State Democrats back reform with single-payer system
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s platform contains three resolutions in regard to health care reform, and all support a single-payer system.
Single payer is the gold standard of health care reform. It is 100 percent guaranteed coverage for all Americans, regardless of job transfer or pre-existing condition. It fulfills President Obama’s three principles of cost-effectiveness, access and choice, unlike any other proposal.
Single payer is the only plan that guarantees “Everybody in, nobody out.”
Single payer will control the costs of health care for millions of Americans, as well as state and local governments. By removing private and for-profit health insurance companies from participating in American health care, there is no need for federal taxpayer subsidies to insurance companies. No one is going to be fined, treated as a tax evader or risk jail time for failing to buy health insurance under a single-payer system. A single-payer system would actually save $400 billion annually.
Single payer is the only plan where losing your job does not mean losing your health care. Single payer guarantees your choice of doctor and hospital, unlike those whose choice remains with their insurance company.
Single payer eliminates the shameful disparities in U.S. health care. The proposed expansion of Medicaid will not lessen disparities and is unsustainable as states will be forced to absorb the costs. Just because a patient has Medicaid does not guarantee a health care provider will accept that person and the low Medicaid reimbursement rate.
Single payer is not “socialized medicine.” Single payer is publicly funded, but privately driven by you and your doctor.
Single payer is quite simply “expanded and improved Medicare for all.” Have you heard of anyone wanting to give up their Medicare?
Single payer eliminates the bureaucratic middlemen of the insurance industry that take 31 percent of every health care dollar. No insurance company CEO will decide who has medical coverage under a single-payer plan.
Health care reform in the form of single payer is the real economic stimulus package. The No. 1 factor affecting an American companies’ ability to be competitive in the global economy is employee health insurance costs.
If we do not get single-payer health care passed at the federal level, momentum will continue to build nationwide to pass single-payer legislation within individual states. Please encourage members of Wisconsin’s state Legislature to support single payer.
On July 22, 2009, President Obama gave a press conference where he said, “I want to cover everybody. … Unless you have a single-payer system…, you’re probably not going to reach every single individual.”
What can we do right now? Call and/or write Sens. Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl ask them to support Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and his single-payer amendments. In addition, contact Wisconsin’s entire congressional delegation, asking them to support Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s amendment, which would allow individual states to pursue single-payer legislation.
Unlike any of the other proposals currently circulating through Congress, single payer is the most humane, cost-effective and comprehensive solution we have—the gold standard.
Paulette Garin of Kenosha is Wisconsin state coordinator, Progressive Democrats of America, a federal Political Action Committee that champions a campaign of “Health care not Warfare.” Garin also was a Democratic candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 1st District in 2008. She can be reached by e-mail at paulettegarin@yahoo.com or by phone at (262) 551-8515.
Dec 18, 2009 at 4:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
"Compulsory commerce". Isn't that what health care is now? A person with no insurance breaks their leg and goes to the emergency room. They get medical treatment and fully recovers but can only afford to pay a portion of the bill. So who pays the remaining balance? Should health care be available for the masses or only those who can afford insurance? All Americans are required to pay some form of taxes? Why? Because all Americans, in some form or another, benefit from the services those tax dollars provide and it serves as an equitable method of providing services for the masses. For-profit Insurance Companies are not in existence to provide for the masses, but only to serve their own needs; PROFIT. Of course the individuals with insurance pay his balance AFTER the insurance company takes their profit. Insurance companies decide who gets care and who dies. By not offering a single payer and/or public option Republicans and some Democrats are essentially telling individuals, "if you don't have the money for insurance, those with insurance will pick up the balance or you will simply die for the inability to afford treatment". The Republicans want to run it like the business it is. Let those die who will only add expense to the system, unless of course, they have thousands of dollars available to pay for their treatment. Sounds more like an Insurance Company conspiracy, not something so ridiculous as a government conspiracy or forced takeover. It’s simple economics and whether we, as a country, believe health care should be available to all.
