Libertarian Legacy? Ron Paul's Campaign Manager, 49, Dies Uninsured, Of Pneumonia, Leaving family $400,000 Debt
What a testament to the Libertarian creed, which abhors the idea of universal health care. This loyal, passionate man who died too young left his family a debt of $400,000 in medical bills. And who knows whether he put off getting treatment for the pneumonia that killed him because he was uninsured.
Kent Snyder did some amazing work on the Ron Paul Campaign and as remembered as a "libertarian giant"- by Lew Rockwell, on libertarian site, Lew Rockwell.com.
The Wall Street journal reports that Kent, more than anyone else, persuaded Ron Paul to run for president. And Kent, according the the WSJ said, "ultimately became a $35 million operation with 250 employees that helped deliver more than one million votes for the Texas congressman's bid in the Republican nominating contest."
Ron Paul posted this message about Snyder on his website: ""Like so many in our movement, Kent sacrificed much for the cause of liberty, Kent poured every ounce of his being into our fight for freedom. He will always hold a place in my heart and in the hearts of my family."
Sadly, the Libertarian heart apparently does not include health care. The poor guy raised tens of millions of dollars and couldn't afford the $300-$600 a month that COBRA medical insurance would have cost.
Paul has some good ideas -- get out of Iraq, get the US out of a lot of other countries. But his opposition to government, to universal health care-- these ideas just don't work and his campaign manager's death makes a tragic example of it.
A website has been created to help raise the $400,000 to pay the medical bills.
crossposted from OpEdNews.com
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"Paul has some good ideas -- get out of Iraq, get the US out of a lot of other countries.
wRong Paul (R-TX) has very, very few "good" ideas.
This article is a case in point.
If I were elected president, I would get us out of Iraq as quickly as RP would.
I have the same chance as him, so what's so good about the idea?
www.campai
it is obvious that huffpo skips right in line with other MSM outlets. ron paul did not quit the campaign. he suspended it, which frees him up to raise more funds and do more in his campaign for the presidency and for his continually growing voting block to take back this country.
state delegates will be going to the convention, and at the very least will change the platform. beyond that, and more importantly, the voting block of the gop and the house and senate will see some significant changes these next few elections because the constitutional and libertarian candidates are being supported for these vacancies.
he most likely will not win the presidency, but he will make a larger impact on american politics with his continued fight for liberty.
The Revolution: A Manifesto. It is happening.
Long time, no see Pw.
$5 and that new GOP platform will get you a cup of coffee.
I am looking forward to the RuPaul parallel convention.
Study economics like he has and you will understand.
Horrible. What a shame. Sad and tragic.
I don't understand. How on earth can someone die of something so treatable as pneumonia in 2008? A friend and colleague of mine got it about 3 years ago: she felt dreadful, and it took her ages to recover, but it never crossed anybody's mind that she wouldn't get better.
I've never needed healthcare in the US, but does this story mean that if someone shows up at a hospital needing care, but doesn't have health insurance, then they don't get any treatment? As simple as that? I always presumed that people got some treatment, just not the best, if they were uninsured. Does this mean that in the US, doctors will allow a sick person to leave hospital untreated, based on their financial status? To a European, that is unimaginable. Literally unimaginable.
I think his massive medical debt *is* evidence that despite his lack of insurance, he was given medical care. And yes, many people die from pneumonia in the US every year. A flu vaccine annually and the pneumonia vaccine every 5 years helps those most at risk.
I feel relatively certain that he was NOT "given" medical care.
That is the point of the story.
Wow, compassion isn't a strong point, is it?
OMG!
My Mother wa scheduled for surgery in April, but the pre-op exam showed pneumonia, so they moved her from surgery to the medical floor, kept her on an IV antibiotic drip for 5 days, and then sent her back to her ALF, where she is in fine physical health. She will be 93 years old in Oct. Her last job before retirement was for Blue Cross Blue Shield, so she has excellent benefits!
The death of a 49 year old from pneumonia, raises a LOT of questions.
As a descendant of Dr. Bard who initiated the quarrentine center at Ellis Island in the 18th century, I say.......
