Seattle boy heads to Washington D.C. to fight for health reform

trojan33 said on March 9, 2010 at 6:54 PM

noskills- Your grandmother actually goes back to Slovakia for medical procedures? Also, are you saying the US is communist before the socialist New Deal?

magic said on March 8, 2010 at 11:27 PM

whidbeylm I agree with you. If you say anything regarding this story you are hacking at a young boy's grief for his Mom. Yet the Dems can use him however they want to. His gripe should be with the State of Washington for not giving his Mother healthcare. It is terrible for this child to be put in this position. Where is Daddy? Thank goodness for Grammas!!!

fightwthallheart said on March 8, 2010 at 10:23 PM

Micheal Moore's SICKO.Watch this movie!!!!It might change your point of view.

joliska said on March 8, 2010 at 5:28 PM

Whether I agree with healthcare mess or not, it is a good thing that this ten-year old boy is going to face all these big, bad politicians in order to stand up for the rights of his family, and the rights of his mother's memory. This is a lot more than most adults can do. Bless this child for loving and respecting his mother enough to recognize the problems and make an effort to be a responsible citizen and change what he feels needs to be changed.

sambeau said on March 8, 2010 at 3:57 PM

I think if you can work but choose not too, then you should starve or find a family member or church to feed and house their lazy rears.... I am tired the "oh po ole me, I bez downdtrodden" b.s.lets cut them from the tax payers teat.

theknight said on March 8, 2010 at 2:28 PM

'Tis sad story, BUT a persons health is THEIR responsibility - not the gov't or their neighbors! Studies have shown over 75% of health problems are self-inflicted (I suspect it is closer to 95%). The Health Care bill will significantly increase costs (Gov't programs always do), will force gov't employees to determine who gets what benefits/treatments (are they worth the dollars it will cost to treat them - my Mother has had Medicare stop paying for 2 of her meds already), will most likely reduce availability and quality of treatment and continue to make insurance companies and lawyers rich. WHEN I see tort reform, provisions for "self-insurance", AND more control on the amount of insurance premiums that goes to "overhead - salaries, bonus',etc", THEN will I believe the politicians are more serious about helping people than they are about controlling them (us).

bazwest said on March 8, 2010 at 2:02 PM

Yes there should be affordable healthcare for all who work to earn the privilege of having it. The government should create a free market competitive environment that is capable of providing it. If a person is able bodied and chooses not to gain a proper education and/ or skills to work to earn the privilege of having health insurance then they shouldn't have it. This is about personal choice, productivity, accountability and freedom. The government has no business being involved in healthcare and no business compelling it's citizens to own or pay for insurance against their will. Neither should it provide health insurance for the unproductive population aside from the infirm, mentally incompetent, and severely disabled.

fightwthallheart said on March 8, 2010 at 12:43 PM

It took my husband dying for the state of Washington to give him medical.On March 1 he suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed from Aberdeen to Olympia for an emerenecy 4 way bypass HEART surgery.He died on the table but was lucky enough to been brought back. He worked all his life to build the houses that some you live in and before that he logged the forests.But because the state decides that you can still work even when a DOCTOR says you can not he SUFFERED WITH NO MEDICAL.TO ALL WHO BELIEVE MEDICAL FOR ALL IS BAD TRY PUTTING ON OUR SHOES.Marcelas,as a mom of a 10 year old son and 4 other kids.I send all my love.Good luck.AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY.Your mom would be so proud.SHAME ON OUR COUNTRY.Fight to fix it or it could be your loved one next.My THANKS TO ST.PETERS hospital for all you did to make our family comfortable.

