Bush’s Health Care Scheme Would Create 600K More Uninsured Americans
Bush’s Health Care Scheme Would Create 600K More Uninsured Americans
Last week, the President unveiled his new budget proposals – including $12 billion per year in tax breaks to promote health savings accounts (HSAs) linked to high-deductible health plans – a fatally-flawed approach to health care coverage that will leave Americans out in the cold.
This week, noted Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist Jonathan Gruber released an analysis that confirms the worst fears about HSAs. The key points:
1. The number of uninsured people would rise by 600,000 people. Because some employers will stop offering health coverage in response to these new subsidies, 8.9 million workers will lose their group health insurance and approximately 4.4 million of these individuals will lose health insurance altogether. Only 3.8 million previously uninsured people will obtain coverage as a result of the new program.
2. The vast majority of people who would benefit already have health insurance. Roughly 16.6 million people will benefit from the new tax breaks, but less than 23 percent will have been previously uninsured. The other 12.8 million will move from some other type of coverage – such as employer coverage, other individual coverage or Medicaid – to an HSA and a high-deductible plan purchased through the individual market.
The President’s proposals will do nothing beyond making our nation’s health insurance crisis even worse. With 45.8 million Americans lacking health insurance already, we can’t possibly fill this prescription.
– Karen Davenport
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All week, commenters have been damanding we focus on the “real” issues. Well, here you go. I expect everyone to dig in.
February 16th, 2006 at 9:40 amWe need national health insurance. That’s the only solution. Every other industrialized country has figured it out.
February 16th, 2006 at 9:50 amI hate to do it, but I can’t resist:
Would Harry Whittington be covered by GeeDub’s plan?
(bad me… stay on message)
February 16th, 2006 at 9:59 amTrue story: Sen. Ted Kennedy just walked by (he’s speaking today at the Center) as I read aloud depo’s comment about national health insurance. “There you go,” he said. Pretty cool, huh?
February 16th, 2006 at 9:59 amThe “real issues”? Like Clinton’s blow job? That was a real issue that the media focused on, no, obsessed on for years? The one and only issue is that this administration must be brought down and replaced, and the only point that’s needed to be driven home is that only a fool would vote Republican any time soon, or ever again. If it takes a this non-issue of Cheney’s “gun control” (or lack thereof) to do it, so be it. We can’t multi-task on the left?
February 16th, 2006 at 10:09 amI think we demand an oil stipend from the Iraqis and have it go straight into a national health care savings plan. If you are healthy you get credit towards long term , old fart style care, not quite assisted living but closer to nursing home. BTW what about Illegal Immigrant’s care? Thanks Judd, Payson ,Nico et.al.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:15 amWe need national health insurance. That’s the only solution. Every other industrialized country has figured it out.
Comment by depo
We need to destroy people who claim that is “socialism” (it isn’t), not that there is anything wrong with socialism in some instances. It’s actually nationalism, as in nationalizing of certain critical industries. And we need to destroy people who think “socialism” is a dirty word. Rhetorically, of course. Unless they wish to carry this nonsense to extremes. Then we can do it literally. I’m sick of this shit. Have been for years.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:15 amBush’s plan for seniors has already thrown many retirees off their insurance coverage from their former employers. So we should expect that his new plan for workers will have similar result.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:19 amWorking people in America (not the corner office types) will not realize how they are being shafted by this administration until it is too late — many who voted to elect GW will rue the day, as another of his grand schemes to shaft the little guy comes to them personally.
GGG, you have hit it on the head. You mean Socialism like the airlines, the medical profession, insurance companies and the rest of the plethora of Corporate subsidies?
February 16th, 2006 at 10:19 amWell, if you are poor, sick and uninsured just cough on your co-workers, fellow students, fellow citizens etc. Don’t wash your hands, blow snot rockets and wipe with you fingers, touch lots of door knobs and drinking fountains, shake hands frequently, hack away all day without covering your mouths and prepare other insured people’s food. Maybe then others will see the need for healthcare for all. Not to mention much more serious and contageous diseases.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:24 amShouldn’t an at least minimum prophylactic health care system be part of Homeland Security for everyone?.
Nothing civilized about this propsal, but at least they are consistent with their winner take all philosophy.
