I've liked John Kerry since before some of you were born. I'll continue to be in his corner even if the only one with me is my dog Bella. (Although that sort of comment may have unwelcome echoes of what Bush recently said about Barney...)
That said, Jonathan Edwards is looking awfully damned good to me these days, and for one reason: No other candidate has pushed so hard for national health insurance. I've reached an age where that's not just a good idea in a theoretical sense -- I want it because I'm poor and anxious.
A friend of mine runs a small company, and he has had to cut staff because the health insurance premiums are murderous. He has even started to farm work out to Vietnam, where a talented fellow can live like a king on less than $500 a month. (True story: Looking at the 3D animation work from Vietnam, I said "Looks like it's time I finally learned Maya." I was told not to bother. I'm too expensive -- even when reduced to living on pasta!)
Even Governor Schwarzenegger (please note my sudden refusal to adopt a disrespectful nickname) has come out in favor of insurance for all Californians. Although his proposal resembles the unwieldy system Clinton tried to cobble together on a national scale, the fact that he is even thinking this way is a tacit admission that the socialized medicine Schwarzenegger grew up with works better than does our current non-system. I don't like Arnie. I don't trust Arnie. But if he can create a California where an ill-to-do freelancer can live in a little less fear, then I will grit my teeth and support a Republican for the first damn time in my life.
A nation-wide solution would be preferable -- not least because it would save me the agony of saying something nice about a guy with an R next to his name. That's why I'm starting to lean toward Edwards. Obama and Kerry have made some of the right noises -- Obama has sponsored some very good health care bills -- but we need more. We need our leaders to shout for national health insurance.
Oh, about Obama: I think his opening volley had too many of the usual doughy generalities. No shouting here. The open blue collar was a nice touch, though.
10 comments:
"Skull & Bones" Kerry? No, thanks.
Oh, for fuck's sake. Joe? Please delete Anon 4:02's comment.
If I can't have my beloved John Kerry, the only second choice I'm not nauseated about considering is Wes Clark.
Nauseated? That's a word I'll reserve for the current president, jen.
McCain's getting into that territory.
Truth be told, I like on some level all of the currently mentioned candidates. Even Hillary. She doesn't wow me, and sometimes she annoys me. But as Martin Anderson used to say, "In politics, it's always 'Compared to what?'" -- and compared with the current administration, a dead dog in the middle of a dirt road would look more inspiring.
National health insurance, even if it were achievable in the U.S., wouldn't solve all your problems.
Eliminate the cut the insurance companies take off the top, and rein in the drug companies, and coverage is still too damn expensive, for what people typically want -- prompt surgeries, MRI's, batteries of expensive tests, treatment for routine aches and pains, etc. Somebody's got to pay for it, and without a reordering of national priorities, there won't money for our aging population.
And though I hate to say it, the life-expectancy and infant mortality statistics which place the U.S. at the bottom of the list of industrial democracies, probably aren't a reliable indicator that "our" care is worse than what's available in countries with universal coverage.
For people with access, the care is probably better in the U.S. I mean faster service, and a higher standard, overall. Talk to European doctors working in this country, and you'll hear this line consistently.
Clearly, something needs to be done, otherwise only the rich and foreign dictators will be able to afford this quality care. But don't expect miracles.
I volunteered for Kerry's campaign because he was the Democratic nominee, not because he was my first choice of Democratic candidates. He kind of grew on me, though, and I learned to respect his intellect and ideas. His debating skills were an awesome surprise, despite dubya's little "hearing aid."
Talk about losing the plot. When the time came, Kerry failed to recognize the difference between being a politician and being a leader. No legal challenges for massive election fraud, despite overwhelming evidence even available at the time. No fight, just a few threats and whimpers. This is not a legacy he will overcome. I hope Kerry stays where he can do the most good, in the US Senate.
The best thing Kerry did, though, was to bring John Edwards into the national spotlight. He is the real deal, and has not yet been muffled by the DNC, corporate interests, and certainly not be KKKarl.
I think Edwards/Clark would an amazing ticket. Hell, maybe they could win by over 5%.
Kim in PA
Joe,
How about an early, gut feeling(God forbid not the kind Bush has after eating Texas Chili)opinion about Jonh Edwards and B.H Obama(I was being nutty I admit)with a disclaimer that says you can amend any opinion based on what is stated by these candidates as events unfold?
