I admire edwards for supports more realistic view Re: Healthca

[jmoss]

....So if you're looking at casting votes for one of these two major vote getters, you should consider how honest Edwards has been in his stance that unversal health care will not be a quik process (as has been promised by other Dem candidates).
Since we're discussing values in the "Primary 2004" room, I find my posting to be quite relevant.

[HFishbine]

1. Edwards' Health Care plan is to funnel more money to insurance companies

The issue of health care is one where Edwards comes up very short for this voter. Rather than address the problems caused by the profit motive in health insurance, Edwards relies on making the purchase of health care insurance a mandatory part of his plan. Funneling more money to insurers is not a progressive approach to health care solutions.

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. Kerry's plan does not abandon the insurance co's, and like Edwards'

he leaves no room for divisive cries of "socialized medicine."

Both candidates understand that Americans cherish the freedom to purchase all the medical treatment THEY decide to seek, without government interference.

Both empower families to make wise choices, save their cash, and if it's needed for medical treatment, they get an extra break at tax time!

[HFishbine]

6. Except

That Edwards plan is not about granting Americans freedom to purchase medical TREATMENT, it's about forcing them to buy medical INSRUANCE.

The problem with the current system is that too many Americans (I believe about 40M, last time I heard) have NO health care choices.

[GreenArrow]

8. if true

I find that absolutely unacceptable, and it belies Edwards' "populist" rhetoric. Really, it's utterly insulting.

I have health care through work, and for me, wife, and soon, baby, it takes one third of my salary. How I'm supposed to cover that, plus rent, plus food, plus bills, plus fuel, plus emergencies, I'm not sure.

[HFishbine]

9. For the sake of accuracy

I should point out that Edwards proposes making the purchase of insurance mandatory for children. You can read more here:

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/healthcare.asp

[DuctapeFatwa]

12. Americans don't want socialism and handouts. They want the power to

decide for themselves how to budget their wealth to purchase health insurance. Without handouts, without government rationing!

[HFishbine]

14. Fine

Let's just be consistent with your underlying principles. Compelling people to buy insurance is not allowing people to decide for themselves.

[DuctapeFatwa]

13. It empowers you to use your wealth wisely to purchase insurance

That will help defray the cost of medical treatment. Everybody wins!

[democratreformed]

3. Wes Clark adopted this stance as well.

It was one of the few things I disagreed with him on. I can think of numerous people who would be inflicted in a painful way were they to be mandated to get healthcare for their children. Now, if ALL states offer the state medicaid plan, it might be different. However, I was able to get my children on my state's plan only by waiting until both my husband and I started drawing unemployment. The income cap is pretty low, in other words.

Yes, I think all children should have health coverage. Do I think the government should tell parents "Get it or else" -- or else, what? They'll put you in jail so that you sure enough can't afford it? Or, they'll garnish your check so you can no longer pay the rent? Or they'll take your children and give them to people with more money? What????

[HFishbine]

7. Good questions

Who knows?

[no name no slogan]

4. NOBODY ever said it would be quick

However, NOBODY ELSE besides Dennnis Kucinich and Al Sharpton are even PROPOSING universal health care, which has been a plank in the Democratic Party's platform for thirty years.

If we truly elected REAL Democrats instead of the mush-mouthed moderates the party coughs up every four years, we would have had a single-payer plan in place by now. But instead our elected officials keep kissing the asses of the corporate healthcare industry and promising us universal care "in the future" instead of actually doing something about it now.

Edwards can promise all he wants, but the fact is we WON'T get universal health coverage until we elect a candidate who not only says he's in favor of it, but has a CONCRETE PLAN on how we'll get it.

Right now, that candidate is Dennis Kucinich.

[SangamonTaylor]

5. didn't Geph have the biggest healthcare plan?

I don't really remember.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. Yeah, you can't give up by cutting back your demands

in anticipation of refusal.

The Dems need to adopt Reagan's tactic. Propose a massive initiative. Buy a half hour of TV time. Appeal directly to the American people to badger their Congresscritters. It would work. Everyone who doesn't actually work for an insurance company hates insurance companies, and I even know some people who work for them that hate them.

[jmoss]

11. I was referring to Kerry & Dean in Milwaukee debate

....remember?