Ugh… uhoh, something doesn’t reconcile here. Just because a person is uninsured does not mean they have no access to health care.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:25 amWhat do you expect? They are all a bunch of hypocritical liars. These guys like killing for sport? You think anyone of them would sign up to shoot off a round in Iraq if they had to? No. How did Chaney get away with an accidental shooting without being questioned by local authorities for some 14 hours? For their lies I think at this point, MSM should do the fact checking and keep the pressure on since they like very little wriggle room anyway.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:26 amSocialism is just a word. William F. Buckley, Jr. is a proponent of Henry George, for Chissake! He thinks, as I do, that all land should… just read it for yourself.
Franklin didn’t keep a proprietary patent on his stove for one good reason. He felt all people should be kept warm. What the founders really felt about many things, Paine in particular, is considered “evil and socialism” by the standards of the extremist idiots on the right today. When it came to land, most of the founders felt that private ownership of it as we understand it today was not feasible. You rented it from the commons. You didn’t own it. It’s Henry George and Georgist economics. Google Henry George. He was no socialist.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:28 amWe need national health insurance. That’s the only solution. Every other industrialized country has figured it out.
Comment by depo
And when they need expert health care and need it right away they fly here.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:28 am[...] “Think Progress” in their usual wisdom miss the point and take things out of context: The President’s proposals will do nothing beyond making our nation’s health insurance crisis even worse. With 45.8 million Americans lacking health insurance already, we can’t possibly fill this prescription. [...]
February 16th, 2006 at 10:28 amas in nationalizing of certain critical industries. And we need to destroy people who think “socialism†is a dirty word. Rhetorically, of course. Unless they wish to carry this nonsense to extremes. Then we can do it literally. I’m sick of this shit. Have been for years.
Comment by GGG
Move to Red China or France.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:32 amGGG, you have hit it on the head. You mean Socialism like the airlines, the medical profession, insurance companies and the rest of the plethora of Corporate subsidies?
Good points…. but you forgot the oil subsidy, too. Cause they need it, right?
February 16th, 2006 at 10:32 am11) Unless it is immediate life or death situation then yes you 1) must have insurance or 2) must have the money to pay out of pocket. And even if it is an emergency life or death situation like a heart attack then they will push you out of the hospital as soon as law/lawyers allow. While everyone else is treated with “care” to make sure they are ok.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:32 amI-RIGHT-I
Move to Israel. We want only Ben Franklin and George Washington Americans here. Your kind are draging us all down.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:34 amMove to Red China or France.
You first.
Then you can show them the error of their ways.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:35 amIRI: Obviously, you’ve never experienced a national health care system. You’re comment that “they fly here” is a knee-jerk reaction and false. I lived in Australia for several years and used their health care system. It was wonderful. After a mountain bike accident I needed stitches from a plastic surgeon. Wait time: 45 minutes; cost: $5.00. Do you have any personal evidence to refute that, or maybe just another unfounded talking point?
February 16th, 2006 at 10:36 amAnd every country that has national health insurance is struggling trying to keep it funded and efficient enough to be effective. It’s no panacea, but in this case, its better than the ‘market-driven’ solution, especially where the customer cannot get its representative’s to bargain collectively on their behalf. I note that most Americans want some kind of national health system.
The first step I would take, if I were King of America, would be to use the negotiating power of the US population, just like Wal-Mart has done with its suppliers, to hammer Big Pharma to reduce its wholesale price to the US, or I’d open the Canadian border to it’s generic drugs (any country that agrees to meet the 21CFR11 provisions for supplying health care or food products could also apply)
February 16th, 2006 at 10:36 amHey Oleg, Most middle class and lower class Americans have little or no savings and are up to their eyeballs in debt.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:40 amMy child just broke his arm a while back and the total bill was $1,600. Without insurance, I would have to either consider setting the arm myself or sell my car as I already work two jobs to get by. There are no discounts for the uninsured.
Micheal Moores new film I hope Highlights the shambles of a health care system in America ……..Its redicular In my view the most important aspect of any tax payers should be to look after peoples health before you spend money crashing rockets into the moon to see if there is water below the surface …….or even attck other countries….FIRST YOU MAKE SURE YOUR PEOPLE ARE LOOKED AFTER……America has gone to the dogs .the Dollar is worthless …8 trillion in debt to the world deficits of 600 billion per year …..The world is boycotting your goods until you get rid of Bush and show common sense in your foreign policies things are gonna get worse
The world wants you to get rid of the mass murdering Bush …then we will come to your aidonce you give us back our 8 trillion
February 16th, 2006 at 10:49 am#23, what’s the biggest cause of personal bankruptcy today?
