If we want healthcare reform, we need to convince the Chinese that it

[dkf]

won't increase the deficit.

Folks we are broke. Anything we spend now needs to be justified to the people that lend us money.

Its not right, but that is the position we have put ourselves in.

[DrToast]

1. We're not broke

The government is. And nobody is willing to pay higher taxes.

[Deja Q]

2. Just add more jobs, we have plenty of qualified people; then taxes wouldn't have to go up.

[area51]

3. Well ...

... we can stop our two wars of choice, that will save a lot of money. We can also close some military bases overseas. For the soldiers coming home, they can be offered healthcare profession training, as we transition into single-payer ... it's win-win. Some of the soldiers would accept healthcare training, we need more healthcare professionals, especially if we were to transition to single-payer. But it's too logical for any U.S. administration to implement.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. It's also far too politically radioactive to implement.

Particularly for a non-veteran, Democratic president. Making that large a reduction in our overseas presence would absolutely kill Obama politically, even if it does make sense. And heaven help him if we were to get attacked or if there were some kind of military fallout from the decision.

McCain might've gotten away with that, but then again, McCain wouldn't and certainly wouldn't push single-payer at all.

As far as ending the two wars - only one of which was by choice, I would argue, as the war in Afghanistan was rather justifiable though horribly botched by Bush - yes, that would save money in the short term. But you cannot forget that this does not solve the longer term funding needs of something that large. A tax would absolutely have to happen - and honestly, it probably should happen with or without single-payer. We are way undertaxed compared to other industrialized nations.

[Vinca]

5. We could bring all our jobs back from China to raise money.

[Occam Bandage]

6. Payday loan shops don't really care how you spend the money. nt

[Mass]

7. Before that, you need to convince the Senate and House that they do not have to follow orders from

the insurance companies.

It is probably a bigger challenge than what the Chinese want. Anyway, a good healthcare reform would not increase the deficit, on the contrary. This country spends more by inhabitant in healthcare than anybody in the world, for worse results.