Gupta Out? Howard Dean For Surgeon General!
Gupta Out? Howard Dean For Surgeon General!
“Rumor has it” that Sanjay Gupta is out of the running to become the nation’s chief medical spokesperson. If a TV reporter-MD didn’t make the cut to be our next Surgeon General, then who can? Howard Dean!
The six-term Governor from Vermont just came out of a successful run as DNC chairman, and, judging by his recent onslaught of media appearances, he’s not exactly shy about discussing health care issues and pushing for health care reform.
Dean brings several qualities to the table:
- As a former governor, Dean has experience reforming the health care system (he expanded universal health care for children and pregnant women in Vermont).
- As a doctor, Dean personalizes the health care debate and can credibly debunk critics who argue that health reform would “ration” care.
- He has the ability to distill complicated health care wonkery into every day language.
- Dean recently said that real health reform requires a public option. He will challenge Obama to stick to progressive health principles.
- He is very good at staying on message (especially when it comes to health care reform). During our interview and in multiple media appearances, Dean reiterated his commitment to a public option (over and over again).
So it’s time for the media to stop asking Dean about the already-filled HHS position, and start asking about the (soon-to-be) vacant surgeon general position.
8 Responses to “Gupta Out? Howard Dean For Surgeon General!”
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Technically, he’s not a FORMER doctor. ;)
March 4th, 2009 at 7:51 pmHow amazing would that be?
As a longtime supporter of Governor Dean, I could not be happier!
March 4th, 2009 at 8:01 pmWhy not?
March 4th, 2009 at 8:32 pmWhy can’t the democratic party / obama administration find a job for this guy?
He’s one of the only democrats besides Obama who can go on TV and effectively sell/advocate health care reform while dodging the “socialism” attack.
March 4th, 2009 at 9:04 pmThis should most certainly and most deservedly open the door for Dr. Howard Dean, whom I always felt would be the best possible choice for HHS, and even FDA would be a large enough and challenging enough job for this great American. Here are two of my articles on Howard Dean for HHS:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Vermont-Senator-Bernie-San-by-Silla-Brush-090209-701.html
and
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-United-States-Needs-Dr-by-Stephen-Fox-090203-382.html
Please take the time to email both President Obama and VP Biden in support of Dr. Dean as Surgeon General; I believe the very future of American Health and Illness Prevention is at stake, given the corporate onslaught into the regulatory processes we are supposed to trust and depend on; I welcome your insights and ideas! Who else would you trust for designing a complete overhaul of the FDA, the Department of Health, and the Surgeon General’s functions more than Dr. Howard Dean?
Thank You!
March 5th, 2009 at 6:50 pmStephen Fox, Editor, New Mexico Sun News
stephen@santafefineart.com
Finally, the time has arrived to fix Americas Healthcare crisis, and Americas healthcare knightmare. Hundreds of thousands of you are killed needlessly every year by your healthcare delivery system in a rush to profit. And because of a rush to profit Hundreds of thousands more of you are needlessly dying from treatable illness that people in other developed and civilized countries don’t DIE! from. Rich, middle class, and poor alike. Insured, and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies.
Additionally, thousands more of you are driven into financial ruin, and bankruptcy just because you, or one of your loved ones got sick or injured. And all of this is happening at a time when America spends twice as much of it’s GDP (Gross Domestic Productivity) on health care than any other country in the developed world. Individual Americans spend about ten times as much on health care as any other people in the developed world. This is a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. AND IT MUST END!
But before we can truly fix this healthcare crisis and disgrace, everyone needs to clearly understand what the problem is. And everyone needs to clearly understand the real enormity of the problem. The problem is that HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY IN AMERICA IS SEVERELY CORRUPTED AND COMPROMISED BY GREED! AND THE PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MOTIVE. And it is corrupted, and compromised IN EVERY ASPECT, AND EVERY PLACE OF HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY. Unfortunately for all Americans, compromised healthcare ALWAYS results in needless suffering, injury, disability, and or death. Which is exactly what is happening now in America in shocking numbers.
