Over the past five years of the Bush presidency, Republican congressional majority and political ascendancy of the religious right, the term "values" has gained currency in our national lexicon. So-called social values issues such as gay marriage, "intelligent design" and the Terri Schiavo case have helped to determine close elections.
During this time, I have been dismayed, as an American and as a physician, that little sustained emphasis has been placed on a "value" issue worthy of our national focus: the lack of health-care access for all Americans.
A true values issue: health care for all
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Imagine...
WASHINGTON — Imagine you're Austin Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett back in 1994: eager, ambitious and, as history would have it, elected in a Republican groundswell year that would ensure you spent your first dozen years in Congress as a political underdog.
Snip...
In his 12 years in office, Doggett has earned a reputation as one of the most liberal Democrats in the House and a loyal supporter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. In the 109th Congress, he voted with the party on almost every major issue, except for flag burning and federal jurisdiction over Terri Schiavo. He registered a "not voting" on both.
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