kss123 said on March 8, 2010 at 11:45 AM

Universal Health care? England and Canada have it......Some statistics from the United Nations International Health Organization; Percentage of men and women who survived a cancer five years after diagnosis: U.S. 65% England 46% Canada 42%. Percentage of patients diagnosed with diabetes who received treatment within six months: U.S. 93% England 15% Canada 43%. Percentage of seniors needing hip replacement who received it within six months: U.S. 90% England 15% Canada 43%. Percentage referred to a medical specialist who see one within one month:U.S. 77% England 40% Canada 43%. Number of MRI scanners (a prime diagnostic tool) per million people: U.S. 71 England 14 Canada 18. Percentage of seniors (65 ), with low income, who say they are in "excellent health": U.S. 12% England 2% Canada 6%.

bobknows said on March 8, 2010 at 11:41 AM

Its easy to say "somebody else" should PAY for whatever you want. That's the Obama plan. We pay, they get. The Obama plan does NOTHING AT ALL to create affordable health care, all it does is to rob our money and give it to legions of welfare queens and their children. And, at Obama's speech in Mexico City he promised free medical care to every Mexican who can get across the border. But only the Republicans want to cut health care COSTS, limit trial lieyers, promote competition, make doctors affordable. Shame on Democrats for using children to promote their communist agenda.

angelallwayz4112 said on March 8, 2010 at 11:26 AM

inforelife - wishing abortion was an option for your mother - the world would be a better place without ignorant people like you.

inforelife said on March 8, 2010 at 11:19 AM

Prostitution isn't considered a job. At least a Legal one.

angelallwayz4112 said on March 8, 2010 at 11:00 AM

elosias - inforelife -commentist Ignorance is bliss - what a bunch of heartless uninformed pathetic people you are. I am a friend of this family. I know the truth, that tifany worked very hard and took great care of her children dispite having them at a young age. One time before Christmas someone stopped to give the family 200 dollars in gift cards because everyday she witness her dedication to her children and her job. She went to emergancy rooms for care and would be passed up for people who had insurance while she lay there with internal bleeding. You three and the other heartless people must be at a great station in life and live the cleanest most rightouos path out there. Before you start in on me inforlife i work full time and pay my overpriced health insurance...............

bobknows said on March 8, 2010 at 10:20 AM

Shame on the Dems for using children to promote their communist takeover. This poor kid has no clue how much debt they are dumping on him and how little chance he will ever have to get out of debt. .

inforelife said on March 8, 2010 at 10:17 AM

maltbymike, Another Nail in Her Coffin? Wouldn't be easier to just Weld Nails Together in the shape of a Coffin?

noskills said on March 8, 2010 at 10:07 AM

My grandmother flies back to Slovakia every time she needs any medical procedure done because they have Universal Health care for all their citizens. Im not saying a government run program is the way to go. But it surely needs to be cheaper then it is so people dont go without. And if it was cheaper on businesses they might be able to hire more people because they would be spending less on health care for their employees.

graham said on March 8, 2010 at 9:38 AM

Save your time we have a bunch idots in public office that we voted in. We need to vote them all out & start over & if they don't do there job vote the clown out

truthdector said on March 8, 2010 at 9:11 AM

Good then we can end up with a great system like in the UK: Neglected by 'lazy' nurses, man, 22, dying of thirst rang the police to beg for water... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1255858/Neglected-lazy-nurses-Kane-Gorny-22-dying-thirst-rang-police-beg-water.html And that's just the tip of the iceberg, and the progressive news media, the gatekeepers here won't tell you about it, they won't ever apprise you of the most basic current events, just look at how they intentionally ignored the ACORN scandal.

maltbymike said on March 8, 2010 at 8:38 AM

When you see patty, tell her a vote for health care is another nail in her re-election coffin.

javajoe said on March 8, 2010 at 8:28 AM

There's nothing compassionate about being generous with other people’s hard earned money. You can call me greedy. My family calls me the father who provides for them. That’s all that matters.

elosias said on March 8, 2010 at 7:46 AM

Maybe someone should have advocated his mom not getting knocked up at 17. Keep up the good work kiddo; if your mom had Obamacare, you could have been aborted on my dime!

