| Edwards plan: Doctor visits mandatory Associated Press | September 02, 2007
TIPTON, Iowa -- Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said on Sunday that his universal healthcare proposal would require that Americans go to the doctor for preventive care. ''It requires that everybody be covered. It requires that everybody get preventive care,'' he told a crowd sitting in lawn chairs in front of the Cedar County Courthouse. ``If you are going to be in the system, you can't choose not to go to the doctor for 20 years. You have to go in and be checked and make sure that you are OK.'' He noted, for example, that women would be required to have regular mammograms in an effort to find and treat ''the first trace of problem.'' Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, announced earlier this year that her breast cancer had returned and spread. Edwards said his mandatory healthcare plan would cover preventive, chronic and long-term health care. The plan would include mental health care as well as dental and vision coverage for all Americans. ''The whole idea is a continuum of care, basically from birth to death,'' he said. The former North Carolina senator said all presidential candidates talking about health care ``ought to be asked one question: Does your plan cover every single American?'' ''Because if it doesn't they should be made to explain what child, what woman, what man in America is not worthy of health care,'' he said. ``Because in my view, everybody is worth health care.'' Edwards said his plan would cost up to $120 billion a year, a cost he proposes covering by ending President Bush's tax cuts to people who make more than $200,000 per year. Edwards, who has been criticized by some for calling on Americans to be willing to give up their SUVs while driving one, acknowledged Sunday that he owns a Ford Escape hybrid SUV, purchased within the year, and a Chrysler Pacifica, which he said he has had for years. ''I think all of us have to move, have to make progress,'' he said. ``I'm not holier-than-thou about this. . . . I'm like a lot of Americans, I see how serious this issue is and I want to address it myself and I want to help lead the nation in the right direction.'' He said he would not buy another SUV in the future. The Ford Escape, the first hybrid SUV on the market, gets an estimated
36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
Comments John Edwards is, quite simply, insane. Posted by: Barb M
When I was a kid (I'm 57 now, so we're talking about 40-45 years ago), my father used to say "there's nobody worse than a reformed drunk". As politically incorrect as that statement is today, it still speaks to the "moralism" of someone who has been hit over the head by reality with the results of his own shortcomings. Now, Mr. Edwards is hitting us over the head with his wife's unfortunate health issues. The thing that really comes out of this statement, though, is the liberal's tendency towards dictatorial powers ("we know what is best for you, and we will make you do that", or, as Hillary said, "we're going to take those profits away from you and use them for the common good"). This explains why the lefties love people like Castro and Chavez - they really aspire to BE them. Let's hope enough Americans come to their senses by November 2008 and send these closet dictators packing. Maybe someone can come up with a "dictator sting" in airport bathrooms around the country. Posted by: Nick in Virginia
uhm cutting out tax breaks from the richest people is not going to cover it. i know someone who makes just over 300k a year and taxes kill him every year cause he has to pay over a 3rd what he earns each year in taxes after his tax shelters max out ever year he is still paying a little over 100k in taxes which is utterly rediculous. removeing these tax breaks doesnt help or hurt the biggest of tycoons cause they have every penny they can get in a type of tax shelter allready and if that isnt enough they have additional amounts they can give away to other people not in such a high tax bracket to cicumvent it as well. Posted by: david
I believe John Edwards is "smoking" something when he comes up with his off the wall thoughts. He really believes we Americans are stupid illiterates. Posted by: marty sims
Ahhhhhh Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah Posted by: patriot
John, if I should get sick, and the doc didn't catch it, will you then sue on my behalf? Will your fee be 40%? Just asking. Posted by: Jeri
Edwards and his wife cannot get along with their neighbor across the road in Chapel Hill,NC I bet he would find some people to omit from the mandatory doctor visits out of spite. Posted by: Puddintane
For someone,a presidential candidate of all people,to ask if Cuba's health care system was run by the government just shows how cottonpickin' dumb he is. Posted by: Puddintane
Great! Do you think the 2 Doctors in Mississippi could handle the caseload? Posted by: Benthere
Edwards said, ''It requires that everybody be covered." He should rephrase
that to say everybody be covered to wants to be covered. I personally do
NOT want Edwards making healthcare decisions for me or my family. He's
the guy who sues the healthcare! He should move to Cuba.
Posted by: R. Johnson
He noted, for example, that women would be required to have regular mammograms in an effort to find and treat ''the first trace of problem.' But what about 'a woman's right to choose?' 'It's her body, isn't it? Posted by: bob
How is he proposing to force people to go to the doctor? At gunpoint? Posted by: CH
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