything you do, from driving a car, to eating an egg, to going to the doctor. That does not make you entitled to a million dollars, that I end up paying.

The liberals have given us bankruptcy, no matter which party they inhabit. Have you not noticed that we are a 1/4 inch from total financial ruin? Nothing is free; somebody has to pay, and when there is too much to pay, you turn into Greece or France. That is what liberals have "given" us. As for R's, I could care less; however, conservatives stress personal responsibility for one's actions, freedom, liberty, etc...check out the Constitution sometime. None of your prized "giveaways" are found anywhere in it.

Finally, as for Obama, he had more opportunity than anyone in a generation to do good things in America. He has totally blown it; and this is according to his liberal friends, not just conservatives. More and more recognize an empty suit when they see one. He cannot even do a press conference without a teleprompter. What a joke...He has overwhelming majorities in both houses of Congress; a slavish, devoted lap-dog media; millions of kool aid drinking, deadbeat, welfare lifestyle devotees who think people work just so Obama can take it and "spread the wealth;" but, there is truly hope, because change is coming. I think on Nov. 3rd the democrat party and liberals everywhere simply won't know what has hit them; it will be the righteous fury of the American people, at least those of us who are still able to recognize freedom and liberty, honor our constitution, and will not support a man whose goal was to tear down, destroy, and "fundamentally change" America. Stay tuned...

dollupone, you good.

callowaymine, I hope your health holds out to continue paying for your health insurance. What are you going to do when you can no longer work and pay for your insurance? The body does give out and things happen that changes our circumstances in life. I cannot see where you think that being able to cross state lines will lower your insurance rates. When ceo's of insurance companies quit getting millions of dollars to deny people insurance is when the rates will go down. Have you ever been in a Dr's office and seen how people on medicaid are treated? Have you ever seen a Dr. put a patient down that did not have money to pay for a visit or a procedure, I have. The idea of health insurance under Obama was for people to be able to see a Dr. before his small medical problem turns into a major problem that will cost more money to treat. The person who is paying his insurance is paying for the other person who doesn't have insurance. I suppose you don't mind your rates going up until you can no longer afford insurance for you and the other person? I pray no Dr. ever makes a mistake operating on you when you get your tort reform. Yes, it will be everyone who gets limited funds and you may not be able to get the care you need if it happens to you. The democrats have given this country, social security, medicare, and now health care? What has the Republicans ever given the middle class? I don't suppose you can remember when people retired and had nothing to retire on and lived in poverty. Seventy five years ago or more there were no credit cards or a living wage and people were dirt poor. Is that what you would like to return to. As for Pres. Obama, I don't think the man could use the facilities and do it right to suit you.

Barack Hoover Obama has had just under 2 years; it belongs to him now, he is responsible, Bush is gone, and what has Obama done? Go on vacation, 7 times.

Good observations BioHOG. There is not one single Govt. program that the socialists can point to that has reduced costs and ran efficiently. Not one.

Solutions: interstate competition between companies. End the monopolies. Increased competition lowers price.

HSAs-empower the person; let them manage and be responsible for their own care, if they are capable and want to. They will shop for care, shop for the best price, and that will help turn things in the right direction.

Limit lawsuits; stop lawsuit abuse. Anyone should be able to figure out that damage awards, just like taxes on corporations and businesses, are not truly paid by the hospital or doctor; they are passed on to US. We pay every time some doofuss jury awards 50 million dollars for a spilled cup of coffee or whatever. Rein this in; limit awards; remember a few years ago when OB-GYNs could not afford to practice in WV? Why? Lawsuits? Who gets hurt? WE DO!!! Ever hear of someone going to the hospital, going through a battery of tests, perhaps needed, perhaps not; either way, the doctor is scared to death of getting sued, so they do the tests; then bill the insurance company. Guess what happens to rates?

Get the government out of healthcare; anywhere in the world that Govt. touches HC, it is inefficient, bloated, sub-par care.

I have a job and earn my health care that way. I also hope Demint was right about Obamacare. Have you seen the articles cropping up now? How companies are DROPPING their employee coverages? When they do, where can you go? One place-Obama. Do you REALLY want Obama in charge of your health care? Really? What has our street agitator president ever accomplished? Take a look at the economy. Besides, what a shock to some when they went to the doctor's office and found out their care was NOT free after all; in fact, families will end up PAYING nearly a thousand dollars per month for it. What a sad, sad joke on America Barack Hoover Obama is.

Biohog, Be careful in your tort reform. Let's say a young teenager is left paralayzed by a mistake a medical person and the money limit is 350 thousand. That is not enough for the person to live on for medical treatment and care. in case you are not aware there is a large number of medical people on drugs. As for competion across state lines, it will not bring down the price of insurance and may make it more complicated for people to choose a company. It also does not adress the issue of being denied insurance for pre-existing conditions.

Jack,

By all means, stand by your definition. However, you need to re-read the article to see what the author was talking about when they said "lame-duck session of Congress".

It is all based on if the Democrats lose this November. If they lose (which it is looking like they will), they will still have the remainder of the year to push through what they want regardless if the American people want it (like Obamacare) because they'll no longer be there and/or in control next year.

No one suggested Obama was a lame duck President...yet.

I do have a problem with Obamacare and based on nationwide reporting, so does the majority of "We the People".

I didn't mention Iraq or Iran, so no need to introduce a strawman argument. Let's try and keep the discussion logical, okay?

Dollupone - How about tort reform? How about opening up competition across state lines for heath insurance? These are just a couple of items that would drastically reduce health insurance costs and make it more affordable for people to purchase. Having government step in to run it only makes it more costly by adding a bureaucratic nightmare.

