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  2. “Back in the thirties we were told we must collectivize the nation… because the people were so poor. Now we are told we must collectivize the nation…because the people are so rich.” ~ William F. Buckley,Jr.
    If Congressman Rogers is in the pocket of big pharma, then whose pocket is the democratic party in? How about the LABOR UNIONS
    http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/sns-health-obama-labor-unions,0,5618021.story
    As of January 13, the senate plan now eliminates the tax on the “cadillac” plans that so many unions offer….

  3. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

  4. I am also a Canadian married to an American and I can tell you that thanks to the Canadian poor healthcare by Dr’s who can’t even speak the language and can’t or won’t understand their patients.. both of my parents were murdered. Especially my mother, she had very obvious systems of a blocked carotid artery and her idot of a Doctor did nothing… did not return my calls while I was in Canada. Then a week after I left to return to USA, Mother had an appointment and suggested that she be tested for the blockage. DUMB DUMB finally agreed and set her up for an ultra-sound….in 6 weeks…She had a stroke and died within the week and we found the requisition for her test in her papers.
    That kind of Healthcare is not what this country needs. We need to set a much higher standard.

  5. By the way, the link to the Concord study pdf file can be accessed through v1.theglobeandmail.com/v5/content/pdf/CONCORD.pdf

  6. First of all, we have to look at the top industries contributing to Congressman Rogers’ campaign for 2009-2010:
    http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00009668&type=I&mem=
    You cannot expect him to not distort the truth to fit his agenda when the health industry contributes so much $ to his campaign.
    On the Canada v. US cancer survival rates – I think this gives a clearer picture:
    Based on the Concord study (August 2008), the 5-year survival rate overall for the U.S. is 91.9% and 82.5% for Canada:
    http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/print/CTVNews/20080716/cancer_statistics_080716/20080716/?hub=TopStories&subhub=PrintStory
    Results based on 42% of U.S. population: http://www.citeulike.org/user/rader5/article/3728183
    It appears (see attached pdf file) that the Concord study (indicating an approx. 9% difference with the U.S. doing better overall) used stats from 58.1% of the Canadian population and only 42.4% of the U.S. population (p. 3 of attached file). See p. 7 for individual stats on each province/state.
    Breast cancer: British Columbia – 85.4%; California – 84.6%; New York – 81%; Ontario – 81.6%
    Colon for men: B.C. – 57%; California – 60.4%; New York – 56.6%; Ontario – 56%
    Colon for women: B.C. – 59.2%; California – 59.5%; New York – 56.4%; Ontario – 58.5%
    Rectum for men: B.C. – 64.6%; California – 57.2%; New York – 54.9%; Ontario – 51.1%
    Rectum for women: B.C. – 62.8%; California – 60.1%; New York – 56.7%; Ontario – 57.8%
    Colorectum for women: B.C. – 59.9%; California – 59.9%; New York – 56.1%; Ontario – 58.6%
    Prostate: B.C. – 89.3%; California – 90.4; New York – 85.6%; Ontario – 83.4%
    And rationing for the elderly in Canada?! My parents are 74 and 74 respectively, live in Toronto (Ontario) and are doing just fine with their medical care. They even have coverage for prescription drugs from the government ($200 maximum per person per year). Once they pay up their $200 maximum, the pharmacy direct the charges to the government, no questions asked.

  7. The free market system will only innovate if they can make a profit.
    Affordable insurance for individuals is not profitable.

  8. Thank you Congressman Rogers for making so much sense about health care. Anyone who doesn’t believe your stats on Canada and cancer should live there. Also there is rationing for the elderly in Canada. I experienced it when I tried to get care for my mother. I hope Congressman, you begin to lead the Republican party through this mess facing us with health care reform. It would also be nice to see front line people like doctors included in the discussion.

  9. unemployment would be the first to go, only a liberal could come up with something as stupid as paying people not to work. As a small employer I LOVE competing with unemployment for employees. Why come work for me when they can make just as much staying at home and not doing anything? I also love how our government can’t afford to hire more crossing guards or pay to sort recyclables from trash because we are paying people not to work.
    Public education would be the next to go, when over 50% of kids don’t graduate its time to scrap the system. I don’t think we could come up with a worse solution if we tried. Then again your political future relies on tuning out illiterate kids doesn’t it?
    “what role should your government have?”
    The very few expressly given to it in the constitution. If our public education wasn’t so terrible you might have heard of that document. This conversation pertains to the Federal government. Fixing roads, education, etc start at the state level. What do you think the role of the federal government should be and how do you ignore the constitution like the left does?

  11. Nate,
    Now that you’re being honest, (SS, is that code for Social Security?), how about public education, privatizing road & bridge repairs, un-employment insurance, FDIC, and what else. Truth be told what role should your government have? Phoney wars like Iraq? And does your government allow for creating phoney Terror Threats just before an election in an attempt to “fix” an election? How about calling a sitting president a “scum bag” in the U.S. Congress. When does common sense & descency come back to the discussion?

