First, it is so wonderful to see Senator Kennedy back!! Only people ignorant of history would disparage this man who is admired by Republicans and Democrats alike both professionally for the high quality and dedication of the work done by his Senate staff and personally for the passion and integrity he brings to work everyday.
Second, again ignorance speaks when folks talk of "nationalizing" health care. It is health insurance which needs to be nationalized, at a savings of millions of dollars to taxpayers. Think about it logically: private insurance companies have 20-30% administrative costs including huge departments devoted to finding reasons to NOT pay claims as opposed to the 2-3% administrative costs of Medicare (government-provided health insurance for those over 65). That means with private insurance companies we get less health care and it costs more. Additionally, cost to taxpayers for the uninsured is astronomical because the uninsured don't get preventive care and so preventable conditions get worse and then these folks go to emergency rooms with more advanced problems which require more expensive treatments AND the taxpayer picks up all these bills. And lastly every business man with two functioning neurons favors national health insurance because this would take the burden off businesses and would therefore help to level the playing field so American companies could compete globally.
With nationalized health insurance, the government would NOT interfere in people's medical care, however they would provide safeguards not provided by private insurers: no refusal to treat "pre-existing" conditions, no refusal to provide health insurance, no being dropped after you submit a claim or lost your job, etc. Again, think about it logically - private insurers are in the business of making money, not making sure we have good health care.
The Republicans, who have long demonized government, don't like to acknowledge that there is good government, which actually solves problems individuals or states just can't tackle on their own. Kennedy has been one of the leading champions for government helping to solve the problems of ordinary Americans during his long and distinguished career.
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2 comments:
kathy,
i am so glad that you are back! i loved reading this blog. in fact, i list it on my favorites.
kennedy's record in government has been favorable to causes we hold dear, for sure. and i'm not maligning that. i just can't seem to get on board with all the gushing about what an outstanding human being he is. out of curiosity, how do you (and others) reconcile the chappaquiddick incident in his history?
renee
I don't think one mistake, made many years ago, makes him a bad person. Just like one heroic act doesn't make someone a good person. I think he has paid dearly for that episode, and suffered many other traumas in his life. And he has evolved into a tireless champion for ordinary folks and progressive causes. My comments were not about Kennedy as a human being, but as someone who has given tremendous service to this country and it is for this reason I have great admiration for him.
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