See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Comments

1. #101
   On December 20th, 2009 at 4:01 pm, jsmiddleton4 said:

   “aIs she forced to see Medicare patients?”

   Doesn’t matter in terms of reimbursement. What happens in the industry is whatever Medicare sets as reimbursement, private insurance companies follow along. So whatever Medicare pays, that is sooner or later what they all pay.

   There is in general a great deal of misunderstanding out there as to how reimbursement works and is structured in the health care industry.

2. #102
   On December 20th, 2009 at 4:11 pm, xler8bmw said:

   On December 20th, 2009 at 2:27 pm, rightisright said: There is a lot more good people out there that would love to be a part of such a government…serve a few years, go home and be proud of what you’ve done for your beloved country.

   You’re 100% correct but, our corruptocrats have made it so difficult for regular folks to run for office. They’re all supported financially by special interest in their coffers. I am hoping this election cycle will start making a change of that practice so the little people can run a fair campaign. We have a lot of grassroots org now supporting candidates. I am actually getting my petition in Jan to run.

3. #103
   On December 20th, 2009 at 4:19 pm, xler8bmw said:

   On December 20th, 2009 at 3:17 pm, zyzzyg said:

   LMAO! I am not the liberal and have never been one in my entire life nice try though on the projection tactics! Apparently from your misguided posts you’re actually the liberal on this board.

4. #104
   On December 20th, 2009 at 4:23 pm, zyzzyg said:

   On December 20th, 2009 at 2:32 pm, Republicanvet said: #92

   Your ignorance is really incredible at times, and that you choose to show it over and over is just as incredible.

   Exactly how am I ignorant? Because I ask questions? How else is one to become knowledgeable? Don’t you ever ask questions? If you do, does that make you ignorant, too?

   Go ahead, be incredible. Tell me you don’t ask questions.

   Is she forced to see Medicare patients? Probably not, but then coming from a small town in Nebraska, where else would patients go? Drive 100 miles in any direction to go to the doctor who does accept them? Works well for an older person on a fixed income.

   Do you understand the free market? If she isn’t forced to see them, then don’t see them because they cost her money. She is not adequately compensated therefore it is her decision to accept the miniscule reimbursement. Her option is to charge more to meet her expenses. It is called a co-pay.

   Where else would patients go? They will go where they can afford. If they can’t afford to pay Dr Hallibaugh’s fees, they should go elswhere. Healthcare is not a right. It is a business. When will you liberals began to accept that fact?

   Age has nothing to do with Dr Hallibaugh’s need to charge more for her services. If you want to see Dr Hallibaugh, then know that you as the patient will have to pay the difference between what Medicare allows in Nebraska as reimbursement and her price for an office visit.

   Then after all doctors stop seeing Medicare patients because the rate is so low, people like you will be whining about greedy doctors, and demanding legislation REQUIRING doctors see Medicare patients.

   Nope. And, as usual your liberal speculation and guessing as to what I will do, or not do, is wrong.

   Though I am glad you said this. Because, the statement implicitly suggests that Doctors are not currently required to accept Medicare patients.

   Perhaps if Congress passed sensible legislation without all the bribery, there might be funding available to pay proper rates.

   Are you suggesting National Standard for Medicare reimbursement? You do know that Medicare reimbursement is a State function, don’t you?

   Yes, Congress should pass sensible legislation, and Medicare reimbursement rates is part of what is wrong with this health care reform legislation. Taking away State control of reimbursements rates might be helpful. As would Tort reform. As would studying insurance payments by Doctors against actual payments by insurance companies.

   If ignorance is asking questions, then call me ignorant, because I have this question.

   In any State, total the dollars paid by Doctors for liability insurance, and then determine how much is paid out. Don’t know what the numbers are, but it is a fair question to ask. I would like to know the numbers wouldn’t you? Are you ignorant with me on this question?

   What if it were discovered that Doctors premiums totaled $1,000 and payouts were $1, in a year? Then wouldn’t one way to approach reforming heatlhcare be to provide lower cost liabilty insurance to Doctors? Well, this is the other side of Tort reform.

   Heck, examine all the expenses that Doctors are subject to. Ask the questions. I don’t have the answers. Be brave and be ignorant with me, ask questions that you may not have the answers to.

   I will not call you ignorant for asking questions.

5. #105
   On December 20th, 2009 at 4:27 pm, rightisright said:

   I am actually getting my petition in Jan to run.

   Best of luck to you in your political endeavor. Good to see a private citizen step forward and work at changing system as it was intended.

