As we grow closer to the close of the primaries (mine here in Pennsylvania is still two months away) and with the general election looming, the topic of health care is right on the top of my mind. There are so many issues, so many worries for the average American. My top three are health care, the economy, and the War in Iraq. As I’ve discussed before, stem cell research is also a key priority of mine, following right behind the War in my top of the charts list.
While all the issues are important, today’s focus on Sunshine and Moonlight is health care. Earlier I wrote that the election is “looming”. That word has negative connotations to it, doesn’t it? I see it as “looming” because there is so much riding on the next several months. I’ve made mistakes before in my selection of a President, what if I do it again? The best way that I can combat this concern is by becoming more educated and by voting on the issues and not with emotion. I sometimes have a hard time keeping all the candidates’ positions straight, so today I thought we’d tackle one—health care – and provide all of you with specific information on each of the top candidates’ stances on this particular issue.
This question was posed to each candidate: Do you generally favor or oppose the concept of universal health care in America? That is, require people to have health insurance and provide a mechanism for meeting the requirement.
Barack Obama:
ANSWER OPTION: Favor
CANDIDATE’S POSITION: “The time has come for universal, affordable health care in America,” Obama said in a speech in Iowa City, at the University of Iowa’s medical school in May 2007. (More Info)
Hillary Clinton:
ANSWER OPTION: Favor
CANDIDATE’S POSITION: On September 17, 2007, Mrs. Clinton unveiled her health care plan which requires every American to have health insurance with federal assistance to help defray the cost. (More Info)
John McCain:
ANSWER OPTION: Oppose
CANDIDATE’S POSITION: “I think that we can make health care affordable and available without a mandate,” McCain told ABC’s “This Week” program in June 2007. McCain’s plan, released on October 11, 2007, provides $2,500 refundable tax credits for individuals and a $5,000 tax credit to families, if they have health insurance. Employers would no longer be allowed to deduct health care costs from taxes. He would allow people to have portable insurance that could be purchased across state lines. And he favors re-importation of drugs. (More Info)
Mike Huckabee:
ANSWER OPTION: Oppose
CANDIDATE’S POSITION: “We do not need a universal health care mandate,” Huckabee said in an interview posted on his campaign Web site. (More Info)
Mike Gravel:
ANSWER OPTION: Favor
CANDIDATE’S POSITION: According to his campaign Web site, “Senator Gravel advocates a universal health-care voucher program in which the federal government would issue annual health care vouchers to Americans based on their projected needs. Under the Senator’s plan, all Americans would be fully covered and would be free to use their vouchers to choose their own health care professional. No one would ever be denied health insurance because of their health, wealth, or any other reason. A universal health-care voucher plan will also relieve American businesses of the financial responsibility of insuring their workers while ensuring that their workers get adequate care.” In an e-mail to MPR News, his campaign said, “The Senator believes that allowing people to divert a percentage of their income into private accounts similarly encourages people to save for their future.” (More Info)
Ron Paul:
ANSWER OPTION: Oppose
CANDIDATE’S POSITION: In an online column, Paul wrote, “The lesson is clear: when government and other third parties get involved, health care costs spiral. The answer is not a system of outright socialized medicine, but rather a system that encourages everyone — doctors, hospitals, patients, and drug companies — to keep costs down. As long as somebody else is paying the bill, the bill will be too high.” (Source: LewRockwell.com) (More Info)
________________________________________________________________________ Engage ’08: Select a Candidate – take this quiz to see how your priorities match up with the top candidates in the race or click on “Candidate Positions” to see every position and priority of every candidate. Folks, this is a trusted source for information, screened and presented by American Public Media/Minnesota Public Radio, affiliated with public radio stations around the country. (If you are a teacher, this is a fabulous reference tool to use when teaching about the election)!
