Talk health care, not mandates

A mandate to purchase health insurance that isn't enforced isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

A mandate to purchase health insurance that is enforced, for example by garnishing wages, is a political disaster.

So can we stop talking about mandates and start talking about making health coverage affordable and available to anyone who wants it? That's the difference between Democrats and Republicans on health care, and it's a winning difference.

Comments

[AOGutierrez]

10:52 AM on 02/04/2008

I don't want health insurance I want health care. When I go to the doctor or pharmacist I'm not a "health care consumer" I'm a patient. Its not like I get to chose between red Miata or silver Camry. I get to do what the doctor recommends. I want that recommendation to be based on the best available medical information and practice not colored by the lens of insurance company profit considerations. The Supreme Court has said that we can take people's homes homes by eminent domain to put in private commercial developments why can't we do the same for something as vital as public health.

I have no problem with companies making a reasonable profit by providing a necessary service, but the service must be provided before any profit can accrue. If they can provide the same level of care that the rest of the developed world enjoys for an equivalent percentage of GDP or less, fine. If not the government needs to step in either as a regulator or as direct competition or both. The insurance companies, being publicly licensed, do not have an inherent right to exist they have the privilege to conduct business in a prescribed manner at the pleasure of the government, i.e. we, the people, last time I checked.

[jmpurser]

10:10 AM on 02/04/2008

Bull hockey. No one in the upcoming race is interested in "health care" aside from their own. There is no plan on the table to improve the health of anyone aside from the insurance companies.

If you're interested in change then I hope to see you in 2012.

[BigBen]

07:49 AM on 02/04/2008

We want health care for all? right. But if those who can afford it opt out they and their children should not be given health care in an emergency. Is that the plan?If we make driving insurance mandatory why not health care mandatory for those who can afford it? But you say that would be political disaster so lets not do that and lets allow those who can afford it but chose not to pay for it opt out and get health care free.