Question: What element of the Democratic platform do you most disagree with?
Dennis Kucinich: You know I smile because I’m probably the only one running for president who took an issue to the democratic platform personally and asked them to act on it. And let me tell you what the issue was: healthcare. In 2000, I took this proposal for a not-for-profit healthcare system – Medicare for all – to the democratic platform committee. I was asked by the campaign of the presidential candidate to withdraw the proposal because it was . . . it was not favored by the insurance interests who were contributing mightily to the Democratic party. And virtually the same thing happened in 2004. So here’s the Democratic party, these candidates are saying “universal healthcare” like it’s some kind of mantra. “Universal healthcare, universal healthcare.” And people go, “Oh, they’re for me. They’re gonna give me universal healthcare.” The insurance companies want universal healthcare as long as the government is subsidizing them so they can maintain their . . . their holding their privileged profit position. I’m talking about no more healthcare for profit. Everyone knows these insurance companies make money not providing healthcare. Everyone knows that. So I’m saying no more for-profit healthcare; not-for-profit system; all the money goes into care for people. And then you have enough money not only for basic care, but for vision care, dental care, mental healthcare, long term care, prescription drugs – all covered 100 percent under the Kucinich program. The Democrats, noooo. They wanna protect the insurance companies.
Recorded on: 10/19/07
Discuss
Chiranjeevi Raghunath on January 8, 2008, 9:15 PM
I completely agree. Some of our immediate social concerns should be reforming education and healthcare.
Chiranjeevi Raghunath on January 9, 2008, 2:15 AM
I completely agree. Some of our immediate social concerns should be reforming education and healthcare.
Alex Tanner on January 18, 2008, 9:35 AM
It is time for all citizens of the Untied States to be taken care of in their times of needs. The "for profit" health care system is disgusting.
Alex Tanner on January 18, 2008, 2:35 PM
It is time for all citizens of the Untied States to be taken care of in their times of needs. The “for profit” health care system is disgusting.
Nicholas Fulton on January 21, 2008, 2:15 AM
The American government is like a parent that doesn't take care of it's children when they fall ill, doesn't teach them or enroll them in school and picks up the phone to secretly listen in on their private phone calls. I'd have put myself up for adoption a long time ago.
Nicholas Fulton on January 21, 2008, 7:15 AM
The American government is like a parent that doesn’t take care of it’s children when they fall ill, doesn’t teach them or enroll them in school and picks up the phone to secretly listen in on their private phone calls. I’d have put myself up for adoption a long time ago.
tim hall on April 20, 2009, 3:59 PM
A lot of what has held back our non-for-profit health care is fear. The insurance and pharma. industries have created so much wealth that they can threaten us through the media. We could dump millions into the media to counter their scare tactics but we would be fighting a losing battle. They have limitless wealth. The only way you can stand up is in numbers. Organize your community. Your community then joins with the community next door on the issue. You both take it to your state government. You then have the national media cornered. Other communities start doing the same. It is like magic. This is how our forefathers imagined it. I don’t think our forefathers imagined parents sitting on their butts playing Guitar Hero or not coming out of their house all weekend. You people have to do it. Wake Up! The good old days are gone. You have to physically take action. Hello! Do I have to start jumping up and down like Dennis? If you want it, go get it. It is yours for the taking.
Add a Comment
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or Register