Edwards: Health firms cannot be appeased

[JohnLocke]

Edwards: Health firms cannot be appeased
By Holly Ramer--Monday, July 30, 2007
Associated Press
----
While two of his Democratic rivals argue over how they would negotiate with hostile countries, presidential candidate John Edwards is focused on hostile insurance and drug companies.

The former North Carolina senator told hundreds of supporters in a sunny Canterbury backyard yesterday that he disagrees with other candidates who believe the best way to overhaul the health care system is to negotiate with insurers and pharmaceutical companies. Those groups will not give up their power voluntarily, he said.

"I've been fighting these people my whole life and have beaten them my whole life," said Edwards, a former trial lawyer. "I think the time to talk to them is after you've beaten them."

Edwards has proposed requiring employers to provide insurance or contribute to the coverage of every worker. The government would pay for insurance for lower-income people and subsidize what other families pay. He also would cap the amount insurance companies can charge for profit or overhead at 15 percent and would pay for the $90 billion to $120 billion a year plan by repealing President Bush's tax cuts for people who make more than $200,000 a year.

"How long are we going to let insurance companies and drug companies run this country?" he said.
(...)
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070730/REPOSITORY/707300345/1043/NEWS01

[Mythsaje]

1. It's a dupe

but he's STILL right.

;)

[rpannier]

2. It's a shame he's not doing better right now

Because what he says is the truth.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

4. He is moving up

:)

[rpannier]

14. I hope so

He was my candidate in 2004 (the whole campaign)

He's my candidate today.

[eridani]

3. Good for you, John

You might as well be hung for sheep as for lambs, so just come out for single payer, dammit!

[JohnLocke]

5. Kick (nt).

[EVDebs]

6. Before CA's energy deregulation debacle, PG&E had a 12% guaranteed profit annually

and that's why investors loved putting their money into the co. Edward's is being generous with a 15% figure; but maybe that's just an 'opener' in negotiations to come.

[LSK]

7. the media keeps ignoring the best part of his program

The option of allowing people to buy into a medicare type system for cheap which would eventually undercut the insurance companies and put them out of business.

[bvar22]

8. I can't believe that this wasn't mentioned!!!

Correct me if I'm wrong,
but doesn't John Edwards support a NOT FOR PROFIT, everyone eligible, Government administered
HealthCare System?
The For Profit systems would be free to compete. :)

I heard him on a radio broadcast, and that was the impression I took from the program.
One of the major reasons I am supporting Edwards (after DK of course) IS this HealthCare proposal.


The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[LSK]

11. yes he does

But he also understands you have to bring about change slowly. Thats just how the system works. Once everyone is used to the cheap medicare system, it could eventually lead to a true single payer system. But you just cant go there overnight. Especially when half the country is brainwashed into thinking a single payer system is the same as communism.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

12. Yes, and I read one right-wing think tank member complain...

...that was unfair because the for profit plans could not compete with the government plan over the long run. They understand the implications of Edwards' health plan. ;)

[Yael]

9. This is the part that has my attention

as I think of all the plans, it is the most feasible/realistic.

[IronLionZion]

13. OMG That's awesome!

Republicans are afraid of free market competition! What are they going to say? That they can't compete with the government system? They'll admit the gov. system is better? This plan can work.

[AX10]

10. A 15% profit is too much.

5% is better.

[Vinca]

15. How about the only talking we do with them is when we say goodbye?

I've got to make a point of getting to an Edwards event so I can have a few words.