Ask the Candidates: The Economy, Health Care, Taxes, Social Security
Here are the questions submitted by users about the U.S. economy, health care, taxes or Social Security.
2:16 PM ET | 11-20-2007 | permalink
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Senator Clinton, you weren't able to make "socialized medicine" a reality when your husband was president. What makes you think you'll get it through now?
Neither of my children, one 27 and one 31, have health insurance although both work. What is your plan for bringing affordable health insurance to every American?
Is there one of you who would forego complete medical coverage until ALL Americans have universal health coverage? Sent by Rita Shaw 5.30 p.m. PST. 11.23.2007
After our troops were pulled out of Vietnam, this country experienced a deep recession that was experienced through the Ford and Carter years.
If American troops are pulled out of Iraq, there is a danger of the American economy falling into a deep recession.
What plans do you have, upon recalling American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, for curtailing such a deep recession in the American economy?
thank you,
fred call
Do you support a flat tax (i.e. everyone pays X% of their income)? Why or why not? Do you think it would have a negative impact on America as a whole, for example, as home-ownership and charitable donations (to name two) would become less economically viable?
Do you prefer a strong U.S. dollar or a weaker U.S. dollar
Senator Clinton,
I am a Republican from Massachusetts, considering to vote for you in next year's general election. When President Bush leaves office, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will cost over 1 trillion dollars. Will you consider imposing a war tax to pay for this war so future generations will not be burdened with the cost?
I am currently a medical student and by the time I am done I will have over $200K in loans accumulated from medical school and previous education.
What can be done so that
1) the burden of my loans will not deter me from entering the primary care field where there will be a vast shortage of doctors in upcoming years?
2) future aspiring doctors, lawyers, and other professionals can pursue their careers without having to put themselves into a massive amount of debt?
What will you do do reduce the national debt and protect Social Security?
Mental healthcare professionals are being compensated less and less despite the World Health Organization ranking depression as the number one cause of world-wide disability and the second most common ???burden of disease.??? Does your healthcare plan compensate psychiatrists the same as other specialists such as cardiologists or oncologists?
- Derek Harman, fourth year medical student
To all candidates: In your personal opinion, at what point will the rise in price of gasoline will the American public give up the large automobile engine? Will it be Seven Dollars? Ten dollars? Twelve dollars per gallon?
At what point will the rising cost of gasoline at the pump finally bring an alternative energy source? And what would that energy source be, in your opinion?
Will the rising price of gasoline hasten the emergence of the Amero, this hemisphere's version of the Euro?
Will shale and sand oil production in Canada be the answer to the rising cost of fossil fuel in America, and the coming Amero dollar?
To what degree does Mexico's oil supply offer an answer to the rising fuel price, and the further facilitation of the coming Amero?
If you are elected, and maybe re-elected, do you foresee the Amero during your presidency?
thank you,
fred call
There are many complex issues facing the electorate: the war, health care, and the enviroment. But what about economic injustice and income disparity between the poor, the middle class, and the wealthy, such as yourselves. How do you plan to adress these issues when our government has been captured and controlled by special interests, Wall Street, and corporations. It's like watching the Titanic slowly sink while the band, i.e. our government, plays on!
Senator Obama,
I am a student working to become a car industry worker. What is your perspective on outsourcing? Will you prevent OR encourage jobs being sent overseas?
-Thank You,
It has been estimated that 19 million American homes will be subject to the alternative minimum tax next April unless Congress amends the tax code. What is your stance on the alternative minimum tax? Do you support abolishing it altogether, leaving it as it is, or amending it in order to affect less Americans? If you support either of the first two options, how would you balance the budget?
The Bush addition of prescription coverage to Medicare also required states to remove newly covered individuals from Medicaid that fell into the Poverty Level Aged and Disabled (PLAD) catagory. Unfortunately, many thousands lost mental health services who were covered under Medicaid but not under Medicare. What would you do, if anything, to correct this problem?
If you have taken campaign contributions form health care, pharmaceutical or helath insurance companies, or large pools of their senior executives, should the American public be concerned about your objectivity when you advocate mandatory health insurance policies (much like auto insurance) for all citizens and then subsidize the private insurance insurance industry to achieve what you call "universal health care"? Isn't that universal health insurance and shouldn't you recuse yourself from this issue if you have accepted what amounts to bribes from the private sector in the eyes of most Americans?
We've recently heard (http://www.washblade.com/2007/11-16/news/national/11592.cfm) that the CDC is likely to report that as many as 50% more people are infected with HIV each year in the US than previously thought. Saturday (Dec 1) was World AIDS Day--in a year when we're seeing progress that could turn the tide against AIDS. But we're not there yet. What would your plan be to end the AIDS pandemic.
Senator Clinton,
Will you work on a platform to end aids here in the United States by ensuring more money to Ryan White and effective prevention like needle exchage and taking the money given just for abstinence only away and given to real science based prevention of HIV/AIDS?
I am disappointed that none of the candidates of either party has addressed the health care problem properly.
I hear talk about increasing efficiency, mandates, prevention, and the like, but those ideas are all band aids on a terminal patient.
The issue is cost. Period. The industry is an unregulated monopoly, and in all monopolies, cost goes up without limit until the system breaks. Changes to the demand part of the equation will have no effect in the long run because profits will still be sought, and costs will just rise further. When the president of a Maine health insurance company gets a salary of $14 million a year, there is no question costs are out of control. Nobody has addressed that.
If you need your appendix out, you don't go shopping for the best deal, as you would when buying a TV. So there is no market force in play. You go in, they take it out, and send you a bill. They can put any number they want on that bill, and you have to pay it. I read about a patient with that problem who got a bill for $30,000. That is obscene.
The only solution is a single-payer system, with costs controlled by legislation. Recognize the market as the monopoly it is, and regulate it completely. No exceptions. None of the programs of any of the candidates are going to make a difference as long as health care centers around profit, not health.
No candidate has said this. Why not?
Do you have any plans to make the US more friendly to manufacturing companies, in order to reduce imports? If so, what are those plans & what steps would you take to implement them?
To all of the candidates, is it of concern to you that the dollar has become so much weaker in the last few years compared to the Euro, the Yen and now even the Canadian dollar? If it is of concern, how would you, as president, go about making the dollar stronger during your term in office?
To John Edwards (and all candidates if possible): In the world's wealthiest nation, is there any excuse for the levels of poverty we have in the United States and for so great a disparity between rich and poor?
I'm an independent voter. I'm one of those citizens you all claim to really want to harness but fact is, nobody ever asks me my opinion (I don't live in the south, don't have kids, am not in my 20s, and don't have a ton of money - don't even make $20k a year) but I DO vote and I do pay taxes. Until recently, I worked for years IN the health insurance industry. I myself could not afford to purchase health insurance from the company I worked for (and I worked for almost all of the major players).
I want to know from every candidate - do you consider healthcare a right or a privilege? Please, no spin. NPR listeners are smarter than you think at discerning spin.
If, in fact, you consider it to be a right - vs. a nice birthday present for somebody or the privilege of the children of well off citizens such as yourselves - how do you justify continuing to include, support... i.e., fund - the health insurance industry?
