Giuliani attacks Democratic health plans as 'socialist' »
Posted by: RickyDawkins 1 year ago265 Comments Report this Story
Giuliani: "That's a European way of doing something; that's frankly a socialist way of doing something. That's why when you hear Democrats in particular talk about single-mandated health care, universal health care, what they're talking about is socialized medicine. Government cannot take care of you. You've got to take care of yourself."
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RickyDawkins1 year ago
Giuliani then repeated an attack on the Democrats he used the day before in New Hampshire, comparing Democratic health plans to those of France.
"[French President] Sarkozy is on an airplane headed to the United States, and Hillary and Barack and John Edwards are on an airplane headed to France," Giuliani said. "They are looking for the socialist solution they have in Europe, and Sarkozy is looking for the free-market private solutions that work so well in the United States."
Edwards' campaign responded to Giuliani's attacks. Spokesman Eric Schultz said, "Rudy Giuliani's health care plan will only make matters worse, hurting middle-class families at the expense of the most fortunate Americans. John Edwards believes that no family in this country should have to go without health insurance, while Rudy Giuliani believes that no millionaire should have to go without a George Bush tax cut."
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/31/giuliani...
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tehranchik1 year ago
My question for Mr. Giuliani on the you tube debate would be--How does a family of 3, mom, dad and little one--both mom and dad working fulltime minimum wage jobs without benefits, paying child care....how does this little family take care of themselves medically?
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jordan111 year ago
How does a family of 3, mom, dad and little one--both mom and dad working fulltime minimum wage jobs without benefits, paying child care....how does this little family take care of themselves medically?>>>
They don't. This has NOTHING to do with socialism, and everything to do with stopping the harm of corporatism without oversight. The obvious answer is to put insurance dollars, at a far lower rate, into a non profit pool. No 1.6 BILLION going to CEO's, no millions in executive retirement benefits, no millions going to investors. The same thing can be achieved by turning the insurance money over to a not for profit agency, with income limits. Obviously ol gullie has ties to the FOR PROFIT insurance industry.
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acdnc1 year ago
Well said! Giuliani is resorting to the tried and true tactics of fearmongering to get the dumb conservatives to support him (sorry cons, i hate to say it but its true).
I am a doctor, w access to rolls-royce version of insurance/health care. I have 3 kids w asthma, one w chronic sinusitis and a spouse w allergies and a chronic illness. We are spending over $1000 per month on health care.
I cannot even imagine what my patients who are retirees do in order to pay for their health care.
Yeah, yeah, I know that in the universal health care system I will not be at the top of the feeding chain. That is ok. What is more important than my own specific needs are the needs of our (usa) nation as a whole.
At least that I was always taught is what a good (muslim) person should be. Or, any other faith/religious or other system of values and ethics would embrace.
Sorry Rudy. Your words ring hollow as you pander to your rich pals.
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jaxguy1 year ago
"if you truly are making minimum wage as the bread winner, you qualify for Medical Assistance." -- really? exactly what program are you talking about, I know people who make min wage and don't qualify for any medical assistance, because according to the government they make too much money.
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Goppy1 year ago
I dont know bout all that mr dawkins.
Alls I know is that Goerge W. Bush, Dick cheney, and all my Republican friends in DC is who I listens too.
I say, just give me whutever Health Care Plan our Representatives git.
As bona fide Conservative Republicans I would bet that they got whut they say is a market driven health care plan.
There aint no way Presdient Bush or arch - arch - arch conservative Dick Cheney is gonna participate in any kind of Socilized Health care plan.
they prollally got Blue Cross or White Stars or sumpthin American.
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Goppy1 year ago
Oh shoot. I just learnt that Goerge W. and Dick Cheney git a Federally funded national health care plan.
Now I knows why Steven Forbes told them Clintons "Theyll pass a health care plan over my cold dead body."
Them Congressmen aint dumb. I guess they dint want us regular citizens elbowin into their plan.
Thats a pretty gosh darn good perk.
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david_nwpa1 year ago
Rudy may have been an effective mayor of New York City, but I doubt he is capable of leading the entire nation. I am far more likely to trust John Edwards or Hillary Clinton than Giuliani. Rudy's plan lacks many of the specifics that most Americans want to hear, for example, how does he plan to fund his scheme?
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Candida1 year ago
david_nwpa: "how does he plan to fund his scheme?"
It's not just the cost. In his scheme, the tax brakes replace employer health plans. Just think of it. Employers offer group plans, which for the large companies usually means that every employee is accepted, regardless of preexisting conditions; the risk is spread over the whole group of employees. What is he planning to do about those who are turned down by the insurance companies on an individual basis?
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MajJohn1 year ago
How do any of the nationalized health care proponents plan to pay for their version of health care? More taxes. Nothings free someone has to pay for it.
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ABANOCLA1 year ago
Why don't you explain how the "plan" that he is against is to be funded.....quite simply it can't be funded, unless you wish to pay about 50% tax rate.
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joeblowe1 year ago
Electing a Democrat President with a Democrat controlled Congress is just as suicidal as having a full set of republicans. Divide and conquer, remember. Or at the very least, divide and minimize the damage. With a divided set, MAYBE most of what gets passed is agreeable to BOTH idiot parties. And maybe a little bit of good stuff will fall off the gravy train for us commoners.
