The Ledge's Monthly Approval of President Obama-Do You Approve??? August 2009
 

I thought this would be an interesting thing for us to do every month. According to national polls, Obama's popularity has declined since taking office, down to about 54 percent according to Gallup. So, every month, we'll have an updated approval rating to see how our numbers stack up against the rest of America, and how our numbers change over time.

So, to start off, I'd like to say that at the moment I DO approve of Obama. I saw him at a town hall meeting in New England (on TV) and he dispelled every rumor and untrue thing said about the Healthcare bill. So yes, at the moment I do still approve of the job that he's doing!!

What do you think??

I guess I'll be the first to say it: I disapprove.

I just don't believe he's going in the right direction on health care.

All in all, I think Obama is taking on way too much right now. (Health care reform, this green movement/cap and trade, the economy, Middle East politics, etc.) There's so much stuff coming at the American people each day that it's impossible to absorb it all. I don't think it's a good idea to rush any sort of bill right now.

Again, all in my opinion.

And what would your preferred direction for health care reform be?It has long been the shame of this nation that we are the only large industrialized country without any kind of universal health care.Obama had as much on his plate when he took the oath of office perhaps anyone since FDR took over from Hoover.I commend him for his hard work even as he learns as he progresses.The American people need try a bit harder to "absorb " sometimes IMO.If we had absorbed a bit better in 2003 then maybe so many would not have been bamboozled into going along with the Iraqi invasion.

I think there should be some form of health-care available to everyone, but I believe it is not the government's business to run it. Perhaps they should run a basic care plan outline that all doctor's within America can adapt to, and accept, and the uninsured can get basic care for "X" amount of dollars up front and "X" amount per prescription.

Take England and the UK for example... They have a "****" system...a government run system called the NHS, where everybody and anybody gets free healthcare, from minor prescriptions to major surgery. Its disliked on the whole though, as you have to sometimes wait a couple of months to get your free £25,000 surgery, or have to wait 2 hours to see a doctor to get your free prescription.

The people that are pro-NHS (ignorant basically) because they don't seem to realise that their taxes seldom cover the costs of their lifetimes NHS treatment. Ironically those among the populace that DO fund it, usually have private health-care, so wont use the NHS as much as most people anyway.

In the UK, many people are calling for people to pay a small fee of £20 when seeing their doctors, and introducing a system whereby if you dont have medical insurance, you only get very basic care. All the humans rights "ilk" dont think thats fair though. :shrug:

I wish there were a compromise, but with 65 million people on a tiny island, and increasing numbers of people who dont pay their way, its the only way to go I think.

PS... To answer the poll, I have to vote "NO" thus far. Give the man another year and we'll see though.

i agree that gov't should not be concerning itself with providing health care, but i don't see how what you are proposing is all that different. the cost of the basic care you're talking about is going to be subsidized somehow, and that money is either going to come from the tax base or from price hikes enacted on those who don't qualify for the low-income plans. either way, it's bound to be messy.

FWIW, although i haven't done an extensive survey of UK citizens, almost all of the brits i've spoken to are very much for the NHS.

i think it sounds great to say that everyone is entitled to health care. but is it feasible? i'm not sure. the bottom line is that medical care is a limited resource. rationing is going to have to take place, whether it's a matter of money or central planning. and i think history has taught us that central planning is, at best, inefficient.

i was never big on obama, but now i'm totally over him. which is one big reason i'm now a registered libertarian.

:shocked:

These are the people with minimal health issues then.

could be. i don't know. i really don't know much about the NHS aside from what i saw on michael moore's sicko, and for the record, that movie made me want to puke.

Prescriptions are NOT free in the UK unless you are a child, a pensioner or on certain benefits and I've never had to wait 2 hours to see my doctor. You make quite a sweeping statement there.

BTW... I wouldn't say I'm pro-NHS.. yes there are areas where it's failing. But I'm not against it..I've had good services from it when needed. And that doesn't make me ignorant

I'm not in love with all of his policies, but overall - I'm not stressed out and embarrassed by his every move, as I was with his predecessor. It's nice to have a president I can respect for probably the first time in my entire life, and that means a lot.

