Guest guest Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 I do more reading and learning than I do posting so I hope you guys don't mind this post. I wanted to post presidential candidate Dr. Ron Paul's views on alternative medicine and health freedom because I think it's very relevant to our continued access to traditional Chinese medicine and other alternative healing modalities. I plan to vote for him myself in the primary even though I don't normally vote Republican. This and the Iraq war are very important issues in my opinion and Dr. Paul is in the right place on both. This is reprinted from his official Web site at http://www.ronpaul2008.com/. Ron Paul on Health Freedom: Americans are justifiably concerned over the government’s escalating intervention into their freedom to choose what they eat and how they take care of their health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in order to comply with standards dictated by supra-national organizations such as the UN‘s World Food Code (CODEX), NAFTA, and CAFTA, has been assuming greater control over nutrients, vitamins and natural health care providers to restrict your right to choose the manner in which you manage your health and nutritional needs. I have been the national leader in preserving Health Freedom. I have introduced the Health Freedom Protection Act, HR 2117, to ensure Americans can receive truthful health information about supplements and natural remedies. I support the Access to Medical Treatment Act, H.R. 746, which expands the ability of Americans to use alternative medicine and new treatments. I oppose legislation that increases the FDA‘s legal powers. FDA has consistently failed to protect the public from dangerous drugs, genetically modified foods, dangerous pesticides and other chemicals in the food supply. Meanwhile they waste public funds attacking safe, healthy foods and dietary supplements I also opposed the Homeland Security Bill, H.R. 5005, which, in section 304, authorizes the forced vaccination of American citizens against small pox. The government should never have the power to require immunizations or vaccinations. ---- Nancy S+13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 The info on his stance on altenative healthcare is allowed on here because it relates directly to healing. Or rather to our continued access to healing. Victoria Chinese Traditional Medicine , Nancy S+13 <nancy wrote: > > I do more reading and learning than I do posting so I hope you guys > don't mind this post. I wanted to post presidential candidate Dr. Ron > Paul's views on alternative medicine and health freedom because I think > it's very relevant to our continued access to traditional Chinese > medicine and other alternative healing modalities. I plan to vote for > him myself in the primary even though I don't normally vote Republican. > This and the Iraq war are very important issues in my opinion and Dr. > Paul is in the right place on both. This is reprinted from his official > Web site at http://www.ronpaul2008.com/. > > Ron Paul on Health Freedom: > > Americans are justifiably concerned over the government's escalating > intervention into their freedom to choose what they eat and how they > take care of their health. > > The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in order to comply with > standards dictated by supra-national organizations such as the UN`s > World Food Code (CODEX), NAFTA, and CAFTA, has been assuming greater > control over nutrients, vitamins and natural health care providers to > restrict your right to choose the manner in which you manage your health > and nutritional needs. > > I have been the national leader in preserving Health Freedom. > > I have introduced the Health Freedom Protection Act, HR 2117, to ensure > Americans can receive truthful health information about supplements and > natural remedies. > > I support the Access to Medical Treatment Act, H.R. 746, which expands > the ability of Americans to use alternative medicine and new treatments. > > I oppose legislation that increases the FDA`s legal powers. FDA has > consistently failed to protect the public from dangerous drugs, > genetically modified foods, dangerous pesticides and other chemicals in > the food supply. Meanwhile they waste public funds attacking safe, > healthy foods and dietary supplements > > I also opposed the Homeland Security Bill, H.R. 5005, which, in section > 304, authorizes the forced vaccination of American citizens against > small pox. The government should never have the power to require > immunizations or vaccinations. > > > ---- > > Nancy S+13 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Thanks, Victoria. Dr. Paul is actually the only candidate that I am aware of who has stated a position on this vital issue. Nancy S+13 victoria_dragon wrote: > > The info on his stance on altenative healthcare is allowed on here > because it relates directly to healing. Or rather to our continued > access to healing. > > Victoria > > Chinese Traditional Medicine > <Chinese Traditional Medicine%40>, Nancy S+13 <nancy wrote: > > > > I do more reading and learning than I do posting so I hope you guys > > don't mind this post. I wanted to post presidential candidate Dr. > Ron > > Paul's views on alternative medicine and health freedom because I > think > > it's very relevant to our continued access to traditional Chinese > > medicine and other alternative healing modalities. I plan to vote > for > > him myself in the primary even though I don't normally vote > Republican. > > This and the Iraq war are very important issues in my opinion and > Dr. > > Paul is in the right place on both. This is reprinted from his > official > > Web site at http://www.ronpaul2008.com/. <http://www.ronpaul2008.com/.> > > > > Ron Paul on Health Freedom: > > > > Americans are justifiably concerned over the government's > escalating > > intervention into their freedom to choose what they eat and how > they > > take care of their health. > > > > The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in order to comply with > > standards dictated by supra-national organizations such as the UN`s > > World Food Code (CODEX), NAFTA, and CAFTA, has been assuming > greater > > control over nutrients, vitamins and natural health care providers > to > > restrict your right to choose the manner in which you manage your > health > > and nutritional needs. > > > > I have been the national leader in preserving Health Freedom. > > > > I have introduced the Health Freedom Protection Act, HR 2117, to > ensure > > Americans can receive truthful health information about supplements > and > > natural remedies. > > > > I support the Access to Medical Treatment Act, H.R. 746, which > expands > > the ability of Americans to use alternative medicine and new > treatments. > > > > I oppose legislation that increases the FDA`s legal powers. FDA has > > consistently failed to protect the public from dangerous drugs, > > genetically modified foods, dangerous pesticides and other > chemicals in > > the food supply. Meanwhile they waste public funds attacking safe, > > healthy foods and dietary supplements > > > > I also opposed the Homeland Security Bill, H.R. 5005, which, in > section > > 304, authorizes the forced vaccination of American citizens against > > small pox. The government should never have the power to require > > immunizations or vaccinations. > > > > > > ---- > > > > Nancy S+13 > > > > -- ---- Nancy S+13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Nancy S+13 wrote: > Thanks, Victoria. Dr. Paul is actually the only candidate that I am > aware of who has stated a position on this vital issue. > > Nancy S+13 > Well, Nancy let me introduce you to Dennis Kucinich (democratic candidate for the presidency in 08) and his stance on Alternative Medicine! By the way, I admire Ron Paul's courageous position on the madness of our foreign policies, specially the Iraq war but his libertarian platform will do absolutely nothing to protect the environment from the Industrial-Financial Complex whose interest is to maximize profits. His isolationist philosophy will not help in the battle to stop global warming, population overgrowth, hunger, etc. With regards to Alternative Medicine, it is one thing to say that the government should have no control on people's decision to use it(Ron Paul's position) and another to provide the means for that to happen by including it as an equally valid modality in an universal health care plan that will cover all citizens(Dennis Kucinich's position). The following is taken from his platform on Health care! http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php Complementary and Alternative Medicine Complementary and alternative medicine are included in my Enhanced Medicare for All single-payer health care program. Opportunities that will advance medical care and expand the treatment options afforded to today's doctors will be given vast amounts of support. I have great respect for allopathic practice, but at the same time, I think that you will find that allopathic practitioners who are candid will admit that there are limitations to their own practice. I think that we are fully aware that the United States enjoys some of the most advanced health care in the world, yet we are unable to provide relief for a number of common ailments. The current standards of practice occasionally fail to recognize that medicine is an ancient art that encompasses all methods of healing. Somewhere along the road to advance medicine we sometimes forget that there are methods of treating those who need help. It's time to help widen the vision of modern medical doctrine and explore alternative medicine. We have to let go of the fear that alternative medical practices will replace and endanger standards and instead embrace the idea that any method that is proven a safe form of treatment ought to be available to the people. American citizens have a right to health care ... we have a duty to ensure that they have every available proven treatment option. Complementary and alternative medical care encompasses numerous forms of studied and tested procedures and practices, and it is gaining support from mainstream medicine. Unfortunately, there is some unwillingness to support its practice and research. We must ensure non-prejudicial disbursement of research funds to all disciplines of medicine, including alternative medicine. We must utilize this research not only to educate practitioners and the public, but to provide them with access to proven methods of alternative medicine. I hope to broaden our understanding of alternative