Somebody here mentioned the compensation package of the CEO of one of these companies. As an insider, I can tell you it's not just the compensation package of these individuals (which I completely agree are not justified ...and I AM a stockholder) - the day to day operations of these companies is equally excessive - paid trips for the ENTIRE company to a resort where thousands of dollars are rewarded to who sells the most policies, who saves the most $ (i.e., refuses the most care), and for stuff that isn't even that concrete ...such as "integrity". Please tell this voter - how it is, given the power to do something about this, you justify continuing to allow the healthcare of America be placed into the hands of these companies?
For Senator Obama: Most advances in human labor standards and benefits (such as the 40 hour work week) are the result of agitation by labor unions. Is it not true that the reason we have no universal health insurance in this country is primarily due to a woefully week labor movement, as compared to most western democracies?
Senator Obama,
You assert that the problem with our healthcare system is not that people don't want healthcare--it's that they can't afford it. This may be, but why specifically do you believe that mandating coverage (as some other candidates' plans would) is a bad idea?
I was on a waiting list for AIDS medicine this year. 500 people were waiting for life saving medicine to get or stay healthy. Some died. Some of us have no health insurance. Will you provide health insurance and medication so this does not happen again?
The United States has been running a huge deficit to the world. The only way to help solve this problem is to raise taxes, which has to be done sooner or later. Why does Congress let Bush get away without raising taxes now to cover the two wars he got us in. Otherwise the next president will be forced to raise taxes.
Middle class citizens bear an increasingly larger percentage of the tax burden in this country, relative to corporations, which enjoy the other benefits of personhood [Source: GAO and Frontline's "Tax Me if You Can," 2003]. A substantial number of extremely large and profitable corporations in this country pay relatively little or no income taxes. The growing disparity in incomes of the wealthiest and the middle class is the subject of much political rhetoric, but little action to reverse this trend. As president, will you make codification of the economic substance doctrine, i.e., proposing clear and effective legislation that prevents corporations from eliminating income tax liability with transactions that have no other purpose than to do just that, a priority in your administration's budget?
Gentlemen, and Lady,
As one who does volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity I am a strong advocate for providing decent housing for low-income individuals and families. How, specifically, would you address the persistent problem of homelessness in this country? Do you believe that our society has a moral obligation to help and protect such people--many the victims of adverse circumstances or disabilites? If government is incapable, or unwilling, to take effective action to end homelessness how can a President influence the more affluent, and fortunate, among us to take on the challenge of doing so themselves?
My husband and I as small business owners find ourselves responsible for maintaining our employees health by default. Health care is a large portion of our costs and it gets larger every year. How do you plan to lift this growing burden from the business community.
Candidates
Assume that you have just been elected President. The first bill that appears on your desk is the SCHIP bill, the exact same bill that Bush vetoed. What would be your response to that same bill. Would you pass it or veto the bill.
All Candidates:
The war has been put on a credit card. What means would you use to pay for this? What sort of policies would you push to stabilize the dollar, trade imbalances and other monetary "issues".
Why do you think the value of the American dollar is falling to historic lows, and what would you do to combat this?
I am a public middle school teacher. If I add my wife and our soon-to-be-born first baby to my employer-provided health insurance, the monthly premium (for the cheapest plan) will cost us more than 21% of my gross income. What will you as president do to help people like us--and those who are less well off--stay healthy and insured?
The Federal Reserve Bank has indicated that investing in early childhood will earn the greatest return on the dollar. What are your strategies to invest in our youngest citizens?
Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama:
As a young person in my late twenties I see more and more high-level jobs being offshored to India, China and other countries.
Professionals in accounting, engineering, even legal services are now becoming vulnerable.
If even these 'good' jobs are no longer secure, what jobs are?
Americans are told to 're-train' and switch to other, 'better', professions. But what are Americans to do if even these 'better' professions are going away?
Many people, who may be in favor of expanding social programs such as health care, do not believe that the government can run these programs effectively. What would you do to government programs to cut the waste of time through red tape and money through fraud?
Senator Clinton, the business model for HMOs and PPOs is to collect premiums, and then invest in the markets while denying coverage for medical care to extort a profit.
Why is it a good idea to force poor people to buy insurance given the very nature of the business?
What provisions does your plan provide to insure constituents are receiving quality care for their hard-earned money, your plan would force them to buy?
What is stopping insurance companies from taking premiums and running?
To all the candidates... Why has House Bill 676 not been the cornerstone of a new direction in health care policy?
& how does Michael Moore's movie "Sicko" speak to you?
Walmart is able to negotiate a wholesale price for drugs yet our government cannot do so for Medicare. Would this change if our elected officials were not receiving campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry?
While the US on 'average' has worse healthcare outcomes than Europe, US citizens with healthcare insurance (ie. excluding non-covered folks) have better outcomes than Europeans, are you willing to accept lower /worse healthcare outcomes for the existing insured, to ensure everyone get healthcare coverage?
If not, what do you plan to do to keep the current superior health care outcomes of the insured from becoming like those of Europe?
I work for a government funded lab. I realize that not all citizens want to pay taxes, and not all citizens want their tax dollars to support our lab's mission. What keeps me focused on our mission is knowing that their are citizens that willingly pay taxes even though they have paid the ultimate tax; losing a spouse, daugther, or son in the Iraq war. Would you consider supporting legislation exempting these people from having to ever pay federal income taxes again?
It seems that most Americans can barely make ends meet. Between rising prices, the dropping dollar, an outdated poverty rate, pathetic "living wages", and impossible healthcare it's as if we are a third world living in the first world. What do you propose to do?
to all candidates.
i've heard a great dirth of commentary during the previoud debates of the fact that the current president has economically run our country into the ground. the treasury is empty and we are virtually owned by overseas governments. the only reason, from what i understand, that the united states is not bankrupt is that we are in a "bubble" based on our status as a consumer economy and it would be disastrous for other nations to stop floating their currency. how do you propose to even begin to reverse this dire course of events?
Outsourcing has been going on at least for decades and has its advantages, yet there seems to be a tipping point in our economy given the current circumstances. I originally thought that recent outsourcing would allow for savings that would pump more money into larger, bolder, more innovative work in the USA. However, it seem that the companies let the money sit and pad their bottom line or the executives pocket the money instead. Would you change this economic dynamic?
I am an Adjunct Professor at a major state-funded university, and I am becoming increasingly concerned with the state of education and healthcare in the United States. Given my remarkably limited salary, I cannot afford health insurance. If we cannot guarantee full (or at least partial) health coverage for educational employees (even ones at state funded institutions) how can we expect to attract the caliber of educators that we so desperately need to turn our educational system around? It is coming to the point that I am strongly motivated to leave the country for more acceptable living/working conditions. What, other than failing hope, do you expect to keep highly educated (and like minded) individuals like myself from becoming expatriates?
As President what action will you take to reduce our country's dependence on imported oil which some say is financing both sides of the war on terrorism.
on terrorismthe our dependence on Middle East oil is financing both sides of thddle east oil finaces
Social Security is in trouble. The fix could be a win/win for the system and for the US economy. Why not lower the withholding from 7.65% to 5% and raise the cap from $97500 to $250,000. The American worker would receive a tax reduction and the system would receive an infusion of new revenue.
What changes would you support to Medicare part D? My 84 year old mother has COPD, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Once she reaches the donut hole her meds run about $400 a month. Not to mention the fact that she reaches the donut in May. For her and many others like her the current Part D is not working.