neece said on March 8, 2010 at 7:38 AM

I think its a shame that people are so negative. This boy's mother died from something that could have been prevented. The greed in this country is unbelievable and shameful. No one cares about anyone else and God forbid anyone else do better than the next person. And for those that think this is all about getting something for nothing...if she was on welfare, jerk, she would still be alive. She would have had medical coverage. The reason she didn't have health coverage is the same reason that thousands upon thousands do not have coverage, is because they can't afford it. There a whole lot of people that work and still cannot afford health coverage. What a big person you must be when you can fix your mouth to criticize a ten year old child for wanting to make a difference!!!! Shame shame shame!! I'm sure your mother must be very proud 1

noskills said on March 8, 2010 at 6:40 AM

Im sorry but Republicans have used children as campaign tools as well. This is not a new thing. They have done it with the abortion issue plenty of times. That was just as wrong as it is with the Democrats using this boy. It is shameful that they are using this boy but you cant say it is a shameful tactic only when used by the opposing side. It is shameful whenever it is done. Someone also pointed out that the Democrats are trying to use emotions to get this through. The Republicans are famous for that as well. They use fear all the time as a campaign tactic. Both sides do these things. Don't be a hypocrite and only criticize when one side does it.

dcfenrich54 said on March 8, 2010 at 6:21 AM

It's getting to be not so amazing that the Democrats are bending down to use North-Korean (Socialist) tactics of using children to further their cause. Remember a couple months back the schools using children to sing praises for the President? Exact same tactic in North Korea.

javajoe said on March 8, 2010 at 6:04 AM

This is a sad commentary and the very reason I don’t want the President’s plan. Marcelus hasn’t got a clue that the program he is being used to promote will break the bank of generations to come. Including his. I refuse to retire with the cost of healthcare placed on the backs of our children. Using Marcelus as the poster child for this cause is shameless and pathetic.

rebaldave said on March 8, 2010 at 2:52 AM

The kid is only 10 so an adult has to travel with him, so you is taking him? Who is paying for this trip, round air fare over $2,000 plus hotel and food. Should be a easy $5,000 trip. Living with granny must pay well. How come her family couldn't help with insurance if they can afford a trip like this or maybe the tax payers are paying for this. Those of you that think this over priced over haul is going to fix the problems are going to learn a very expensive lesson. The CBO is saying this is not doable. They can't even see where the money will come from to pay for it. Show me one government program that is or has worked!! They are so mismanaged and so costly and don't work. do the same thing over expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

mtabholt said on March 8, 2010 at 1:02 AM

Main Entry: non se·qui·tur Etymology: Latin, it does not follow 1 : an inference that does not follow from the premises; specifically : a fallacy resulting from a simple conversion of a universal affirmative proposition or from the transposition of a condition and its consequent 2 : a statement (as a response) that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said It is quite sad that the the mother of this boy died, but allowing this to be used as an argument to change our current health care is similar to saying that 2 2=peaches.

nomoregore said on March 7, 2010 at 11:44 PM

Sounds like his mom could have used a health savings account. She would have had the funds to keep paying her premiums via cobra. If you do that, you can get new coverage without pre-existing exclusions. Everyone must carry their own sorry hide thru life. Even under the current system, she could walk into a hospital and receive treatment.... insurance or not.

hatethislogin said on March 7, 2010 at 9:55 PM

The democrats will stoop to anything.

noskills said on March 7, 2010 at 9:35 PM

@trojan33 Read the Communist manifesto. We were the first country to inact all 10 of the main points. The last being in the early 1900s before the USSR.

vickied said on March 7, 2010 at 9:28 PM

Government healthcare is terrible for our veterans, I don't think it's going to be any better for the public! I do agree something needs to be done, but I am not too sure of anything the government runs, that is for certain!

trojan33 said on March 7, 2010 at 9:19 PM

aziza- Those countries are dictatorships AND SOCIALIST OR COMMUNIST. They go hand in hand. Take a history course or government course. Good god. I went to one of the most liberal schools in the country and the professors even said socialism, communism, and dictators go hand in hand in hand. Talk to someone from one of those countries and they will tell you how great it is there.

