Here's a link to the article. Go read it all, but here's an excerpt:
The GOP agenda to ramp up domestic supplies of energy is the only way that we are going to become energy independent, the only way that we are going to become a more secure nation. And I say this, of course, knowing the situation we are in right now — at war, not knowing what the plan is to ever end the war we are engaged in, understanding that Americans are seeking solutions and are seeking resolution in this war effort. So energy supplies and being able to produce and supply domestically is going to be a big part of that. And the GOP agenda is the right agenda in that respect, but the GOP is going to have to prove to Americans in following weeks that we can safely, responsibly and ethically develop these resources. That, of course, has been a problem for the GOP. And a problem up here in Alaska. We have state lawmakers serving time in prison right now... other lawmakers whom the FBI is probing right now... because they have been found, some, to be corrupt in oil and gas issues, having taken bribes. That does not bode well for the GOP. And that's gotta change.
So posits John Goodman (the republican strategist-not Walter from The Big Lebowski):
The Dallas Morning News reported that Goodman said, “anyone with access to an emergency room effectively has insurance.” Goodman continued, "So I have a solution. And it will cost not one thin dime…The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American – even illegal aliens – as uninsured.” .
I suspect that John Goodman has never had the need to visit an emergency room or his views would be a bit different. There is nothing like being in misery and having to wait several hours to be seen.
I don't know what the hospital charges for a basic emergency room visit, but my insurance co-pay is $150. I can only imagine what the charge for an uninsured patient must be, but the hospital will work out payment plans, I suppose.
I came home one day to a hospital bill of $286,000, but luckily my insurance covered it all. This was just the hospital bill and didn't cover rehab (roughly $65,000) which is privately provided and available only if insured or wealthy. Neither did it include the heart surgeon, the trauma surgeons, the vascular surgeon, the maxillo-facial surgeon, the infectious disease specialist, the neurologist, the plastic surgeon, and I'm sure several others obscured by blurred memory.
I learned quickly that one's life can be turned upside down in nothing more than moments and I was lucky to have good insurance. Between what I pay and what my employer pays my monthly bill for insurance coverage is just under $800/month. This is just simply unaffordable for a large segment of our population.
Goodman touts himself as the "father of the health savings account" which is another end run around the push for national health insurance. I have and use a health savings account into which I put around $2,000/year and I find it convenient to use, but it certainly would not go far in the event of even a relatively minor ailment. In fact, this amount pretty much covers my family prescription drug costs (co-pays) for a 1 year period and we're both relatively healthy and onlyh require some maintenance medication.
In the upcoming election cycle I welcome a dialogue about universal health care!
The only answer is a true national healthcare plan!
An interesting choice as running mate by John McCain which looks to backfire on the repubs.
I look forward to her reaction when she first faces a McCain temper tantrum! Maybe she'll change his diaper and coo in his ear.
As told by the Phoenix New Times in 2000. Talk about a criminal enterprise in your background! Go read the entire article, print it out, and share it with everyone supporting McCain!
I look forward to questions about this background material!