93 million adults would benefit from adult education and literacy services. With a combination of federal, state, and local dollars, only three (3) million adults are currently served. Waiting lists, in a majority of states, indicate that millions of adults, especially immigrants seeking English language learning, are waiting to enter a program. What steps will you take to support, promote, and sustain an increase in funding that would significantly reduce these long waiting lists?
This question is particularly directed toward Senator Clinton and Senator Obama; but to all the candidates as well.
What is your position regarding the effective income tax rate paid by Hedge Fund Managers; many of whom make hundreds of millions of dollars a year; being 15%, or half that paid by most working Americans?
What did you do as Senators to help or hinder tax reforms in this area that would insure that these ultra-wealthy hedge fund managers pay at least the same tax rate as the rest of us on their income? What will you do as President?
And in general; why should earned income be taxed at a higher rate than investment income when most Americans are struggling and working more hours just to pay their bills for energy, tuition, health care, etc. - let alone have any money to invest?
Also, does Chelsea Clinton working for Avenue Capital Group, a $12 billion hedge fund manager whose founder has contributed to many Democratic Party campaigns, create a conflict of interest for Senator Clinton in enforcing an equitable income tax system?
In a study from McGill University's Institute for Health and Social Policy, the United States, Lesotho, Liberia, Swaziland, and Papua New Guinea were the only countries out of 173 studied that didn't guarantee any paid leave for mothers with a new baby. Just to our north, in Canada, new parents get a year off with some part of their salary paid by the government. How do you plan to the change the way new parents and families are supported in the US?
The Republicans like to say "It's your money, you know best how to use it." In reality, they couldn't accumulate wealth without the support of our society with its laws and economic rules. How would you balance our collective prosperity against individual initiative, in the realms of health care and taxation?
Social security is NOT in trouble, but people keep on talking about it. By 2050 Medicaid/Medicare spending will grow from 4.5% GDP to 12.6%. Social Security spending will grow too, but there is an on-going surplus designed to prepare for it. The problem is small compared to M/M which has almost nothing in surplus. Read this: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/the-social-security-obsession-again/
Here's my question. What will you do about funding Medicaid/Medicare? That's where the trouble is.
This question is for Senator Clinton and John Edwards. Both of your healthcare plans include mandates. This weekend the New York Times printed an article about how mandated health care in Massachusetts is tenuous at best. First, the penalties are not enough to move working people to get insurance and second insurance companies are raising their premiums into the double digits (10-12%) next year. My understanding is that many people are not insured, because they cannot afford insurance. Don't mandates punish these people?
Also, possibly for Democratic voters mandates sound good, because they "ensure" universal healthcare, but it strikes me that in the general election, our party will lose Independents and disenchanted Republicans, because many such voters do not like the government mandating anything. Please tell me your rationale for mandates given this information.
In order to maintain a flexible, healthy, and willing workforce, it is critical to allow individuals to maintain benefits when moving to a new job or becoming unemployed. Can you provide any reasons at all for maintaining a system in which individual employers provide benefits like health insurance?
Everyone living in the U.S. is guaranteed by law certain civil liberties, such as freedom of speech and religion; we are also guaranteed certain civil rights, such as the right to vote, regardless of race. In addition, we are guaranteed the right to send our children to school free of charge. But tens of millions of people in this country lack the basic human needs for survival, such as adequate food, shelter and medical care. Shouldn't the laws of a country founded on moral principles guarantee a right to food, shelter and medical care as well?
I'm concerned about the real prospects of improving matters in these areas of concern, given that in our political system, money grants access and voice, in both the very powerful form of lobbying and in the form of campaign contributions. Further, in the last several decades judicial decisions have granted many of the rights and privileges of individuals to corporations but few of the responsibilities. Since corporations are not people, and so don't operate under the same moral forces at work between people, and since our regulative institutions have been systematically gutted, little, it seems, can be done to ensure that large corporations "do the right thing." Add the tremendous amounts of money spent by corporations to influence the political process and we have seen significant harms accrue to regular people as a cost of "doing business." What would you do to repair the harmful imbalance that privileges corporate interest above the interests of individuals and even our society as a whole, or worse, equates them? What would you do to reduce the power of money in our political system so that politicians could be more responsive to the needs of people?
Dear Candidates:
Community Health Centers (section 330 DHHS/HRSA funded Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, etc) provide medical, dental, and integrated mental health care to anyone, regardless of ability to pay. These centers have strict quality standards, are regularly reviewed by DHHS, and use innovative care models such as collaboratives. How do Health Centers fit into your plans for providing health care to all Americans?
Mrs. Clinton, can you please offer a specific plan for addressing drug costs for seniors, whose percentage of the population will skyrocket in the years to come?
when social security and most importantly medicare was enacted, the average american life expectantly was much lower than it is today, why not raise the retirement age to correspond the average life expectancy of today? i know workers will be mad and disappointed but isn't it this the most fair solution?
Everyone is finally talking about subprime lending and the havoc it???s creating on the economy. However, no one is talking about the corruption occurring in the private student loan market. Despite the new education bill, recently passed, private lenders such as Sallie Mae are still able to double dip on interest payments since private and consolidated loans were excluded from the education bill. With the cost of education soaring, many of us are graduating with over $100,000 in student loan obligations and monthly student loan payments of almost $1000 or more. These loans often operate much like subprime loans, with adjustable interest rates, only without the tangible collateral. And the $1,000 per month loan payments are rarely manageable on an entry level salary.
What will the candidates do, if elected, to address the growing crisis that private student loan debt is creating by burdening freshly educated Americans with unmanageable student loan debt in addition to their other household responsibilities?
Each candidate is suggesting some form of universal health care. If this does, in fact, lower the cost of health insurance to consumers, the insurance companies will NOT allow it to happen without serious push back. They are making too much money to let it go. If it doesn't lower the cost of health care, then why bother? Are you honestly, truly, able to pledge that you will not do what's best for the insurance companies, but what's best for the people who elect you?
To all candidates: The Republican Party believes in privatization, deregulation, and massive cuts in social spending, but they have succeeded in packaging their plans with euphemisms such as "cut taxes" and "reduce the size of government." What can you do to help people understand that their plans benefit only the super-rich and supersized corporations?
To all candidates:
According to Wikipedia
Universal Health Care is defined as:
Universal health care refers to government mandated programs intended to ensure that all citizens, and sometimes permanent residents, of a governmental region have access to most types of health care. Patients may pay for some portion of their care directly, but most care is subsidized by taxpayers and/or by compulsory insurance.
Do you have a problem with this definition and, if so why nad why don't you support it?
To all candidates: I think that the government needs to get involved with health care. When I listen to the plans that are offered by the candidates, I worry about how much my taxes will go up. How much will your Health Care plan raise my taxes? Would you be open to imposing a deductible to reduce the burden on tax payers?
A majority of Americans believe we should have universal health care and all of you have proposals for achieving universal health care. Yet the Republicans are likely to retain enough seats in the Senate in 2008 to block any universal health care plan you propose. As President, how will you persuade the American public and 61 Senators to adopt your plan?
Can you tell me why I can???t pay taxes like corporations? When I get down to the end of the year and have no profit why do I have to pay taxes? They don???t. Or since that system doesn???t work and nothing would get done; why don???t you tax corporations like you tax me. (By my income).
If we taxed corporations by their revenues then we could pay for our massive military budget and universal healthcare too and develop new energy technologies along the way. Every company making revenue here should have to pay taxes ???no more corporate offshore BS and no more corporate welfare. If they can???t pay the taxes have the top execs cut their salaries and suffer like the rest of us.
