Five Dems Agree: "No" To Single Payer System Kucinich Takes Them All On

[penguin7]

http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22-to-single-payer-system/

Five Dems In Iowa Agree: "No" To Single Payer System
Five Dems Agree: "No" To Single Payer System
Kucinich Takes Them All On


Statement by Dennis J. Kucinich, Democratic Candidate for President.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Thursday, September 20, 2007

DAVENPORT, IA - In a debate sponsored by one of the nation's leading private insurance sales organizations, AARP, five Democratic presidential candidates unanimously voiced opposition to a single payer national health plan, Medicare for All. The only presidential candidate to author such a plan, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, was not invited to the debate, despite the fact that he has run ahead of or even with three of the five candidates on the stage in Iowa.

"They all decry the plight of the American people and then they turn around and promote the very system which is driving people towards ill physical and economic health, bankruptcy and death: the for-profit health insurance system," said Kucinich. "They do not believe they can get a consensus for change in Congress, yet there was no demonstration of any intention to change the system, despite the fact that 47,000,000 Americans have no health insurance and another 50,000,000 are underinsured."

"There is a national movement in support of HR 676 backed by tens of thousands of physicians, hundreds of union locals and community groups, 77 members of Congress and many state political organizations," said Kucinich.

"This event was not a debate. It was an audition to determine who would work the hardest to protect the interests of the private insurance companies," said Kucinich. "By that measure all on the stage earned the affection of the insurance industry. If I had been on the stage AARP would have had to spend millions more lobbying Congress to keep a for-profit system in place. Instead they heard from Senators Clinton and Edwards who both want to force Americans to buy private health insurance policies. They call their plans universal. They are giving Americans a universal shaft, guaranteeing insurance companies huge profits while at the same time decrying the plight of middle class Americans who are trapped in rising premiums, copays and deductibles."

According to Open Secrets, AARP is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington. They spent over $36 million alone in 2005 lobbying Congress. In 2003 AARP was instrumental in the passage of the Medicare Part D legislation which created a windfall for the pharmaceutical companies, letting Big Pharma name the price Medicare would pay for drugs. Medicare's fiscal solvency was seriously damaged. Recently, AARP signed a sales and marketing agreement with Aetna and United Health which would bring AARP $4.4 billion over seven years. AARP also sells reverse mortgages to senior citizens, which encourages the elderly to take the equity out of their homes.

"AARP's job is to keep seniors locked into buying a variety of insurance and private health care products, where under my plan seniors would not need any private insurance at all. HR676, Medicare for All means the beginning of an honest, accessible and cost-effective system of health care for the American people and American businesses. It is the end of for-profit health insurance," Kucinich said. "No more premiums, copays or deductibles. America already pays twice per capita what other nations pay for health care, but Americans are still not covered. Americans aren't getting the care they are rightfully entitled to because the debate is controlled by private insurance companies. I intend to change that. My candidacy is rallying the American people to the cause of their own health care," said Kucinich.

"Welcome to the new Democratic Presidential debate. A debate of the Washington lobbyists, by the Washington lobbyists and for the Washington lobbyists. To top it off, if was covered by public television," Kucinich said. "I took Medicare for All to the Democratic Platform Committee in 2000 and it was rejected by the Gore campaign. In 2004 it was rejected by the Kerry campaign. Both times Democratic leaders openly confessed they were not willing to try to take on the health insurance industry by advocating Medicare for All." Kucinich said. "The same thing happened tonight at the debate. These candidates do not even want to try. They are either too afraid or too compromised. If they can't lead on this, they can't lead on anything."

[LWolf]

1. They are too afraid or too compromised.

They can't lead on anything.

I welcome his strong words.

All the striangulation, all the propaganda in the party won't change this bottom line, and won't convince those who see it to close their eyes and minds to this truth.

[superkia]

2. How come people cant see this?

"Welcome to the new Democratic Presidential debate. A debate of the Washington lobbyists, by the Washington lobbyists and for the Washington lobbyists. To top it off, if was covered by public television," Kucinich said. "I took Medicare for All to the Democratic Platform Committee in 2000 and it was rejected by the Gore campaign. In 2004 it was rejected by the Kerry campaign. Both times Democratic leaders openly confessed they were not willing to try to take on the health insurance industry by advocating Medicare for All." Kucinich said. "The same thing happened tonight at the debate. These candidates do not even want to try. They are either too afraid or too compromised. If they can't lead on this, they can't lead on anything."


