I am disappointed in Wendell Potter - it is more "take" than "deal". Has insurance money tainted even Potter?

Why aren't politicians (with a few exceptions, like Dennis Kucinich) willing to suggest improving and expanding that part of the US medical coverage system that works - Medicare - to include all age groups. I suggest the late beloved Granny D knew the answer, and she said it as loud as she could - institutionaliz ed political bribery, now reinforced by the Supreme Court. Demand that HR-676 be substituted for the Obama bill now! Demand an end to dollar disenfranchisem ent!

There is no way healthcare in the US will change from the most expensive, least effective system in the developed world without removing a huge part of the profit motive that drives the insanity. Why couldn't the plan to insure all those children who fell through the cracks between medicaid and employer-provided insurance be added to wider Medicare coverage?

How indeed, to start a new, rational system? In Canada, it started with a single state (province) deciding to pay for medical care and hospitalization of everyone through taxes. Saskatchewan wasn't rich, and doctors went on strike, so it's hard to see it happening in the US today. But there are some states that are interested in extending care to more children, and so on. There needs to be a demand, and a demand that we all work together, for our own good.

I don't know Mr Potter. Where
does he get his opinion about
not being elected if he were for
Single Payer?

I do know Dennis Kucinich. I
watched him yesterday as he
spoke calmly, collectedly and
forcefully for Res 248.

I am tired of the voices that
say: "Take a quarter of what you
want, it is the best you can
get"; especially when the voices
don't back up their "Bewares"
with data.

Alan McConnell, In Silver Spring
MD

Koo is from Cleveland and I'm not proud of this. Why my wife went to high school with Koo and from what she told me, I've not back then nor now ever I voted for Koo. I just pass over the him and whoever runs against him, because whoever will not win. The West Side of Cleveland loves Koo. He is Mr Lazy with a loud mouth. He will argue just to be heard and still says nothing. The teachers alway thought he would be president and encouraged him to be so. We he comes into town on an issue, he rattles about and accomplishes zip. Do I believe him now, nope. Will I ever believe him yep, when Hades freezes.

People object of extending Medicare to cover everyone because they say it is 1. Socialism 2. costing the gov't too much money. But will those people who think it is Socialism decline Medicare when they turn 65, or give it up if they are already 65? Only if they are in Congress, and assured of a posh plan for life. And if Medicare funds hadn't been raided in the past to cover other expenses, it wouldn't be so overdrawn. How about removing the Congressional health plans, and see what happens then?
And how about, as I've suggested elsewhere, giving candidates running for national office free TV time so they won't have to be beholden to large contributors? It's in the FCC regulations!

Wendell's right, Obama wouldn't have been elected, because, just as they did to Dennis Kucinich, the corporate controlled media wouldn't have let him be heard. Dennis has supported a fairly simple Universal Single-payer plan for at least a decade.

MAINSTREAM MEDIA defeated Kucinich in both 2004, and 2008, because they know damn well that if his message were actually heard by the majority of Americans, and he were to become president, their gig would be up.

You know, we do not have to invent this wheel. The Dutch have a fine health care system. The Scandinavian countries have great health care systems. All cost way less than the US system. All have better health outcome statistics. All recognize the importance of a healthy populace (vs a healthy corporate balance sheet). None are so beset by greed and abuse.

So, Why don't we ask them to bid for the contract to manage the US health care industry? They clearly know how to run a national health system and to do it affordable and efficiently. Why waste that knowledge and experience. Bring in the talent and let them sort it out!