To all candidates:
If one is truly honest, can it reasonably be said that a for-profit health care system truly in the best interest of the citizens and residents of this country?
1) Health care in the U.S. has become less and less affordable, in part due to the shift from non-profit health care systems to "for-profit" schemes that have seen huge increases in premiums, executive compensation and decreases in benefits. These changes are, in large measure, undertaken to satisfy the stockholders. Do you see this as a conflict of interest given that the purpose of health care insurance is to INSURE THE ENROLLEE as opposed to funding the stockholders?
Also, given that most hospitals in the U.S. provide free or reduced cost healthcare services to individuals who cannot afford it, this means that those of us who pay because we can afford it (for now at least) are already subsidizing those who cannot. In my case, 25% of my GROSS income goes to health care premiums and HSA but does not include deductible or out of pocket expenses. Why are we debating the issue of "responsibility" of paying for insurance when the reality is that much of the money in the health care system is NOT going to the benefits of enrollees but rather, to the benefit of executives, CEOs and (yes, sad to say) candidates for political office.) One striking example of this is the "golden parachute" the former CEO of United Healthcare received when he resigned. The money from that compensation package could have paid for an awful lot of health care for a lot of people. I don't begrudge the man a good living, but his compensation in this case was beyond extreme, as is that of many CEO's (another topic altogether)
This year alone I have paid almost $14,000 in health care premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses and none of the services received by myself or my two children were particularly out of the ordinary.
(To NPR: If you wish to modify this question so it is more suitable for submission, please feel free -- just make sure the gist of all points are made, please. Thank you.)
Senators Clinton, Obama and Edwards: Why aren't yoiur health care planms "Medicare For All"? If it works for those over 65, why won't it work for everyone? Why do you have to involve the for-profit insurance companies in your plan?
Why not utilize(the" Karl Rove methodology") and call National Healthcare aka "Socialized Medicine" --"MEDICARE FOR ALL."Politics IS All about selling a product and using the correct WORDS is what worksse!If you increase the tax rate(progessively) on the TOP 1% & lift the cap on Social Security Withholding "WE"(The Middle & Working Class) can have W.European style HEALTHCARE system!WE DESERVE IT!
How do you plan on dealing with the healthcare crisis for the next generation? How will you make sure that we who were born in the '80s and '90s will have a secure medical future?
Currently, the scenario of the educated middle class professionals are being forced to live pay check to pay check in some locations? How do you address this situation for individuals who want to live the American dream by getting a full college education, and owning a house without folding under the weight of cost of living?
To All Candidates,
What specifically is your healh care plan?
Thank you,
Brett Youngblood
Austin, Texas
Governor Richardson, everybody wants increased access to healthcare, with reduced cost and no sacrifice in quality. What are the most important obstacles, and how would you resolve them?
It is understood that health insurers and managed care companies add cost to the health care system. The other major factor driving up cost is the combination of defensive medicine and skyrocketing liability insurance premiums. Who among you would be willing to tackle liability reform?
I have heard most candidates speak about the importance of protecting Social Security, yet members of Congress have a much sweeter retirement program than the rest of us. Would any of you be willing to propose legislation to do away with the current retirement program for Congress and give our Senators and Representatives the same Social Security that is good enough for the rest of Americans?
Dear Candidates.
There's already a most user-friendly, well secured computor software system (called CPRS) that's being used by our nation's largest health care provider - the VA system. Why can't we make all other hospitals and doctors offices use this same software nationwide?
How do you think Jesus would deal with health care in this country?
Senator Clinton, in a previous debate you were asked about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Instead of answering the question you cracked a joke about Ross Perot's charts he used in the presidential debates. Many middle and lower class Americans have been adversely affected by NAFTA. Should NAFTA continue as it currently is, should it be improved, or should it be repealed?
How are you going to deal with the decline of the dollar ?
I have a son with Type 1 Diabetes who takes excellent care of his health. He is UNINSURABLE. In other words, there are children who could die because their parents don't have insurance or the money for drugs the children need to live.
What is your plan to make sure that all American citizens have EQUAL access to health care?
We are well aware of about 49 million people without Health Insurance, but we hear little about we, the middle class, who are struggling long and hard to pay the huge premiums. We are one late payment away from joining the "uninsured!"
All Candidates-
What will you do about the interest rates that Banks are charging for Credit Cards? BOA is charging up to 33%
Thank You
Although making policy is the President's job, I firmly believe that all policies must be grounded in the fundamentals of economics and political science. So, I ask two questions of the candidates; anyone may respond. First, can you describe the economic principle that underlies the shrinking value of the dollar and what that means for American manufacturing? Second, please describe the relationship between Mao's maxim "political power comes from the barrel of a gun" and Max Weber's description of the state as the entity with the legitimate monopoly on violence within a bounded territory? How do these views gel with your views about Iraq's current situation?
for all candidates:
Will you agree to give up your government paid health care until all citizens of the US have health care insurance?
Thank you NPR for this opportunity. To the candidates who I believe are all governmental representatives of US, I have long wanted to ask this question: If you are in the sought elected position of representing US, how can you, in good conscience, accept for yourselves and your families health care coverage that is top notch, that is paid for by US, while you also continue to give yourselves pay increases that also comes out of our pockets, while we do without?
I find the situation and your acceptance of it to be unconcionable.
At least please stop the charade of pretending to help US and remove healthcare from your package of goodies, that we pay for.
Thank You, & Good Luck to us all.
I am a member of Generation X. I call it the forgotten generation because everybody talks about the Baby Boomers and Generation Y but nobody mentions us. I am in my mid 30's and I am worried about a few things. Right now it is looking like I am going to have to save more than the baby Boomers for retirement due to the theft from the Social Security fund by previous congresses. I am also going to have to pay more out of pocket medical expenses than the Baby Boomers as healthcare costs go up and coverage goes down. What are the candidates going to do to stop this double whammy from hitting our "forgotten generation"? There may not be many of us but once the baby Boomers retire we will fill the top, influencial positions in society and we are getting frustrated at being ignored.
question re water: What is the role of the federal governmnet in the allocation of water among agriculture, industry, housing, conservation? The water table is not limited to state boundaries so is this not a federal issue?
Where do you stand on a health care system that covers all, has no large profit system, and doesn't waste 25% of each dollar for administration?
As the cofounder of a successful technology company in California which has created numerous high-wage jobs here, and whose industry is reliant on global markets for suppliers, customers and human resources, I???m terrified by the populist pandering and economic illiteracy I see in candidates from both parties. There???s a backlash against globalization and immigration (including H1B visas) which is rooted in a lack of understanding of the important roles these mechanisms play in creating economic growth, jobs and intellectual dynamism at our universities. This backlash has already hurt our ability to hire, grow and remain competitive. What you as president do to nurture and extend our country???s leadership, particularly in technology industries and higher education?
The deregulation of corporations has led to the growing gap between the rich and ruling class from the rest of us, speeded up global climate change, and brought about oppression and exploitation of many developing nations reducing their rulers to pawns and creating a growing unrest across the globe. What will you do to bring back the regulations of the past?
why doesn't any one of the democratic candidates have the guts to say straight out that universal health care is the right solution to the national health care problem.
i am very hesitant to vote for any of the three leading democatic contenders because all of you are planning are huge tax raises. Why not slash the defense budget in half instead? We dont need to spend close to $500 billion/year on war? And will any of you have the courage to reform the tax code which has so many loop holes for the special interest groups?
