I wish Obama would follow Kucinich's lead and help fund states who create single payer plans.

[calmblueocean]

I think it would make sense for Obama to propose that the federal government pay a certain percentage of the bill for states that create their own health plans which meet certain guidelines, including single-payer. Then the fight for single payer could be fought at the state level. Ultimately, red states would see the wisdom of voluntarily adopting single-payer, when the blue states which adopt it end up with more business startups and a better quality of life.

[John Q. Citizen]

1. That's true

[Eyerish]

2. Isn't that how Canada got started?

One Province did this and it took off??

[Oregone]

3. Why would the red states adopt single-payer?

They would just encourage their sick residents move to single-payer states, without jobs, and overwhelm their systems. Then the red states will have lower unemployment and healthier base of insured.


I don't know. If 1 state adopted single-payer, it could become a nightmare from migration of sick. Maybe not. It would need federal funding that correlated with the migration rates to pick up the tab for new residents who are not yet contributing to funding the system.

[calmblueocean]

4. You might implement something like a 4 year grace period

...before people who moved from other states were eligible to be covered by your home state's single payer plan. Or it could be that funding dollars are allocated by the number of people on your plan. Or some combination of both.

I just know that the fight seems futile at the national level, and I'd rather have that same fight at the state level, even with the risk of people immigrating from other states.

[Laelth]

6. That could not be done under existing law.

California tried something similar with certain state benefits and the Supreme Court struck down their law as an unconstitutional abridgment of the freedom to travel between states in the U.S.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Oregone]

7. 4 years seems excessive

When I moved to Canada, I waited 6 weeks, oddly enough. But I also contributed immediately to the system.

Yeah, if federal funding was tied to population numbers, it seems like it could work itself out.

I totally agree its gotta start on the state level, especially with the piss poor political climate. Even "liberals" don't favor it.

[calmblueocean]

8. Maybe so.

I just realized that Kucinich's amendment requires states to provide single-payer care to all "residents" so I don't think a waiting period would even be legal. I suppose you'd have to tweak the actual legal requirements that constitute residency in a state.

I know it's imperfect at the state level, but I'd rather fight that battle at home than in D.C..

[Oregone]

9. Fighting the battle at the state level would generate more home grown Lou Dobbs!

And all sort of states would start making their own damn walls to keep them {Arizonians, Texans, Georgians, Virginians, etc} out!

:)

[sandnsea]

5. States can already submit health care plan proposals

and get waivers from the feds to apply Medicaid money to their local plan. That's how VT, OR, MA, ME, and several other states are implementing different plans that cover more people.

[ProSense]

10. Exactly. Revolutionary

grandstanding. States also have the ability to establish co-ops.

[defendandprotect]

11. Obama took the money and now he has to play the game . . .

We need to end campaign finance BRIBERY . . .

Baucus is Pre-owned and Pre-bribed . . .

so are most of our elected officials!!!

[TheKentuckian]

12. There is a limited pool of money and a national problem.

We really need everyone rowing in the right direction. I'm against dividing the dwindling dollars into small and ineffective pockets basically in an effort to divide from or to punish the stupidity of red states and diverting resources from what will continue to be a national problem.

[LWolf]

13. Yes. Even better,

he could follow DK's lead and support HR 676.

He could follow his lead on the War on Terror, on education, on just about any issue, and we'd be better off.