***whispers*** any conservatives out there a little nervous about our country?

This is a post mostly for conservative posters, but any positive comments welcome.

To all of you more liberal mindsets... please keep in mind that there a quite a few of us conservatives out there who just need to be able to speak our piece too. I obviously aknowledge that we will now have a liberal president... and the reason he is gonna be pres is because most of America wants it that way. That's part of the beauty of America.... someone is always in the majority... and someone is always in the minority.

So please let us in the minority at least express our concerns. They are genuine.

To all of you conservatives... please make constructive comments or we will simply come off as poor sports. Here are some of my concerns:

--will we be safe? Since Obama (and apparently most of the population) want us to pull out of the middle east.... will we be safe from their attacks and nuclear progams?

--will the free markets be ruined? Any time government interferes in the free markets, its natural reactions are skewed. Will the government go too far? Will handouts become the American way?

--will healthcare prosper? We all know healthcare is WAAAAY too expensive here in America. But we also have the best healthcare in the world... and quite frankly, anyone who needs care is already required to be cared for if they walk into an ER. So what will a national health system do to us? Will our highly trained, excellent health providers move on when they can't earn the excellent salaries on government subsidies?

there are probably more, but those are the most important to me

As I'm not really conservative, I'm probably not the person you were looking for to post here, but that being said:

Both liberals and conservatives have similar concerns for our country. We just have to see the similarities to be able to talk peacefully about them. We all want to believe we're safe and we all want affordable health care and a working free market economy, it's just how we think we should get there that people differ.

Regardless of the political stance of our new president elect, I'm still worried about our country. There's a long way to go, but I have hope that things will get better over time.

1. Yes we will be safe. George Bush, John McCain and Barack Obama all recognize that the true threat resides in Afghanistan, and that we do not need to become an occupation force in Afghanistan to defeat the terrorists that flourish there.

2. There is no such thing as a true free-market economy in this country. We have been giving handouts to various sectors of the economy for decades.

3. The 'good' doctors will not migrate to other countries, any other countries  that they would wish to go to already have nationalized healthcare systems.

If these are your concerns, you have nothing to worry about.

Original Post by singinfatlady:

--will we be safe? Since Obama (and apparently most of the population) want us to pull out of the middle east.... will we be safe from their attacks and nuclear progams? Having most of our troops here to protect us and having some out hunting down those who want to do us harm will keep us much safer than having most of out troops act as an occupying force in an country that was never a threat to begin with.

--will the free markets be ruined? Any time government interferes in the free markets, its natural reactions are skewed. Will the government go too far? Will handouts become the American way? Back in the day the government was very 'hands off' in reguards to the economy, then the great depression happened and regulations were put in place.  The economy thrived under these regulations and the government began to slowly deregulate and got us into the mess we're in now.

--will healthcare prosper? We all know healthcare is WAAAAY too expensive here in America. But we also have the best healthcare in the world... and quite frankly, anyone who needs care is already required to be cared for if they walk into an ER. So what will a national health system do to us? Will our highly trained, excellent health providers move on when they can't earn the excellent salaries on government subsidies? If people are already getting free healthcare, wouldn't it be in everyone's interest to reduce the cost of the healthcare these people recieve? Preventative care is much cheaper than emergency care, helping people get preventative care will decrease healthcare costs for everyone.

there are probably more, but those are the most important to me

Original Post by singinfatlady:

This is a post mostly for conservative posters, but any positive comments welcome.

To all of you more liberal mindsets... please keep in mind that there a quite a few of us conservatives out there who just need to be able to speak our piece too. I obviously aknowledge that we will now have a liberal president... and the reason he is gonna be pres is because most of America wants it that way. That's part of the beauty of America.... someone is always in the majority... and someone is always in the minority.

So please let us in the minority at least express our concerns. They are genuine.

To all of you conservatives... please make constructive comments or we will simply come off as poor sports. Here are some of my concerns:

--will we be safe? Since Obama (and apparently most of the population) want us to pull out of the middle east.... will we be safe from their attacks and nuclear progams?

--will the free markets be ruined? Any time government interferes in the free markets, its natural reactions are skewed. Will the government go too far? Will handouts become the American way?

--will healthcare prosper? We all know healthcare is WAAAAY too expensive here in America. But we also have the best healthcare in the world... and quite frankly, anyone who needs care is already required to be cared for if they walk into an ER. So what will a national health system do to us? Will our highly trained, excellent health providers move on when they can't earn the excellent salaries on government subsidies?

there are probably more, but those are the most important to me

My answer to this is that we will see what he does or does not do and how this affects our nation.  I have accepted that Obama will be our next president.  We all know the job is not an easy one, and I really wish him well.  Only time will tell the answers to your concerns. 

I don't share your concern about healthcare. I haven't seen that Obama is supporting a national health care system, but instead keeping the current system, but making sure that everyone has the opportunity for insurance to cover health care. 

