How do you propose to support your stand on health care? Isn't this country already in debt up to it's eyeballs? I think universal health care is a great idea and I'm even having to hold off on retirement because of the rising cost of my health insurance plan...but is universal health care just pie in the sky at this point?
Convince me it can work!

I was sitting in my living room when I happen to pick up the current issue of NEA and I read all about Barack Obama and the positive changes he wants to make regarding education. I am convinced he will make the difference.

I support McCain's plan. Government should allow more choice to the citizens and not regulate everything. Universal Health Care is risky. I agree with the comment by Lucy (above). McCain seems to have a better handle on the issues.

I am a 12 year public school teacher in Minnesota.

For the past 7 years, I have been going to Canada 2-4 times a year for fishing trips. In the process, I have met several residents. For the past 7 years, I have come home talking with my husband about how fortunate we are to have the health care that we do. Let me give you first hand information about socialized health care. These people do not speak badly about their health care. Actually, they like the “fact” that it is “free”. They are happy with the service they get when they actually get service.

In their praise of Canadian socialized medicine, one talked about still waiting for a necessary but non-life threatening surgery. It has been 6 years and she still has not received the surgery. She told us last year that she may just come to the USA to get the surgery. On several occasions, we have been told first hand from Canadian residents that they come to the USA to get medical care because they have to wait too long in Canada. I thank God every time I return from Canada that we do not have universal healthcare.

Obama says that I can keep my insurance. My husband works for a company that employees over 60,000 employees worldwide. I would bet you that any fine Obama would charge them for not maintaining healthcare for employees would be less than what they actually pay in health benefits for their employees. He would likely be forced to have your socialized medicine.

NEA supports Obama and his universal health care plan. I will surely be forced to accept socialized medicine as a public school teacher. Yes, costs and those without insurance lend to something needed to be done. However, universal health care is not the solution.

I agree with Stephanie that universal healthcare is NOT the solution. I am an RN who work in Neuro ICU. I also saw patients from Canada who had brain tumors that went undiagnosed because they had to wait too long to get an MRI, they came to the US, got the MRI and in the same month had it removed. They would have had to wait 6 more months just for the MRI in Canada, which would have been too late. I work with some nurses who moved to the US for better pay and benefits. Obama's plan for universal healthcare is not a wise decision.
We need to regulate the insurance companies who are denying coverage to those who need it most and so that the hospitals wont have to charge so much because of not being paid by the uninsured. I have crohns disease and was denied for private coverage because "it would be costly to keep me in remission" It costs more to fix a problem after its gone wrong than to do preventative.

I have an idea. Give up the idea that everybody has a right to have it really easy.
I am 22 years old and still in college because I can't take classes full time and still work enough to pay for them. I exchange work for rent.
But I am debt free. I put a little bit into retirement each month, and pay all my bills.
I have student health insurance. I drive a 20 year old car with no A.C. I buy clothes at resale shops. I have had my nails done once in my life, and I can't afford starbucks, movies at a theater, textbooks, or fast food, or even sometimes dinner (thanks Ramen!).
But this is only for a time. In a while I will graduate, and I'll get a better job, and things won't be so "unfair." I'll be the "privileged." Because I "took advantage of a system rewarding the rich and punishing the poor."
Are you kidding me?
I have a right to choose wisely, and reap the rewards, and I have a right to choose poorly and get what comes to me.
I can take care of myself better than the government can, thank you very much. And I'd like to continue to take care of myself.
I have friends who got the easy ride. Their parents paid for everything, or they got fantastic scholarships. SO WHAT? So it's different for me. So I have to work a lot harder.
I'll take it.