   In agreement with you in regards to newcomer/unknown candidates…they are behind the 8 ball before they get started.

6. #106
   On December 20th, 2009 at 4:27 pm, xler8bmw said:

   On December 20th, 2009 at 3:36 pm, zyzzyg said: Capitalism is good, moral capitalism is better. OH, and moral capitalism is hiring an American and not someone on an H1B Visa to do the job for less.

   There is NO such thing as moral capitalism…….that is a pure socialistic/marxist view of the world. Neither of which work as we can see the assault that has been done to this country. If you like the european view of the world then as of right now you’re free to move there and live under that form of government.

   The gov has no business regulating private business or creating wages. As we seen the affects on the private sector.

7. #107
   On December 20th, 2009 at 4:31 pm, granite said:

   Republicanvet:

   If one had to chose one word to actually describe the content and meaning of the preceding 30,000-word agony that was a ?response? to your post; what would your choice be?

   Mine: A three-way tie (sorry) between “empty”, “nothing”, and “useless”.

8. #108
   On December 20th, 2009 at 4:37 pm, zyzzyg said:

   On December 20th, 2009 at 4:19 pm, xler8bmw said: #104

   LMAO! I am not the liberal and have never been one in my entire life nice try though on the projection tactics! Apparently from your misguided posts you’re actually the liberal on this board.

   ROFLMAO

   Yet, you continue to respond as a liberal. Address the message.

   Liberals avoid the topic, change the subject and attack. How can you not be a liberal using typical liberal tactics?

   No projection, just observing how you act in an exchange of ideas. If you aren’t a liberal, you certainly act and respond like one.

9. #109
   On December 20th, 2009 at 4:43 pm, xler8bmw said:

   On December 20th, 2009 at 4:37 pm, zyzzyg said:

   Yep and you have fulfilled your liberalism ad hominem attacks. Turn around the subject when you have already been answered trying to create a strawman argument. Thanks For Playing

10. #110
    On December 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pm, simcoe said:

    I disagree with everything that the left stands for and this is in no way to be inferred as an endorsement of his politics.

    However, after reading the above letter to her Nebraska representative it sounds like about the only thing that the person is upset about is that she’s afraid that now she won’t be making the money she was hoping for.

    Greed comes in many different forms.

11. #111
    On December 20th, 2009 at 5:01 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 20th, 2009 at 4:27 pm, xler8bmw said: #107

    Just go back to my post #98 and either agree, or disagree, with the smaller questions and statements I made. FOr once don’t act like a liberal and actually address the message.

    We are taking a bit of a tangent, but I will address what you said.

    There is NO such thing as moral capitalism…….that is a pure socialistic/marxist view of the world. Neither of which work as we can see the assault that has been done to this country. If you like the european view of the world then as of right now you’re free to move there and live under that form of government.

    Nope. I’d rather hire an American to do any job than bring some foreigner into the country to do it. Capitalism says pay less, or as little as you can, to do a job so that your profit margin is higher. I accept this up to a point.

    However, it is in our own best interest not to bring in a bunch of New Dehli computer programmers when American programmers are available.

    It is in our own best interest not to bring in a bunch of Guadalahara construction workers when American construction workers are available.

    Yep, capitalism says we should pay less to make more profit, but I would rather pay Americans a little more than have them be unemployed, than have our country crumble slowly by having to have ballots in Spanish, Arabic and Hindu. That is the moral capitalism of which I speak. America and Americans first.

    Are you ready for some serious emotional words? Slavery was pure capitalism. Basically, free labor. No salary and no wages wages increase the profit margin. Good? Nope. I am not for pure capitalism, but I am for moral capitalism. A fair wage for a fair days work.

    Do you agree, or disagree?

12. #112
    On December 20th, 2009 at 5:09 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 20th, 2009 at 4:43 pm, xler8bmw said: #110

    Yep and you have fulfilled your liberalism ad hominem attacks. Turn around the subject when you have already been answered trying to create a strawman argument. Thanks For Playing

    HUH?

    Answered?

    Have you addressed post #98 yet? Have you addressed anything from my original post? With real answers?

    Try cutting and pasting my actual words and deconstructing what I actually said. I’ve done it to your posts. Why can’t you do it to mine?

13. #113
    On December 20th, 2009 at 5:12 pm, Roland said:

    Slavery was pure capitalism.

    Just the opposite. With regard to the relationship between the slave and the slaveowner, slavery was pure socialist tyranny, with the slaveowner playing the role of the state and the slave being the ‘citizen’ of the socialist state.