trojan33 said on March 7, 2010 at 9:13 PM

fitchik- Obviously, you are not involved in healthcare. At least not here in the US where we enjoy the best healthcare in the entire history of the world. There is no close second. If it was true that this boy was speaking for us I would not have had so many patients fly halfway around the world to seek surgery in the States. There is no perfect system, but what he is asking will devestate healthcare. Quit drinking the kool-aid and use some common sense.

duhphantom said on March 7, 2010 at 9:07 PM

OHHH PLLEEAASSEE, spare us the theatre. Senator Murray's pet project. Ignore the facts but place great reliance upon emotion, that's the liberal answer to practically any legislation on the table, or which they want on the table.

lifeinamerica said on March 7, 2010 at 8:43 PM

Someone is using this kid!

repetivity said on March 7, 2010 at 8:39 PM

OK, here's the deal: Medical care is NOT a human right. It is a service that must be paid for like any other. However, we in the U.S. are fortunate enough that we CAN afford to provide a "safety net" with basic health care services. Stop charging medical students 50K a year for school and provide a competitive free program that requires repayment "year for year" in a public health system that takes all comers for "basic health". Allow a paid private system that is bound to offer more and be better for those who choose to pay for it. We are America. We have a moral obligation

noskills said on March 7, 2010 at 8:30 PM

It is fine if you are against the public option. But my question, because I seriously dont know where the other side stands on this, what do we do about all the people without health insurance. If you are perpetually sick you are eating up even more tax payer money because of welfare, unemployment and disability. Not to mention it is against the law to deny treatment to anyone that presents to the ER. So we spend even more tax payer money footing the ER bill which is way more costly then a normal doctor visit. With that said, it is shameful for anyone to use a child for political gain. This isn't the first time either side has done it and unfortunately Im sure it wont be the last.

repetivity said on March 7, 2010 at 8:21 PM

Nothing like relying upon a 10 year old child distraught by his mother's untimely death for "wisdom" as to how to run a country. I remember when I was 17 and I knew it all. Pity I was not installed as President (like our current one) as I seem to have become less certain year after year.

aziza said on March 7, 2010 at 8:13 PM

lightweight? Those 3rd world countries? They are dictatorships, or run by corporations / and or political coups that have plundered the resources from what was once the middle class working guy. They are not socialists states- I don't need to wake up because I didn't sleep through history class. Example? The Pledge of Allegiance that many of you are rabid over? That was written and composed by a SOCIALIST who was against state rights- YET you mindlessly recite it regularly. So deep down... aren't we ALL socialists???

liftright4u said on March 7, 2010 at 7:48 PM

Do you really think this 10 year old thought of doing this on his own? Come on. Someone is putting him up to it. What he needed, as a likely poor young black man was someone to take him aside and tell him how not to become American's next victim. He needs someone like Clarence Thomas' grandfather. The poor, whether black, white, yellow or brown need to wake up to the fact that more government is not the answer. It is instead the barbwire that keeps them in the prison of poverty.

liftright4u said on March 7, 2010 at 7:41 PM

Aziza: Wake up; those third world countries are what? Socialist, not democratic countries which survive on the efforts of doing their best (or in your view, survival of the the most fit). Genagee: Do you really think that the people of Japan think their govenment runs better than Toyota or Honda; or that the Germans think their government runs better than Mercedes. Perhaps you should travel there someday and speak with them.

yogibear said on March 7, 2010 at 7:40 PM

Interesting comments. Remember this could be your friend or family member. Would you want them to have coverage?

jasonj said on March 7, 2010 at 7:32 PM

What a crock. SOrry the kids lost his mom but it had nothing to do with health care but rather lifestyle.

inforelife said on March 7, 2010 at 7:31 PM

Quick, Call the Police! There's a whole Tribe of low life welfare Scum using stolen Computers Tonight! Hope They can Track em!

fitchik said on March 7, 2010 at 7:30 PM

And thank you, Aziza. My point exactly.

