Why are so many people against these issues?

If you are seriously wanting an in-depth answer, the Politics section (under Politics & Government) would be the place to go. If you're just wanting to make a point without learning both sides, don't bother with going there.

I support giving people in need health care. People living in poverty should have coverage. People earning up to 200% of the poverty level are already eligible for Medicaid. The elderly should have coverage---especially since they have been forced to pay into Medicare for over 40 years. The elderly are already covered by Medicare. I think that we have an obligation to give our veterans coverage--especially since it was a part of their agreement when they signed up for the military. Our veterans have VA hospitals. Inmates in our jails and prisons cannot work to earn health care. I believe that we should provide medical coverage for them while they are incarcerated. We do. I believe that we should give coverage to our disabled people who are unable to provide for themselves. We give out disabled people Medicare.

So that is basically our needy. The poor, elderly, disabled, veterans, and inmates.

BUT, we also have the SCHIP program, thanks to our generous smokers. This program gives medical coverage to "children" up to 30 years old and with incomes of up to $80,000 a year.

Now, that more than covers the needy. Unless you think that someone earning more than $80,000 is poor. We don't even know how we are going to be able to afford to take care of our needy in the future---Medicare is going broke. Tobacco sales have dropped off sharply and will not be able to sustain the SCHIP program. Yet the government wants to focus on giving health care to those who are NOT truly needy. The current health care bill even give free medical care to illegal immigrants!

If the government were to offer health insurance to others and have those who want it pay for it, I might be okay with that. But that's not the way they want it.

I like my private health insurance. I buy the insurance that I want. The government is telling me that I can keep buying my private insurance BUT even if I don't want government health insurance, I would have to pay for that too. That's like telling me that I'm free to also purchase a Toyota but the government is going to force me to pay for a GM junk car whether I want to use it or not. Some freedom of choice! I support reform of our health care system but not the bill we have in the Senate.

Anyway, there are many reasons for opposing the bill. This site states some of those reasons. It also gives the page number and section of each item they oppose and a link to the actual bill so you can read for yourself.

http://www.lc.org/media/9980/attachments/healthcar...

You have already decided that this bill is good. What are you basing your opinion on? Have you read the bill? Do you know what's in it? If you haven't read the bill, why did you decide it was good? That would be like deciding a court case without ever reading the case or listening to what each side has to say. What kind of judge would do such a thing?

The way our welfare system is set up, it makes it impossible for the people who NEED help to get help, but very possible for the people who want to take advantage of the system to do so.

How many stories have you heard about someone in real need applying for the various types of welfare, but being turned down because they didnt meet the requirements, while so and so over here really doesnt need the help, but takes it anyway and lets the state support them while they could be working?

That scenario has caused a false stereotype that anyone receiving these types of assistance must be just taking advantage of the system.

Whats so sad, is a lot of that could be changed with updated income formulas (the income requirements are currently based on a formula from the 60s, which makes it impossible for people who actually have a job to meet the requirements, even though they legitimately need help), different policies, and more case workers.

The people who fight against welfare in general are the people who only see those taking advantage of it, and are offended that their money is taken a way to throw away on people who refuse to get up and help themselves, even though they are fully capable.

Many of those same people are against the socialized health care because they see it as an extension to welfare... I had someone tell me that its not their fault people without health care made the life choices they made, that maybe they should get off their butt and go to work and then they could have health care. Unfortunately, its not that simple. When you look at all the jobs offered in this country, how many of them offer insurance at all? How many offer Decent coverage?

But another factor is that many people simply dont trust our gov. Just about everything our gov does, it gets f'ed up. And on the heels of this "economic down turn" and the anger of tax money being used for bonuses and vacations... Many people simply do not want to hand over that much money.

They are either ignorant or have some sort of agenda.