In the U.S. if someone goes to the hospital they have to be treated even if they can't pay and have no insurance. Even if they are illegals
Tragic.
Still think universal single-payor health care coverage is a bad idea??? He was 49, and died of pneumonia--sounds like care of the early 1900s! 47 million minus 1 without coverage.
He didn't die because he had no insurance.
His family has a large debt because of it.
No, medical bills fall to the estate, not the family.
Yeah, pneumonia is something that you have to treat right away and you have to stay in bed for weeks when you get it. It feels like the flu with great difficulty breathing.
You can always go the emergency room after 7 P.M. and you can’t be turned down. Get the blood test and find out what you have. Get the antibiotics, take them, and stay in bed until you are better.
Totally tragic. I bet the antibiotics shouldn't really cost more than $50. That's American health care for you. I was hopping this election would address this issue, but no, I will vote for Mc Cain and try to convince all I know to do the same. Maybe 2012, but I won't hold my breath on that either. Shameful..
So, then this issue is unimportant to you?
McCain thinks the current system is good.
How tragic! To allow this man to die of pneumonia in this day and age is unconscionable! This certainly outlines the urgent need for universal healthcare immediately! How many people are dying because they dont have any health insurance or only have minimal converage?
Yet this criminal administration is spending billions and billions of dollars on an ILLEGAL oil war!
This is a national disgrace!
Our education system is a disgrace, precisely because it is national.
Kent died after spending months and months in the hospital. Lack of insurance had nothing to do with it.
I still agree that the govenment is too intrusive. If they used our tax dollars for health care and not
sticking their noses in our personal lives, my libertarian streak would be satisfied.
There are good things and not so good things about this party and not every member in it
is on the same end of it's spectrum.
Sounds like the Libertarians should now join the progressives in the Obama movement and work for universal healthcare. A lot of lives can be saved if we all work together to defeat McCSame. Ron Paul on his own will never do it.
Too old for medicaid; too young for medicare; and never elected to Congress. Does anyone understand that we ALREADY have universal health care for some groups in this society? Ironically, this couldn't happen to Ron Paul - he is covered by an excellent government sponsored health care plan. How can he stand to accept it? Doesn't it violate everything he stands for?
And will still be covered after he's no longer a Congressman. Won't even have to pay for COBRA coverage either.
Exactly! It must weigh on his mind - letting the government control his health care!
He declines the coverage.
But I suppose that doesn't matter around here.
There is a good deal of irony in this situation. Perhaps, this guy could have afforded the COBRA cost but simply refused to pay it, due to his Libertarian leanings.
That is why most of us in the health care field know that Clinton's health care plan, which required everyone to purchase it and made it possible for them to do so, is far superior than that of Obama. One will always have young people who think they are going to live forever, those of Libertarian leanings because they resent being told they have to do anything, and those who will cheap out and just hope that they don't become ill.
If everyone is required to get it, then the cost will truly be spead.
While I am no libertarian, I don''t think that people should be forced to pay for a health care plan. I find it unfortunate that you are using this article to take yet another jab at Barack Obama.
I don't think anybody should be "mandated" to purchase healthcare and that's why I didn't like Clinton's healthcare plan.
The reason that everyone should be mandated to get it is that that is the only manner in which the cost can be spread, and it is the only manner in which we won't have people who refuse to pay and then get sick and run up hundreds of thousands of dollars in care, after refusing to get the coverage offered.
Once again, your answer proves what I said, there will always be those who dislike being required or mandated to do anything, but they still will get sick, get injured, and the rest will have to bear the burden for their being hard-headed and refusing to get the care when it is available.
That is fine with me as long as they don't expect my tax dollars to be used to treat them if they become ill. No more free ER service.
One must feel bad for his family. Libertarianism at times conflicts with common sense and humanity. RIP.
Nope. Libertarianism IS common sense. Humanity is reserved for bleeding-heart statist progressives. Make your own future through rugged individualism, not rely on government socialism or coporate capitalism.
There goes my Ron Paul draft.
Damn.
God speed to a good man.
Actually, I meant to say universal health CARE not INSURANCE.
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