Americans have been digging health care hole for decades

[struggle4progress]

By G. WAYNE MILLER
THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL

"In a nation as rich as ours, it is a shocking fact that tens of millions lack adequate medical care. We need - and we must have without further delay - a system of prepaid medical insurance."

John Kerry speaking? Howard Dean?

No, Harry Truman, in 1949.

He wasn't the first president to support universal health care - nor the last. Teddy Roosevelt argued for it in 1912. Richard Nixon in 1974 called it "an idea whose time has come in America." Bill Clinton proclaimed it a major goal of his first term, in 1993. <snip>

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/world/12768170.htm

It's time to listen to old Harry ...

[YOY]

1. Nixon did?

Wow. I guess my respect of him has written from the "shitty" level to the "shitty with one exception" level.

[MisterP]

2. and the EPA and Endangered Species Act

he's an angel in front of *. At least he didn't proclaim he was Jesus while the Ohio kids were being mowed down.

[YOY]

3. Scary but true

Nixon was well before my time. I guess we only hear about the Agent Orange, Vietnam, Watergate Nixon.

Meh...he's still a scumbag...but you're right, an Angel next to Shrub. I cannot think of one thing Shrubs done that I approve of.

[Gildor Inglorion]

4. Correct me if I'm wrong...

but doesn't the tax on gasoline in the UK support universal health care? And isn't "petrol" about $6.00 per gallon there? And aren't we about to get $6.00 per gallon gasoline without getting one goddam thing for it? Hello? Why aren't the streets full of indignant protesters? Dear Lord, what a nation of sheep and fools we are.
Government "of the people, by the rich, for the incredibly rich..."
Where is Thomas Paine when we need him? Where, for that matter, is Marat when we need him?

[Sugarbleus]

5. Yep on all counts and Presidents mentioned...

Each had some "good in 'em". Who started the food stamp program?

Who started the medicare/medicaid programs, and who set up the Welfare for single mothers?

WHO KILLED or is killing ALL those programs/ideas today???

There's always been a cultural/class and ideology clash in this country. When will we EVER set things straight.

CALLING HARRY!! COME OUT FRANKLIN TOO!! LBJ, YOU'RE ON DECK!!

[OneBlueSky]

6. and the reason we don't have it is simple . . .

the corporate sponsors of our "representatives" don't want it . . . the health care and pharmaceutical industries want to retain their complete control of the field, and they pay members of Congress and senators plenty to not only maintain the status quo, but to continually expand their power and control . . .

it's all about $$$$$$$, and the multi-nationals have plenty of it . . . enough to kill anything that even remotely resembles universal healthcare . . .