medicine and to expose and end any bias that may exist within our current system of medical doctrine. All citizens deserve access to safe and proven methods of medical care and I believe that we must expand our understanding of medicine that some would deem, unfortunately, the alternative. We have a wonderful opportunity to think creatively about health care; to think dynamically; to draw new worlds toward us, using a higher consciousness of the potential we have within us to make this a better world. Insight and Action: Health Care <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/> Environment Global Green Deal The EPA under the Bush Administration has stood for Every Polluter's Ally. The air and the water and the land are viewed by this administration as just another commodity to be used for private profit. We as a nation must turn our efforts towards the great work of restoring our air and our water and our land. We must view our natural resources as the common property of all humanity -- even more, as the commonwealth of all humanity. And so my candidacy arises from a philosophy of interdependence and interconnection, which respects the environment as a precondition for our survival. I am not tied to any corporate interests that would strip our forests or pollute our air or water. Throughout my career, I have worked for structures of law that protect the environment, and the principles that animate my campaign are principles of sustainability. The principles that animate my life are principles of sustainability. I have a long and consistent record of working for protecting the environment. I was active in helping draft the first environmental law protecting the air, as a member of the Cleveland City Council 30 years ago. I led the effort in Ohio challenging nuclear power as being unsafe, unreliable, and unsustainable, and I'm still leading the effort in challenging it. And, most recently, I was at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, advocating a plan with Mikhail Gorbachev for a Global Green Deal that would enable the introduction of $50 billion of new solar projects around the world. It will be a major initiative to use our country's leadership in sustainable energy production to provide jobs to Americans, to reduce energy use here at home, and to partner with developing nations to provide their people with inexpensive, local renewable-energy technologies. As a peace advocate, I hope to launch a major renewables effort so that Middle East oil fields do not loom so large as strategic or military targets. There has to be a renewable energy portfolio of 20% by 2010. And that means introducing wind, solar, hydrogen, geothermal, biomass, and all of the options that must be available and need incentivizing. That also means withdrawing incentives for the production of nonrenewable energy. I'm not talking about building new hydro dams; I'm not talking about damming up more rivers and streams. We need to subsidize the development of new energy technologies. And I'm willing to do that through NASA, which has been of singular importance to our economy by developing technologies for propulsion, for aerospace, for materials, for medicines, and for communication. We need to fund NASA in, among other areas, a mission to planet Earth. The United States should lead the way in protecting our oceans, rivers and rural environments -- and I have been speaking out on these issues across America. I will also continue to lead in fighting for clean, affordable, and accessible drinking water -- which is an emerging global concern. Over the years, I have worked hand in hand with the environmental movement on many battles, from thwarting a nuclear waste dump to boosting organics to demanding labels on genetically-engineered products. I've won honors from the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, and the League of Conservation Voters. In the summer of 2002, I was one of the few U.S. officials at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. To repair the earth, America must lead. We must reverse course on most Bush Administration policies and support the Kyoto Treaty that Bush rejected. We must strengthen environmental laws and increase penalties on polluters. We should provide tax and other incentives to businesses that conserve energy, retrofit pollution prevention technologies, and redesign toxins out of their manufacturing processes. Nontoxic, safe substitutes for hazardous chemicals must become permanent. I would initiate a " Global Green Deal " to use our country's leadership in sustainable energy production to provide jobs at home, increase our independence from foreign oil, and aid developing nations with cheap, dependable, renewable energy technologies like wind and solar. A clean environment, a sustainable economy, and an intact ozone layer are not luxuries, but necessities for our planet's future. The League of Conservation Voters has compiled extensive information on my environmental record: http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1> I have a 100 percent rating on the environment from the Public Interest Research Group: http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22-\ to-single-payer-system/ Insight and Action: Environment and Energy <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/> > > Universal Health Care > > April 2006 > > " Health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity and > there is an obligation for society to ensure that every person be able > to realize this right. " > > Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Chicago Archdiocese > > Our health care system is broken, and H. R. 676 > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & >, > the Conyers-Kucinich bill, is the only comprehensive solution to the > problem. It is also the system endorsed by more than 14,000 physicians > from Physicians for a National Health Program. Nearly 46 million > Americans have no health care and over 40 million more have only > minimal coverage. In 2005 some 41% of moderate and middle income > Americans went without health care for part of the year. Even more > shocking is that 53% of those earning less than $20,000 went without > insurance for all of 2005. In fact, the National Academy of Science's > Institute of Medicine estimates that 18,000 Americans die each year > because they have no health insurance. > > The American health system is quite sick. Pulitzer Prize journalists > Donald Barlett and James Steele, in their stunning analysis of the > health care industry, /Critical Condition/ (2006 Broadway Books), > insist that " ... U.S. health care is second-rate at the start of the > twenty-first century and destined to get a lot worse and much more > expensive. " Considering the following facts from Tom Daschle's article > for the Center for American Progress: " Paying More but Getting Less: > Myths and the Global Case for U.S. Health Reform " : > > 1. /Americans are The Healthiest People in the World./ > FACT: Citizens of 34 nations live longer than Americans. > 2. /The U.S. is the Best Place to Get Sick./ > FACT: The World Health Organization ranked the U.S. 37th in the > world for health system performance. Countries like Australia > and the United Kingdom rank above the U.S. Americans have lower > odds of surviving colorectal cancer and childhood leukemia than > Canadians who do have national health care. Americans also > experience greater problems in coordination of care than the > previously mentioned countries and New Zealand. > 3. /Covering All Americans Will Lead to Rationing./ > FACT: Same-day access to primary-care physicians in the U.S. > (33%) is far less available than in the United Kingdom (41%), > Australia (54%) and New Zealand (60%). Per capita spending for > health care averaged $2,696 in countries without waiting lists > and $5,267 in the U.S. > 4. /Global Competitiveness is Hampered in Comprehensive System./ > FACT: " Health care costs are not just a burden and barrier to > care for individuals; they are taking a heavy toll on American > businesses. " The strain on employers in 2005 was staggering. > " The average total premiums for an employer-based family plan > was $9,979 in 2005 ... " Most of our competitors in the world > markets finance their systems outside corporate taxes and > employer mandates. Without Medicare for Everyone, the U.S. will > continue to hemorrhage jobs. > 5. /We Cannot Afford to Cover All Americans./ > FACT: We already spend enough to have universal health care. > " The truth is, we cannot afford to not reform the health > system. " We spend about 50% more than the next most expensive > nation and nearly twice per person what the Canadians do. On May > 1, 2006 Paul Krugman explained in /Death by Insurance/ how > incredibly wasteful the current system is. The doctor he > referenced has two full-time staff members for billing, and two > secretaries spend half their time collecting insurance > information on the 301 different private plans they deal with. > This type of waste is easily 20%. Also consider that 98% of > Medicare funds are spent on medical care. > > IMPORTANT: The hackneyed --- and inaccurate --- mantra of Republicans > when universal health care is introduced is to blame trial lawyers and > malpractice cases for our lack of national health care. In fact, 0.46% > of our total health spending is spent on awards, legal costs, and > underwriting costs --- about the same as Canada and the United Kingdom > and about the same amount we spend on dog and cat food each year. > While " defensive medicine " may drive up the price, it hardly accounts > for our stunning health care costs. The belief that citizens should > give up their right to fair legal redress for legally proven medical > mistakes in exchange for lower health care costs rings as true as the > promise that if we must give up our civil rights to be safe from > terrorists. > > Even those with coverage too often pay exorbitant rates. The current > profit-driven system, dominated by private insurance firms and their > bureaucracies, has failed. > > We must establish streamlined national health insurance, " Enhanced > Medicare for Everyone. " It would be publicly financed health care, > privately delivered, and will put patients and doctors back in control > of the system. Coverage will be more complete than private insurance > plans; encourage prevention; and include prescription drugs, dental > care, mental health care, and alternative and complementary medicine. > > Perhaps the clearest and most eloquent explanation of the > Conyers-Kucinich National Health Insurance Bill was given on