Posted on 01/25/2007 8:38:25 AM PST by Sybeck1
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Every American should have health care coverage within six years, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama said Thursday as he set an ambitious goal soon after jumping into the 2008 presidential race. "The time has come for universal health care in America," Obama said at a conference of Families USA, a health care advocacy group.
"I am absolutely determined that by the end of the first term of the next president, we should have universal health care in this country," the Illinois senator said.
Obama was previewing what is shaping up to be a theme of the 2008 Democratic primary. One of his rivals, 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards, also said as he announced his candidacy last month that he will offer a proposal for universal health care.
Obama said while plans are offered in every campaign season with "much fanfare and promise," they collapse under the weight of Washington politics, leaving citizens to struggle with the skyrocketing costs.
He said it's wrong that 46 million in this country are uninsured when the country spends more than any one else on health care. He said Americans pay $15 billion in taxes to help care for the uninsured.
"We can't afford another disappointing charade in 2008, 2009 and Obama said. "It's not only tiresome, it's wrong."
Obama's call was an echo of a speech he made last April when he said Democrats "need to cling to the core values that make us Democrats, the belief in universal health care, the belief in universal education, and then we should be agnostic in terms of how to achieve those values."
His argument Thursday not only will be considered through the prism of the presidential campaign, but weighed against rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's ill-fated plan to overhaul the health care insurance system when she was first lady.
Another candidate, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, also backs universal health care.
Chemung County Willing To Be "Guinea Pig"
...Thanks to some help from the Big Flats based computer programming company, Salient Corporation, a new computer program will track every penny spent. That way an independent third party manager can identify ways to cut down on wasteful spending. For example, of the 17,000 Chemung County neighbors enrolled in Medicaid, 13,000 average 46 medical visits each year. Santulli's convinced steps can be taken to better streamline the program to save money, and increase care.
Doesn't look to me like there's a lack of spending on the uninsured, not in that neck of the woods anyway.
Barf, so FEMA can run our health care?
Idiots.
Think that health care is expensive now ?
Wait until it is free !
It will be interesting to see if members of Congress will subject to the same health care rules they want to impose on the rest of us. (ie. They are not subject to the same social security rules the rest of us are.)
If he gets in Hellary's way, I'd suggest burial insurance, too.
Yes, those idiots running for president want us to buy their votes for them.
That takes chutzpah.
People who work.
In an effort to free the American people from the burden of paying for their own health care, the Democratic Party leadership has decided that we each can pay for our neighbor's health care instead.
Please do me a favor Mr. Obama and Queen Hillary. Do me no favors!
Meanwhile Congress will continue to have private insurance and much, much better medical care.
The left, who love to complain there are two Americas, are actually TRYING to create two Americas. Those with goverment-run health care and those with private pay (legislators only).
Hillary-care would have actually made it ILLEGAL for the common folk to private pay for better care.
He's a communist or an islamist. There is no other possibilty for a democrat.
I call for free food for everyone. I mean, if health care is a "right" why shouldn't food be also? Not much point having health care if we all starve to death.
And while we're at it, free clothes as well. No point freezing to death now that we have free health care.
And if we're a knowledge society, why do we pay for books at Barnes & Noble? I mean, COME ON, why do we shut out those who can't afford books?
</sarcasm>
Obama Calls for
Universal Health Care Socialism
There, title fixxed.
Socialism, first incremental step towards communism.
BTTT!
Somehow, the Dems always leave that one out, even though it represents a major portion of the Congressional effort of the their party.
NOW, we're getting somewhere.
WHY is it wrong, Senator Obama?
And where does the principle you will invoke to answer that question require us to go?
Little early to jump the shark.
(1) Big deal. $15 billion is nothing. We gave as much to African nations for "AIDS", and it is as much as Israel and Egypt each get every 5 years in U.S. aid.
(2) How much of that amount is due to illegal aliens?
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