Will Obama push for universal health care for all children in this country?

[CTyankee]

It certainly is a good way to start and only the meanest hearts in Congress would oppose it. I think we'd win this fight!

It seems to me that a "Medicare for kids" could be easily implemented. That way, the states would have a very heavy burden removed or at least ameliorated.

We just have to have the will to do so. I hope this is in Obama's plans, as yet unrevealed, and that he is focus grouping the question all over the country to get the pulse of the Americanpeople on the issue.

And, it would be a great way to start the ball rolling towards universal health care for everybody else, down the road...

[Double T]

1. First we have an economic depression that needs to be dealt with.

Everything else will have to wait till this rethug/bush/cheney/congressional GIGANTIC MESS is cleaned up.

[CTyankee]

5. Well, it is relatively cheap to do and he needs to do it in his "honeymoon" phase

with the American people. And it would be very popular with the people and pay off big time. I think it would be relatively easy to do as the template is already in place. I don't think it would consume his time in developing strategy and programs: they are largely already there. We know how to do this.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. The depression might make it possible

When the middle class is flush and happy and satisfied with life, why rock the boat, why change to universal health care?

This depression might be the motivating factor that can get real support for a health care system. It's gotta have the middle classes thinking about the real possibility of bankruptcy due to health costs.

[CTyankee]

9. It would certainly make people feel better knowing SOMETHING has been done

to help them. At least there would be that much security in their lives...

[napi21]

2. Yes I think he will, but I don't understand why there's so much

of a push for "children's health care"? MOST of those who NEED health care and don't have it are not children! If you are under 65 and can't afford any health care premiums, you're sh*t out of luck! I'm not saying ignore children, but the biggest medical bills haunting most people are not for treatment of children.

[CTyankee]

3. There are many reasons to do this.

First, it is crucially important that children receive the immunizations and both well and sick baby care from birth so childhood diseases can be avoided any problems that may exist can be spotted early. Second, children are actually cheaper to cover than adults so it is more easily achieved. Third, it paves the way for universal health care for all. Americans will see how well Medicare works for their elderly parents and Medicare for kids works for their own children and will say "Why not for everybody?"

But as an overall social policy, we cannot be a great nation if we don't care for the people who will replace us. That seems obvious to me.

[cyclezealot]

4. Should Obama leave the insurance companies in charge

expect scant coverage for everyone.

[CTyankee]

6. No, it should/must be an enhanced national Husky program.

My grandson has pieced together health care out in California. One national program efficiently run would take an enormous burden of worry off the shoulders of my daughter and her husband.

Bush endeared himself to precious few people when he callously vetoed the federal funding for children's health care, saying it would be "too popular" and "people would want to use it." That was beyond total disgust...

[Vattel]

8. great idea!