Do Republican candidates even have ANY health care proposals beyond status quo?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

Aside from Health Savings Accounts? :shrug:

[supernova]

1. No because conservatives objective

is always to maintain the current rottenenss of whatever enterprise is being argued. Or to minimize the gov't role in any activity that isn't military.

I really amazes me that people fall for their crappy "logic."

[Yael]

5. Here are some links to each of their talking points

I googled some information though as I have been meaning to go through them:

Romney: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2005-07-04-health-insurance-usat_x.htm

He is the ring leader of any hope they have of reform. Unfortunately, his MA plan is a disaster. I credit this by leaving the health-for-profit element in there.

Fred: http://fredfile.imwithfred.com/2007/fred-thompson-on-national-health-care-systems-we-shouldnt-copy/

He is against it saying that Canadians pay "half" of their income in taxes. He prefers the 'emergency room preventative' plan for the poor.

Rudy: http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Rudy_Giuliani_Health_Care.htm

He wants to levy a tax deduction to help. The Rudster is squarely in the pockets of Big Insurance and Big Pharma.

On Edit: Change one of the links

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. Am I to understand that Bush, the other day, actually SAID that we have UHC, just go to the ER? He

SAID this?

[Yael]

9. Yep. That is the RNC explanation of "everyone has care".

Thompson is on the record echoing those same sentiments.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

16. If Thompson is truly echoing this shite, he should be bludgeoned with it, should he be nominated.

I can't imagine the average American, Republican OR Democrat, struggling to keep up with copays and premiums, not being at least a bit pissed off having a rich actor/politician telling them "go to the E.R." (obviously someone who's never spent too much time in one).

[Yael]

10. From *'s own lips thanks to our friends at You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcNtnuAnTVY

[KAZ]

8. I think it's because they have no sense of empathy.

I have a conservative bro-in-law who easily pulls down $100K/mo, who was stricken with a very costly back ailment 3 years ago. Insurance dragging their feet, docs can't get approvals, the whole Sicko 9 yards. So at the time, Mister I Love Rush says to me at a family gathering, "you know something is wrong with this country if I have to dump all I have into getting my back fixed. I can barely walk"! I told him to think about those who have to "dump all they have", into getting a simple ailment checked out in the ER, because lovely employers like him aren't offering insurance to their employees. He shook his head thoughtfully, and in pain, said "Your right. Things have to change". Needless to say, he paid for his rehab, and is back on the "up-by-the-bootstraps train".

These "people" feel nothing unless it affects them, or maybe (just maybe), their not so immediate family. I call them functioning psychopaths.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. If he truly is pulling down 100K per month, even though back surgery and care can be

quite expensive, I'd think he could afford it.

[KAZ]

17. You'd be amazed at how fast 100k/mo disapears...

when you have a 7 kids, 2 in college, mansion on a lake, a live in/vacation with nanny, Germans in the garage, must keep all appearances up, lifestyle. Why, it's nearly week to week. :)

[NotGivingUp]

2. Kucinich was the only dem who has a decent health care proposal.

All the rest of them are guaranteeing enrichments to the insurance companies.

[Yael]

6. I would take another look at Edward's proposal

I didn't like it at first -- I think I may have been misreading it (or they expanded it).

I think it is much more workable -- and I am a supporter of 676.

[Warpy]

3. Sure, $15000 tax cuts to people who only pay $2000 in taxes

That'll be effective.

Tax credits and savings accounts are the only things they ever think of, not realizing that most people in this country are already living paycheck to paycheck and that profit driven medical care is simply beyond the reach of about 95% of us.

[KansDem]

4. It's all about the Attack of the MiddleMen...

For many years now, Republicans have been slicing up the public sector and giving it to their masters, the Corporations. What should be a direct relationship between a government and its citizens (health care, education, defense, infrastructure, etc.) is turned over to corporate interests who "act on behalf of the government for the benefit of the people." But what we get instead is shoddy work/service for bloated prices (ie, Halliburton). With Republicans, there always has to be a middleman making big bucks...

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. Yeah, their health care proposals are, only those who can afford health care on their own,

should have health care, unless they are Federal employees and then all us lowly worker bees should pay for it and just STFU!

[tandot]

12. Yes: Don't get sick

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. LOL! Remember during the '04 campaigns when Cheney brought his grandkids out on stage dressed as th

Grim Reaper and said that was the Democrats' plan for health care? Projection much? :rofl:

[tandot]

18. Cheney's grandkids don't usually wear Grim Reaper outfits???

Is he trying to hide the fact that he passed his genes on to them?

[ComerPerro]

13. HSA and blaming malpractice suits, its all they got.