James M. Davis

I knew Obama was a narcissist, but I didn't know how much of a narcissist he was. >.> - David C. Cooper

Someone needs lessons on what the First Amendment really is *rolls eyes* Keep spreading the misinformation and fear, you lost the election, be positive, contribute to solutions instead of bitching & moaning. - Rene Wirtz

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that expressly prohibits the United States Congress from making laws "respecting an establishment of religion" or that prohibit the free exercise of religion, infringe the freedom of speech, infringe the freedom of the press, limit the right to peaceably assemble, or limit the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. I need no lesson - James M. Davis

HAHAHA I can't seem to get enough emotion to care, mainly because he's right. They talk and talk but don't do stuff. This president is looking for the ones who are going to get things done. Not yammer. I guess he could have been like the previous administration and cast aspersions on their American-ness. IOW. YAWN. - Admiral Anika

And so how does this violate the First Amendment? - Kohl S Gill

It doesn't. Kohl. Just typical reactionary BS victimhood crap. SSDD. - Admiral Anika

Obama telling his opponents to "shut up" is telling them to give up their first amendment rights. >.> - David C. Cooper

I never said that the President violated the First Amendment...Tell me where I said that. The response in the video was prompted by a question in concern to people going to town hall meetings to express their discontent with the healthcare bill being proposed. He responded "I don't want the folks who created the mess do a lot of talking"...to "Get out of the way"...Americans have a... more... - James M. Davis

Hence, the reason I said ignoring not violate. - James M. Davis

He's also expressing his opinion. Also, it's not average citizens that are orchestrating this "discontent". For an entertaining version: http://is.gd/2b30J On 10 Aug 2009, at 8:52 PM, James M. Davis wrote: - Kohl S Gill from email

Kohl: That was entertaining. John Stewart is a funny guy...Does John Stewart not orchestrate to his viewers the same way that Fox news, The View, CNN, Whomever.... Yes, he is also expressing his opinion, he is also expressing the opinion that he does not want to hear from people that oppose his view. He is our president. He serves us. We do not serve him. All protests are orchestrated... more... - James M. Davis

I've always liked this interview. John Stewart on the O'Reilly Factor. John Stewart talks with him about his influence. http://www.youtube.com/watch... ..John is a clever guy - James M. Davis

What would be an infringement on the 1st amendment would be if Obama *enforced* his request for people to shut up. Notice the difference? - Rene Wirtz

How exactly would he enforce it? He said he wants them to get out of the way. How much more does he have to say? - James M. Davis

@James: thanks for making my point. Obama can't, so this is not a violation of the 1st amendment. - Rene Wirtz

@Rene: Once again I ask where I said the wore Violate. I said ignores not violate. I did not say he violated anything. - James M. Davis

It's the teabagging Glenn Beckers who are trying to shut down free speech at the town hall meetings, not the other way around. - JohnnyRussia

@James: *How exactly would he enforce it? He said he wants them to get out of the way. How much more does he have to say?* Isn't this an implied threat, Mr Davis? Isn't this implicating that Obama is going to sic his "brown shirt thugs" on all who will not shut up? Say no, and I will point out a hypocrit! - Rene Wirtz

*rolls eyes* jinkies - nice way to deliberately skew the meaning of "shut up" in this instance. I hate to be blunt, but suggesting that he's "infringing" on 1st Amendment rights is flat-out stupid. It's like telling your kids to clean up their rooms...that you don't mind helping them clean up the mess THEY have made, but if you're gonna help them, then they need to shut their faces when you throw BROKEN toys away. Get a grip. - ProsePetals (aka Denise)

Oh, good lord! It's because the Republicans spend so much of their time opposing things that have nothing to do with Obama's plan (perhaps to spread fear and misinformation). I have a hard time believing that a single-payer system would be worse than a system that allows people to be forced into bankruptcy to afford their health care, especially since I lived in Canada for more than 30 years. It's not the monster that Republicans want to believe it is. - Scott of Two Countries

So Liberals don't spend time opposing things. They don't protest and "spread fear and misinformation". This happens on both sides. For instance, the DNC is putting out attack ads targeted at regular citizens (not mobs) who want their voices heard. We need to be open to many different solutions. I agree that the Canadian system has some advantages to the US system. Though, at the same... more... - James M. Davis

"The majority of people are not going bankrupt due to healthcare." The majority of people simply aren't sick! Thing is, though, the majority of bankruptcy cases in the US cite health care costs as a contributing factor, and of those, a large majority had health insurance at least at the start of their falling ill. - Andrew C

"The country simply can't afford that." The country pays one way or another, whether it's public money or private (public money actually accounts for a big chunk of health care spending _right now, under the status quo_). Obama's plan will hopefully save the country a lot of money; preventative care is a lot cheaper than waiting until things get really bad and then going to the emergency room. - Andrew C