Also, it's a myth that the U.S. has the best health care....we do spend the most of healthcare, but the actual health outcomes are not that great. Having expensive health care is not the same as effective health care. We've got a ways to go to make the money we are pouring into health care actually translate to positive outcomes for our health.

I'm not sure what you mean by "anyone who needs care is already required to be cared for if they walk into an ER". That only deals with the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health care needs. It only provides one-time urgent care for a condition, not preventative or on-going treatment. For example, a person having an asthma attack can get urgent care at the ER, but that doesn't provide for regular asthma medications to prevent severe attacks in the first place. Or a person with a sudden severe pain might be able to find out in the ER that it due to a cancerous tumor, but they are certainly not going to receive cancer treatment in the ER! The ER does not provide resources for women to maintain healthy pregnancies. The ER is not designed to prevent problems (and prevention is a huge part of cutting costs) but to deal with them once they become major.

And even when the ER can provide sufficient treatment (e.g., a prescription for antibiotics for an acute ear infection), why on earth would we want to waste ER resources on such trivial problems that can and should be taken care of at a clinic, instead? For a given problem, an ER visit is much more expensive than a visit to a clinic doctor or nurse.
 

Original Post by singinfatlady:

This is a post mostly for conservative posters, but any positive comments welcome.

To all of you more liberal mindsets... please keep in mind that there a quite a few of us conservatives out there who just need to be able to speak our piece too. I obviously aknowledge that we will now have a liberal president... and the reason he is gonna be pres is because most of America wants it that way. That's part of the beauty of America.... someone is always in the majority... and someone is always in the minority.

So please let us in the minority at least express our concerns. They are genuine.

To all of you conservatives... please make constructive comments or we will simply come off as poor sports. Here are some of my concerns:

--will we be safe? Since Obama (and apparently most of the population) want us to pull out of the middle east.... will we be safe from their attacks and nuclear progams?

--will the free markets be ruined? Any time government interferes in the free markets, its natural reactions are skewed. Will the government go too far? Will handouts become the American way?

--will healthcare prosper? We all know healthcare is WAAAAY too expensive here in America. But we also have the best healthcare in the world... and quite frankly, anyone who needs care is already required to be cared for if they walk into an ER. So what will a national health system do to us? Will our highly trained, excellent health providers move on when they can't earn the excellent salaries on government subsidies?

there are probably more, but those are the most important to me

I agree with the person who commented about most of our troops being overseas. And how can you prove that the war in Iraq has made the US a safer country? I see absolutely no proof of that fact.

Will handouts become the American way? Um, that is a question I'd direct back to the GOP-run White House after their recent handouts... like the $85 Billion bailout of AIG (to name just one).

Obama's health care plan will likely partner the private and public sectors to come up with a solution. The more folks that are covered, the lower the costs that will be passed on to the average American (like me) who helps to fund care for the uninsured through taxes. And it will likely create jobs as well across many areas - hospitals, health care companies, public sector, etc. More health care coverage will in no way diminish the quality of the care that we are receiving now. If anything it will improve, as hopefully less costs, overhead, etc. will be passed along to tax-payers and to phsyicians. And yes, someone else mentioned preventive care - that is a huge factor in health care costs. Along with education.

Original Post by crazineko:

My answer to this is that we will see what he does or does not do and how this affects our nation.  I have accepted that Obama will be our next president.  We all know the job is not an easy one, and I really wish him well.  Only time will tell the answers to your concerns. 

 

I really respect you for that.

Will handouts become the American way? Um, that is a question I'd direct back to the GOP-run White House after their recent handouts... like the $85 Billion bailout of AIG (to name just one).

I thought that more Democrats voted for this bailout than Republicans (with the backing of Bush, of course).   I could be wrong though.  My internets is slow today so I'm having a hard time researching anything today.

To the OP.  I'm not nervous, per se.  The country is suffering.  No matter who we voted for, they were going to be going into office with a lot of weight on their shoulders.  I think I'd be nervous no matter who had gotten elected.  Ask me this question again in a couple years when we are able to see the real work and policies of Obama start to show through.  Then, I might have a better answer for you about whether I'm nervous or not.

Sorry, I wasn't much help.

Isn't the bigger question this?

What will idiots like Michael Moore and Al Franken do now?

Sorry, just kidding.  I thought a little levity was in order.

Edited to add:

Oops I forgot that Al Franken is in a tight race for Senator from Minnesota.  Tight?  What in the world are Minnesotans thinking?

Original Post by caverlady:

Isn't the bigger question this?

What will idiots like Michael Moore and Al Franken do now?

Sorry, just kidding.  I thought a little levity was in order.

 I guess Michael Moore will just have to start going to other countries and pick them apart for a while. 

My biggest fear is that G-Dubb will revert to his frat-house days and do unspeakable things to the White House china.

Original Post by peaches0405:

Original Post by caverlady:

Isn't the bigger question this?

What will idiots like Michael Moore and Al Franken do now?

Sorry, just kidding.  I thought a little levity was in order.

 I guess Michael Moore will just have to start going to other countries and pick them apart for a while. 