I guess, I am asking for your opinion with no strings attached.
I am not well versed in the complexities of national health insurance proposals, but living in Hawaii I can vouch that our system of laws relating to health care seem to be far better than what prevails throughout the rest of the country. Employers of workers of 20 hours or more per week are required by law to offer their employees alternative health insurance plans and pay part of the cost -- often about half. We have several good and reasonably affordable health insurers, and networks of doctors of all specialties associated with one or more of these insurers. The insurers are operated as non-profit organizations and don't reap outrageous profits by exploiting their insured clientele. Not everyone is insured - there are still many who are unemployed or only partly employed in one or more low-wage jobs who can't get health insurance through their employer or afford the high costs, but there is a state government program which seeks to plug many of these gaps. If the rest of the country could emulate Hawaii, everyone would be much better off than they are now. Local GOP-leaning employers claim that they are at a competitive disadvantage vis-a-vis mainland companies. Enact laws like Hawaii and their complaints will end.
I am with anonymous #1: John "Skull and Bones" Kerry? Even that botched joke a week before the 2006 election seemed like a suspiciously planned event to assist the sagging GOP fortunes. I know he was the chair of a subcommittee in the 1980's that investigated a lot of the dark intrigues connected to the Bushes (BCCI, Iran-Contra, narcotics traffficking in Central America, etc.) Exactly what did he do with that knowledge? Has he been paid off/co-opted?
John Edwards talks about two Americas all the time. That sounds good but he believes it AND promotes it!
People in North Carolina have asked and asked for his help with loosing their health CARE> not insurance. These people HAVE insurance but the NC Medical Board stopped their doctor and care for a spirochetal illness. NC Medical Board doesn't believe in Lyme Disease and has voted to allow a specialist to be SUED for medical fraud. This action has left many many COVERED and INSURED people without care for a devastating illness! Edwards never answered a letter...... Edwards doesn't care any more than Bush if these Americans can go to the doctor and get their medications and get well. Edwards DOES NOT CARE and this is in HIS BACKYARD of NC>
There is an article out there about what is really going on in healthcare these days and it's called RATIONING>
check out this article Cannon
http://www.yourdoctorinthefamily.com/grandtheory/
Now insurance companies want your premiums, your deductibles and then they also want to SET the LIMITS of the CARE that you RECEIVE too..
For instance, I pay for my medicare drug plan, but the drug company says they did not get the confirmed fax from the doctor authorizing my prescription for payment. ( This particular drug requires pre approval.) I found out when I went to the drug store . The total for the one prescription was $757.63. I was more prepared to pay the 30 dollar co pay, since I got the doc to actually FAX the form the first time, but since the insurance company didnt get the faxs, I got stuck.
The company got the fax yesterday and tells me if they approve this med they will refund the money.... despite a deductible doughnut hole coming up. They tell me if they choose to not approve it, it's my problem. ( I've been on this med without changes since before the inception of the Medicare drug plan!)
I just suppose I would be better off not paying a gatekeeper that refuses to accept confirmed faxes and such. Insurance is a gate keeper, a middle man, a piss poor manager of America's health needs.
Edwards.... ask him about the other America he helps to create and promote. He's aware or ignorant.....
That sounds like more of the same to me even if he is much better looking.
The better part of health care spending in this country literally goes down the drain: it's spent on expensive procedures for prolonging the lives of the very sick and the very old.
Sounds Orwellian, but at some point the State is going to have to say, enough is enough....
Joe - I be right next to you with KErry and you don't have to worry about Kerry and healthcare.
Unlike Edwards, Kerry has actually done stuff to advance universal healthcare.
1) In 1972, Kerry campaigned on universal healthcare.
2) He drafted S-Chip (he's name was taken off the bill), but it's his language. S-Chip expanded healthcare to poor kids.
3) Kerry's healthcare plan in 2004 was rated the best of all the Democratic primary candidates.
4) Finally, "Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), the new chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, introduced tax-credit legislation that would help small businesses lower their health-care costs and encourage more small companies to offer health coverage." http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jan2007/sb20070108_327324.htm?chan=smallbiz_smallbiz+index+page_today\'s+top+stories
If you are about Small Business, no one has been a strong friend to small busines than Kerry.
Bottom line. I love Kerry because he walks the talk. Now if he could learn to talk the talk a little better, he would be a good campaigner.
Post a Comment