Elisabeth, you seem to live on some alternative universe.  Your view certainly does not resemble what I see.  I believe you work in the health care industry, don´t you?  From your perspective you most probably get a different view. 

Many of those rich people DID NOT work for it.....they inherited it.   As to deciding who is rich....it´s really not that hard now, is it?  Of course those who have more should pay more.  Why should they get tax breaks...while the rest of the poor schleps pay proportionally?

Another thing to consider is those who have grown up in privileged environment have advantages in many areas such as; learning, nutritional benefits that developed healthier bodies, helpful social contacts, knowledge of beneficial social etiquette  and many other areas.  You can not in any way compare a poor black descendent of field slaves, or an indigenous person to a wealthy privileged person of European heritage.

 Look alameda, you asked for thoughts and I gave them to you.  I already said that different people, in different parts of our country have a different view.  I don´t think it is constructive to the conversation to insinuate that I come from a privilaged European heritage and that is the reason for my view.  You don´t know my background and you are not a friend, so keep your personal attacks to yourself.  I don´t quite understand why you are so ugly toward me when I do have some first hand experience with the issue and was being quite civil even when Cat and I were disagreeing. 

In any case, I mentioned that healthcare reform is needed, but I think we can do better than a government run plan.  Anyone who has spent time at a VA hospital (worked in one) understands what the government considers good healthcare.  I can assure you that it falls well below what most people would consider good care.   

So what if they inherited it, congrats to them.  Can´t you put your jealousy aside?  You want to know why people don´t comment on your posts, well just look how your response was to Lis.  Who wants to have a civil conversation with such a condescending individual like yourself.  

 Good post, Teas!

 +10000000000000000000 on your comments on VA care.  It is an abomination! 

I don´t know what the right answer is but I do know SOMETHING has to be done about health care (ie: insurance companies)!! 

I do wonder though...when I see all those people who are spouting thier rhetoric at the town hall meetings...how many of them actually KNOW what they are talking about?  How many of them are touting "death panels" because they heard Sarah Palin say it?  How many are actually doing their homework instead of just jumping on the "Obama´s wrong" bandwagon.  And how many of those that the media show screaming that they don´t want public healthcare, the elderly ones, realize that they are already in a public health system...because 10 - 1, I bet almost everyone of them are on Medicare!

God you are so slow!  Alameda tells us all the time that she doesn´t resort to personal attacks!!  

I was not referring to you regarding my European comment....although....remembering the photo of you (and your husband) you used to have here, it´s clear you are of European decent.  Of course, that was before you decided  to get "cute" with it and post the photographic work of someone else as your own personal photo.  As to your being from a privileged background, I made no comment regarding your background and I really could care less what your background is.

After all, it is a matter of perspective now, isn´t it? Don´t take things so personally....it´s not all about you...or me....

You don´t expect much of government; I do expect government to perform.  I see you are enjoying the use of the Internet, which is a government developed product.  If citizens kept up with what their government is doing, perhaps things would be different.  As long as it is secretive and does not divulge what is going on, we can´t expect a lot. 

I don´t think some things should be profit motivated and health care is on top of the list.  Anyone who makes profits off of others misery is very low on my scale of humanity.

 Well now, isn´t it funny how YOUR perspective changes when someone has taken offense to something YOU said to them!!!  You are a straight up hypocrite. 

 ............my perspective has not changed.....

Nice try to deflect the actual issue....which is that you are a hypocrite! 

You cry like a little baby when someone dares to insult you but when YOU do it......you tell them not to take it personally.   That is a change in perspective.  ...or should I give you a link so you can understand it? 

I am not sure what my lineage or my profile pic has to do with healthcare, alameda.  I was hoping that you were genuinely interested in other peoples perspectives, since you asked.  You obviously just want to beat your own drum and are not really interested in a dialog if it doesn´t subcribe to your liberal/socialist ideals. 

That´s fine, I gracefully bow out of the discussion at this point. 

Canim, every single day I see people losing health insurance, or their insurance not being taken by their doctors. I also see every single day people not being able to take their medications because they can´t afford them. In any primary care setting, I´d like to see a person who is happy with their insurance..

I don´t think that lack of primary care doctors is the only problem, lots of people cannot afford to go to even a family doctor...... of course there are many other issues as well, and government reinbursement is one of them. If they are going to put everybody on medicaid and then not pay doctors the 10% of what they are asking for then that´s not gonna solve anything...

I think that this problem can only be solved by the government, government OWES this to people. No private business will ever care about you if the government won´t require them to, as they do now.

Clearly, more has to be done though... I am not sure what the best solution is..