Why won’t any of the front runners endorse single payer health care?
CCR on CounterPunch via Commie Curmudgeon (II):
Polls indicate that the majority of the American people want single payer.
But who will deliver?
On Saturday, the Center for American Progress Action Fund and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) sponsored a forum in Las Vegas for presidential candidates to discuss health care.
No Republicans accepted.
Seven Democrats accepted.
All the candidates at the forum agreed that universal health care was the goal. (Even the Business Roundtable and the insurance industry now say they want “universal health care.”)
But only one – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) – accepts the only answer that will work – single payer.
Chris Truscott weighs in, and it is his closing comment I want to highlight:
In 1961, when President John F. Kennedy announced his plan to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade, he didn’t sugarcoat things. He called on Congress and the American people to do better; to accept the greatest challenge; to make a “firm commitment to a new course of action.”
As we know, Americans responded.
Nearly a half century later we can do the same thing on health care. But before we do that, our political leaders must find the courage to lead and meet this great challenge.
Health Care is a clear win issue. Moving to single payer will cut costs, increase health, and save lives. Americans want this. This is the kind of issue that gets new, dedicated voters into the booths on election day. It is the kind of issue that turns voters into volunteers.
Democrats are heading into 2008 strong. The Republican candidates are weak, and burdened by Bush’s legacy. However if the Democrats want to do more than win the White House by a small margin, we need to take bold action. There are three policy areas where we are very strong, and an aggressive offense will leave the Republican party smoldering:
Democracy – On everything from verified voting to constitutional rights. The Bush administration has either neglected or actively attacked the political foundation of this country. Who will step up and defend it?
Security – We need to go after the terrorists without making new ones. Perhaps even find a way to turn terrorists into sympathizers, sympathizers into moderates, and so on. We need to recognize that disaster preparedness is part of security, and that over-extending our resources makes us vulnerable. This applies to soldiers, it applies to loans, it applies to good will.
Health Care – This is a big three issue. Our lives, and the quality of our lives, are profoundly affected by health insurance. The economy is affected when people factor in health insurance into the jobs they choose and the money they spend.
On all three issues, candidates can take strong positions that will sweep state and federal candidates into office along side them. To do this, we must have candidates who take those positions and hold them in the full fury of the right wing media machine. Deflect pundit criticisms with the sharp point of reality. Beat back insurance industry lobbying with youtube virals (”Your Health, Your Right!”). Strike down every false policy position on the big three with one hand, and with the other present a bold alternative immediately. We can do this. Imagine looking back on 2006 and realizing we were just warming up.
If the candidates can do this, they will be surprised at the power in their voices. That will be us, joining in. People Powered Politics is much much more than just a slogan (emphasis mine):
In 1961, when President John F. Kennedy announced his plan to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade, he didn’t sugarcoat things. He called on Congress and the American people to do better; to accept the greatest challenge; to make a “firm commitment to a new course of action.”
As we know, Americans responded.
We will again in 2008.
Filed under: 2008, Democracy, Health Care, Politics, Presidential Candidates, Rhetoric, Strategy, War
