HEY GOP: Attacking Hillary Isn't a Health Plan

Nurses Activism

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when even [http://www.amconmag.com/2007/2007_10_22/cover.html a magazine called "the american conservative" counsels] the republican presidential candidates that they can't live on hillary-hate alone, something is happening.

as nurses fighting for guaranteed healthcare, the california nurses association/national nurses organizing committee tracks this trend in terms of health policy. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rose-ann-demoro/memo-to-the-gop-stopping_b_69472.html i will let our executive director rose ann demoro sum it up: attacking hillary clinton is not a health plan.] you can click through to the full article, but here's a taste:

apparently taking their leadership from karl rove who warned that the republican candidates must focus on healthcare because the issue is "on the mind of a lot of swing voters," the republican candidates for president have now latched on to healthcare.

but in the true spirit of their mentor rove, it appears they think our biggest healthcare crisis is the potential election of hillary clinton.

hearing their fulminations about "socialized medicine" and "hillary care" almost makes you wonder what they've been drinking.

in a new report, george lakoff's rockridge institute aptly describes the approach of clinton and the other top tier democrats as the "neoliberal mode of thought" in its dubious reliance on regulation and technocratic changes to an industry that needs to be dismantled, not tweaked.

but at least clinton and company are talking about comprehensive reform. the republican candidates' healthcare policies recall the words attributed, probably erroneously, to marie antoinette whose infamous solution to mass shortages of bread was "let them eat cake."

...cross-posted at the [http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/blog national nurses organizing committee/california nurses association's] breakroom blog, as we organize to make 2007 the year of guaranteed healthcare on the single-payer model.

Specializes in ED.

CRNA "Put forth all these 4 minimum wage job earners, let's see the people one paycheck away from being homeless. Let's see all the elderly alpo eaters. Let's see the 47 million uninsured. I don't want to hear about them I want to see them."

Well, if you WANT to see them then all you have to do is open your eyes and LOOK.

Seriously.

Personally, I don't listen to Dems or Reps I SEE with my own eyes and HEAR with my own ears. Observe and assess.

I don't know where you live - but where I live I see a lot of unnecessary suffering, a lot of uninsured people (myself included), and a lot of people with insurance who still can't get the care they need paid for. And I'm talkin' about American Citizens who have jobs.

I myself (born in the U.S.A.!) HAVE worked 3 jobs at one time just to survive....and I am currently uninsured. Luckily I am healthy, genetically blessed, non-smoker, low BMI, so I'm not in need right now [knock wood]. But I will never have an issue with lots of my tax dollars going to fund health insurance for low-income families and children.

You've said in your posts "the dems say this" and "the dems say that" and "show me" but seriously dude where ARE you getting your information?

I never believe a word out of ANY politician's mouth, and no I have never seen a person eating alpo. Why even take that bait and get riled up about that kind of propaganda? There is equal and opposite nonsense coming from the Rep. propaganda machine. But the OP had a valid point - simply attacking Clinton doesn't answer the question of how to deal with the health insurance/no health insurance mess that lots of Americans are in.

You have to break out a little and see what's really going on with your own eyes. I mean if you're not out here, real world, seeing what I'm seeing then you must live a very, very sheltered life.

You're obviously a really together person who can take care of himself. But try to have some compassion for all the folks who aren't as blessed as you and who struggle and suffer in circumstances DIFFERENT than yours, humans who just can't behave/think like you cuz: They aren't you!

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

http://www.homeless.org.au/pictures/

Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
Read my earlier posts about the tactics of the left including "A paycheck away from homelessness" Where are all these people please show me? Show me the guy working 4 minimum wage jobs to make ends meet. Show me the people chossing between dog food and their medicine. Or the classic 47 million uninsured or the 3 million homeless. No proof of any of this. You want the same health care as the President, then become the President or a Senator. Of course that requires education and hard work. It's not hard to be successful in this country it is quite easy. Now if your education is in underwater basket weaving then you're right you ain't gonna get any health care. I hated bedside nursing but I did it because it paid well had great benefits and was a stepping stone to better opportunites in this country. When Hillary stops pandering and starts putting up her millions of dollars instead of everyone elses money then she might earn some respect until then she's just another political hack pandering for votes.

IMO Hillary is at least a "thinking"panderer! In one of her earlier debates she confronted the issues on the 90"s healthcare program that needed tuning up. I think just because someone is running for office doesn't mean they have to have the exact outcome of a situation. It's called assessment and then resolve. Hillary is only human just like all the other candidates, to me it's the person who is motivated and adding thought-provoking insights to an idea that has yet to develop, let alone change the entire United States and it's citizens. Lighten up, listen, make a decision based on the reality that person is dedicated to the problem and not just giving lipservice for sake of argument or debate.

