If Bush wants to discuss a distortion of Kerry’s health plan, that’s in part because his own plan collapses under scrutiny. His sole proposal for cost savings is to limit the size of medical malpractice awards, which studies show is a minor factor in health-care inflation. Long-term, Bush wants to shift the burden of insurance from employees to individuals — providing Health Savings Accounts in which workers can set aside funds to purchase insurance packages. Of course, if you’re sick, old or earning a median American income (in the low $40,000s for a family of four), you won’t be able to afford a decent policy. That’s what Bush calls the “Ownership Society.”
George Bush’s America, George Bush’s Iraq: If John Kerry can keep his newfound voice and go after the sheer wretchedness of what Bush has done and what he proposes to do, this election is a long way from over.