Howard Dean Inks Contract With CNBC

As far as I know, Howard Dean is not for single payer. He says he is but he wants to preserve the "status quo" side by side with some sort of government plan. He claims that asking PEOPLE to give up the health care plan they ALREADY HAVE is a "non-starter" because most people want to keep what they have. So he needs BOTH. This is very misguided and, in a way, dishonest. It will fail.

Of course they want to keep what health plan they have. They have a health care policy via their workplace. Their company pays the costs. That's like asking people if they want to give up gas guzzling SUV's. Of course they wouldn't do it based upon their own daily comfort.

The problem is that THEIR OWN PLACES OF BUSINES CANNOT AFFORD THESE POLICIES and still remain competitive in the marketplace. Perhaps instead of employing 25 people, they could employ 50 with expanded Super-Medicare. Perhaps we would not have skyrocketing unemployment.

This is just the have's against the have-not's. Same old story. American business cannot prop these people and their families up with an inflated salary/benefit program ANY LONGER .

I was surprised that Howard Dean DID NOT GET THIS.

I encourage everyone to LISTEN TO HOWARD DEAN CLOSELY. HE MAY BE TRYING TO PRESERVE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES BY TELLING US WE CAN HAVE "BOTH". We can't. And stop insulting us, Howard.

Single payer is all we want, all we need, all we will accept, all we can afford. "Super Medicare" for all. And Obama can go straight to he**, (sent there by true liberals and progressives).

tropicgirl of FL 4:50PM May 12, 2009

We have to eliminate the profit-driven insurance companies to have meaningful reform. They are driven to keep costs low, which translates into two actions:

1. refuse to pay some claims; only pay when forced to.

2. eliminate high-risk customers; work to have only the healthiest customers

Doctors, in trying to help patients and earn a living, hire multiple clerks to fight their way through the insurance industry roadblocks and obfuscations, which raises their costs. Doctors also have to learn how to game the system, what codes to use to get needed services covered.

Medicare is a single payer system and it covers everyone over 65. It is very efficient although it could do more to detect fraud and prosecute the guilty.

RCharles

RCharles of PA 1:19PM May 12, 2009