We need single-payer, not just universal, healthcare.

[Guaranteed]

Most politicians use the phrase "universal healthcare" when expressing support for health coverage for everyone or nearly everyone, but they are being deliberately vague when they do so. The phrase "universal healthcare" avoids the flaws inherent in our current system- namely, corporate middlemen siphoning off money that should be covering the costs of patients' care directly. Most of the "universal healthcare" plans out there- unless they say otherwise- only throw more taxpayer money at those middlemen to get more people covered. Thus, although such plans are "universal," which is nice, they do not address the cost crisis our healthcare system faces. It's a milquetoast phrase describing half-assed plans to fix the system.

The solution is to have the government- either the state or the feds- be the one and only healthcare insurer for our citizens. The funding would go into the system in much the same way Medicare works today. And the greatest part about single-payer healthcare is that it would actually be cheaper for everyone than what we have today. A study was recently done in California showing that just that state would save $8 BILLION dollars, only in the program's FIRST YEAR, while covering EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE STATE, if a single-payer healthcare plan was implemented. See the Lewin Group's report here:

http://www.healthcareforall.org/studies.html

But we must make it clear exactly what will fix the system in our speech- single-payer healthcare. "Universal healthcare" may satisfy the likes of Sens. Obama and Clinton, but it shouldn't satisfy us. Like Michael Moore said, there's no room for corporate middlemen when it comes to the health of our people.

So, please, say it loud and proud- SINGLE-PAYER, not merely universal, HEALTHCARE.