no one likes Bush anyways.
there was no point in this war.
& Moderate Republican people who
can't afford health care ARE working,
they just need to feed their children
and pay their bills and to people out there
that say that people who can't afford health care
are lazy you are TOTALLY wrong because they are
trying there best. also, i believe musicians
should be able to voice their opinions about there
political beliefs.

The question was "should musicians keep their opinions to themselves?" Here we are talking about all these politics and not answering the questions. It's funny how one comment made by an artist accumulates into this? So, maybe it's good that they do speak up because it raises questions and healthy debates!!

yes!

Not too dramatic at all. I've been there personally and know of others as well.

I agree, many politicians are spouting off with what sounds good to voters and their monetary donors when it isn't possible. As much as I love the idea of universal health care, I know it would take a lot more money, tons more. Any improvements and adjustments made to the current system would too, I'm sure. It's also very true that the medical industry, be it pharmaceuticals or insurance, has it's hand in politics. Scary thought. Of course, living in FL I think insurance companies are the devil incarnate so I admit bias. But I just don't see how it could happen without politics.

I do think before really focusing on universal health care we have to see to it that certain people are taken care of who currently are not. Kids, all kids should have insurance. All senior citizens should. and when I say insurance I mean something that isn't going to break them. When you have to be on a dozen or more medications as some have to be, co-pays that are up to 50$ are sometimes just as out of reach as the full price. Maybe everyone should be on a sliding scale, not just those who qualify because they are under X dollars with X people in a household. But cost of living is different in different places, so it would have to be done locally. I don't know, but I think it's worth studying Canada's system if only to see the flaws in it. I too hope that some resolution happens sooner, I think it will soon be a crisis with the Baby Boomer generation aging.

F@KE: I wish I had the answers, but I don't. But I don't like the idea of putting this into the hands of politicians, because too many of them are giving easy answers that may not be feasible solely for their own, personal, political agendas.

Healthcare insurance should not be just for those who can afford it or who are fortunate enough to have a job that allows you to purchase it at a reasonable rate. I do not have any sympathy for those who are too lazy to work and choose not to have/buy insurance, and I have no idea what percentage that represents, but for the others, I hope there is some help down the road (much sooner, rather than later).

It's unconscionable that some people have to choose between eating properly and buying the medicine they need to live. That may sound dramatic, but it is happening to many people, especially the elderly.

3:32 that is not always true. Yes there are lazy people out there, but there are many people who cannot afford the insurance offered by their employer. The insurance premium isn't based upon what a person makes so I have seen people with families either have to pay up to a third of what they make. That just is not doable.

3:29, if you want to get technical there are many more than three parties. I know many Republicans who do not like being called conservative. It's ridiculous that either term has become a political insult.

3:31, beyond this, you are not worth responding to.

Moderate Republican, I tend to agree with Another Canadian on a point; you say ask a Canadian about waiting 8 months to see a doctor (and I have, my father is Canadian, my uncle and cousins choose to stay in Canada instead of moving here with the rest of the family), how about an uninsured American with a lump? Who falls between the guidelines of government medical support (much of which is a joke) and yet does not make enough to afford it themselves either through work or on their own, there are many many people like that, one reason so many children are uninsured- who can afford 450$ a month when you make that a week? How does it make sense to spend a quarter of your income on insurance when the recommended amount to spend on rent and mortgage is one third and often costs more than that? It simply is not affordable.
One poster you can talk with about this is A, (sorry to throw you out there A, I know you hate discussing politics, but your boyfriend's story pops into mind on this topic), her boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer. No insurance. He had to file bankruptcy after his treatment because of his medical bills. How fair is that? And if fair isn't a word you like (I've known people who hate using it), how about how right does that seem that this man should be financially penalized for something that really is not his fault? Whether it is a universal system or not, we need better care for people in this country. Not to charge them 8$ for an aspirin or mark up a tongue depressor 1000% in an ER. Yes, they have to make money, but porking the people who cannot afford it and the people who have no other resource is not right. I'm all for free market, but there is no market for those who can't afford it. I (generally speaking) can buy a cheaper bath mat or use coupons in the store or buy a used car, I can't find a cheap doctor or dentist and I can't bargain with that. I guess my thing is either do it or don't (speaking of the government), if you are going to claim to want to provide health care for those who cannot do so themselves, do it. It just simply is not being done as it is now. I have seen too many kids go unmedicated, I have seen kids going to free clinics to not find out about their pap that showed cancer for six months because the letter got lost in the mail allowing the cancer to spread, I see kids who cannot be successful in school because they are ill or don't have glasses or because they are caring at night for an ill family member.
Something you said I totally agree with, we are responsible for taking care of those who are physically and mentally unable to- we're failing there too.