February > 4, 2003, in Washington, D.C. by Dr. Marcia Angell in introducing > H. R. 676. Backed by over 14,000 doctors, this is the future of > American medicine. > > " We are here today to introduce a national health insurance program. > Such a program is no longer optional; it's necessary. > > " Americans have the most expensive health care system in the world. We > spend about twice as much per person as other developed nations, and > that gap is growing. That's not because we are sicker or more > demanding (Canadians, for example, see their doctors more often and > spend more time in the hospital). And it's not because we get better > results. By the usual measures of health (life expectancy, infant > mortality, immunization rates), we do worse than most other developed > countries. Furthermore, we are the only developed nation that does not > provide comprehensive health care to all its citizens. Some 42 million > Americans are uninsured (/nearly 46 million today -- updated figure/) > -- disproportionately the sick, the poor, and minorities -- and most > of the rest of us are underinsured. In sum, our health care system is > outrageously expensive, yet inadequate. Why? The only plausible > explanation is that there's something about our system -- about the > way we finance and deliver health care -- that's enormously > inefficient. The failures of the system were partly masked during the > economic boom of the 1990's, but now they stand starkly exposed. There > is no question that with the deepening recession and rising > unemployment, in the words of John Breaux, 'The system is collapsing > around us.' > > " The underlying problem is that we treat health care like a market > commodity instead of a social service. Health care is targeted not to > medical need, but to the ability to pay. Markets are good for many > things, but they are not a good way to distribute health care. To > understand what's happening, let's look at how the health care market > works ... " > > " Mainstream " writers like Ph. D. economist and columnist for the New > York Times Paul Krugman now agree with those doctors and Dennis that > " covering everyone under Medicare would actually be significantly > cheaper than our current system. " They all recognize that we already > spend enough to provide national health care to all but lack the > political courage to make the tough decisions that doctors, nurses and > medical professionals must run our health care system, -- not " for > profit " insurance companies who make money by denying health care. > > It is time to recognize that all the civilized countries have a > solution that we must adapt to this country. American businesses can > no longer be competitive shouldering the entire cost of health care. > Health care is a right that all Americans deserve. > > Insight and Action: Health Care > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 There are a lot of things I like about Kucinich and I like the idea of universal health care, but I have to disagree that now is the time for it. Our country is in a huge financial mess thanks to Bush and his war. We need to rein things in severely and deal with that. We also need to work on restoring our dearly held rights. We're on the brink of fascism in this country. We need a strong leader right now and Kucinich has not impressed me in this department. He probably is the best out of the Democrats though, I agree with that. I just don't think he's the right man for the job at this time. Domingo Pichardo wrote: > > > > Nancy S+13 wrote: > > > Thanks, Victoria. Dr. Paul is actually the only candidate that I am > > aware of who has stated a position on this vital issue. > > > > Nancy S+13 > > > > Well, Nancy let me introduce you to Dennis Kucinich (democratic > candidate for the presidency in 08) and his stance on Alternative > Medicine! By the way, I admire Ron Paul's courageous position on the > madness of our foreign policies, specially the Iraq war but his > libertarian platform will do absolutely nothing to protect the > environment from the Industrial-Financial Complex whose interest is to > maximize profits. His isolationist philosophy will not help in the > battle to stop global warming, population overgrowth, hunger, etc. > > With regards to Alternative Medicine, it is one thing to say that the > government should have no control on people's decision to use it(Ron > Paul's position) and another to provide the means for that to happen by > including it as an equally valid modality in an universal health care > plan that will cover all citizens(Dennis Kucinich's position). > > The following is taken from his platform on Health care! > > http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php> > > Complementary and Alternative Medicine > > Complementary and alternative medicine are included in my Enhanced > Medicare for All single-payer health care program. Opportunities that > will advance medical care and expand the treatment options afforded to > today's doctors will be given vast amounts of support. > > I have great respect for allopathic practice, but at the same time, I > think that you will find that allopathic practitioners who are candid > will admit that there are limitations to their own practice. > > I think that we are fully aware that the United States enjoys some of > the most advanced health care in the world, yet we are unable to provide > relief for a number of common ailments. The current standards of > practice occasionally fail to recognize that medicine is an ancient art > that encompasses all methods of healing. Somewhere along the road to > advance medicine we sometimes forget that there are methods of treating > those who need help. It's time to help widen the vision of modern > medical doctrine and explore alternative medicine. We have to let go of > the fear that alternative medical practices will replace and endanger > standards and instead embrace the idea that any method that is proven a > safe form of treatment ought to be available to the people. > > American citizens have a right to health care ... we have a duty to > ensure that they have every available proven treatment option. > Complementary and alternative medical care encompasses numerous forms of > studied and tested procedures and practices, and it is gaining support > from mainstream medicine. Unfortunately, there is some unwillingness to > support its practice and research. We must ensure non-prejudicial > disbursement of research funds to all disciplines of medicine, including > alternative medicine. We must utilize this research not only to educate > practitioners and the public, but to provide them with access to proven > methods of alternative medicine. > > I hope to broaden our understanding of alternative medicine and to > expose and end any bias that may exist within our current system of > medical doctrine. All citizens deserve access to safe and proven methods > of medical care and I believe that we must expand our understanding of > medicine that some would deem, unfortunately, the alternative. > > We have a wonderful opportunity to think creatively about health care; > to think dynamically; to draw new worlds toward us, using a higher > consciousness of the potential we have within us to make this a better > world. > > Insight and Action: Health Care > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/>> > > Environment > > Global Green Deal > > The EPA under the Bush Administration has stood for Every Polluter's > Ally. The air and the water and the land are viewed by this > administration as just another commodity to be used for private profit. > We as a nation must turn our efforts towards the great work of restoring > our air and our water and our land. We must view our natural resources > as the common property of all humanity -- even more, as the commonwealth > of all humanity. And so my candidacy arises from a philosophy of > interdependence and interconnection, which respects the environment as a > precondition for our survival. > > I am not tied to any corporate interests that would strip our forests or > pollute our air or water. Throughout my career, I have worked for > structures of law that protect the environment, and the principles that > animate my campaign are principles of sustainability. The principles > that animate my life are principles of sustainability. > > I have a long and consistent record of working for protecting the > environment. I was active in helping draft the first environmental law > protecting the air, as a member of the Cleveland City Council 30 years > ago. I led the effort in Ohio challenging nuclear power as being unsafe, > unreliable, and unsustainable, and I'm still leading the effort in > challenging it. And, most recently, I was at the World Summit on > Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, advocating a plan with Mikhail > Gorbachev for a Global Green Deal that would enable the introduction of > $50 billion of new solar projects around the world. It will be a major > initiative to use our country's leadership in sustainable energy > production to provide jobs to Americans, to reduce energy use here at > home, and to partner with developing nations to provide their people > with inexpensive, local renewable-energy technologies. > > As a peace advocate, I hope to launch a major renewables effort so that > Middle East oil fields do not loom so large as strategic or military > targets. There has to be a renewable energy portfolio of 20% by 2010. > And that means introducing wind, solar, hydrogen, geothermal, biomass, > and all of the options that must be available and need incentivizing. > That also means withdrawing incentives for the production of > nonrenewable energy. I'm not talking about building new hydro dams; I'm > not talking about damming up more rivers and streams. > > We need to subsidize the development of new energy technologies. And I'm > willing to do that through NASA, which has been of singular importance > to our economy by developing technologies for propulsion, for aerospace, > for materials, for medicines, and for communication. We need to fund > NASA in, among other areas, a mission to planet Earth. > > The United States should lead the way in protecting our oceans, rivers > and rural environments -- and I have been speaking out on these issues > across America. I will also continue to lead in fighting for clean, > affordable, and accessible drinking water -- which is an emerging global > concern. Over the years, I have worked hand in hand with the > environmental movement on many battles, from thwarting a nuclear waste > dump to