Bipartisan or nonpartisan solutions?
sun-herald.com
02/20/03
Dr. Klein invited to speak in Washington
Dr. David Klein, who volunteers to help destitute AIDS patients and migrant workers in his spare time, will also be volunteering to tell the nation's leaders how to improve the medical system next week.
Klein was invited to speak to congressional leaders Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington, D.C., at the annual meeting of the Physicians Advisory Board.
To be held at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, the meeting features a series of "round table" discussions with such leaders as U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., a medical doctor, and other Republican members of Congress.
"Somehow, I got invited," Klein said Wednesday. "I've been a pretty good member of the (Republican) party."
... Klein said he will also emphasize the need to address the plight of America's uninsured during his remarks.
"There're 45 million uninsured Americans," he pointed out, adding that all Americans should have access to at least a minimum level of basic health care.
He said he will advocate that the nation move toward a "single-payer" medical system, in which a government insurance program would replace the current system.
Under the current system, Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance and patients themselves pay for their health care.
"We're moving toward a single-payer system -- and that's my wish," he said.
http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/022003/tp10ew9.htm?date=022003&story=tp10ew9.htm
Comment: In this day and age, when the term "bipartisan" has come to mean that a token Democrat has joined with the Republican majority, some may say that Dr. Klein is supporting a "bipartisan," single payer solution to our health care crisis (but with the parties reversed). Maybe it is time to set aside political polarization, and look at our reform options from a unified, nonpartisan perspective.