    Slavery was excused in the exact same way in which socialism’s lack of regard for our rights is excused: The slaves didn’t know how to take care of themselves properly, so the slaveowners would take care of them.

    Slavery was pure evil. Socialism is slavery for everyone.

14. #114
    On December 20th, 2009 at 5:56 pm, rightisright said:

    Yep, capitalism says we should pay less to make more profit,

    Not hardly, where is the free trade, the open market, free enterprise when slavery is involved? Slavery is evil on any level, it breaks natural laws of man’s need, desire for liberty.

    zyzzyg , you seem a little confused on a few issues regarding the good Dr. and medicare. Medicare sets the pay rate or reimbursement rate, not the state. State handles medicaid or what ever they call it in what ever state your in. If one qualifies for S.S.I. or S.S.D. within a state’s requirements they will pick up part of or all of ones medicare payment to the feds.

    However, after reading the above letter to her Nebraska representative it sounds like about the only thing that the person is upset about is that she’s afraid that now she won’t be making the money she was hoping for.

    How about hoping for and has earned the ability to expect more than the government says she should make. Your comment makes it sound like an outside agency should dictate the pay scale for physicians. I seriously doubt many Dr.’s went to school for 8-12 years so the government can tell them what their worth is to their society. Am I wrong?
    I don’t know what you do for a living, but do think it would be right if the shoe was on your foot, unless your a banker, financier that needed tarp/stimulus money, giving the government the opportunity to set your pay.

15. #115
    On December 20th, 2009 at 6:00 pm, granite said:

    On December 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pm, simcoe said:

    I disagree with everything that the left stands for and this is in no way to be inferred as an endorsement of his politics.

    However, after reading the above letter to her Nebraska representative it sounds like about the only thing that the person is upset about is that she’s afraid that now she won’t be making the money she was hoping for.

    Greed comes in many different forms.

    Exactly how/why is that doc being greedy?

    Please support your statement, your labeling of her as greedy, with something…anything.

16. #116
    On December 20th, 2009 at 6:04 pm, granite said:

    On December 20th, 2009 at 5:56 pm, rightisright said:

    I seriously doubt many Dr.’s went to school for 8-12 years so the government can tell them what their worth is to their society. Am I wrong?

    Speaking as a doc…no, you are not wrong.

17. #117
    On December 20th, 2009 at 6:49 pm, rocketman said:

    ***
    Thank you Dr. Becky F. Hollinbaugh, D.O.–for your help and service to others. And for your letter to the traitorous Senator Nelson for selling the doctors and medical workers “down the river”.
    ***
    Like you, my two sons (M.D.–Oncology, M.D.–Kidney / Renal) sacrificed a lot and worked very hard to reach their goals. Yes, they are paid a lot–and delayed real income for many years. And have to pay back horribly expensive educational loans. And this old White engineer had to sacrifice and help them out a lot as they strived to reach their goals.
    ***
    Now the “democrat” / liberal / socialist / statist / marxist / communist Comrade Obama (PBUH), Prince Harry Reid, Princess Nancy Pelosi, and their congressional / government minions want to bleed them dry of real income. “Income Redistribution” is just theft by another name.
    ***
    Read National Geographic articles about how badly this has worked out in Castro’s communist Cuba. A doctor and a taxi driver make the same salary–about $20. a month. Few antibiotics are on hand–all have poor medical care. Except for the ruling class. Log on to Yoani Sanchez’ excellent blog GENERACIONY and select English to read what bad lives socialism and communism have given the Cuban People. The taxi drivers and hookers make more money than the doctors due to their tips!
    ***
    And our Congressional Black Caucus goes to Cuba and praises their failed system. And our own government is converting the U.S.A. into the new United Socialist States of America before our very eyes. I never expected to see this day in America.
    ***
    John Bibb
    ***

18. #118
    On December 20th, 2009 at 8:24 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 20th, 2009 at 5:12 pm, Roland said: #114

    Not hardly, where is the free trade, the open market, free enterprise when slavery is involved? Slavery is evil on any level, it breaks natural laws of man’s need, desire for liberty.

    Slavery is not good for the slaves but it is good for the slave owner. Much lower costs and greater profit margin. You can’t get any more capitalist than that.

19. #119
    On December 20th, 2009 at 8:31 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 20th, 2009 at 5:56 pm, rightisright said: #115

    Not hardly, where is the free trade, the open market, free enterprise when slavery is involved? Slavery is evil on any level, it breaks natural laws of man’s need, desire for liberty.

    Not for the slave for sure, but when the idea is to make as much as you can at the lowest cost, that is capitalism.

