FYI --- Access to the individual state groups for Health Care for All with Non-Profit Single-Payer National Health Insurance
Make no mistake about it. Senator Obama has the most doable health care plan offered by any Presidential candidate. Pandering for votes with "pie in the sky" budget busting plans will get us nothing more than we got 1992 campaign when the issue first became prominent.
Health care is a very difficult issue. Fear mongering because of our mortality has always been a part of it. There is now way to get around that. It is constantly used by health care providers, insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies to beat back attempts at anything approaching universal coverage. The reason is that universal coverage cannot be financed without taking action against fraud, paper, claim denial, and repackaging drug patents. Some control of costs must be done.
This post is about raising the question, "Can Senator Obama's health care plan be tweaked; to give it a better chance of passing; to make it more universal; to make it provide an improved standard of care; and to make it less costly?"
The second question is, "Should Senator Obama's health care experts take a look at THE SPERRY PLAN?"
The third question is, "Can the economic incentives to health care providers be changed to the direction of health care goals instead of the opposite direction?"
If I buy a new computer or get an accountant to do my taxes, I pay more for a better outcome. When I pay for health care I pay more for a worse outcome. And with health care, that opens the door to the worst kind of fraud, quackery.
Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg endorsed Senator Barack Obama. This is probably the most meaningful endorsement of the campaign: Because those of us 65 and older remember. We remember they said JFK didn’t have enough experience. That he was too young. It is an emotional connection. And finally maybe he will start winning in the age group that he has missed so far.
I thought only those in my age group (over 65) would be moved to tears. I was pleasantly surprised to read posts from younger generations who were also moved to tears by the text of Caroline’s endorsement.
And, then it suddenly came to me that the health care proposal that I have been to promote all over the internet for the last several years was born in 1963 shortly before the assassination of JFK in the same compartment on the USS SPERRY AS-12 in which I watched the assassination report.
I think the candidates health care plans can be improved both in cost and coverage.
From THE SPERRY PLAN
"In 1965, while working a part time night shift in a local Catholic hospital in Waukegan, IL near the Great Lakes Naval Hospital, Lemuel overheard a conversation between two physicians in the canteen late at night. They had apparently just finished with an emergency cesarean. One was saying to the other, on that late spring night, that he had seen a boat at a local marine sales that he just had to have, but didn’t have enough for a down payment. “Would you believe it,” he said, “3 hysterectomies walked into my office on Monday.” One must question how many of these were necessary. Certainly the physician believed they were or he wouldn’t have mentioned them. And he didn’t give thought to how it must sound. Still, how much was his judgment colored by his financial need. And would the second, now scowling physician have done them. (More emphasis for the need of the Sperry Plan for Lemuel)"
This blog posting is set up for comments at 10 state groups: Massachusetts through New Jersey, whose citizens are invited to join their state's Barack Obama group that supports single-payer national health insurance.
Fact - Health care is #1 for many. Many Americans have health care as their #1 domestic issue. Some polls indicate that it's #1; others show it #2 after the economy.
Fact - Americans Want Single-Payer. The roughly two-thirds of Americans who want single-payer national health insurance are getting more more and more solid in their position. Why? Because more and more education is occurring. Example: a new web site is currently starting up that has gotten excellent reviews: www.99oh9.org
Fact - In September Clinton and Edwards Declared Opposition to What Americans Want. On September 20 Clinton and Edwards set their positions in concrete against single-payer, at least for the foreseeable future.
Fact - Obama Could Change His Position to Single-Payer. Obama has the flexibility to change his health care proposal to single-payer.
Fact - Obama Requires Voter Mandate. Obama communicated on 4-3-2007 in New Hampshire that voters must establish a mandate to the U.S. Congress that single-payer is to become law. Why? Because it's a signficant change to the U.S. financing of health care, and he wants voters to communicate their support and establish the mandate.
Fact - Obama is Consistent. He frequently calls for citizens to be involved with the political process. His requirement for a voter mandate on health care policy is an example.
Fact - Obama Suggested Letter-Writing. On the same date of 4-3-07, during his New Hampshire community meeting on health care, Obama suggested that voters can establish the health care policy mandate by writing one thousand to two thousand (personally-composed) letters in most or all of the 435 U.S. Congressional Districts.
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Facts regarding HILLARY CLINTON
Although I don't have a reference for this one, my wife and I will never forget what Senator Clinton said in a speech in late 2006. What she said went something like this: "If there's anything that I learned from 1993-1994 about health care policy, it's this: the health insurance companies must be included." Sorry, Hillary, that is the wrong answer to our health care financing problems! Better yet, see the following addition from see Julia of California ... an additional FACT about Hillary Clinton below! It's even better information!
FACT - Hillary Clinton has failed at health care when she had a democratic congress, senate, and married to the president. We can't afford to let her fail again. America NEEDS healthcare.
Link to further reading about the September 20 debate and April 3 meeting.
Take care of yourself,
Bob the Health and Health Care AdvocateOriginator of Nine-Nine-Oh-Nine!