The only way Obamacare saves the American people money is by rationing and deciding who is eligible to receive care. No thanks I'll stay with what I have now. - Russ Jackson

Did anyone say you had to change Russ? All medical providers decide who gets care. ALL. If you want some real fun have a preexisting condition and go find coverage. That's where the real deciding goes on. But as long as you have coverage... - Todd Hoff

"The only way Obamacare saves the American people money is by rationing and deciding who is eligible to receive care" That is exactly what you have now. - Rob Haas

Robert ++. I will never understand how defenders of the status quo have such a magical, fantastical view of it. It's as if in their world the health insurance companies have infinite amounts of money to lavish on any and all of their sick customers. - Andrew C from Android

"The only way Obamacare saves the American people money is by rationing and deciding who is eligible to receive care." As usual, Russ, I'm going to tell you that that's 100% false. I don't know why you insist on lying over and over again about this. - Admiral Anika

Oh, this piece was written by Jonah Goldberg. - Andrew C

@Andrew C... I will never understand how defenders of State run programs have such a magical, fantastical view of it. It's as if in their world the Government has infinite amounts of money to lavish on any and all of their sick customers. Breaking News Andrew....Our country is broke, there is only so much the government can tax. - James M. Davis

"preventative care is a lot cheaper." What makes you think that preventive care is going to stop people from getting really sick. How is going to a Primary care doctor going to stop someone from getting Cancer, Diabetes, needing surgery, getting in a car accident, and so on...The fact is that the majority of people have health care. So why are we not preventing things from getting... more... - James M. Davis

Personally, I'd rather have the government deciding eligibility than a bean counter in some corporate office whose only guideline is the bottom line. And breaking news James: Republicans and their love for corporate greed have broken America. - Rene Wirtz

@Rene...You don't think the government has a bottom line. Oh wait maybe not since Tim Geithner formally requested that Congress raise the $12.1 trillion statutory debt limit on Friday, saying that it could be breached as early as mid-October. "It is critically important that Congress act before the limit is reached...Rene: The Government has broken America. Republicans and Democrats... more... - James M. Davis

The article is completely right. Funny how democrats completely ignore how many of their liberal representatives are in bed with the biggest and wealthiest corporations like AIG, Goldman Sachs, George Soros, Microsoft, Google, General Motors, General Electric, the list is endless. And they call conservatives greedy for supporting a healthy, competitive market place with strong small businesses that push the envelope of scientific innovation and progress. - David C. Cooper

(1) the market for health care insurance isn't a healthy and competitive one. It's one of regional monopolies. (2) Small businesses get hit by insurance inflation even harder than the big businesses. (3) Scientific innovation is driven as much by the government (NIH, etc) as it is by private companies... In fact, even in things like record-keeping, the VA has been at the forefront of electronic records, far beyond the private insurers. - Andrew C

@James: the government is there for and by the people. The bottom line is its constituents. The bottom line of insurance companies is that extra $0.01 profit per share. I agree with you that both the Dems and Reps have joint burden, but it is the Dems who actually want to put a stop to corporate greed while Reps would only want to give corporations more power. - Rene Wirtz

@Andrew Very True..Your last comment I fully agree with..See our views are not that different. All the points you made are valid and important. Its sounds to me like you want a little competition in a free market kind of way. The VA is also overcrowded and has been subject to budget cuts over and over again. Some good, Some bad. We need multiple solutions to improve the system. - James M. Davis

@Rene: I'm sorry to say that profits are necessary. If the US GOV does not profit how are they are going to pay for health care. Profits are necessary, thats all I'm saying. I'm curious what legislation Reps have made that give corporations more power. Do you not work for a corporation. Do you not want your corporation to profit. I hope you do, because if they don't they will not be able to employ anybody. - James M. Davis

Taking in money is _revenue_, not profits. Revenues _over and above costs_ are profits. - Andrew C

@James: no, governments do not need to make a profit, taxes should cover their costs (of course, with two wars raging, taxes cannot even begin to cover), that's what taxes are intended for, And no, I do not work for a corporation, but for a small company that makes a very nice profit each year, in which all employees, worldwide, share in. - Rene Wirtz

So by your definition when revenue decreases the level of service will decrease. Anybody who believes we can pay for anything without profit does not live in reality. - James M. Davis

OK, so... you do know private insurance companies depend as much on their investment portfolios for income as they do on premiums, right? What do you think happens when their portfolios have an off year? - Andrew C

Secondly, do you seriously think this happens in single-payer countries, that a bad year translates to across-the-board health care cuts? If so, I'm sure you've got the stats to prove it... unless this is something you "just know" and therefore don't need supporting evidence for. - Andrew C