John Edwards on Health Care

[CherubimandAngels]

This is the best plan for Universal Health Care that I have ever heard!!!!

[mblackburn2]

This radio spot was done almost 2 years ago! He had it together then and he has it together now. He has detailed and viable plans for all the other issues, too. Take a closer look before you decide. Go John, Go!

[MamaBear2008]

I've compared the plans and the candidates and John's commitment to real health care reform is head and shoulders above the rest.

[sentencing]

"Our most dangerous tendency is to expect too much of government, and at the same time do for it too little."

-Warren Gamaliel Harding 1921

say "NO" to universal healthcare...

it takes our FREEDOM TO CHOOSE!

[orobyn]

Harding was more interested in playing around in the White House Elevator with his mistress than in running the country. His cronies were involved in huge scandals. What a great president!

[sentencing]

hey now, I didn't say he was a great prez!!

[haightstreetcrier]

evidence of how our failed health care system DOESN'T WORK

youtube com/watch?v=DxJtyIjjmEA

[TooChickenToShort]

ANYONE can create a health care plan that covers everyone, simply by spending money.  That's what Mr. Edward's plan does. Controlling costs plus covering everyone is the challenge. I don't see that here.

[MamaBear2008]

You obviously haven't read his position papers. Read "Making Health Care Affordable, Accountable, and Univeral" and "Edwards Details Cost-Savings Measures In Universal Health Care Plan."

[TooChickenToShort]

Thank you for your references, MamaBear. I have now read his position papers, but I must re-affirm my initial comments. Edwards has a couple of good ideas (the prize concept for orphan drug development for example), but he misses the main reasons for our health care problems (lack of definition of quality of care, payment by third parties instead of the actual consumer).

[MamaBear2008]

You said "Controlling costs plus covering everyone is the challenge." [Which I agree with.] "I don't see that here." That's where I completely disagree because that is exactly what he does: he proposes controlling costs plus covering everyone.

[orobyn]

How can an ill person pay if they don't have enough money? You just want chaos and misery.

[orobyn]

I wasn't referring to Edwards whom I support. I was referring to those who think everyone has lots of disposable income, even though their salaries are low. I had a procedure which cost $500,000 and I had coverage. What about those who don't have it?

[TooChickenToShort]

This comment misses the point. A plan that covers everybody but has no significant cost control will drive the country to bankruptcy--17% of GDP for health care is one projection if we go without changes to our current system. So who is to make the control decisions--John Edwards, or the consumer? I say the consumer. You buy the coverage you think appropriate.

[orobyn]

And what if you don't have the money? You just die. Thanks, Scrooge.

[TooChickenToShort]

Again, you miss the point. If we want to provide universal health care, it is very easy. Just give every American a $5000 voucher to buy their own. Piece of cake. Like I said, anyone, even me, can design universal coverage. The trick is to also figure out how to contain costs.

[triad773]

I like him better than I do Obama. I feel like Edwards is more an outsider and may not be part of the establishment that is so rife with being co-opted.

[chadlupkes]

Yes, elect Ron Paul and eliminate Social Security, all social programs, and any chance of getting the health care problem solved in America. Great plan.

[petitionfor]

Sign the Petition for a changed US "PETITIONFOR DOT COM" and vote for your Candidate.

[AmericanGreek]

Everybody should listen to this man and his plan.

Edwards for 08!!

[igspal]

PLEASE LISTEN TO DENNIS KUCINICH'S HEALTHCARE PLAN...HIS seems to be the BEST! VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH!!!

[jcffrey]

i saw his plan. it's very good. in the end though, the question is whether he can win. a great plan in the hands of a non-president won't do any good.

[MamaBear2008]

The majority of Americans will never vote for single-payer in this election. I like Edwards' plan better anyway because rather than overhaul the whole system, he pushes forward what works best and pushes back what doesn't work.

[PhantomNIR]

Not that his plan is perfect but, it's something to think about. Keeping the country healthy and providing affordable healthcare to everyone is a good thing.

[Tony63efc]

Well every other country in the industrialised world guarantees access to healthcare for all and we all enjoy better life expectancy than you say maybe it is worth looking at.

[Manicci]

socialism anyone?

[jcffrey]

socialism would be government provided healthcare, where doctors worked for the fed. This is government financed healthcare. Big difference. And 60 percent of healthcare costs are tax dollars anyway, so it's really just a matter of degree that's at stake here.

[Tony63efc]

Yeah why change if you're happy to have the 23rd best infant mortality rate in the world! and the 20th best female life expectancy! and 21st best male life expectancy!

[TooChickenToShort]

Beware of raw life expectancy numbers. Murder rates are higher here, and since it is usually younger people being murdered, the effect on overall life expectancy is huge, but has nothing to do with medical care. Same for obesity--we are the "largest" nation in the world, which drives down our life expectancy. But this also has nothing to do with medical care. There are other factors also, so don't put too much faith in these numbers.

[AMNielsen]

He's much more specific than his competitors. I hope he win the election.

[astrogirlsirius]

Why can't all politicians be this specific and straightforward?

[bsteinhauser]

Check out Opinion Journal's piece on socialist health care in Illinois.

[astrogirlsirius]

If you are implying that Edwards' health care plan is "socialist," you are WAY off.

[orobyn]

Read Edwards' health care proposals on his web site and see what would happen when employers opt out as they will when they have the chance. Read between the lines ... and you'll why Edwards is the best candidate and has the best ideas for the average person who works for a living, not the layabouts with their "investment portfolios" and untaxed unearned income.