Senator Edwards' plan for universal health care

I truly believe that if everyone was insured, the insurance companies would have to lower the rates. I like what Edwards has to say here. The devil is in the details.

Yeah, but the details are that you've got to have large enough insurance pools so that there are enough people who won't have to use the insurance to cover those who will. Insurance is the one area where competition just doesn't work because the smaller the group of insured the less security there is and the higher the cost has to be. Any plan that doesn't take this into account can't possibly work. See my article about this at:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976870507

For Hugh Jass. SO WHAT. FOR WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS SPENDING ON AN UNWINNABLE WAR IN ONE WEEK, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE COULD EASILY BE AFORABLE. I ALSO WOULD GUESS THAT YOU HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE

Hugh Jass. that is a remarkability uninformed thing to say. No profile. big surprise

Joe, yes, this would bring costs down nicely.

Meryl, I think this would create large pools, so I'm not sure I understand your concern.

Kathleen, this fixes some holes in the Massachusetts plan, as I understand it. I don't think the Massachusetts plan has a very good way to provide for people who can't afford to buy the insurance it forces them to buy, from what I've read. This one does.

I agree with you that we shouldn't wait until 2009 to start working on this, and so, by the way, does Senator Edwards. One Corps members will be working on health care issues this month. It's fine to have states and localities deal with this on their own and we should start now on that, but for everyone to be covered, eventually we need a federal plan. That's why I think it most definitely should be a campaign issue for 2008.

Hugh, for once, you're partially correct, but only partially. Edwards did say he would roll back Bush's tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans (people making over 200K a year) to pay for this. That's honest. Every democratic candidate is talking about health care plans. Only Edwards, to my knowledge, has been honest enough to say how he would pay for them.

Personally, I think those who benefit the most from society ought to be giving the most back. That's called taking responsibility. We need to fix our health care system, which is the most expensive in the world. This will do that. I'm all for it.

John, you're sure right about the amount of money we're wasting on this stupid war. When I think of the things we could be doing with that money that would actually benefit someone, well, it's just sad, that's all.

Republicans, beholden to health care providers, pharmaceutical companies, and the insurance industry - have convinced themselves and many others tha tthe nation cannot afford universal health care.

But, we devote a far larger proportion of our Gross National Product to paying for the health of 65% of Americans than any other first world nation spends for the care of all citizens.

And, our public health (regarding disease prevention, infant mortality, even life span, trails many other nations.

Go John Edwards.

Raise taxes for something to benefit the" American" people??
Brilliant!!!

"John Edwards Chooses Crazy Blogmaster"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976903632
More comments when you show your expertise on women's issues tj.
"All Democrats are to be smeared'' Karl Rove

Seems like we need to roll back the tax cuts just to draw down the debt. Tackle that, and I can't imagine meaningful strides in health care made without an actual tax hike.

But we must have health care AND draw the debt down. In fact -- to bail our own country out of bankruptcy -- I say tax-payers had best demand to pay more!

The consequences of the war, such as the fortune we've borrowed from Saudi Arabia & China, are very much our problem now, whomever is at fault. So roll back the tax cuts to pay for health care. Yes! And dock an extra 5%, from the gross income of every American above poverty, until we've paid back all that we owe.

Could be wrong but I swear that's about what we're stuck with mathematically.

Also I posted a piece I wrote on Hillary here on my Gather page if you want to check it...

Best,
Mike E

TJ, I'm rather glad that Edwards is hiring bloggers, especially women bloggers, and I'm glad he's hiring people that speak their minds instead of making everything a political calculation. So far, I think Amanda is working out rather well.

Peter, your comment is so right on the money. We have the most expensive health care system in the world, yet it only covers about 65%, like you said. This has got to change. The Edwards plan is achievable and I applaud him for covering so many aspects of our health care crisis in it. It's not just about getting everyone coverage, it's also about improving care. Good job.

Don, it's about time we had health care. It's too bad we have to raise taxes to do it, but if the Republicans weren't wasting so much money on stupid wars, maybe we wouldn't need to.

Mike, I think you're right about the financial hole the Republicans have gotten us into. I think at this time Edwards considers it more important to get everyone covered with health care than to draw down the debt right away. The good news is that if we start solving some of the underlying problems that cause the financial mess we're in, and the health care crisis is one of them, it'll become easier to pay off the debt.

I saw your post on Hillary. I don't think I commented on it, but will check it out again.

One Corps Members,

Last week, Senator Edwards released a bold plan to transform America's health care system and provide universal health care for every man, woman and child in America.

Now it's time for us to take the next step: the National Day of Health Care Action on Saturday February 24th.

Together, we'll work to improve health care today by volunteering in our local communities. And we'll help transform the health care system of tomorrow by building support for our plan to guarantee every American the quality care they deserve.

