Failing health-care system should be topic of debate

Detroit Free Press: Health insurance premiums are skyrocketing at five times the rate of inflation and worker earnings. Employers are shuttling more and more costs of health care onto their workers or dropping coverage (for 5 million workers since 2001) and jobs altogether, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Meanwhile, the number of people with no health insurance has hit a record 45 million.
Numbers game
As the campaigns of President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry debate the number of debates they should have -- Kerry wants them weekly, an independent commission recommended three and Bush wants two -- they ought to find a way to focus at least one on health care. The one proposed debate centering on domestic issues is the perfect venue, as health care factors into many of the nation's domestic problems.
On the economy and jobs, the work force is more productive if it is healthy -- and employers, including Ford and General Motors, have said they cannot continue to be competitive unless health costs are curtailed. On poverty, lack of access to healthy food and proper health care have a huge impact on people's ability to get and keep jobs and raise strong children. Even on crime, you can't save victims of violence or get addicts off drugs without vibrant local health programs.
More than sound bites
The candidates have plenty of reasons to make the health care debate hold an audience's attention for 90 minutes. The campaign sound bites from Kerry last week and Bush in Michigan on Monday haven't gone nearly far enough.
The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that workers are paying 57 percent more than they did in 2001 for single-person coverage, and 49 percent more for family coverage. It's no wonder that health care consistently ranks as a top-five priority among voters in national polls.
Voters deserve a vibrant, detailed debate on how Bush and Kerry would heal this sick system. A discussion of domestic issues is the ideal occasion.