Overview for News

Universal Coverage: We Have to Build on What We’ve Got

There is no way to move from the current system to a system where everyone is insured without cutting back on their benefits and thereby angering them considerably. Instead, Republicans should endorse universal healthcare access within the system we already have. Tens of millions of Americans …

Written by Austin Bramwell on Tuesday August 25, 2009

Nothing Personal, Paterson's Just a Bad Governor

New York's Democratic Governor David Paterson stated this week that the media is treating him unfairly because he is African-American, and that this is the reason for his low standing in the polls. New York's Democratic Governor David Paterson stated this week that the media is treating him …

Written by Richard Brownell on Tuesday August 25, 2009

My Friend, Murdered Over Lockerbie

My friend, Hanne-Marie Maijala, was brilliant and beautiful and kindhearted. On Dec. 21, 1988, Hanne-Marie boarded Pan Am flight 103 for what would become an abbreviated one-way trip. Hanne-Marie Maijala Maybe it's because I'm of Scottish descent that I feel so ashamed today. Maybe it's …

Written by David Menzies on Tuesday August 25, 2009

ACLU "Outs" Undercover CIA Agents

The ACLU has “outed” CIA operatives by showing pictures of them at their homes to terrorists at Guantanamo Bay. As a former high ranking Bush official noted, “People should be very distressed that active agents were being followed around by people trying to disclose their identities.“ The ACLU …

Written by Elise Cooper on Tuesday August 25, 2009

Universal Coverage: Focus on Reforms that Increase Competition

Republicans should be in favor of market reforms that engender competition regardless of health status. But they should stay out of the business of coercion and excessive government guarantees. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal …

Written by Douglas Holtz-Eakin on Tuesday August 25, 2009

Universal Coverage: Treat Healthcare Like Other Commodities

Responsibility for the provision of health insurance should be taken out of the hands of employers and given to individuals. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform proposals since the 1960s. President Richard Nixon …

Written by Martin Krossel on Tuesday August 25, 2009

Universal Coverage Not the Only Way to Show Compassion

Our society has made the judgment that all Americans -- including those visiting our soil, for the short- or long-term -- do deserve some basic level of care. The challenge for Republicans, then, is to channel this compassionate impulse into appropriate policies that makes coverage available (not …

Written by Michael Rosen on Tuesday August 25, 2009

Lockerbie Families Ask: Was There a Deal with Libya?

The controversy over the release of al-Magrahi, the convicted terrorist responsible for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, continues. Family members and those in charge of the investigation cannot understand the reasoning behind his release and point to politics as the true reason. The controversy …

Written by Elise Cooper on Monday August 24, 2009

Universal Coverage? How About a National Healthcare Market at Last?

At a minimum, Republicans must endorse the concept of universal access to health insurance – health insurance for all who want it. At the same time, we should not have an individual mandate for healthcare with the system as it exists now. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. …

Written by John S. Gardner on Monday August 24, 2009

The Headlines Review

Napoleon Linardatos presents a humorous take on today's headlines. Napoleon Linardatos presents a humorous take on today’s headlines. “Lack of Medicare Appointee Puzzles Congress” - New York Times , 8.17.09 It is now believed that the Obama administration has depleted …

Written by Napoleon Linardatos on Monday August 24, 2009

Tales of the Unexpected

Has anyone noticed how economic expectations have changed since the advent of The One? Though there is no objective reason to have any faith that the Obama economic program will produce economic growth and lower unemployment, the will to believe among the media elite remains powerful. Has anyone …

Written by Gusher on Monday August 24, 2009

Why Don’t Americans Live Longer?

President Obama consistently points out that despite our extra costs of healthcare, some 30-50% more as a percent of our GDP than any other country, mortality rates in the United States put us in the middle of the pack of industrialized countries. So why the poor outcomes and high mortality rates? …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Monday August 24, 2009

Who Opposes Government-Operated Healthcare?

In Michigan, it's organized labor . In Michigan, it's organized labor .

Written by David Frum on Monday August 24, 2009

Reject Universal Coverage, Offer Targeted Reforms

The GOP seems to have successfully exploited the resistance to Obama's planned comprehensive makeover of the healthcare system. However, it is well past time for the GOP to offer a positive agenda on healthcare as well. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to …

Written by Henry Clay on Monday August 24, 2009

Universal Coverage: Not a Right, Nor a Conservative Obligation

To insist upon guaranteed universal healthcare for every living person in America is to insist that healthcare is a universal right, which it is certainly not. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform proposals since …

Written by Tom Qualtere on Monday August 24, 2009

Universal Coverage: Avoid Big Promises on Healthcare

Conservatives and Republicans need to think through alternative proposals. But let’s avoid, however, big, sweeping promises – like insuring everyone. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform proposals since the 1960s. …

Written by David Gratzer on Monday August 24, 2009

Universal Coverage Will Only Lead to a Single Payer System

Allowing the government to compete with private insurers would be the first step towards an ultimate take-over of the entire healthcare system by the "single payer" entity... Uncle Sam. Once a program of this magnitude is enacted, it can never, ever, be repealed. Tens of millions of Americans …

Written by Brad Schaeffer on Monday August 24, 2009

Universal Coverage, No. Low Health Costs, Yes

The key principle for Republicans on healthcare should be keeping costs low through a competitive private healthcare insurance market. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform proposals since the 1960s. President …

Written by Eric Trager on Monday August 24, 2009

Universal Coverage: A Disgrace It's Taken So Long

If American conservatives continue to oppose universal health insurance coverage, they will remain the outliers of the civilized world. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform proposals since the 1960s. President …

Written by Eugene Debs on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: A Recipe for Deficits Over the Horizon

Once enacted government entitlement programs grow and expand. Medicare covers more people and services than when it was first enacted. SCHIP has been expanded to cover children in households above the poverty level. The Senate Finance Committee is considering a similar expansion of Medicaid. …

Written by Lloyd Green on Sunday August 23, 2009