We the People elected President Obama by majority vote to reform Healthcare, which he has done.

Stop the Bush/Cheney wars in the middle-east and bring back the U.S. Constitution as our form of government.

To put a leash on the pitbull State of Israel that has caused havoc in the middle-east.

"Barack Hoover Obama" Again using the 180 degree rule, blaming the other party for your party's incompetence.

Your dream of the Republicians winning the Senate and House is like someone's reasoning after ingesting Cannabis.

How did you like the Bush/Cheney/Republician Depression of 2000-2008, want some more.

It seems the people against the health care bill are people who have their healthcare thru the state,federal,employer or military people who received theirs thru service who in essence are saying so sad too bad about you,I got mine so crawl in the corner and die and see if I care. People can't seem to wrap their minds around the billions of dollars that have been wasted in the Iraq war that could have been used in this country for health care or repairing the infrastrcture in this country that is falling apart.Other nations in this world provide health care for their citizens but, here in the U.S. we send billions to other countries that is pocketed by the leaders of those countries and they would not spit on us if we were on fire. At the same time the citizens resent giving health care to their own brothers and sisters. We have the gall to say we are christians and treat our own people like animals. Since you conservatives are against this health care bill, where is your solution to the problem of people not having any health care coverage? When a person goes to the emergency room because they don't have the money to pay a doctor and the people who pay for their insurance is paying for the other person who can't afford health coverage and causes the person who is paying for his health care cost of insurance to go up,where is the answer to the problem when the person can no longer afford to pay for his coverage? Why are you blaming the Democrats for passing the health care bill when from the start two senators from S.C.,Sen. Jim Demint and Sen. Lindsley Graham said that Pres. Obama would never pass the health care bill and the Republicans have refused to cooperate with the Democrats.Sen Demint said it would be Pres. Obamas waterloo that he would never pass it. Why are most of the southern states against this bill? Because in 2014 most of the responsibility falls on the states to provide health care for their people,and the southern states are anti-union and the wages are lower. In South Carolina for every dollar that goes to the feds,they get back $1.35 cents, not a bad deal when you are so anti- union. They take a free ride on the backs of the states that have unions.

So what else is new? This bunch has been governing AGAINST the will of America for the last 4 years, and the last 2 especially with Obama. Throw liberals out, anywhere you find them, start with Nick Joe Rahall.

Bio Hog, good luck tangling with Jack's intellect. You should know by reading his posts his positions are unassailable. Jack, can you please define "defination?"It sounds like YOU have a problem with the people who elected Bush in 2004? Duh...that is what elections are for, and since the overwhelming majority of the people OPPOSED Obamacare then, and still do NOW, yes, we will vote, and 2010 is the first step in getting it removed, and hopefully, finish the job by voting Barack Hoover Obama out of office next. How is the Summer of Recovery going for everyone? Happy Days are Here Again, la la la. Everyone get registered; I heard the other day Gallup Polls announced a 10 point R lead in every category; a tsunami is coming, lets start by tossing out Rahall locally.

Bio,

I'll stand with my defination.

A LAME DUCK is an elected official who is approaching the end of their tenure, and expecially whose successor has already been elected.

President Obama will not be a Lame Duck, those that will meet this title will be those Republicans that have been defeated in their primarys, those Republicans that will be defeated in the General election and those Republicans that did not seek re-election because of their criminal or immoral activities.

This Republican group in Congress is known as the Immoral Minority.

There will be Lame Ducks in Congress, but you will not have a Lame Duck Congress.

President Obama can be a Lame Duck when he starts his 7th year in office or if he anounces that he will not be running again in his 3rd year.

President Obama ran for office on the platform to reform Healthcare. We The People elected him to fulfill that promise, he did.

If you have a problem with Healthcare Reform, then you have a problem with We The People of the United States who elected President Obama by MAJORITY vote.

You sound like Bush/Cheney neocons that want to send another TRILLION dollars to Iraq or better than that, invade Iran and send 5 TRILLION dollars.

Sorry Jack, but your "lame duck" definition isn't complete. Per the U.S. Senate reference glossary (http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/lame_duck_session.htm):

"lame duck" session - When Congress (or either chamber) reconvenes in an even-numbered year following the November general elections to consider various items of business. Some lawmakers who return for this session will not be in the next Congress. Hence, they are informally called "lame duck" Members participating in a "lame duck" session.

And from Merriam-Webster (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lame duck):

Definition of LAME DUCK

1: one that is weak or that falls behind in ability or achievement; especially chiefly British : an ailing company

2: an elected official or group continuing to hold political office during the period between the election and the inauguration of a successor

3: one whose position or term of office will soon end

As for arrogance, President Obama and the Democratic Congress have redefined arrogance. Passing a healthcare reform bill the majority of "We the People" don't want...pure arrogance. Increasing the deficit more from 2009 - 2010 than occurred from 2001 - 2008 and pointing their finger at Republicans, especially when Democrats controlled Congress and the purse since 2007...pure arrogance. You're not speaking the truth, Jack. Until you do, you'll never be free.

More Yellow Dog Republican/Banner crapp.

The expression "Lame Duck" is used when a politician is serving their last term in office and can't run for that office again.

Arrogance was a defination and still is of the Bush/Cheney Regime. Fascist using the 180 degree rule, blame the Liberals for what they do.

If passing Bills for We The People is considered ultra-liberal, then I'm an ultra-liberal.

Passing Bills by the ultra-right for the ultra-rich and big business, I's against it.

Taxpayer dollars should not be used to supplement the private sector.

The voters spoke in 2008, and that message will be in effect until 2012. Live with it.

The above article reads like something written by one of the The Kentucky Banner's staff.