Candidates split along party lines on health

[rodeodance]

Source: des moines register




Candidates split along party lines on health

By TONY LEYS • REGISTER STAFF WRITER • December 29, 2007
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The top Democratic contenders generally want to increase the governments' involvement in health care and help provide insurance coverage for the 47 million Americans now going without. The Republicans generally want to encourage citizens to be healthier and to help make the health care market more efficient and easier to navigate.
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State Sen. Jack Hatch, a Des Moines Democrat, said his party's health reformers used to talk more about implementing a "single-payer" system, in which the government would directly insure everyone. But the only presidential candidate still backing that idea is Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, whose campaign is gaining little traction. "The candidates are moving away from that, which shows they're being realistic," he said.

Hatch, who is leading a health reform effort in the Legislature, describes himself as one of the most liberal legislators at the Statehouse. But he said that even many lefties like him have decided to back off single-payer proposals and to look for more pragmatic approaches.

Top Democratic presidential candidates all are talking about ways to improve and expand the country's current mixed system of public and private insurance plans, Hatch said. Their more moderate stances demonstrate their belief that major health care changes can pass if they're not too extreme.

Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/NEWS09/712290325/-1/caucus

[cyclezealot]

1. No surprise a Gannet paper would run this story.

So Democrats more and more accept the Mitt Romney special interest plan because they are afraid to take on the insurance companies . In Calif. the Democratic Speaker has endorsed the Romney plan. Forcing us to pay the ransom of private insurance plans with no guarantee of product quality. You think this is going to reduce healthcare costs in America, Iowa's Mr Hatch is full of it; but mostly full of cowardice. / Quite the opposite. Democratic presidential candidate are the cowards. Single payer in the US HOuse of Representatives has the single greatest list of endorsements. All Democrats.

[antigop]

2. HR 676 (Medicare for all) has 87 co-sponsors. How many bills get that many co-sponsors? n/t

[fascisthunter]

5. Too Many Candidates Take Money from the Health Insurance Industry

follow the money.

[Joe Bacon]

10. Give me Kucinich or give me death

Fuck Gannet. We know what liars run that propaganda machine.

We also know that Moe Edwards, Larry Obama and Curly Clinton have all sold out to the billionaire pimps who run the insurance rackets. Moe Larry and Curly are all committed to letting the pimps continue to fatten their Swiss bank accounts and look the other way as the beancounters deny care to everyone else.

The only issue I care about is single payer and only Kucinich stands up to the pimps and he gets my vote. Screw the rest.

[cyclezealot]

13. plus 1.

I takes a lot to stand up to AARP and their Prudential string pullers. The reason Kucinich has such a difficult road to travel. But, he does it anyway. So unique to America. Larry, Moe and Curly. You deserve the DU creative award of the day.

[LibDemAlways]

3. "The Republicans generally want to encourage

citizens to be healthier..."

Think about the absurdity of that. Their solution to the health care crisis is basically "wishful thinking." And people vote for them?

"Hey, you 47 million uninsured Americans, we're offering you....nothing. Best wishes for good health from the RNC."

[blondie58]

7. That is a wonderful thing- yeah, we should all lose some weight,

stop smoking and start exercising. But how about people like me- did I cause my multiple sclerosis from my diet or lifestyle? That is Pollyanna talk, taking care of yourself is not a panacea for all ills.

[harmonicon]

16. no silly, the gays and mexicans caused it.

[Joe Bacon]

12. oh that's not true! The Republic Party offers you Jesus!

Yesirree, who needs health insurance if they have Jesus? After all, if your faith is the size of a mustard seed you can move mountains according to the rule book. Yep, the GOP wants to give you a tax credit when you "sacrificially give" a ¢a$h donation to the prea¢her of your choice...

:sarcasm: mode now off

[old guy]

4. There will never be any worthwhile changes in health care

as long as the insurance industry is involved in the process. Never, never, ever. Just saying.

[Frances]

6. I agree

But I don't think single payer will pass right now.

[old guy]

8. That's true.

It will probably take decades for it to happen if ever so I don't expect to see it in my lifetime.

[Lautremont]

9. Why? That confuses me to no end.

As a Canadian I can't figure out why the will of the people isn't behind a simple single-pay system one hundred percent. Here there would be riots if they tried to take it away. It will be expensive to implement for you guys, but not as expensive as a certain war in Iraq; and it will (it has been estimated by economist Dr. Kenneth Thorpe) save the U.S. 1.1 trillion over ten years. It makes sense economically, morally, culturally and spiritually. So what's the problem?

[Frances]

11. The term socialized medicine

is the main obstacle I think.

It's like a red flag that causes people not to think rationally.

There's no doubt in my mind that the rational answer is single payer. It's just that people don't approach this subject rationally.

[Doctor_J]

15. because the insurance industry owns the government and the media

(those are pretty much interchangeable now too)

[Joe Bacon]

17. but but but but you Canadians get such TERRIBLE care!

Our Whore Media keeps telling us stories of how Canadians flock to the United States to get the care they are denied at home.

CNN runs commercials of busses heading south from Canada filled with people who cannot get the prescriptions they need.

MSNBC tells us that people wait a year or longer for coronary bypass surgery.

FOX tells us that Canada "rations" its health care and puts the most needy at the bottom of the list.

The SCREW YORK TIMES tells us that Canadians are turned away from emergency rooms because they have to wait forever for care.

MONTEL WILLIAMS tells us that everyone in America can get the medicines they need and all they have to do is catch that whore when his Big Orange Bus goes by.

THE ECONOMIST tells us that Michael Moore lied about British care, that it is far far worse than American care.

TV Preachers tell us that THE CHURCHES will take care of your bills.

RUSH tells us that Friends and Family will step in to help those in need

AND

PRESIDENT ASSHOLE tells us that if someone doesn't have insurance, all they have to do is walk into an Emergency Room.

The BIGGEST mistake I ever made in my life was turning down a Canadian Civil service position I was offered in 1977. I remember how my parents just screamed at me constantly for "wanting to leave the greatest country God ever put on this planet" for such a "godless country" as Canada.

I'd give anything if I could go back and change my mind.

[cyclezealot]

14. I lived in Sen Hatch's district

I'd be looking for a replacement. his betrayl is too great.

[Vinca]

18. They're being realistic?? No, no they're not.

The people by and large want universal, single payer coverage. It's the politicians (except Kucinich) who are settling and are too afraid to take a bold step. How many lack-of-insurance-9/11s need to happen before they get the message? 3,000 people die on 9/11 and the government can't spend a trillion dollars fast enough. 18,000 die each year because they don't have insurance and what do we get? Too bad, so sad. Maybe someday.