I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up Powell’s Books Calendar of Events earlier this month to see that Governor Howard Dean would be coming to speak about his new book. Gov. Dean’s book is titled, Howard Deans Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform: How We Can Achieve Affordable Medical Care for Every American and Make Our Jobs Safer
As you may or may not know, Gov. Dean served as the Governor of Vermont and after running for president in 2004, he became the Democratic National Committee Chairman. Howard Dean led the 50-State Strategy which helped Democrats pick-up seats in the House and Senate, even in traditionally conservative states. Now, the Democrats lead the country as the majority party.
Full-Length 2-Part Video Below! Watch and Leave A Comment.
The book describes Gov. Dean’s experience as a physician and his critiques of the healthcare industry, specifically the for-profit health insurance industry. He is very precise in his critiques and draws great comparisons to other countries and even demonstrates the efficiency of Medicare to show how much money can be saved. His argument is that we should at least offer every American the chance to utilize the same quality care and service that people over 65 years of age enjoy when they use Medicare.
Howard Dean’s Speech
Dean was going to begin by signing books but since some people had taken their lunch break to attend he switched gears and launched into a clear and passionate speech about the problems we face and how we can fix them. Just moments into his speech, a heckler starts harassing him about single-payer healthcare. The heckler was roundly shushed by the audience and Gov. Dean asked him to please respect other people’s time and when it comes to Q&A he will be called on to speak. However, the guy wanted to be a pain and he was eventually asked to leave by Powell’s employees. Another heckler attempted the same thing shortly after and was again shushed by the crowd and asked to leave by employees. After that it went without a problem and was very informative.
Points to take away:
- We offer efficient, government run healthcare already for veterans and the eldery. We should expand this to everyone.
- Medicare only costs 4% of every dollar to administer. The best private insurance can do is 20%. Huge savings potential.
- Primary care physicians in the British healthcare system typically make more money than primary care physicians in America.
- Prevent health problems instead of overpaying for expensive treatment in the case of preventable diseases.
- President Obama’s plan will offer a huge benefit to small business by relieving them of the expense of providing health care. With a public option.
- American businesses will become more competitive with foreign companies who enjoy lower employment costs due to their own governments’ universal healthcare plans. (Example, Toyota from Japan is gobbling up market share due to low costs. Please note: This is my example and not one Gov. Dean pointed out.)
Gov. Howard Dean’s Speech Part 1:
Gov. Howard Dean’s Speech Part 2:
July 24th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Ah! I have to cut the vid in half…its too long. I will take care of that tonight after work. Thanks for your patience.
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July 25th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY. (Thomas Paine)
We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means.
I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. An insurance bailout is all you really get without a robust government-run public option available on day one.
These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS!
Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it’s President Obama’s fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS! And President Obama has done a brilliant job of turning things around, and working his heart out for all of us.
But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World.
But you don’t have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist.
Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections. Doing this will give you something more to do to make things better in America. And it will help you feel better too.
There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this. But be nice. These are your neighbors. And most will want to help.
I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT!
You have been AMAZING!!! my people. Don’t loose heart. You knew it wasn’t going to be easy saving the World.
God Bless You
jacksmith — Working Class
Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010.
* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
* Bob Bennett of Utah
July 27th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
IF A PRIVATE COMPANY IS COMPETING WITH A COMPANY (GOVERNMENT) THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO PRODUCE A PROFIT, OR EVEN BREAK EVEN…BECAUSE IT HAS AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF MONEY ( TAX PAYERS), WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN TO PRIVATE COMPANIES. AND HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST US IN THE LONG RUN.
YES REFORM IS NEEDED. TO BE DONE RIGHT. NOT A HUGE BILL, THAT FEW HAVE READ. AND NOT TO BE RUSHED THROUGH, BEFORE IT HAS BEEN READ, DEBATED, FINE TUNED AND EXPLAINED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN A CLEAR AND HONEST MANNER.
LOVE THE WEB SITE ! I’LL CHECK IN OFTEN. GOOD LUCK.
July 27th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
@Teri What will happen to private companies? I guess you could ask FedEx, UPS or DHL who compete with the government-run, non-profit US Postal Service. Those three companies seem to be doing pretty well. If you don’t like the public option (USPS) to ship your parcels you go with the private option, right?
It’s the same principle with a public option for healthcare. All it means is expanding Medicare to all Americans. Why is this so hard to grasp? Because of the thousands of hours of Republican attack ads and spin on Fox News and on the radio.
In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the US as the 37th best healthcare in the world. Read a University of Maine [in .pdf] report based on this research. We have the shortest life expectancy of all the major industrialized countries, the highest infant mortality rate, and the highest cost of healthcare.
August 8th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Thanks for sharing this. The video made it even more interesting because he is such a passionate speaker and it was wonderful to hear what he thinks of this healthcare issue. Would be nice if you could get Brian Bairds take on this topic.