So if health care is not the issue people are voting on, what is it? Its not the constitution either. Its not about the war for oil, only one candidate stood up and didn't support it. I don't see the candidates standing up and speaking for the people, why do they get the peoples votes if they don't represent the people? How does anyone expect Washington politics to change, if we the people continue to vote for those who don't represent us?

[stillcool]

6. I'm hoping that many more ...

Americans get their news on-line, than off the t.v...so Kucinich will have a chance. I loathe the media..and I hate that so very many people repeat verbatim, and as fact, what they 'heard' from their favorite talking-head...then days, weeks, months, years later when it is all discovered to be bullshit, it no longer matters. The irreparable damage has already been done.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

17. What issue are they voting on?

As someone who has crossed the divide twice - democratic to republican and back to democratic, I truly believe that the main issue people vote for is hatred of the "other" party - just simple, plain polarization. It's learned hatred, so it's very hard to cross the divide in either direction.

[pansypoo53219]

3. money

the root of all evil.....

[keep_it_real]

4. Socialism In America Already Supports Capitalism In America

The American Socialized Highway department of the government of the U.S. build and maintains the nations roads and highways of America.

The Socialized public school system educates the children of America who can not afford to go to private school.

The American socialized Fire Departments in every city of America, is socialized by American tax payer money.

The American Socialized Police Departments of America protect the rich and the poor in America.

So why can't we have a Socialized Health Care, One Payer, Medicare system for ALL Americans? Because the lobbies control and have brought the politicians of America to do their bidding.

Wake up, America is really a two party system of socialism that support capitalism and capitalism that supports socialism in America, the the educational system and the corporate controlled media will not tell the American people this.

Bill Gates, and all the other 4 hundred plush billionaires in America does not want to hire a PRIVATE fire department, a PRIVATE police department to PROTECT their property, they RELY on the SOCIALIZED, public fire department and police department in their city to protect the and their property because they do want to pay the cost of a private fire department and police department to protect them.

[Sapphire Blue]

5. Dear John Edwards:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sapphire%20Blue/541

[eridani]

8. He's the next best candidate on this issue

--but it sure would be great if he paid attention to your recommendation.

[dragonlady]

14. The Edwards plan is set up to lead to single payer

This is one of many reasons why I like the health care plan John Edwards introduced:

Choice between Public and Private Insurers: Health Care Markets will offer a choice between
private insurers and a public insurance plan modeled after Medicare, but separate and apart from it.
Families and individuals will choose the plan that works best for them. This American solution
will reward the sector that offers the best care at the best price. Over time, the system may evolve
toward a single-payer approach if individuals and businesses prefer the public plan.

[penguin7]

15. That explains why Edwards said he opposed single payer at the forum.

[eridani]

16. The problem is that businesses will not prefer the public plan

Since the public plan must accept anybody, including actual sick people, private insurers can undercut them by offering far lower rates, and they will continue to make profits the way they do now--by denying claims. They will continue to steal money from the pool of health care dollars because as long as they aren't sick (which is most people most of the time), the general population won't be paying attention.

If you think that Edwards is proposing something other than what is going on right now with Medicare (where we are now paying 12% more to subsidize people who go with private providers, who then take the money and run, often leaving clients with no insurance), please explain.

[dragonlady]

19. Edwards wants to create a level playing field for insurers

This is another crucial part of the Edwards plan:

Require Fair Terms for Health Insurance: Edwards will require insurers to keep plans open to
everyone and charge fair premiums, regardless of preexisting conditions, medical history, age, job,
and other characteristics. No longer will insurance companies be able to game the system to cover
only healthy people. Several states – including New Jersey, New York, and Washington – have led
the way on similar community rating and guaranteed issue reforms. In addition, new national
standards will ensure that all health insurance policies offer preventive and chronic care with
minimal cost-sharing.

