hjs-

On tests - not sure, can be a double edged sword. Perhaps a new protocols need to be established on an escalation of tests based on causal factors. Would think the medical professionals would have to work these issues out as part of the reform.

hjs-

This portion of the system will have to be reformed as well. Create a medical "tribunal" system which allows malpractice claims to be investigated and appropriate compensation, if warranted, awarded - no lawyers no 30%. Also allow the tribunal to have oversight over the medical licenses - with powers of forfeiture when warranted. Who will staff these tribunals - can be a combination of medical professional, ALJ's and perhaps civilians as a type of jury - but definite caps on awards need to be in place.

Your thoughts?

30] John from NYC
but" how would u hold bad doctors accountable?"\

a reply to your point doctors also order tests so they can be paid to read tests and drive up costs. how best to stop that??

Hey hjs from 11211, been awhile hope your well.

In the health care discussion a good point was made that, doctors fear litigation and so invoke unnecessary tests as CYA's - and so increasing the cost of healthcare. Malpractice insurance makes a significant dent in the income stream and so costs go up as well. Not sure if the Doctor's license is threatened will it help? Would they then order the tests to CYA again...... You have to admit the 30% the lawyers are getting is just as abusive to the system - as bad a some wall street bonuses. Some form of control is required, but the lawyer lobby has been relentless and the Dem's caved on this issue.

Be well.

The only way to change is to get to the cause of our health problems. And the cause of our health problems is our nutritional status.

Hence, I am going to institute a new standard by which we can measure our nutritional status (also known as nutritional strength); and do so on an individual basis; and do so without cost!

Among many other new concepts, new thought patterns, new ideas and new insights, there is something called The 7 Simple Signs of Low Nutritional Status. We are going to make this part of the American lexicon because only when a nation recognizes that it has a problem on 2 levels can the problem be solved.

The second level is the national level. As a nation, we must realize that a nutrition problem exists.

The first and most important level is that we, as individuals, recognize we have the problem.

What is stunning about this new approach is which doctors in our current health care system will become the major players.

A new evaluation protocol has been developed that will enable the doctor to detect problems in the biological systems before they are detected in blood and urine analyses and before they are detected by routine medical examination.

This new evaluation procedure requires no lab tests, requires no new equipment and requires only the slightest of training. It does require new thinking. The learning curve is quick and simple. The results are undeniable and totally scientific. In fact, it is high science but low tech.

The stunning part is that dentists are the ones who can best make this determination.

This gives you some idea where we will be taking America.

My dear American friends,
My job is not just to lead but to lead you to a new horizon and help you step over the threshold to a land that is fertile, virgin and strewn with gold.

You've entrusted me with the most important position in our country but there is no way I can do my job without each of you helping me; and if you help me, you help yourself, your neighbors, your family and the children your family will soon have.

America the land is beautiful but worthless unless there are people here who can enjoy the wonders and the beauty; and we cannot enjoy such gifts unless we are healthy.

In the context of American politics, I am relatively young and somewhat inexperienced so I ask for advice from leaders who have come before me. Some are no longer with us, like President Lincoln and Mahatma Ghandi; yet I try to take from them the wisdom they espoused and I always keep in mind what IJHAH The Philosopher said: "The only ones who can attest to the value of experience are the experienced."

Although I am fully prepared to take responsibility for my actions and deeds, I ask that when you seek to credit or lay blame that you first look in the mirror.

I also am committed to taking the high road and ask that you join me there.

And finally, I ask that you remember another quote from IJHAH when he was asked to advise others - especially the young - on how to lead their lives. He gave them three guidelines and I give them to you:
Have fun
Be careful
Make wise decisions.

#15 -- It had become completely clear in the spring of 2009 that Republicans had absolutely no interest in helping Obama pass anything, particularly health insurance reform. And so Obama could have called their bluff publicly, and made their game clear to all, even the media. Instead, he has insisted and been rolled by the Republicans at every turn and now is seen to be weak. I think he has to accept that he will never get any support from the professional right wing.

Our lawmakers must come to work with a different attitude: First, what's good for my country (city, state, etc.) and then what's good for my particular constituency.

We all know that corruption and fraud and lying and cheating are part and parcel of politics and the real world but to allow those to happen wholesale is nothing more than giving license to those who are in control to steer America into an abyss from which it becomes increasingly difficult to extricate ourselves.

Although morals and ethics cannot be legislated (and to attempt such is folly and wasteful), by redesigning our notably failing education system, we can build into it the fabric of honesty and forthrighteousness that will allow Americans to become what was begun many years ago - the greatest nation ever. However, it cannot happen with the mindset we currently permit.

It was everyone's hope that such a change would happen with President Obama. Such can still happen.

America is currently following the same path that previously "indestructible" nations have followed; "invincible" nations that have faded into oblivion and have disappeared from the face of the earth.

If dramatic changes are not made, when the 22nd century opens its doors, America may no longer be a world leader - if it exists at all.

As IJHAH The Philosopher said: "Current thinking cannot carry us through great times . . . and great times are ahead."

In order to solve the economic problem caused by the toxic mortgages, we have to get rid of the toxic mortgages. Because we can no longer get to them directly, we have to take a more gastalt approach and have the government refinance ALL home mortgages; and do so at a low percentage rate (2%). Such refinancing will be at the mortgage holders' option.

The government will not have to spend any money but will get a huge influx of mortgage payments and this approach will truly help "all" Americans simultaneously. That will be the government's part in solving the problem.

The banks' part will be to do the paperwork free of charge to allow this to happen.

