In 1971, President Nixon proposed a national health insurance plan built on heavily employer private coverage. Senator Ted Kennedy proposed what would today be called a single-payer plan. In 1974, the debate had morphed into Nixon vs. Kennedy-Mills vs. Organized labor. Despite the prediction in the second clip shown, the result was stalemate rather than passage in 1974 or 1975….
Is a former military member with experience in Iraq and time in Europe. He lives in the Washington DC area with his wife and two young children. His background is in national security and has remained in the field since separating from the military. He is a political science major with strong interests in American politics, history, economics, and foreign policy. This blog is away to express his interests and work with two outstanding members of the site, Mike and Jeff. He also contributes at Big Peace and Big Government. Email him at twe.jason@gmail.com
I am starting to really like these videos from past political debates and history. It’s pretty neat and puts all of today’s goings on in perspective. Good post.
To answer Mike’s question, I heard recently there were 10 points about health care that Kennedy was bringing up. Nixon agreed with Kennedy on 3, but, Kennedy said no deal on solving just those three. He wanted the whole enchilada, or nothing.
It is reported that later in his life he regretted not working on those three points with Nixon because it would have been three less reforms to worry about.
It’s pretty amazing to watch these old debates on the exact same issues we’re debating today. The implication of which being that we haven’t solved the problem yet!
Brush up on the major events of Ted Kennedy’s life, and add more, or contribute to the ones that are already there:
Let’s just leave the system as is. It’s wonderful! It’s enormously expensive, it puts a price tag on life, corporate profits are huge, health insurers will refuse coverage for the slightest reason, which means those ‘conservative’ Republicreeps will be ever-so-thankful when they get a new job because their company went broke under Bush economics and their pre-existing condition either drives them bankrupt or to the grave. Yes sir, the best health care is keeping those corporate medical bank accounts nice and healthy!
Jason,
I am starting to really like these videos from past political debates and history. It’s pretty neat and puts all of today’s goings on in perspective. Good post.
Yes, especially when it points out how little has changed.
If you are referring to socialist-liberals promoting government as a cradle to grave operation then no, not much has changed since the 60s.
So what is the Nixon v. Kennedy outcome.? Not clear …
Mike,
Nothing. It was single payer or nothing. A position led by Kennedy and the Democrats in solid opposition against Nixon.
Here we are in 2009. Look at all the progress.
To answer Mike’s question, I heard recently there were 10 points about health care that Kennedy was bringing up. Nixon agreed with Kennedy on 3, but, Kennedy said no deal on solving just those three. He wanted the whole enchilada, or nothing.
It is reported that later in his life he regretted not working on those three points with Nixon because it would have been three less reforms to worry about.
It’s pretty amazing to watch these old debates on the exact same issues we’re debating today. The implication of which being that we haven’t solved the problem yet!
Brush up on the major events of Ted Kennedy’s life, and add more, or contribute to the ones that are already there:
http://timelines.com/2009/8/26/edward-ted-kennedy-dies-at-age-77
Let’s just leave the system as is. It’s wonderful! It’s enormously expensive, it puts a price tag on life, corporate profits are huge, health insurers will refuse coverage for the slightest reason, which means those ‘conservative’ Republicreeps will be ever-so-thankful when they get a new job because their company went broke under Bush economics and their pre-existing condition either drives them bankrupt or to the grave. Yes sir, the best health care is keeping those corporate medical bank accounts nice and healthy!
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