Comments on: Steelworker Takes The Spotlight At Debate

Gets Standing Ovation At Democratic Debate For Asking "What's Wrong With America?" On Health Care

[incog-nito]

Can anybody explain why in the world our insurance is tied to employers? This makes job mobility more difficult, put some of the burden on employers that they themselves don't want, lets the employer choose what kind of coverage you get, makes it harder for people to retire early. Makes absolutely ZERO sense.

[mgpm-2009]

To CBSNEWS regarding the union comment:

The union was not responsible for providing the health care. The union WAS intrumental in getting workers the benefits in the first place. Not only health care, but if you take weekends off and work a 40 hour week you have unions to thank for that too. Saftey in the workplace? Workman's comp? Believe me, no company would have offered them without having the union negotiate it. Unions have been calling for Nationalize Health Care for many, many years.

We are the only civilized nation without it.

[standlee5]

Jetranger, I just got a kick azzz health plan from blue cross for less than $200 a month. It covers 6 office visists a year with no deductible and emergency rm. $100 copay. The deductible is large, $3000 but that's nothing compared to what a real illness costs. I would never ever go without health insurance and I would never ever want the govt. to be in charge of it.

[incog-nito]

Every time I or a member of family go see a doctor, we never know what kind of bills we are going to get, and I HAVE health insurance. It's like the insurance company just gets to decide nilly-willy IF and HOW MUCH they're going to cover something, and this is not even for anything major. Almost every time I have to make several calls and argue with people before they MIGHT decide to cover more. This is absolutely INSANE. Even if you have insurance, the insurer can just decide not to cover you for something, probably with the thinking that most people don't know enough to fight back. I am certain many, many people have had the same experience. You literally risking financial ruin if you need major medical care. The system is completely screwed up, only the insurers and idiots want to save it.

[jetranger7]

To Everybody who reads this : I myself haven't had any Health insurance for over 10-years, I just plain can't afford it ! I'm single, never married no kids, at 43 yrs of age. Every full time Job I take, they have some sort of half-azzed plan, but hardly anybody can afford it, with wages the way they are. I drive a 88 chev pick up, in good condition, live in a house built in 1963, so I don't live beyond my means. We could definetly stop giving foreign countries hand outs in aid, till we can take care of ourselves first, then help others. The cost of everything is just going up, any more, Only if your making a half million a year, it seems can you afford the luxuries, like having health insurance, which shouldn't be considered a luxury.

[kenhamlett]

Has anyone noticed how this ties in with the deferred maintenance of our national infrastructure?
We have neglected repairs and the various components of our steel industry could have benefited from the work. They were there and we ignored them. Now our steel industry is as crippled as our bridges and pipelines.
Let's take care of our industries by taking care of our country. In turn they can take care of our people. Isn't that how it should work?

[usayesterday]

Oh, one other priority I should mention:

- Increased access to higher education for EVERY American Citizen. The best universities should NOT be exclusive for only those who can afford the six-digit price tag. More grants, more scholarships, and more (and cheaper) loans.

[usayesterday]

Stories like this makes me wonder how FVCKED UP some peoples priorities can be when they feel that outlawing abortion or preventing homosexuals from getting married is a priority for this country.

Those issues above are clearly SELFISH, COLD-HEARTED priorities by those who have no compassion and who serve nobody but themselves.

Here are the priorities for America: (in no particular order)

1. Health care for EVERY man, woman, and child who cannot afford their own.

2. Foreign policy that concentrates on PEACE AND DIPLOMACY and not war!

3. Incentives for corporations to keep jobs IN AMERICA, and NOT incentives for sending them overseas (as we have now).

4. Not rewarding people who immigrate to this country ILLEGALLY, but expediting the process for those who chose the legal immigration path.

And those are the priorities for this country. Not abortion, not gay marriage, and certainly NOT SOME WILD GOOSE CHASE "WAR ON TERROR" that only rewards the corporations involved in the war.

[gretagreen]

Most bankruptcies are filed by people WITH health insurance due to huge medical bills.

Something is really wrong with this country - or just with us. We are all on this work work work treadmill and we all buy buy buy craaaaaap, but we can't afford healthcare and we can't afford to retire.

[dpretto]

America does not care if you have teeth, can see or hear.It is pathetic that a country so rich can ignore their poor, even middle class poor. Only the wealthy in our society today can afford really good health care. Every one else is just ignored or falls through the cracks.

[cbsnews4539]

He was a steelworker for 30 years, no doubt he was a union member. How does this not get mentioned in the story???? He paid union dues for decades. Where is the union in helping him with his healthcare issues?? Why aren't they held accountable instead of the government?

[fizzal-2009]

someone needs to inform them steelworkers too take a vacation to South America and jump on the USSS Comfort if he,s in need of some health care.He will love it.