If any one watched the third and final Presidential Debate last night, they learned absolutely nothing new about the future of the American healthcare system. Except of course that there’s a guy named Joe the Plumber whom both of the candidates were making love to or pandering to….it’s hard to tell these days.
In any case, McCain told us that under Obama’s healthcare plan Joe’s small plumbing business would force him to buy into scary almost-socialized-medicine or be fined. (Plus he’s rich in Obama-land, says McCain!) Obama said that McCain’s $5000 voucher for healthcare would hardly be a drop in the bucket toward Joe’s hefty premiums leaving him to fork over the rest for himself and leaving his employees out in the cold.
Neither Obama nor McCain told us anything that we hadn’t heard, positive or negative, actually true or disinformation, in countless stump speeches before.
Disappointing for sure–and not a word about social justice, public health, or any other important bioethics topics. Not to mention stem cells or any other topics one would have thought might have surfaced in the 2008 election.
Just about Joe–first it was Sixpack, then it was the Plumber. What American icons are left? Joe Burger? Joe Comic Book? Joe Pickup Truck? There’s only so many demographics left to pander to, candidates…..
Alas, at least we know what McCain and Obama’s priorities’ are for the next 18 days–talking to Joe the Plumber.
Summer Johnson, PhD