Dec 16, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
donnaw: I've said it from the beginning, and will continue to say it. The true test of this new Socialized Medicine scheme is this - will EVERYONE be covered by the same system, and if not, WHY NOT??? And we all know the answer to that question, as you stated "They get to keep their gold plated program".
Supporters - why are you not DEMANDING that your elected representatives sign on to the same garbage that they are oh so willing to subject the rest of to...and by the way, that goes double for the giant ponzi scheme known as Social Security.
No, Congress EXEMPTS themselves from all the unpleasantness inherent in the details. Why???
Dec 16, 2009 at 4:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
Andre:
Stop plagiarizing my posts from other threads! LOL...j/k
Don't get in the Joe Biden spirit here!! HAHA
.
It's kind of amusing to read these sort of stories. It is, of course, in the right place in the opinion section. However; it is quite amusing nonetheless when the supports of this paint this Utopian picture, that is really reminiscent of the pictures that were painted by Marx and Engles in the communist manifesto. It all sounds great in theory, but they often fail to realize that it ends up bankrupting whatever monetary system/Treasury that you have in place. Or perhaps they actual do. Some would argue that is the whole idea....To overwhelm the current economic system, and bankrupt it, so you transform to a new system of "To each according to his ability, to each according to his need".
Dec 16, 2009 at 3:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
"It is 100 percent guaranteed coverage for all Americans"
-
And there is ocean front land for sale in Nevada. This one sentance says it all for those that WANT single payer...problem is in the details. Look at the States of Mass and Org if you think "100 percent guaranteed coverage" is really what you will be getting.
Dec 15, 2009 at 5:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
Well, AndrewJackson, the answer is "similar, but much worse". Owning real estate is considered fair game for public looting in many locals but not all. There are states and locals where public education isn't funded by property taxes. Other states and locals have no income tax. Some states have neither. So, it has always been possible to simply exist as a United States citizen.
However, as andre_linoge pointed out, the pending legislation will mark a turning point in personal liberty --the era of compulsory commerce. If signed into law, each and every citizen can be fined for refusing to do business with a federally approved entity; fined for merely existing. Welcome to the brave new world of 21st century oligarchy.
Dec 15, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
Oh yeah, we are going to have the same people run our health care that run the other wonderfully effecient programs they have run before--cash for clunkers, social security, medicare, post office... This is the most corrupt administration yet...hope and change? I hope we can change things in November. I am tired of my taxes going up, up and up. The more Washington does the more they cost and the more things get worse, not better. Fix what's wrong with health care--don't start all over. Obama was asked on ABC if the he and the rest of government would be on the this new "wonderful" health care program. There is the Kennedy amendment in the bill that prevents govt employees from participating. They get to keep their gold plated program.
Dec 15, 2009 at 11:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
Hey fool, is that anything like when my neighbor puts a gun to my head to pay for HIS childrens' education?
Dec 15, 2009 at 9:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
"Poor service at monopoly prices, it doesn't get any better (WORSE) than that!"--SuperDave ... You're right, SuperDave because that is what we have right now. That is exactly why reform is vital. BTW - the next time you hear a company like Walmart proclaiming the success of the current system because 90-some percent of their employees have health insurance, consider that half of those employees have health insurance only because of a spouse's employer's insurance plan!
Dec 15, 2009 at 9:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
"Single payer is the gold standard of health care reform". Really? I can't wait to drive my government car to my government doctor, and laugh all the way to my government bank.
Fool, you have it right here. The problem with "single payer" is that the single payer is US. Poor service at monopoly prices, it doesn't get any better (WORSE) than that!
Dec 15, 2009 at 6:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
Yes, nothing is quite so humane or cost-effective as convincing the government to stick a gun to your neighbor's head and force them to pay for the goods and services you receive. This approach is also a lot easier and safer than having to rob your neighbors all on your own.
Dec 15, 2009 at 12:44 a.m.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.