Unexpected medical expenses
February 16th, 2006 at 10:51 amThe reason is your in debt of 8 trillion …..Bush needs the rich to buy investments of anything but the Dollar …gold and commodities ………the poor will have to wait……STUPID BUSH FVCKED YOU ALL OVER
February 16th, 2006 at 10:52 amAnd every country that has national health insurance is struggling trying to keep it funded and efficient enough to be effective.
Bullshit propaganda. The countries that are having trouble are the ones that have flirted with privatization schemes again, like Britain. It’s not cheap in terms of coin, but in the long run it is very cost effective. Everyone bitches wherever you go. The grass is always greener.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:52 am#24, Smedley, full disclosure required: are you living in a net debtor or met creditor nation to the US? And I hope you’ve stopped watching US cop shows and going to Star Wars films.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:53 amThe first step I would take, if I were King of America, would be to use the negotiating power of the US population, just like Wal-Mart has done with its suppliers, to hammer Big Pharma to reduce its wholesale price to the US, or I’d open the Canadian border to it’s generic drugs (any country that agrees to meet the 21CFR11 provisions for supplying health care or food products could also apply)
Comment by TerrytheTurtle
Screw that. I’d nationalize big pharma. Drug and oil companies have to go. Insurance companies could be next. Play time and the free ride “pushing” is over.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:58 amNew England Journal of Medicine study from 2003:
Per capita cost on health care:
US $1,059
Canada $307
“The study by Dr. Steffi Woolhandler of the Harvard School of Medicine found that Americans spend more on administrative costs because of the many private companies supplying insurance coverage. The multitude of companies create increased paperwork while Canadian doctors send their claims to a single insurer, the government.”
Okay, IRI, what other excuse do you have?
February 16th, 2006 at 10:59 amBoggles the mind that big corporations with profit motivation would not favor some sort of national, government-provided health insurance so as to alleviate their need to provide it for their employees. This has always been curious to me because the idea that health insurance is provided by employers, and they must burden those costs (though admittedly these days there is much more employee co-pay) one would think would have led a long time ago to a national consensus on the need for health insurance independent of employment. Have a few ideas of why that trend hasn’t occurred (paranoia, lobbying of pharm & med industries, general distrust of gov’t programs) and am ashamed that this country has 45 million without coverage. Health savings accounts?
February 16th, 2006 at 11:00 amWrong wrong wrong. Useless.
Screw that. I’d nationalize big pharma. Drug and oil companies have to go. Insurance companies could be next. Play time and the free ride “pushing†is over.
Comment by GGG
You’ll end up walking to the witch doctor to get an asprin.
February 16th, 2006 at 11:03 amterry the turtle – is that a turtle pocking its head out your arse or are you always full of shit
Bush does not raise taxes to the rich cause he needs them to buy commodites seeing as the dollar is worthless ..next month when Iran changes to petrol euros the Dollar will be dumped over night by the banks…..India, China cannot wait to dump your dollar ,,Syria did it last week .. the rich in america will be ripped of overnight and the poor never had anything anyway ….your all stuffed
February 16th, 2006 at 11:03 am#27, Devil’s advocate GGG, let’s see your facts. Here’s an example: Sweden, which spends 8.5% on national health has issues with shrinking tax base, increased cost of procedures and increasing population age
But note for 8.5% of their GNP, they have a good system. The US spends 15% or more and fails 15% of its population completely. I said national health was no panacea, not a failure and it is superior to the US system in many respects.
Now you’ve said ‘bullshit propaganda’ – I’ve given you a fact. You need to defend your assertion to move this along a bit.
February 16th, 2006 at 11:04 amHey Oleg, Most middle class and lower class Americans have little or no savings and are up to their eyeballs in debt.
My child just broke his arm a while back and the total bill was $1,600. Without insurance, I would have to either consider setting the arm myself or sell my car as I already work two jobs to get by. There are no discounts for the uninsured.
Comment by T
Perhaps you should ask why it cost $1600 to have an arm set and put in a cast instead of just bitching that there isn’t somebody else to pay for it.
February 16th, 2006 at 11:06 am#33, Smedley, if you were less inclined to be use ad hominem attacks, your points might be worth thinking about. Try a civil approach to discussion, you might not be dismissed out of hand.
