The basic question is: do we want to trust our government to manage healthcare? How have they managed the financial situation? How have they managed welfare? How have they managed the national budget? The folks in Congress cannot even balance a budget! We need to asking: how can we get government out of healthcare? Government is not the solution; it is the problem.

Good for Congressman Childers for being a "Blue Dog" and not a "Lap Dog" of the Democratic party!

And before someone goes off and starts harping about me being some right wing republican zealot, let me say that I am a staunch INDEPENDENT.

I agree with Congressman Childers that there is a lot of waste in the system that must be eliminated.

But I do wonder if he is willing to take on and insist that any "health care reform" legislation include the major source of waste in the system, that of frivolous lawsuits.

Until there is tort reform, there's no way to get the outrageous costs of health care under control. Doctors have to pay outrageous malpractice insurance premiums and run 3 tests, when 1 is really all that's required, in order to attempt to protect themselves from those out to file frivolous lawsuits against them.

Tort reform in the form of a "loser pays" system would fix a lot of problems, not just in our health care system.

I have a little experience in the area of another problem, over billing, as I once had a customer that was a company called "Cost Recovery Systems" that performed reviews of medical bills for individuals and insurance companies. They found over/incorrect billing in over 80% of all of the bills they reviewed.

And as for those of you who think that our government has a responsibility to provide health care for all of us, I wonder what version of The Constitution you're reading. Because the copy that I carry with me on my PDA all of the time, makes no mention of any such responsibility.

I was shocked that one of you actually pointed to the British, Canadian, and French systems as those that work well. So, I guess that all of the people with very serious illnesses who come to the US to get treatment that they can't get within their own systems are just doing so because their own systems are so great, huh? And I guess that the fact that there's more innovation in our current medical system, as flawed as it is now, than in all of those systems is another piece of evidence of just how well they work? Give me a break.

Here's a question for you: What's the third largest single employer in the world? (BTW, it's 3rd behind the Indian Railway System and the Chinese military.)

Guess what, it's the UK's medical system. They employ a shocking 1.3M people.

That's 1.3M people in a system that serves a population of around 61M (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). That's roughly That doesn't seem like a very efficient system to me.

That's roughly 4% of all of the people of working age in the UK, or 1 of every 23 working people in the country work for the NHS.

Why then, does the UK have one of the worst cancer survival rates of any Western country, and among the lowest in Europe, while the US has the highest?

Just FYI, Female cancer survival rates in the US for all cancers is about 63%, while England is 53%, Northern Ireland is 51% and Scotland is 48% and for males: US-63%, England-45%, Northern Ireland-42% and Scotland-40%.

Maybe that's because the NHS limits access to drugs such as Avastin because it's too expensive. It is expensive, but the NHS, by limiting access to such treatments due to costs is basically saying that a human life is worth less than $59K per year, the average cost of a course of treatment with Avastin.

I don't know about you, but I don't want some panel of bureaucrats determining the value of my life as they clearly do in the UK system.

So, before you start spouting off about how great the other nationalized systems are, why not gather some facts? I'll tell you why. Because the facts don't support your argument. They're clearly not better than our current flawed system.

Another question that I have is why are they trying to totally revamp a system that serves greater than 80% of the population currently and when surveyed, that 80% says they are happy, or somewhat happy, with their current health care?

So, rather than trying to make incremental improvements, like tort reform, to the system with the most innovation and the highest disease survival rates, let's just completely redesign the system to serve the 20% of people who aren't covered now? That's just brilliant!!

BTW, many of the people in the 20% with no coverage are those who have voluntarily opted out of their employer's health care plan, and, of course, millions of people who are in this country illegally, etc.

Granted there is a percentage of the population that doesn't have health insurance, and that's unfortunate. But my point is that you don't completely redesign a system, health care or otherwise, that already works for roughly 80% of the population.

One thing that I do agree with that's being discussed by some is that health care shouldn't be so closely tied with employment.

My last couple of thoughts are that any bill that is passed, should be read by those voting on it, BEFORE they vote on it. And any system that is put in place that we have to use, should also be compulsory for all of the members of the House and Senate.

And lastly, a question. Do you really want a bunch of bozos who can't even manage a "cash for clunkers" program, managing your health care?

Health Care is NOT available for everyone.. you are living a dream if you think that's true. You must be one of the very fortunate few who has no loved one who can't get or afford coverage.