Most of you are talking of offering universal health coverage but none of you tell us how much we will have to pay out in premiums out of our own pockets? Also at what rate will these premiums increase every year, especially for the unemployed?
homelessnesss in America has spiraled over the last decade into a macabre spectacle, featuring even untold numbers of children and young single mothers. in a city like San Diego, California for example, on any given evening in the winter, thousands of homeless Americans literally huddle piled atop one another along downtown streets, parking lots, and even private properties, like a scene from Soylent Green. these are people who've been utterly bulldozed under by the historical momentum of this vast wealthy powerful society with no way up other than sheer Divine intervention. my question is: do you even care?
I work for a not for profit agency focused on the needs of young children in a rural county in Western North Carolina. In the past several years the majority of the furniture manufacturing jobs have left for cheaper labor off shore. Of the 80,000 residents of our County, 14% now fall below the poverty line with more joining those ranks every day as their unemployment benefits end. Our County's unemployment is double the national unemployment average. Our tax base has been erroded, social services, law enforcement and not for profit resources are depleated. Substance abuse is on the rise, families are falling apart and children are at greater risk. What do the canidates propose to do to help communities that have been devistated by changes in trade policies?
We are currently in a socio-economic model that depends on accelerating consumption growth. Some people believe that this model is unsustainable. Do you concur with this belief and if you do what would you do to move the US to a more sustainable use modal?
This is a question about spending priorities. Under the current administration funding for many programs have been cut to pay for the cost of the war.
Programs that might not be essential such has health care, law law enforcement, and transportation but that make life better for Americans such as funding for the Arts, NPR, and National Parks.
As President you will be setting the priorities of this Nation, and I would like to know, will "non-essential" programs be given any priority and if so which ones.
The U.S. is the only industrialized nation without universal health care. In many other nations people live longer and pay far less for health care than we do in the U.S. To all candidates: Isn't there enough evidence to conclude that for-profit health care has failed us and should be abandoned?
We have a housing and mortgage crisis in this country and most economists believe it will get worse in 2008. Proposals are under discussion to bail out the banks and mortgage lenders; others have suggested the banks and mortgage lenders should not be bailed out. There are also proposals to bail out those who will loose their homes as a result of baloon bayments and mortgage rate hikes.
Do you favor bailing out the banks and mortgage lenders, the borrowers who are in trouble, neither or both? And, if you are president, will you prioritize assistance to homeowners or assistance to banks and mortgage lenders?
ALL CANDIDATES: New research says Marijuana may prevent the spread of breast cancer, 12 states have legalized pot for medical use, yet the Bush Federal DEA terrorizes severely sick patients, and the War on Drugs is a colossal and expensive failure. What is your stand on Legalizing medical use Marijuana?
AUTISM is the new HEALTH EPIDEMIC involving MILLION of children but research has been prevented by the Big Pharmaceutical interests that have been implicated in the cause, what would you do to change this?
What will you do to bring return to the balanced budget that President Clinton was on track to achieving?
Would you consider having all national payments come from a general fund? All federal obligations paid directly from general fund?
Do you support a flat tax with one rate?
I firmly believe that we are headed for a recession within two years. The US dollar is extremely weak abroad, the expanding mortgage loan scandal, the increasing number of foreclosures, and historical analysis of recession trends have led me to this conclusion. I also believe that it will not happen, UNTIL GW Bush leaves office, he'll make sure of that. What is your plan to improve our economy? and deal with a possible recession?
ECONOMY-all candidates: The economic policies of the current Bush administration and Congress' abandonment of fiscal discipline have taken us from budget surpluses to huge budget deficits - deficits that can largely be attributed to soaring nondefense discretionary spending and immoderate tax cuts.
Which economic challenge do you think most threatens our nation's long-term economic health?
As President, what would be the 3 top economic priorities of your administration?
To All Candidates:
At least you're talking about universal heath care, why do you not consider the original medicare model of medicare parts a and b accompanied with voluntary medigap coverage and part d pharmaceutical coverage, without the 'gap' of course? Why can't this be expanded to cover all? If you have a social security number you are a part of the system. Presently workers pay into the system through their social security taxes and don't receive any benefit until age 65. Instead of paying taxes on future benefits why not a pay as you go system? Responsibility is shared and benefits are received.
Most of the proposals, save for Rep Kusinich's maintain the current fragmented and costly system of coverage's based on the targeted groups. For example employer based coverage, the current medicare for seniors, a separate pool for government workers and elected officials. Why wouldn't a universal pool of recipient coverage be more cost effective? Veterans could be included in the basic plan with expanded benefits to meet all special needs.
Isn't it a moral responsibility that all should be covered and also that all should bear a share of the cost?
To all candidates. My doemstic partner is an independant cosmetologist and as such we must obtain an individual health insurance policy for him, which we have had from Blue Cross of California for about 15 years. My partner has a variety of health issues that require regular physician visits, so we must maintain coverage. over the past 15 years out premiums have sky rocketed and the coverage level has declined to the level where it is essentially nothing more than disaster insurance and due to his pre-exisiting conditions, moving to another insurance carrier is not really an option. Recently my partner was seeing a new interist who wished to conduct a variety of test, that we simply could not afford because our deductible is so high and as a consequence, the doctor declined to see my partner again. As you can see, the USA may have the best health care available in the world, but as more and more Americans can't access the available health care, do we really have a helath care system at all? What is your plan to make good health care at REASONABLE costs available to EVERYONE IN THE USA, and I mean EVERYONE.
USA FUTURE - middle class jobs are being outsourced and not just in IT, manufactoring is done in china. There is almost nothing that you can buy in a store that is made in the US anymore.
What will the US be able to sale to other countries in a couple of years when IT knowledge and innovation will come from other parts of the world and all manufacturing is done outside the US?
Dear NPR,
In Colorado a state commission is looking at several potential health care models. Health Care for All Colorado submitted the one true single payer universal health care proposal now being considered. Our organization has found strong support for this approach and the independent group analyzing the various proposals found that only the single payer model would cost less and cover everyone. The mandated insurance models all cost considerably more than we are now spending and still left people uncovered. Why, then, do all the candidates except Dennis Kucinich want to insist that we have "universal coverage" through mandated insurance programs?
Richard Gingery, M. D.
President, Health Care for All Colorado
Montrose, Colorado
What has been the greatest ethical challenge the current president has had to face and how would you have handled it?
There has been a lot of discussion about Healthcare, cost of medical insurance, taxes, social security, Iraq, and others... but no one is addressing the downward spiraling value of the US Dollar. The Euro is worth more than the US...this currency is less than 15yrs old...Other countries currencies have left us in the dust continously devaluing our currency. It will be very sad to see a country that once was recognized as one of the world's weatlhiest nation fall to an economy where our currency has less value than a third world nation. My question is what are you willing to do to strengthen the value of the U.S. Dollar? Are you willing to call in the outstanding debt that others owe to the US? Are you willing to limit the foreign business to purchasing our national wonders? One of you may get elected as president and your salary is guaranteed but my pay check will have less value.