I hope he manages to push thru a working universal health care system - it's long been needed.

I'm skeptical about cash for clunkers and the stimulus package, I disagree with him about abortion, and think he's being an ass on LGBT issues. I'm not in love with Sonia Sotomayor, but I'll take any of his Supreme Court picks over any of McCain's.

I missed this earlier... what??! I haven't heard anything about what you are suggesting here. Where do you get your info as living in the UK means i'm clearly missing something!

Also... not sure what you mean by human rights 'ilk' but I wouldn't agree to paying £20 to see a Dr. And £20 certainly isn't a small fee! As a single parent I couldn't afford private medical insurance ... so I should only be entitled to very basic care? Despite paying my taxes all my life?

The fee has been suggested to help with the cost/burdened system. I think that the Government and Doctors are both opposed. Here's a quick mention on bbc

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8156279.stm

I remember this was mentioned a few years ago as a way to deter people from making too many visits to the GP. It was quickly dropped.

SO it wasn't a case of 'many people' calling for it then... didn't think so!

Thanks! Not sure how I missed that.

I think there is a lot of misinformation out there regarding NHS. One of my closest friends is a Canadian and she and I have had long discussions about this. She has never had to wait for an appointment, and she actually has had some significant health issues over the years. Prescriptions are not free; prescription coverage is offered as "benefits" by employers. My friend has always said that while their system may not be perfect, she would never want to be in our shoes in terms of health care. She views health/medical care as a right, not a privilege.

I'm not sure how I feel about NHS, but I will say that what we have now is atrocious. I have $500/MONTH in meds that I cannot afford to fill. I am at the mercy of my doctor to sample me out until the first of the year when I can switch to more traditional insurance (I have a high deductable plan right now).

Something has got to give in this country. As a non disabled adult, you can not qualify for Medicaid unless you a) have children AND b) are living way below the poverty level. So there are a whole bunch of us who are working full-time, paying taxes, and ruining our health by not taking care of things because we can't afford to.

I wish I were smart enough to figure it all out. :lol:

To answer the question of the poll, I have no idea whether I "approve" of Obama or not. I'm cautiously optimistic and waiting to see what happens.

I'm not even sure why the NHS is coming under fire like this anyway. Compare by all means but to make sweeping statements and call people who think it's ok 'ignorant' is quite frankly a bit insulting

I have lived in the US for nearly 3 years now and I don't get all the UK news (I try to keep up) but this seems to be one of those things that comes up every few years and then goes away quietly! Easy to miss!

The past month...
 

I have been dealing with medical issues, that have been getting somewhat worse in nature.

But at the same time I havent been waiting around for something to health lessen the amount of those medical costs, I pay them strictly out of pocket (ie I mailed off payment for a $405 medical bill this morning - and back on April 17th I payed off a bill of $9555.28 to the hospital where Debbie had some of her cancer treatments back in 2003-2004 along with some of my minor medical issues).

I have taken the money I received from Debbie's life insurance and signed up for a medical insurance plan this very day, so I will have coverage just in case something of a major issue rears its head in my direction ( I am covered through IHS via the Cherokee Nation, but IHS has to be one of the WORST medical service providers in all recorded history).

Debbie would want me to take care of myself, and that is what I have been doing as of late.

i just find his tone awful. i can't stand him!

was this for me or brandon?

Well it works for others and not for some. You can't deny there are millions of people in the UK that are not happy with the healthcare system.

Right, so let's have the hard workers pay for everything for everyone. Again, I am all for people having health-care...or the option to have it available to them. But it's ridiculous to say it should be free.