It's not an easy job to become president of the US. So why should we expect that the correct and final answer come before the job is actualized to a certain canidate? For me it is the motivation to change something that is either wrong or not working. Know matter the outcome you can't please everyone, but you can support justice as justice should be served.

Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
So again you don't know anyone that did this just heard it. Seems a lot of Dems just hear things. Having been in the military I have never seen one. Enough of the platitudes give us some substance. Put forth all these 4 minimum wage job earners, let's see the people one paycheck away from being homeless. Let's see all the elderly alpo eaters. Let's see the 47 million uninsured. I don't want to hear about them I want to see them.

Well you got one thing right . It is George's war, and it is voluntarily based. Could be a draft-based war. Call any homeless shelter and do a survey as to how many are turned away at night. Call any police department in any city and find out their stats on homelessness in their city.

I thank the folks that are figting for us overseas. If it happens to better afford themselves than so be it. They are fighting to save us and yet may have come from the other side of the track in which you live. This is your gratitude? Think about the soldiers coming home wretched by this war, are we there for them? I believe states are starting to recognize these soldiers needs. It's a start, and like anything else it begins with you and me.

Last year I was one check away from having no where to go. I am disabled living on near to nothing. When I worked in a women' battered shelter their were many frightened, married women who were so afraid of the street vs going back to an abusive environment. Our job was to help them rebuild their lives and their children's lives. Some are motivated and some are not. You need to be involved instead of making hack statements that you've not taken the time to disprove your points.

It's a news-worthy topic, if you have listened to or read in the paper that folks so poor are going to war for us. Think about their selflessness to put their life on the line, not for themselves but for America. You want stats on hungry people, not just the elderly, work in a food bank or a soup kitchen. Stats for the uninsured, call your congressman for what he /she is fighting for on the hill. There are plenty of resources available to anyone "who wants to know", so by making a remark that "dems" hear alot of things, it might be because we are listening and paying attention.

Here is another book that opened my eyes to the problems of the medically underserved:

51KKWHEMHJL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg

This is the story of a man who founded an organization that led the world in cost reduction for MDR TB. Read it and you will never look the same way at health care again.

Here is another book that opened my eyes to the problems of the medically underserved:

51KKWHEMHJL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg

This is the story of a man who founded an organization that led the world in cost reduction for MDR TB. Read it and you will never look the same way at health care again.

I read it . . . . still a conservative.

steph

But you still go to Vietnam to do Health care work....(For which I do admire you)!

;)

I actually recommended the book for inclusion in the public health course at MN State-Mankato.

Specializes in Med./Surg., Diabetes, Med. ICU, home hea.

I'll vote of a health plan that has a few "attachements."

#1: NO ONE can have ANY children that they can't FULLY support.

#2: I have the option to "opt out" of supporting anyone elses health care, i.e., I'm taxed to support others' healthcare ONLY if I choose to do so.

#3: Liberal media stars can lobby/advertise for social programs ONLY if they contribute MOST of their money; I'm tired of rich stars demanding the government use MY tax dollars for other people.

#4: Refer, again, to #1.

#5: Drug companies can only charge US customers what the CHEAPEST price they charge to any other country.

#6: Illegal aliens are treated, then deported. Their country of origin is billed IN FULL.

#7: Hillary uses up HER money for social programs first BEFORE coming after what little I have.

Specializes in ER/EHR Trainer.

Who will make the decision who can have children? The government? Wouldn't that be too much interference?

You have valid points, and I believe people should put their money where their mouths are, but that works two ways. You have an American president who with family money went to Yale and made C grades. College wasn't important-he didn't have to sacrifice to be there. This is a man who doesn't have a clue what sacrifice, student loans, not being able to afford food, medicine, clothing or decent housing is. Yet this man and so many like him tell the people "to pull themselves up by their bootstraps to get the American dream" It's very easy to say.....somewhat like your statement about liberal actors and their own money. Lip service is just that, no matter who spews it!

I agree the drug companies are taking advantage of our system and should be stopped! Why are kids coming out of college and making six figures to become drug reps. That's sick! Doctors prescribing for perks instead of what is necessary for the patient's best recovery.

Again, illegals:angryfire-why does everyone blame them for these problems. My husband's friend's wife took ill in France-she was hospitalized for 3 weeks. No bill has ever been sent(5 years ago). This is not the only instance of foreign hospitalization and care I have heard written off. What exactly do you think they are getting? I work in an ER, I can tell you not much...