We have a "mixed economy", balancing pure Capitalism and socialist/government controls. In general, how well are we balanced? If those two extremes were football field end zones, what yard line are we on, and in which direction would your policies take us? -- a conservative Republican
I address this question to all the candidates with the exception of one. How can you say you will implement Universal Health Care, when under your proposed plan those most in need will be forced to pay for what they cannot afford at any price. Tax credits and reduced costs will not solve the fundamental problem.
Since the strength of the American Dollar is steadily getting weaker throughout the world, what will you do to help make it stronger.
I work full time as an environmental educator. I have health insurance in which I pay for. However, it does not pay for certain early detection tests. Is a person with a large salary more important than me? Also, there are people in the United States that are able to work and do not. It is not because of the lack of jobs. Why do they get a check every month and food stamps? I have to work everyday for what I have. This does not seem fair.
HEALTH CARE: Question for John Edwards: There exists a financial burden or barrier to the implementation of any proposed national heath care initiative. This is partially due to significantly increased costs of providing heath care from a hospital, physician, pharmacy and supply-chain standpoint. These costs are often so great they preclude any physician availability in many areas in our country. These system wide costs are in part due to defensive practices in care delivery often necessary to reduce legal exposure. Given your previous career as a plaintiff's lawyer, winning over $60 million in judgments for your clients, what is your position on tort reform to reduce delivery costs while maintaining or even increasing high quality medical care which is both readily available and also inexpensive.
There is a bill in the Senate to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of community and healthcare-associated infections (CHAI), with a focus on antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Do you support legislation such as this? Do you believe the Federal Government should play a role related to this issue?
I am alarmed at the rate that we have become in financial debt to China and potentially terrorist Islamic banks. Citibank has recently taken on such a debt. How much money do we currently owe to these foreign concerns, and what can we do to BOTH turn it around, and guide it to other countries who are more sympathetic to our cultural values?
As they say, "you are what you eat." A huge strain on healthcare in this country has been caused by widespread obesity stemming from poor food choices. Although most all Americans would like to serve healthful, nutrious meals to their families, many cannot afford to do so. What will you do as president to help cut down the cost of fresh and organic produce, dairy, and meats so Americans can afford to eat better? What will you do to impede the rapid denegration and commercialization of our food sources encouraged by snack food and fast food corporations? More generally, what will you do to help CHANGE the American lifestyle to include healthy eating and living, as opposed to simply putting a universal healthcare band-aid over a problem that has already strapped our country financially?
Our national debt (public AND private) to foreign entities is a national disgrace and the greatest long term threat to our country and society.
Do you believe each generation deserves to pay its own debts or do you feel each succeeding generation owes a debt to the proceeding one? What will you do to lower the United States' balance of payments deficit?
Senator Clinton, There are many problems with health insurance for example current government sponsered insurance such as medicaid greatly limit what kind of care someone can get and what doctors they can see. In your proposal how is it that certain doctors/hospitals won't continue to refuse certain low income insurance? Shouldn't every American be able to access the best health care?
In addition, what will happen to those who can not afford the medical insurance you make mandatory? If someone one can't afford or doesn't want to pay car insurance they can choose not to have a car and use public transportation, car pooling etc. There is no such option for living.
Isn't the private insurance industry itself one of many causes for outrageous medical prices? How are you going to stand up and face these powerful companies and lobyists?
In the recent CNN/YouTube Republican debate, candidates addressed the issue of a national sales tax as a method of tax reform. What do you think about a national sales tax? Do you think tax reform is necessary?
I believe Franklin Roosevelt and his New Deal did the most to raise the living standard for a large number of Americans and to create a prosperous middle class. Which one of you is best suited to build upon FDR's legacy?
What is your position on the legalization of INDUSTRIAL hemp?
For Senator Clinton:
The Federal deficit seems like a non-issue during wartime, and it doesn't seem to be on the minds of any of the presidential candidates in these debates. But, it's a situation that continues to do harm to our country in ways that the current administration has always downplayed or just simply ignored. Our 9 trillion dollar debt has helped play havoc on the value of the dollar worldwide. Our debt is being bought in the form of U.S. Bonds by other countries including Communist China. And, even though Social Security has never had a greater surplus, that found money is being stripped off to pay for our daily debt, putting the future of the Social Security program in jepardy. Your husband as president put a balanced budget at the top of his to do list with great success. My question to you is: where does a balance budget fall on your to do list?
Does a national health care system need to be "for-profit" to be effective and why?
I am a 22 year old who works full-time and goes to school-full time as well. I have worked since I was 15 years old, and I love my country. What I dont love, however, is that my generation will be inheriting a 10 billion/month war. I have been footing the bill for a social security system since before I could drive that wont likely benefit me or my peers. I believe in social responsibility, but how is it fair that when I am old and grey, I will still be worrying about the deficit this war has created? I wont be receiving the privilege of social security when I retire... How are you going to help my generation?
My question is going to sound a lot like the other medical expense question you've heard...by now you probably have a pretty good idea of what's on a lot of our minds. My husband and I are in our 30's. Over the last ten years we've been blessed to have wonderful health coverage from our employers, but the percent of increase of our out of pocket expense over the last ten years has been amazing. It continues to increase every year at an alarming rate. Add to this the increased cost of housing and living in general and the future can look a bit scary at times. And we are healthy...I also have two parents on disability that can barely get by...as they age it will be up to my siblings and I to help them...and we've discovered that there is not much help when it comes to caring for aging parents. When will finding a solution for healthcare become a priority for our countries leaders?
please!!! Ask this question to each candidate.
A current book [EXPOSED] brings out the fact that with a single payer universal health care system the governmaent acts to IMPROVE health in many ways. IN the US system, the federal government does not have the same incentives. I believe only one of the candidates would move to a single payer universal health care system. What are the other candidates AFRAID of?? This is THE critial question of the health care debate, PLease ask each of the candidates.
Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, and Dennis Kucinich: Please tell me (a) who will pay for your health care plan, (b) how it will cover all Americans, (c) how it will ensure quality care, (d) how it will reduce exorbitant costs, and (e) how it will affect private health insurance corporations, pharmaceutical corporations, and the health care industry in general.
I am registered Unaffiliated and have voted in every election since becoming eligible in 1984. Even prior to this time, we the people have been told by every candidate from every party of the 'major problems' with the financial viability of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the government debt yet these problems have only gotten worse. During this period, both Democratic and Republican parties (including several of you present tonight) have either controlled congress, the presidency or both. My question to all the candidates is, why should we believe that you will actually get something done concerning these issues now when nothing has been done in these last 24 years?
I have observed some agreement that there is a significant and growing gap between those who have money and power, and those who seem to have less and less. What three actions do you think, as President, you should take to attempt to close the gap, what three actions do you think could be realistically achieved under your leadership, and how would your strategy involve congress?
I am studying to become a doctor and I am greatly interested in your various health care plans. In class and during my previous job in HIV prevention I see more and more data every day that shows that prevention focused healthcare is more cost effective and yields better results (example. Heart disease is #1 killer of Americans and many cases are preventable). I would like to know how your respective plans will, if at all, shift our system towards a prevention model? Relating specifically to HIV prevention would you reverse the current focus on abstinence only education in our schools?
The White House Press Secretary recently said it would be fiscally irresponsible to pay for the Iraq war now. Do you support a surcharge on the next year's income tax anytime a war is started, continued each year of the war's duration and covering the complete cost of that war so that the cost will not be passed on?
