Overview for News

Universal Care: Not Now, Not Later

The answer must be no. We have only to look at Europe, or North of the Border, or to Medicare and Medicaid, to see what the assumption that government will require and provide healthcare to all citizens does to conservative parties. They become unconservative. Tens of millions of Americans lack …

Written by John Vecchione on Sunday August 23, 2009

The Lockerbie Question

If the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber was made in London, not Scotland, when did the Obama administration first learn of it and what did it say? We are very far as yet from knowing the full truth of this story. If the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber was made in London, not …

Written by David Frum on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: Fix Old Problems Before New

Before anyone starts suggesting universal coverage, the American people want to see waste and inefficiency wrung from the current system. 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 Crystal Wright on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: One Man's Story

Relying on emergency rooms to provide universal care is probably the most expensive kind of healthcare, tackling problems when they are more serious and therefore more costly. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform …

Written by Dennis Sanders on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: A Fait Accompli

As other contributors have pointed out, our current system of universal coverage is called: “show up at the emergency room.” So as long as everyone is promised some level of insurance—emergency visits—why not have everyone pay? Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending …

Written by Stephen Richer on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: Make it Our Bill

Republicans should embrace universal healthcare by supporting the Wyden-Bennett Healthy Americans Act. There is no another viable way to get rid of the tax-free treatment of employer-provided healthcare benefits that is severely distorting the healthcare market. Tens of millions of Americans …

Written by Tom Church on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: Code for a Comprehensive Plan

Should Republicans create a plan and sell it as the "universal healthcare" plan that the Democrats are refusing to pass because of their bickering? No, and here's why: "universal" is another word for "comprehensive", and "comprehensive", as we learned from the immigration debate of 2007, means "a …

Written by Thomas J. Marier on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: Unaffordable and Unpopular

The U.S. has a system of universal coverage now - it's called "show up at the emergency room" - and while it is far from perfect, the overwhelming majority actually seem pretty content with it - at least any time we get down to the specifics of some other form of "universal coverage." Tens of …

Written by Bradley Smith on Saturday August 22, 2009

Universal Coverage: A Personal Ambivalence

Because medical care means life and death something needs to be done to keep costs down and make sure that people can get coverage - especially for catastrophic illnesses. I remember the days when for a 20 minute doctor's visit we would pay $150 - which to me is outrageous. Tens of millions of …

Written by Elise Cooper on Saturday August 22, 2009

Universal Coverage: Endorse the Concept

The goal of the Republican Party should be to see everyone covered, not through government healthcare, but through government systematically breaking down the barriers to a competitive health insurance market in the U.S. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to …

Written by Zac Morgan on Saturday August 22, 2009

Universal Coverage: A Policy Not a Program

Republicans should rally vocally for universal healthcare coverage - and then work hard to remove the tax and regulatory barriers that impinge on the market for private health insurance. Universal coverage can be a goal of public policy without being a federal program or mandate. Tens of …

Written by Kenneth Silber on Saturday August 22, 2009

Universal Opportunity, Not Universal Coverage

Universal health coverage is possible to achieve although I would call it "Universal Opportunity." High deductible, catastrophic coverage could be achieved for the 10 to 15 million truly unable to afford care. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Saturday August 22, 2009

Universal Coverage? Universal Responsibility

Republicans should favor universal responsibility for paying ones' own medical costs; that implies something similar to universal coverage. 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 Eli Lehrer on Saturday August 22, 2009

Town Hall Done Right

Democrats and the administration are trying to characterize the crowds at town hall meetings as crazy, even racist mobs orchestrated by the Republican party to tank our president’s health plan. This is wishful thinking. Democrats and the administration are trying to characterize the crowds at town …

Written by Crystal Wright on Saturday August 22, 2009

Where's the Outrage?

The most astonishing thing about the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al Megrahi has been the tepid reaction of President Obama and his administration. Perhaps the most astonishing thing about the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al Megrahi has been the tepid …

Written by David Frum on Saturday August 22, 2009

Forget WH Assurances: The Public Option Would Crush Private Competition

The public option is fundamentally at odds with the understanding of free markets and liberal societies held by most Americans. As Washington struggles to figure out what went wrong with Obamacare, and what will become of its centerpiece -- the public option -- much of the focus has been on the …

Written by Henry Clay on Saturday August 22, 2009

Why Natural Gas Makes Economic Sense

Historically, natural gas has never been a leading player in the world energy story. But now, with the recent discoveries of plentiful new domestic sources, natural gas can provide a cleaner, economic and more secure energy source. All of sudden, everybody seems to love natural gas. At the …

Written by Gusher on Friday August 21, 2009

Obama: Wilting Under the Heat?

For Obama, a president who cares too much about what is written and said about him, the last month and a half must have been hellish. Despite his "cool" image, I don't think our president is taking the pressure well. Despite his "cool" image, I don't think our president is taking the pressure of …

Written by Gusher on Friday August 21, 2009

Legislation Done Right

Members of the Senate Finance Committee are continuing to try to reach a compromise healthcare bill. They may not reach an agreement, but at least they are trying to be the lawmakers the taxpayers hired them to be. That’s more than can be said for the rest of Congress. Last night, members of the …

Written by Jeb Golinkin on Friday August 21, 2009

NM Exclusive: Lockerbie Families Decry Bomber's Release

Yesterday, the Scottish government released Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, the only person to be convicted in the terrorist attack on Pan Am Flight 103. NewMajority made contact with families of the murdered to hear their reactions. Yesterday, the Scottish government released Abdelbaset Ali …

Written by Elise Cooper on Friday August 21, 2009