Last Saturday, the Democratic field converged on Las Vegas for a candidate forum on healthcare, which news reports have generally described as substantive.
The fantastical standout in the coverage I've seen (especially here and here) is New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who promises universal coverage without any additional costs in the first year. I imagine we all get lemon drops on our pillows at night under President Richardson, and free trips to the zoo to see the unicorns!
The Post reports:
As a governor who has made his record of cutting taxes in New Mexico part of his calling card as a candidate, Richardson said his plan would not require new revenue. "This is a plan that would not add bureaucracy," he said. "This is a plan that could be paid for without any new taxes."No bureaucracy and no new taxes. It's almost like it isn't even a plan.
Richardson said he would fund his proposal by ending the war in Iraq and shifting some of the billions being spent there to health care.
Here's the deal on universal or near-universal health care: I think we're ready, but we need rational plans. We understand there will be costs. Explain them. Tell us what it will cost to make sure that people who need medicine can have medicine. Tell us what it will cost to ensure that every child can visit a doctor and a dentist on a regular schedule.
From there, we decide if it's worth it. But don't come at me with your frigging rainbows and ponies and tell me it's a health care plan. Everything worth having has costs associated with it. Be straight about them and let's figure out how to do this.
Every report I've seen has been gracious to Edwards and Clinton at the forum. Obama apparently pleaded for more time to develop a comprehensive plan, which is actually still better than rainbows and unicorns.
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