[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/24/flushot.jpg
caption="Do you really want the federal government more involved in health care?"]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
With more Americans now saying that health care is not the government's responsibility, it's not difficult to see why some may feel that way.
All you have to do is look at the track record of government-run programs.
Here we go:
-Social Security was created in 1935. It will be paying out more money than it receives by 2016. And unless changes are made, it will be gone in 2037.
-The Medicare and Medicaid programs were signed into law in 1965. Medicare will run completely out of money by 2017. The situation for Medicaid is even worse.
-Spending on Social Security and Medicare totaled more than $1 trillion last year - or more than one-third of the federal budget.
-The U.S. Postal Service was created in 1775. It’s broke. It posted a $3.8 billion loss for this year. That's $1 billion more than it lost in 2008 - despite $6 billion in cost-cutting moves in the past year.
-How about Fannie Mae, in operation since 1938; and Freddie Mac, established in 1970? Both broke. The two home loan agencies were seized by federal regulators 14 months ago. Fannie Mae is now asking the government for another $15 billion, which would bring the tab for rescuing both companies to about $111 billion.
-And don't forget the hundreds of billions of dollars in the first round of TARP money that went virtually unaccounted for.
And now the government wants about another trillion dollars to reform health care. A trillion dollars we don't have.
Here’s my question to you: Do you really want the federal government more involved in health care?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Dave says:
Jack, Thank you! It is about time someone starts looking at facts rather than the emotional appeals. With the government's lack of control with regards to fiscal matters, we cannot afford to let them run anything else. If we do, we had better learn to speak Chinese because to pay back the debt, we will have to start giving them large blocks of U.S. property. Perhaps we should start with Washington, especially if they promise to keep the politicians.
Steve says:
Jack, You did your best to pose the question in order to elicit a "no" from the non-thinkers among us. I however would love the government to provide all my health care and kick the health insurance companies to the side of the road where they belong. How much longer are we going to stand for the abuse they put Americans and our economy through every day?
Scott from Panama City, Florida says:
Jack, I do not want the federal government involved in any aspect of my life. The federal government is all about control. When asked where the Constitution authorizes Congress to order Americans to buy health insurance, Pelosi says, “Are you serious?” As Mark Twain said "Politicians are like diapers, they need changing often and for the same reason."
Jeff from Indiana says:
We should trust corporate America to do the right thing, like we did with the mortgage debacle. What would be a better choice than letting elected officials manage health care? There just are no really good choices.
Del from Texas says:
Jack, Do you really want the private sector to run health care? Like Enron, GM and AIG. Give me a break, Jack. I had the best health care in the world when I was on active duty in the Army.
Ed says:
Medicare for all. Fold all existing programs: VA, Medicaid etc. into one program and get serious about fraud and waste. The bills I've seen look like the IRS code. Of course, I haven't been paid off by the insurance companies.