If you aren't working, or you havent "paid your dues" I think it's insane to say that 20 pounds, or $40 is too much for a co-pay. Who's going to pay for that, then? The taypayer, right? How is that any more fair than not having "free" healthcare available to bums? (Everyone falls on hard times now and then, has children, has emergencies...I"m not talking about those situations...I'm talking about advantage takers)

Of course there are people that take the piss. But how would you be able to police it. £20 isn't too much? Tell that to someone out of work, or a single parent trying to support children etc. I'm sorry but some of you're remarks on here have been totally ignorant... yet it's us you accused of being that

I've never come across anyone who would want to see the NHS abolished. But then what do I know.. I just live here..

I agree with more or less all of your posts Pip! Of course the NHS isn't perfect, there is never going to be a system which pleases everybody but personally, I feel much better knowing that if I were to take seriously ill tomorrow, no matter what my financial status I would get the treatment I need.

Also, I guess Stephen Fry is ignorant too, he'll be pleased to know that :p
I just came across this on twitter and thought it was relevant:

"@stephenfryKnow this, Republicans.Even the most right wing British politician wouldn't think of dismantling our health service."

Dismantling the NHS is probably as unthinkable to Brits as having a government run health care system is to many Americans!

Pah... Stephen Fry... what does he know! He's clearly as ignorant as the rest of us!

And I agree with you. We all know it isn't perfect but I'm very glad we have it!

And I certainly would never call it a '****' system

you know that kids are a choice, right?

cool. honestly, i don't know what the answer is for the US. as you know, my opinions are not coming from a place of extreme privilege. but i am leery of socialized medicine for the US. this country is just so huge and diverse i am not sure it would work here.

That's an opinion. I think it should be available to everyone contributing to society. If you don't want to work then you don't get the perks. :shrug:

I'm going off what I know of the UK healthcare system by word of mouth from UK-ers that live here in New Zealand, and are happy to be away from the UK.

I never called anyone here ignorant, do not start skewing my comments please.

I suggest you re-read your comments then. You have made sweeping statements as if you are an expert on the UK health system when you clearly have no clue what you are talking about. And for the record, the opinion on your friends isn't necessarily the voice of the UK.

Hey, it's just my opinion. I never said I was the patron saint of UK Healthcare here.

If you want to have a battle royale about it because my opinion (whether educated enough to your liking or not) doesn't line up with your own, then forget it.

:rolleyes:

You'll note my thoughts on NHS were made long before anyone came to the defense of it. So therefore I never outright called anyone here "ignorant." ;) I won't be baited into a name calling session here. It's like watching a bunch of elementary school kids for Christsake, arguing over a point simply because one person feels the opposite. :shrug:

In terms of New Zealand healthcare, I like the fact that you can readily get more medicine over the counter. My wife takes Voltaren, which was prescribed to her in the U.S. for her lupus. Here she can get it over the counter. But, it's expensive. That being said we've had to pay out the arse for doc visits ($900 recently) but we are not "residents" yet. I suppose that will all change in the coming months and it won't be so costly..?

Roll your eyes all you like if it makes you feel better. But again I suggest you re-read you original post on this matter. You didn't appear to be posting an opinion but facts (incorrect for the most part) and you labeled people in support of the NHS as 'ignorant basically'

It does make me feel better. Deal with it. ;)

It has nothing to do with thinking the opposite and everything to do with how you presented your post

Well i'm sorry if I offended you, that is never my intention, but I can't unsay something. So... I don't really know what else you want. :sorry:

Oye. Ermm... no, I didnt call you that... I was making a comparison with the argument.

I dont recall that particular previous NHS discussion... But, boy your brain retains more information than a robot! Are... are you... .a robot? ;)

I can't believe that anyone would think that basic healthcare is a "perk". I'm almost speechless.

It is a perk... of the civilized world. What I'm saying is it's a very narrow field of folks who we're talking about here. Most people pay their taxes, they work, they contribute to society. We're talking about a very narrow window of folk who "ruin it" it for everyone else... thus the need for this recent overhaul of the American healthcare system. I've been relatively healthy my whole life, and haven't had the need for any real extensive medical treatment. Part of me actually doesn't mind that my tax dollars go to help the less fortunate. But I'm not happy about lazy bums who want to mooch off the system.