Obama lied when he said illegals would not be included in Democratic healthcare ‘reforms’. He was publicly called out on it, and sheepishly moved to address the issue after the fact. Obama has long been an advocate of giving drivers licenses to illegals, which would make it far easier for them to access any and all public programs, and he knows it.

Pelosi and Reid have not been able to rally the troops and for that we can be thankful.

As for the idea that a single payer system is the only solution, I think we need to be a bit more open minded.

Paperwork eats up as much as 20% of the health care dolllar. The industry should quickly move to standardize all forms and information systems to save billions. And it doesn’t take an act of Congress to do so. In fact it does not have to cost one taxpayer dime.

Why are massive government programs the only solution that liberals can conceptualize?

Increasing the number of insureds is important to everybody. You wouldn’t find health insurance companies opposing that.

Why don’t we allow groups of individuals to band together to purchase group health? Allow them to do so without being an employment based group. Cost to taxpayers=zero.

They could negotiate favorable rates like large corporations and unions do, while preserving free choice and a free marketplace.

The influx of insureds would spur competition, lowering insurance rates for everyone.

Stating over and over again that ‘Americans want single payer’ doesnt make it so.

<a href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/27/AR2009072701372.html>Surveys</a> show that over 80% of Americans like their current coverage.

You said: When is somebody going to stand up and say that immigration reform is part of healthcare reform?

I got your answer in this post. I’m glad that you have found the same numbers that I found. I would add that the Census numbers that you quote are from 2007 so they are probably a little on the low side. I that that we (you and I) agree that immigration reform needs to be tackled with healthcare reform but no one is touching that one.

I found out a bit more information since my previous post and I thought I’d share it with you.

There’s two issue at play.

First, the often used phrase “46 million Americans don’t have health insurance” is sort of a misnomer. According to 2006 US Census data, 46 million *people* in America don’t have health insurance.

The second thing I found is that among the 46 million people in America who don’t have health insurance, about 9.7 million are non-citizens. That includes all US immigrants, both legal and otherwise.

Just thought I’d share that.

Beyond that, I don’t think anybody in Congress is proposing to consider including illegal immigrants into healthcare reform legislation.

Thanks again.

We often hear the estimates of 12 to 15 million illegal immigrants living and working in the USA.

And we are aware of the statistic that 46 million Americans don’t have health insurance.

But you’re the only person I’ve seen who makes the claim that the 12 million illegal immigrants are part of the 46 million Americans don’t have health insurance.

I don’t think that’s correct. Of course you’re entitled to hold and publish your opinion, but since one of your prominent points in the article is that “immigration reform is part of healthcare reform” shouldn’t you find out, for sure, before forwarding that particular argument?

Because healthcare reform is a tough enough nut to crack without implying that we should include illegal immigrants into healthcare reform, which nobody is proposing.

Thanks for your consideration.

That’s what I’m talkin’ about. Takin’ it to the Streets – to quote the Doobie Bros.

I don’t know. I guess that I would say that they are Americans but not American citizens if you buy that.

Thanks for the comment.

Mo Rage