Education is cited as a major factor in ensuring the competitiveness of American workers in the global economy. Today, a bachelors degree from a four-year university is equivalent to the high school diploma that our parents in the baby boomer generation secured. If having a master's degree or a doctorate degree will be necessary for Americans to retain knowledge-intensive jobs, how will you ensure that American workers stay competitive in an increasingly integrated global labor market with the current costs associated with educational attainment?
Many of the Democratic candidates expressed concern about the NAFTA trade model in the AFL-CIO debate.
For Senator Obama: You said at the AFL-CIO debate that trade "should not just be good for Wall Street, it should also be good for Main Street" and you railed against the influence of corporate lobbyists (and not unions) in trade policy. Why have you been on record as supporting the Peru Free Trade Agreement when it has been aggressively promoted by corporations like Citibank, but opposed by both union federations in Peru and many labor groups in the US?
For Senator Clinton: You voted against CAFTA, but will you oppose the pending FTAs (with Peru, Panama, Korea and Colombia)?
For all candidates: What specific changes will you make to our trade model considering that according to recent polls, even most Republicans are calling for a major shift in our trade policies?
Public schools are overly dependent upon local property taxes. This often pits retirees against parents when it comes to spending local tax dollars resulting in divisions in othewise cohesive communities. Public schools are also faced with many unfunded mandates coming from state and federal agencies. How would you, as President,use federal dollars to address these issues?
For years, Republicans have tried to throw off the Democrats by campaigning on issues that aren't totally relevant in the day to day lives of most people. While important, gay marriage, abortion issues, gun control, etc., don't have tons of day to day relevance. However, the Republicans use these issues to throw the Democrats off their game. What will you do, as the candidate, to address this issue and stick to the issues that do matter: what to do w/Iraq, terrorist threats, and the middle class economic issues, especially loss of manufacturing jobs, health care costs, and the ever widening gap between the wealthy and poor in our country?
It seems to me that when the soldiers come back from a war of some sort, they come back with some sort of mental health or condition that has them misinterpret the people and surroundings around them. And because of this it seems that they are not getting the help they need after wards or at least some sort of counseling to help them deal with this. So my question is, is it really worth sending these people into war, even if it is their own choice, if they come back with problems that ruin the rest of their life?
To Senator Hillary Clinton in particular whom I have much respect for. If you and other Democrats in any position to be in power want to float a national health care system on the backs of tobacco smokers what comes next? A tax on people who are overweight or have addictions, alcohol or drug abuse? Universal health care sounds fine until one finds out that their own lifestyle gets taxed more than someone else's because of some moral judgement on your part. Who are you to sit in judgement? If fat cats in Washinton, including yourself can get universal health care along with their paychecks no matter their lifestyle, so should we.
I'm a high tech worker with extensive education in a number of technologies currently used in the USA. My questions are common lunch time fodder for my peer group.
Related Questions:
1. Why are large exceptionally profitable USA companies being allowed to ship the financial infrastructure of the USA to unprotectable 3rd world sites like Bangalore, India.
2. Who will the USA protecting the financial infrastructure behind Wallstreet if Bangalore is bombed by enemies of the west?
3. Since we are the highest educated and experienced works, why have we seen our pay eroded and thousands of us laid off for off-shoring to low skilled labor in India? Note the low skilled label is from India nationals who came to the USA to work "because" they were the best India had to offer. These India nationals are also being laid off
4. Who is going to pay American taxes if millions of white collar jobs are moved to India and China?
5. Why are USA companies allowed to write off off-shored payroll when it off-shored payroll undermines the US tax base?
6. American salaries mostly go to paying for privately held American infrastructure like power, higher education and telecommunications. That "private" infrastructure is what allows for the American economy to exist. Who will pay for that infrastructure if USA wages are undermined by off-shoring?
It really appears that our generation of leaders is dismantling the whole basis of American greatness built by our ancestors.
I would like to know how each of the candidates plans to fix the collapsing dollar and the ensuing hyperinflation?
Q: Hospice is widely acknowledged as the gold standard for end-of-life care. Yet, Medicare requires ill people to choose between treatments for disease that might enable them to live longer and hospice care for their comfort and quality of life and their family???s support. As a result only about 24% of Americans receive any amount of hospice care before they die and usually for less than 3 weeks. What would you do as President to improve this situation?
I am a cancer survivor who has endured chemotherapy and many surgeries and hospital stays. I'm not living with an autoimmune disease that will one day take away my abilty to write, to walk or to hug my family. As one of the millions of uninsured in this country, your answer is literally a matter of life or death. What will you do to provide for the physical and mental health needs of the people you will lead?
I would like to ask the canditates how they plan to address the serious issue of paying back the huge trillions, billions of national debt(due to war expenses and taking out loans esp. from China) in this country beginning in 2009? How can this be accomplished without raising taxes? Why does each canditate propose? Thank you very much.
For those of you who think requiring Americans to have health insurance is the solution to our health care problem, have you considered the insurance companies are the problem? Denial of coverage and high premiums are causing more and more families to fall into poverty. Meanwhile the new Medicare Prescription Drug program is labyrinthine with irregular costs for patients and high profits to the providers and drug companies. Do you believe health care is a human right and if it is, then why should we have to pay for it out of pocket so that only the wealthy have quality care?
How has the trend over the past 15-or-so years of the attempt by doctors (who, like any other person selling a good or service, want repeat customers) to classify each and every physical and mental aspect of The Human Condition into a 'disorder' and/or 'disease' (for which the doctor just happens to have a 'cure' for, naturally) affected Health Care costs over the same period, if at all?
To Sens Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Obama
As a pediatrician, I can tell you that the obesity epidemic has become a major medical problem. As one involved in health care financing, I can tell you that it is also a financial disaster waiting to happen. According to the CDC, one-third of all babies born in the year 2000 will end up with Diabetes in their lifetime? (reference for the staff:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/factsheets/Prevention/pdf/diabetes.pdf )
Since each case of Diabetes costs $10,000 extra per year (same reference), simple math tells us that $1 trillion per year of preventable disease will be added to our health care burden each year in the not too distant future. This is half of the current cost of all health care in this country which is $2 trillion.
Since very cheap corn syrup & soy oil are the major ingredients of the super sized junk food that is a major cause of the childhood obesity epidemic (and, therefore, the of the predicted diabetes surge), will you work and/or vote to eliminate the unnecessary subsidies for corn and soy in the Farm Bill now in the Senate, thus preventing the excess illness as well as an impossible burden on our currently dysfunctional health care system?
Norman Lewak, MD
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UCSF
The current plans for revising health care seem to involve requiring people to purchase insurance from private companies. My question invoves 3 parts.
First, how is requiring people to purchase insurance anything less than a guarantee of business for the insurance companies?
Secondly, what happens if a person cannot find an insurance policy that fits their needs, or if they cannot find an insurance policy that doesn't contain loopholes or exclusions in necessary coverage?
Lastly, how will such a proposal not create two insurance pools, one of healthy persons required to purchase health insurance from private companies, with the companies reaping the profits, and pool of unhealthy people covered by the government, with the healthy pool subsidizing healthcare not only for themselves but also for those in poor health?
It seems to me that the best solution is to combine everyone into one pool, since we'll be paying for the sick people in either case, and leave the companies out of it.
Social Security is fully funded through 2041, by most estimates. If the current ceiling on FICA taxable salary were erased, this tax would change from regressive to flat, and Social Security would meet its obligations until the 22 nd Century. Do you support removing the cap on FICA taxable income, and if not, why not?
