Mt. Lebanon resident Norman Waldman, 85, is on the fence when it comes to an opinion about the need for health-care cost reform.

"One hates to say 'oh my God I'm against it' because it might benefit a lot of people without money," he said.

"But when you see how many trillions our national debt is I have to ask myself, 'Can we afford this?' "

The subject -- and especially it estimated price tag -- admittedly "boggles the mind," said Mr. Waldman, a retired director of the Greene County Vo-Tech School, in Waynesburg.

It's boggling most minds.

On Monday, President Barack Obama stumped in Philadelphia for his plan to revamp the U.S. health-care system drastically. Some Republicans label the legislation an attempt at a massive government takeover that will drive up costs and the deficit and result in rationed care. Democrats say it will extend coverage to the uninsured, cut costs, offer consumer protection and ban the denial of coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

Mr. Obama hopes to see a vote by next week.

We wondered how residents of the South Hills would vote and whether their opinions are as divided as those of the rest of the nation.

"I am a staunch Democrat and in favor of what [the president] is trying," said former mechanic Jack Brawdy, 89, of South Park.

"I am a retiree of General Motors, and our health-care plan is safe and sound. But, I like that everyone will be covered, and I believe that once in effect, we can afford it and Obama's presidency will be a success," Mr. Brawdy said.

Others are not so optimistic.

"We cannot afford it at this time as we are fighting two wars," said Robert Horvath of California, Pa.

He suggests that insurance companies need to offer a cheap plan "for those who don't make a lot of money, or who lost their jobs."

Mr. Horvath, 60, who works for the Pennsylvania American Water Co., said a government plan would be a "budget buster."

Anna Crosby, 91, a retired nurse from Elizabeth Township, agrees.

"We cannot afford the debt, and it won't make health care any better with all the bureaucracy," Mrs. Crosby said.

Marty Flaherty, 71, of Mt. Lebanon pays premiums for nine employees in his plumbing business. He joked that he drinks a cup of warm water for breakfast because he cannot afford a tea bag in light of escalating health-care costs.

"I can't grasp the bill the way it is written because it is so confusing, but I like the notion of health-care reform," Mr. Flaherty said.

"If it is done properly we can afford it because there is enough talent to come up with a great program if left alone by lobbyists and the big insurance companies," he added.

Bill Hosking, 86, of Mt. Lebanon said he likes that "everyone will be covered" in the Obama plan.

"Quality depends on the people running it and the doctors. We can't afford not to do this," said Mr. Hosking, who is retired from the advertising department of Alcoa.

Shaun Finnegan, 27, of Brookline said while the nation can afford universal health care, he thinks everyone should have to pay something toward the coverage.

"It is not fair otherwise to those who work and pay taxes," said Mr. Finnegan, a driver for United Parcel Service.

Some residents expressed concern about the quality of care in a government-run health-care system.

"There will be too much bureaucracy and loopholes," said Steve Rippe, 81, of South Park, a retired newspaper printer.

Colleen Griffiths, 30, of Castle Shannon fears that talk of a government revamped system will cause serious delays for patients -- and costly delays for the taxpayer.

"We'll be waiting for months to get anything done, and all this will add to the deficit," Ms. Griffiths said.

If passed, "it will break Obama's presidency, if it is not already broken with the unemployment and other failures," she said.

Larry Sikorski, 44, of Glassport said a similar plan in Canada provides substandard care.

"If they have money, they come here for health care," Mr. Sikorski said.

An unemployed iron worker, he noted the recent case of the Canadian premier who chose to undergo heart surgery in Florida.

"We will end up like Canada, and I'll have to wait a month if I break an arm," said busboy Paul Fink, 19, of Brookline.

Paul Stecak, 65, of Glassport is content with his health-care plan and wants to keep it.

"Why should I have to change anything?" said the roofer.

But Richard Ford, 62, a Clairton councilman, said health-care costs are too high, and reform is needed.

"It will help the president's standing because people need this," said the retired electrician.

Jim Gabelhart, 84, of Bridgeville said while he does not like the Medicare cuts being discussed, or the lobbyists' influence in drawing up the legislation, he is otherwise uncertain as to the specifics of the plan.

"Every time I hear it on the news someone says one thing, and someone else says something else. If I had to vote, I don't know what I would do.

"I think there's a lot of us in the same boat," said the retired automobile dealership owner.

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