47.23%	Yes
52.26%	No

Comment: The president should stop all spending period. The nation on the public economical level is in big trouble and so is he country's economy. from Westbrook/Maine by Robert

Comment: It will take time for this program to be truly successful but, let's get started and then tweek it. from Rockland, ME by Elenore

Comment: Obama,Polosi,Reed should do us all a favor. STOP LYING,SHUT UP,AND GO HOME! from windham by Chuck

Comment: The real keystone of the plan is price reduction which will help all plans public or private. Creating a new public option will spur the current insurance industry to go along with price control. Whether you are for or against this policy no one wants to pay for medical costs that are outrageous and overpriced. Even if you have a private insurer your premiums and your employer’s part would be lowered if price control were instituted. Then the volume increase of 20% more insurance users would equal out the money that would be "lost" by the manufacturers, drug companies, hospitals, ect. from Biddeford, Maine by Troy

Comment: We need health care, not throwing more money at billionaire insurance company executives. from Gorham ME by Roland

Comment: The Republicans are determined to scuttle any real reform. Co-ops in the food business do not bring any real competition; just another option for the demographics. from Portland, Maine by David

Comment: It's socialism in its purest form. It happened in 1961 and again 1994. The progressives are trying it again. Obamacare is not about health or about care. from Kittery/ME by JD

Comment: Not just NO HELL NO. This will bring needed competion and price reduction to the insane rise in premiums. We should go back to the not for profit insurance process. These guys add 30% to our health cost. It is a 22 billion a year industry. It needs reform and real competion from Denmark by David

Comment: We have no money, Obama is going to ruin the US economy. 85% of Americans are covered. I billed Medical Insurance at a local hospital for 3 1/2 years. Most companies were fast at paying and had helpful reps on the other end. Medicaid was a real hassle. from Dresden, ME by Arlene

Comment: If a government healthcare program is good enough for the President, the Congress, the Supreme Court, the Armed Services, the Veterans Administrations retirees of those people and all of their dependents, and the elderly it should be good enough for the uninsured in this country. I do not understand Congressional members who say that a government plan is not good when that is what they have from Freeport/ME by Wayne

Comment: More cost, more rules, more paperwork, more interference in our lives, more hassles, more lines to wait in, and more false promises of change to make suckers of us. That's how the government does everything! Why are there so many people that never seem to get this? by Trisha

Comment: A government public option provides a non-profit, i.e. less expensive, health insurance that would be consistent in all 50 states, maximizing the amount of premium that goes to directly to pay for health services. from South Portland, ME by Teg

Comment: ALL people need health care. Public option is only one option. Right now it is the insurance company option driving the costs. from New Vineyard by Becky

Comment: no Obama care period. This is my country. Obama does not act like any freedom loving God-fearing Democracy loving President we have ever had from McFalls ME by Vince

Comment: There is no reform without a public option. Let's be serious about change this time for the benefit of all Americans, not just the lucky ones (myself included) that have options for healthcare. from portland by gloria

Comment: While that might be an option, there are some very postitive aspects of this part of the reform. The most important part is that all can get covered and that private companies can't deny insurance to anyone. If it takes a public option to make this happen, let it be. Many out there who are against current plans have insurance. I wonder what they would think if they had to change insurers today due to employment changes or illnesses etc. from Windham, ME by William

Comment: The idea that providing health care is purely driven by market principles is false. If you don't have money for a car, you walk or take the bus. If you don't have money to pay the hospital for life saving care, you get saved anyway, and the cost gets shifted to those who can pay. No health care facility will let you die in the waiting room because you can't pay. People who are unable to afford insurance (many of us) or to pay for care directly (most of us) still need care at some point. We get care even though we potentially can't pay. The system is unsustainable and needs to change. All options should be considered to come up with a solution to a very complex problem. from Livermore Falls by Ann

Comment: I don't trust any health care reform that politicans excempt themselves from from Falmouth, ME by Deb

Comment: We cannot sustain the massive debt that will accompany this program, not to mention the government intrusion. The bill is too big, TOO vague, and will not accomplish insuring ALL uninsured Americans -- a large price to pay for having the government decide the fate of our individual health care options, and "end of life" issues. Restructure the existing systems, cut the waste, and stop spending money...!!! from Brunswick ME

Comment: Something needs to be done to regulate the cost of healthcare and insurance. Even if we have insurance the high cost of healthcare is getting out of hand. from Oxford by Marianne

Comment: no, because this was his main platform during the election, and the main reason I voted for him. from Saco, ME by Joan

Comment: There is no possible way that private insurers can compete with a monolith that can force its existence by taxation or by borrowing without fear of having to repay the debt. A public option will eventually become the only option. from Lewiston, Maine by Ron

Comment: This is the only way to truly reform healthcare. I am starting to get angry at the people who are spreading bold face lies about having a public option. It's one thing to advertise real arguements against policy, but this whole killing gramma thing and having the government between you and your doctor are ridiculous. from Warren, ME by Amanda

Comment: what's reform without reform? from south portland me by david