The present system of preexisting conditions and being tied to a workplace because it's the only place you can get insurance is intolerable. The Edwards plan will abolish that.

[ChiciB1]

20. Thanks For Writing Him... I Agree With You... I'm On His List &

will do the same! Thank you for the idea! I really like Kucinich's ideas, and I know many here would love to see him as the nominee, but given the fact that MSM has almost crowned Hillary, it will be very difficult to see how Kucinich can even get in the top three!

Edwards IS one who could really make a difference, if we weren't being led by Corporate Money & Lobbyists!

[hfojvt]

7. Why Kucinich was not there

The moderator said they invited every candidate who had an office and 1 paid staffer in Iowa. How much money would that take? $30,000 to run an office in Ames or Iowa City for the last two or three months? Kucinich did not even have the money or the organization to do that?

Further, he does not just take on the 5 candidates, he also takes on AARP? That's not very smart, and I am not a fan of AARP at all, but they are a lobbying group, much like a Union is - they represent millions (or tens of millions) of ordinary retired Americans. I wish working people had a lobbying group like that, an AAWP. There's a qualitative distinction between an organization that lobbies for American voters and one that lobbies for a handful of American corporations.

Dennis, if you are not smart enough to avoid alienating millions of registered voters, then you are too stupid to lead. You cannot lead if almost nobody is following you. If you had 10,000 supporters they could have each donated $3 and you could have opened an office and been part of the debate too. Or if you have an office, then pay your volunteer staffers $400 a week or something.

[penguin7]

11. This debate was televised nationally

So why was an office and paid full time staff in Iowa even relevant?

[hfojvt]

12. I count 19 'other' Democratic candidates for President

http://www.politics1.com/p2008-dems.htm#krueger

OTHER DEMOCRATS:
Roland Aranjo (D-California)
Warren Ashe (D-Virginia)
Christina Billings-Elias (D-California)
Robert "Bob" Boyer (D-Illinois)
Randy Crow (D-North Carolina)
Laura Davis-Aaron (D-Tennessee)
Phil Epstein (D-California)
Michael Forrester (D-Colorado)
Dan Francis (D-New York)
Wrendo "JP" Godwin (D-Virginia)
Al Hamburg (D-Wyoming)
Alfonzo Jones (D-California)
John Joseph Kennedy (D-Georgia)
Karl Krueger (D-South Dakota)
Dal LaMagna (D-Washington)
Lee Mercer Jr. (D-Texas)
Sal Mohamed (D-Iowa)
Ole Savior (D-Minnesota)
Jeff Thomas (D-Wisconsin)

Should they be invited too? Or should it be restricted to 'serious' candidates? How do you define a serious candidate in an Iowa forum? He was told what he needed to do to participate. It's up to him whether he wants to or not. For national exposure, I think it would have been worth the expense. Especially considering an office in Dubuque could also be used for Illinois and Wisconsin.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Actually, this just shows why Dennis will NEVER be...

President. Nor should he be.

He's right on most of the issues, but basically a jerk. He boycotted the AARP debate by not sending in the paperwork and then tried to blame it on them.

And while there is a real question whether or not a single-payer system would be best or not, it will never happen so why push it?

[eridani]

10. For the record--

--the Dems have previously had universal health care on their platform until 1996, when it was removed. That's when I said screw it and voted for Nader. Did so in 2000 as well, though I would have voted Gore if I had thought he was in any real danger in my state.

If you are active in your state Dem organization, this is something that you could pass a resolution on to forward to DNC.

[ProudDad]

13. As usual, Kucinich is right

and the rest are bought off:

http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/sickos-for-sale/candidates/

Follow the Money!!!

[GreenArrow]

18. Hacks and flacks

stab you in the back.

"These candidates do not even want to try. They are either too afraid or too compromised. If they can't lead on this, they can't lead on anything."

Afraid or compromised. Personally, I think it's mostly the latter. Either way, the statement pretty well sums it up. Buncha fake creeps.

[ihelpu2see]

21. As a doctor I support Medicare part B for all... It can be implemented immediately

and can be paid for with much less funds than trying to fix a system run by insurance companies.