Latest update: 18/03/2010 

- Barack Obama - healthcare reform - insurance - USA


Too poor to be poorly: uninsured Americans hope healthcare bill will be passed

The final touches have been made to Barack Obama's flagship policy on healthcare reform and the bill is now ready to go before the House of Representatives. The proposals have received staunch opposition from Republicans, but if passed, the new law will extend insurance coverage to 30 million Americans - many of whom simply can't afford to be ill.

PKK rebel fighters begin retreat to northern Iraq
08/05/2013 - TURKEY

PKK rebel fighters begin retreat to northern Iraq

Kurdish rebels began withdrawing from Turkey on Wednesday, taking a major step towards ending a 29-year conflict which has killed tens of thousands. The PKK originally demanded an independent state in Turkey's Kurdish south-east, but has since scaled down its goals, looking for wider political and cultural autonomy for Kurds in Turkey. A total of 2,000 PKK rebel fighters are expected to leave Turkey and cross into their stronghold in northern Iraq.
Could methane hydrate solve Tokyo's energy crisis?
08/05/2013 - Japan

Could methane hydrate solve Tokyo's energy crisis?

After 10 years of research, Japanese engineers have extracted offshore methane hydrate from beneath the ocean floor. The substance, more commonly called flammable ice, is a great hope for the future of Japan, which desperately lacks energy since almost all of its nuclear reactors remain shut after the Fukushima disaster. France 24 asks if methane hydrates will solve the energy puzzle for Japan, or even the world.
South Dakota introduces law allowing teachers to carry guns
07/05/2013 - USA

South Dakota introduces law allowing teachers to carry guns

It is now more than four months since 20 children and six adults were gunned down at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. At the time, President Obama declared that enough was enough, and that new gun laws had to be brought in. But all the proposals from the White House for new legislation have come to nothing: every one of them has failed in Congress. Gun culture remains alive and well in the US, especially in the rural heartland, as our correspondent found out.
Germany's 'trial of the year' begins as alleged neo-Nazi appears in court
06/05/2013 - GERMANY

Germany's 'trial of the year' begins as alleged neo-Nazi appears in court

Germany's trial of the year, that of Beate Zschäpe, is opening in Munich. She's the sole survivor of the NSU terror cell and alleged accomplice in 9 racially motivated murders. The case will revisit a scandal that shook the Turkish community: for years, police ignored clues that suggested racist attacks and instead blamed the mafia. Victims’ relatives were even suspects. Turks in Germany began to believe that authorities were blind to detecting racist crimes. Will the trial change that?
North Korea, Russia, Syria and Iran named worst countries for press freedom
03/05/2013 - MEDIA

North Korea, Russia, Syria and Iran named worst countries for press freedom

Reporters Without Borders has published its press freedom index, ranking 179 countries. The NGO singled out Kim Jong-Un, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad as the world's worst press freedom predators. Ninety professional journalists were killed in 2012, a record since the press freedom group started its reports. Syria was the world's most dangerous country, with 18 professional reporters killed.

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U.S. Healthcare

What's wrong with the U.S. Healthcare program is it's set up on a "for profit" business basis. 40% of the money paid into private "for profit" insurance goes into somebodies pocket. This is easily shown by comparing the GNP. The UK spends about 8% of their GNP on national healthcare and they cover everyone. The U.S. spends 15% of their GNP on healthcare and they don't cover everyone. That's what will be bankrupt the U.S.

The private insurance companies in the U.S. are against national healthcare and try to scare the public into believing the government is taking their freedom away.

Not all poor in US in favor of healthcare

A lot of us believe nationalizing healthcare is against the constitution and is going to further bankrupt the nation with yet another entitlement program it can not afford.

Medicaid and Medicare

Why was there no mention of Medicaid? American citizens who are unemployed qualify for state Medicaid programs. Why did this program not mention that? Further, why did it not mention the biggest criticism conservatives have been raising against a federal plan? That they ideologically disagree with it?

The current system needs reform, but it is those who are working and unable to afford good insurance due to prexisting conditions or other reasons that are the most vulnerable. There is a gap between the working middle class and poor who could use some help but do not qualify and the poor and elderly who already qualify for medicare and medicaid.

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