Clinton health plan for Americans only

[jterrell]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071018/...on_health_care

WASHINGTON - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that immigrants living in the U.S. illegally would not be covered by her proposed universal health care plan.


The New York senator said she supports basic health services for illegal immigrants, including hospitalization and treatment of acute conditions. But she said the magnitude of the nation's health care challenge means her universal coverage proposal would not cover the 12 million people living in the country illegally.

"People who are here legally deserve some better treatment and acceptance in the law than people who are not here legally," she said. "These are hard choices."

As for ways to reduce pressure on the overburdened health care system, she said she could envision using "carrots and maybe a few sticks" to motivate people to lose weight and make other behavioral changes that could help.

Speaking at a forum sponsored by several health care organizations, Clinton addressed a range of questions on the future of Social Security and Medicare, racial and gender disparities in health care coverage and ways to encourage medical students to become primary care doctors rather than specialists.

Most of all, there were questions about her proposed $110 billion health care plan and how it would bring order to a fractured system.

She didn't directly address questions of whether smokers or obese people should pay more for health care but said as president she would use the "bully pulpit" to encourage healthy lifestyle choices, particularly among young people.

Clinton, who has publicly fretted about her weight, drew laughs as she recalled competing for presidential physical fitness awards as a child.

"We were rounded up and taken to the gym where we had to jump and run. I was horrible at it. They kept telling me to run and I'd say, 'I'm running,'" she said. "It was a very strong message to children that the president cares about your health care. I personally believed Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy were sitting in the White House signing my certificate."

The former first lady also spoke about her failure to enact universal coverage during her husband's presidency, assuring audience members that she would not repeat the mistakes that doomed that effort.

Among other things, she said it had been a mistake to try and draft the plan out of the White House, and that as president she had no intention producing the specific legislation for Congress to consider.

"I'm setting goals for the country. But I know how important it is to work out the details in consultation with the Congress," she said.

Clinton scoffed at suggestions from Republican presidential rivals that her plan is little more than socialized medicine, calling them "old, tired accusations." But she acknowledged the need to bring a broad spectrum of interests together in order to enact her proposed plan.

"I think we'll have a very strong coalition that will be able to make the case to Congress," she said. "Nobody will come out of this process with 100 percent of what he or she wants."

Clinton also said the task would be made easier if more Democrats were elected to the Senate in 2008.

"It's one of my highest priorities," she said.

[jterrell]

I am surprised this has drawn nary a comment.

Guess the folks who bash this plan would rather not discuss this aspect of it.

[AtlCB]

Originally Posted by jterrell

I am surprised this has drawn nary a comment.

Guess the folks who bash this plan would rather not discuss this aspect of it.

There really isn't any detail about her plan in the article.

[jterrell]

Originally Posted by AtlCB

There really isn't any detail about her plan in the article.

The biggest detail is that she would not cover illegal aliens under it.
The fact it is a universal health care plan for Americans is the biggest distinction that can be made imho. I want us to cover Americans and I want us to have a distinction between Americans and illegal aliens.

She also stated quite clearly that any plan would have to be worked through Congress and no one person would put through a plan without compromises.

Her lack of detail is because she pointedly states the base plan would have to be fleshed out with Congress.

Not that it matters to anyone but this is actually a politician being honest and letting you know in advance exactly what will happen in the political process.

[superpunk]

Originally Posted by jterrell

The fact it is a universal health care plan for Americans is the biggest distinction that can be made imho. I want us to cover Americans and I want us to have a distinction between Americans and illegal aliens.

I don't see how it's even possible. These illegals take advantage of government programs because their employers give them identification and SSN's. How do you stop that?

[zrinkill]

Originally Posted by jterrell

I am surprised this has drawn nary a comment.

What else can be said about socialism?

[jterrell]

Originally Posted by superpunk

I don't see how it's even possible. These illegals take advantage of government programs because their employers give them identification and SSN's. How do you stop that?

If they have illegal id and are paying taxes they'd be covered but would be paying for it.