anon 3:32 not all americans who are uninsured are lazy and unemployed. get educated you twit.

another canadian, thanks for trying to shed light to the likes of people like republican, but your wasting your time. i know whats its like to be an uninsured american and it was very difficult. i fell into the income level where i made too much money to qualify for assistance yet worked for an employer who didn't offer a health plan and other health plans were far beyond our budget. perhaps one day republican will fall ill to aids or cancer or otherwise get too sick to work, have to quit her job, rely on workmans comp or some other form of lower income and be denied healthcare coverage and we'll see if she changes her tune about the american way of healthcare. go to hell moderate republican.

For Moderate Republican AND Canadian: The healthcare in our country (USA) is fine if you have a job. That's all there is to it. Period. The only people who are affected in a negative way are those who are lazy and have no job and those who are old and retired now and weren't smart with their money and saved it when they were young.

Just want to correct a ton of posts here on both sides actually. There are not 2 parties. There are 3. Get with it. Republicans, Democrats and Liberals. Democrats and Liberals are no where close to the same thing. Liberals just vote Democratic because there has not officially been made a 3rd party, even though there is one. I know a slew of Democrats that don't think even remotely close to that of a Liberal. But, they're "Yellow Dog" Democrats, so they just can't bring themselves to vote Republican because they never have before. But most of these Democrats are against gay marriages, against abortions, etc, etc, etc. Each party has huge variations within. So, stop lumping democrats and liberals in together. They are not the same thing.

Uhh Army wife I know you wont respond but I dont care, isnt it your husbands CHOICE to be in the military bush didnt say "GET IN THE ARMY OR YOUR ILL KILL YOU" you dont get drafted its free choice, if you have such a problem with bush and your husband in the war tell your husband you dont want him in it. If he tells you "this is what I want to do " how can you blame bush? Oh and michael moore is a democratic dumbazz

Hate bush/toby/keys/fake/anons11:38 11:57 12:03 am 12:16 am and 1:23 pm Thank you for your support and your input. I should really try to login at night when it seems like more level headed people come on here to have a discussion and not resort to name calling when they fail to prove their point. Its true that not all military families support Bush, in fact since so many troops are on their second and third tours and its weighing heavy on their moral and spirit and that of their families. Fahrenheit 9/11 was a great movie and told the TRUTH about the president whether people want to see it or not. Support the troops not.....not Bush. To all the angry Anons who will likely repond negatively to my post...NOW HEAR THIS: Unless you are HAPPILY MARRIED TO A SOLDIER WHO IS RISKING THEIR LIFE, matter of fact if you are the loving parent of a soldier or have a loved parent in this so called "war on terrorism" you have NO ROOM TO PUT IN YOUR 2 CENTS ON THIS TOPIC. While you are probably at work in a warm toasty office, being a pencil pusher,getting faxes and answering phones all day enjoying hour long lunches and drinking Star Bucks where the worse injury that can occur to you will be a case of carpal tunnel, you have the NERVE to tell a military family member (and others) who opposes Bush that WE ARE WRONG for voicing our thoughts. Tell you what..... Why don't you take some advice from Toby and show up to the nearest Army recruiters office, swear-in and fight for the President that you love so much. And die for a war that has NOTHING to do with terrorism. Otherwise you need to shut the fvck up and say nothing and enjoy the freedom that military families and their soliders provide for you. And don't bother to reply to this message either because I won't be back to read it.

9:35 This is Right: More like DISGUSTING AND SCARY. Open your minds people. IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT.

to Anonymous's 1:03 no im not Daisy true are blog names are both flowers but im not her im just an american who thinks this war is more then just OIL!!! Oh and to anonymous 1:04 im 18