There are many other particulars to this approach but some include:
Any defaults from these new mortgages will force foreclosure and the foreclosed property goes on the market at very low prices but the amount must be paid in full in cash by the purchaser.

Any new mortgages are at 5% (3% to the bank and 2% to the government). Banks making these new mortgages will be eligible for federal aid after a 2-year period and the amount of the aid depends on the number of new mortgages written.

Of course, this is sketchy but that is all this format allows.

As IJHAH The Philosopher said: "We must change the focus from health care to health." Until we do that, we are only making things worse.

The single most influential element in all of health care is nutrition and the single most absent element from all doctors' treatment considerations is nutrition. 85% of all illnesses have a major malnutrition component

For the past several generations (spanning about 90 years), America has gotten its nutrition advice and guidance almost exclusively from the dietitians and nutritionists. Since American health statistics are grim and rapidly becoming grave, it is quite obvious that whatever we have been told is either erroneous or so difficult to implemnent that it is useless. In fact, it's both.

It is time to change to a new approach, one called Doctor-Level nutrition. Nutrition at the doctor level is vastly different from the dieitian and nutritionist. Because of that difference, typical results are outstanding.

Doctor-Level Nutrition is totally evidence-based and rests on the essence of science: keen observation with a trianed eye and deft interpretation with an educated mind.

Within 18 months, Americans can become 50% healthier, thereby freeing up $1/2 trillion yearly; money no longer needed fo the ill because they are no longer ill.

As IJHAH said: "Can you imagine what a healthy American population can accomplish!"

Can't Medicare just be expanded through reconciliation?

Let's NOT allow for competition across state lines. This is a ruse for insurance companies to gravitate towards the states that have the most lax rules, leave the states that do have better protection for consumers and end up doing whatever they want.

This is what happened with the credit card industry. After interstate "competition" was allowed, the credit card companies gravitated to South Dakota and Delaware, where the regulation was almost non-existent. How did that turn out? We now have usurial rates and a clause in every customer agreement that says they can change anything at any time for any reason.

Bad as things are, don't let them get worse. I agree with a lot of what Mr. Wiener said, but this is criminal.

Brian, please call future guests on this.

Thank you.

There's a middle class caucus in the House? Is there a working class or, dare I say it, poor people's caucus?

John
on tort reform, how would u hold bad doctors accountable?

weiner is picking fights he can't win. is it ego, lack of vision or is he just looking for a leader?

Why not raise the age of Soc' Sec' by one year for anyone under 18?

Breathe life into the public option with reconciliation, YES. Do it, Congr. Weiner, do it! We're DYING out here.

People the President is NOT an amateur, he has to extend the hand of "bi-partisanship" even if the repubs are not interested, the next move has not been executed yet...if he would have come in pressing on without opening the door to the repubs the outcry would be greater than it is going to be when he pushes past their ignorance and proceeds with a progressive agenda.

Enough with the Public Option, Weiner. Let it go! Move on.

Rep Weiner:

Why wasn't tort reform (lawyers making big bucks) and allowing cross state health insurance purchase addressed???

The Glen Beck Ann Coulter Limpblow juggernaut likes to call liberals "liberal-facists". Aside from the historical revisionism, this label appears to be gaining traction in the Tea Party. Obama has not really articulated a clear vision and what vision he has articulated rarely matches his actions.
The culture wars are not an imagined Boomer fantasy, it is very real. Time to choose sides unapologetically.

Congressman Weiner, please comment on the Republican ability to win the PR battle. They’ve successfully told the country what we should think. I haven’t heard any counter proposals to health care reform, stimulus, and the other progressive agendas.

Here's a ditty I wrote inspired by the Oscar Mayer jingle:

I wish I were an Anthony Weiner
That's what I would truly love to be
Because if I were an Anthony Weiner
I could pretend to be the mayor of New York City

Oh, I wish I were an Anthony Weiner
That's what I would truly love to do
Because if I were an Anthony Weiner
I could tax the hell out of you

Please ask Mr. Weiner to fight for New York.

Would he ask the Obama Justice Department to move the KSM trial out of Manhattan? This is terrible for the city and hasn't bought us any goodwill anywhere.

this country needs a dictatorship, otherwise nothing gets done while sliding deeper into a crater with no chance of avoiding bankruptcy

Is Weiner capable of giving one specific that he is willing to compromise on? Specifically.

The country has the late Ted Kennedy to blame for the state of Health Care and not the Obama adminstration. Kennedy should had put the welfare of the country ahead of his family legacy. He could have graciously stepped down from his senate seat a year and half ago. Then he could have campaigned for his successor and there would definately be two democrates representing Massachusetts in the senate.
I'm so tired of this selfish family and their rather mediocre accomplishments.

pass the senate bill weiner or i won't vote for u next time u run for mayor

Please ask Congressman Weiner to discuss the ramifications of NOT passing the Senate health care bill. And then tell him how many of us believe he has to vote for the Senate bill.

Oddly enough, if the administration hadn't pushed the abortion agenda they probably would have gotten the health care bill passed, for better or worse.

as a dyed in the wool compromiser obama's backbone has actually remained entirely intact. it's the progressives who miscalculated.

I think Obama has blown it. He is losing the progressives by appearing weak to the Republicans and compromising / caving. Republicans have no interest in bipartisanship and Obama should just accept that and move forward with a progressive agenda.

I think he is misreading the polling which is actually indicating that Americans are anxious about their economic situation and feel betrayed. The middle class keeps losing ground while taxes for the rich are going down.

I contributed to Obama's campaign and I have been a loyal Democrat and yet I am looking at third party alternatives that are not corporatists. Obama seems to have sold his soul and I am putting the party on notice.