boosting organics to demanding labels on genetically-engineered > products. I've won honors from the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, > and the League of Conservation Voters. > > In the summer of 2002, I was one of the few U.S. officials at the World > Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. To repair the earth, > America must lead. We must reverse course on most Bush Administration > policies and support the Kyoto Treaty that Bush rejected. We must > strengthen environmental laws and increase penalties on polluters. We > should provide tax and other incentives to businesses that conserve > energy, retrofit pollution prevention technologies, and redesign toxins > out of their manufacturing processes. Nontoxic, safe substitutes for > hazardous chemicals must become permanent. > > I would initiate a " Global Green Deal " to use our country's leadership > in sustainable energy production to provide jobs at home, increase our > independence from foreign oil, and aid developing nations with cheap, > dependable, renewable energy technologies like wind and solar. A clean > environment, a sustainable economy, and an intact ozone layer are not > luxuries, but necessities for our planet's future. > > The League of Conservation Voters has compiled extensive information on > my environmental record: > http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93> > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1>> > > I have a 100 percent rating on the environment from the Public Interest > Research Group: http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html > <http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html> > > http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22-\ to-single-payer-system/ > <http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22\ -to-single-payer-system/> > > > Insight and Action: Environment and Energy > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/>> > > > > > Universal Health Care > > > > April 2006 > > > > " Health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity and > > there is an obligation for society to ensure that every person be able > > to realize this right. " > > > > Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Chicago Archdiocese > > > > Our health care system is broken, and H. R. 676 > > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & >>, > > the Conyers-Kucinich bill, is the only comprehensive solution to the > > problem. It is also the system endorsed by more than 14,000 physicians > > from Physicians for a National Health Program. Nearly 46 million > > Americans have no health care and over 40 million more have only > > minimal coverage. In 2005 some 41% of moderate and middle income > > Americans went without health care for part of the year. Even more > > shocking is that 53% of those earning less than $20,000 went without > > insurance for all of 2005. In fact, the National Academy of Science's > > Institute of Medicine estimates that 18,000 Americans die each year > > because they have no health insurance. > > > > The American health system is quite sick. Pulitzer Prize journalists > > Donald Barlett and James Steele, in their stunning analysis of the > > health care industry, /Critical Condition/ (2006 Broadway Books), > > insist that " ... U.S. health care is second-rate at the start of the > > twenty-first century and destined to get a lot worse and much more > > expensive. " Considering the following facts from Tom Daschle's article > > for the Center for American Progress: " Paying More but Getting Less: > > Myths and the Global Case for U.S. Health Reform " : > > > > 1. /Americans are The Healthiest People in the World./ > > FACT: Citizens of 34 nations live longer than Americans. > > 2. /The U.S. is the Best Place to Get Sick./ > > FACT: The World Health Organization ranked the U.S. 37th in the > > world for health system performance. Countries like Australia > > and the United Kingdom rank above the U.S. Americans have lower > > odds of surviving colorectal cancer and childhood leukemia than > > Canadians who do have national health care. Americans also > > experience greater problems in coordination of care than the > > previously mentioned countries and New Zealand. > > 3. /Covering All Americans Will Lead to Rationing./ > > FACT: Same-day access to primary-care physicians in the U.S. > > (33%) is far less available than in the United Kingdom (41%), > > Australia (54%) and New Zealand (60%). Per capita spending for > > health care averaged $2,696 in countries without waiting lists > > and $5,267 in the U.S. > > 4. /Global Competitiveness is Hampered in Comprehensive System./ > > FACT: " Health care costs are not just a burden and barrier to > > care for individuals; they are taking a heavy toll on American > > businesses. " The strain on employers in 2005 was staggering. > > " The average total premiums for an employer-based family plan > > was $9,979 in 2005 ... " Most of our competitors in the world > > markets finance their systems outside corporate taxes and > > employer mandates. Without Medicare for Everyone, the U.S. will > > continue to hemorrhage jobs. > > 5. /We Cannot Afford to Cover All Americans./ > > FACT: We already spend enough to have universal health care. > > " The truth is, we cannot afford to not reform the health > > system. " We spend about 50% more than the next most expensive > > nation and nearly twice per person what the Canadians do. On May > > 1, 2006 Paul Krugman explained in /Death by Insurance/ how > > incredibly wasteful the current system is. The doctor he > > referenced has two full-time staff members for billing, and two > > secretaries spend half their time collecting insurance > > information on the 301 different private plans they deal with. > > This type of waste is easily 20%. Also consider that 98% of > > Medicare funds are spent on medical care. > > > > IMPORTANT: The hackneyed --- and inaccurate --- mantra of Republicans > > when universal health care is introduced is to blame trial lawyers and > > malpractice cases for our lack of national health care. In fact, 0.46% > > of our total health spending is spent on awards, legal costs, and > > underwriting costs --- about the same as Canada and the United Kingdom > > and about the same amount we spend on dog and cat food each year. > > While " defensive medicine " may drive up the price, it hardly accounts > > for our stunning health care costs. The belief that citizens should > > give up their right to fair legal redress for legally proven medical > > mistakes in exchange for lower health care costs rings as true as the > > promise that if we must give up our civil rights to be safe from > > terrorists. > > > > Even those with coverage too often pay exorbitant rates. The current > > profit-driven system, dominated by private insurance firms and their > > bureaucracies, has failed. > > > > We must establish streamlined national health insurance, " Enhanced > > Medicare for Everyone. " It would be publicly financed health care, > > privately delivered, and will put patients and doctors back in control > > of the system. Coverage will be more complete than private insurance > > plans; encourage prevention; and include prescription drugs, dental > > care, mental health care, and alternative and complementary medicine. > > > > Perhaps the clearest and most eloquent explanation of the > > Conyers-Kucinich National Health Insurance Bill was given on February > > 4, 2003, in Washington, D.C. by Dr. Marcia Angell in introducing > > H. R. 676. Backed by over 14,000 doctors, this is the future of > > American medicine. > > > > " We are here today to introduce a national health insurance program. > > Such a program is no longer optional; it's necessary. > > > > " Americans have the most expensive health care system in the world. We > > spend about twice as much per person as other developed nations, and > > that gap is growing. That's not because we are sicker or more > > demanding (Canadians, for example, see their doctors more often and > > spend more time in the hospital). And it's not because we get better > > results. By the usual measures of health (life expectancy, infant > > mortality, immunization rates), we do worse than most other developed > > countries. Furthermore, we are the only developed nation that does not > > provide comprehensive health care to all its citizens. Some 42 million > > Americans are uninsured (/nearly 46 million today -- updated figure/) > > -- disproportionately the sick, the poor, and minorities -- and most > > of the rest of us are underinsured. In sum, our health care system is > > outrageously expensive, yet inadequate. Why? The only plausible > > explanation is that there's something about our system -- about the > > way we finance and deliver health care -- that's enormously > > inefficient. The failures of the system were partly masked during the > > economic boom of the 1990's, but now they stand starkly exposed. There > > is no question that with the deepening recession and rising > > unemployment, in the words of John Breaux, 'The system is collapsing > > around us.' > > > > " The underlying problem is that we treat health care like a market > > commodity instead of a social service. Health care is targeted not to > > medical need, but to the ability to pay. Markets are good for many > > things, but they are not a good way to distribute health care. To > > understand what's happening, let's look at how the health care market > > works ... " > > > > " Mainstream " writers like Ph. D. economist and columnist for the New > > York Times Paul Krugman now agree with those doctors and Dennis that > > " covering everyone under Medicare would actually be significantly > > cheaper than our current system. " They all recognize that we already > > spend enough to provide national health care to all but lack the > > political courage to make the tough decisions that doctors, nurses and > > medical professionals must run our health care system, -- not " for > > profit " insurance companies who make money by denying health care. > > > > It is time to recognize that all the civilized countries have a > > solution that we must adapt to this country. American businesses can > > no longer be competitive shouldering the entire cost of health care. > > Health care is a right that all Americans deserve. > > > > Insight and Action: Health Care > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/>> > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 You see, now this conversation is drifting into pure Politics and there is no end to the Rhetoric! I