Pertaining to the discussion of health care reform the article pokes fun at the debates both logical and illogical and at the fears of many Americans realistic and not. The one thing that bothers me about the debates is not how it is going to be done but the fact that so many people think that they are entitled to certain rights. Depending on your political views and your place in the social structure of life you probably have your own things you believe you are entitled to. The governments thinks they are entitled to run my future health a certain way and the insurance companies believe that they should be entitled to decide what is best for me. The minute we stop allowing for the free expression of our views we begin to give up our entitlement to have a say in how we believe our health care should be directed. Hopefully a more constructive way of debate will be available in the Janesville Gazette before this is decided.

"The people in charge skim off the top," (ELECTED OFFICIALS/PROFESSIONAL POLITICIANS)
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"the people getting "free" (healthcare, food stamps, internet access... fill-in-the blank) demand more" (SOCIALISTS/LIBERALS/WELFARE CRIMINALS, HEALTH CARE REFORMISTS, TIM ROBBINS)
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"and the system collapses under it's own weight"
(SO, WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 40 YEARS?)

Janesvillean: I don't throw around the term "Socialism" carelessly! It scares the HELL out of ME, as it should any student of history. One of the last great societies to use the term, of course, was the German Government of World War Two, as we know them, the Nazis. Again, I don't cite this to create a "scare tactic", but just to remind those that know, and inform those that don't. Another recent example was the USSR -- as Dr. Phil might have said to them, "how's that workin' out for ya?". Socialism FAILS, every single time it is tried. Every new attempt assumes, "but this time we'll get the RIGHT PEOPLE in charge", they'll fix everything! It simply DOES NOT WORK. The people in charge skim off the top, the people getting "free" (healthcare, food stamps, internet access... fill-in-the blank) demand more, and the system collapses under it's own weight. If you don't understand, it's simple supply and demand. And of course the "elite" (I gag at the term, because they are anything BUT the true elite in our society) get the power and control over the lives of the rest of us.

Uh, yeah, "satirical humor". Were that the case, it would be better received had it any humour value, i.e. a humour quotient above zero.point.zero. Sadly, it does not.
To successfully satirize Socialized Medicine, one would have to assume that the intended audience is already amenable to bureaucratic decision-making, conducive to central control, placated by sound bytes, and --- wait. Nevermind.

This is satirical humor. It is entertaining to some people and that is all that it is meant to be.

Well, there certainly isn't any socialism in the current health proposals, since all of them keep health providers independent and existing insurers in private hands. But then, I actually support having an American version of the UK's NHS.
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Unless you're just using the word "socialism" because you think it's scary. Well, then. Boo!

Chad: You're right, it's not socialism. It's Socialism. And "nut balls"? And Glenn, Rush and "COMPLAINING"??? C'mon Chad, you can do better than that. The use of cliches and personal attacks destroys your credibility.
The fact is that Horowitz literally "makes stuff up" and tries to pass it off as commentary. This would be fine if he was a comedian, except for the fact that he's such a poor writer, and his dronings are not even a little bit funny. Waste of space. GAZETTE: Please consider replacing Rick Horowitz with someone with a little more intellectual horsepower, whether from the left, right, or a free thinker.

He is VERY cynical, and using same to make fun of anti-health debacle/reform Americans because the debate from the right side started all the moronic rhetoric. And quit using the word socialist like you even know what it means. Go right on complaining about false truths, even wear you gun to a rally, so we can easily identify the nut balls in our community.

"Can this guy EVER write anything useful? How about some non-fiction for a change?"
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Everything he writes is utter garbage, SuperDave.
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And for those of you who hadn't noticed, Mr. Horrorwitz is being VERY cynical, and using same to make fun of anti-health debacle/reform Americans because he's a socialist. Anyway, his column is a waste of space in the Gazette. If they have to have a leftist opinion column, at least find someone who can make an honest effort with being coherant, honest, and can actually write...

When will you people get educated? My mother tells me horror stories about medicare (a government run health-care entity):my uncle was refused an organ transplant at 65 because he didn't have enough "productive" years left to justify the surgery; my grandmother's broken wrist was improperly repaired and wasn't corrected because she was "too old"; etc
I have to work in Canada for a month. I checked out their website and found out I better not get sick or hurt because their health care is government-run and rationed. Doctors do not take on new patients and health insurance is not accepted.
Has anyone heard about the condition of medicare and social security in the last couple of days? Running out of money!!!
So, how is this administration going to pay for this "health care reform"? I'm tapped out! Next thing you know $50,000 a year will be considered "rich".

Or he sounds like Glenn Beck/ Rush Limbaugh/ and any other person who likes to use scare tactics to oppose reform. The difference is this is done with sarcasm, while all the other nonsense spread across the internet is posted under the guile of "true facts". Those are the useless ones.

This guy sounds like a loon.

miltonredman, the gazette has always had a conservative bias. How they order thier list, i do not know.

kinsohn: Funny you say that ... he was trying to imitate anti-reformers.

This is enlightening? He writes like a high school student.

media

-Sharing Data?, GREAT ! now when an 70 year old walks in with a heart attack, he wont have to wont spend 40 min trying to remeber his pill and surggury he had, etc.

-Rectal Thermo?.. can anyone not smell the stink of this lie? just like death pannels..

- OH its bad shot at humor... to bad this will be reapeated as fact for the next 20 years like mis-quote of Gore saying "I inventing the internet"..AND for those who think im misguided about AL?...

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.as...
http://www.boutell.com/newfaq/history/go...
http://www.ontheissues.org/askme/interne...
http://websearch.about.com/od/internet10...

What does it mean when someone says an entity is a, "biased meadia outlet?"

I am amazed that people still can't tell the difference between humor/opinion columns and news articles. Of course, watching Fox News does pretty much blur the line....

MiltonRedmen - It appears to be a timing thing, based on the most recent responses. Just about every time I refresh the screen, the list changes. If it were based on the total number of responses, neither article would be on the list.

I wonder how the Gazette controls the "Popular Discussions". This opinion piece, right now, is #3 on the "Popular Discussions" list, yet, the Krauthammer opinion piece posted on the same day with a larger number of discussion responses isn't even on the list. Does the gazette control it? Is it based on the number of discussions in a certain amount of time? Or is there another specific reason all the anti-conservative articles make the "Popular Discussions" list? Just curious :)

Thank you, Zoom! By the way, I hope I can get a job on a "phlegm panel" --- where do I apply?

I can't believe this has to be explained. This isn't reporting. It's an OPINION, hence it's posted in the OP-ED section. Learn the difference. The Gazette routinely posts opinions from all sides.

This opinion is in response to a ridiculous viral email being spread around.

"Can this guy EVER write anything useful?",
"I think both sides of this issue can agree that this article is stupid."
These comments explain it all.

I think both sides of this issue can agree that this article is stupid.

I fully support the provision on page 245. Do not change that at all.
As for page page 1042, is there really room up there for that many politicians? I don't know either, but only way to really know is to try!!

The Gazette should charge this fellow for advertising to promote his clear political agenda and label this as such. No way should they be purchasing this!

and you doubted reports that the media is WAY slanted to the left. What ever happened to reporters that actually gave contributing facts. I can be sarcastic too (as most of you already know) but I'm not out trying to syndicate. WE (the majority of the sane US) are trying to have a civil debate - the worst part is some "right wing nut case" is actually going to believe something in this and send us into armagedon before its even voted on.

Can this guy EVER write anything useful? How about some non-fiction for a change?