February 16th, 2006 at 11:07 amEven Pinochet wouldn’t reverse Allende’s nationalization of the copper mining industry in Chile after the CIA took Allende out. It was critical to Chile’s development. Read the legacy and debate about Allende and Chileat Wiki. Read the history and discussion tabs because the neutrality of the entry is in dispute. It’s full of right wing lies and propaganda. See if the so-called criticisms of Allende don’t sound familiar to you and remind you of someone here.
February 16th, 2006 at 11:07 amWhy is this country moving toward a government acting AGAINST its people?
February 16th, 2006 at 11:10 am#31, Violet, look at Mao-Mart, they don’t care enough to include sufficient health care in their employment plans.
February 16th, 2006 at 11:11 amSo lemme get this straight…
The rights take on this issue is it’s a good thing that 45 million people don’t have health insurance because the rest of us that do have really good and expensive health care?
Ummm…. not making sense to me here.
February 16th, 2006 at 11:16 amWhere did I ask or bitch for someone else to pay for it IRI? Read much drooling pinhead?
February 16th, 2006 at 11:31 amThis is off topic but I couldn’t resist posting it…
“The Bush administration had raised concerns about whether Louisiana had a clear plan for reconstruction and whether it could be held accountable for the huge influx of federal aid it was about to receive.”
-New York Times-
This coming from the criminal regime that appointed Paul Bremer to head the CPA in Iraq and loot tens of billions of dollars…
This sh*t keeps getting sadder and sadder…
February 16th, 2006 at 11:41 amIn one the first evaluations of consumer-driven health care plans, a joint study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and the Commonwealth Fund found much lower satisfaction, higher costs and more missed health care with CDHC plans than traditional employer health packages.
Americans utilizing new high-deductible CHDC health plans such as health savings accounts (HSAs) and health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) experienced dramatically higher out-of-pocket costs, with over a third paying more than 5% of their income towards health-related expenses, versus just 12% of those in traditional plans. Worse still, CDHC participants, especially those making under $50,000 a year, were much more likely (35% versus 17%) to skip or defer needed health care. The key to the new wave of consumer-driven plans, it would seem, is to be healthy, wealthy and lucky.
For the details, see:
February 16th, 2006 at 11:44 am“Unhealthy Trends for 2006.”
The rights take on this issue is it’s a good thing that 45 million people don’t have health insurance because the rest of us that do have really good and expensive health care?
Heh. It makes them feel superior to the poor who can’t afford health care.
February 16th, 2006 at 11:59 amI think that is the compassionate conservatism at work. I am remember seeing a study about 6 months ago, that the insured payed close to an extra $1,000 a year because of the unisured.
Fact is an uninsured person will wait on medical attention until it is a crisis. That medical care is then either written off, or the person ends up paying for the rest of their life. If the medical care is written off, those costs are passed to other medical care users.
It really would be in the best interest of this country to institute a nationwide medical plan. After all we want to build a culture of life don’t we?
I have friends in Canada, who enjoy their healthcare system a great deal, and are pleased that they do not have to worry about unexpected medical costs.
February 16th, 2006 at 12:13 pm“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. – Ebenezer Scrooge, noted Compassionate Conservative
February 16th, 2006 at 12:14 pmOn the comment about collective bargaining with big pharma. Congress has received huge amounts of money from big pharma, I don’t expect to see any changes in prescription drug prices. I do like those who place profits before lives.
Culture of life indeed. what a bunch of crap
February 16th, 2006 at 12:17 pmWeren’t the HMO’s supposed to be the big panacea for bringing down healthcare costs? I suppose they’re working out well for you…provided you own stock in one!
February 16th, 2006 at 12:58 pmSounds like IRI wants to tell us why it cost $1600. What is it? Out of control lawsuits? This has always been a strawman- the empirical evidence since the rightwingers “reformed” tort laws don’t support that claim, plus it just doesn’t make sense to expect better results from healthcare by removing accouintability from the system.
Or do we simply consume healthcare irresponsibly in the US? Do we simply need to ration consumption? That the effect of our present policies (higher copays, higher deductibles, prescription forumaries, preferred providers, etc., etc., etc.). HSAs seem poised only to make it worse. “Market” solutions to healthcare must not work very well if we have to resort to de facto rationing in order to keep the wingtip crowd feeling their best.
Personally, I think it probably costs $1600 because the insurance companies, the pharma companies, and the countless legions of middleman companies have wasted untold sums over the past decade on promotional crap like gimme hats, tote bags, t-shirts, and on other b2b marketing. Fact is, much of these costs are aimed only at gaming the current byzantine system, NOT reducing costs or improving service.