If government should have no role in such a basic need to live, lets just close the VA hospitals, end public education, privatize the roads we drive on, and end the fire and police protection we all enjoy. Hell let's fire the military too because we clearly can't trust our government to fight a war.

If you believe big profit-driven corporations can do it so much better, then lets go all in baby.

Saying NO to this bill is not about saying NO to making health care available to everyone because healthcare is available to everyone. The issue is who is going to pay for it and then how are they going to pay for it. Insurance can say yes or no to coverage for whatever reason, but the patient has the choice to say yes i want it or no. This bill will change that. In all the legal mumbo jumbo, the patient will be required to wait for no other reason than the law says they have to. They will limit/or restrict the health care available to those with special needs and some senior citizens. And with many other hidden negatives in this bill, no one knows how the government is going to afford to cover the bill and when it can't, guess what, the wait will be longer and who knows what else. Funding will come out of our pockets and small businesses and large corporations whether or not their employees choose this plan.

If you want to read what the HR3200 bill says, go to: overview of hr3200 or full text of hr3200.

We all need to be educated on this. It is very disturbing and scary. Please take time to read it.

My suggestion would be to obtain a copy of the HR3200 bill and read it first before you make a decision on Mr. Childers voting NO on this. It is my understanding that very few that are for this have read it. We may be grateful for a veto later on. FREE does not always mean what it says. We need to research these thing before we WANT them. Hind sight is always 20 20 and most of the time, too late.

First - - nowhere in the bill does it kill your option to purchase private coverage - - or keep your private coverage. That's baloney and anyone who has looked at it will know this.

Second - - everything else you list are scare tactics too! I know people who have lived in Canada, Great Britain and France and all say don't buy this BS. Doctors get to focus on what they should focus on - - caring for the patient using the most appropriate treatment and medicine. They don't have to ask blue cross or united health for their permission to treat you.

Right now a MASSIVE CORPORATION gets to decide whether your treatment or medicine is necessary! You're putting our life into the hands of a massive careless bottom line driven monster. One that will sniff out a reason to drop your coverage if needed procedure doesn't fit into their business plan. Your life means nothing to them.

If you want that fine! Keep your current coverage. But those who NEED health care deserve a shot.

What people do not realize it that if we get the public plan proposed in HR3200 they still will not get treatment. At least, not what they think. Doctors offices will will start to lose more money and test waits will be longer. With the option to purchase private insurance gone, government insurance, Medicare and Medicaid will be the main options. Clinics will start to close and those who can afford to pay cash will be treated and scheduled first.

This plan will reduce the healthcare costs...but at the cost of quality, available care.

I'm really sorry I voted for Childers now.. What a freakin disappointment.

Tell this to the people overcrowding the free clinics because they've lost their job or can't afford health insurance on their own that they don't need this bill. Or they aren't fortunate enough to have a job that provides insurance... tell them they don't need this!

Tell the people with preexisting conditions who can't get health care.

Tell it to the people who have good jobs and think they have "good health insurance" up until the point they actually need it only to have the insurance company put them in their cross hairs and find every conceivable loophole to deny coverage right before a major procedure is needed.

The private "for-profit" companies have had their chance.. As long as health insurance is profit-driven the system will never work FOR THE PEOPLE.

I'm really sick of living in an area that needs sorts of things like this more than any other part of the country, only to have our elected officials vote against our better interest.

What a shame Mr. Childers! You're no different than any one else!

Way to go Congressman Childers...Everyone who reads this article, please call the good congressman and tell him NO to this bill, NO to the government being in the health care business, and NO to tax increases to fund a new plan. Here is is DC phone number...

Washington D.C. Office

1708 Longworth HOB

Washington, DC 20515

p. (202) 225-4306

and his Tupelo number

Tupelo Office

337A East Main Street

Tupelo, MS 38804

p. (662) 841-8808

Please call and let your voice be heard. Its VERY important...

Way to go Congressman Childers...everybody that reads this needs to call the Congressman and tell him that you DO NOT want this health plan. Tell him NO to the government having its own plan and NO to tax hikes on businesses to pay for it. Those hikes would only be passed on to us in the form of higher prices...Please call Travis and tell him how you feel...here is his Tupelo number and his Washington number...

Please call and voice your opinion to the aide that answers..its very important...

Tupelo Office

337A East Main Street

Tupelo, MS 38804

p. (662) 841-8808

Washington D.C. Office

1708 Longworth HOB

Washington, DC 20515

p. (202) 225-4306