Unfortunately, none of the leadership of either party seems to have any regular contact with dirty, smelly poor people. There are times when it really frustrates me, to listen to what candidates or pundits say about health care and the reality of it for most people. It’s as if they are speaking another language, they often feel so distanced from where I am and millions like me are. This post isn’t about HRC or BHO per se, so much as it’s meant to contrast with some much wonkery I read both in the blogosphere and the SCLM on the topic of health care. This feels so much more in touch with reality to me. The comments are good too:

Now, I didn’t hear the whole debate, and I’ve been trying to find the plans laid out point by point so that I can examine them more closely–but from what I can find, apparently the plan to make sure everybody is covered is basically the following for both candidates:
1. offer cheap health insurance.
2. give tax breaks so “families” can afford it.

The tricky part comes when it comes to how to actually get people on the programs–and this is the part where my head is exploding because I can’t find any definite information about each candidate. Apparently both candidates would impose some type of ‘fine’ or ‘penalty’ on people who do not buy health insurance once the option is made available–thus universal coverage. At the debate, I couldn’t figure out what Hillary was saying at all, and all I took from Obama is that he will be all about fining parents/penalizing parents if they don’t cover their children.

I found this article, which is from early Feb. and only says what I am saying here–how confusing it all is.

Thus, I will give you my reaction to these proposed ‘fines’ and penalties of parents for not covering their children from a purely uneducated point of view: YOU GOT TO BE OUT YOUR DAMN MIND.  Read more 

Whatever, Dood. Mandatory insurance plans aren’t “progressive.” As I argued before, it makes little sense to bring us health care “reform” that only chains all of us into a system that is clearly not working. You just love how fair your car insurance is, don’t you? And you’re totally happy with insurance companies telling you what medical care you can have, over the objections of your doctor, right? So of course Hillary’s new plan will bring us a peachy keen and superprogressive Paradise, if we can all just agree that for-profit insurance companies provide the best health care imaginable.

I’m being a tad unfair, this diary is by a supporter and I haven’t read Hillary’s actual plan. But any plan that isn’t “universal single-payer nonprofit” isn’t good enough for me. Period. Edwards and others who want my support should take note.