fitchik said on March 7, 2010 at 7:29 PM

The child wants to carry HER (his mother's) ambition to Washington D.C. Come on, inforelife. Ten minutes ago you couldn't even form coherent sentences.

aziza said on March 7, 2010 at 7:29 PM

I also think some of you would rather see our country to turn into a third world country where orphans are left on the streets begging for food, shelter and care because heaven forbid if our country should turn into anything else but a survival of the fittest society. I feel sorry for some of you that have so little that you can only think... me me me-mine mine mine. Pathetic souls really... so sad. You get what you give.

genagee said on March 7, 2010 at 7:22 PM

To Inforelife-whether your a racist or not is not even the point.. your an idiot. You have no idea how this kid got his plane ticket.. for all you know he could have earned the money himself. Also, pulmonary hypertension isn't the same as normal hypertension.. the woman was 27 years old for goodness sake.. are you honestly insinuating her lifestyle was the culprit? Again.. making assumptions about that which you do not know. As for the person who said "Will someone please name a government program that, when compared to a private company, it is shown that it is run more efficiently", how about Japan, Germany, Great Britain? Would you rather wait a week or so for a non-emergency appointment (which I do now by the way and I have private insurance w/ BCBS.) or go bankrupt due to a catastrophic illness, or watch a loved one die because they got dropped from their coverage? I have many friends who live in Canada and they like their Universal Coverage just fine.

inforelife said on March 7, 2010 at 7:22 PM

My Comment was for "FATCHIK"

duckling said on March 7, 2010 at 7:17 PM

Yay for Marcelas! wow, you evil people will hopefully go to hell for saying such cruel things. insurance companies are making it impossible for people to have health care! If you had half a brain you would understand what is in the health reform bill, but you don't. You just swallow the corporate-backed propaganda like zombie sheep. Thankfully I have health care, but I am currently paying $500 a month to continue it while I am working part time since my company doesn't have enough work. Can you afford $500 a month??

aziza said on March 7, 2010 at 7:17 PM

Pretty pathetic all you folks pummeling this kid who isn't zoning out on video games, and he's instead learning about civics by going out and doing something positive in the face of losing his mother.

commentist said on March 7, 2010 at 7:15 PM

There are pictures of this woman SMOKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who failed who?.....................SHE failed her children!! That will be all.

inforelife said on March 7, 2010 at 7:08 PM

Read the Story again, It's "HE". Master E.S.L. before attempting G.E.D

commentist said on March 7, 2010 at 7:06 PM

They left out the part about this kids mom being a SMOKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is pictures of this kids mom, Overweight! Smoking a cigarette, and drinking at a party! Way to go dems, You really know how to pick em'

fitchik said on March 7, 2010 at 6:58 PM

Inforelife, how am I backpedaling? And Sambeau, regardless of what the hypertension was caused by, her death is still tragic, and it's amazing that this child wants to carry her ambition on to Washington D.C.

ccolem said on March 7, 2010 at 6:55 PM

I should send my kid to rally for the other side. Balance things out. My family has health care and we don't think the government should mess with it. We all have a right to an opinion. His is shaped by experience and I can understand his passion. I'm sorry for his loss. It should be left to non-profits to deal with that kind of thing whenever possible.

sambeau said on March 7, 2010 at 6:50 PM

God forbid you disagree with a lib-tard or you will be labled a "rayciss" huh, fitchik... keep it up that racist word really doesn't hold much water anymore. who wants to bet she had hypertension because all the fast food she ate plus having a handicap placard so she could park up front and not have to walk.... I see it everyday, 300 lbs black females that never worked a day in their lives other than spitting out babies from worthless "men" and get welfare, free housing, free cable, and now cell phones.... of course they want free health care too.... call me racist, evil or whatever but I don't have an ounce of pity for the welfare scum, they eat better than most of the middle working class and drive $50,000 escaldes..... it's time to end the free ride, the world doesn't owe you a living.

inforelife said on March 7, 2010 at 6:49 PM

Back Pedal all You want, Were on to You.