Health care is NOT! a private for profit business. Healthcare is an essential public service. Like police, and fire. And healthcare is also a human right! PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTHCARE IS AN OXYMORON, AND AN IMMORAL AND UNETHICAL PERVERSION OF HEALTHCARE AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
So how do we fix this healthcare disgrace? I believe the fix for Americas healthcare disaster is essentially the same thing that every other developed country in the World has essentially done. “NOT FOR PROFIT, TAX PAYER SUPPORTED, SINGLE PAYER, AUTOMATIC, FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE FOR ALL. Essentially HR676 (enhanced, and expanded medicare for all). Just like every other CIVILIZED! country in the developed World has. There is no other way to truly fix and reform our current disastrous healthcare delivery system.
All Universal health care systems work best when everyone participates. But I know that the healthcare lobby, and some politicians will try and undermine “Not For Profit, Tax payer supported, Single payer, Automatic, Free Universal Healthcare for all” by falsely claiming that it will limit your choice, and require you to participate.
So, I propose that everyone be included in the national plan unless they choose to opt out. If you opt out and need medical care the national plan will insure your provider that they will be reimbursed under the rules for members in the national plan. But those who opted out, and their insurer will be responsible for the FULL! cost to the national plan for providing your care if you or your private insurer fails to reimburse the provider or the national plan in a timely manor to at least the standards of the national plan.
Including reporting you to credit agencies, withholding of taxes, leans, and garnishment of wages for unpaid medical bills. Just like you have now under private for profit healthcare, and private for profit health insurance.
Further, people who opted out will be required to provide proof of financial responsibility for future illness or be required to participate in the national plan. And everyone with children will be required to participate in the national plan. Or provide proof of insurance coverage on each child to the standards of the national plan. It will be against the law to report anyone in the national plan to a credit agency for unpaid medical bills.
Frankly, only a dope would want to opt out of the national plan and opt to keep our current disastrous private for profit medical, and insurance plans. But they will be free to choose. The most important thing is that the vast majority of Americans that want the protection, benefits, and higher quality of a universal national plan have that choice.
You see, one of the most important aspects of a universal healthcare system is easy access, and patient protection. This is accomplished by having a single payer without a conflict of interest in patient care. And by having a payer who has the power to enforce minimum standards of excellence in healthcare delivery for everyone in the plan. This is much of what Medicare does now for senors. “Aeger Primo” (The patient first). Unfortunately in our healthcare system the patient comes last. We are just a peace of meat to them. Cash cows to be slaughtered for profit.
So this is IT! my fellow Americans, My fellow human beings, My fellow World Citizens. And my fellow Cyber Warriors. :-) The time has come. D day. H hour. HEALTHCARE REFORM THIS YEAR! Let no one stand in our way. Contact your representative and tell them you want “Not For Profit, Tax Payer Supported, Single Payer, Automatic, Free Universal healthcare for all. And tell them you want that choice now. Tell them you want President Obama’s budget passed as is, without delay. President Obama’s budget is brilliant. And exactly what is needed now.
President Obama, and his allies will need all the support you can give them. The healthcare lobby will try to take out his people if they can, like they did with Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer. And they will try to neutralize President Obama’s popularity, and political power. Or they will try to take him down someway. Don’t stand for it. If they attack him. Go after them ten times harder and remove them from office. We had an election. And you the people chose President Obama’s leadership, and change agenda. Let no one in government disrespect the will of the American people and remain in office.
To President Obama, his Cabinet, the Congress of the United States, and the Supreme Court. I have noticed for some time a disturbing tendency for key members of your bodies to come down with illness, or medical problems at critical legislative times. This may just be coincidence. But I can tell you that there are a million subtle ways to medically injure someone just by doing nothing when something needs to be done. Or by doing things to someone when nothing needs to be done except to give them reassurance. I know for a fact that there are those that would have no qualms about hurting any of you to preserve our current disgraceful medical status quo.
So, I recommend as a matter of national security that you enlist the help of a friendly power to regularly review, and oversee the medical care you receive from your local regular healthcare providers. Briton, France and many other countries have excellent medical providers. As well as Canada. Briton, and Canada may be less of a language barrier for Americans.
Let’s get this healthcare reform done now my fellow Americans. This year. Take no prisoners.
God Bless All Of You
Jack Smith — Working Class :-)
http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/
March 5th, 2009 at 7:21 pm(http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/)
I’d be glad to see Dean get it. Gupta is apposed to any form of Universal health care and wouldn’t have been an assett to Obamas cause.
March 8th, 2009 at 5:43 amJack smith, I agree with everything you say but you really have a lot to say!
March 8th, 2009 at 5:45 am