 Oooh!  Like Cuba...HAHA!

sigh.... I thought I mentioned I only wanted positive (supportive) comments.  But here we go.......

Original Post by caverlady:

Isn't the bigger question this?

What will idiots like Michael Moore and Al Franken do now?

 Ummm ... Al Franken is in the middle of a recount for a senate seat in Minnesota right now. 

Just sayin' ...

Original Post by kathygator:

1. Yes we will be safe. George Bush, John McCain and Barack Obama all recognize that the true threat resides in Afghanistan, and that we do not need to become an occupation force in Afghanistan to defeat the terrorists that flourish there.

What about the threat in Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and still sects in Iraq. We are not at war with Iraq, but working with them to be safe.

2. There is no such thing as a true free-market economy in this country. We have been giving handouts to various sectors of the economy for decades.

I understand this and disagree with almost all of the handouts involved. just because they have been around for decades doesn't mean they have helped the economy or the population in the long run.

3. The 'good' doctors will not migrate to other countries, any other countries  that they would wish to go to already have nationalized healthcare systems.

What if they move to different job sectors becuase healthcare is no longer such a profitable prospect....

If these are your concerns, you have nothing to worry about.

Original Post by singinfatlady:

sigh.... I thought I mentioned I only wanted positive (supportive) comments.  But here we go.......

 Sadly, the likelihood of receiving positive (supportive) comments here if you are politically conservative is extremely unlikely.

Original Post by mollymouser:

Original Post by singinfatlady:

sigh.... I thought I mentioned I only wanted positive (supportive) comments.  But here we go.......

 Sadly, the likelihood of receiving positive (supportive) comments here if you are politically conservative is extremely unlikely.

 So much for "tolerance".  

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by singinfatlady:

--will we be safe? Since Obama (and apparently most of the population) want us to pull out of the middle east.... will we be safe from their attacks and nuclear progams? Having most of our troops here to protect us and having some out hunting down those who want to do us harm will keep us much safer than having most of out troops act as an occupying force in an country that was never a threat to begin with.

how did having most of our troops here protect us from 9/11? Iraq itself may not be a threat but it certainly houses sects that are very dangerous. Not to mention Iran and its pending Nukes....

--will the free markets be ruined? Any time government interferes in the free markets, its natural reactions are skewed. Will the government go too far? Will handouts become the American way? Back in the day the government was very 'hands off' in reguards to the economy, then the great depression happened and regulations were put in place.  The economy thrived under these regulations and the government began to slowly deregulate and got us into the mess we're in now.

When have we ever seen DEregulation? All we have had is regulation added to regulation and then more 'oversight' added to make sure the regulation is being regulated. The red tape created by over-regulating has (partially) caused the economy to decline.

--will healthcare prosper? We all know healthcare is WAAAAY too expensive here in America. But we also have the best healthcare in the world... and quite frankly, anyone who needs care is already required to be cared for if they walk into an ER. So what will a national health system do to us? Will our highly trained, excellent health providers move on when they can't earn the excellent salaries on government subsidies? If people are already getting free healthcare, wouldn't it be in everyone's interest to reduce the cost of the healthcare these people recieve? Preventative care is much cheaper than emergency care, helping people get preventative care will decrease healthcare costs for everyone.

I didn't say anyone is getting FREE healthcare... Nor SHOULD they. Why should anyone provide their services for free? Part of the reason costs have gone so for folks who pay out-of-pocket is because the when a government-covered patient receives care (ie medicare, medicaid) the provider only receives a small, set amount of pay. In order to compensate for the government UNDERpaying for services, providers have to increase their charges to those of us who pay on our own. . . . Buy your own insurance.... watch your costs and call your provider on it if you feel you are overcharged. . . go elsewhere if need be (and if its not an emergency)... if the demand for affordable healthcare goes up, the market will provide affordable healthcare eventually... if government stays out of it. Of course insurance would have to be treated the same way. If they overcharge you... move on

there are probably more, but those are the most important to me

 

 

Original Post by crazineko:

My answer to this is that we will see what he does or does not do and how this affects our nation.  I have accepted that Obama will be our next president.  We all know the job is not an easy one, and I really wish him well.  Only time will tell the answers to your concerns. 

 

 Agreed... wholeheartedly

1. I think we have as good a shot with Obama's foreign policy as with McCain's. In fact better. The world likes Obama better, and will support him more.

2. Then why be extra-scared of an Obama presidency? McCain wasn't proposing stopping all the hand-outs.

3. There are only so many positions for doctors other than healthcare. Besides, regardless of how the healthcare dilemma plays out, the rich will always be able to buy the best, and the medical profession will still remain one of the most lucrative professions in the country.

Sorry - I just don't understand, and have never understood what all this fear is about. You can't honestly believe the end times are here simply because a democrat got in, can you?

Molly: unjust. A lot of us regular posters have been respectful.

FWIW, I have encountered very few open minds on the right side of the site when it comes to Obama, so I guess positive support is relative.