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Pam
Sep-17-2009, 14:33 GMT
USA - United Staates America

Singer Paul Simon urges health care reform

(AP) ? 19 hours ago
(There are pictures at the webpage)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5
hLslMMASjWFV2sAqGnDpFMr_KOLgD9AOIOJG0

WASHINGTON ? Singer-songwriter Paul Simon tried to lend a little harmony to the raucous health care debate Wednesday by pushing for a health care overhaul with Democratic leaders of Congress.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid couldn´t resist musical references in the appearance with the popular performer who advocates improving health care for children.

´If there were ever a bridge that we need over these troubled waters, it´s passing comprehensive health care reform,´ Reid said, describing how children have fared in the country´s health care delivery system.

´Bridge Over Troubled Water´ was a hit for the duo Simon & Garfunkel, written by Simon. Simon joined Reid, House speaker Nancy Pelosi and various child advocates to push for health care changes at an event on the Capitol lawn.

Simon co-founded the Children´s Health Fund, which provides medical care for poor and underserved kids. He said the fund believes a health care measure ´would go a long way to fill the gap in health care ? the gap that these children live in and suffer in.´

Simon urged lawmakers to improve health care for children: ´Poor kids can´t vote. Neither can they afford to hire lobbyists to plead their cause or to describe their situation.´

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Ans
Sep-17-2009, 14:57 GMT
Netherlands

Thanks Pam, I hope their lobby work will help. It´s so important to have a solid health care insurance system especially for children. With good health care they can grow up to become healthy and strong human beings.

More pictures can be seen at http://www.jamd.com/image/in-search/paul+simon/#0g
90860964

Rosie
Sep-17-2009, 18:46 GMT
Ireland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKhowim2vFI

A video uploaded of it.

Ans
Sep-17-2009, 20:58 GMT
Netherlands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJIMCT2zo_s

mog
Sep-17-2009, 23:46 GMT
Canada

I have been traumatized for a few days since I saw this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUPMjC9mq5Y

Is this America ?

Scaaty
Sep-17-2009, 23:53 GMT
Ireland

Seemly there is a lot who believe that healthcare is a luxury like a new car ie and not a human right.

Ian
Sep-18-2009, 00:16 GMT
USA - United Staates America

Exactly! Well put,Scaaty.

Mimi
Sep-18-2009, 08:43 GMT
Austria

I think you can interview people like this almost everywhere in the world. It is so much easier to repeat someone elses opinion than to go out and build your own. And it is hard for people that the world is not black and white. They would like easy solutions for every problem, but that doesn´t work.

It´s also hard for europeans to understand that a lot of americans get absouletly horrified when it comes to the word socialism.

Bodo
Sep-18-2009, 09:36 GMT
Austria

I saw the movie Sicko (Michael Moore) just 2 days ago.

Now, I am really afraid what I have done - I had no extra insurance when I travelled trough the states.
Ans, do you have an insurance that covers all costs in the USA?
Our health care system only pays the price it would cost in Austria (so they pay you back about 50% or less...) - The prices for a doctor in the USA are inacceptable high. I heard stories from friends who went ill during their holidays in Miami. He had to go to a hospital, by ambulance, but before the doctors there did anything the question was: Who is going to pay 1000 Euros now, immediately.


BTW: Most people from the USA might think they have better doctors or hospitals, because it is paid private, or that they always get the newest and best things.
But that is simply not true. You hear from innovations all over the world, where a transplantation or something else has been done for the first time.
Last example: The famous Roy Horn (Siegried and Roy) had an operation last year here in Austria in Graz where I live - because this method was only possible here. Of cours, in that case this was a private clinic, but this just should show you that a social healt system can work together with a private system.

And the days of socialism are really over - in fact, one of the last socialism states, Cuba - has a better health insurance system for their people than the USA. How strange is that.

Scaaty
Sep-18-2009, 14:47 GMT
Ireland

The treatment for childhood illnesses esp leukaemia developed faster in Europe as more patients could avail of it, whereas in the States kids had to be rich then sick therefore the numbers of case studies were much less.

deleted_user
Sep-19-2009, 11:41 GMT
Unknown

Unfortunately, people in the US acquire a majority of their opinions from the media. Since the mass media is owned and controlled by large corporations, their agendas rule. Of course our healthcare is poor -- far lower life expectancy than many other countries for just one example. But if you ask a typical American, they will say it is the best. (Ask them why they feel that way and they will recite the chapter and verse they have been taught to believe.)

Also the US is in constant wars because corporations can profit from it.

Paul Simon deserves a lot of credit because he is making a difference at the grass roots level and he is also attempting to urge the Government to do something positive for people, for a change, instead of the corporate interests that own Congress.

Ans
Sep-19-2009, 12:00 GMT
Netherlands

You were lucky Bodo, most of the times nothing happens but when it does...

We have a continuous worldwide travel insurance that covers all costs. We can switch our insurance between Europe and World insurance, Europe is cheaper.

Here in Europe we are very lucky people with a good health care system. In America they should do it at least for the children, they are vulnerable.

Tomorrow our trip to New England begins, when I happen to bump into Paul I will let you know...;-)

Kuno
Sep-20-2009, 07:37 GMT
USA - United Staates America

I am travelling the US right now, I hope i don´t get sick :o)

But on my Swiss insurance card there is written that all costs will be covered in case I need medical treatment. And I have three credit cards in my pocket, I guess that´s enough security for them, they won´t let me die :o)

With regards to the current health care debate... it´s clear that the republicans are against it because if Obama would make general health care possible, this would be a fundamental success for the democrats. And because there is no rational argument against public healthcare they call it "socialism". Sometimes I think Obama should be a little more like Bush (no, I´m not drunk). Obama tries to find compromises with the republicans. Bush was more like "I don´t care what my opponents think, I am the president, I do it my way. If you don´t like it, you can f... off". Obama should do it the same way. In a few years, even the most stupid American will understand that it is a good thing.

Bodo
Sep-20-2009, 10:53 GMT
Austria

Hi Kuno

From what I know the problem are not the Republicans (sure they are against it), but also part of his democrats are against it.
It is all about money, and politicans can be bought for millions of USD (which better should be spend for the health)

Bodo
Sep-20-2009, 10:55 GMT
Austria

Your swiss insurance card says all costs will be covered in the USA, Kuno?

I know that everything is covered all over Europe (EU), but when it comes to the USA, everything is terrible for us.

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