    You are late to the discussion and it began with discussing capitalism versus moral capitalism. Pure capitalism accepts slavery and moral capitalism does not.

    It is wonderful that this piqued your interest though I wish you would address the questions I raised about Dr Hallibaugh.

20. #120
    On December 20th, 2009 at 8:42 pm, rightisright said:

    You are late to the discussion and it began with discussing capitalism versus moral capitalism. Pure capitalism accepts slavery and moral capitalism does not.

    I read your comments about morals and capitalism earlier, and your wrong. Capitalism is not slavery in any way, other than your interpretation of such. As i mentioned above when you have slavery there is no freedom of choice, there is no liberty which is the exact opposite of capitalism. With out freedom capitalism does not work, it becomes greed, forceful, punitive and on and on.
    I think your trying to provoke and argue just to be arguing, not really making any sense of your point. So I’ll leave you with that since your not being rational and only objecting by using the same tired response…which I’m sure you know is wrong.

    Nite

21. #121
    On December 20th, 2009 at 8:49 pm, rightisright said:

    just read your last lines about the good Dr. I addressed my feelings about the doc and her situation as others find themselves in, you must have failed to read them.
    As I said I’m not wasting my time trying to discuss a subject with someone who has no intention of paying attention and conversing only to reply with the same demands in the conversation, to answer your questions. I’ve read your comments on other subjects you usually pull the same type of bull,. It get’s boring and old real fast.

    Good Nite

22. #122
    On December 20th, 2009 at 8:55 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 20th, 2009 at 5:56 pm, rightisright said: #115

    zyzzyg , you seem a little confused on a few issues regarding the good Dr. and medicare. Medicare sets the pay rate or reimbursement rate, not the state. State handles medicaid or what ever they call it in what ever state your in. If one qualifies for S.S.I. or S.S.D. within a state’s requirements they will pick up part of or all of ones medicare payment to the feds.

    Finally, a decent answer to one of my original questions.

23. #123
    On December 20th, 2009 at 9:24 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 20th, 2009 at 8:42 pm, rightisright said: #121

    I read your comments about morals and capitalism earlier, and your wrong. Capitalism is not slavery in any way, other than your interpretation of such.

    Nope. Never said capitalism is, or is not, slavery. Pure capitalism allows for slavery because it maximizes profit. Does slavery allow the maximum level of profits, or not? Yes, or no?

    As i mentioned above when you have slavery there is no freedom of choice, there is no liberty which is the exact opposite of capitalism.

    And, as I said, slavery it is not good for the slave, but good for the slave owner. Yes, or no?

    With out freedom capitalism does not work, it becomes greed, forceful, punitive and on and on.

    Did capitalism and slavery co-exist? Yes, or no? Yes, the slaves lacked freedom eventhough we practiced capitalism at the time.

    And yes, as you said, when it becomes greed, forceful, punitive and on and on, . . . then it is not moral capitalism, but pure capitalism. Moral capitalism has no room for slavery. Moral capitalism is good because it believes in a fair wage for a fair days work. Seems you agree with this. Yes, or no?

    I think your trying to provoke and argue just to be arguing, not really making any sense of your point. So I’ll leave you with that since your not being rational and only objecting by using the same tired response…which I’m sure you know is wrong.

    Stop thinking, read my words and answer the questions.

    And, no I am not arguing just to argue. Another poster took the tangent that led me to this point. I asked questions because I did not know the answers, and I was told that I did not appreciate capitalism. I said I did, though I liked moral capitalism better.

    You are welcome to leave, but should you elect to return, try answering the questions, and maybe you might get a different response.

    And no, I am not wrong, and neither are you. Your most recent comments suggest that moral capitalism, which rejects slavery, is superior to pure capitalism, which embraced slavery.

24. #124
    On December 20th, 2009 at 9:46 pm, Roland said:

    Slavery is not good for the slaves but it is good for the slave owner. Much lower costs and greater profit margin. You can’t get any more capitalist than that.

    Your definition of capitalism is pure socialist propaganda.

    Just because something makes costs to a predator lower does not mean the predator is being a capitalist.

    By your nutty, ignorant definition of capitalism, all tyrants are capitalists and all oppression is capitalism since the function of the oppression is always to reduce the tyrant’s ‘costs.’

    The reality is exactly the opposite. All tyranny is a variety of socialism, with the tyrant always, without fail, claiming to be managing the society for the betterment of the society.

