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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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 OPINION 
23

Obamacare Isn't 'Socialist Hellhole,' It's Switzerland

Krugman: White House plan not all that radical

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(Newser) – Investor's Business Daily made a howler when it said the British physicist Stephen Hawking "wouldn't have a chance" under the UK's health care, but for Paul Krugman, the "vile and stupid" editorial missed the point. Obamacare doesn't look like the British system, in which government runs hospitals and pays doctors. Rather, it resembles the Swiss model, using regulation and subsidies for private companies to make sure everyone has coverage.

The health service in Switzerland—"not a socialist hellhole the last time I looked," Krugman writes—has already been tried in Massachusetts with some success. The New York Times columnist would rather see a true public option to compete with private insurers, which will keep costs down. But Swiss-style universal coverage is doable, and "a vast improvement on what we have now."

James Newman protests the health care reform plan supported by President Barack Obama during a rally Saturday Aug. 15, 2009 in Atlanta.
James Newman protests the health care reform plan supported by President Barack Obama during a rally Saturday Aug. 15, 2009 in Atlanta.   (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
President Barack Obama speaks about health care reform during a town hall meeting in Belgrade, Mont., Friday, Aug. 14, 2009.
President Barack Obama speaks about health care reform during a town hall meeting in Belgrade, Mont., Friday, Aug. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Swiss doctors at a hospital at the University of Geneva. The current plans for American health care reform closely resemble the Swiss system.
Swiss doctors at a hospital at the University of Geneva. The current plans for American health care reform closely resemble the Swiss system.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Salvatore Di Nolfi)
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We can do this. At this point, all that stands in the way of universal health care in America are the greed of the medical-industrial complex, the lies of the right-wing propaganda machine, and the gullibility of voters who believe those lies. -

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23 comments
VIEWING:
 
DJM420
Aug 17, 09 7:38 AM CDT
pretty sure anythings better than what we've got now...but we do know doing nothing DONT WORK! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+20
IN RESPONSE:
UrUndertaker
Aug 17, 09 8:32 AM CDT
Yes but the trouble is the Birther Party formerly known as the Republican Party of NO is screamed enough it has Mom and Pop scared which is how they like to rule, they rule through fear. They have no logic, no sign of intelligence they have only fear which they have fostered inside themselves and they spread the disease daily.... They are not interested in logical conversation nor are they interested in truth, be afraid and let us save you is their mooto. Be afraid of Brown people, go bomb a 3rd world country to the point of civil war, be afraid of Black people, question a duly elected President on where he was born even when the truth is plainly written everywhere...Live by fear and rule by fear, the Birther Party of Cowards who lead....from the rear...Formerly known as the Republican Party of NO (intelligence)
Vote up! Vote down!
+16
Corona_Kinq
Aug 17, 09 7:53 AM CDT
Until people turn off their 24-hour "news" networks and do some actual research, they'll never understand what health reform is about. It's much easier to sit on their couch and listen to Glenn Beck cry. Reply
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+17
IN RESPONSE:
Skipb
Aug 17, 09 8:25 AM CDT
absolutely !! I wonder just how many people has actually sat down and read the whole proposal? how about a pop-quiz for all tv talking heads - if they don't pass they can't whine/cry on tv
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Aug 17, 09 8:58 AM CDT
No, if they don't pass, they don't get to talk about it. They can ask questions, but need to STFU during the answers - just like "deathers" need to be quiet during the answers.
Vote up! Vote down!
+3

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