[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

This isn't sweet; it's another band-aid that doesn't address the root causes & will only complicate the tax code further.

Want universal healthcare?

(1) Abolish Medicaid
(2) Phase-out Medicare (help existing seniors & the disabled in the meantime but make younger people more responsible)
(3) End all federal government healthcare regulations
(4) Simplify the tax code

[LibertarianInExile]

"Want universal healthcare? (1) Abolish Medicaid (2) Phase-out Medicare (help existing seniors & the disabled in the meantime but make younger people more responsible) (3) End all federal government healthcare regulations (4) Simplify the tax code."

Oh, sure, like that'll work. Any time we try reducing the size of government, it keeps government from getting bigger. And we all know that government has to get bigger to ensure universal healthcare, and Americans' day-to-day safety, don't we?

/bitter sarcasm

[DennisR]

Totally agree - President Bush is just making the complicated code more complicated. Bummer.

[Molly T.]

I've got a suggestion for one other measure....don't be giving free medical care to all the illegals in this country ....the gov. knows they're responsible for hospitals going bankrupt, but still they pigheadedly refuse to give us the numbers regarding the yearly cost of the free ride these folks are blessed with...compliments of the American taxpayer.

It's as assinine as the proposal to give SS to all illegals....what the H... is wrong with those idiots in Washington??

[JSteff]

"This isn't sweet; it's another band-aid that doesn't address the root causes & will only complicate the tax code further. "

Exactly correct. It will also raise the price of health insurance. $7500 per year will be the new baseline price for a minimum package.

I pay just about $5000 a year for a very good policy. That will now probably go up to $7500 a year. This is a reward to some insurance companies that gave campaign contrition to the RNC and Bush.

Any time the government gets involved it is going to cost money and decrease benefits. Government will be removing market competition. This will create less price competition in the market.

Perfect proof is the prescription drug program. Has anyone seen the prices drop? No, in fact the insurance companies are excluding many more drugs from payment under the prescription drug plans already.