Monday, October 8, 2007

John Edwards on how to Fix Health Care

Democratic Presidential candidate briefly speaks about Universal Health Care and its cost. At this conference Mr. Edwards tells the crowd that in order to have Universal Health Care we will need to raise taxes. Do you agree with this statement? How do you think that the American people will react to the idea of raising taxes to pay for health care? Watch this short clip and let us know what you think.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Edwards is exactly right about raising taxes. Look at how Congress plans on funding the increase in SCHIP, a significant increase in cigarette tax.

Since many don't know the history of the first federal tax (the federal income tax was set up by Lincoln to help fund the Civil War), law makers from both sides have railed against higher taxes.

While I am very much against a Universal Coverage program, Mr. Edwards is at least telling the truth about this not being pie in the ski (ie. Canadians pay 60% Income Tax so they can get their poor quality health care).

As for taxes on certain items, like trans-fats, cigarettes, alcohol, or other committees that work against health care, I vote for that. But the money could be used for the current programs that are underfunded, not to try and fund something that is so expansive that a major tax increase would be needed.

I respect Mr. Edwards for being honest and not pandering.

Anonymous said...

How the public responds to raising taxes to support health insurance depends on their knowledge of the way health care is funded and the costs of uninsurance. No one spends enough time talking about the enormous cost to the country of having so many people uninsured. We pay for that through taxes already.

Salt H2O said...

At least he's being upfront about the costs where as Hilary is overly simplistic and thinks that taxing cigarettes can pay for healthcare- the irony!

tysqui said...

I can't imagine anybody being able to implement a universal health care program without raising taxes. It just doesn't seem possible without the money.