Is Kerry in Support of Universal Healthcare?

[kerrywins]

?

[Kanary]

1. Kerry's plan involves keeping insurance companies in business.

Does that qualify as "Universal"?

:shrug:

[kerrywins]

2. I don't know...

does he plan on making Healthcare free for all like in Canada?
When are we gonna move to that?

[Kanary]

3. How can it be "free" when you are feeding rich insurance CEOs

and stockholders?

"When are we gonna move to that?"

When ALL OF US get up on our hind legs and DEMAND IT.

Are you ready to do that?

Kanary

[kerrywins]

4. umm

I've been demanding it for a while now....
so, is Kerry in support of truly free healthcare?

[Kanary]

6. I'm *glad* you're demanding it!

That must mean that you know the magic phone number 1-800-839-5276, right? You call that number, ask for the cngresscritter of your choice, and have a short, well-prepared statement to leave as to just *what* constitutes Universal, single-payer health are, and that you are demanding they support that. You keep calling, and calling and calling and calling. And, when you get tired of calling, you write letters to your local offices of those who represent you in Congress. (Sending snail mail to Washington DC does no good... they are thrown away without opening......)

Having done all that, you start to work on friends, family, neighbors, school church and work groups, and have your facts well prepared, and start converting people who will also call and call and call.

You also make sure that you are a member of a group working for Universal Single-payer health care.

That's how it's going to be done. Each of us must do all of this, and more, if we want to enjoy the same level of healthcare that most of the rest of the developed world enjoys.

Kanary

[kerrywins]

8. I demand it by

voting for those who support it.
i'm voting for kerry either way, but thats why I'm asking..

[MrPrax]

13. Not actually free...

Healthcare in Canada is generally underwritten by it being a 'right', but the 'free' part is that the government is the 'single payer' through provided by taxes and in some provincial cases, small premiums are paid by folks in those particular provinces...

I don't think this can work in the US, so long as the US insists on giving half of every dollar collected by it's government to bombing people...

That is actually the real debate that Americans of both political shades tend to avoid

[kerrywins]

14. doesn't Hillary Clinton support this idea?

?

[MrPrax]

16. Rather obvious, no?

You don't know what the 2004 Presidential candidate John Kerry wants, but pretend to KNOW what Senator Hillary Clinton wanted back in 1992?

Yeah right kid...

[kerrywins]

5. does anyone know this?

[Kanary]

7. have you researched Kerry's website?

[kerrywins]

9. figured it would be much faster asking here...

apparently I under estimated the people here.

[Kanary]

11. Here's the problem

Kerry's medical plan is *not* inclusive or innovative. It's tweaking the same old, same old.

But, saying that here will get you fired upon, and it won't be friendly fire.

OK?

So, I just went out on a limb to tell you the truth, and now you can watch me get flamed.

So, you can claim your disappointment that I didn't do your homework for you, but ...... the question is, are you now going to support me when I get skewered for daring to answer you?

This is NOT a safe place to say something unpopular about the candidate.

Best to read the website, and decide for yourself.

Kanary

[kerrywins]

12. well

I think everyone here know that both of us will be voting for Kerry regardless....right?
i'll defend you the best a girl can do...

[stavka]

17. ...sooo true

[Rabelais]

10. Kerry's website says

they will give Tax cuts to corporations to help pay for premiums.

I couldn't find anything that said healthcare for all, but more like "Access for all."(who have a job)

[LWolf]

15. No.

Kerry supports lowering premiums, making health insurance more affordable. His target is "95% of Americans, including every child." I don't know who the other 5% are; perhaps those that can't afford to pay for insurance no matter how "affordable" it is? I'm not really sure.

But 95% is not universal, and insurance is not the same thing as care. So the answer to your question is no.

Still, an effort to lower premiums is certainly better than the status quo. I have not had a raise in about 6 years; every time my association sits down to the negotiating table, they forego the raise to keep benefits, because of the rising cost of health insurance. This year, rumor has it that the budget (school district) is so bad that they will cut benefits anyway. No question of a raise; we've got jobs being cut. Lowering premiums would certainly help this situation. More Americans will get health care, and be able to afford health insurance, under John Kerry than the current resident.

This isn't anything like offering universal, single-payer, not-for-profit health care. Happily, we have at least one member of Congress who will continue to put this on the table. ;-)