Open For Questions

I thought that President Obama’s plan to take questions in advance for his online town hall sounded pretty interesting, so I headed over to the White House web site to check it out.

Tons of questions had already been submitted in various categories: Education, Home Ownership, Health Care Reform, Veterans, Small Business, Auto Industry, Retirement Security, Green Jobs and Energy, Financial Stability, Jobs and Budget.

I selected Health Care Reform and started reviewing the questions with the objective of copying down the most “interesting” ones to discuss here. I unfortunately ran out of time and had to cut my little research project short, but I did find some questions that were worthy of review.

These questions were copied directly from the White House website and have not been edited, although most of the names have been removed.

Mr. President, is there a way to do both private health care for the rich and socialized medicine for the other 99.9% of us? Like legal dream teams to rich & court-appointed attorneys for those who deserve a “fair trial” but can’t afford an attorney?

(Right, because only 0.01% of the population currently has access to affordable health care. Uh-huh. Yeah.)

If we were to have free healthcare for everyone, would that raise taxes? Would there be any way to avoid that happening?

(Gosh, no! Why would it raise taxes…it’s free, right? Although this person does get points for having a vague idea that that might not work out.)

Other countries aren’t as scared of losing their jobs right now because their governments care for them in many ways, including insurance and health care. Could we expect the same in the near future?

(Good grief! This person should just move back in with their parents, then he/she could be “cared for in many ways.”)

why should one paying over $1400. a month to a insurance company have to wait 3 days for permission to get relief (cortisone) for two herniated disks.??? the insurance companies are controlling Doctors ability to treat

(Has this person ever waited in line at a Social Security office or gotten a driver’s license renewed lately? I rest my case.)

Obesity, particularly obesity in childhood has become epidemic in this country. Obese adults suffer from diabetes and heart disease and cost the health care system millions of dollars a year. Do you have a plan to reduce this epidemic?

(Yes, I believe the President has requested that Congress pass legislation establishing national healthy menus; Monday is tofu stir fry with brown rice…)

AS AN MD., I THINK THAT KEY ASPECTS OF IMPLEMENTING UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ARE: A) TO OPTIMALLY MINIMIZE THE PROCESS OF DIRECT PATIENT CARE AND COMPENSATION FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED. B) TO REDUCE THE COST OF MEDICAL EDUCATION AS TO AVOID A 200K DEBT

JORGEDUDE, HATILLO, PR

(I admit I don’t even understand this question. What I want to know is, how many of you would select a physician who would choose “JORGEDUDE” as their screen name?)

First off Mr. President, I would like to just like to thank you for giving us a chance to ask questions in a simple easy way. Change. That is what you promised the people. please I beg you keep your promise. Understand that we want marijuana!

(Only one of many questions on this topic. Apparently half the people in the United States are using marijuana for medicinal purposes. Sure they are.)

We need socialized healthcare, this keeps cooperations from profit, and keeps people healthy. What can you do to keep cooperations from profiting and provide health care for every citizen in the United States?

(I give this person credit for calling a socialized spade a spade but why all the vitriol directed at those evil cooperations?)

FYI, I did not pick and choose these questions. I merely copied the first eight questions I read. Just sayin’.