that's a valid point.

Well, in a perfect world, we WOULD do both at once. The problem is, it's not a realistic proposition, and none of the proposals out there currently do it.

By reforming the system, which Insurance companies would fight tooth and nail, we would be lowering the cost of insurance, and thus making it more affordable for millions. Thus we would be extending the umbrella of coverage, not to everyone, but to more than are currently covered.
Another huge problem is premiums, it needs to be addressed, and it should be addressed outside the scope of universal health care.

Yet another problem is the denial of coverage. We pay for this insurance in the event something happens, and then when it does, the insurance companies fight tooth and nail to not provide us the service we have been paying for! It's insane! And we want to make this something we have to pay for? Seriously?

We need tougher laws on insurance companies. Cut the bull shit, cut the denial of service, and get to the root of the problem.

If we could start chipping away at those issues, the real issues with America's current health care system, then extending the umbrella of coverage would be a gazillion times easier.

You're just forcing another bill on them, and when they get the credit, chances are it goes to anything but paying for health care.

As Groucho says, band-aid solutions are how we ended up where we are, paying too much and getting too little - and that's for those than can afford it or who aren't denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

Clinton and Obama's plans are the definition of a band-aid solution. All they do is extend the over priced, bull shit failure of coverage that everyone else has, to everyone. They do nothing to solve the real issues. All they do is:

- Give more money to the companies causing these problems
- Force poor people to add another bill (which they DO have to pay for upfront)
- Tax the rich to pay for this foolish coverage.

Beeble!

They say they would, but if it was so simple, it would have been done years ago. Neither Clinton or Obama have ever said ANYTHING about the laws they would in act to make it a reality. Obama comes the closest, saying that he would create a magical watchdog group to curb the growth of premiums.

Well, in all honesty, republican's haven't exactly been putting out a lot of good ideas on the subject.

I commend the Democratic candidates for recognizing the issue, I just think all they are doing is throwing money at it. Hillary a bit moreso than Obama. In the end, while I commend the ideas and the fact they are putting them forth, I think there not the right answer, and I don't think we need another few hundred billion dollar mess hanging over our head that doesn't address the real problem.

Romney actually implemented Universal Health care in MA while he was there, the reason he 'opposes' what they do there now, and he talked about this in the last debate, is that they raised taxes to pay for various additional services.

In essence, once he left, they made it a bigger program, where before it was much more small scale.