Market driven healthcare in this country has failed because consumers have had their choices limited and at the same time have been forced to bear the ever-escalating costs.
So why, IRI, why does it cost $1600?
February 16th, 2006 at 1:20 pmHow is people supposed to pay for a insurance account when theycan`t even buy food and their other needs. It is a crying shame America is getting busted . They seem to wont to do away with the poor middle class and the seniors. We needto scrape what Bush came up with and get National health care.Frist to go the persciption drug plan it`s a joke. The drugs was raised and no cap on them People jumped to quick on it. I am staying off of it.
February 16th, 2006 at 1:26 pmAND ANOTHER THNIG: If tote bags seems like trivial expenses to you, consider this: Common billing practice for healthcare providers in the US is to charge some unreasonable sum for each service and then, if the patient has coverage, the provider will write down the charge to the amount for which the provider has contracted with the insurance carrier. Even with a high deductible the patient will get some benefit from this reduction, but only if the patient is under the umbrella of one of these big deals. A patient without coverage gets no discount.
Providers understand all of this when they set their charges, and they also know how much of the charge they will likely collect from an uninsured patient. In other words, the present system encourages providers to make up their PPO write-downs by charging more to the uninsured.
February 16th, 2006 at 1:36 pmWe already know the answer to that I-RIGHT-I. It is because rich right wing doctors over-charge for stupid shit like setting a broken arm. Because the government subsidized pharmaceutical companies over charge Americans for drugs that can be had much cheaper in other countries, while the republican run government blocks people from importing the cheaper drugs to the US. It will continue that way until dumbasses like you wake the hell up.
February 16th, 2006 at 1:58 pmaa, your right. healthcare in america is for the haves. but i have one question. where do you think bushy is going to get the money to afford healthcare for all americans. it’s gone: 1. iraq war 2.iraq war. 3.bushcos pockets. it’s pretty sad when there is a piece of paper sitting on rummys desk to raise champus/tricare premiums by 3 times. bushy also wants to cut vet benefits. this is gonna affect these very soldiers in iraq, afghan if and the rest of the GI’S if this takes place. these soldiers are his guinea pigs to make him and his cronies richer. and this admin cares so much for the soldiers. here is a story of 2 soldiers bushy cares for and there a thousand like it. he was a married soldier sent to iraq/afghan war and was killed. his wife gets his last check and it’s short by 4 days—the government withheld pay from his check due to being killed 4 days before the pay period ended, while there is a grieving wife at home. 2. another young man recieved a sign on bonus(for baiting young kids in because of recruiting drought–imagine that)when he signed up. he was injured in combat and the government was making him pay his bonus back due to not fulfilling his contract. i could go on and on. stories like this are now starting to pop out on nighttime tv (20/20, dateline, primetime, etc…) and this government is so concerned and doing all they can for the soldiers. if he can do this to the very men/women he sent over to fight his “oil” war (he is to much of a coward to fight his own battles). what makes you think he is going to do anything for us? GO BUMP YOUR HEADS—WAKE UP. under this reichwing admin. healthcare, ss, economy, enviorment is awash.
February 16th, 2006 at 2:14 pmI know this won’t make me popular, but I still think it needs to be said.
Ask yourself something: If I needed some really important health care to save my life, do I want to be treated by people who went into medicine because they wanted to save lives and ease suffering, or do I want to be treated by people who went into the business to make money? The single biggest reason health care costs in this country are so high is because it is a system driven almost entirely by Capitalism. I do not oppose Capitalism in general, but I do not feel that it is an appropriate system for everything. How would you feel about the idea that there is medicine that could keep you alive, but because the maker of the drug is allowed to charge “whatever the market will bearâ€, you face the real possibility of dying just because you can’t pay for it? Does it make you feel good to know that the maker of the drug made an awful lot of money and still sleeps well at night? If so, then I don’t want to know you.
Health Care is, in my opinion, one of the things that should be driven more by Socialism and a concern for the well-being of our citizens than by Capitalism and a concern for making as much money as possible. There is a disconnect in this area that people just don’t seem to want to address. There is the very real fact that drug manufacturers charge way too much for their drugs, even the life-saving drugs. They like to blame research and development, but this is a lie. Much of the research that forms the basis for research into new drugs comes from taxpayer funded studies conducted through, possibly among other things, the National Institutes of Health. Drug companies build on research that you and I paid for. The real expenses are the advertising, freebies for doctors, and packaging. Yet we refuse to address these areas as being part of the reason for skyrocketing health care costs.