We're aiming to set up hundreds of events nationwide, and as a One Corps member, we're counting on you to lead the way. Hosting a day of action is easy: we'll provide you with a step-by-step guide and all the support you need to hold a successful event. Just click here to begin: http://johnedwards.com/r/5823/755127

You can choose from several possible activities for improving health care in America, such as:

* Setting up a table to pass out information about John Edwards' plan for universal health care and to sign up supporters
* Distributing information on how low-income families can sign up for existing state health care programs they may already qualify for, but not even know about
* Organizing or participating in a local blood drive
* Volunteering at a local hospital

We're always amazed at the creativity of One Corps members, and you may find many other ways in your neighborhood to help the sick and address the health care crisis.

You can find more information about the National Day of Health Care Action and share your own ideas for actions with chapters across the country at: http://johnedwards.com/r/5825/755127

Next week, we'll ask all of our hundreds of thousands of supporters nationwide to find a local event, but folks near you will only be able to take part if One Corps leaders like you step forward to host - so please sign up today: http://johnedwards.com/r/5827/755127

Please feel free to email us with additional questions. And thank you for taking action today to improve our health care system.


George Stern
National One Corps Director
Edwards for President
OneCorps@JohnEdwards.com

P.S. If you didn't see the recap of your incredible work on the National Day of Energy Action, please check out this post: http://johnedwards.com/r/5829/755127

Click here to unsubscribe from email sent by John Edwards for President.

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I think that we should apply all this health care reform that is described and see how much it actually saves us. If it drops the price down as much as predicted then go forward with the national plan. If it doesn't, as I suspect, understand that you don't get something for free and if companies and taxes pay for this plan the costs will be recovered somewhere.

I think this plan fixes the California proposal. I think you should read what The New York Times said about it. Link here.

And yes, I think we need to be realistic about the need for adequate taxation.

Our next president commented on my article! I'm doing a little happy dance now. I know it's hard to see through the Internet.

Did I hear right: tax credits and not a deduction. Bush proposes a deduction, this is better. With a deduction the rich save more than the poor. And the poor need the insurance more.

Dave, no a deduction is not better. The Edwards plan includes a refundable tax credit, which means that if you don't make enough to owe the amount of the tax credit, it gets paid to you. So if you're too poor to pay taxes, you actually get a check in the amount of the tax credit. If your tax burden is somewhat less than the credit, you get paid the difference back. Additionally, for people who will owe at least the amount of the credit, you get the full amount of the credit taken off your taxes, not a percentage of that portion of your income, like with a deduction. This tax credit is better for everyone, regardless of income level.

It's things like this Universal HealthCare plan that's the reason why I support John Edwards for president!

Remarks by John Edwards on health care at an Iowa town hall

Video clip of the same Iowa town hall on health care

I know you plan on cutting Oil and Gas Usage down....

I can Offer you the ability to cut Usage down to 80%.

I am very serious and I have a working system. I am willing to give the technology to you if you are willing to follow it up.

Are you up to it

Before I watched Sicko, I would have thought this plan was not too bad, however, I now feel this will not be enough. I compare our health insurance system to our past slavery - both are inhumane and stay(ed) around because very wealthy business is (was) considered more important than humanity. Just like the financial losses of the ending of slavery were devastating at the time, America got over it, and humanity prevailed. I think the only answer is to end privatized insurance and cover everyone equally. These private plans Edwards suggests will not offer equal coverage for all Americans, and are still plans designed to provide profit for the insurance companies. The insurance companies will still be looking for ways to maximize profit by denying coverage. I am looking for the candidate that will create true universal healthcare. Though I have been a fan of Edwards in the past, I see he is not the candidate with the best plan (perhaps there is not a candidate yet). My search continues . . .

Actually, Monica, his IS the best plan. I hear you that it would be better to end privatized insurance and have a single-payer plan, and Edwards' plan is the ONLY one among the remaining Democratic candidates that actually has a way to eventually create a single payer plan. It has a government option and if enough people buy into that, it eventually ends up evolving into single-payer. In fact, Michael Moore himself recently praised Edwards, though didn't actually endorse him.

The only candidate who is not offering a plan based on privatized insurance is Dennis Kucinich. You can vote for him if you want, of course.

Obama has a plan that isn't even universal (though he likes to lie and say it is). Clinton has a plan that is more or less plagiarized from Edwards' plan, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't have the possibility of evolving into single-payer. And Clinton takes more money from insurance company and drug company lobbyists than any of the other candidates.

Edwards, by the way, has never taken a dime from a Washington lobbyist.

Yes, AstroGirl, I was just reading from Michael Moore's website that Obama is now the second highest recipient of insurance company money - hmmm. I am undecided on who will get my vote, but I hope to be able to make a difference with my vote. I have written a Letter to Senator John Edwards, Presidential Candidate, About Universal Healthcare. I welcome your comments on this article. I hope to see Senator Edwards drop by for a comment. Perhaps you will get another response from him there!