  12. “Nate, why doesn’t your “grandma” opt-out of Medicare if it’s so bad?”
    Peter once again your an idiot. First you would need to ask my grandparents their views about Medicare I don’t have power of atorney for them, I can’t opt them out.
    Most importantly she can’t afford to lose her Social Security benefits that the government would take away if she did opt out. For once why don’t you stop with the moronic statenments and tell the readers why my grandma deserves to lose SS is she did. Your like a spoiled obnoxious kid that needs slapped on a regualr basis to realize you need to shut your mouth. I don’t think you have ever posted a meaningful comment, always childish remarks.
    Matt I promise you once we defeat this round of reform I’ll move on to breaking up Medicare. Limited resources buddy, you liberals screwed the world up pretty bad, I can only fix it one piece at a time. After that SS. Speaking of which have you read the latest studies on the underfunding of Union pensions? Scary numbers how many are about to collapse. Union pensions will be the next tax payor bail out. It seems Unions spend all their money on politicial campaigns and not funding their pensions like they should. This doesn’t apply to the executive pension plans for some reason those are usually over funded while the rank and file plans are not….

  13. You can’t compare healthcare to public service institutions such as your local fire departent. Our fire department isn’t trying to cure cancer and can adequately fight fires without any major research or innovations. I don’t believe he is saying our healthcare system is perfect and not in need of change–I think we all agree changes are in order. But to socialize medicine is not the answer and will hinder the very innovation that has made this country great, and has made our current healthcare great.

  14. To The Shark:
    People enrolled in public programs (Medicare and Medicaid) are counted as insured… they are not included among the numbers of uninsured.

  15. Posted by: Matthew Holt
    This comment is to Matthew Holt, who said the following:
    “Just astonishing. But among all his untruths, distortions and other bullshit, he’s clear about one thing. If you’re one of the 15%, screw you.”
    Matthew,
    I wonder what percentage of the 15%, are on Public Assistance. Which, if I’m not mistaken, get all of their medical bills paid anyway.
    Not badmouthing, or speaking out against Public Assistance. I think it’s a great program,,,,,,,for people who REALLY need it.
    I was just wondering, that’s all.

  16. When comparing outcomes, congressman Rogers should use this more accurate comparison:
    – The 100% of Canadians who get no-hassle treatment for cancer and other disorders, compared with
    – The <85% of Americans who have some level of employment-dependent health insurance. I'm one of this lucky number–but chronically fearful of my luck changing and joining the uninsured. Even the lucky 85% have to fight their insurnace company to get payment help for required treatments, deal with an incredible array of forms, bills, paperwork, and then stress about ancillary costs that are still owed.
    I don't have much tolerance for government employees like Congressman Rogers who tell us the system works well. He doesn't worry about his health insurance because we are all paying for the generous government plan that he enjoys.
    It makes more sense to have a system that provides all Americans basic health care. And then let those who want more insurance and can afford more, pay for more.

  17. When I lived in Michigan, Mike Rogers was my representative, and we had some common acquaintances. We were at a party together once about 15 years ago, before he went to Washington, and Rogers was pontificating about something or other, and I turned to one of the other guests and said, “boy, sounds like Mike wants to run for governor.” The person corrected me: “No, Mike wants to run for president.
    Oh, my!

  18. Nate, why doesn’t your “grandma” opt-out of Medicare if it’s so bad?

  20. Just astonishing. But among all his untruths, distortions and other bullshit, he’s clear about one thing. If you’re one of the 15%, screw you.

  21. This is such an example of one of the classic human tragedies — for so many, once they learn a set of ideas, they have little ability to interpret the world if it changes, and must impose their ill-fitting ideas on everything, like saddling an auto with a horse saddle.

  22. Peter how did Medicare work out for the 85% of seniors who didn’t need it? Those needing help after the passage of Medicare has increased to almost 20%. Medicare failed to do what it promissed and made the sitution worse.

  23. His assertion that the 85% should not be punished is just plain ignorance. They are being punished and will be even more punished if health costs are not brought under control. If we continue to use the ability of the system to drop people into the uninsured/underinsured pool to control OUR costs then we will all loose, and sooner or later YOU will be in that pool.

  25. He’s right. I’ve never had a fire at my home. When is the government going to stop punishing me with taxes to pay for a fire department I have never used? I’ve earned the right not to have to pay, right?
    I don’t have any kids in my local schools or my state’s university. Why am I being punished to pay for education that doesn’t affect me?
    My grandmother gave me a lame birthday present when I was eight. When are these Republicans going to stop this rhetoric and finally, finally do away with the evil of Medicare — the very evil that keeps her alive today?

  26. Excellent points. Finally, some rational thought in the health care debate.
    Maybe now we can replace the temp in the White House and put this guy in as President.