They spend billions every year telling you to tell your doctor that you need their drug. [As Bill Maher pointed out, at this point hasn’t your doctor just become a dealer?] This is not supposed to be the way the system works. Your doctor tells you what you need, not the other way around. And his (or her) decision should be based not on what the drug companies gave to them for free, but on what will cure your disease or ease your suffering the best.
As long as health care in this country is driven entirely by capitalism, people will die who do not have to die, and greedy people will get stinking, filthy, obscenely rich who do not deserve to because they never cared whether you lived or died.
That’s just me. I’ll go away now.
February 16th, 2006 at 2:16 pm#25, TtT
February 16th, 2006 at 3:53 pmNot only are medical costs the largest factor in personal bankruptcies, but King George and his minions have recently changed the bankruptcy laws to doom for perpetuity someone who is already in deep trouble.
#54 Wayne,
February 16th, 2006 at 4:23 pmExcellent comment, with which I entirely agree, and you said it so well.
Health care should be a RIGHT not a Priviledge.
February 16th, 2006 at 4:24 pmThanks, Marie. I may have to post it again some day, so I wrote it in another document and saved it. It took me a while to get through (what with work interfering with my day and all) or I might have posted it sooner before everyone moved on to other things. Which is fine. That’s their right.
But I do appreciate your support. And you brought up a good point in #55. I forgot to go into the bankruptcy law changes (which will sink Joe Biden’s chances of getting the nomination).
February 16th, 2006 at 4:34 pmCan the american people sue congress for not doing their job? Or can we sue for them not acting as a seperate but equal branch of government? Is there rules in place stating that the Executive office can NOT lobby or influence congress?
As long as the Excutive branch is allowed to twist arms and and turn our democracy into a bribery fest I’m afraid that the laws wont matter anymore.
Does anyone know if these actions are against the law or ethics or anything?
February 17th, 2006 at 10:07 amHealth Care is, in my opinion, one of the things that should be driven more by Socialism and a concern for the well-being of our citizens than by Capitalism and a concern for making as much money as possible.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider #54
Wayne,
you’re absolutely right…
…just like our “defense” should NEVER be privatized…
But Cheney and the neocons are doing everything they can transform the U.S. Armed Forces into a private security corporation whose mandate it is to keep corporate assets/interests of the wealthy safe both at home and abroad…
Now here’s the kicker:
Using TAXPAYER DOLLARS!!!!
…how ’bout that L’il Dick, is this mofo a piece of work or what?
February 18th, 2006 at 10:45 amThank you for posting the link to the study. It was an interesting read. The HSA sounds like a good step, but I would like to see health care insurance turned to a completely income credit for individuals, instead of just a deduction and 15.3% credit. The model used in the study wasn’t remotely scientific or accurate and could never be. In fact, this was dutifully acknowledged by the author when he said his model cannot take into account changes in behavior as a result of HSA. In my opinion, it is naive to think that people who wanted insurance would suddenly not get it because it would be less expensive (a result of lower taxes) to buy it outside of ones employer. Yet that is what the model assumes.
February 21st, 2006 at 1:21 amWAKE UP AMERICANS-UNITE! Take to the streets in the millions and demand National Health Care. Shut the country down. Close stores, factories, and all manner of retail and wholesale businesses. Withhold all tax return submissions en masse. We all saw what response the immigrant protests have generated, they WILL get what they have demanded. Just watch and see. We could take a lesson from that tenacity, unity and political strength in sheer numbers to understand that that’s what it will take before the for profit health profiteers are put out of business. Health Care policies should not be tied to employment. Human dignity and the right to live should not be determined by the ability to pay. How many more deaths, health related bankruptcies, loss of homes, businesses, before we have finally had enough to ACT? Who will be the next Martin Luther King of the fight for health care in this country? How many will march? National Health Care NOW!!
May 18th, 2006 at 8:33 pmI actually think the mid-term turnouts will be larger than in the past.
People turn out to vote when their angry or upset. And within my personal world (family, friends, co-workers), there are a lot more people that previously were not politically aware that are really upset with Bush and the Republican Congress.
Items like this only reinforce the point.
Let’s guess how the right will spin this? Perhaps because they will say with the decrease in wages will provide Americans the opportunity to work more than one job.
November 20th, 2006 at 6:42 am