Edwards odd disconnect between good rhetoric & poor plan on healthcare

[yurbud]

I heard John Edwards on Ed Schultz the other day and was impressed with his tough anti-corporate rhetoric on healthcare and the stuff about insurance and pharma eating all the food if they are given a seat at the table--but then he got to his actual proposal, and it sounded little different from what Arnold proposed here in CA, only putting the onus on employers to buy the private insurance for their employees rather than the republican approach of putting the burden on the individual.

If Edwards proposal doesn't give the insurance companies a place at the table, it gives them a generous doggy bag with the steak and potatoes, and leaves the salad and brussel sprouts for the rest of us.

The correct role for the insurance companies is criminal indictments for manslaughter for withholding reasonable treatment, and civil liability for for people harmed and killed, regardless of arbitration clauses in their contracts--you should not be able to sign a contract that absolves someone from willfully murdering you.

Can't we get a Dem within spitting distance of the nomination who will promise to put these bastards heads on a stick instead of giving them more money?

[NC_Nurse]

1. I found that odd too.

Everything I've heard about his plan seems like it continues the privatized model we have now.
Only Kucinich has the single payer type of plan, right?

[yurbud]

4. seems like it. If Democrats want to seem tough, kick the biggest bullies in the nuts

instead of bowing and scraping to them.

[MisterHowdy]

2. Kucinich

The best candidate out there.

Unfortunately, not within "spitting distance"

[Hieronymus]

3. I understood Edwards to suggest that people will have a choice between

private insurance and basically giving Medicare to everyone. People would see how well the single payer works and give up the private insurance.
Edwards has a sizable lead in Iowa. :applause:

[yurbud]

5. I hope you are right. Got a link to prove that's what he's proposing?

[dragonlady]

6. Here's the language

From the Edwards site:

The U.S. government will help states and groups of states create regional Health Care Markets, non-profit purchasing pools that offer a choice of competing insurance plans. At least one plan would be a public program based upon Medicare.

And: Over time the system may evolve toward a single-payer approach if individuals and businesses prefer the public plan.



The health plans would be comprehensive, and portable so you wouldn't lose your insurance if you lose your job or want to start your own business.

http://johnedwards.com/issues/health-care/ (Click on the link under the summary for the PDF with details.)

[yurbud]

7. that makes me feel better