As for Hillary, you don't have to like her....you don't have to like what she stands for. Her history of public service began in college, as did her husband's. I would wager that those with the loudest voices against her, offer the least to their communities. They are the ones with NIMBY, "in my day....", "not my problem", "damn immigrants", "speak English", blah blah blah blah.

I say be part of the solution....instead of supporting the problem. Come up with good ideas, find out why people suffer and see how you can alleviate it.

At least CRNA2007 finally has someone to thank, however, it appears your eyes are opened. Maybe someday his will be.

Maisy;)

I think its important to discuss this constructively:

A pair of Democratic presidential candidates sketched out two very different plans to reform health care at forums sponsored at the Kaiser Family Foundation today in Washington.

Dennis Kucinich's plan is by far more radical than that of Joseph Biden, who spoke later in the morning. Mr. Kucinich wants to shift the country from a privatized, for-profit health care system to a single-payer, not-for-profit one controlled by the government, similar to the British universal health care program.

"What a novel idea," Mr. Kucinich said, "government in the public interest."

Under the Kucinich plan-which would be financed by payroll taxes-private health insurance companies would be bought out by the government using treasury bonds. "It's not rocket science," he said.

When one of the panel speakers questioned whether his plan is realistic, Mr. Kucinich quickly pointed to the 83 members of Congress that support him and said that the American people are behind him too.

In contrast, Mr. Biden's plan is not a mandate for universal health care. The Delaware senator outlined a less revolutionary system that would make the government responsible for catastrophic medical bills over $55,000 and would expand the SCHIP bill to cover every child in America. People over age 55 would be able to buy into Medicare as well. With a price tag of $90 to $120 billion, it's not far off from those proposed by Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards.

Source: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/biden-and-kucinich-outline-health-care-plans/ accessed 10/26/2007.

i'll vote of a health plan that has a few "attachements."

#1: no one can have any children that they can't fully support.

probably unconstitutional and does not address the real issues.

#2: i have the option to "opt out" of supporting anyone elses health care, i.e., i'm taxed to support others' healthcare only if i choose to do so.

are you saying you would cancel your health insurance? premiums are in effect a tax that we pay to cover the risks of unbearable health costs. your fellow policy members pay to help cover your health care costs.

#3: liberal media stars can lobby/advertise for social programs only if they contribute most of their money; i'm tired of rich stars demanding the government use my tax dollars for other people.

they are free to exercise their constitutional rights to advocate for policy just as you are. it is part of their first amendment rights to free speech.

#4: refer, again, to #1.

#5: drug companies can only charge us customers what the cheapest price they charge to any other country.

something that partisans from both sides of the aisle can agree on....

#6: illegal aliens are treated, then deported. their country of origin is billed in full.

the data says that immigrants use health services at a lower rate than other people in america.

#7: hillary uses up her money for social programs first before coming after what little i have.

see:

americans already pay for national health insurance-they just don't get it. in this 2002 health affairs paper, david himmelstein and steffie woolhandler point out that the standard accounting miscategorizes two major public health expenditures as private: the tax credit for private health insurance and the cost of the federal employees health benefit program.

when these costs are accounted for, it becomes evident that americans already pay the world's highest health care taxes. in fact, the amount of public health spending in the u.s. is greater than the combined public and private spending of nations which provide universal comprehensive health insurance. a single-payer system could provide such coverage to all americans with no need for additional health dollars.

source: http://www.pnhp.org/single_payer_resources/60_percent_of_health_spending_is_already_publicly_financed_enough_to_cover_everyone.php accessed 10/26/2007. full text at http://www.pnhp.org/publications/payingnotgetting.pdf .

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

CRNA:

Democrats AND Republicans are unwilling to "tackle the illegal problem" because they ALL know we profit from having "them" here. We like our cheap prices, our fruits and veggies for cheap, too much to "get rid" of them (primarily Mexicans are what people think of when they discuss illegal immigrants anyhow----they are the ones providing the labor so many are unwilling/unable to do).

What exactly has President Bush (A Republican of course) done about our "illegal problem"? Bupkis, nada, nothing, zippo. For good reason. Both parties KNOW it's not "profitbable" really to do much at all.

And , as to the education issue: neither of my friends have degrees in "basket weaving" (business and economics, actually)---- but even if they did, remember, it was YOU who brought up the issue of education in this thread as a "way out" or There are masters-educated folks who are way under-employed and cannot access benefitted jobs. And COBRA is NOT the answer either! It's too expensive for too many!

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