Universal Health Care

Salon.com via the AP wire reports:

Obama Calls for Universal Health Care
By NEDRA PICKLER Associated Press Writer

January 25,2007 | WASHINGTON -- Every American should have health care coverage within six years, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama said Thursday as he set an ambitious goal soon after jumping into the 2008 presidential race.

"The time has come for universal health care in America," Obama said at a conference of Families USA, a health care advocacy group.

"I am absolutely determined that by the end of the first term of the next president, we should have universal health care in this country," the Illinois senator said.

Obama was previewing what is shaping up to be a theme of the 2008 Democratic primary. His chief rivals, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards, also are strong proponents of universal health care and have promised to offer their plans.

Senator Obama is not the first to make this declaration and he won;t be the last during the coming campaign. I am sure that time frames and details will differ regardless of the details it is about freaking time. This is not only good for members on the lowest end of the economic spectrum it is also a godsend for small business and independent contractors. Additionally large businesses will be able to remove from their bottom line the increasingly expensive cost of providing decent insurance.
The argument against it, particularly on from the Libertarians will be "Taxes!!! Freedom of choice!!! Blah. Blah. Blah." Lets get this straight, Medicare runs more efficiently than most private insurers. Overhead at Medicare is usually around 4%-5% while amongst privates somewhere around 11%. In terms of choice, see what happens with your private insurer when you get REALLY sick. I have see friends and acquaintances be railroaded in terms of provider choices or dropped all together.
Whether it is Obama, Clinton, McCain, or even Huckabee; universal health care is a must and long overdue.