25. #125
    On December 20th, 2009 at 9:49 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 20th, 2009 at 8:49 pm, rightisright said: #122

    just read your last lines about the good Dr. I addressed my feelings about the doc and her situation as others find themselves in, you must have failed to read them.
    As I said I’m not wasting my time trying to discuss a subject with someone who has no intention of paying attention and conversing only to reply with the same demands in the conversation, to answer your questions. I’ve read your comments on other subjects you usually pull the same type of bull,. It get’s boring and old real fast.

    Piffle.

    You took two posts #121 and #122 to respond to my one post #120.

    And I, took two posts #121 and #123 to respond to your one post #115.

    Your first post directed at me on this thread was #115. I did not miss anything directed by you at me. Like it or not, I don’t read others comments when they are not directed at me. I will not interject myself in the conversations between others. Therefore, if you addressed your feelings to others I am unaware of it.

    Yep, I am consistent. If you really want to have a conversation answer the questions, and I will answer yours.

    You are welcome to continue to deride my approach, however the only way to truly escape the conversation, is to not answer the questions. Something you, among many others, do not do.

    I answer questions.

26. #126
    On December 20th, 2009 at 10:58 pm, hunter said:

    Great conversation guys! I have been unable to get on all weekend due to holiday obligations, but I am trying to catch up.

    The first thing I want to do though is apologize once again for an idiot “center” senator from Nebraske. It used to be Hagel, but now it is Nelson and I will be doing everything in my power to make sure that this idiot does not make it back to his seat when he is up for election.

    Keep it up all, and thank you Dr. Hollibaugh for all you do.

27. #127
    On December 20th, 2009 at 11:48 pm, karenhasfreedom said:

    This doctor is right that they can’t make their bills on the government reimbursement rates for medicare and medicaid. My sister is a cancer doctor and we figured out that she made just $7 per hour to treat a medicaid cancer patient recently. I consider that government theft of my sister’s services. Disgraceful. That isn’t even minimum wage for gosh sakes!!

28. #128
    On December 21st, 2009 at 1:30 am, Edouard said:

    I think it’s shameful that an ignorant claim of “greed” got lobbed in this comments section at this obviously decent and caring small town doctor.

    Of course, those who know nothing about the true costs of running a viable and honest business in the real world, nor have any clue about running a financially solvent doctor’s office or decent community health clinic, are awfully fast to lob their know-nothing “greed” charges.

    The doctors I know work their asses off and don’t make nearly what they should for their expertise. And I guarantee you Obamacare scares the living hell out of them, one has already told me he will quit medicine before being forced to become a bureaucratic pawn by Obamacare, and I’m sure that sentiment is shared by vast number of physicians all over America right now (just when it looks like we’ll start to need more doctors rather than fewer).

29. #129
    On December 21st, 2009 at 7:34 am, Artbyruth said:

    “I have over $180,000 dollars in student loans. I. Can’t. Survive. On. Obamacare.”

    No, but you CAN vote!! I better see Nebraska go very, very RED next election. I pray these people have learned their lesson and STOP VOTING for Democrats! Educate yourselves and vote responsibly from now on. I don’t have much pity for these states who keep electing these thieves then cry about it later.

    CHANGE is what’s happening now. But we want IMPROVEMENT!!!

30. #130
    On December 21st, 2009 at 7:43 am, southsideironworks said:

    The enemy within has just pushed us off the cliff. This monstrosity will destroy us all.

31. #131
    On December 21st, 2009 at 8:26 am, mytake said:

    Becky, I have your back. Although I am retired from medical practice, I am fighting for you through the tea parties. It infuriates me that you have been put in this position. Of course, being of retirement age in this “new world order” is not so great either. Now that I have retired, I wonder what care will be available for the elderly , after giving the best care in the world to the previous generation.

32. #132
    On December 21st, 2009 at 8:26 am, Atlas Shrugged said:

    I plan on contacting our governor and tell him to refuse this “Cornhusker Kickback”. Have it taken out Deathcare Bill. I do not want this Federal Cheese. Nelson is a POS and his political career is over in Nebraska. 2012 cannot come soon enough. I am so angry, I can’t see straight. The only time a conservative needs to “reach across the aisle” is to knock a liberal out. This crap about my “friend” on the other side has to stop. ALL liberals want to destroy the country. Give them no quarter!

33. #133
    On December 21st, 2009 at 8:50 am, misterbee241 said:

    I wish we had a right to a plumber. They charge a lot, and I’m always needing one around here. I think there should be “plum-care” for people who need plumbers and cant afford them. Dont think you need a plumber? Wait until you toilet stops working. If the socialists can put limits on one profession gets, then it should be able to do it for all of them.