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DarkWizard1 year ago
joeblowe,
I agree with the sentiment to keep one party from having control of the executive and legislative branches, but unfortunately, both parties are starting to resemble each other. I mean when a democratic majority votes "for" the FISA bill and gives a megalomaniac more power it doesn't bode well for the constituents.
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david_nwpa1 year ago
"America's health care system is being dragged down by decades of government-imposed mandates and wasteful, unaccountable bureaucracy."
Really? See, I thought it was bogged down by suits in one state telling my doctor in another state how much care I am entitled and at what point care must be discontinued. Some bean counter in Iowa is dictating to me in PA how much care I can afford. The private insurance industry in the US is a racket that will take more than just a few tweaks. If politicians mean what they say, they would realize it is not the government bringing down health care as much as it is insurance companies inflating the costs.
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BusinessDude1 year ago
Although tweaks may be necessary to the current system, such as maybe doing some sort of government regulation on the insurance companies, I don't think universal health care will solve the problem. In fact, I think it will make the problem worse. The reason for this is simply the failure of similar programs in other countries. I recently read an article written by a Canadian doctor explaining how the system there was horrendous and how Canada is actually moving back toward privatization.
The other thing you have to consider is the fact that many Americans are choosing to spend their money on other things instead of health insurance, and I'm not sure if we should go and reward them for their own money mismanagement.
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tehranchik1 year ago
Major overhaul to the system might work if the insurance companies go non-profit. HA! Like that'll happen.
Things aren't as black and white for many people BD. People are having hard times just keeping up with housing and food.
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jdhatl1 year ago
Beware the misinformation about Canada's health care system. They never give you the broader perspective that all of western europe has "socialized medicine" and it contributes to a higher standard of living than we have. We're the only non-Asian non-third world country that does not have a nationalized health care system in place. Other countries have it, and it works. There are always problems, but preventative medicine is always cheaper than the emergency room.
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jordan111 year ago
There is no way to 'tweak' that the insurance industry operates for profit. Those profits come from insurance dollars. Take away the profit, and you have insurance that goes where intended, and includes more people. Take away the profit, and it will cost a whole lot less for the same coverage.
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acdnc1 year ago
BD,
you are very sorely mistaken. sadly many folks who have no contact w health care share your beliefs and are prey to the balderdash spouted by thugs like r guiliani.
if you have never seen a 80 year old retired professor of medicine have to choose between food and medicine you cannot believe how tragic that is.
get real...we need universal health care. it angers me when people are so clueless as you are. believe me, our country which i love so dearly, can only benefit from universal coverage.
peace.
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AntiNeoCon1 year ago
(BusinessDude - Americans are choosing to spend their money on other things instead of health insurance, and I'm not sure if we should go and reward them for their own money mismanagement.)
I agree, they should stop spending their money on food, clothing & shelter so they can afford insurance. LOL
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cushi1 year ago
One of the reasons people are no longer purchasing health insurance is THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT!! Furthermore, even when they CAN afford it, they often find that the most effective meds for them are NOT COVERED under their plan; that their terrible back pain cannot be addressed because it is considered a "pre-existing" condition, and that they must wait at least 2-3 yrs before it is covered under their "wonderful" health insurance plan! People are tired of paying through the nose for minimal care and lots of red tape to discourage them from taking better care of themselves and their families. We desparately need a national healthcare program that addresses the health care needs of ALL the people.
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Candida1 year ago
BusinessDude: "I recently read an article written by a Canadian doctor explaining how the system there was horrendous and how Canada is actually moving back toward privatization."
No to both parts of your statement. Canada's system is very far from horrendous and Canada is not moving back to the private system. Everyone I know is quite satisfied with Canadian health care, and there is definitely no grassroots movement to get back to a "for profit" system.
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You say: "The other thing you have to consider is the fact that many Americans are choosing to spend their money on other things instead of health insurance"
Well, that would no longer be a problem if you had universal health care because everybody would participate.
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tehranchik1 year ago
Someone should tell Sarkozy that 50% of the population of the US is uninsured.
"They are looking for the socialist solution they have in Europe, and Sarkozy is looking for the free-market private solutions that work so well in the United States." from Sarkozy.
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BusinessDude1 year ago
I thought it was 40 million. That's not even close to 50%, but still a very substantial number.
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BusinessDude1 year ago
Ah yes, the actual numbers:
"There are approximately 44.8 million Americans currently without health care coverage, which equals 15.3% of the population."
You might want to read the article next time before making uneducated assertions.
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Searchbeam1 year ago
Good old "Smoke and Mirrors Rudy", he cannot even honor his commitment to serve on 9/11 panel (he was told to quit after he was AWOL on all meetings!), cannot honor his commitment of fidelity to his wives, cannot honor his responsibility to give proper communication equipment to the Police and Firemen in NYC!
The guy is a FAILURE on every front!
Now he is giving advice on Healthcare?
What a dumba**!
And the biggest joke is Republicans prefer him over other candidates as their choice for presidential candidate!
They deserve what they get!