I am a doctor and recent survivor of cancer. As a provider and as a patient, I have wasted endless hours filling out redundant paperwork and whole days at a time struggling with insurance companies and the hospital and human resources bureaucracies that are created to deal with them. Meanwhile, for-profit insurance companies must extract money for share-holders. If 'universal healthcare' is achieved by forcing American citizens pay dues to insurance companies, how will this save money and improve healthcare.
Please explain what difference it makes who is in the White House if the country appears to be run by corporations such as pharmaceuticals, insurance, oil etc?
To Senator Clinton: The healthcare bill for children was vetoed, we have been railroaded by the pharmaceutical firms with Medicare D and our seniors still continue to cross the border for cheaper drugs. Why can't Americans have the same health benefits as Congress!I would pay increased sales tax for this privilege.
To Senators Clinton and Obama:
How much money or other things of value have you accepted from medical insurance and pharmaceutical interests?
How much money would Americans have to contribute to your campaign and pay for subsequent daily lobbying efforts to get a single-payer health system passed into law for all Americans?
I am a British born resident of the United States, and I have seen first hand the failings of a overly socialist welfare state. I could never vote for a typical Republican because of their morbid predilection towards telling people how they should live their lives. However, I am equally discouraged by Democrats who seem to think more government agencies, more government welfare programs and more government spending solves will solve all our problems? What can you say to comfort people like myself who dislike government dictating how I should live my life, but also dislike government dictating how my money should be spent?
Just like Joe Biden talks about a "big picture" approach to the problems in the Middle East, I'm wondering if any of the candidates have a "big picture" plan for the environment and economy. Our consumer based economy is driven by unsustainable consumption of disposable products and we are destroying the only planet we have. Have any of the candidates given any thought to how we might create a sustainable environmentally friendly economy?
THose of you currently holding congressional office would you sponsor a bill removing all members of congress and their familie from their current health and retirement plan to returning to medicare and social security? Why not?
To all candidates: Due to health insurance costs for current and retired employees,it costs American automobile manufacturers about $1500 more to produce a car compared with those produced in countries with national health systems. Do you consider this acceptable, and if not, what do you intend to do about it?
Senator Biden, how does your universal health plan differ or compare to the other candidates' plans?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer states, "The test of morality of a society is what it does for its children". Which of you has a comprehensive plan (health, education, safety) for caring for our most vulnerable citizens? What is that plan?
When Ben Franklin envisioned America, he saw a nation built on the values of the middle class. With the weak dollar, stagnant income, a widening income gap, and offshoring, what will you do to help the middle class Americans?
As President, how will you begin to prepare the U.S economy of the future, for the necessary transition from a hydrocarbon based enterprise to a more environmentally save energy source.
What have you accomplished in either the public or private sector that demonstrates you will have the knowledge and ability as President to see that our economy will grow and all Americans will be able to share in the American Dream?
Stephen Cassidy, San Leandro, CA
During the past couple elections there was considerable lip service paid to family values and the right to life. As president what will you do to broaden the conversation to address the dignity of all human life including the homeless, the mentally ill, and the disenfranchised? Furthermore, how will you address the fact that nearly 25,000 humans, mostly children, die of starvation each day?
Senator Clinton,
In 2005, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center performed a study where "exercise alone in treating mild to moderate depression in adults aged 20 to 45 showed that depressive symptoms were reduced almost 50 percent in individuals who participated in 30-minute aerobic exercise sessions three to five times a week." (http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept37389/files/203820.html)
However, in your first health care speech, you mentioned prescription drugs numerous times, but only mentioned diet and exercise once. Bill Maher said this is exactly what your pharmaceutical donors want you to say, and I agree. This is obviously contradictory with what's needed for health care policy change. Why would these companies be donating to your campaign if you are not going to profit them? And wouldn't you want to promote diet and exercise MORE than prescriptions because healthier Americans, because of diet and exercise, can alleviate some of the strains on health care? And also because diet and exercise can increase health at a fraction of the cost and without a mind altering chemical?
Will your pharmaceutical donors allow you to make these changes to your health care policy?
I am an older computer programmer with a Masters Degree in Computer Science. Since 2003, I have been unable to get full time employment with full benefits. What are your opinions on the H1B Visa program? What is your plan for restoring availability for good jobs for American computer programmers, even older programmers? Recently Mrs. Clinton divested her interest in a software outsourcing firm. How do you square that investment with your pledge to bring good, middle class jobs back to America?
i recently became unemployed. i now have to pay full price for health care (COBRA) for 3 months or more even though i will not need to see a doctor for 6 months to 1 year. i will have to borrow $900-1,800 or more from credit cards to pay for this. the system need not function this way. i believe that the system can be reformed but I have my doubts that some of the candidates will keep their work and reform the system.
i do not have hours to study your health care plans. that said, please clearly state what your commitment to health care reform will be and how can any of us trust you on this issue?
perhaps if the system is not reformed by the end of 2009 you will not accept government health care and pay cash for all medical treatment you and your family receive, yes?
please do not read my name on the air.
The Unemployment rate of Americans with disabilities hovers around 70% (DOL). Yet, the Federal government, which has a mandate to hire people with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, continiues to ignore this growing number of qualified job applicants. In 2006, less than one percent of the 2.6 million federal employees were people with disabilities (EEOC 2007).
Last month, Speaker Nancy Pelosi made the hiring of disabled veterans by the House of Representatives a priority. The House and Federal government have the ability to serve as model employers for people with disabilities by showcasing the resources (tax incentives, Job Accommodation Network, etc.) available to employers to help them acommodate employees with disabilities. As a working woman with multiple disabilities from a stroke I sustained at the ripe old age of 24, more than a decade ago, my colleagues with disabilities and I continue to face road blocks in trying to enable people with disabilities enter the workforce mainly because stigma remains the primary reason that businesses don't hire people with disabilities (Research done in the 1990s by DOEd and DOL in the 1990s).
What would you do to increase the the abismal 30% employment rate of the more than 54 Americans with disabilities?
To all candidates: Private financing of election campaigns indirectly costs U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars every year in tax breaks, expenditues, and laws that benefit special interests that are able to bundle large donations to candidates. Do you favor a system of adequate public financing for all federal election campaigns?
To all candidates: I find it very disturbing the all candidates seem to be caught up in language that indicates there is a problem with health care in our country. That is plainly untrue and the result of either ignorance or scare tactics. We are fortunate to have the very best HEALTH CARE of any country in the world. What we have is a problem with access to that care. A careful look at countries with socialized medicine, which is what Clinton and others of you are proposing - dressed up in fancy language - will show a bankrupted economy and health care that would be considered substandard. Do you want to go to England when you have a serious problem with cancer? How about if your child has a deadly disease or birth defect? As residents of the United States we have access to health care that citizens of other countries can only dream about. Can we make our health care available to more Americans? Should we? We can and we should, but I need to see assurances that any plan you propose will not damage the quality of and access to the health care we now have and also won't destroy our economy.
Do you see the weak dollar as a problem and if so what steps, if any, would you take as president to shore up the dollar against major foreign currencies?
DEFICIT: The previous (Clinton) administration had a plan and was well on the way to completely eliminate the deficit by 2012. The Bush administration and the "spend and spend" conservatives have increased the deficit to over 9 trillion dollars. Each citizen would have to pay