A guy here who hasn't passed the citizenship test but is paying taxes and is a working member of the society is totally different than a guy not paying taxes with 4 kids getting free educations and free health care who will not obtain citizenship specifically because doing so would mean he starts paying taxes and for health care.

I think we need much more severe laws for employers who de-fraud the government in order to hire illegals.

We are going to see more and cities start deporting illegals and refusing to rent/lease to people without proper identification. We will see a reduction in this problem if we start looking at it from the standpoint of the American tax-paying citizen and not from the point of view of business.

I would be interested in hearing th libertarian take here as they usually have a take that is neither conservative nor liberal but based on a reduction of government interference in all areas.

[jterrell]

Originally Posted by zrinkill

What else can be said about socialism?

In another words you didn't respond earlier because you can not read?

Lay out for the grounds for this being socialized perhaps? Then please to compare and contrast it to other areas of our lives.

[AtlCB]

Originally Posted by jterrell

The biggest detail is that she would not cover illegal aliens under it.
The fact it is a universal health care plan for Americans is the biggest distinction that can be made imho. I want us to cover Americans and I want us to have a distinction between Americans and illegal aliens.

She also stated quite clearly that any plan would have to be worked through Congress and no one person would put through a plan without compromises.

Her lack of detail is because she pointedly states the base plan would have to be fleshed out with Congress.

Not that it matters to anyone but this is actually a politician being honest and letting you know in advance exactly what will happen in the political process.

I wasn't attacking Clinton in this piece. I just don't think there was much information. Illegals not covered - ok, Congress to hash out details - ok

Not much to see here.

I'm not completely against universal healthcare. I just want see the plan. I want changes in the way government operates before I support a plan than we might regret later.

[trickblue]

Originally Posted by jterrell

The biggest detail is that she would not cover illegal aliens under it.

I don't believe that for a minute. Maybe not initially, but in time...

[Doomsday]

Originally Posted by jterrell

In another words you didn't respond earlier because you can not read?

Lay out for the grounds for this being socialized perhaps? Then please to compare and contrast it to other areas of our lives.

What makes it socialized is the fact that they are going to ram this down everyone's throats whether or not they want health care. I dont want to pay for health care for other people and I should have the right to not pay for health care for myself if I chose not to. I can afford to cover my own medical bills. The government needs to but out, Im tired of them dipping into my pockets and spreading my money around to people to lazy or unwilling to fend for themselves.

[zrinkill]

Originally Posted by jterrell

you can not read?

If you do not believe this is socialism ..... you are the one who cannot read.

Or you do not understand what socialism is.

Either way .... its pretty sad on your part.

[zrinkill]

Originally Posted by Doomsday

I am tired of them dipping into my pockets and spreading my money around to people to lazy or unwilling to fend for themselves.

[jterrell]

Originally Posted by Doomsday

What makes it socialized is the fact that they are going to ram this down everyone's throats whether or not they want health care. I dont want to pay for health care for other people and I should have the right to not pay for health care for myself if I chose not to. I can afford to cover my own medical bills. The government needs to but out, Im tired of them dipping into my pockets and spreading my money around to people to lazy or unwilling to fend for themselves.

So then requiring id is socialized.
Requiring seat belts is socialized.
How many other things fall into this category?

Socialized is just a term neo-cons use to bash an idea they do not like.

We are socialized already.
You are already required to pay taxes and you do not get to decide where that tax money goes.

You already pay for health care for the people who do not have jobs and can not afford it.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Originally Posted by Doomsday

What makes it socialized is the fact that they are going to ram this down everyone's throats whether or not they want health care. I dont want to pay for health care for other people and I should have the right to not pay for health care for myself if I chose not to. I can afford to cover my own medical bills. The government needs to but out, Im tired of them dipping into my pockets and spreading my money around to people to lazy or unwilling to fend for themselves.

Tell them to stop sending money overseas to Israel. Tell them to stop sending our military to countries like Iraq.

Tell them to stop voting themselves a pay raise.

Tell them to stop spending tax payer money on election parties.

Tell them to stop spending tax money on trips, medical care.

Shame is they have the money to pay for their own medical care and yet we still pay for them. How about that for socialized medicine.