Paul says free market best for health care

IowaPolitics .com ^ | August 9, 2007 | Chris Dorsey

[CenTexConfederate]

Paul says free market best for health care 8/9/2007

By Chris Dorsey IowaPolitics.com

CRESTON -- Congressman Ron Paul said Wednesday the nation's health care system is in "shambles."

The drug companies, HMOs and health care lobbyists play too big a role in the nation's health care system.

"They have all the influence in Washington," Paul said.

The GOP presidential candidate said government started taking took more of a role in health care in 1965.

"Prior to 1965 there was never anybody out in the streets dying because they hadn't gotten any medical care," Paul said.

It is time to move away from a system in which government is involved, Paul said.

"When government gets involved it just pushes the price up," the congressman, who is also a doctor, said. "So I don't like that trend. I don't like corporate medicine. That's way patients are unhappy, the doctors are unhappy, the drug companies seem to be happier. The country knows it is a mess."

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

Paul is right on, on this issue.

I’m not a fan of his on foreign policy, but on domestic issues the guy is great.

Especially compared to Bush’s prescription drug bill etc.

[uxbridge]

Any of the problems the healthcare industry has today are because of the already-too-extensive involvement of government

The Democrats are now confirmed socialists...no question about that...but I wish that there were more Republicans who did more than just pay lip service to the idea of small government

Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem
--Ronald Reagan

[CenTexConfederate]

Thanks for the nice reply.

[Red Badger]

"They have all the influence in Washington," Paul said.

I thought Big Oil, Big Ag, Trial Lawyers and NRA had all the "influence"?............

[Orange1998]

I hereby nominate you as the official head of the Ron Paul Fan Club. You live and breathe this guy.

[facedown]

"Prior to 1965 there was never anybody out in the streets dying because they hadn't gotten any medical care," Paul said.

And there still aren't.

[BlabItGrabIt]

Yes, Congressman, health care is an eight-hundred lb. gorilla.

But, messing with those folks will make 1929 look like a stroll in the park, Congressman Paul.

[uxbridge]

I’m not a fan of his on foreign policy, but on domestic issues the guy is great

Ron Paul's foreign policy views are informed by the same principles that guide his domestic policies...from the thousands of medicocre career bureaucrats in the Pentagon...to the lecherous munitions industry that is wholly dependent on government (i.e. American taxpayer) money....to the egghead intellectuals in the Departments of State and Defense who naively imagine how they can centrally plan geopolitics halfway around the world...the principle remains the same as it always has...even when its well intentioned...government creates more problems that it will ever solve

[Badeye]

He’s right as to it being best to remain in the private sector.

He’s wrong about whats causing rising healthcare costs.

You want to reduce the costs of healthcare, negotiate a ‘cease fire’ in the war between physicians and the trial lawyers.

The trial lawyers are winning in a way thats comparable to whats going on in The Sudan - Darfur to those of you without a map, btw.

[BlazingArizona]

The drug companies, HMOs and health care lobbyists play too big a role in the nation's health care system.

This sentence is the closest he came to actually getting specific.

If he does articulate an actual free-market health care platform (No more doctor supply monopoly or prescription monopoly. An end to junk patents that last forever. Unlimited consumer right to shop for medicine on the world market.) he would have an unbeatable plank.

[Orange1998]

You want to reduce the costs of healthcare, negotiate a ‘cease fire’ in the war between physicians and the trial lawyers.

Try again. Texas passed such laws and healthcare keeps going up. The doctors pocketed the saving from the insurance premium. Not many lawyers in Texas will take a case today.

[Badeye]

Try again. Texas passed such laws and healthcare keeps going up.

Nationwide. One state won’t get it done, it needs to be on the Federal level, setting maximums for judgements, for starters.

[ari-freedom]

free markets work but up to a point. No, this conservative will not say government institutions are the answer. I’m saying health care will always have a problem as long as our culture favors unhealthy lifestyles.

[elizabetty]

I hereby nominate you as the official head of the Ron Paul Fan Club. You live and breathe this guy.

Maybe he IS RON PAUL.

[Abcdefg]

I thought YOU were Ron Paul!;^)

[mnehring]

Don't be fooled..

If you want to vote for an anti-War candidate, at least vote for the one on the Right.(note, this is not an endorsement of Hagel, simply putting Paul's votes in perspective)

Chuck Hagel's Voting Record

Ron Paul's Voting Record

Here are some more ‘Conservative(sic)’ votes by Paul:

Voted NO on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes.

Voted NO on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research.

Voted NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion.

Voted YES on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.

Voted NO on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime.

Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism.

Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror.

Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools.

Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy.

Voted NO on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy.

Voted YES on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump.

Voted NO on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects.

Voted NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding.

Voted NO on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations.

Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers.

Voted NO on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers

Voted NO on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse.

Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1.

Voted NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan.

Voted NO on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill.

Voted YES on more immigrant visas for skilled workers.

Voted YES on providing $70 million for Section 8 Housing vouchers.

Voted NO on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients.

Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks.

Let's also not forget Paul's Pork Projects (that he voted for before he voted against when he calls them unconstitutional but he is just playing the game when he submits them because everyone else does it.. yadda yadda yadda..)

[elizabetty]

I thought YOU were Ron Paul!;^)

Can't be, I LOVE the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!

[Abcdefg]

I’m sure Mr. Paul also loves this country. We may not agree on the need to be in Iraq, but other than that one issue, I like what he stands for.

[elizabetty]

I’m sure Mr. Paul also loves this country.

No, he does not. He thinks we are evil.

But worse than that, he is totally ignorant of the serious and profound threat by Islamic Radicals.
He thinks all attacks are because of something the evil Americans do.
He needs to realize they would find their motivation on the back of a cereal box.