apologize for having responded to your message once when you invoked Ron Paul as the lone savior of Alternative Medicine, but I don't think it is fair to the rest of the group to continue on this thread, so I, for one, am stopping here and hope everyone else does the same! Caveat emptor, Domingo Nancy S+13 wrote: > > There are a lot of things I like about Kucinich and I like the idea of > universal health care, but I have to disagree that now is the time for > it. Our country is in a huge financial mess thanks to Bush and his > war. We need to rein things in severely and deal with that. We also > need to work on restoring our dearly held rights. We're on the brink of > fascism in this country. We need a strong leader right now and Kucinich > has not impressed me in this department. He probably is the best out of > the Democrats though, I agree with that. I just don't think he's the > right man for the job at this time. > > Domingo Pichardo wrote: > > > > > > > > Nancy S+13 wrote: > > > > > Thanks, Victoria. Dr. Paul is actually the only candidate that I am > > > aware of who has stated a position on this vital issue. > > > > > > Nancy S+13 > > > > > > > Well, Nancy let me introduce you to Dennis Kucinich (democratic > > candidate for the presidency in 08) and his stance on Alternative > > Medicine! By the way, I admire Ron Paul's courageous position on the > > madness of our foreign policies, specially the Iraq war but his > > libertarian platform will do absolutely nothing to protect the > > environment from the Industrial-Financial Complex whose interest is to > > maximize profits. His isolationist philosophy will not help in the > > battle to stop global warming, population overgrowth, hunger, etc. > > > > With regards to Alternative Medicine, it is one thing to say that the > > government should have no control on people's decision to use it(Ron > > Paul's position) and another to provide the means for that to happen by > > including it as an equally valid modality in an universal health care > > plan that will cover all citizens(Dennis Kucinich's position). > > > > The following is taken from his platform on Health care! > > > > http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php>> > > > > Complementary and Alternative Medicine > > > > Complementary and alternative medicine are included in my Enhanced > > Medicare for All single-payer health care program. Opportunities that > > will advance medical care and expand the treatment options afforded to > > today's doctors will be given vast amounts of support. > > > > I have great respect for allopathic practice, but at the same time, I > > think that you will find that allopathic practitioners who are candid > > will admit that there are limitations to their own practice. > > > > I think that we are fully aware that the United States enjoys some of > > the most advanced health care in the world, yet we are unable to provide > > relief for a number of common ailments. The current standards of > > practice occasionally fail to recognize that medicine is an ancient art > > that encompasses all methods of healing. Somewhere along the road to > > advance medicine we sometimes forget that there are methods of treating > > those who need help. It's time to help widen the vision of modern > > medical doctrine and explore alternative medicine. We have to let go of > > the fear that alternative medical practices will replace and endanger > > standards and instead embrace the idea that any method that is proven a > > safe form of treatment ought to be available to the people. > > > > American citizens have a right to health care ... we have a duty to > > ensure that they have every available proven treatment option. > > Complementary and alternative medical care encompasses numerous forms of > > studied and tested procedures and practices, and it is gaining support > > from mainstream medicine. Unfortunately, there is some unwillingness to > > support its practice and research. We must ensure non-prejudicial > > disbursement of research funds to all disciplines of medicine, including > > alternative medicine. We must utilize this research not only to educate > > practitioners and the public, but to provide them with access to proven > > methods of alternative medicine. > > > > I hope to broaden our understanding of alternative medicine and to > > expose and end any bias that may exist within our current system of > > medical doctrine. All citizens deserve access to safe and proven methods > > of medical care and I believe that we must expand our understanding of > > medicine that some would deem, unfortunately, the alternative. > > > > We have a wonderful opportunity to think creatively about health care; > > to think dynamically; to draw new worlds toward us, using a higher > > consciousness of the potential we have within us to make this a better > > world. > > > > Insight and Action: Health Care > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/>>> > > > > Environment > > > > Global Green Deal > > > > The EPA under the Bush Administration has stood for Every Polluter's > > Ally. The air and the water and the land are viewed by this > > administration as just another commodity to be used for private profit. > > We as a nation must turn our efforts towards the great work of restoring > > our air and our water and our land. We must view our natural resources > > as the common property of all humanity -- even more, as the commonwealth > > of all humanity. And so my candidacy arises from a philosophy of > > interdependence and interconnection, which respects the environment as a > > precondition for our survival. > > > > I am not tied to any corporate interests that would strip our forests or > > pollute our air or water. Throughout my career, I have worked for > > structures of law that protect the environment, and the principles that > > animate my campaign are principles of sustainability. The principles > > that animate my life are principles of sustainability. > > > > I have a long and consistent record of working for protecting the > > environment. I was active in helping draft the first environmental law > > protecting the air, as a member of the Cleveland City Council 30 years > > ago. I led the effort in Ohio challenging nuclear power as being unsafe, > > unreliable, and unsustainable, and I'm still leading the effort in > > challenging it. And, most recently, I was at the World Summit on > > Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, advocating a plan with Mikhail > > Gorbachev for a Global Green Deal that would enable the introduction of > > $50 billion of new solar projects around the world. It will be a major > > initiative to use our country's leadership in sustainable energy > > production to provide jobs to Americans, to reduce energy use here at > > home, and to partner with developing nations to provide their people > > with inexpensive, local renewable-energy technologies. > > > > As a peace advocate, I hope to launch a major renewables effort so that > > Middle East oil fields do not loom so large as strategic or military > > targets. There has to be a renewable energy portfolio of 20% by 2010. > > And that means introducing wind, solar, hydrogen, geothermal, biomass, > > and all of the options that must be available and need incentivizing. > > That also means withdrawing incentives for the production of > > nonrenewable energy. I'm not talking about building new hydro dams; I'm > > not talking about damming up more rivers and streams. > > > > We need to subsidize the development of new energy technologies. And I'm > > willing to do that through NASA, which has been of singular importance > > to our economy by developing technologies for propulsion, for aerospace, > > for materials, for medicines, and for communication. We need to fund > > NASA in, among other areas, a mission to planet Earth. > > > > The United States should lead the way in protecting our oceans, rivers > > and rural environments -- and I have been speaking out on these issues > > across America. I will also continue to lead in fighting for clean, > > affordable, and accessible drinking water -- which is an emerging global > > concern. Over the years, I have worked hand in hand with the > > environmental movement on many battles, from thwarting a nuclear waste > > dump to boosting organics to demanding labels on genetically-engineered > > products. I've won honors from the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, > > and the League of Conservation Voters. > > > > In the summer of 2002, I was one of the few U.S. officials at the World > > Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. To repair the earth, > > America must lead. We must reverse course on most Bush Administration > > policies and support the Kyoto Treaty that Bush rejected. We must > > strengthen environmental laws and increase penalties on polluters. We > > should provide tax and other incentives to businesses that conserve > > energy, retrofit pollution prevention technologies, and redesign toxins > > out of their manufacturing processes. Nontoxic, safe substitutes for > > hazardous chemicals must become permanent. > > > > I would initiate a " Global Green Deal " to use our country's leadership > > in sustainable energy production to provide jobs at home, increase our > > independence from foreign oil, and aid developing nations with cheap, > > dependable, renewable energy technologies like wind and solar. A clean > > environment, a sustainable economy, and an intact ozone layer are not > > luxuries, but necessities for our planet's future. > > > > The League of Conservation Voters has compiled extensive information on > > my environmental record: > > http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93> > > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93>> > > > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1> > > > > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1>>> > > > > I have a 100 percent rating on the environment from the Public Interest > > Research Group: http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html > <http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html> > > <http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html > <http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html>> > > > > > http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22-\ to-single-payer-system/ > <http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22\ -to-single-payer-system/> > > > > <http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22\ -to-single-payer-system/ > <http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22\ -to-single-payer-system/>> > > > > > > > Insight and Action: Environment and Energy > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/>>> > > > > > > > > Universal Health Care > > > > > > April 2006 > > > > > > " Health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity and > > > there is an obligation for society to ensure that every person be able > > > to realize this right. " > > > > > > Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Chicago Archdiocese > > > > > > Our health care system is broken, and H. R. 676 > > > > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & > > > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & >>>, > > > the Conyers-Kucinich bill, is the only comprehensive solution to the > > > problem. It is also the system endorsed by more than 14,000 physicians > > > from Physicians for a National Health Program. Nearly 46 million > > > Americans have no health care and over 40 million more have only > > > minimal coverage. In 2005 some 41% of moderate and middle income > > > Americans went without health care for part of the year. Even more > > > shocking is that 53% of those earning less than $20,000 went without > > > insurance for all of 2005. In fact, the National Academy of Science's > > > Institute of Medicine estimates that 18,000 Americans die each year > > > because they have no health insurance. > > > > > > The American health system is quite sick. Pulitzer Prize journalists > > > Donald Barlett and James Steele, in their stunning analysis of the > > > health care industry, /Critical Condition/ (2006 Broadway Books), > > > insist that " ... U.S. health care is second-rate at the start of the > > > twenty-first century and destined to get a lot worse and much more > > > expensive. " Considering the following facts from Tom Daschle's article > > > for the Center for American Progress: " Paying More but Getting Less: > > > Myths and the Global Case for U.S. Health Reform " : > > > > > > 1. /Americans are The Healthiest People in the World./ > > > FACT: Citizens of 34 nations live longer than Americans. > > > 2. /The U.S. is the Best Place to Get Sick./ > > > FACT: The World Health Organization ranked the U.S. 37th in the > > > world for health system performance. Countries like Australia > > > and the United Kingdom rank above the U.S. Americans have lower > > > odds of surviving colorectal cancer and childhood leukemia than > > > Canadians who do have national health care. Americans also > > > experience greater problems in coordination of care than the > > > previously mentioned countries and New Zealand. > > > 3. /Covering All Americans Will Lead to Rationing./ > > > FACT: Same-day access to primary-care physicians in the U.S. > > > (33%) is far less available than in the United Kingdom (41%), > > > Australia (54%) and New Zealand (60%). Per capita spending for > > > health care averaged $2,696 in countries without waiting lists > > > and $5,267 in the U.S. > > > 4. /Global Competitiveness is Hampered in Comprehensive System./ > > > FACT: " Health care costs are not just a burden and barrier to > > > care for individuals; they are taking a heavy toll on American > > > businesses. " The strain on employers in 2005 was staggering. > > > " The average total premiums for an employer-based family plan > > > was $9,979 in 2005 ... " Most of our competitors in the world > > > markets finance their systems outside corporate taxes and > > > employer mandates. Without Medicare for Everyone, the U.S. will > > > continue to hemorrhage jobs. > > > 5. /We Cannot Afford to Cover All Americans./ > > > FACT: We already spend enough to have universal health care. > > > " The truth is, we cannot afford to not reform the health > > > system. " We spend about 50% more than the next most expensive > > > nation and nearly twice per person what the Canadians do. On May > > > 1, 2006 Paul Krugman explained in /Death by Insurance/ how > > > incredibly wasteful the current system is. The doctor he > > > referenced has two full-time staff members for billing, and two > > > secretaries spend half their time collecting insurance > > > information on the 301 different private plans they deal with. > > > This type of waste is easily 20%. Also consider that 98% of > > > Medicare funds are spent on medical care. > > > > > > IMPORTANT: The hackneyed --- and inaccurate --- mantra of Republicans > > > when universal health care is introduced is to blame trial lawyers and > > > malpractice cases for our lack of national health care. In fact, 0.46% > > > of our total health spending is spent on awards, legal costs, and > > > underwriting costs --- about the same as Canada and the United Kingdom > > > and about the same amount we spend on dog and cat food each year. > > > While " defensive medicine " may drive up the price, it hardly accounts > > > for our stunning health care costs. The belief that citizens should > > > give up their right to fair legal redress for legally proven medical > > > mistakes in exchange for lower health care costs rings as true as the > > > promise that if we must give up our civil rights to be safe from > > > terrorists. > > > > > > Even those with coverage too often pay exorbitant rates. The current > > > profit-driven system, dominated by private insurance firms and their > > > bureaucracies, has failed. > > > > > > We must establish streamlined national health insurance, " Enhanced > > > Medicare for Everyone. " It would be publicly financed health care, > > > privately delivered, and will put patients and doctors back in control > > > of the system. Coverage will be more complete than private insurance > > > plans; encourage prevention; and include prescription drugs, dental > > > care, mental health care, and alternative and complementary medicine. > > > > > > Perhaps the clearest and most eloquent explanation of the > > > Conyers-Kucinich National Health Insurance Bill was given on February > > > 4, 2003, in Washington, D.C. by Dr. Marcia Angell in introducing > > > H. R. 676. Backed by over 14,000 doctors, this is the future of > > > American medicine. > > > > > > " We are here today to introduce a national health insurance program. > > > Such a program is no longer optional; it's necessary. > > > > > > " Americans have the most expensive health care system in the world. We > > > spend about twice as much per person as other developed nations, and > > > that gap is growing. That's not because we are sicker or more > > > demanding (Canadians, for example, see their doctors more often and > > > spend more time in the hospital). And it's not because we get better > > > results. By the usual measures of health (life expectancy, infant > > > mortality, immunization rates), we do worse than most other developed > > > countries. Furthermore, we are the only developed nation that does not > > > provide comprehensive health care to all its citizens. Some 42 million > > > Americans are uninsured (/nearly 46 million today -- updated figure/) > > > -- disproportionately the sick, the poor, and minorities -- and most > > > of the rest of us are underinsured. In sum, our health care system is > > > outrageously expensive, yet inadequate. Why? The only plausible > > > explanation is that there's something about our system -- about the > > > way we finance and deliver health care -- that's enormously > > > inefficient. The failures of the system were partly masked during the > > > economic boom of the 1990's, but now they stand starkly exposed. There > > > is no question that with the deepening recession and rising > > > unemployment, in the words of John Breaux, 'The system is collapsing > > > around us.' > > > > > > " The underlying problem is that we treat health care like a market > > > commodity instead of a social service. Health care is targeted not to > > > medical need, but to the ability to pay. Markets are good for many > > > things, but they are not a good way to distribute health care. To > > > understand what's happening, let's look at how the health care market > > > works ... " > > > > > > " Mainstream " writers like Ph. D. economist and columnist for the New > > > York Times Paul Krugman now agree with those doctors and Dennis that > > > " covering everyone under Medicare would actually be significantly > > > cheaper than our current system. " They all recognize that we already > > > spend enough to provide national health care to all but lack the > > > political courage to make the tough decisions that doctors, nurses and > > > medical professionals must run our health care system, -- not " for > > > profit " insurance companies who make money by denying health care. > > > > > > It is time to recognize that all the civilized countries have a > > > solution that we must adapt to this country. American businesses can > > > no longer be competitive shouldering the entire cost of health care. > > > Health care is a right that all Americans deserve. > > > > > > Insight and Action: Health Care > > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/>>> > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Well, no, I didn't say he was the lone savior. I said he was the only one I knew of who had put forth a statement on his position. I stand corrected on that. But, you're right, this is verging into off-topic territory. I don't have any desire to whip up a political discussion that could turn ugly. I'll stick with Paul and you'll stick with Kucinich and either way alternative medicine wins. Domingo Pichardo wrote: > > You see, now this conversation is drifting into pure Politics and there > is no end to the Rhetoric! > > I apologize for having responded to your message once when you invoked > Ron Paul as the lone savior of Alternative Medicine, but I don't think > it is fair to the rest of the group to continue on this thread, so I, > for one, am stopping here and hope everyone else does the same! > > Caveat emptor, > Domingo > > Nancy S+13 wrote: > > > > There are a lot of things I like about Kucinich and I like the idea of > > universal health care, but I have to disagree that now is the time for > > it. Our country is in a huge financial mess thanks to Bush and his > > war. We need to rein things in severely and deal with that. We also > > need to work on restoring our dearly held rights. We're on the brink of > > fascism in this country. We need a strong leader right now and Kucinich > > has not impressed me in this department. He probably is the best out of > > the Democrats though, I agree with that. I just don't think he's the > > right man for the job at this time. > > > > Domingo Pichardo wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Nancy S+13 wrote: > > > > > > > Thanks, Victoria. Dr. Paul is actually the only candidate that I am > > > > aware of who has stated a position on this vital issue. > > > > > > > > Nancy S+13 > > > > > > > > > > Well, Nancy let me introduce you to Dennis Kucinich (democratic > > > candidate for the presidency in 08) and his stance on Alternative > > > Medicine! By the way, I admire Ron Paul's courageous position on the > > > madness of our foreign policies, specially the Iraq war but his > > > libertarian platform will do absolutely nothing to protect the > > > environment from the Industrial-Financial Complex whose interest is to > > > maximize profits. His isolationist philosophy will not help in the > > > battle to stop global warming, population overgrowth, hunger, etc. > > > > > > With regards to Alternative Medicine, it is one thing to say that the > > > government should have no control on people's decision to use it(Ron > > > Paul's position) and another to provide the means for that to > happen by > > > including it as an equally valid modality in an universal health care > > > plan that will cover all citizens(Dennis Kucinich's position). > > > > > > The following is taken from his platform on Health care! > > > > > > http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php>> > > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/comp-alt_medicine.php>>> > > > > > > Complementary and Alternative Medicine > > > > > > Complementary and alternative medicine are included in my Enhanced > > > Medicare for All single-payer health care program. Opportunities that > > > will advance medical care and expand the treatment options afforded to > > > today's doctors will be given vast amounts of support. > > > > > > I have great respect for allopathic practice, but at the same time, I > > > think that you will find that allopathic practitioners who are candid > > > will admit that there are limitations to their own practice. > > > > > > I think that we are fully aware that the United States enjoys some of > > > the most advanced health care in the world, yet we are unable to > provide > > > relief for a number of common ailments. The current standards of > > > practice occasionally fail to recognize that medicine is an > ancient art > > > that encompasses all methods of healing. Somewhere along the road to > > > advance medicine we sometimes forget that there are methods of > treating > > > those who need help. It's time to help widen the vision of modern > > > medical doctrine and explore alternative medicine. We have to let > go of > > > the fear that alternative medical practices will replace and endanger > > > standards and instead embrace the idea that any method that is > proven a > > > safe form of treatment ought to be available to the people. > > > > > > American citizens have a right to health care ... we have a duty to > > > ensure that they have every available proven treatment option. > > > Complementary and alternative medical care encompasses numerous > forms of > > > studied and tested procedures and practices, and it is gaining support > > > from mainstream medicine. Unfortunately, there is some > unwillingness to > > > support its practice and research. We must ensure non-prejudicial > > > disbursement of research funds to all disciplines of medicine, > including > > > alternative medicine. We must utilize this research not only to > educate > > > practitioners and the public, but to provide them with access to > proven > > > methods of alternative medicine. > > > > > > I hope to broaden our understanding of alternative medicine and to > > > expose and end any bias that may exist within our current system of > > > medical doctrine. All citizens deserve access to safe and proven > methods > > > of medical care and I believe that we must expand our understanding of > > > medicine that some would deem, unfortunately, the alternative. > > > > > > We have a wonderful opportunity to think creatively about health care; > > > to think dynamically; to draw new worlds toward us, using a higher > > > consciousness of the potential we have within us to make this a better > > > world. > > > > > > Insight and Action: Health Care > > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/>> > > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/>>>> > > > > > > Environment > > > > > > Global Green Deal > > > > > > The EPA under the Bush Administration has stood for Every Polluter's > > > Ally. The air and the water and the land are viewed by this > > > administration as just another commodity to be used for private > profit. > > > We as a nation must turn our efforts towards the great work of > restoring > > > our air and our water and our land. We must view our natural resources > > > as the common property of all humanity -- even more, as the > commonwealth > > > of all humanity. And so my candidacy arises from a philosophy of > > > interdependence and interconnection, which respects the > environment as a > > > precondition for our survival. > > > > > > I am not tied to any corporate interests that would strip our > forests or > > > pollute our air or water. Throughout my career, I have worked for > > > structures of law that protect the environment, and the principles > that > > > animate my campaign are principles of sustainability. The principles > > > that animate my life are principles of sustainability. > > > > > > I have a long and consistent record of working for protecting the > > > environment. I was active in helping draft the first environmental law > > > protecting the air, as a member of the Cleveland City Council 30 years > > > ago. I led the effort in Ohio challenging nuclear power as being > unsafe, > > > unreliable, and unsustainable, and I'm still leading the effort in > > > challenging it. And, most recently, I was at the World Summit on > > > Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, advocating a plan with > Mikhail > > > Gorbachev for a Global Green Deal that would enable the > introduction of > > > $50 billion of new solar projects around the world. It will be a major > > > initiative to use our country's leadership in sustainable energy > > > production to provide jobs to Americans, to reduce energy use here at > > > home, and to partner with developing nations to provide their people > > > with inexpensive, local renewable-energy technologies. > > > > > > As a peace advocate, I hope to launch a major renewables effort so > that > > > Middle East oil fields do not loom so large as strategic or military > > > targets. There has to be a renewable energy portfolio of 20% by 2010. > > > And that means introducing wind, solar, hydrogen, geothermal, biomass, > > > and all of the options that must be available and need incentivizing. > > > That also means withdrawing incentives for the production of > > > nonrenewable energy. I'm not talking about building new hydro > dams; I'm > > > not talking about damming up more rivers and streams. > > > > > > We need to subsidize the development of new energy technologies. > And I'm > > > willing to do that through NASA, which has been of singular importance > > > to our economy by developing technologies for propulsion, for > aerospace, > > > for materials, for medicines, and for communication. We need to fund > > > NASA in, among other areas, a mission to planet Earth. > > > > > > The United States should lead the way in protecting our oceans, rivers > > > and rural environments -- and I have been speaking out on these issues > > > across America. I will also continue to lead in fighting for clean, > > > affordable, and accessible drinking water -- which is an emerging > global > > > concern. Over the years, I have worked hand in hand with the > > > environmental movement on many battles, from thwarting a nuclear waste > > > dump to boosting organics to demanding labels on > genetically-engineered > > > products. I've won honors from the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, > > > and the League of Conservation Voters. > > > > > > In the summer of 2002, I was one of the few U.S. officials at the > World > > > Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. To repair the > earth, > > > America must lead. We must reverse course on most Bush Administration > > > policies and support the Kyoto Treaty that Bush rejected. We must > > > strengthen environmental laws and increase penalties on polluters. We > > > should provide tax and other incentives to businesses that conserve > > > energy, retrofit pollution prevention technologies, and redesign > toxins > > > out of their manufacturing processes. Nontoxic, safe substitutes for > > > hazardous chemicals must become permanent. > > > > > > I would initiate a " Global Green Deal " to use our country's leadership > > > in sustainable energy production to provide jobs at home, increase our > > > independence from foreign oil, and aid developing nations with cheap, > > > dependable, renewable energy technologies like wind and solar. A clean > > > environment, a sustainable economy, and an intact ozone layer are not > > > luxuries, but necessities for our planet's future. > > > > > > The League of Conservation Voters has compiled extensive > information on > > > my environmental record: > > > http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93> > > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93>> > > > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93> > > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93>>> > > > > > > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1> > > > > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1>> > > > > > > > > > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1> > > > > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1 > <http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D%0D15C & M\ X=116 & H=1%3E%20 & c=4 & UID=264023745FDB3D15C & MX=116 & H=1>>>> > > > > > > I have a 100 percent rating on the environment from the Public > Interest > > > Research Group: http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html > <http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html> > > <http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html > <http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html>> > > > <http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html > <http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html> > > <http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html > <http://www.pirg.org/score2002/ohio.html>>> > > > > > > > > > http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22-\ to-single-payer-system/ > <http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22\ -to-single-payer-system/> > > > > <http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22\ -to-single-payer-system/ > <http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22\ -to-single-payer-system/>> > > > > > > > > > <http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22\ -to-single-payer-system/ > <http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22\ -to-single-payer-system/> > > > > <http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22\ -to-single-payer-system/ > <http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/five-dems-in-iowa-agree%3a-%22no%22\ -to-single-payer-system/>>> > > > > > > > > > > > > Insight and Action: Environment and Energy > > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/>> > > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/energy_env/>>>> > > > > > > > > > > > Universal Health Care > > > > > > > > April 2006 > > > > > > > > " Health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity and > > > > there is an obligation for society to ensure that every person > be able > > > > to realize this right. " > > > > > > > > Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Chicago Archdiocese > > > > > > > > Our health care system is broken, and H. R. 676 > > > > > > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & > > > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & >> > > > > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & > > > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & > <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.676:@@@L & summ2=m & >>>>, > > > > the Conyers-Kucinich bill, is the only comprehensive solution to the > > > > problem. It is also the system endorsed by more than 14,000 > physicians > > > > from Physicians for a National Health Program. Nearly 46 million > > > > Americans have no health care and over 40 million more have only > > > > minimal coverage. In 2005 some 41% of moderate and middle income > > > > Americans went without health care for part of the year. Even more > > > > shocking is that 53% of those earning less than $20,000 went without > > > > insurance for all of 2005. In fact, the National Academy of > Science's > > > > Institute of Medicine estimates that 18,000 Americans die each year > > > > because they have no health insurance. > > > > > > > > The American health system is quite sick. Pulitzer Prize journalists > > > > Donald Barlett and James Steele, in their stunning analysis of the > > > > health care industry, /Critical Condition/ (2006 Broadway Books), > > > > insist that " ... U.S. health care is second-rate at the start of the > > > > twenty-first century and destined to get a lot worse and much more > > > > expensive. " Considering the following facts from Tom Daschle's > article > > > > for the Center for American Progress: " Paying More but Getting Less: > > > > Myths and the Global Case for U.S. Health Reform " : > > > > > > > > 1. /Americans are The Healthiest People in the World./ > > > > FACT: Citizens of 34 nations live longer than Americans. > > > > 2. /The U.S. is the Best Place to Get Sick./ > > > > FACT: The World Health Organization ranked the U.S. 37th in the > > > > world for health system performance. Countries like Australia > > > > and the United Kingdom rank above the U.S. Americans have lower > > > > odds of surviving colorectal cancer and childhood leukemia than > > > > Canadians who do have national health care. Americans also > > > > experience greater problems in coordination of care than the > > > > previously mentioned countries and New Zealand. > > > > 3. /Covering All Americans Will Lead to Rationing./ > > > > FACT: Same-day access to primary-care physicians in the U.S. > > > > (33%) is far less available than in the United Kingdom (41%), > > > > Australia (54%) and New Zealand (60%). Per capita spending for > > > > health care averaged $2,696 in countries without waiting lists > > > > and $5,267 in the U.S. > > > > 4. /Global Competitiveness is Hampered in Comprehensive System./ > > > > FACT: " Health care costs are not just a burden and barrier to > > > > care for individuals; they are taking a heavy toll on American > > > > businesses. " The strain on employers in 2005 was staggering. > > > > " The average total premiums for an employer-based family plan > > > > was $9,979 in 2005 ... " Most of our competitors in the world > > > > markets finance their systems outside corporate taxes and > > > > employer mandates. Without Medicare for Everyone, the U.S. will > > > > continue to hemorrhage jobs. > > > > 5. /We Cannot Afford to Cover All Americans./ > > > > FACT: We already spend enough to have universal health care. > > > > " The truth is, we cannot afford to not reform the health > > > > system. " We spend about 50% more than the next most expensive > > > > nation and nearly twice per person what the Canadians do. On May > > > > 1, 2006 Paul Krugman explained in /Death by Insurance/ how > > > > incredibly wasteful the current system is. The doctor he > > > > referenced has two full-time staff members for billing, and two > > > > secretaries spend half their time collecting insurance > > > > information on the 301 different private plans they deal with. > > > > This type of waste is easily 20%. Also consider that 98% of > > > > Medicare funds are spent on medical care. > > > > > > > > IMPORTANT: The hackneyed --- and inaccurate --- mantra of > Republicans > > > > when universal health care is introduced is to blame trial > lawyers and > > > > malpractice cases for our lack of national health care. In fact, > 0.46% > > > > of our total health spending is spent on awards, legal costs, and > > > > underwriting costs --- about the same as Canada and the United > Kingdom > > > > and about the same amount we spend on dog and cat food each year. > > > > While " defensive medicine " may drive up the price, it hardly > accounts > > > > for our stunning health care costs. The belief that citizens should > > > > give up their right to fair legal redress for legally proven medical > > > > mistakes in exchange for lower health care costs rings as true > as the > > > > promise that if we must give up our civil rights to be safe from > > > > terrorists. > > > > > > > > Even those with coverage too often pay exorbitant rates. The current > > > > profit-driven system, dominated by private insurance firms and their > > > > bureaucracies, has failed. > > > > > > > > We must establish streamlined national health insurance, " Enhanced > > > > Medicare for Everyone. " It would be publicly financed health care, > > > > privately delivered, and will put patients and doctors back in > control > > > > of the system. Coverage will be more complete than private insurance > > > > plans; encourage prevention; and include prescription drugs, dental > > > > care, mental health care, and alternative and complementary > medicine. > > > > > > > > Perhaps the clearest and most eloquent explanation of the > > > > Conyers-Kucinich National Health Insurance Bill was given on > February > > > > 4, 2003, in Washington, D.C. by Dr. Marcia Angell in introducing > > > > H. R. 676. Backed by over 14,000 doctors, this is the future of > > > > American medicine. > > > > > > > > " We are here today to introduce a national health insurance program. > > > > Such a program is no longer optional; it's necessary. > > > > > > > > " Americans have the most expensive health care system in the > world. We > > > > spend about twice as much per person as other developed nations, and > > > > that gap is growing. That's not because we are sicker or more > > > > demanding (Canadians, for example, see their doctors more often and > > > > spend more time in the hospital). And it's not because we get better > > > > results. By the usual measures of health (life expectancy, infant > > > > mortality, immunization rates), we do worse than most other > developed > > > > countries. Furthermore, we are the only developed nation that > does not > > > > provide comprehensive health care to all its citizens. Some 42 > million > > > > Americans are uninsured (/nearly 46 million today -- updated > figure/) > > > > -- disproportionately the sick, the poor, and minorities -- and most > > > > of the rest of us are underinsured. In sum, our health care > system is > > > > outrageously expensive, yet inadequate. Why? The only plausible > > > > explanation is that there's something about our system -- about the > > > > way we finance and deliver health care -- that's enormously > > > > inefficient. The failures of the system were partly masked > during the > > > > economic boom of the 1990's, but now they stand starkly exposed. > There > > > > is no question that with the deepening recession and rising > > > > unemployment, in the words of John Breaux, 'The system is collapsing > > > > around us.' > > > > > > > > " The underlying problem is that we treat health care like a market > > > > commodity instead of a social service. Health care is targeted > not to > > > > medical need, but to the ability to pay. Markets are good for many > > > > things, but they are not a good way to distribute health care. To > > > > understand what's happening, let's look at how the health care > market > > > > works ... " > > > > > > > > " Mainstream " writers like Ph. D. economist and columnist for the New > > > > York Times Paul Krugman now agree with those doctors and Dennis that > > > > " covering everyone under Medicare would actually be significantly > > > > cheaper than our current system. " They all recognize that we already > > > > spend enough to provide national health care to all but lack the > > > > political courage to make the tough decisions that doctors, > nurses and > > > > medical professionals must run our health care system, -- not " for > > > > profit " insurance companies who make money by denying health care. > > > > > > > > It is time to recognize that all the civilized countries have a > > > > solution that we must adapt to this country. American businesses can > > > > no longer be competitive shouldering the entire cost of health care. > > > > Health care is a right that all Americans deserve. > > > > > > > > Insight and Action: Health Care > > > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/>> > > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/> > > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/ > <http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/insight/health_care/>>>> > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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