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Thom's blog
Economists Demand Universal Health Care
It’s time for universal healthcare in America.
Vermont has had plans to implement a universal healthcare system in that state for some time now, but Governor Shumlin put those plans on hold late last year, after concerns came up over how the system would be paid for.
In the letter to Shumlin, the professors argue that healthcare should be provided as a public good, and that financing it actually helps to save money in the long run. The professors write in part that, “Evidence from around the world demonstrates that publicly financed health care systems result in improved health outcomes, lower costs and greater equity. Public financing is not a matter of raising new money, but of distributing existing payments more equitably and efficiently.”
While the professors make a great point, the fact is that Vermont gave universal healthcare a great shot. That state tried hard to make it work, and did its best to bring healthcare to all Vermonters. But Vermont is a very small state with a population of just over 626,000 people. And, in a state that small, implementing universal healthcare is a very hard thing to do.
For universal healthcare to really be successful, it needs to be done at a national level. Fortunately, America already has the framework in place to make universal healthcare a success. That framework is called Medicare.
A lot of people forget this but, back in July of 1965 when Medicare was established by Congress, it was established with the idea that one day it would be slightly changed to become THE national single-payer health insurance program for America. Well, the day to make those changes is now.
Currently, Medicare is made up of four parts: Part A which covers hospital stays, Part B with pays for medical services, Part C which pays for private insurance coverage, and Part D with pays for prescription drugs. Now, it’s time to create “Medicare Part E”, which would cover every single American. Just let any citizen in the U.S. buy into Medicare.
Best of all, creating “Medicare Part E” would be really easy. It wouldn’t be some complicated process that requires Congress and the government to re-invent the wheel.
-Thom
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... War...brought to you by climate change (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Geeky Science: War...brought to you by climate change
Daily Take: Economists demand universal health care
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Tuesday's Daily Stack 
Thom broadcasts LIVE from the Families USA - SCOTUS hearings radio row...
Hour One: Live with Thom- Ron Pollack, Families USA, which organized the radio row 
Quote: " If you take out Saddam, Saddam's regime, I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region" - Benjamin Netanyahu.
Article: " Bush Agenda: Bold but Blurry" by Dan Froomkin, November 5, 2004. " I've earned capital in this election -- and I'm going to spend it for what I told the people I'd spend it on, which is -- you've heard the agenda: Social Security and tax reform"
Quote: " The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism -- ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power" - Franklin D. Roosevelt", April 29, 1938. Quote: " We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American Eagle in order to feather their own nests." - Franklin D. Roosevelt", January 6, 1941. Quote: " Do not let any calamity-howling executive with an income of $1,000 a day... tell you... that a wage of $11 a week is going to have a disastrous effect on all American industry." - Franklin D. Roosevelt", June 24, 1938. Quote: " No business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country" - Franklin D. Roosevelt", June 16, 1933. Law: " Logan Act", 30 January 1799. Citizens may not negotiate with foreign governments
Science and green news
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Wednesday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET
I'll be talking to health insurance whistleblower Wendell Potter about the latest in health care
And we'll be hearing from other attendees at the Families USA - SCOTUS hearings radio row while the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the latest anti-Obamacare case, King v. Burwell.
And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"
And don't forget...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...
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Thom's Poll
Will SCOTUS rule that tax subsidies only apply in state-run exchanges?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Does Netanyahu Speak on Behalf of all Jews?
Everything U Know Is Wrong - About ‘Revenge Porn'
Will SCOTUS Decimate Obamacare?
Bill O's Nose is Growing Again...
We're Now Destroying the Lungs of our Planet
DHS - It's Deja Vu All Over Again
Would You Like Some Crippling Debt w/that Degree?
The Good - The Bad - and the Very Very Contabescently Ugly
Or watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 3/2/2015: Would You Like Crushing Debt with that Degree?
In tonight’s show, Thom talks Israeli PM Netanyahu’s speech before Congress on Wednesday.
Naomi Dann, Media Fellow & Spokeswoman for Jewish Voice for Peace talks about the much debated speech on Iran and nuclear weapons.
Karen Davenport, Director of Health Policy for National Women’s Law Center talks about the Supreme Court hearing arguments in the King vs. Burwell case and its potential impact on the Affordable Care Act. Jeremy Holden, Research Director at Media Matters & Host of Media Matters Radio talks about more lies for Bill O’Reilly. Tommy Christopher, White House Correspondent at the Daily Banter, talks about the short term funding extension for the Department of Homeland Security. Mary Anne Franks, attorney & associate professor at the University of Miami Law school tells us why Everything we Know is Wrong about revenge porn.
Thom gives his Daily Take – Would You Like Crushing Debt with that Degree?
Bush V. Gore all over Again?
Netanyahu's State of our Union Address...
Exploiting the 'Profit' if Not For Profit College...
Thom Hartmann on the Science & Green News - March 2, 2015
How Should I Introduce Myself to Marijuana?
Will SCOTUS Destroy Obamacare?
03/03/2015
Suicides are on the Rise!
The U.S. Economy After Reaganomics...
Pot is the Gateway to Prison
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