Healthcare
Barack Obama craves a historic presidency. Witness his pledge to single-handedly rescue the US health system in which millions lack insurance coverage. “I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last,” he announced in September.

Now, following a crucial Christmas Eve vote in the US Senate, the Democratic-controlled Congress is about to approve a major healthcare package.
Hurdles remain: the two houses must still confer to iron out differences. Public financing of abortion remains a flashpoint. But the near-certain outcome, sometime in January, is a bill on the president’s desk.
Continue reading "Is Obama digging his own grave on healthcare?" »
In an effort to regain the momentum on health care reform, President Barack Obama gave a very good speech to the Congress yesterday.

I liked three aspects of it in particular. First, it had passion. Obama made the moral case for universal health care that liberals have been waiting for. He quoted a letter from the late Senator Ted Kennedy that asserted that health care goes to ‘the character of our country’. The president’s remarks contained good lines and moving stories, including that of the Illinois man who lost his health insurance coverage during chemotherapy because he hadn’t reported gallstones that he hadn’t known about. It is remarkable that the most powerful country in the world is also the only advanced democracy to leave so many citizens uninsured.
Second, the speech showed strength. My principal criticism of Obama’s presidency so far has been his unwillingness to wade into debates, whether domestic or international, and use leverage and pressure to enforce his will.
Continue reading "Yes he can: Obama claims middle ground on health" »
Latest 2 of 20 comments
View all comments-
ihmn says:
Eric, the Republicans are hatred personified. They are supported by the same right wing Christian conservatives who walked up to a church and shot a doctor in the head, because they didn’t agree with him. They spread fear to their God-fearing, red-fearing constituents so that nothing ever changes. And as… Read more »
-
Razor says:
Does anyone want to attempt to answer my query with a factual answer? Read more »
This week in Parliament will be an important test of the Opposition’s commitment to both health reform and economic responsibility.

Right now we’re looking at making some of the biggest reforms to our health care system since the introduction of Medicare.
We can’t do that unless we make the hard decisions.
Continue reading "Coalition is being reckless on private health insurance" »
Latest 2 of 15 comments
View all comments-
tracey says:
I am a 72 year old lady whom is on a disabled pension. If you can afford private health cover then why not take it out. I have some crippling and disabling chronis disase problems that the public system has tried to manage but just does not have the resources.… Read more »
-
Sherlock says:
Yet another step in the class war that’s been waged by the Rudd Government since the day it took office. It’s refreshing this time to see the responsible minister actually admit it. Read more »
No, you won’t see dolphins cavorting through the surf if you stare at it long enough.

Enough to make your eyes bleed, isn’t it? The model forms part of the submission by the geniuses at Accenture to the National Health and Hospital Reforms Commission - you know, the crowd who released a report containing 123 recommendations on how to give a Prime Minister a headache yesterday.
The report is worth a read, and as Leo Shanahan described it yesterday, a much-needed blueprint for healthcare reform in this country. Some of it is mum-and-apple-pie agreeableness on better outcomes for rural and remote communities, or woolly stuff like this:
Continue reading "Here we go again with next to nothing on health reform" »
Latest 2 of 6 comments
View all comments-
Lance says:
Lets face if we decieve what we get. Electing Rudd has a price and the australian people are really paying for it. In 10 years KRudd/Roxon will be enjoying their pensions and not giving two hoots about the mess/debt they have left for future gnerations. Read more »
-

Paul Colgan says:
On the cost of reform vs the necessity of tax increases: GPs recently complained they were drowning in red tape - saying they were spending up to a quarter of their hours on paperwork rather than seeing patients. All this administrative work involves bureaucrats counting beans, too. It adds up… Read more »
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
Signs you may have a political ideology disorder
The first draft of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders was released last month… Read more
Most commented
The talk of the town
- What voters really think of Tony Abbott's religion 216
- Why there is no International Man’s Day 182
- Token ceremony openings must be brought to an end 88
- The Senate protects us from bad government 84
- Don’t bring your kids and other supermarket rules 67
- Ignore water, ignore women 66
- Why stop at binning welcome to country and prayers 61
- A lower voting age risks a lower voting standard 47
- Why are people so unkind, to Lada Gaga 41
- Yes to housing affordability, but don’t take my home 41
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
Don't bring your children and other "rules" of supermarket shopping. Got a gripe or two of your own? Add to my list: http://bit.ly/dBWydm
What voters really think of Tony Abbott, great piece by Nic Christensen & Tina Tek: http://bit.ly/bvLWSz#thepunch
Gentle jabs to the ribs
Breaking news: Something is going on
Is this the greatest ever send-up of 24-hour news? Warning: contains strong language and hilarity. From… Read more
Latest 2 of 5 comments
View all commentsAdd your comment