Krugman: Health Versus Wealth

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/09/opinion/09KRUG.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&position=

Will actual policy issues play any role in this election? Not if the White House can help it. But if some policy substance does manage to be heard over the clanging of conveniently timed terror alerts, voters will realize that they face some stark choices. Here's one of them: tax cuts for the very well-off versus health insurance.

John Kerry has proposed an ambitious health care plan that would extend coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans, while reducing premiums for the insured. To pay for that plan, Mr. Kerry wants to rescind recent tax cuts for the roughly 3 percent of the population with incomes above $200,000.

<snip>

Considering its scope, Mr. Kerry's health plan has received remarkably little attention. So let me talk about two of its key elements.

First, the Kerry plan raises the maximum incomes under which both children and parents are eligible to receive benefits from Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. This would extend coverage to many working-class families, who often fall into a painful gap: they earn too much money to qualify for government help, but not enough to pay for health insurance. As a result, the Kerry plan would probably end a national scandal, the large number of uninsured American children.

[dumpster_baby]

1. great post; great editorial; too bad, though, that most DUers will ...

.....never see, prefering instead to chew over campaign minutiae, instead of thinking about how to publicize this bedrock debate of taxing gthe rich vs making healthcare available to all.

[HuckleB]

2. Thanks Paul K, and thanks Senator and future Mr. President Kerry.

This plan is my number two reason for voting for Kerry. Number one remains the reality that Bush must be replaced, of course.

[eridani]

3. Goddammit!! UNIVERSAL!!! health care please

Tax cut recissions could be directed elsewhere if we only got rid of private insurance. It's like getting rid of a guy who taps into your power line between your meter and your house.

We are already paying for universal health care--we just aren't getting it. --Dennis Kucinich

[Sugarbleus]

4. I think this is a good start but it doesn't go far enough...

I am most assuredly voting for Kerry but I am disappointed that we are not getting universal healthcare in some form. It's just so needed!

We keep talking about children(children always get attended to one way or the other in their counties)...what about adults--lingering without any healthcare NOR a job? My sister is less than a year a widow and left with bills from the hospital stacked to the ceiling. She has "too many assets" according to her county (a couple old cars, a guitar, and a couple bucks in the bank) to get any medicaid. Her teeth are falling out, her knees are rotten so she wears a four year old brace someone gave her. She suffers high blood pressure and depression. She's seeing some quack doctor in the woods where she lives who will take a few bucks for a visit now and then. She can't get any x-rays or tests or anything like that....she is going down hill and CANNOT get ANY medical care whatsoever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are untold numbers of citizens in this country without enough money to buy aspirin let alone any type of healthcare. WHAT ABOUT THOSE??????????????????????????????????????? Shit!!!