fitchik said on March 7, 2010 at 6:39 PM

inforelife, your sentences make no sense. You have to at least get your diploma or G.E.D to get into college, and considering I'm already in college, it looks like I've graduated high school already. I'm proud to say I have no student loans. liftright4u, I find it appalling that this guy has the audacity to accuse a ten year old child of trying to get more money from welfare when he's carrying on his mother's ambition, which was for everyone to get affordable health care. So yeah, I am going to play the race card, because let's get back to the root of this story: This kid, Marcelas, is TEN. Instead of playing video games like a regular ten year old, he's in Washington D.C. rallying in support of everyone getting better health care coverage, and inforelife, of course, has to blame a ten year old child of attempting to get more money from the government. It's simply disgusting.

d8tabrazil said on March 7, 2010 at 6:33 PM

Also "from the mouth of babes" comes ignorance and submission to slavery to government control. Amazing, the fight to end social injustice and slavery, and people who think "community" will control government, end up wondering in the end why government is controlling the community.

liftright4u said on March 7, 2010 at 6:26 PM

fitchik comes back with the standard comeback when someone makes a comment that involves someone of another race: you must be racist. Come on. Whether this boy is black, white, asian or hispanic, it is truly sad his mother died. Somewhere, someone in Canada is decrying the system up there which prevents prompt treatment of a parent that is poor, as the rich ones go to Bellingham to get treatment promptly in pay for fee service (if you really think a government program will make things equal....think again). Will someone please name a government program that, when compared to a private company, it is shown that it is run more efficiently. How stupid can we truly be? When we give more and more control to the government, we lose the most valuable thing in our lives: freedom. Though Robin Hood may have taken over Washington, D.C., it is not for the better. My only hope is that it took a Jimmy Carter to obtain a Ronald Reagan.

xtremeracer said on March 7, 2010 at 6:26 PM

fitchik Why do all you obamabots always play the race card? it only shows who the real Racist is .....YOU

inforelife said on March 7, 2010 at 6:26 PM

Fitchik, So I see that Your on welfare why You go to College using to Student Loan that You have no intention on Paying back! And when You get Your G.E.D, Then You can sit back and smoke Your Crack knowing that You Got us Tax Payers again!

whidbeylm said on March 7, 2010 at 6:23 PM

. I think the Democrats have drop to a new low using kids and their dead mothers for the health care bill.

jkwhite said on March 7, 2010 at 6:07 PM

I JUST WANT TO SAY WE HAVE HEALTH CARE RUN BY OUR GOVERNMENT HERE IN AUSTRALIA AND IT IS A NIGHTMARE.I KNOW IT SOUNDS GOOD BUT YOU CAN NEVER GET IN TO SEE A DOCTOR AND WAIT FOR MONTHS FOR SURGERIES.

fitchik said on March 7, 2010 at 6:06 PM

Your initial comment leads me to believe you are pretty racist. I'm sure if it was a white child you'd be supporting them. Actually, I'm not on welfare. I'm in college, getting an education, which is something you seem to severely lack.

inforelife said on March 7, 2010 at 5:54 PM

So, Your on Welfare Too! Don't bother writing back, The truth is obvious.

fitchik said on March 7, 2010 at 5:41 PM

Really, inforelife? This child's mother died from hypertension, and he's rallying to get better health care for everyone, including you. It's incredible that you'd criticize a ten year old child, especially profiling him like you did. Grow up. Go Marcelas!

inforelife said on March 7, 2010 at 5:30 PM

How Dare Welfare not pay for Hypertention! Thank God that Grandma is on it and can pay for him to go to D.C. to get more Welfare Benefits.

uplink said on March 7, 2010 at 4:31 PM

Yes, just like the progressives to bring out a big sob story to get .gov to destroy health care as we know it.

aziza said on March 7, 2010 at 4:31 PM

From the mouths of babes.

yogibear said on March 7, 2010 at 4:20 PM

You go Marcelas!!!